Music Review: Wire, WIRE

By Jeffery X Martin

“Seminal” is a funny word which makes the 12-year-old boy who still lives inside my adult body giggle. Yet, this is the word most often used to describe the band, Wire. They are a “seminal” New Wave band. Maybe they’re a “seminal” art punk band. They might be simply a “seminal” rock band.

Regardless, since they released their seminal (there’s that word again) debut album, Pink Flag, in 1977, Wire’s fearless dedication to reinvention and battling against musical stagnation have been an influence on almost everyone who came after them.

Their new self-titled album is a great jumping-in point for the new listener while still providing plenty of things to love for long-time fans. It’s an exploration of all the moods of Wire, from short pop songs to long, drawn-out descents into hell. WIRE provides the listener with no-frills intensity laced with nonsense.

Opening track, “Blogging,” sets the pace for the album, with Colin Newman droning his way through a stream of consciousness tale of Internet lunacy. “Blogging like Jesus/Tweet like a Pope,” says the chorus, which means nothing, but Newman’s vocal delivery and the driving two-string bassline will hammer their way into your brain. The song, “In Manchester,” isn’t even about Manchester. The song is made up of random lines sent over to Newman by bassist Graham Lewis, completely unrelated in any way. The song is pretty funny when you know that, but it’s a great one even if you don’t.

The album hits dark pop perfection with the driving standout, “Split Your Ends,” which is driven by Robert Gotobed’s relentless drumming on a stripped-down kit (hi-hat, bass, and snare). It’s the perfect mixture of old and new Wire, music from the cheering section of the abyss, the kind of song that makes you either want to dance or build a new island for the kitchen.

Songs like “Octopus” and “Harpooned” take the elevator all the way down, grinding and depressing, murky like a catfish pond. “Harpooned” is the album closer, and it is eight minutes of harsh beauty. It’s everything you love pushed into the meat grinder, reduced to its base form, yet still worthy of adoration and respect.

WIRE is an evocative album and comparisons to other bands are easy. Listeners will hear echoes of Radiohead and Swans, bands that Wire itself had influence on. Music is a flat circle when you’ve been around as long as Wire, and WIRE is their Carcosa.

Most bands tend to falter at this stage in their careers; Wire is on the cusp of an incredible new phase, if this record is any indication. The only problem with this new set is the potential of burning it out too soon. The impulse to listen to WIRE on repeat for a month is almost undeniable. Holy crap, this is a good album. In a year that has been filled with better-than-average music so far, WIRE is one collection of music you must own.

WIRE was released by pinkflag on April 21.

Tour Dates:
April 14-18 – UK – LONDON – DRILL : LEXINGTON (album launch)
April 20 – UK – SOUTHAMPTON – Engine Rooms
April 21 – UK – RAMSGATE – Music Hall
April 22 – UK – NOTTINGHAM – Rescue Rooms
April 23 – UK – LIVERPOOL – Kazimer
April 24 – UK – HEBDEN BRIDGE – Trades Club
April 26 – UK – ABERDEEN – Lemon Tree
April 27- UK – GLASGOW – King Tuts
April 28 – UK – LEEDS – Brudenell Social Club
April 29 – UK – MANCHESTER – Club Academy
April 30 – UK – BRISTOL – Fleece
May 26 – USA – PORTLAND, OR – Dantes
May 27 – USA – SEATTLE, WA – Nuemos
May 29 – USA – SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Slim’s
May 30 – USA – LOS ANGELES, CA – The Echoplex
June 02 – USA – CAMBRIDGE, MA – The Sinclair
June 03 – USA – BROOKLYN, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
June 04 – USA – NEW YORK, NY – Bowery Ballroom
June 05 – USA – PHILADELPHIA, PA – Union Transfer
June 06 – USA – WASHINGTON, DC – Black Cat
June 08 – USA – CLEVELAND, OH – Beachland Ballroom
June 09 – USA – DETROIT, MI – Majestic Theatre
June 10 – USA – LOUISVILLE, KY – Headliners
June 11 – 13 – USA – CHICAGO – DRILL : CHICAGO