Track Listing

1. Blue Thunder
2. Tell Me
3. Snowstorm
4. Strange
5. When Will You Come Home
6. Decomposing Trees
7. Another Day
8. Leave The Planet
9. Plastic Bird
10. Isn't It A Pity
11. Victory Garden
12. Ceremony
13. Cold Night

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30251 in Music
• Released on: 1997-04-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Enhanced, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered

CD Description
Arguably the band's best effort, ON FIRE typifies Galaxie 500's slow, dreamy, three-chord song craft. In tone, style, song structure and their attempt at achieving an almost drone-like meditative quality, the band clearly worship at the altar of the Velvet Underground. Drummer Damon Krukowski, bassist Naomi Yang and particularly guitarist/vocalist Dean Wareham, who probably dreams of Lou Reed floating to him in the night singing chorus after chorus of "Pale Blue Eyes", follow impressively in the footsteps of their mentors.
The tone may vary slightly, from delicate, haunting melodies such as "Tell Me", to the open, floating spaces of "Snowstorm", and the desperate cries of alienation of "Strange", but the predominant mood is one of quiet, murky introspection. Though detractors may accuse the band of sounding somewhat monochromatic, there's a definite charm to Galaxie 500's simple, atmospheric pop songs and Wareham's surreal lyrics and unadorned, unaffected voice; his poignant treatment here of George Harrison's "Isn't It A Pity" is particularly notable.

Customer Reviews

Its the Bassist's ear-rings I remember most!
This is their best, probably. Certainly with the additional tracks, the lovely Victory Garden (Red Crayola) and the incredible funeral paced Ceremony (New Order) with amazing Neil Young-esque guitar solo, it pushes past the winning post.
However, this is just a glider of record. Start to finish, you'll not notice how good it is until the flight is over. Gentle electric, gossamer-buzz, dizzy adventure. Fantastic sleeve. Unforgettable sleeve notes. You wanted to be in Galaxie 500, didn't you?

A ragged masterpiece
I bought this album in 1989 when it first came out, to very little fanfare. It is the single most played album I have and will ever own.

It has a ragged but beautiful sound, and Kramer's excellent production somehow papers over the band's shortcomings and create a whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts. I love every track on here, but the version of Joy Division's Ceremony is worth the asking price alone - as is the cover of George Harrison's Isn't it a Pity.

I can't explain exactly what it is about this album that resonates so much with me, but I will never get bored of listening to it. If you love hearing music that has been overlooked but is really good you should give this unique album a chance.

lovely 2am album
Get in to your chair, put on headphones, relax. Press Play. Turn off the lights. Open the curtains and stare at the night sky. The stark beauty generated by this three piece was rarely captured as well as it is here. Sparingly produced and beautifully played it becomes a close companion for those 'still awake at 2 a.m.' moments.

Enjoy.