I was just listening to a little Burma, and a topic floated into me noggin.

When I first got into Mission of Burma, I pretty much found the Miller tracks a little too...out there, and focused only on Conley's tunes. As I get older and my musical tastes have gotten a bit more...out there, I find myself thinking of Miller as the better songwriter. Conley's stuff is catchier, but Miller's has a very unique quality I can't explain.

This is the only band that ever reunited to be just as good as when they went away. And their live show is unmatched. They played a marathon two sets in Chapel Hill after OnOffOn, during which I got into my first fistfight with a man over forty. BURMA!

What? No Peter Prescott and his Absent Mind? Hater.

Ideally, I would vote for both, as they're both superb musicians and songwriters. I enjoy more of Clint's songs to Roger's overall, but Roger's songs do have that special quality about them that makes them special. It's a tough pick, but I'll go for Clint.

Yngwie Einstein wrote:What? No Peter Prescott and his Absent Mind? Hater.

No hatred. Prescott's invaluable to the band but his contributions are in no way up to par with Clint and Roger's in terms of songwriting.

wait, who wrote nancy reagan's head again? i vote for him. i just love topical humor!

seriously though, they both have shining moments, but i gotta go conley.

I refuse to pick. It would be like picking between my children.

Two roughly on topic Burma stories involving Me.

1) in 1986 or 87, as we walked across campus to the basement of East Quad for a Big Black show, Mr. Albini and I discussed our favorite records. His was "Funhouse" for reasons he has articulated time and time again here and elsewhere. I said "vs" since it sounded to me (and still does) that it is a great mostly live in the studio recording of 3 of the best musicians I have ever heard playing music that moves me in ways I can barely articulate. As players, and songwriters, I think they have few equals. And that LP captures them at their raw best. Steve said he would give it another listen, or something like that.

2) in 1989 when I was working in Boston, I tracked down Roger's phone number and called him up with the intention of asking him if he gave guitar lessons. I actually got him on the phone and suddenly became too tongue tied to say much of anything. I stammered out my question, and he replied that he had not considered giving lessons before, but was intrigued by the idea. I told him that I thought that his approach to melody on the guitar was unique, and I would love to learn from him. He said something like "i'll think about it" . I never heard from him. a couple of years later there were flyers around town for guitar lessons with roger miller. i was too chicken to call him back....

so anyways, the point of this is that Roger is the master of melody (not just on the guitar, but his guitar playing is almost without equal) clint is equally masterful on bass, and to my ears, his sense of harmony and songcraft is equally inspired. Not to short-shrift Pete - his playing, his songs, his voice, all contribute immeasurably. just look at the entire Volcano Suns catalog to see the immensity of Pete's talent.

But I think that clint and roger are the lennon and mccartney of our time. So I am a raging fanboy, and a coward. Sorry.

BadComrade wrote:So, SO glad to see this poll is currently 80% in favor of Clint.

Those old recycled No Man songs that Roger brought to the reformed Burma should be proof enough that his songwriting isn't all that great. Love his guitar playing, love his vocal delivery, I just don't think he can hold a candle to Clint.

I doubt I'd ever reach for a No Man or Maximum Electric Piano CD before one of the Consonant CDs...

The more I read, the more I want to retract my pro-Rogerdom. But I digress. I think Roger Miller just has a unique approach that Conley doesn't have in terms of melody, but I also think it is due in part to his highly original playing. Clint's songs are fist-pumpers that are way more infectious though. Shit. This is getting to be overload in my head.

Consonant is a great band. I got one of their records real cheap somewhere, and I had no idea it was Clint Conley's band until I heard his voice.

I agree Clint and Roger are an indie rock McCartney and Lennon. Just perfect. Mission of Burma is flat-out one of the best bands ever.

Funny Burma story: I bought the last vinyl of OnOffOn at the Cradle show, and had everyone in the band sign it, and for the first time ever I went totally fucking "#1 fan" mode on Roger and Clint and was like "Vs. fucking changed my whole approach to music" and they looked at each other. Clint laughed it off, but Roger gave me a half-thanks, half-eat shit look and then said "well, at least you won't suck anymore." He laughed and I went to go find Bob. I went to the soundbooth, and in my fervor to have everyone in the band sign my record (like I said, "#1 fan") I just blurted out "which one of you is Bob Weston?" The guys standing around all raised their hand, and then a muffled voice goes "no, I'm Bob." I asked him to sign my record, and he seemed surprised anyone even knew he was back there. He was putting his shit away and he told me to hang on. The hand-raiser fellows looked at me like I was a fucking mutant. I was standing there, wearing a tie because I just got off of work and drove 3.5 hours for the show from Wilmington NC, smiling and sweating and probably sounding like a fucking moron. Bob signed my record and drew a picture of a reel-to-reel. I shook his hand and said "so what's Shellac doing?" He goes "I don't know," to which I reply "I fucking love your band. All the best!" And he just looks at me like I'm nuts.

In retrospect I hate myself even more now than before I started typing this, but I also got to see one of the best shows I've ever seen and it was a good night. Except when I fought this forty year old drunk guy who wouldn't stop fucking pushing this girl so he could head-bang in front of the stage. He pushed me and I decked him, and he grabbed me. Security rushed and told him to calm down and he spit in the dude's face so they took him out. He came back but didn't fuck with me anymore. He's the asshole who works at the pizza shop next to the Cat's Cradle in case you're ever in Chapel Hill.

Wow...long post.



Oh...and I don't lose my shit anymore in front of Bob. Met him up in Athens again last year and he was way cool.

There isn't an obvious answer so I haven't voted.

In a fight, probably Conley.

Clint.

Roger is a crucial sonic weapon but Clint's the better songwriter.

Roger Miller easy...seriously, like ALL of my favorite songs are his...Clint's great too, of course, Roger gets my vote...there was mention of the new stuff, but i honestly haven't listened to those albums enough to remember the difference (or actually how most songs go at all...) and since nothing on those albums don't come anywhere close to 80's Mission of Burma, it's sort of a moot point...