On January 24, 2025, Merge Records will reissue two 1994 releases by The Clean: their second studio album Modern Rock, and the “Late Last Night” 7”. These vinyl releases represent the first time either title has been in print on the format since its initial release, and the first time Modern Rock has ever been available on LP in North America.
Modern Rock crackles with spontaneous energy, as if The Clean namely, Hamish Kilgour, David Kilgour, and Robert Scott couldn’t help but make music together whenever they were in the same room. Following their 1989 reunion tour and the 1990 release of Vehicle, those opportunities were rare, with Hamish in New York City fronting The Mad Scene, David releasing his first solo album, and Robert recording albums with The Bats at a breakneck pace. Then, for nine days in April 1994, the stars aligned over Dunedin and Modern Rock bloomed into life.
It’s an album of easy charm by a band so attuned to guitar pop that they make the creation of their sonic universe seem easy, as if what you’re being let in on is a long-running conversation between three masters at a point where all three are riffing off of each other, line by line and hook by hook. Significantly, after making Modern Rock, The Clean decided to keep the project going on a part-time basis. More than just a reminder to listeners of the reverence fans and musicians had for The Clean, each new record was a welcome surprise that established them as one of the great active bands of the 1990s and 2000s, their second act on par with the many, many groups their first act inspired.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Modern Rock and “Late Last Night,” both releases have been remastered from the original tapes by producer and engineer Tex Houston and preserve Hamish Kilgour’s original artwork. The reissues offer new and old fans of The Clean alike an opportunity to hear the band at a creative zenith, shining light on an era that, until now, has been the provenance of crate diggers and completionists. Spinning it now, it’s clear why the album has maintained its appeal for 30 years: Modern Rock is timeless, and so are The Clean.
