walking upstream…
Jonathan Richman
photo: jonathunder · gfdl 1.2 ↗Jonathan Richman
sourcesWikipedia
Jonathan Richman was a teenage superfan of the Velvet Underground who followed the band around Boston and Manhattan before forming the Modern Lovers in 1970, channeling VU's droning guitar chug into simpler, gentler, almost childlike songs about cars, museums and astral planes. Produced in part by VU's John Cale, the Modern Lovers' 1976 debut became a foundational document of American punk and indie rock even as Richman himself moved toward warmer, 1950s-rock-and-roll-inflected material soon after. His plainspoken, unguarded songwriting and DIY sensibility made him a touchstone for later lo-fi and indie songwriters, Mac DeMarco among them.
the sound in question
1972
RoadrunnerJonathan Richman
walk the tributaries ↓
The Velvet Underground1960s · Art rock / Proto-punk / Experimental rock
As a teenager, Richman followed the Velvet Underground around Boston and New York so devotedly that guitarist Sterling Morrison called him the band's 'protégé'; the Modern Lovers formed directly out of that fandom, and Richman has said 'Roadrunner' grew out of chasing the churning two-chord drive of VU's 'Sister Ray.'
listen: upstream & here
1968
Sister RayThe Velvet Underground
1972
RoadrunnerJonathan Richman
listen forLine up the VU's chugging, feedback-driven 'Sister Ray' against the Modern Lovers' 'Roadrunner' — Richman keeps the same relentless two-chord drive but swaps VU's darkness for wide-eyed love of the highway and the radio.
Chuck Berry1950s · Rock and roll / Rhythm and blues
After the Modern Lovers' harder, VU-indebted period, Richman pivoted toward simpler, joyful 1950s rock and roll, recording a cover of Chuck Berry's 'Back in the USA' and citing Berry's directness as a model for his own songwriting.
listen: upstream & here
1958
Johnny B. GoodeChuck Berry
1972
Astral PlaneJonathan Richman
listen forBerry's crisp, story-song guitar lead on 'Johnny B. Goode' and Richman's playful, similarly guitar-driven 'Astral Plane' both turn simple riffs and plainspoken lyrics into instantly singable pop.
The Beach Boys1960s · Rock / Pop / Psychedelic pop
Assessments of Richman's songwriting group Brian Wilson alongside Lou Reed and Chuck Berry as key touchstones; the lush vocal-harmony pop of the Beach Boys informed the gentler, more melodic direction Richman took after the first Modern Lovers lineup broke up.
listen: upstream & here
1966
God Only KnowsThe Beach Boys
1977
Egyptian ReggaeJonathan Richman
listen forThe tender, hushed harmonies of the Beach Boys' 'God Only Knows' and the sweetly melodic instrumental 'Egyptian Reggae' both trade the Modern Lovers' rawer drone for something closer to pure, gentle pop.