Mission of Burma
The Sound The Speed The Light

Campus Correspondent review by Jen Brown,
Boston University

The Boston middle-aged men that form Mission of Burma could pass musically for half their age. In fact, the group’s latest reunion album The Sound The Speed The Light carries no weight of musical burnout, despite the band having been around for decades. (Players broke up in the 80s and reunited in 2004). The twelve track post-punk album starts with a classic MOB track, “1,2,3 Partyy!,” in which the band mocks the stereotypes of party life. Introducing the album well, the song sets the tone for a catchy punk atmosphere of which next two tracks also maintain.

“Forget Yourself” offers an opposing sound of slower, reflective music. The track is spacey and drawn out until the song’s instrumental break, which includes a wild MOB guitar solo. The album’s “SSL 83” shows the most promise of the band’s third comeback album. Its fast pace and circling guitar riffs propel listeners into the song’s epic ending of complex instrumentation. There is no “off” track in the album as the band make its way to the finale “Slow Faucet,” which drips with true MOB building vocal energy. The ending leaves fans wondering again, when the next album—if there is a next album—will come to fruition.

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