They’re nobody’s buzz bands anymore. But since 1993, MAGNET has discovered and documented more great music than memory will allow. The groups may have broken up or the albums may be out of print, but this time, history is written by the losers. Here are some of the finest albums that time forgot but we remembered in issue #75, plus all-new additions to our list of Lost Classics.
:: CHISEL
Set You Free // Gern Blandsten, 1997
“Get ready for the invasion, self-satisfied smug-rock nation,” proclaimed Chisel frontman Ted Leo at the beginning of this sprawling power-pop masterpiece. That was as nice as it got in terms of Set You Free’s lyrical content, although Leo’s spot-on, acidic commentary was frequently overshadowed by Chisel’s arsenal of mod-pop hooks. Set You Free was the D.C. band’s sophomore effort and also its swan song, resulting in a criminal lack of recognition at the time of its release. The Jam may have pioneered the mod-revival movement in 1977, but 20 years later, Chisel perfected it.
Catching Up: After a short stint in the Sin Eaters with brother Danny, Leo launched his solo career in 1998.
“Do Go On”:
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/DoGoOn.mp3
