Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Good post punk sound with some tight playing and a bit of variation (funky bass) Love Damaged Goods. Glass is Jam like. Love like Anthrax not so good. Would expect I’d have been well into this if I was 8 years older in 1979. Though the one about being disturbed by the news while eating tea was a bit student activisity. 3.5. As it’s about 1000 times better than Van Halen I will go generous 4. The poor still weak / the rich still rule indeed.
Blistering album! Definitely like my post punk dubby, and this delivers on that front. Probably more than a little influenced on the dance/funk-punk side of things by the slightly earlier Talking Heads Buildings & Food, although in turn can detect the influence on so many others (LCD, duh..) so all fair in love and war. Joining Ed and Kelv in the Gang of Four Stars here, but closer to a 5 than a 3...
Banging post punk album, hardly a duff track on it.
I've loved this album for a long time and it allowed my entrance into post-punk as a genre. I still think I like proto-punk more but the jaggedness here is really fun.
Some sweet bass driven punk
There are probably more things for me to say about the album, but the rhythm section is just *chef's kiss*.
Wow, what an album. I have no idea why I have never bothered to listen to this after everything I've been told, and recommended by several people that it is right up my street. But I can be a stubborn old fool and just ignore it and leave it for another day. Well, that day has finally arrived. They weren't wrong, it's a beast, like the missing link between punk and New Wave - or Post Punk we call it nowadays. If Joy Division's Closer was not directly influenced by this then I'll eat my left testicle. Lovely jagged guitar lines, tight bass and drums. Im sure he was singing about something important, but I have no idea. I just enjoyed the rhythms and their great sound. After one play it is difficult to name a standout track at the moment, but I'm sure that will change.
Decent 4
A real nice punk rock album. I definetelly need to put that band on my radar.
A great example of the transition from the punk era to post punk. Iconic band of the genre.
Strangely I don’t think I’ve ever listened to Gang of Four before, despite them falling very much into the category of music I enjoy. Glad this came up, and I’ve been enjoying it so far. Def early post-punk sound.
La madre del Post-punk. Sus influencias son evidentes en las bandas posteriores (y no tanto en otras como REM) bien fueran todos los grupos de los 80 o más adelante (Radio 4, The rapture, Liars o Parquet Courts). Más allá de la simpleza del punk, mete dub, funk, reggae y sobre todo letras con mucho fundamento (la Escuela de Frankfurt sin ir más lejos). Apertura potente, que marca las coordenadas del disco. La cara B tiene otro animado comienzo con una de las mejores del disco. Natural's Not in It es un temazo para mover los pies, y Not Great Men ya te hace despegar. gran debut
Wow I really dig this Sick album art
One star for each of the gang. This is one I put on intermittently, which I’m always happy with. Then I forget about it for a few years. If it were a five, I’d simply probably remember it more often!
A lot of the pioneering albums I’ve been getting from the generator are interesting because they’re not quite there yet, like the genre isn’t done baking. The singles are great, but the rest of the tracks belong to the previous era. Not Gang of Four babyyyy!! It’s all here. Post-punk has arrived. Great album, killer cover, super listenable.
Bright punchy post punk, not really my style but I can totally appreciate it for what it is
Pretty poggers. Nice and angUlar guitars with motoring drums that propel you through the album. Influenced a lot
This album is quite interesting. I like the music in general, under where several songs that I really liked. Others not so much. 3,5/5.
I don't personally reach for punk often, but was pleasantly surprised with this album. The lyrics give you something to chew on and the music is interesting. Would sit down with again.
Fun, funky, and punchy Likes: Ether, Natural’s Not In It; I Found That Essence Rare
272/1001 Gang of Four - Entertainment Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Spiky, cold, indifferent to feelings. Yep this is a great record.
Aah so good! I know and love a few songs from here but had never listened all the way through. Those scratchy, pointy guitars used almost like percussion, amazing bass, and disaffected political lyrics are great. Could become part of my regular rotation, only time will tell.
Entertaining bunch of catchy punk/pop songs. Probably won’t get much repeated playing from me, nor does it make me want to explore their back catalog any deeper but glad I’m aware of it and it’s filled a gap in my musical education. 4
Edgy, tense, shout-chant insurgency with post-punk nervy stabbing guitars and nigh-on funk adjacent bass drum rhythms: angry, surreal, incisive, askew. And who'd have seen a psych-rock opera closer? Awesome.
Entertainment is a rather fun listen so it's name does feel fitting. They most certainly weren't lying about the Gang Of Four part either as there were four people who worked on this album (not counting the tape operators or the engineer). One thing i can also say about this album is that it is so unapologetically British, that accent that of the lead singer just reeks of British punk, and i love it. The songs themselves were all fun listens with them having upbeat tempos and quite a lot of work when it comes to the instruments. Granted this album does get really repetitive which is why i can't justify a full 4 star rating but it was fun enough to earn a 3.5 which rounds up to a 4 so it's still a win in the end. Best Song: At Home He's A Tourist Worst Song: Love Like Anthrax
Great album. Post-Punk/New Wave style. Leans more toward punk but still sounds like New Wave stylistically too. Reminds of Talking Heads, David Bowie, early Clash, Sex Pistols, Magazine. Really enjoyed the album. Every song is good.
Solid punk with some grooves.
I really enjoyed this album! Post-punk is at its best when it has a weird, experimental bite to it, and this one's got that. Noisy, angular guitar work and insane bass grooves really propel this one above for me.
Very pleasant surprise on this. Definitely almost overstayed its welcome at the very end but the social commentary was on point and they kept the instrumentation interesting.
New to me! Absolutely loved it - what a find!
i liked it very much
Neuentdeckung! Habe die immer als wichtigen Einfluss für Bloc Party und co. im Hinterkopf. Das hat was Rohes aus dem Punk, ist aber gleichzeitig sehr tanzbar. Werde ich mir wieder geben.
This is what all punk sounds like to people who don’t like punk.
this is about as close to punk as post-punk gets. If you added these songs to a ‘classic’ punk playlist, I don’t think anyone except the most pedantic nerd would even blink an eye.
I came into this expecting more pure punk aggression, found something considerably more sophisticated. The rhythm section carries a funk groove that the guitar deliberately works against, and somehow it locks. The lyrics are sharp political writing delivered with real urgency and clever delivery. Surprised me.
Clearly where Franz Ferdinand lifted all their best ideas from. 4 Stars.
Even if it’s not my favorite style of music, it’s easy to see that these guys were way ahead of their time and purveyors of the finest of the genre
spiky post-punk had a flat-mate who was into this scene
Ok
What a fun album. Punk you could dance too.
I apparently have a soft spot for this type of punky anti-establishment music, because I usually hate the cadence of British talk-rapper music SO much (except for you Charli xcx, who is without fault) but this I didn't mind.
I like Gang of Four, and saw them live in Vancouver back in the early 80’s. Great time for punk and post-punk music to flourish, and I tried to see as many bands as I could when they came to the PNW. I freakin love “To Hell with Poverty” and a few other songs, but for the most part, I never felt the love like some of my buddies. Much older now, and I still don’t really. I guess I’m just not pissed off enough. Still gets the occasional spin, to remind me of a much better time… Dems ruled, no war, women’s Lib, no AIDS (but coming soon), no Fox News, and Trump was just a creepy rich joke who owned beauty pageants so he could molest foreign girls. I guess I am a little pissed.
Gang of Four can I be your friend and become a Gamg if Five?
Well, this knocked my socks off. How I've managed not to hear this before I have no idea!
One of my favorite albums so far (15 albums in). A great bridge between the late 70s and the earlier 80s. I will definitely listen to this one again. 8.0/10. Top songs: All of them
Really fun bass tone and nice music overall. I'm assuming I've heard "Damaged Goods" before, but that is a great song. Solid album, if a little samey.
Chk chk chk chk dun nah nah nah nah nah Chk chk chk chk. This album has grooves and anti-capitalist sentimental galore. But it's really about the guitar As influential as any on the list - Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fugazi, R.E.M., LCD Soundsystem, Rage Against the Machine, Minutemen, and Bloc Party all pull liberally from this album. chk chk chk chk chk chkchkchkchk chk dun nah nah nah dun nah. It starts with the guitar - Andy Gill is a guitar hero without all the notes. Quite the opposite actually - it's the notes not played. It's the space. Chk chkchk chk chk. chk. Biting lyrics of the Sex Pistols atop grooves courtesy of Chic. It sounds common place today but this got the punks dancing side to side as opposed to just up and down. Chkchkchckchck chkchk. And gave em something to to think about. 4.5 chks.
Sounds like Elvis Costello and fugazi had a love child and fed it on speed. Angular guitars, funky bass, cryptic lyrics- I can’t believe I hadn’t heard this before.
Liked: Ether, Natural's Not In It, Damaged Goods, Return The Gift, 5.45, Love Like Anthrax Added: Ether, Natural's Not In It, Damaged Goods
angular and straightforward. fun guitars. perhaps a bit too uncomplicated at points. love like anthrax is sick
Cool!!!
This is the knockoff version of the Talking Heads. In this case the knockoff is still pretty good
I was unfamiliar with Gang of Four prior to this popping up. I wasn’t huge into the English punk scene in the 70s largely due to being born in the US in the 80s, so these guys slipped by. I found their lyrics somewhat repetitive and uninteresting, but the real hero here is their guitar. Specifically, the lead guitar and his distortion. The influence their style of play had on the fluorescent indie scene cannot be ignored. Arctic Monkeys (a favorite of mine) were so heavily influenced I had to be sure I was listening to a separate band. Franz Ferdinand as well pulled quite a bit from them. I’d even say that much of the vocal arrangements on top of the instrumentals were the building blocks that led to much of the indie sound from the aughts to present. While I wasn’t super into the story they wanted to tell, I cannot deny that I enjoyed this album. Hearing an early version of a music styling you adore is always a treat.
Another album to file in the "I would loved it when it was 18" section. Great spiky punk with strong bass and some catchy tunes.
I’m giving it a light four. I definitely like it more than a 3, even more than a 3.5. Every track has something I really like in it.
really good... love damaged goods
++: Ether, Natural's Not in It, Damaged Goods, Return the Gift, Guns Before Butter, Contract, At Home He's a Tourist +: Not Great Men, I Found That Essence Rare, 5.45, Love Like Anthrax 8,5/10
Nice bass, nice cock
NICE
Has a lot of the best parts of punk, like simple but great riffs and raw energy, but I can also hear why this was so important to post-punk. The bass playing is also really good. The vocals are a bit generically late 70s British punk, but the reason that style became standard was because it worked. 4/5
It's fine! I think I might've liked it more if I had louder headphones
Good stuff
No. 88 Great discovery! A punk energy that doesn't preclude and a certain sophistication in the riffs and grooves.
This was a lovely, mellow album with clean instrumentals and vocals - I enjoyed it
Post punk is the most punk.
Very fun sound.
Gang of Four Stars
I didn't hate it, the overall sound is quite enjoyable. And for sure we have unique melodies here, which can be said about a lot of albums I'm reviewing here, and which cannot be said about lots of modern music. I was gonna give it a 3 and never come back, but I decided to give it a 4 and maybe come back. This album deserves to be played somewhere at some point, just not now for me.
Heard this before really appreciated it more after two listens today.
Heard of never really heard until now. Good, very good. There was something in the water of these post punk brit bands of the time. Gives you how it is, an unromantic kitchen sink view, and don't appear to give a damn whether you wanna hear or not. Musically it's just a ride from start to finish. Good stuff 4 Star
So much true punk energy! The sounds are so destructive and well defined. That busy brash bass and that angular broken guitar are such a cool niche. I feel like this has influenced a bunch of music that I don't really care for, but also a huge proportion of my favourite music. They're also not afraid of a pop hook
I like it.
Väldigt distinkt stil, bra attityd, catchy låtar.
I liked this one! Great energy throughout. A little "noisy" at times, but bearable.
Maybe a low four, but they have a jangly, punchy sound that appeals to me, and I can see how their DNA was passed forward to other bands I maybe like more.
i'm between 3 and 4 on this but going to be generous. i enjoyed this album but might have given it the extra bump because i went to wikipedia and saw this album is from NINETEEN SEVENTY NINE!!!!!! i thought this came out during the indie explosion in the 2000s LMFAO this is an extremely ahead of its time album!
I always appreciate when guitarists are playing chords and I have absolutely no idea what they are doing. The Strokes (and all the rest of those bands) clearly spent a lot of time listening to this.
Fun discovery. Easy to see how this influenced Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, and U2.
It is easy to see why this band had such a heavy influence on the music scene. The lyrics are highly rebellious and questioning of authority and power. I can see how this was deemed radical in the 70s. It is also very cool to see that in the band’s bio, there were a bunch of bands in there that stated they were influenced by GOF who also had albums in this list that I’ve listened to so far (ie REM, Sleater-Kinny, LCD soundsystem, etc). Their influence was definitely palpable, never mind the catchy heavy bass lines and guitar riffs. One sound they used did remind me of Resetti from animal crossing lol. I like how 5:45 alluded to the name of the album saying that bloodshed and governmental corruption is all for entertainment as it is publicly televised and it’s supposed to just be eaten. A deeper dive could definitely be taken into the meanings of all the songs and I’m interested to see what everyone else has to say about this one.
Have heard of them but never heard them before and I had no idea what to expect. I was thinking throughout I know where Franz Ferdinand got inspiration and that’s no bad thing. I really like the angular choppy sounds and the prominence of the bass. This is good. The novelty does start to wear off before the end but I’m still giving this a strong 4
7/10… punk / dance rock / *1979
Love the guitars on this. The vocals are lackluster mostly being speaking on the beat. Didn't have time to read through the lyrics but I wasn't super interested in them. The guitars manage to push the sound of this record so far and every song felt fresh because of it. It's almost like the first few tracks give you the vibe and then the later tracks push it. Low 4, carried by amazing guitar
Post-punk might not be exactly the most loved genre on here (see: Metal Box), but given this one at least has a good sound, it's better than that, at least. Solid 4 Stars.
Maybe this sounds familiar, but my first listen to this band was because Frank Ocean sampled “Life of Anthrax” on ‘Blonde’ (the drums are slowed for “Futura Free”). It’s an odd first song to listen to, especially out of context, so I never gave them much of a chance. I really enjoyed this as a whole listen, will definitely return to them!
Caught a groove a few times
Guitars that can slice diamonds, sharper than that special katana that Uma Thurman gets in Kill Bill, faster than a jet. They’re angry but articulate, drawing a clear line in the sand between punk’s frenetic and messy riffs. Gang of Four are here to introduce post-punk by saying “we’re still pissed off, but we’re tighter and more articulate”. I can hear RHCP, Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and many other angular, funky guitars in this record. This is one of those surprising and fresh 1001 albums that really resonated for me, and I look forward to more listens and learning about Andy Gill and his guitar tone.
The opening track had me dreading the rest of the album. "Ah yes, another slog through some obnoxious British slop", I thought to myself. This album is numbered somewhere in the 500s for me, so I've gotten pretty accustomed to this sort of self-torture that I occasionally subject myself to with all of the aforementioned British slop that gets thrown up from this list. My assumptions were very pleasantly incorrect in this instance. This album was really cool. It wasn't mega noisy like a lot of the others that I totally dread. I really dug it, especially for the era that it came out. Certainly, ahead of its' time and influential on a massive amount of music that came out within the following 10-15 years.
I’d not heard this before. I liked it a lot! I reckon it was an influence on lots of other bands I like and so I’ve sort of experienced the echoes of it. Will listen to again.
Stond al in men bibliotheek, maar nog niet echt naar geluisterd. Echt een goeie album dat licht politiek getint is, met goeie melodies.
Das war DER Knaller damals
Hard as nails
pretty nice
4/5 + How is this almost 50 years old? It still sounds fresh + Cool artwork + Really interesting punk bass + Love the lyrics +- Ether as an album opener is a bold choice - wasn't easy to really get into, but it did click with me eventually Fav: Damaged Goods, At Home He's A Tourist, Love Like Anthrax, Least Fav: Not Great Man
This is the kind of post-punk that I enjoy. Was familiar with this album, but have never listened before and found it to be lively and well played. It is very good. 4/5 Will likely listen again
Solid and I had immediate respect when I heard REM stealing them in there, but I got restless and bored as a cat by the end.
I liked this. Reminded me of various post punk acts from the late 70s and early 80s, like the the first couple of Cure albums. Especially enjoyed the final song.
first listening medium, since second I'm a fan
Its alright, noe ordentlig klassisk punk
Now this is what I'm talking about.
3.5
This is a great album, angular and energetic. Not punk so much as post-punk with clearly politically focussed lyrics.
A surprising like. Great guitar. A bit like a proto, English, Green Day.
Not gonna complain about more post punk. A ton of catchy melodies, the stretch from Return the Gift to Love Like Anthrax was very nice. Kinda wish his voice was louder in the mix so I had any idea what he was talking about - maybe next time.
Fantastic! It’s official - I’m a post-punk girlie. I just love the edginess, clean lines, and addictive energy. Bonus to Gang of Four for being early - this is 1979 and sounds fresh af to these ears. I also appreciate their political consciousness.
A glaring gap in my musical knowledge considering how many bands who cite them as an influence. Did not disappoint!
Really enjoyed this one! "Return the Gift" stood out as a high point, but there weren't really any lows.
Dope
So similar to Talking heads that if it werent for the voice Id probably wouldnt recognize or differentiate the bands apart. No matter its a great band and this album is top of the line. All very new wavish punk with experimental sounds and sillyness which is refreshing.
Solid 4, liked it more as it went on
Good listen, enjoyed Damaged Goods
If this was my introduction to punk, I would have listened to way more of it as a kid. Very good album, needs another few spins to catch what I missed the first time.
Gear: Penon FAN 3s Artwork: 🪶🤝🤠 Production: 🎚️🥩📀 Music: 🔝🎸✊ Rating: ❗❗❗❗/5
This was a fun listen. Cool, funky, crisp, sharp, biting and a tad snarly. Yeah I dug it.
I'm about halfway right now and I'm digging it. It's a great album. They mix up a few genres like punk, funk and reggae so well. I was shocked as I don't usually like post punk type stuff. You can feel it's not a new album due to tone but the mix is done well even if it's a bit stripped down, the bass comes through so damn well. It's infectious really. Really fun album.
Really liked this album. Seemed almost like early 2000s rock
It’s like listening to The Clash but without all the super heavily played songs. It’s rough around the edges but isn’t that part of being punk? Overall super solid punk album. 7/10
I'd never listened to this band before, but it felt familiar and adjacent to a lot of music that I like.
Another one that feels familiar through who it influenced, enjoyed listening and will know doubt check it out again and others in the catalogue
Punk ingles 1979. Muito bom!
This is a pretty crazy record to come out for it's time. It feels like half of modern indie bands are just trying to be quirky versions of these guys. I think I prefer Wire over these guys but still a solid post punk / dance punk album listening experience.
1979 y los tipos ya haciendo algo post punkero innovador, letras geniales, actitud. Tiene todo. Discazo. 8/10
Great punk album with variety that kept it funky and fun without that usual drone that makes you need to stop listening to most punk after one or two songs. Really felt exploratory and timeless in nature. Great listen.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr David Allen! Absolutely ripping bass bringing this album to another level. Sadly I just learned he passed away in April. Just as sadly I just learned who he was 10 minutes ago. Really enjoyed this. Entertainment! Is my introduction to gang of four, this was my first listen but it felt very familiar. You can feel and hear future bands like fugazi and the offspring. Mostly i heard a lot of early Chili Peppers (pre-Mothers Milk). The Brits really do this genre well, very happy to have discovered this.
Gute Unterhaltung.
Rules
I Really Enjoyed this. It was fun, Fresh and just what I felt like. I can only imagine what a vibe watching these guys must have been like. some savage base and drum riffs. That intro to Not Great Men was just fantastic. I need to listen to more of them. Notable Songs, Not Great Men, I Found the Essence Rare, Love Like Anthrax. 4 Stars
Gang of Four's 1979 debut, "Entertainment!", a favourite of the music press and publications like Sounds in the UK at that time. "Entertainment!" is fundamentally a British album, providing a sharp reflection of its era, saturated with biting social and political commentary. Today's mainstream is devoid of this challenging and provocative music. The production on "Entertainment!" is excellent, providing direct crystal clear sound, allowing every angular guitar stab to cut through. While many of the tracks are intentionally jarring, the band proved they could write a hook, with tracks like "I Found That Essence Rare", which offers a more accessible and catchy chorus. Jon King's vocals are delivered in a direct, often colloquial English, functioning less as traditional singing and delivered more as urgent, spoken-word declarations. Despite being an album focused on social and political commentary "Entertainment" delivers an irresistible urge to move and dance. With standout tracks like the "At Home He's a Tourist" and the brilliant, "Love Like Anthrax," "Entertainment!" remains a most enjoyable and essential listen. Four stars. Side one 1 "Ether" (5/5) 2 "Natural's Not in It" (4/5) 3 "Not Great Men" (3/5) 4 "Damaged Goods" (5/5) 5 "Return the Gift" (5/5) 6 "Guns Before Butter" (3/5) Side two 1 "I Found That Essence Rare" (5/5) 2 "Glass" (3/5) 3 "Contract" (3/5) 4 "At Home He's a Tourist" (5/5) 5 "5.45" (4/5) 6 "Love Like Anthrax" (5/5) Total - 50 Average - 4.17 132/1001 68/132 albums reviewed were new to me.
Among the multifarious progeny of this classic - the Minutemen, Black Flag, Fugazi, the Feelies - I want to call out Rage Against the Machine, simply because, whatever you think of the politics here (and I'm generally in favor of them) the playing on display is *incredible*. Andy Gill, Dave Allen, and Hugo Burnham may have a claim to the title of Most Valuable Rhythm Section (Gill included here because he's playing rhythm guitar and he fucking *plays* it). As far as those lyrics go, the verbosity is a blessing and a curse at times but Jon King's delivery makes it work. And I'm willing to excuse some Neo-Puritanism ("Damaged Goods") in exchange for a clear statement of class purpose - and "please send me evenings and weekends" on "Return the Gift" is about as pure as it gets.
Done this one
Real good album. Another post-punk band that has been completely off my radar but that I immediately liked. I'll need to check out more Gang Of Four. 4/5
I don't know why I thought they were a 70s US soul band, but I noticed someone before me commented the same, so I am not alone in this. Anyway, it means I haven't heard about this hugely influential post-punk album before, which was a mistake on my part - it's a really great album, tight, punchy, funky with interesting lyrics as well. The album went by really fast which means it's a compact, consistent and entertaining album. 4 stars upon first listen.
dobro
Fantastic
Just loved the raw energy of it!
Kind of reminds me of a more straightforward punk version of the Talking Heads. Feel like I've missed out not listening to these guys before. Pretty cool album, will Listen again.
4.5
Thought I’d be mellow towards this but it was fun as hell and had my attention loud and clear for the lyrics. Good, clean, simple music whilst saying all the right things.
Highly energetic and lovely album.
Took me a few songs to warm up to their style of singing but it really grew on me. Favourite song: Damaged Goods Least: Ether
Pretty solid punk/post punk! Wasn’t loving the last track or two, but I really enjoyed this overall!
Not bad, but not as good as their later stuff and not as good as the Buzzcocks. 3.5
Go4 is amazing. Damaged Goods is a classic, but the rest of the album is energetic and frenetic...a great time. 4.5/5
I feel this album is what Devo and Talking heads feels like to me. Edgy but straight forward, great bass, really enjoyable. I’m surprised I haven’t heard of these guys before, but I really like them. Excited to get more into them
So great! So influential, sounds like so many other things I love from all of the decades that followed it… a ton of fun
one of the fun albums of all time... been lovin this thing for like 15 years!!
Sonic Youth on low settings
Crazy influential (chili peppers and franz ferdinand) and really original, but not that enjoyable for me. The songs just sit on one idea too long. Gave it 4 stars for impact, but minus one because I couldn’t really enjoy it.
Never heard of this group. Very punchy punk. The album has a brightness and funkiness to it. I really enjoyed this album
I’m not quite sure what the difference is between “punk” and “post-punk”. Nonetheless, I did enjoy this one. It’s not literature, but it is fun as hell.
i’ve listened to this before but it’s so good and obviously damaged goods is a classic.
Don’t know why I’ve never listened to this before. Like a more aggressive Young Marble Giants. Will definitely listen again.
Great punk album. Not sure why I love hearing a marbled mouth brit singing punk but it is fantastic almost every time.
The bass line and guitar squeal get a bit redundant but that's early post punk. This is good album, I hadn't listened to Gang of Four in probably 15 years and after listening to this album again I don't know why
First time diving in to GOF and loved them! Love the driving bass lines
Legends
A party of post punk goodness!
Entertaining
You can hear how this influenced pretty much every album I've loved since I was a kid...
raw and good tones
Talk-singing, a bit English, a bit guitar. I don’t mind it
Бодренько так звучало фоном. 6,5 из 10.
This is very close to being a 5 for me. It’s just missing that something special to put it over the top. Very very good though
Loved it even though I'm not into punk. Politically charged, interesting musical genre mix.
Kind of a baffling album because I really love it but I definitely don’t think I need to listen to it again? I can hear the influence on so many bands I love. But there’s something so overbearing and crushing in this. Natural’s Not In It? I love that song. I don’t know if I want to listen to it again though. I have really mixed feelings. 4 stars why not
Good vibes, again not my cup of tea but I appreciate it for what it is.
Love how janky this sounds. Cool album
Funky and punky, a fun listen
Gang of Four are one of those bands that I think I should love but I just don't. They've inspired several bands I love and I enjoy punk, post punk and indie rock a lot. However, for me, this album only just about scrapes a four.
Post-punk goodness at its best. A great debut from an often overlooked band. Smart lyrics coupled with sharp edgy sounds. Pouring an extra one out here in honor of bass player Dave Allen who just passed away in April 2025.
This had me sounding like Denzel Washington (Okay, Alright…) Very nice surprise and really enjoyed this. Just felt like some bros picking up some instruments and jamming. 3.5 but rounding up bc it was a pleasant surprise.
I dug this. Punk rock with some funky beats. Could feel the influence on contemporary bands like Strokes, Hives (or is it Vines), etc. Rounding up based on the surprise-factor. 3.5/5
Damaged Goods is an incredible song and the influence of this band is really clear. Its just something i dont see myself coming back to as a full album experience.
Best first wave dance-punk album, also the packaging is pretty cool. 8/10
this was super fun to listen too and i dont even understand why also 5.45 is the most british thing ive ever heard and its awesome
I like it. Pretty clean sounding and fun. Good album.
SHIT NICE, PUNKY
it’s fire 4/5
Solid post punk I wish I had more to say
this was really brilliant i enjoyed it a lot
So fire Fav song: Ether
Abrasive, energetic new wave punk music. Love the guitar tones and drumming on this album.
one of the best guitar albums of all time. a classic.
Such great musicianship, interesting and confident, varied and accomplished, sparse but complete (see the melodious in “It’s Her Factory”). Winner of the 1979 Grammy for “Best New York punk band not a punk band from New York”.
Sounds modern! Surprised the hell out of me. Rock, funk, pop, all-in-one. Cool sounds.
haha yeah
Wow! This is completely new for me, and it instantly caught my ear. I’m really enjoying it. This is why I did this project!
good for something i never heard of
I was really groovin' to this. I get why they influenced so many of my favorite bands. I usually demerit based on repetitive-ness, but in this case, I appreciate that they lean into it!
71/100.
This album is a good time. I really liked it.
Good vinyl
I actually didn’t dislike this like I thought I would at all. The sound was clearly influential and despite it being a 1979 album, I think you’d guess it was way later if you didn’t know. Tested this on my girlfriend and she said the 90s. The rhythm across the whole album is phenomenal.
A classic album. One I've enjoyed many times before. Definitely a huge influence on bass forward punk bands like the Minutemen. 4/5 Album 58/1001
Ether 3.7 Natural's Not in It 3.8 Not Great Men 3.6 Damaged Goods 3.7 Return the Gift 3.5 Guns Before Butter 3.6 I Found That Essence Rare 3.8 Glass 3.7 Contract 3.7 At Home He's a Tourist 3.8 5.45 3.8 Anthrax 3.8 Score: 3.708333333
Rebellious, dance-y, hella British. Recognized Damaged Goods from the Idles cover, but the OG is way better. Fave song: Damaged Goods
Rated it a 4, but it'd be more like 4.5. Small nitpicks about some songs keeps it from a 5, but this album is incredible The middle of this album from Damaged Goods to Glass is a sweet spot of rowdyness and interesting concepts that the early and later portions of the album didn't really meet again, but are still great songs. This album feels like an interesting in between of what early punk was with glimpses of what post punk would be without the gloomy elements. Once again, amazing album
Excellent album. I think if I was a youngster at this point in time I would have been totally into this. Still seems to sound modern and I can see if this was influential. 7.5/10
As soon as I saw this was post-punk, my eyes rolled back in my head because most things described as post punk end up being some nerdcore high synth new wave junk like the Talking Heads. This is not that. This is really just punk. Or maybe a bridge between early punk wave and the skater punk of the early 90s. This is great album full of good tracks that I'll probably listen to again. 4/5.
The bass is always great, and these are fun off the wall songs with good lyrics. This is very close to a 5, but something is holding me back
I respect this album. Love the artwork. What the RHCP wish they were
Never heard of them before but really enjoyed the music
Never heard this before, but loved it, mainly because it made me want to dance and jump around. I feel like it sits nicely between The Clash and Adam and the Ants' Dirk Wears White Sox. A punk energy, but a very pop sensibility if you ask me, and there's nothing wrong with that. The wondrous basslines nearly secured it a fifth star, but I found tracks 10 and 11 (out of what I think are the original 12) less appealing.
Post punk, this could be good. 4 solid stars.
Amazing
This is everything great about post-punk: fatalistic political ideas wrapped in catchy and accessible tunes without ever straying into pretentiousness. In that sense, it's everything that The Libertines we just listened to wishes it could be. A star among stars which particularly stood out to me: the bass work. It's a character on every track and feels very familiar as someone who has listened to a lot of punk past this era, which I guess says something about its influence.
Incredible album. Went to a protest today. This was my album. Delightful synchronicity.
Brilliant post punk, but it sounded awful in the car. I think the production is very thin and tinny. Otherwise, I’ve always wanted this on vinyl and I still do.
Seminal post-punk that that works well. Philosophically-heavy lyrics. Evident that this influenced Rage Against The Machine and other major artists. "Damaged Goods", "Return The Gift", "At Home He's a Tourist"
I think that I Found That Essence Rare is going to live in my head for quite some time, without even having the courtesy to pay rent. This was great to be fair, very spiky but melodic, a bit brooding, a bit danceable. Top stuff.
I’ve read that a number of bands were inspired by Gang of Four and I can see why and hear their influences in those later groups.
Good and cool
Not the most exciting album. I do think I'd listened to it before, as I do like 'Damaged Goods' - it is one of my favourite songs. Wasn't pleasant, more background listening.
If you told me this album was released yesterday, I would believe you without question.
Some guys having fun and making a punk record. It was worth it because they made a fun punk record.
I have no clue why I slept on this album for as long as I have, or Gang Of Four for that matter! Crunchy, angular, stabby guitars, driving rhythm section with punk attitude but more accessible than the faster, more aggressive punk.
Very fun. Reminiscent of Henry Hill helicopter montage.
Not bad at all - love the angry energy. It was indeed entertaining.
This album is trying to fool you. It sounds like it's recorded in a basement with cheap instruments. The vocals are basic. There are multiple voices recorded, but no harmonies. But this is actually a really good album. Like, a really good album. I'm honestly really caught off guard how good this is. It's not going to be for everyone, and there are some moments that aren't done well and end up kind of bad. But there's a lot of songs that are just executed so incredibly well. This album is more than worth multiple listens. Favorite Song(s): Natural's Not In It, Damaged Goods
I was entertained by this! But for some reason I don’t think the band had that in mind when creating it. The post punk aspects of this album felt very raw in a way that peers like The Clash, for me, never quite achieved, even on their great albums. Fun guitar hooks and punchy bass lines do a lot to distract you from the poignant lyrics, the primary star of the show here.
What a boring band name, but the music sure rocks! Must say this raw sound they produce sounds really and good for a '79 record. It feels like a predecessor to Franz Ferdinand, and sometimes Red Hot Chili Peppers as well. The guitar and bass works perfectly together and complements each other very well. The album is probably at its strongest in the first half, but I was overall impressed by how almost every song had some kind of hook to it that worked for me. This has to be a 4 star for me. Probably a slightly weaker one, as it's lacking some stronger songs, but the overall quality across all songs definitely carries it from a 3 to a 4.
The album's art seemed boring. Didn't read the band name or the description just started it up on Spotify. The first notes of "Ether" made me pay some more attention. It was not the sound I was expecting at all. By "Natural's Not in It" I was bopping a long. Great riffs, great tones on the guitars and just a great abrasive sound. I had completely forgotten about "Damaged Goods" until the opening bars. I have listened to this before! Such a good song. Great riff, great lyrics! The rest of the album kept high quality. Really enjoyed it. Just breathes with personality and punky attitude. 4 stars.
A classic that I need to give some more attentive listens to still, to fully understand it.
Really enjoyed this! Damaged Goods is a great song!
fun and punky, though not entirely in my personal wheelhouse. I would probably put this on for a listen again so I will give it a soft 4.
Never heard of these guys before. Not once. I loved this album. Wonder why these guys were never that big in the US?
Today I realized I've been missing out on gang of four. This record is great. I can see the lines drawn from this to various Ted Leo / Rick Froberg projects, of which I am a huge fan. Turn it up.
Shined light on a musical blind spot
oh awesome, more punk music from almost half a century ago!! the sound is heavy and so are the british accents. those of you who enjoy listening to classic british rock might get a kick out of this one, with typical tracks expressing indifference, capitalism and political issues. the lyrical material, while clever sometimes often feels stereotypically punk, so there's only so much i can say about that. I'm loving the rhythm though, especially the guitars.
I love this era- so fresh and vital. I can imagine being in a smoky pub on a Friday night, pint in hand and listening to these guys whilst avoiding the crush of punks in the middle of the room.
Leuk hoor
A high 4. Like nothing I’ve heard before, epic
Pretty good. I think I’ve heard a couple of these songs on compilations or cover versions.
Ramonesque for several tracks, but then some heavier guitar riffs create some distance.
First time hearing of this band...
24/1001 This album has a lot of merit. The songs throughout sounds interesting and creative without blending together. It’s strongest aspect is without a doubt the riffs, which are great most tracks, especially highlighted on Natural Goods. The vocals I think are a bit hit or miss. On some songs they add character and work, while on others they just feel out of place. 4/5
Good, solid punk album. I prejudged once I saw British post-punk that I would hate this, but pretty cool and easy listen.
Love gang of four
This was a cool listen. The composition and instrumentals are great. Not all songs are equal but none are bad. I was a bit surprised it was late 70s and even more surprised it's a debut album. Solid sound and production. Worth a listen for sure. The album cover is cool.
Surprisingly I quite liked it. Is this when post punk became good? Interesting musically. I dislike the vocals. They still sing like British punk and I absolutely do not like that
Jagged in every sense of the word. A general sense of unsease permeates the whole work, but with pop overtones. Hard for the mind to bridge the gap but it feels good to try. No sugarcoating the hard side of love. Giitar, drum, and bass work spawned a thousand bands. In 1979, this was pretty damn amazing.
ether er frábært. annað mjög gott. 4,5.
Plus pop que je ne m'y attendais dans ses influences, aussi dansant que frondeur.
I discovered this album a few years ago, and I've listened to it a ton since then. This band is everything that RHCP could have been, and they did it a generation earlier. The album is a bit uneven, as the first half is fucking amazing, while the second half just feels like it's kinda missing something. It's not bad by any means, just not the complete murderer's row of bangers that make up the first 6 or songs. 4/5
Punk at a high level
Really solid album, clearly influential post-punk, and raw catchy tracks throughout m. Definitely will revisit
Rating: 8/10 1 - Damaged Goods
Best Song: At Home he's a Tourist Worst Song: Love Like Anthrax
Post punk simplicity, bordering on straight up minimalist funk, with super cutting lyrics. This was just what the world needed when this came out. That feeling hasn't changed in me, though I have changed drastically in that time.
Natural's Not In It Damaged Goods I Found That Essence Rare At Home He's a Tourist (Love Like) Anthrax
Stars of Four
Great band. Need to listen to more
Looks like I have been sleeping on this band, but no more. Loved this. A great example of how good, plain fun can still be interesting and artful. Crank it up and have a dance party while observing the darkness of the world!
This was big on campus when I was a college freshman. Great fresh, stark, punk sound. They seem to be leaning into the Devo thing (without the humor), particularly in the vocals. Love the bass driving a lot of their sound. I particularly love I Found that Essence Rare and Damaged Goods
Es un muy buen disco, saqué varios temas. Es una onda Ramones Ska o the clash adormecido. Se vuelve un poco monótono pasando la mitad.
More fun to listen to than I expected, as I found the cover art quite irritating.
Fun, I like the simple and punchy bass lines. They feel really good in the mix.
This was a really good post punk album. Enjoyed my time. Some bangers too that I added to my playlist
I had "Found That Essence Rare" as one of my six MP3s in 2001, so I've heard it a lot, but never the whole album. It's all good!
I was surprised this was from 1979, but a solid album. Great sound and great energy. They remind a little bit of Wire. Recommend you check those guys out too. There was a lot to like about this album. Never got stale and pretty solid all the way through. Favorites include Ether, Damaged Goods and I Found That Essence Rare. I thought the very beginning of Glass sounded like Devo's Uncontrollable Urge (Ridiculousness). While I thought this was a good listen, my Spotify immediately kicked into The Stooges, Fugazi and Wire to name a couple. Bonus! A nice change of pace from recent albums and enjoyed my listens. 4
4 Damaged Goods is an all-time classic that I’ve had saved on Spotify for some time now, but I actually didn’t care for the rest of this album the first time I heard it all the way through, probably several years ago now. Punk meets funk? What the hell is that? It feels like the kind of thing the Talking Heads capitalized on, a group that I can't stand. Well, my taste has clearly evolved because I quite enjoyed my time with it here. The bass-forward sound of this album feels pretty unique, making it stand apart from other punk releases from this era (though I definitely hear some Wire in there), while also still managing to feel just as gritty and angry as some of the heaviest offerings of the genre. I absolutely loved the opener, Ether, in particular, which in many ways I feel like is probably the best exemplification of the groovy bass beat and raw energy mix that the album does so well. Every track here is really solid though, but Damaged Goods is still far and away the best, both in a musical and lyrical sense - in particular, I’ve always loved the line: “Your kiss so sweet Your sweat so sour Sometimes I'm thinking that I love you But I know it's only lust” I think it’s commentary on capitalization and consumerism, but it works for me on a couple levels. As a whole, I will say I’m not entirely sure what exactly many of these songs are referring to topically given the largely metaphorical nature of each, but based off the album cover (which is awesome btw), I think they largely boil down to themes of exploitation for personal gain - which provides a pissed off energy that I can definitely rally behind. Overall, really solid punk album, both in sound and spirit. I can definitely see how this would be influential on post-punk, though I think this may be one of those cases where the group who did it first were among the best to ever do it.
really cool album
entertaining album
I like this record. Production is great. Sounds newer than it is. They sound like a funky version of Talking Heads or Minutemen. Funky and punky. Usually I don't like that combination, but they do it well. Songs are each quite monotonous, but they are different enough. Favorite song: Love Like Anthrax
New band for me. Impressed out of the gate.
Gang of Four is a band that I knew I needed to listen to but never came around to it for some reason. Listening to Entertainment! now I can see why it makes sense that many of the musicians I admire mention this band as an influence. Damage Goods, I Found that Essence Rare, Love Like Anthrax, and 5:45 were favorites. This is more like a 3.5 for me, but, like, a really good 3.5.
Enjoyable bit of proto-punk. Managed to remain interesting throughout, non abrasive vocals whilst retaining that punkish sneer, simple but effective guitar parts. 3.5*
Cool stuff. Not much to add!
It's been a while on this list, but at last a decent album I'd not listended to before
A very early post-punk album that is actually tolerable thanks to the sonic variety.
this was a pretty good album, basically like if the clash were super weird. i had heard of this band before but never listened to their music. i listened to the album twice but I'm sure I missed a ton of nuance. i definitely appreciate folks with a punk mindset making socially conscious music when it's not the most popular or profitable thing to do. favorites: ether, natural's not in it, damaged goods, I found that essence rare, at home he's a tourist, 5.45
punky sound with nice guitars
A surprising find and cautious 4
Good stuff. Really solid songs throughout. I can see how they were a big influence, bringing something different to the table.
Fast tempo rock!
Cool album
Day169 - what a great album i didn’t know anything about gang of four previously and i really enjoyed it
Never heard of this band before so again I had no expectations and no idea of what to expect. Loved it, great punk music. very funky. Great sound and punchy lyrics. I shall be exploring their history!! This is a great album, im giving it a 4! Favourite song: Return the gift and guns before butter. Least favourite: Love like anthrax. Album artwork: Great album cover
Avant guard. Feels modern and yet, obviously, it's not. Very post-punk feeling. Damaged Goods 10/10
i thought this was pretty good. i already listened to this prior to the generator. i can hear the influence this had on a lot of other things like franz ferdinands take me out. the bass tone throughout the album is very pleasing to the ears as well. i dont really have much else to say. 4 personal favs: ether, naturals not in it, damaged goods
Bitchin. Hell yeah.
This is some punk I can fuck with. Instrumentals are fantastic with the bass standing out to me. Just a weirdly good album. Hearing some random LCD in At Home He's a Tourist. Some good chop.
A defining record of my high school years. Raw British post-punk with a leftist critique of society. Songs that I love: Ether Natural’s Not in It Damaged Goods Glass
Had a lot of fun with this one
I feel bad about the fact that I never heard about this band, then again, late '70s I was still young and listening to an eclectic mix of Brian Ferry, Stevie Wonder, Queen, ABBA and Chicago... oh, and the Bee Gees. I can recall the Boomtown Rats though. But only 1 tune. I've listened 2 times to the record, which is part of my 1001 album journey, and I know I will be listening to it several times more. I hear punk, I hear rock, I hear funk, I hear SKA, and I'm sure if I keep listening I will hear more, and that is the sign of a great album. Great bass. Great guitar. Great lyrics. Favorite song, at the moment, Anthrax
shouty british vocals, a bass player giving it all he's got, and a machine behind the drum kit. sounds like post punk to me. what really differentiates this from the icy Joy Division that all albums of this genre inevitably must be compared to is the warmth. reds and oranges on the album art clue the listener in that Entertainment! will come with some heat. the mix is often spacious with just the bass, drums, and one guitar playing, allowing the aggressive, punk guitar riffs to carry the albums intensity with its vocals. this honestly has a lot more in common with This Heat (my favorite band of the genre) than it does with Joy Division, just far more radio friendly than the majority of This Heat. I can even hear on tracks like I Found That Essence Rare where R.E.M. would get some of their early guitar sound from (this also has to be the album modern post-punk/PPR are really trying to recreate, so much of this sound is in The Strokes or Parquet Courts). overall, loved the energy of Entertainment! and it's surprisingly competent vocal melodies (Glass especially sounds fantastic). one of the fastest 40 minutes i've ever spent, this is the most danceable post-punks ever sounded to me.
this was actually pretty fun
If not for the saturation of British post-punk on this list, this might have been a 5/5.
I’m honestly tired of the amount of British post-punk on this list - it’s excessive to say the least. But… You know… When it’s good, it’s bloody good.
A wonderful discovery
Muy entretenido. Me gusto Damaged Goods.
3.5/5
Looking for more of this in my life.
As advertised, it was indeed entertaining.
Thanks to Henry Rollins, I've been listening to this band for ages and so am sure I've heard this entire album a song at a time at least a few times each. Nice to hear it in one go.
I do love me some good post-punk. I don't think this is the best of the genre but I'm gonna give it the boost up because it is an essential piece of the puzzle. Post-punk drums will forever be one of my favorite things, and this delivers well on that so I'm happy!
Classic and all time great.
9/10
My third late seventies punk album in a row, so I might be over-saturated and unfairly rating this one. Still the first song had a unique sound and got me interested right away and I stayed there throughout the whole thing. Might have gone on a little too long, but again I might just be tired of listening to punk at this point. Overall, nice discovery.
Classic, although I only came to listen to this album in the past several years. If you want a history of post-punk, read Rip it Up and Start Again!!! But these guys, not only influential but I enjoy listening to this album. The obvious, Damaged Goods, is my favorite.
Influential and still a good listen.