Wire - 154: Classic or Dud?

But yeah, I would say most fans don't rate the Manscape/Drill/First Letter era highly.

this is one of those things i've NEVER HEARD and i really must rectify that.

quite a few of us are just plain wrong, then, aren't we? :)

although i must admit, the read-and-burn era stuff makes a *lot* more sense as two mini-albums as opposed to one full-lengther.

I still haven't been able to find the "So and Slow It Goes" single, which has remixes by The Orb and LFO. I did manage to find the 12" with the 2 remixes The Halfer Trio did for Wire. Awesome.

Oh, and 154 >>>> everything else I own

Send: Check the lp version, all the tracks are 'redux' i.e. edited down to their basic essences, and all the missing tracks off the "Read and Burn" are included. I should get this, one of these days.

really? that sounds intriguing. does anyone have this? is it worth it?

i got the CD version because it came with the live disc, which is wonderful: "mr marx's table" only really works live, and the vocal on 99.9 is mind-blowing.

I have this, and I remember the idea being more exciting than the actual reality. I recall there was some sloppy editing.

I haven't played it in awhile though, perhaps I should dig it out.

i'd have to disagree there...

It blew my mind straight off. I had only really heard A Bell Is A Cup and Ideal Copy prior to this, and I wasn't prepared for the sheer brilliance.

A Mutual Friend is one of my all-time favorite songs.

that's what listening to 154 feels like for us, yes

Funny, I thought I typed this in last month... (Still haven't got the REDUX yet, suffice to say)

I mean, Miccio, it's not even worth responding to. We all know he's a joke. What's weird is that I like SOME of our posts Alfred, but then you post craziness like this. don't get it.

As for not playing an instrument, geez, can an argument be any lamer? You don't know if I play an instrument; and if I didn't, how would that make "154" a more rewarding experience?

Also, word from the Wire camp is that Bruce Gilbert has left the group, leaving Wire mark 3 in jeopardy. Colin's Githead album will be out this year though...

Funny, I thought I typed that in 6 months ago. (I do have the REDUX now, suffice to say I've played it once. Boy am I backed up with stuff thesedays. I blame that 1981 box)

Happy birthday, that message.

I have played it a fair bit now, and it's excellent stuff. More than the actual 'normal' CD funnily enough.

lyrically/vocally I see it as something to work through, beyond (kill this buddha, the road leads on)
love "Blessed State" though - an all time fave:
"loved in the flesh, but butchered in the mind"

sonically awesome - production masterpiece + terrific hooks and sounds.
much Cocteau Twins seems a worthy continuation of parts of 154 -
e.g. intro to "A Touching Display"

one review at the time (Rolling Stone?) read: Wire, Get Out Of Marienbad (!!!)