Wire- Pink Flag (1977)

Wire is a post-punk band from London. That's right, is. As in they are still together. You may be thinking, how can an album that came out in 1977 be considered post-punk? Wasn't punk, like, invented in 1977? And you would be more or less correct. Wire was certainly influenced by first-wave punk groups like The Clash and played a similar style of stripped-down rock 'n roll. There's some of the urgency of punk rock in the pace of these songs, though Wire generally has more hooks than their contemporaries. However, at times they play what almost seem to be dirges in their plodding heaviness (something Black Flag would pick up in the mid-80's).

No matter what Wire is doing, Pink Flag is an exercise in minimalism, even down to the cover art. Its 23 tracks come in at just around 40 minutes. Rather than the traditional verse/chorus/verse/repeat song formula, Wire is content with just a single verse and chorus (or sometimes no chorus). The lack of repetition is remarkable. The music itself is rather simple, which isn't to say it's not good, but technical it ain't. That being said, the riffs are good, Colin Newman's efforts are enjoyable both lyrically and vocally (he occasionally puts on the sarcasm/sneer that was popular in punk rock), the bass lines bounce and the drumming is competent. I particularly enjoy some of the guitar tones on this album. For me a lot of early/proto-punk bands tones' were too trebly and hollow sounding, Wire's guitar sound has balls.

Pink Flag's influence is widespread. Minor Threat covered the song "12 X U," post-punk and post-hardcore bands like Fugazi took a page or two from Wire's playbook and modern day indie rock rock bands owe them a debt as well. You may have heard the riff from "Three Girl Rhumba" before, it was ripped off by Elastica (a shitty alternative rock band from the 90's, video below). Give this a listen if you're a fan of late 70's/early 80's punk rock, post-punk bands such as Television, post-hardcore bands like Fugazi or indie rock.





Get it here.

Gems: Reuters, Ex Lion Tamer, Lowdown, It's So Obvious, The Commercial, Mr. Suit, Strange, Mannequin, 12 X U, Options R.