So, i don't know where to put this because it's Wire. How the hell do you categorize a band that fits no genre? They used to be punk, dropped an absolutely seminal debut that shaped damn near everything that came after it, then changed up their formula, added synthesizers and loops, got a super ridiculous amount of flak from purists, but have since been accepted as partial progenitors of post-punk / art-punk / even indie. Their sound is so damned influential that the case could be made that they were the Velvet Underground of the late 70's. I certainly wouldn't contest that, and neither should you.
So, after a few years since a proper full-length (Send may or may not count because it only has like 2 songs that weren't on the Read & Burn ep's), Wire have risen again to show all the newbies that old men still have the tools to show up everyone else. A return to form? Maybe, but their diversions into semi-metallic robo-punk were equally biting. This is more a return to pre-form, a look back at a catalogue that includes three seminal albums and tries to better them with that formula they perfected and tossed away as if it were a cigarrette butt.
Wire have returned, and they certainly still know how to make some stellar music. Be warned indie-world, Wire just unleashed something beautifully ugly with grace and style.
P.S. I don't know if this belongs in Alternative or Punk, but Indie seems about right to me given their status in the Indie-canon.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
As someone who has adored Wire for 20 years, I beg the mod to take this thread away from this awful 'indie' designation. Wire are a rock band, or alternative if need be. Let's not re-write history so that every great oddball band on an independent label becomes 'indie'...(shudder)
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
Posts: 2759 | Location: The ever silent spaces of the East | Registered: 12 February 2007
Well... they put their music out on their own label, so i figured indie would work. Plus the punk thread is a little too silent in my opinion for a band as amazing as Wire.
This album reminds me of 154 and I'm not quite sure if it's better than Send yet. Send got me really excited about Wire again, so I'm going to have to listen to this many more times to make that judgment.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
If it gets more people listening to Wire, perhaps the means justifies the ends...
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
Posts: 2759 | Location: The ever silent spaces of the East | Registered: 12 February 2007
Originally posted by CleverName84: Well... they put their music out on their own label, so i figured indie would work. Plus the punk thread is a little too silent in my opinion for a band as amazing as Wire.
This album reminds me of 154 and I'm not quite sure if it's better than Send yet. Send got me really excited about Wire again, so I'm going to have to listen to this many more times to make that judgment.
Two things: We need to get the punk forum going again! Second, if it reminds you of 154 then I'll have to give it a listen. I haven't listened to Wire aside from the classic three, so (although I have it) I have yet to feel like listening to the new one.
Well, at the risk of being pedantic, which all good music nuts are in the final wash up, 'indie' as meaning anything other than a band appearing on an independent label, and therefore of no application re:sonics, is of very recent coinage.
Wire, happily making music for decades before this silly 'indie' designation came along are indeed exactly able to be classified as many, many things other than 'indie' which they definitely are not.
That aside...everybody listen to the magnificent Wire...NOW!!
I realise the logical error in my argument : that states 'indie' doesn't exist as an aesthetic criteria, so then how can Wire not be something that doesn't exist, but I'm willing to let that dangle..
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
Posts: 2759 | Location: The ever silent spaces of the East | Registered: 12 February 2007
I agree they are not indie... and if the punk thread were much livelier, i would have put it there. But there's a thread about Against Me over there, so i find call Wire indie is a bit of a compliment. They're definitely an incredibly important band who did so much more with so much less than most bands could even dream to ever do. I mean, can you think of a single dull moment on Pink Flag? Anyone? Everything fits absolutely perfectly, makes no sense whatsoever, but manages to be both completely bizarre, a bit humorous, and kind of creepy at how much comes from a relatively minimal set-up.
Back to this album, not caring about the debate on what is or is not indie (I think i hate indie at this point, because there's been so damn much talk about it), i would say that this album is a fine addition to their discography. It is certainly better than the Wir albums, and shows more melodicism than Send, so it's great in my book. Sure, it's not going to beat 154 or Chairs Missing or Pink Flag, but no one expects that to happen. It's a good late-career album that fans of Wire will appreciate. It's a gift from a band whose catalogue is too small, but has been growing slowly these last few years.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
has anyone here got 'On The Box'? Live muse-SICK!!! rawk!!! i tells ya.
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
Posts: 2759 | Location: The ever silent spaces of the East | Registered: 12 February 2007
Originally posted by CleverName84: Their sound is so damned influential that the case could be made that they were the Velvet Underground of the late 70's. I certainly wouldn't contest that, and neither should you.
Um, I contest that. The landscape of the late 70's was totally different than the environment the Velvets came from. Different enough that I think it makes that analogy pretty laughable.
quote:
Well... they put their music out on their own label, so i figured indie would work. Plus the punk thread is a little too silent in my opinion for a band as amazing as Wire.
Well, if the punk forum doesn't have enough recent posts, wouldn't a new thread about Wire be a good way to fix that? You seem to think the punk thread somehow isn't good enough for wire. I don't get that.
Yeah, i should've been more clear about the VU analogy. I meant in the sense that both bands have that sort of quasi-fame due to bands that got much bigger than them championing their work (*cough* Strokes *cough* Blur *cough*). Undoubtedly the musical landscapes of those times were completely different, so i wasn't trying to suggest that they are musically similar. In fact, i contest myself now that you pointed that out... Well color me tickled pink.
And if the punk forum were more active, i would get incredibly excited to be completely honest. I love punk, post-punk, etc. It would be my favorite genre for certain, so i actually wish more people were active in that forum... like myself for example.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
I'm going to try and keep this thread afloat. After several more listens (7 according to my iTunes play count), this album is solid pretty much through and through. I would say that an album with only 9 songs doesn't have the length to afford a dud or two ("Four Long Years" is a little too new-wave for me), but for a group of older English gentlemen, this album certainly warrants attention amongst those who want to further explore Wire.
Their first 3 albums are absolutely necessary for any "indie" person, but this would be a nice addition to anyone's catalogue. It's not quite as good as Send to me, but for some reason i really thought that album was something special and forced me to go back and re-evaluate their older work, thus leading to my deep adoration for these fellows.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
I sorta have the same feelings about this album as I did with 'Send.' They're both pretty good, I like listening to them, but when it comes down to it, when I want to listen to Wire, it's not the first thing I'll grab.
It's always great to see great 70/80's bands back. Bauhaus, Sparks, The Fall and now Wire. Love the new album but I'm still in process of listening to it. "Patient Flees" stands out for now.
---------------------------- Empires and kingdoms die
Originally posted by vanilaakt: It's always great to see great 70/80's bands back.
Not to mention good releases from Dinosaur Jr. and Mission of Burma recently, along with J. Spaceman putting out the great Songs in A&E this year. All in all it's been a good few years for late 70's-80's acts. Too bad New Order broke up.
I haven't heard this album yet, but I'm curious. I'm definitely a fan of Wire. I need to listen I think.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: sans_success,
I had a stick of CareFree gum, but it didn't work. I felt pretty good while I was blowing that bubble, but as soon as the gum lost its flavor I was back to pondering my mortality.
Posts: 574 | Location: Chicago, IL | Registered: 14 December 2007
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