Complete List Of Mission Of Burma Albums And Songs

Feature Photo: neonwar, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Mission of Burma formed in 1979 in Boston, Massachusetts. The original lineup consisted of guitarist Roger Miller, bassist Clint Conley, drummer Peter Prescott, and Martin Swope handling tape loops and sound effects. The band is known for its pioneering use of feedback and tape effects, which contributed significantly to the development of the post-punk genre. Mission of Burma released their debut album, Vs., in 1982, which gained critical acclaim for its innovative sound but did not achieve high commercial success.

The band initially disbanded in 1983, largely due to Miller’s developing tinnitus exacerbated by their loud live performances. However, they reunited in 2002, releasing several more albums, including ONoffON (2004), The Obliterati (2006), The Sound the Speed the Light (2009), and Unsound (2012). Their second run ended after their final regular performance in 2016, and in 2020 the band confirmed that they had amicably disbanded. The core trio briefly reunited for a one-off benefit performance in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on March 12, 2026. Despite their limited commercial chart success, Mission of Burma has been highly influential in the alternative and indie rock scenes, impacting numerous bands who cite their experimental approach as a key influence.

MISSION OF BURMA EP

Signals, Calls and Marches (1981)

Released: 1981

Signals, Calls and Marches was Mission of Burma’s first major release, issued by Ace of Hearts Records in 1981. The original EP contained six tracks, including “Academy Fight Song” and “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver,” two songs that became central to the band’s early catalog.

Original EP Track Listings:

“Academy Fight Song” – 3:09
“Max Ernst” – 3:00
“Devotion” – 3:41
“Execution” – 2:21
“That’s When I Reach for My Revolver” – 3:53
“Outlaw” – 2:34

MISSION OF BURMA STUDIO ALBUMS

Vs. (1982)

Vs. (The Definitive Edition plus bonus DVD)

Released: October 1982

Vs. is the first full-length studio album by American post-punk band Mission of Burma, released in October 1982. Recorded at Normandy Sound in Warren, Rhode Island during May of the same year, it captures the band at their creative peak. The album features Roger Miller on guitar and vocals, Clint Conley on bass and vocals, Peter Prescott on drums and vocals, and Martin Swope handling tape operations and effects. Produced by Richard W. Harte, Vs. didn’t chart on the Billboard but gained critical acclaim for its innovative sound, characterized by its aggressive dynamics and the band’s experimental use of tape loops and feedback.

CD Track Listings:

“Secrets” – 3:22
“Train” – 3:31
“Trem Two” – 4:10
“New Nails” – 3:00
“Dead Pool” – 4:06
“Learn How” – 3:56
“Mica” – 3:34
“Weatherbox” – 3:27
“The Ballad of Johnny Burma” – 2:02
“Einstein’s Day” – 4:35
“Fun World” – 3:41
“That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate” – 2:05

ONoffON (2004)

Released: May 4, 2004

After a hiatus of almost 22 years, Mission of Burma returned with ONoffON, released on May 4, 2004. Recorded at Q Division Studios in Somerville, Massachusetts, this comeback album featured Roger Miller, Clint Conley, and Peter Prescott, with Bob Weston taking over the tape-loop and sound-manipulation role previously handled by Martin Swope. Weston also engineered, mixed, and contributed tape manipulation to the album.

CD Track Listings:

“The Setup” – 3:08
“Hunt Again” – 2:16
“The Enthusiast” – 3:37
“Falling” – 4:00
“What We Really Were” – 4:11
“Max Ernst’s Dream” – 3:30
“Fake Blood” – 3:32
“Prepared” – 3:02
“(Interlude/Silence)” – 0:15
“Wounded World” – 3:29
“Dirt” – 3:45
“Into the Fire” – 3:40
“Fever Moon” – 3:47
“Nicotine Bomb” – 3:16
“Playland” – 2:32
“Absent Mind” – 5:21

The Obliterati (2006)

Released: May 23, 2006

The Obliterati was recorded at Q Division Studios and released on May 23, 2006. Continuing the collaboration with Bob Weston, this album is often noted for its energetic and aggressive sound, pushing the boundaries of post-punk with complex structures and relentless energy.

CD Track Listings:

“2wice” – 3:36
“Spider’s Web” – 3:25
“Donna Sumeria” – 5:37
“Let Yourself Go” – 3:30
“1001 Pleasant Dreams” – 3:49
“Good, Not Great” – 2:07
“13” – 4:16
“Man in Decline” – 3:22
“Careening with Conviction” – 3:48
“Birthday” – 3:10
“The Mute Speaks Out” – 3:23
“Is This Where?” – 3:35
“Period” – 3:27
“Nancy Reagan’s Head” – 4:35

The Sound the Speed the Light (2009)

Released: October 6, 2009

Recorded at Q Division Studios and released on October 6, 2009, The Sound the Speed the Light is a dynamic exploration of the band’s ability to blend melody with noise, maintaining their signature aggressive sound.

CD Track Listings:

“1, 2, 3, Partyy!” – 2:46
“Possession” – 4:27
“Blunder” – 3:39
“Forget Yourself” – 4:53
“After the Rain” – 3:22
“SSL 83” – 2:49
“One Day We Will Live There” – 2:43
“So Fuck It” – 2:46
“Feed” – 3:49
“Good Cheer” – 2:45
“Comes Undone” – 3:08
“Slow Faucet” – 4:27

Unsound (2012)

Released: July 10, 2012

Unsound, released in July 2012, continued to feature the talents of the band’s longstanding members and Bob Weston. Rather than returning to Q Division Studios, the band recorded the album in its Boston rehearsal space, Analog Divide. The album is characterized by its experimental approach, blending various musical influences while maintaining a cohesive sound.

CD Track Listings:

“Dust Devil” – 1:57
“Semi-Pseudo-Sort-of Plan” – 4:12
“Sectionals in Mourning” – 2:58
“This Is Hi-Fi” – 3:30
“Second Television” – 3:39
“Part the Sea” – 3:09
“Fell–>H2O” – 3:53
“Add in Unison” – 4:06
“7’s” – 2:11
“What They Tell Me” – 2:35
“Opener” – 2:16

MISSION OF BURMA LIVE ALBUMS

The Horrible Truth About Burma (1985)

Released: 1985

The Horrible Truth About Burma is a live album assembled from recordings made during Mission of Burma’s 1983 farewell tour and originally released by Ace of Hearts Records in 1985. The expanded version now in circulation adds four bonus tracks to the original album.

Expanded Track Listings:

“Tremelo” – 4:11
“Peking Spring” – 3:43
“Dumbells” – 2:17
“New Disco” – 3:24
“Dirt” – 3:39
“Go Fun Burn Man” – 2:20
“1970” – 3:35
“Blackboard” – 3:07
“He Is, She Is” – 4:02
“Heart of Darkness” – 8:55
“That’s When I Reach for My Revolver” – 3:37
“Weatherbox” – 3:20
“Trem Two” – 4:21
“Learn How” – 3:43

Snapshot (2004)

Released: November 9, 2004

Snapshot is a live album recorded in front of a small audience at Q Division Studios in Boston for broadcast on WFNX. Released through Matador Records in 2004, it captures the reunited lineup revisiting material from both eras of the band’s career.