Mission of Burma
ONoffON
Release Date: May 4, 2004
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Record label: Matador
Music Critic Score
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Album Review: ONoffON by Mission of Burma
Fairly Good, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 3/5
Forced into retirement in 1983 by singer-guitarist Roger Miller's tinnitus, post-punkers Mission of Burma have spent the past two decades being name-checked by the likes of REM, Moby and Graham Coxon. The songs here sound as if the tension built up over such a long spell of lying dormant has been released to thrilling effect. Alongside guitars that sound like machinery and tape manipulations, there is real power and passion here.
Opinion: Fantastic
Since they never depended upon a pose, or a moment, or an attitude, or any of that rock ‘n’ roll symbolism, Mission of Burma has always been a good candidate for a reunion. Their albums were sufficiently advanced that they could pick up where they left at any time and still be well ahead of their erstwhile peers. A reunion certainly seemed unlikely: Mission of Burma never translated their critical acclaim into record sales; guitar player Roger Miller suffered from tinnitus, making it difficult to get through Mission of Burma’s notoriously loud performances; and Clint Conley hadn’t recorded or performed since the mid-’80s.