Audio CD review:
Game Theory - Distortion of Glory

Game Theory - Distortion of Glory

Band: Game Theory Title: Distortion of Glory Rating: Release Date: 16 August, 1993 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Something To Show 2: Tin Scarecrow 3: White Blues 4: Date With An Angel 5: Mary Magdalene 6: The Young Drug 7: Bad Year At UCLA 8: All I Want Is Everything 9: Stupid Heart 10: Sleeping Through Heaven 11: It Gives Me Chills 12: T.G.A.R.T.G. 13: Dead Center 14: Penny, Things Won't 15: Meal And Glass Exact 16: Selfish Again 17: Life In July 18: Shark Pretty 19: Nine Lives To Rigel Five 20: The Red Baron 21: Kid Convenience 22: Too Late For Tears

Customer Reviews Scott Miller's humble, but often remarkable, beginnings I didn't know what to expect from this album, which consists of every track from Blaze of Glory, the EP Pointed Accounts of People You Know, and the EP Distortion (except for two tracks written by early group member Fred Juhos - one of which was the college radio fave "I Wanna Get Hit By A Car"). When I saw this on Amazon I was pretty excited to get my hands on it, after all, I had greatly enjoyed the first two Game Theory albums that received large scale (well, sort of large scale) releases - Real Nighttime and Big Shot Chronicles. Sadly, it avoids inclusion of any tracks by Scott Miller's previous band Alternate Learning, though maybe we will see a compilation of their work someday. Anyway, there are quite a few gems to be found on this record, though you have to sift through a few duds and the production on the Blaze of Glory tracks leaves a bit to be desired (I read somewhere you can hear his mom's vacuum on one track, but I haven't heard it yet). From sunny pop songs like "Date with An Angel" to depressing Big Star/new wave hybrids like "Bad Year At UCLA", Blaze of Glory is a promising start, but you'll find yourself jumping ahead to the great tracks from the EP's like "Penny, Things Won't", "The Red Baron", and "Shark Pretty". Worth the usually large price tag you'll find here if you're a Game Theory or Loud Family fan. Best Tracks: "Date With An Angel" - A nice little love song with a straightforward riff that you wouldn't expect from Miller - but it's quite effective and catchy. "Bad Year at UCLA" - Fantastic lyrics - I wish I could be this smart at 22. "It Gives Me Chills" - Ethereal and quietly enticing, this song adds snapping fingers and a swinging bass to a Big Star 3rd-styled song to make it unique. Good chorus vocals too. "Penny, Things Won't" - This jangly gem is one of Miller's all time best tunes. Great hook, sad lyrics, and nice drum intro. This could have been a hit in a perfect world. "Metal And Glass Exact" - Don't know what Miller is singing about here - weird obtuse lyrics and a jerky beat keep this rocker firmly in the college-rock realm. "Shark Pretty" - Ah, a much more straightforward rocker with a swinging riff. This was co-written with Michael Quercio of the Three O'Clock. "The Red Baron" - Miller does depression better than anyone else. Features his self-described "miserable whine" of a voice on prominent display, but it sounds angelic to these ears. this is not an EP ! all the critics back in the 80's used to say that later game theory was the best, especially lolita nation, but this is by far my favorite cd by them, particularly the 'pointed accounts. the actual title of this CD is something like Distortion of Glory, and it's the first Game Theory album Blaze of Glory (tracks 1-12 here) plus most if not all of two subsequent EP's, Pointed Accounts of People You Know and Distortion. . . ' tracks included (metal & glass exact, life in july, penny things won't). a high point of the early 80's college radio scene. Scott is at his best Penny, Things Won't is my favorite song. Love this album. Great album. Wished they'd re-release it. . You can see a complete list of all Game Theory discography, or go back to the Game Theory tabs