Graeme Downes’ long-standing song-writing vehicle, and one-hell of a brilliant, literate band at that. With the classic line-up of Downes on guitar and vocals, Alan Haig on drums and Jane Dodd on bass, the Verlaines released excellent singles such as ’10 O’Clock In The Afternoon’ from the EP of the same name, and of course their signature tune ‘Death And The Maiden’, which stands as one of the true kiwi classics.
Intricate, visionary song-writing and dynamic, unusual instrumentation (Downes approached composition from a more angular classical perspective, yet their songs could still Rock), along with a high quality thresh-hold mean that pretty much all Verlaines releases have strong, discernable qualities and are well worth getting hold of. They survive several line-up changes under Downes’ lead, and continued to make albums right up to 00s, re-uniting in 2003 for a short NZ tour.
Discography
- Dunedin Double quadruple EP [1982 W/ Sneaky Feelings, The Stones, The Chills Flying Nun Records DUN1/2]
- ‘Death And The Maiden’/’C.D. Jimmy Jazz And Me’ 7″ Single [1983 Flying Nun Records FN014]
- Ten O’Clock In The Afternoon 12″ Ep [1984 Flying Nun Records FN022]
- Hallelujah All The Way Home [1985 Flying Nun Records FN040]
- ‘Doomsday’ single [1985 Flying Nun Records]
- Bird Dog [1987 Flying Nun Records FN077]
- Juvenilia [1987 Flying Nun Records FNCOMP02]
- Some Disenchanted Evening [1989 Flying Nun Records FN129]
- ‘The Funniest Thing’ single [1985 Flying Nun Records]
- Ready To Fly [1991 Slash C30718]
- Way Out Where [1993 Slash D31032]
- Over the Moon [1996 Columbia 486880.2]
- You’re Just Too Obscure For Me [2003 Flying Nun Records FNCD476]
- Pot Boiler [2007 Flying Nun Records FNCD501]
- Corporate Moronic [2009 Dunedinmusic.com]