Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
1981
Album Summary
Fire of Love is the debut album of the American punk band the Gun Club, released in 1981 on Ruby Records.
WikipediaA right load of pretentious bollocks has been written about this band "there's never been music like this, before or since". Well good, because it's shit.
The Gun Club's newest inductee Alec Baldwin joined us for our daily shooting this morning. The stats were: Animals killed 89 People killed 13 Not bad for a Sunday morning's shooting, but we must improve tomorrow.
The Gun Club's debut is the watermark for all post-punk roots music. With Pierce's wailing high lonesome slide guitar twinned with Ward Dotson's spine-shaking riffs and the solid yet off-the-rails rhythm section of bassist Rob Ritter and drummer Terry Graham, the Gun Club burst out of L.A. Nobody has heard music like this before or since. Pierce's songs were rooted in his land of Texas. Fire of Love may be just what the doctor ordered, but to cure or kill is anybody's guess.
Man, what a great album. Everything you love about Iggy, Violent Femmes, and all of the great american punk/post-punk bands is on display here. It's clever, fresh, different and, at the same time, oh-so familiar. Loved everything about it.
Incredibly fun early punk album. Enjoyable lyrics, memorable riffs (especially the few times they edged towards surfer punk), and an album that is impeccably paced for punk. It was an absolute blast to listen to.
The more I listen to it, the more the vocals really start to put me off. Between a 2 and a 3, but gets a 2 because it was more annoying than enjoyable.
Pure punk-a-billy, can hear their influence in a lot of punk and indie bands that followed
I like a lot of post-punk, but somehow never checked out this band. Psychobilly, "punk blues", and cowpunk are all things I don't care about - so maybe those labels put me off. But holy shit this is good. And holy holy shit, it sounds so much like Pixies. I mean, you could say it sounds like Pixies ripped off Gun Club... or more positively, it's like discovering a Pixies album I never knew existed. I surprisingly enjoyed the punk energy given an Americana tinge, and I definitely enjoyed the Black Francis-esque vocals. I haven't had a chance for a second listen, but I'll stick my neck out and say 5/5, because this is seriously good.
Jack White asking "Why are these songs not taught in schools?" completely sums up my feelings on this album. Absolutely incredible.
Great post-punk blues-y stuff. I already know this band influenced Japandroids ("For the Love of Ivy") and Jack White immeasurably, but they really do the impossible and make rockabilly sound cool.
I somehow missed out on this band entirely and I'm worse off for it. Wow, what a great record. You can hear everything from The White Stripes to Pixies in this, but none of the bands drawing influence are able to completely capture the mix of punk, blues, and garage quite like this.
Twenty years before the White Stripes and the Black Keys, there was The Gun Club. They brought flat-out rock with touches of rockabilly. Too nuanced for the post-punk crowd and not rockabilly enough for the scene that brought us the Stray Cats, I don't know that they ever found their place, but there's lots here to enjoy.
Yes! More punk, less post-punk! Kind of rides the line of punk and rock-a-billy. Doesn't overstay its welcome. Toes the line of anger and goofiness. Love it!
Muy chido. Qué gran sorpresa descubrir esta banda. Me gustó todo el disco pero sobretodo she's like heroin to me y ghost on the highway que tienen ese efecto desenfrenado, torpe, estresa de algún modo. Mood: Amsiedad
El post punk angelino es siempre un SÍ. Además tienen grandes canciones y una producción que ya le gustaría a Dream Syndicate en sus primeros discos. Sí rotundo
Me gusta mucho la música que suena peligrosa. Y sucia. De sudor sexoroso y sudor de cruda. Uno de mis discos favoritos.
Like some of the best albums we've heard so far, this one feels so ahead of its time. Really lays the foundation for a myriad of garage punk acts to follow. I can hear the influence on Japandroids, the White Stripes, and loads more.
August 2, 2021 This is really cool! I had no idea this band existed but this album combines some of my favourite musical influences (punk & blues, apparently?)
One of those groups I've heard mentioned but I don't think actually listened to before now. Definitely motivated to check out more. Can I assume Black Francis was a fan?
So this starts off polished punk. Then bluesy. Then - wow - Led Zeppelin, a bit 'Doors'y - and i'm taking this in wide eyed. This is amazing. This is why I'm doing this - to be introduced to great music I'm not familiar with. As someone else said "the magnitude of discovering The Gun Club cannot be understated" and it could well be my words. Thank you!
I am very familiar with THE GUN CLUB’s FIRE OF LOVE, which I have and liked very much. After re-listening to FIRE OF LOVE, I’ve grown to appreciate it more, however, I feel that MIAMI is the superior release and should be the second GUN CLUB album in the list. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, THE GUN CLUB’s FIRE OF LOVE Is the only album listed. Rate Artist: THE GUN CLUB (5.0) Rate Album (Year): FIRE OF LOVE (UK 1988 Original) (5.0) Rate Album (Year): FIRE OF LOVE (US 2004 Expanded) (5.0) Ranking of THE GUN CLUB - FIRE OF LOVE songs No. Title Length Ranking 1-01 Sex Beat 2:48 09.5/10 1-02 Preaching The Blues 4:01 10.0/10 1-03 Promise Me 2:38 09.5/10 1-04 She's Like Heroin To Me 2:35 09.0/10 1-05 For The Love Of Ivy 5:37 10.0/10 1-06 Fire Spirit 2:49 09.5/10 1-07 Ghost On The Highway 2:46 10.0/10 1-08 Jack On Fire 4:45 10.0/10 1-09 Black Train 2:13 10.0/10 1-10 Cool Drink Of Water 6:19 10.0/10 1-11 Goodbye Johnny 3:47 09.5/10 US 1988 Original Release 107.0/110 = 9.73 / 2 = 4.86 Bonus Tracks: 1-12 Bad Indian (Alternate Version) 2:25 10.0/10 1-13 Cool Drink Of Water (Alternate Version) 1:00 08.0/10 1-14 Fire Of Love (Alternate Version) 1:49 10.0/10 1-15 For The Love Of Ivy (Alternate Version) 5:33 10.0/10 1-16 Ghost On The Highway (Alternate Version) 2:47 10.0/10 US Deluxe 2020 (% Bonus) Release 155.0/180 = 9.69 / 2 = 4.84
Prva petica za nekog kog nisam čuo nikad, nego otkrio preko ovoga. Svaku pjesmu sam pravo uživao i svaka čast, hvala generatoru! Mješavina tolko podžanrova and it fuckin works beautifully HOLY FUCKING SHIT, polagano ću ja diskografiju slušat.
The first four Gun Club albums are all classics - always liked The Las Vegas Story the most - less blues and more new wave / post-punk -I guess it is not on the list but really should- but in any case Fire Of Love is great too, punk-blues might be the best qualification. It is quite intense and needs to be played as loud as possible.
Might I suggest if you have never heard this album put it on your list of things to do today. You'll not be disappointed.
such a fun, awesome, creative take on punk might be a bit repetitive and times but I loved every second 10/10
Heeft mij absoluut verrast. Simpele maar complete muziek, fijne gitaar, goeie vocals. Topalbum die zeker in de rotatie gaat
This album is a phenomenal work of post punk with a gothic country feel. The songs have a simmering quality with a driving Bakersfield beat slowed down which creates almost a menacing quality that persists throughout. This music is highly influential and has been cited by Jack White as a major influence as can be heard in the garage revival of the early 2000s.
Was frightened to be walking into another post punk nonsense album but this kicks ass. Definite forefather to the late 90s early 00s garage rock revival sound I hold dear, especially a lot of the Detroit bands from that era that you can hear in this album. If I would’ve heard this shit in 1981 I would’ve lost my goddamned mind
Sounded generic on first listen but I really liked it after the second
Esto es como un punk que suena ya más producido. O es la impresión que tuve, como todo punk casi, son cosas que escucho y pueden emocionarme, pero a las que difícilmente me engancho con cotidianidad. Este es un disco medio ligero, con una que otra parte descollante y hasta ahí. La portada me gusta mucho, eso sí, puse poca atención a sus letras. Me gustaron "For the Love of Ivy" y "Black Train". 7.5/10
A pretty groundbreaking combo of punk and blues, it's really cool to hear the origin of this sound.
No way, first track Sex Beat was an instrumental track that I really liked off Earthed 2, but that version was by Two Lone Swordsman. Had no idea this was the orginal. Sounds kinda like 80s punk but mixed with blues. Really enjoying it. 4
I had never listened to this album and it was fun to listen to. I even looked the band up and everything!
I was familiar with a couple songs through covers, but never heard the original or this whole album. Really enjoyed it.
Nota: 4/5 No coneixia el grup i m'ha semblat molt fàcil d'escoltar. M'ha recordat a The Cure. L'àlbum m'ha passat volant.
Cool blues/roots punk. Sex Beat is a treat of an opener. great formational album of a lot of the grunge and alt rock.
great stuff - good racket and actually tuneful unlike some early yank punk. 4
I love discovering punk/protopunk/postpunk/garage bands that I wasn't familiar with before, and this was a really good one. Shades of the Velvet Underground, The Stooges, Television, with a little blues and cowpunk thrown in for good measure. Pretty unique. 4 stars, will definitely listen again.
Decent punk. The energy in the first half was really good but it dragged a little by the end. 7/10
7/10. Pretty revolutionary to take punk music and merge it with genres that sound good. I can see how it was influential.
Sounded very ahead of this time, often funny! It was definitely stronger towards the beginning. 7/10
Makes you wish that blues and post punk was a more common combination, especially in the hands of musicians who know to use dynamics in rock music
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Punk albums on this list have been very hit or miss (mostly miss), but this one is cool. The blues/roots side of things is really cool. I'm a bit concerned though; the vocalist employs a few choice slurs and he is not black. Not a good look given the violent, Southern-themed nature of the lyrics, even if it's a reflection of a character he's embodying. It's jarring and makes me bristle, but fortunately the music surrounding is still strong. I guess that's just part of the darkness. Great album overall, excellent punk riffs and melodies. I can hear how this would have influenced tons of bands that followed. Favorite tracks: Sex Beat, She's Like Heroin to Me, Cool Drink of Water, For the Love of Ivy, Jack on Fire. Album art: This is a cool one. Nice bold colors, startling imagery. Does a lot with a little. Seems very homemade. 4/5
Frábær, tímalaus blanda pönks, blúss og rokkabillí. Greinilega áhrifavaldar fyrir ýmsa artista sem komu á eftir. Þessi plata hefði getað komið út á hvaða áratug sem er eftir 70s.
Sex Beat is pure punk, but Preaching the Blues is solid blues. Preaching the Blues feels very current even today, ironically it even sounds commercial! It's a love letter to punk but also a pioneer album for punk. 80s punk need look no further than this album. I am not too well versed in punk, but this is probably the best punk album I have heard. Songs are great, ranging for life, drugs, love, lust, music, freedom, all the punk tropes! Cool Drink of Water is a blast! Just bayou, haunted, strange, bluesy punk.
Yeah, this was pretty good. Totally not familiar with these guys, but it sounds like I should be.
Dobar energični punky-blues? Može proć taj naziv a... Inače, za njih znam jer mi je slučajno u spotify daily mix upala njihova "Mother of Earth" (odlična stvar btw) sa albuma "Miami" - taj sam album jedino onako površno poslušao od njih, ali mi nije bio loš što sam čuo. Isto tako je i ovaj album. Dosta dobar, sviđa mi se, nije savršen, ali ima ono nešta što men' paše.
Nekako sam htjela da mi se ne svidi album al mi se svidio nažalost UGH. Jack on fire mi je banger
Ok, this is not a first timer. I've heard this record a few times but had experienced it in two different ways: it either blew me away or it was just too tinny sounding for my taste. I guess this was one of those bands you needed to see live in order to really appreciate their music. Anyhow, you can tell that they were really wild and thunderous. UPDATE: The more I listen to it the more I like it. So bad that I need to pass to the next record. Crossing my fingers!
Excellent stuff! Why have I never heard of this before? Can't believe it's from 1981!!
Very interesting - a sound that is of the blues, but not blues; of country, but not country; yet these two elements are blended in too thickly to to allow this to be simply called post-punk. This is wiry, haunted music sometimes played with the lope of Bob Wills or the prowl of a Howlin' Wolf. The main characteristic, though, is how organic and alive the band sounds, shifting and shuffling tempos and dynamics with none of the lockstep niceties of a metronome. Peculiar, singular, rootsy, a little gothic even. Hard to recall hearing too much like this before now.
I wasn't aware of The Gun Club at all before this and I gotta say, I really liked this. For the Love of Ivy is a great song. I don't know a ton about who they're pulling from, but I'm gonna do a dive on them. Good stuff.
One of the best things in following this 1001 albums challenge is this kind of discovery. I never heard about "The Gun club" before, but this early post-punk is becoming one of my preferred things to listen to these days. Great discovery!
This record immediately caught my attention and kept it throughout. An excellent debut with original guitarist, Ward Dotson that's catchy and interesting. Ward went on to a fine career with the Pontiac Brothers and Liquor Giants and he really shines on this album.
Pretty good fun. Can hear how a lot of later bands would be influenced
Love the post-punk stuff, highlights are: Preaching the Blues, She's Like Heroin
I was familiar with the gun club before listening, but I don’t think I’ve ever listen to a full album of theirs. I really enjoyed it, especially driving around.
Mad fusion of post-punk and blues. Tight musicianship and an endearing vocalist. I get a bit bored during the blues breakdowns. Kind of reminds me of a proto-white stripes. All in all a great album and a band I was completely unaware of before.
I had never heard of this before and I had a great time. Like a proto-Pixies noisefest
A different kind of punk sound. Interesting to read how much they influenced artists I like. Disturbing lyrics at times. But a good listen for today.
It was a real revelation to hear this very classic 80s sounding punk, melded with blues and country and folk and rock 'n' roll roots. This album has everything! And it works! Even if it won't be going into regular rotation in my playlists, the craft of it is something I absolutely appreciated from beginning to end. I hadn't ever heard this, but I could absolutely tell it influenced much of the 80s alternative sound that came after that I did listen to. Really cool!
Nog nooit een punkachtige blues album of bluesachtig punk album eigenlijk geluisterd. Klinkt wel vet
музыкально мне очень понравился этот альбом, по лирике некоторые песни тоже мясо полное. вообще в целом атмосфера героинового шика и ебанутого микса музыки с ненавистным мною панком, делает эту пластинку особенной на фоне базовых школьных предметов. в какой-то момент я даже думал поставить 4+, но вспомнил что так нельзя, так что просто 4 Лучшие треки: Sex Beat, Preaching the blues, She's Like Heroin to Me, Jack on Fire, For the Love of Ivy