Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Power pop bands who worship at the altar of Big Star are a dime a dozen today, but the Scruffs were doing that long before Alex Chilton became a cool name to drop, and Wanna Meet the Scruffs?, the sole album they released during their lifetime, is that late-'70s rarity, a slice of classic power pop that doesn't sound "new wave," unlike most of smart pop's class of 1978. Using Big Star and the Raspberries as a starting point, vocalist and songwriter Stephen Burns blended an Anglophile's sense of melody with a very American feel for crunchy guitars and the occasional power chord. And Burns' songs about dreams of rock stardom ("Break the Ice"), his vast array of romantic problems ("My Mind"), and his multitude of other anxieties ("I'm a Failure") suggests the neurosis of the early Modern Lovers sides without Jonathan Richman's willful childishness; in a genre where aggressive cheerfulness or good-natured arrogance were the order of the day, Burns' intelligent angst was something new and distinctive. And the band, anchored by David Branyan's tough, concise guitar leads, made music that was bright and hooky but still had backbone and plenty of punch; this is pop that earns the prefix "power." That so strong an album could slip though the cracks is both sad and puzzling, but the 1997 CD reissue of Wanna Meet the Scruffs? (augmented with two bonus demo tracks) thankfully restores a lost classic to circulation, and anyone who loves a good hook with an interesting idea behind it ought to seek this out.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $17.49/month
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher - Stephen Burns / David Branyan, Composer
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher - Stephen Burns / David Branyan, Composer
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher - Stephen Burns / David Branyan, Composer
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
The Scruffs, MainArtist - Stephen Burns, Composer - Scruffsville? (BMI), MusicPublisher
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
Album review
Power pop bands who worship at the altar of Big Star are a dime a dozen today, but the Scruffs were doing that long before Alex Chilton became a cool name to drop, and Wanna Meet the Scruffs?, the sole album they released during their lifetime, is that late-'70s rarity, a slice of classic power pop that doesn't sound "new wave," unlike most of smart pop's class of 1978. Using Big Star and the Raspberries as a starting point, vocalist and songwriter Stephen Burns blended an Anglophile's sense of melody with a very American feel for crunchy guitars and the occasional power chord. And Burns' songs about dreams of rock stardom ("Break the Ice"), his vast array of romantic problems ("My Mind"), and his multitude of other anxieties ("I'm a Failure") suggests the neurosis of the early Modern Lovers sides without Jonathan Richman's willful childishness; in a genre where aggressive cheerfulness or good-natured arrogance were the order of the day, Burns' intelligent angst was something new and distinctive. And the band, anchored by David Branyan's tough, concise guitar leads, made music that was bright and hooky but still had backbone and plenty of punch; this is pop that earns the prefix "power." That so strong an album could slip though the cracks is both sad and puzzling, but the 1997 CD reissue of Wanna Meet the Scruffs? (augmented with two bonus demo tracks) thankfully restores a lost classic to circulation, and anyone who loves a good hook with an interesting idea behind it ought to seek this out.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:35:26
- Main artists: The Scruffs
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Ardent Music
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
1977 Scruffsville? 1977 Scruffsville? (BMI)
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.