5 Reasons to Listen to Marnie Stern’s In Advance of the Broken Arm

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 The G-Man

In 2007 an electric new guitarist exploded into record shops and live venues. In a year draped in indie rock (Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible and The National’s Boxer also hit the shelves in 2007), Marnie Stern‘s full throttle escapades on Kill Rock Stars had begun. Here’s a little reminder why In Advance of the Broken Arm should revisit your headphones soon.

1. Let’s Tap

For pure guitar-y goodness, Stern’s début record is a technical delight. Often guitar virtuosos prefer to build up the tension before launching into into an elaborate mid-track display of fretboard gymnastics but on opening track Vibrational Match Stern dispenses with the niceties, ploughing straight into a tool beloved of the 80s: finger-tapping. A gimmick for some, Stern deploys “always to add the melody.” For more tips on the technique see Guitarist Marnie Stern on Finger Tapping and the Importance of Perserverance (sic).

2. Track 3

Although the tunes are not as polished and structured as on later records, In Advance of the Broken Arm is still filled with straight-up good songs. If completely new to the New Yorker, a suitable introduction to the essence of Marnie Stern’s music would be the third track on her first album. A well constructed anthem with pounding everything, Every Single Line Means Something is an unstoppable train-ride of a tune. This American Life

3. That Title

Although In Advance of the Broken Arm sounds like it was born in Marnie world, the title is in fact taken from a 1915 sculpture by Dada artist Marcel Duchamp. The fascinating album titles would keep on coming with the slick The Chronicles of Marnia (2013) and…take a breath…. 2008’s This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That.

In Advance of the Broken Arm (1964) by Marcel Duchamp

4. Solo

Besides drumming from Hella’s Zach Hill and on top of the immense shred-work, everything else on the record – from vocals, synths, songwriting and production – was completed by Stern too. It’s testament to her vision and skillset that such a technically sublime album is basically a DIY record.

5. Yes, That’s Marnie Stern

For late night talkshow fans wondering who is ripping up the riffs on the houseband, yes that is Marnie Stern on Seth Meyers’ show. Beginning as a stand-in with The 8G Band – St. Vincent was involved around that time too – it soon became a permanent gig. It’s not long ago since she received a callout too.