Wire - 154: Classic or Dud?

No, 154 was the number of gigs they had played at that point. Or so the legend says.

yeah that's what I heard as well

When I was in my late teens, I was encouraged to buy this album at a used record shop (ca. 1998, maybe). The shop owner (an old-school punk) said: we used to get high and listen to this album. Best sort-of-advice I ever received!

Classic! This may actually be my favourite Wire album.

http://cdn.discogs.com/0xvQfrhEUO_D8Y5tc2Z05DOYAg4=/fit-in/588x589/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(96)/discogs-images/R-6731843-1425502746-4364.jpeg.jpg

Looks like rockets shooting off and flags and stuff.
Idunno. Douknow? Always wondered.

/\ That was supposed to be "WTF is the art?"

"Chorus!"

i have always found this album mostly impenetrable, save "i should have known better", "the 15th", "a touching display", "map ref", and ESPECIALLY "40 versions". "40 Versions" is just unbelievably sick.

A Mutual Friend 4eva!!!

re the cover:
SPOILER!!!!

look away

it says WIRE in highly stylized typography
turn the album cover upside down
unmistakeable 'W' right?
the 'i' is easy to see too

squiggly/rippled line/strips represent 'r'
3 lines or strips are the 'e'

think the designer managed to get other references in there too, like pink flag...

so what does the back cover say?

Designed by Lewis and Gilbert I think? (not sure I buy your theory that it say 'Wire')

all part of the same picture if you have the LP

the W wraps around to the back so you may not see it if you're not looking at the LP cover

this album is perfect

correct!

what is your favourite song

https://i.ibb.co/MB2Vgf3/154.jpg

would wear wire

what is your favourite song

― imago, Monday, December 3, 2018 5:12 AM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

idk! at this point "a touching display" i think?

Don't tell Alfred.

hot take: goth prog is good

Damn, those sweaters are the ultimate post-punk Dad uniform.

I'm sure someone could do a Christmas version as well.

a touching display is a fine, fine choice, probably in my top three

still can't look beyond i should have known better for #1 tho. one of those openers that guarantees the album immortality no matter what the rest of it is like

obviously the rest of it is full of stuff like a mutual friend and on returning so it would be immortal even without ISHKB but still

"A Touching Display" was always my favourite too.

154: I should have POLLed better?

the two shortest songs are my favorites, but the whole thing is soooooo classic

i heard a long time ago that the first three wire album covers are meant to work together, in combination. i was absolutely certain of this, and even thought i saw an image that showed how it looked.

i'm doing it now and it doesn't look right at all? am i making all this up?

pink flag and chairs missing makes some sense, overlaid. but 154 throws everything off.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51v0KGMKu9L._SY355_.jpg

pink flag / chairs missing:

https://i.imgur.com/2idNn2d.jpg

pink flag / chairs missing / 154:

https://i.imgur.com/XdFC35p.jpg

ah, thanks J Sam. the On Returning comp is a remix of the covers. i must have seen it when i was younger and assumed it just a full overlay. how many weird lies have i told myself over the years, this could be a problem

154 throws everything off.

― Karl Malone, Monday, December 3, 2018 10:39 AM (four minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

there's no center, so otm

what is your favourite song

― imago, Monday, December 3, 2018 5:12 AM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

idk. at this point "a touching display" i think?

― jolene club remix (BradNelson), Monday, December 3, 2018

Going to see these guys in March!

Toying with seeing them again. Current version of band were good live a few years back

they're not coming to SF this time :(

I listened to the entire album today and can't remember a single thing about it except one of them yelling OKLAHOMA really loud

They still play only new songs?
If so👎

I think I'd rather see them only play new songs. Not that I'm likely to go out of my way to see them.

I want to see them play material from Read & Burn 1-3 and Send

They mix it up live but tend to focus on the last few albums.

they're not coming to SF this time :(

Oh damnit, I was out of town last time they performed and it was at the closest venue to wear I live too.

Yeah, they've been reasonably normal about the old songs in recent years. You won't get dot dash, but.

opden gnash (imago) at 3:00 24 Jan 20

I want to see them play material from Read & Burn 1-3 and Send


saw em in that era and that's pretty much all they did!

it must have ruled!

Ha, tbh, I bought a ticket because they're basically playing next door but hadn't checked recent setlists. I just sort of assumed I'd get to see "Map Ref..."

I saw them on the tour for Change Becomes Us. Of course that album was largely reworked from Document and Eyewitness era. My notes say they did these:

Marooned
Drill
Doubles and Trebles (formerly “Ally in Exile”)
Adore Your Island
Re-Invent Your Second Wheel
Stealth of a Stork
B/W Silence
Magic Bullet
Love Bends (formerly “Keep Strumming Those Guitars”)
As We Go
Attractive Space
The Flying Dutchman
Blogging for Jesus
Map Ref.
Smash
Comet
Two People in a Room
Spent
Pink Flag