154

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

"Chorus!", 2008-07-12
Wire's 'Pink Flag' is a timeless slice of arty Brit Punk. 'Chairs Missing' adds some interesting textures and melodies to their formula. 154, however, is a royal mess of an album. Sure, it's got some great Enoesque sound noodling, but let's not ignore the bloated, pretentious white elephant in the room. The album is infested with spoken "poetry" pieces that make Jim Morrison's worst rants sound inspired. And even the songs with nice melodies are contaminated by awkward lyrical attempts at self-awareness and edgy detachment. There's so much hype with regard to Wire's first three albums, but I'd say all of them are overrated. Compared to some of their contemporaries--like the effectively moody Joy Division, and the more experimentally daring This Heat--Wire just seems like middle of the road post-punk to me. br /And while the first two albums are nonetheless enjoyable, this one goes to great lengths to exemplify why Wire just isn't that special. br /

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Delicious from start to finish, 2007-10-27
"154." What to say about this masterpiece? To be sure, I am a Wire fan. As such, I write with a bias which favors the musical product of this band. The framework of Wire's compositions are rooted in intelligence, often wielding depth and complexity from minimalistic resources. I will always hold deep admiration and pleasure for their songs, which reflect the many corridors of human thought and feeling, translating those findings into incredible music. Wire is so much more than your typical "Baby, baby." (Incidentally, I am not knocking "baby, baby" songs. They're great, too.) Having said all of that, "154" is Wire at maximum command of all their musical prowess and charisma. I recommend this album for the listener who is exhausted with the trite and overused formulas that run rampant on the radio and TV. "154" is for those who want a little something different... and excellent.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

This Is The Standard, 2007-01-11
No other record ever made swings as widely as this one: Raw Power (Two People In A Room), Nervous Poetry (The Other Window), Euro Pop (On Returning), Glory (Map Reference) and such a force that sounds like the end of all life, yet you wish it could go on after it is over (A Touching Display). There has never been, nor ever will be, a record quite like this. To describe 154 is to photograph heaven. Lyrically and musically ahead of any other post-punk band by light years, this is the disc I would be stranded with. If you don't have it, get it now, and be ready to re-adjust your views on life.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

A POST-PUNK CLASSIC, 2006-06-05
A CLIFFORD HODGE REVIEW br /This is one of the overlooked classics of the post-punk era, and probably belongs on the top 20 list with NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, the first CLASH album, PIL's SECOND EDITION, etc., yet it even gets underrated by WIRE fans. This has a dark, bass sound, associated with groups like JOY DIVISION, but with a more ominous-sounding vocal style. Probably darker than JOY DIVISION, SISTERS OF MERCY, THE CURE, etc., it may have been considered just too gloomy, although it is not so much depressing as it is oppressive, hammering at you more like a series of short Jonathan Kane compositions, but less repetitious, and with deep vocals invoking strange dream-like images. This should be the album for which WIRE is remembered 80 years from now. The LP on original release in 1979, contained a bonus 7-inch, but the CD has 4 extra tracks not on the LP. This is a must-have for fans of progressive punk/new wave.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

Bonus Track Explanation, 2006-05-31
According to AllMusic.com regarding the extra tracks: "The original 1989 CD issue by Restless Retro features four bonus tracks from an experimental EP issued with some copies of the vinyl LP." I don't know why Amazon lists these tracks on the remastered CD, they're not there.