Across the Barrier of Sound: Postscript

by Game Theory

Overview

Any Game Theory fan who bought the 1990 career retrospective Tinker to Evers to Chance (Selected Highlights 1982-1989) knows that Scott Miller formed a fresh edition of the band after the lineup that recorded 1988's Two Steps from the Middle Ages fell apart, even recording new versions of two early GT tracks for the collection. However, what happened after that has been a mystery to most followers of Miller and his music; little evidence of the activities of the last days of Game Theory surfaced, and none seemed forthcoming. That abruptly changed with the 2020 release of Across the Barrier of Sound: Postscript, an anthology that brings together studio recordings, demos, and live tracks from the 1989-1990 version of Game Theory, with Miller joined by Gil Ray, who previously played drums with GT, on guitar and keyboards; Jozef Becker, who worked with Miller in his pre-GT group Alternate Learning, on drums; and Michael Quercio, formerly of the Three O'Clock, on bass. (The LP release features 14 songs, with ten more added on digital editions.) Only three of these tracks -- "Treat It Like My Own," "Rose of Sharon," and "Water" -- have been previously released, and those only on cassettes handed out to members of the Game Theory fan club. There are full-bodied studio takes of "My Free Ride," "Idiot Son," and "Inverness" here, but most of this material is drawn from demos Miller recorded at home. The full-band recordings are the work of a leaner, more concise Game Theory, with far less reliance on keyboards and punchier, more straightforward drumming, especially on the live recording of "The Door Into Summer" (which Quercio jokingly introduces as a song by Naked Eyes, while Miller patiently tells the crowd it was actually by the Monkees). As for the demos, many of the songs will be familiar to fans of Miller's later project, the Loud Family, as he repurposed most of them for their debut album, 1992's Plants and Birds and Rocks and Things. Miller's home-brewed recordings may lack the power of the Loud Family arrangements, but his songs appear fully formed, and even if the lyrics changed on a few of these songs, the rough drafts capture the magic of his melodies and the excellence of his guitar work with true eloquence. And it speaks to Miller's distinct vision that the three songs co-written with Quercio have a noticeably different personality, not necessarily jarring but clearly different from the others; while never shy about citing his influences, Miller really didn't sound much like his peers. Across the Barrier of Sound: Postscript was assembled from scraps and cast-offs, but it coheres almost as well as one of Miller's proper albums, and this music is a joyous yet powerful reminder of how much we lost when Miller died in 2013. If you ever enjoyed his work, you'll revel in this. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	03/20/2020
Label:	Omnivore
UPC:	0816651018178

Tracks

1. All My Loving [Home Recording]
2. My Free Ride
3. Go Back to Sleep Little Susie (Aerodeliria)
4. Forget All About It [Home Recording]
5. Take Me Down [To Halloo]
6. The Second Grade Applauds [Home Demo]
7. Treat It Like My Own
8. Inverness
9. Water [Remix]
10. Needle in the Camel's Eye [Home Recording]
11. Idiot Son
12. Even You [Home Demo]
13. The Door Into Summer [Live]
14. Laurel Canyon [Reprise] [Home Demo]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Game Theory   Primary Artist
Michael Quercio   Bass,Vocals
Scott Miller   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Jozef Becker   Drums,Voices,Percussion
Dan Vallor   Vocals (Background)
Gil Ray   Guitar,Recorder,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Kristine Chambers Miller   Executive Producer
Annie Zaleski   Liner Notes
Ana Morales   Project Assistant
Emily Hobson   Liner Notes
Robert Taren   Photography
Paul McCartney   Composer
Big Star   Composer
Chip Douglas   Composer
Cheryl Pawelski   Re-Release Producer
Michael Quercio   Composer
Greg Allen   Design,Art Direction
Shannon Vallor   Project Assistant
Joy Graves   Project Assistant
John Lennon   Composer
Scott Miller   Composer,Engineer,Producer
The Three O'Clock   Composer
Brian Eno   Composer
Alex Chilton   Composer
Dave Wellhausen   Engineer
Andy Hummel   Composer
Bill Miller   Composer
Pat Thomas   Re-Release Producer
Doug Gillard   Liner Notes
Todd Rundgren   Composer
Bradley Skaught   Project Assistant
Dan Vallor   Mixing,Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Liner Notes,Re-Release Producer
Lee Lodyga   Project Assistant
Michael Graves   Mastering,Restoration
Audrey Bilger   Project Assistant
Pat Sansone   Liner Notes
Dutch Cramblitt   Project Assistant
Brad Rosenberger   Project Assistant