One of the many "one-shot" purchases I've made over the years, when I would purchase a band's entire album or EP just for the one song that I liked or thought was cool (I'm very glad those days are gone - thank God for iTunes).
I bought this disc in Washington, DC (good ol' GWU Tower Records) in the winter of 1992, solely on the strength of "From A Million Miles", a song that was then getting serious play on DC's alternative station WHFS. I had scant interest in "Surrender", the song for which the disc is titled - to my ears, that tune was nothing more than the standard shimmering ethereal gossamer electro-pop being put out ad nauseum back in the early '90s. But I thought "From A Million Miles" was amazing then . . . and still think so today.
Australia's Single Gun Theory recorded for nearly fifteen years, releasing four albums (including a movie score soundtrack) and more than half a dozen singles and EPs during their existence. But since their demise in 2000, any mention of or information about the band is exceedingly difficult to come by. All of their music has long been out of print, and their old recording label carries no reference to them on their website. It's a shame, really - perhaps what Single Gun Theory put out wasn't exactly timeless and universal, but the band made an effort to produce some appealing music to leave to the world, and at the very least that should be acknowledged. A lot of their sounds, as I said above, might have been boring and synthpoppy to me and a lot of others. But to paraphrase Anton Ego: "The average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so."
Therefore I leave to you all what is, in my mind, one of the band's finest moments - Single Gun Theory's Surrender EP, released by Canada's Nettwerk Records on January 28th, 1992, featuring one of my favorite songs from back then, "From A Million Miles":
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Ah yes, I spent many a fine late night trolling the bins at the GWU Tower Records. Thanks for name checking my home town wrecka stow!
ReplyDeleteShoot man, I practically lived there as well. Until they opened other branches in Fairfax and Fair Oaks, the GWU Tower was my 'go-to' place . . . I estimate that I purchased at least 70% of the cassettes I own and a little less than half of my CDs from that one store. It's a shame Tower went out of business, but what can you do? The loss of both Tower and Olsson's Books & Records in the past few years destroyed the DC music market, and made the city that much less interesting.
DeleteWhat a great post. Obscure fantastic band from way down Oz. The info and music here make this one of the best blogs I've come across.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the discovery of this nice group, very interesting music!
ReplyDeleteStill honoring Single Gun Theory? I've got the Flow, River of My Soul but its been difficult to find their music in print anywhere. Care to share the link as I'd love to hear the EP. Thx!
ReplyDeleteSure thing… I’ll be happy to forward you the link; please provide me with an email address to send it to.
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