The Method Actors/ This Is Still It

The Method Actors
This Is Still It
(Acute)

Formed in 1979 and spawning from the same Athens, Georgia new wave scene that brought us R.E.M. and the B52s, the Method Actors were Vic Varney and David Gamble. Though clearly influenced by the British post punk scene (you can hear traces of Joy Division and the death disco of Lydon’s P.I.L.), they were also an influence on their peers, in particular Peter Buck, a self-confessed fan of the band.
The Method Actors produced new wave with such spiky, angular pop grooves and classic hooks it’s somewhat surprising that they never really broke through to a larger audience, especially considering the success of lesser contemporaries such as the B52s.
This collection of their early recordings from 1980 -1981 features many tracks which have long been out of print, including the first two 7” singles and the ‘Rhythms Of You’ EP in their entirety, serving as a great reminder of just how good their songs were. ‘My Time’ and ‘Commotion’ stand out for me but to be honest there’s not a single song I don’t like here.
This is a really interesting package, not only for the forgotten tracks from an influential band but the CD also features a booklet containing several photos, sleeve notes by Peter Buck and an interesting interview with Vic Varney conducted by high school student Vic Goetz in 2008. All in all, superb: a must have for anyone’s collection!