New Wave Tuesday (on a Thursday!): Model Citizens
8 March 2007 :: posted by MissingtoofGoogle would like you to believe that ‘Model Citizens’ is a cover band made up of 40-somethings, or a trio of ‘Crunk’ producing white boys. But google doesn’t know shit. Model Citizens was an no wave/art rock sextet which surfaced in New York around 1979, made a mini splash then disappeared back into the murky depths of the underground.
Model Citizens energetic & spastic time signatures make them seem like a more experimental B-52’s. Their 1979 release ‘Shift The Blame’ was produced by John Cale of Velvet Underground & released on his short lived Spy Records label.
Google doesn’t know anything about these New York new wavers, but YouTube does. Here’s a clip of ‘Shift The Blame’ performed at Max’s:
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Model Citizens – Shift The Blame (mp3)
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Model Citizens – “Animal Instincts” (mp3)
Gemm has two Model Citizens records on Vinyl & one on 8 Track! Don’t buy the one that says ‘1996′ punk because it is not the same Model Citizens & you will be sad.







Thanks for this! I just rediscovered an MP3 of ‘Shift the Blame’ in a murky folder and this is what I found on my quest for more info. Now at least I’ve got 2 songs and a glimpse of their faces!
March 9th, 2007 at 6.48 pm
hi,ive just explored your site as i trying to collect more info about Model Citizens.
I will launch soon a myspace site dedicated them with lot of info.
I will come back when i finished it:)
greetings
salty
January 22nd, 2008 at 6.43 am
So here is the website,i will upload more info (interview) and photo soon
http://www.myspace.com/modelcitizens1978
January 30th, 2008 at 6.24 pm