Public Image Limited : When did you get off the bus?

I love most of their singles. Although Second Edition is one of my desert island disks, "Rise" is for me their peak.

― look at it, pwn3d, made u look at my peen/vadge (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 13:27 (2 years ago) Permalink

"Happy?" was so damn muddy, mixwise, I played it once, quite liked the last track, never went back to it.

― Mark G, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 13:34 (2 years ago) Permalink

only actually really got on the bus properly after seeing them live this time last year. So none of the above.

― ithappens, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 13:35 (2 years ago) Permalink

Listened to Album the other day and really enjoyed it. A great bunch of musicians for that one, but still really coherent.

― Krampus Interruptus (NickB), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 13:40 (2 years ago) Permalink

have never investigated past flowers of romance, which has to be an oversight given 1st/2nd are some of my favourite albums

― rouxymuzak (nakhchivan), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 14:38 (2 years ago) Permalink

got off the bus when i saw PIL performing a terrible version of 'anarchy in the uk' on the tube, offended my punk purism or somesuch bs, wld prob love it now

― Ward Fowler, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 14:42 (2 years ago) Permalink

got off the bus when i saw PIL performing a terrible version of 'anarchy in the uk' on the tube

definitely a public transport-related joke here

― rip whiney g weingarten 03/11 never forget (history mayne), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 14:44 (2 years ago) Permalink

I basically still care about them through Flowers Of Romance, but I kept buying the albums through Album (suppose I'm kind of curious again about those mid '80s ones now -- haven't heard them in forever.) Happy is when I completely stopped paying attention, so that's what I'm voting for. (Though I've still never heard Commercial Zone -- in fact, I just checked a record guide to refresh my memory about what that one was.)

― xhuxk, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 14:52 (2 years ago) Permalink

Also, I've got a CD best-of (early/mid '00s probably) called The Greatest Hits, So Far, but I couldn't tell you a thing about any song after "Rise," I don't think. Should probably play that again sometime. And yeah, like Alfred, Metal Box (have an actual metal box, but a reissued one)/Second Edition is one of my favorite albums ever.

― xhuxk, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 14:56 (2 years ago) Permalink

I own that comp too; it boasts the new single "Don't Ask Me Why."

― look at it, pwn3d, made u look at my peen/vadge (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 15:02 (2 years ago) Permalink

Much of their post-'86 material sounds like spikier INXS.

― look at it, pwn3d, made u look at my peen/vadge (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 15:02 (2 years ago) Permalink

I own that comp too; it boasts the new single "Don't Ask Me Why."

― Mark G, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 15:06 (2 years ago) Permalink

Happy. Chronologically that also probably corresponds with my generally tuning out rock (in a very broad sense, yes) in general. I liked Album but was unimpressed when I saw them live around the time it came out. John Lydon resembled the Phillies Phanatic a little too much.

― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 15:34 (2 years ago) Permalink

I'm not sure I've ever heard Happy?

― _Rudipherous_, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 15:42 (2 years ago) Permalink

Live in Tokyo. cool cover promising "interesting" music inside. DID. NOT. DELIVER.

― hipity-hopity muzik ftw! (Ioannis), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 16:01 (2 years ago) Permalink

^^

― (ㅅ) (am0n), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 16:56 (2 years ago) Permalink

after "this is not a love song"

― hubertus bigend (m coleman), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 18:21 (2 years ago) Permalink

IMO anyone who bailed before Album missed one of the best albums of the 80s.

― Yeezy reupholstered my pussy (DJP), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 18:52 (2 years ago) Permalink

Album was their last effort I paid any attention to (although I do inexplicably own a copy of That What is Not).

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 18:57 (2 years ago) Permalink

Happy? has a few good songs on it (mostly "Seattle" and "The Body") but you might as well just get the "Seattle" 12" and be done with it.

― Yeezy reupholstered my pussy (DJP), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 18:58 (2 years ago) Permalink

The guitar sound on Album reupholstered my pussy.

― look at it, pwn3d, made u look at my peen/vadge (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 18:59 (2 years ago) Permalink

I don't expect anyone else to share this sentiment, but I adore 1989's "Disappointed." It rises to a magnificent pitch.

― look at it, pwn3d, made u look at my peen/vadge (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 18:59 (2 years ago) Permalink

Did anyone ever hear Lydon's Psycho's Path? (contender for worst album title ever)

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 19:00 (2 years ago) Permalink

ha I was going to mention "Disappointed" (why because it's fantastic) but I really stopped paying attention after that song

― Yeezy reupholstered my pussy (DJP), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 19:01 (2 years ago) Permalink

didn't bail; just hated much of his '83-'84 crap. kinda liked Happy, and REALLY dug Album back then, tho--haven't listened to either in full for the past couple of decades now.

xps

― hipity-hopity muzik ftw! (Ioannis), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 19:03 (2 years ago) Permalink

Lots of Psycho's Path tracks on Youtube.

― fit and working again, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 19:06 (2 years ago) Permalink

The Peel session of "That What Is Not"s "Cruel" is excellent.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 19:21 (2 years ago) Permalink

I feel like I might actually own the "Pyscho's Path" title track on some "electronica" compilation, but I have no idea where I'd look on my comp shelves to find it. (Also, didn't Lydon do a pretty good track with Leftfield once? Or am I confused about that?)

― xhuxk, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 20:08 (2 years ago) Permalink

Yeah he did - Open Up

― Bill E, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 20:21 (2 years ago) Permalink

'That What Is Not', I didn't like the single from it so I couldn't care for that album. As for "Greatest Hits - So Far", the new track there ('Dont Ask Me') was actually brilliant.

― zeus, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 20:22 (2 years ago) Permalink

Seattle is ace innit? I like it better than most of Metal Box that i've heard (and hated).

― piscesx, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 20:23 (2 years ago) Permalink

commercial zone is the most recent PIL album i still listen to, though the singles are great up through album

― phish in your sleazebag (contenderizer), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 20:34 (2 years ago) Permalink

actually, for whatever reason, commercial zone is the only PIL album i listen to with any regularity

― phish in your sleazebag (contenderizer), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 20:35 (2 years ago) Permalink

Went back to Album not long ago, and was surprised by how little I liked it, given how much I liked it in high school. So I guess the answer is Flowers of Romance, which still sounds great. Though the technically correct answer to the thread's title question is Happy.

― dlp9001, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 20:42 (2 years ago) Permalink

I voted That What is Not because it was the first time I finished listening to a PiL album and knew right then and there that I never wanted to hear it again. Wasn't a huge fan of 9 though some of it was still pretty good.

― Sean Carruthers, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 21:55 (2 years ago) Permalink

Really very fond of Seattle, the guitar part especially is totally fantastic.

― let's all go down the strand.....galifianaaakis (MaresNest), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 22:30 (2 years ago) Permalink

9 was the first one i bought - 'disappointed' was huge on postmodern mtv/120 minutes that summer. i own nothing past second edition now (though i always mean to get flowers of romance) beyond an mp3 of 'rise' (and very possibly some other tracks i'm forgetting/never listen to in some kroq end of year chart folder). still enjoy 'seattle' when i hear it on 80s radio stations, 'disappointed' still manages to provoke nostalgia.

― balls, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 23:15 (2 years ago) Permalink

I have the original Metal Box (with Keith Levenes autograph) that is now blackened with corrosion. It remains my favorite PiL record. Never really got into anything beyond that. I think I hit the wall with Lydons voice after a while.

― mc souleye (brownie), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 23:24 (2 years ago) Permalink

Happy, Album, and 9 were the three that I listened to most when I was 13-14 and just getting into "Weird" (at least weird by the standards of pop/rock radio at the time...) music. I haven't heard them in years and I have no real desire to. I remember when That What Is Not came out, I tried to like it, but ultimately decided it was a crappy record and I stopped listening to PIL.

Oddly, I had a very similar reaction to Stoned and Dethroned by JAMC a short while later. It's funny how a bad record can make you stop caring about a band. I still love the early JAMC stuff(especially Up Too High, and the 4 track version of On The Wall...best drum sound ever...) but I haven't heard anything the did after that record to this day.

As I got a little older, I got into the first three PIL records. 2nd edition was on endless repeat on my car cassette deck sometime in the last 90's, and PIL and Flowers were records I picked up around the same time. During my last move(a year ago), I decided to sell my copies of 2nd Edition and Flowers. I don't think they are bad records, I just have no desire to listen to the again. I still own the first one, but never play it.

They are one of those groups who had a lot of potential and just didn't realize it and then got dragged down by careerism. It is a shame that the early line up couldn't get it together and make a few more great albums.

As it stands, IMHO early Jah Wobble records shit all over PIL from a great height. I have infinitely more time for the How Much Are They EP and the Snake Charmer EP. I think a lot of it just boils down to the fact that I really don't give a shit about rock music anymore. There is nothing wrong with rock per se, I am just over it.

― srsly dudes pastiche aesthetic + amiable nihilism (Display Name), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 23:37 (2 years ago) Permalink

Honestly I can't listen to FOR despite much effort: it's 'experimental' in a half-assed way.

― look at it, pwn3d, made u look at my peen/vadge (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 30 November 2010 23:38 (2 years ago) Permalink

I returned This Is What You Want to the record store when it came out, traded it right back in for a Swans LP. So that one.

― sleeve, Tuesday, 30 November 2010 23:57 (2 years ago) Permalink

Did anyone ever hear Lydon's Psycho's Path? (contender for worst album title ever)

yes

it is not good

― i'm assuming that it's tity boi, host of the mixtape (sic), Wednesday, 1 December 2010 02:08 (2 years ago) Permalink

Did anyone ever hear Lydon's Psycho's Path? (contender for worst album title ever)

Yes.

I thought it was pretty damn good.

― Mark G, Wednesday, 1 December 2010 09:56 (2 years ago) Permalink

Albums: after Metal Box. I sort-of meant to get around to buying Flowers Of Romance, but economic circumstances went against it.

Singles: after "Don't Ask Me".

― mike t-diva, Wednesday, 1 December 2010 10:18 (2 years ago) Permalink

"Disappointed" in the running for best PIL single though.

Didn't we poll them?

― Mark G, Wednesday, 1 December 2010 10:26 (2 years ago) Permalink

This is not a love poll: Best/Favourite Public Image Limited single Poll

oh yeah, *I* did...

― Mark G, Wednesday, 1 December 2010 10:27 (2 years ago) Permalink

Think I would have voted for 'Home' in that.

― Krampus Interruptus (NickB), Wednesday, 1 December 2010 10:29 (2 years ago) Permalink

also, for those who haven't seen this..:

― Mark G, Wednesday, 1 December 2010 10:30 (2 years ago) Permalink

Paris au Printemps remains my fave PiL, btw--even tho i never really listen to it these days (i generally wimp out to the more sedate strains of ye olde Metal Box instead, tbt). but, man, the fucking ambiance of the thing is so beyond oppressive that i don't believe i could ever imagine better (or more appropriate) doomsday scenario music. add to that the fact that the live version of "Poptones" contained therein may well be my favorite live rock + artist/audience interaction performance extant (Wanker: "ATTACK! ATTACK!!"; John: "Wanker-shut-up..."; Audience "?"; John: "I'll walk of this fuckin stage if you keep spitting...DOGGG!"). and that its got a great/sick painted cover "portrait" of Lydon-Levene-Wobble as Jackass-Big Bird-looking thing-hirsute swamp beast(?), too. so, yeah, i really dig that one. and the sound of the original vinyl edition is truly brootal. but in a really good way. (sound on the cd sucks, natch. but then whadja expect?)

― hipity-hopity muzik ftw! (Ioannis), Wednesday, 1 December 2010 10:47 (2 years ago) Permalink

off, maybe...

― hipity-hopity muzik ftw! (Ioannis), Wednesday, 1 December 2010 10:49 (2 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

― System, Sunday, 5 December 2010 00:01 (2 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

― System, Monday, 6 December 2010 00:01 (2 years ago) Permalink

ILM OTM imo

― StanM, Monday, 6 December 2010 05:55 (2 years ago) Permalink

"Disappointed" still their second best single (after "Public Image")

― jerkstore cowboy (Pillbox), Thursday, 16 December 2010 04:43 (2 years ago) Permalink

Anyone thinking of getting back on the bus for <i>This is PiL</i>? Heard the new track linked over at <A HREF="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/song-premiere-public-image-ltd-deeper-water-20120517)";>Rolling Stone</A> and it seems okay enough. Got the <i>One Drop</I> EP for RSD this year but still haven't gotten around to listening to it...was a bit scared, tbh.

― Sean Carruthers, Monday, 21 May 2012 20:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

Whoops, meant to convert my code. New track is at http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/song-premiere-public-image-ltd-deeper-water-20120517

― Sean Carruthers, Monday, 21 May 2012 21:01 (1 year ago) Permalink

Yeah, almost bought the e.p.

Should, really...

― Mark G, Monday, 21 May 2012 21:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

huh that's pretty good!

― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 21 May 2012 21:13 (1 year ago) Permalink

Actually I really like that new track!

I don't think I ever got off the bus with PiL, but Lydon's collab with Afrika Bambaataa would make me get off any bus or cliff

― poxen, Monday, 21 May 2012 22:19 (1 year ago) Permalink

After two spins, the new album is half-brilliant, half-not-doing-it-for-me. About the same as "That What Is Not" in terms of hit/miss ratio. I'm particularly enmored with "Lollipop Opera", which feels like a Fall song!

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 21 May 2012 22:29 (1 year ago) Permalink

I don't think I ever got off the bus with PiL, but Lydon's collab with Afrika Bambaataa would make me get off any bus or cliff

wtf @ this, "World Destruction" is a killer single

― cosi fan whitford (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 21 May 2012 23:20 (1 year ago) Permalink

One Drop ep is very good.

― van smack, Monday, 21 May 2012 23:53 (1 year ago) Permalink

Aero otfm. "World Destruction" is all-time, and I bet it'd get a helluva reception in any club

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 00:21 (1 year ago) Permalink

Oh, and the track PiL did on the Dennis Miller show is fantastic:
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=vyOJ91KYh7E

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 00:23 (1 year ago) Permalink

Never got off this bus

― Vini Reilly Invasion (Elvis Telecom), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 00:40 (1 year ago) Permalink

Not really.

― โตเกียวเหมียวเหมียว aka Bulgarian Tourist Chamber (Mount Cleaners), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 00:42 (1 year ago) Permalink

By the way, they were awesome live in 2010 with some interesting reinventions of old songs. There's been a bunch of live shows from that tour released, anyone have a recommendation on which one is the best?

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 01:30 (1 year ago) Permalink

there is a live show or two on spotify, which I guess were released? they are pretty good, and I liked the new single, will check them out again if they tour since I missed that 2010 show. but yeah, happy through that what is not is some serious dregs that they wisely have avoided in recent setlists.

album is a fucking classic though, I love it (along with Swans Burning World, the other 'laswell jazzbo sellout' production from the same era)

― akm, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 18:00 (1 year ago) Permalink

"World Destruction" is the sound of two all-time musicians reaching their nadir at the exact same moment.

― poxen, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 21:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

there remained an awful lot of nadir to go, man

― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 21:44 (1 year ago) Permalink

btw I won't hear a thing said against "Disappointed."

― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 21:44 (1 year ago) Permalink

finding it hard to believe that anyone hates 'world destruction'

― mark e, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 21:47 (1 year ago) Permalink

we live in a world that has made Justin Bieber an international superstar, of course there are people who hate "World Destruction"

― that is a weird thing to bring up over lean cuisine (DJP), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 21:49 (1 year ago) Permalink

oh not you too, Dan

― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 21:55 (1 year ago) Permalink

Huh! I'm genuinely surprised it has its fans!

― poxen, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:04 (1 year ago) Permalink

GTFO, World Destruction slays.

― Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:10 (1 year ago) Permalink

this recent anti-WD mood on ILX takes me completely by surprise

― Roger Barfing (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:10 (1 year ago) Permalink

Want to boldly say something like 'Album is the only thing involving Laswell I ever need to hear again' but ehh I guess there's Ask The Ages.

― Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:11 (1 year ago) Permalink

what, She's The Boss didn't move you?

― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

D^%E&Y*&^(&*#$^*(

― Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:13 (1 year ago) Permalink

World Destruction is classic - took me ages to figure out what that song was when I kept hearing it on KROQ as a teen

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 09:54 (11 months ago) Permalink

oh not you too, Dan

wtf, no not me too, I'm just saying it's kind of crazy to assume everyone loves a song (unless that song is "Wanna Be Starting Something")

― that is a weird thing to bring up over lean cuisine (DJP), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 13:34 (11 months ago) Permalink

I could be wrong but I think Alfred was referring to your Bieber diss.

― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 13:38 (11 months ago) Permalink

That's not even a diss (even though it's true I intensely dislike Bieber), it's more an acknowledgement of the existence of Venn diagrams

― that is a weird thing to bring up over lean cuisine (DJP), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 13:40 (11 months ago) Permalink

so.....should I check out their show on Friday?

― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 2 October 2012 02:06 (7 months ago) Permalink

it could be good, it could be bad

― Euler, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 02:07 (7 months ago) Permalink

it could be wrong, it could be right

― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 2 October 2012 02:11 (7 months ago) Permalink

― Euler, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 02:13 (7 months ago) Permalink

they put a hot wire to his head!

― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 2 October 2012 02:15 (7 months ago) Permalink

now in the endless summer, I could be happy or in distress, depending on the company

― Euler, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 02:16 (7 months ago) Permalink

I never imagined a time when Brian Wilson would look better than John Lydon.

― Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 03:18 (7 months ago) Permalink

i saw them in 2010 and the first issue/metal box stuff was FANTASTIC - even if none of them actually played on it. The "psycho's path"/"rise"/"disappointed" seemed to please those old enough to remember them from college radio, but I just waited it out. Latest song they played was that Leftfield "Open Up" number though - would totally see them again on a Plays Metal Box tour but not sure about the new material.

― da croupier, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 04:06 (7 months ago) Permalink

i should exclude "psycho's path" from that college rock comment

― da croupier, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 04:07 (7 months ago) Permalink

Wobble & Levene have been doing Plays Metal Box shows this year, to Lydon's withering contempt

― ┐(´ー｀)┌ (sic), Tuesday, 2 October 2012 05:30 (7 months ago) Permalink

Things that don't earn Lydon's withering contempt:

- John Lydon
- Butter advertisements
- The Slits

― Half Jaglom Half Winkler (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 2 October 2012 05:55 (7 months ago) Permalink

- Poly Styrene

― Mark G, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 06:00 (7 months ago) Permalink

To give him his due, it really is good butter.

― Mates of 808 State (S-), Tuesday, 2 October 2012 06:45 (7 months ago) Permalink

I wonder how that Wobble/Levene ep released earlier this year is?

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 17:02 (7 months ago) Permalink

The Slits

I've never heard someone go off on someone else as savagely as Lydon did when talking to me about Ari Up (this was in the early 90s, long prior to her passing.) He was not kind. I've since heard he spent a lot of time teaching Ari's kids to read, since she didn't believe they needed to know this herself. I've never heard him much praise the Slits, to be honest . . . though he was quite lavish in his praise for the Raincoats.

I wonder how that Wobble/Levene ep released earlier this year is?

Pretty good so long as you're not expecting Metal Box II. But don't bother, as it appears that all four tracks appear in the new album, plus six more. I haven't heard that, so I can't confirm that the versions are identical, but buyer beware.

― crustaceanrebel, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 19:11 (7 months ago) Permalink

a bit more on this: http://www.contactmusic.com/news/john-lydon-i-was-too-busy-playing-daddy-to-reform-pil_1346009

― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Tuesday, 2 October 2012 21:53 (7 months ago) Permalink

― Thanks WEBSITE!! (Z S), Tuesday, 2 October 2012 22:06 (7 months ago) Permalink

"World Destruction" is the sound of two all-time musicians reaching their nadir at the exact same moment.

Not helped by the fact that Laswell has never understood that just because two things have never gone together before that doesn't mean they necessarily should.

― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:23 (7 months ago) Permalink