Dr P
21 tracks and a runtime of 36 minutes sounds like cause for getting a psychiatrist to certify Wire insane and have them locked up in an asylum. But it works! The songs all have a classical structure with an intro, body and end. This is impressive especially when you consider that “Field day for Sundays” clocks in at 28 seconds and is a fully fledged rock song.
The best way I can describe the experience of listening to this album is by comparing it to going to a fine dining restaurant and having the tasting menu.
Tiny bits of music, all well crafted with each song flowing nicely into the next one. Finally when you are done with the degustation and step back all 21 songs seamlessly become one musical experience. Just like have an amazing food experience!
My stand out songs on this album:
- Field Day for the Sundays
- Ex Lion Tamer
- Pink Flag
- The Commercial
- Mr Suit
- Strange
- Fragile
- Mannequin
- Champs
- 1 2 X U
Score: 10/10
G
Crazy sounds from 1977. Great spirit in the songs, lyrically the songs are sometimes mean, sometimes fun, sometimes nonsense and sometimes hint of disasterous events lost to time (“how many dead or alive in 1955”).
The spirit of the album feels like the thrill of plugging an electric guitar in for the first time and falling in love with the sound - who needs more than two chords with that?
Stand out songs:
- Reuters - great sounds
- Ex Lion Tamer
- Lowdown
- Brazil
- Pink Flag - foreshadowing grunge
- The Commercial
- Mr Suit - of the time, sticking to the man
- Strange - The attitude reminds me of Bob Dylans Ballad of a Thin Man
- Fragile - marks a nice shift to the later part of the album
- Mannequin - Nineties feel
- 1 2 X U
Score: 7.5/10
Combined score: 8.75