Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls, and Marches

One of my all-time favorite EP's.  Hand's down, bar few.  This EP is one of the critical moments, indie, punk, alternative, that whole thing that happened in rock and that is still happening, owes a rather huge debt to Mission of Burma.  The Boston college rock quartet played fast, powerful, arty songs that were often political, personal, and revitalizing within the scale of the American underground scene of the 80's.  MOB were one of the first to expand on the new soundscape of the more pseudo-punk.  Signals, Calls, and Marches is militaristic, grey in tone and emotion.  The album begs a million questions from each song's meaning.  The caustic sounds of Miller and Conley redefine their instruments and punk culture. Academy Fight Song will always be one of those songs I can just listen to and listen to and keep listening to because there is so much happening, sonically, lyrically, and it's just such a powerful track that's too relentless.  I still wonder about the words; sooooo close the vest. In 1981, punk was changing from just a sound and more into an idea.  MOB paved the way for bands to not just be punk or southern rock. They had a tape loop guy, for pete's sake. It wasn't about doing what everyone else was, it was about doing what everyone else wasn't.