yeah, i don't get how 154 is difficult. though it depends on what you are used to, i suppose. i find that whole album so beautiful. and dramatic.
"On Returning" and "The 15th" conjure that feeling -- something so awesomely, impassively cool-as-in-collected and cool-as-in-chic kinda way. Stuff like "A Touching Display" and "Once is Enough" are more histrionic than dramatic. Every time I approach this album, I'm repelled. I try to describe that suspicion here.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 21 October 2008 02:00 (fifteen years ago) link
I have never been able to appreciate 154 as much as the first two, and Chairs is definitely my fave.
― sleeve, Tuesday, 21 October 2008 03:26 (fifteen years ago) link
re: the band break-up, point taken. i'm probably reading too much into the account of the fractious 154 sessions in this (pretty interesting) essay by mike thorne that i read a few years ago: http://www.stereosociety.com/154.html
― jabba hands, Tuesday, 21 October 2008 03:33 (fifteen years ago) link
All three are untouchable Godlike works of unbelievable genius.
― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 21 October 2008 03:49 (fifteen years ago) link
i'm still looking for my soulmate who loves commercial suicide as much as i do. okay, maybe not a soulmate, but it's one of my favorite albums of the 80's and i don't know too many people who love it. or anyone, really.
Errrrrrrrrr, me.
― Ich Ber ein Binliner (Tom D.), Tuesday, 21 October 2008 08:55 (fifteen years ago) link
Yay!
― scott seward, Tuesday, 21 October 2008 09:18 (fifteen years ago) link
(i even love It Seems, the one that came after commercial suicide.)
All together now...
"An imprrrrrrressive beginning and a move towards ChinaImplicit and duplicit, particle and meta particle!"
― Ich Ber ein Binliner (Tom D.), Tuesday, 21 October 2008 09:22 (fifteen years ago) link
Is it weird that my favorite song on 154 is "A Blessed State"?
― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 21 October 2008 13:46 (fifteen years ago) link
No
― Ich Ber ein Binliner (Tom D.), Tuesday, 21 October 2008 13:47 (fifteen years ago) link
It would be weird if your favorite was The Other Window, or A Touching Display.
― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 21 October 2008 21:24 (fifteen years ago) link
chairs missingtie for 2nd
that stereosociety link was most informative, gave me new appreciation for how they got some of those sounds
― 6335, Tuesday, 21 October 2008 22:58 (fifteen years ago) link
love all three
― I'm glad the chihuahua beat it this wkend (latebloomer), Tuesday, 21 October 2008 23:02 (fifteen years ago) link
Off the nut I have to say Chairs Missing but now I have to go back and listen to them all again to really decide.
"French Film Blurred" = my favourite Wire song, usually.
― staggerlee, Wednesday, 22 October 2008 00:42 (fifteen years ago) link
154 beats Pink Flag by just a hair. Their my #23 and #26 favorites of all time. Chairs Missing is #194. Certainly not bad, but I always felt like it was a transitional album.
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 22 October 2008 05:22 (fifteen years ago) link
they're, not their. I'm going senile. And what am I saying, my top 200 of all time is more than not bad, they're all awesome. Ever have a beer when you're almost over a cold and feel like crap again?
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 22 October 2008 05:24 (fifteen years ago) link
1) pink flag2) 1543) chairs missing
I love pink flag cuz it plays like a compilation. there are so many moves on it that bunches of punk/indie/pop bands would pull over the next decade, except wire probably did them better and what's more all at once in '77.
my favorite song on 154 *is* "a touching display". I guess that makes me weird? that guitar at the end! it eats the universe.
honestly I have a hard time listening to chairs missing all the way through. I get bored and turn it off.
― Edward III, Wednesday, 22 October 2008 05:59 (fifteen years ago) link
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uB-0D-gV8mY/RuNU0oyRNUI/AAAAAAAADys/XbIiRjGbwrE/s400/Wire-Chairs_Missing_%2528album_cover%2529.jpeg
― shit_ebooks (am0n), Friday, 1 June 2012 22:44 (eleven years ago) link
I'm getting that new deluxe Chairs Missing w book (not bookLET) etc in mail today. Can't wait to see/hear it. PF should be here tomorrow. And next payday i will order 154. I love them all really but 154 contains the only dud out of all three afaiac and that is I Should've Known Better. Whew! That thing sounds so off putting (the awful speaking parts) and it starts the fucking record, it put me off 154 for literally years. A Touching Display is awesome however. Also got the cd/dvd of Wire On The Box which is also amazing and highly recommended to fans.
― VyrnaKnowlIsAHeadbanger, Friday, 5 October 2018 13:21 (five years ago) link
Took me years to accept Lewis' vocals.
― I like queer. You like queer, senator? (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 5 October 2018 13:28 (five years ago) link
Yeah, he can sound very pretentious. Hi, Alfred!
― VyrnaKnowlIsAHeadbanger, Friday, 5 October 2018 13:35 (five years ago) link
hi!
― You like queer? I like queer. Still like queer. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 5 October 2018 13:36 (five years ago) link
And yes I like queer too. And i used to like beer but i haven't drank in years.
― VyrnaKnowlIsAHeadbanger, Friday, 5 October 2018 13:37 (five years ago) link
"I Should Have Known Better" is great, the real dud is "Once Is Enough".
― Zach Same (Tom D.), Friday, 5 October 2018 13:38 (five years ago) link
"Ambitious" recorded years later has a laughable part too
ARE YOU HOTARE YOU HOTARE YOU HOTARE YOU HOTARE YOU HOTI FEEEEL AAAAABITTIOUUSSSSSS
― You like queer? I like queer. Still like queer. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 5 October 2018 13:39 (five years ago) link
my last post is gonna look awfully funny when yr screen name changes. Lol!!
― VyrnaKnowlIsAHeadbanger, Friday, 5 October 2018 13:40 (five years ago) link
Lol alfred that does sound funny. Don't know that one at all.
― VyrnaKnowlIsAHeadbanger, Friday, 5 October 2018 13:41 (five years ago) link
On the On The Box dvd the version of Once Is Enough smokes!
― VyrnaKnowlIsAHeadbanger, Friday, 5 October 2018 13:43 (five years ago) link
I Should've Known Better wouldn't smoke if it was on fire!
― VyrnaKnowlIsAHeadbanger, Friday, 5 October 2018 13:44 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKWynGorQto
― You like queer? I like queer. Still like queer. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 5 October 2018 14:14 (five years ago) link
I Should've Known Better is fantastic. You pepole are insane. The turkey of all turkeys is The Other Window.
― kornrulez6969, Friday, 5 October 2018 14:15 (five years ago) link
154 contains the only dud out of all three afaiac and that is I Should've Known Better
this is probably the wrongest thing posted to ILX in 2018
― imago, Friday, 5 October 2018 14:22 (five years ago) link
but hey, opinions!
at least we agree Graham Lewis' doomy doggerel and funeral camp were duds!
― You like queer? I like queer. Still like queer. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 5 October 2018 14:22 (five years ago) link
I don't! Go and listen to 23 Years Too Late until you recant
― imago, Friday, 5 October 2018 14:25 (five years ago) link
Unless I'm wrong, Lewis sings Sand In My Joints which has always been among my very favorite Wire songs.
― kornrulez6969, Friday, 5 October 2018 14:31 (five years ago) link
I like it too.
I should point out, for fairness' sake, that Lewis was for many years the hottie in the band.
― You like queer? I like queer. Still like queer. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 5 October 2018 14:31 (five years ago) link
chairs, missing
― adam, Thursday, 19 November 2020 23:28 (three years ago) link
A-Z won, 'f I've four.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 20 November 2020 16:26 (three years ago) link