Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would. Especially considering my distaste for John Lyndon. The first track was a bit of a chore, a bit more energy and a more trancey motorik groove could have fixed that. The rest of the tracks were a lot more enjoyable. If they had of nailed that krauty vibe a little better it would be a 4 or 5/5
The previous Public Image album was a bit of slog with it's monotony and sometimes awful noises compiled onto it. This one still carries on with the drone-y and repetitive song structure, but does it better and gets rid of the awful sound. The bass carries this album a lot, it almost makes it some sort of Disco album. No particular favorite since it took me 3 days to completely listen to it, but the album was good enough.
This one was....interesting. I knew that PiL was way out there (as well as seen the album score) but didn't expect all the guitar noise or just this style in general. Honestly still not kinda sure what to think of it. Ain't bad but I don't know what I would come back here other than the groove in Swan Lake. 3/5?
I'm only annoyed this has popped up on here before their first album. I like to appreciate a band's "progression" and the only other PiL I know is from later still, so I'm hearing their journey in reverse, leaving that "bridge" between the Sex Pistols and PiL as yet uncrossed. Anyway, I rarely hear a Jah Wobble bassline that I don't like, and despite some veering, whilst listening, between "nope" and "oh yes" I mainly settled into the grooves and the avant garden creativity, in spite (perhaps) of the vocals. I like the sparse sound, the little unexpected moments in the production, the hypnotic style. Jah Wobble influenced David J from Bauhaus in using dub, I would surmise? I struggled with certain tracks (side E - The Suit and Bad Baby - would NOT have made it face up onto my turntable more than once) but I'm glad to have heard this.
Very bass heavy...
first listen few tracks i liked and many i legit hated
Musically this is a really interesting album, but while I get a smile each time I hear John Lydon sing, the pleasure is short-lived. I found "Albatross" unlistenable--that's the first song. The next one, "Memories" has a killer bass line and classic John Lydon vocals. Great guitar lines on "Swan Lake", and so it goes. Each song has some really cool musical characteristic, but I'm not in the mindset for an hour of punk vocals. Four stars for the music, one star demerit for a failure to make Lydon's voice less grating. :)
it’s nice to bop your head to and space out, which is how i listened
This album is another bizarre and unexpected surprise from the twisted minds of PIL. While I'm a bit disappointed that the Wikipedia entry for "Second Edition" (aka Metal Box, or maybe vice versa) isn't nearly as strange and random as the entry for "First Issue", the album itself definitely goes much further into the strange, experimental realm, without any real hint of punk at all (in part thanks to Jah Wobble's pulsating bass, I suspect). It's *way* too long by yards, and some of the tracks could have been easily left on the cutting room floor without any great loss; this seems particularly true of the opening track "Albatross", which doesn't really need Wikipedia to let us know that they recorded it in one take, with the band making it up as they went along, and John Lydone "improvising" the entire set of lyrics. Of the lot, I think I appreciated "Swan Lake" (remixed version of their "Death disco" single), the Guy-Ritchie-style plot of "Careering" and the over-the-top oddballness of Lydon on "No birds" more than the others. While I enjoyed the imagery of PIL fans frantically changing out the three original 12" 45rpm discs to listen to the entire album, and I respect John Levene's choice to use an aluminum Veleno guitar for its harsh screech, I'm not sure I could say I enjoyed the actual music overall. But I'm glad to have heard the album, and I'm glad both of PIL's first two albums were included in the collection.
An improvement on the precious PIL album presented to my judgement, but after about half an hour John Lydon’s vocals make me feel a little queasy.
Noise slop! This conventionally is not good, but the BASS IS Great. It is whiny, it is unbearable, I hate this, yet I can not stop listening. I just can hear the influences. I hear Loveless in here, and it makes me not hate it. The songs are long and obnoxious. I hear Thundercat in that bass. I really, actually like this as an experience. The bass and drums are what keep me alive. The lyrics don't matter. The words that stand out is what matters. This is the punk version of shoegaze, and for that alone, I can not hate it. This is exactly what avant-garde music is meant to do, challenge your belief in music and melody. This is the equivalent of a child blocking your view. You can either ignore them or pick them up so they can see from your perspective. In Swan Lake, we hear a repetition of the ending lyrics 5 times. Why? Why choose to do that? Are you paying attention? They ask. Don't fall asleep they say. As you reach Radio 4 the bass and synths have carried you to the end and you see the light the noise has gone away you can rest and you have come to the end of the journey and are left with a beautiful bass to take you away. I like this this was an experience. This may not be my favorite album but this has opened my eyes to the world of weird and this is punk despite it sounding nothing like the sex pistiols.
Significantly more interesting than what he did with the Sex Pistols, a bit too avant garde for me at times but a solid album.
I like the experimental aspect - it would’ve been fun to see live - maybe a little hard to listen to this in one run.
Johnny Rotten comes off as one of those assholes that is all mouth until he gets punched. Then he’s all teary eyed and crying. It sort of reflects in his music. It’s gives off that “don’t give a shit” attitude but behind it all there is someone who really wants to succeed. So what are you looking for here? Think a pop version of the Sex Pistols. Sort of alt pop. There is still a heavy punk sound but it’s just not as raw and misaligned. Like it took all this time for him to perfect the sound he was really looking for. There’s noise as well. Sort of instruments doing all they can to drown out the other one. Not too badly though. This can’t possibly be the best album they put out. There are hints of catchiness in some of the songs but there seems to be something that puts me off still from it. I’m middle of the road on this and you, whoever reads this should be too.
This certainly was an experience. Not a bad one of course but I can’t see me revisiting it.
*This sounded a little too redundant over the album. *I prefer their first album over this.
Swan Lake No Birds Careering
7/10
Review - great baselines and some great songs. They were trying to do something different than everything that has come before and sometimes that worked, sometimes it didn't. For angular guitars and propulsive baselines there's better albums of the day, like Gang Of Four. Still a decent album. Review - 7.5/10 Need to hear? YES
Ech. Podsumowaując - to na pewno było jakieś. Tylko przez jakieś mam tu też na myśli złe. Ale czasem nie aż tak. Czasem dało się tego słuchać z pewnym poziomem przyjemności. Szkoda tylko, że zaraz później znowu osuwaliśmy się w kakofonię. Chyba jestem masochistką, ale... 5/10. Wolę cierpieć niż się nudzić? Być może.
Very different.
Eh it was ok. Not anything I could dig into. Actually having a hard time remembering much about it this morning.
I wasn’t initially very excited for this album, but I didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would? Having context on the time period was helpful in my reflection on the music/lyrics and I appreciated the exposure.
Great bass playing. Feels as though throughout the album the intention is to juxtapose the expert bass playing with the minimalistic/basic work of guitar etc.
It's not for everyone (the vocals can get really obnoxious at times) but if you like post-punk you might get some enjoyment out of this so give it a fair try. Also the song called Socialist is the best one because of course it is.
Wusste nicht dass John Lydon noch eine Band mit jemand von the clash hatte. Hätte aber mehr erwartet.
Pretty unsettling and cool!
Public Image Limitedin kakkoslevy Metal Box (tunnetaan myös nimellä Second Edition) on hämmentävä julkaisu kaiken kaikkiaan. Kappaleet ovat pitkiä ja junnaavia, äänimaailma usein kylmä ja kaikuinen. Mielestäni basisti Jah Wobblen innovatiivinen soitto on parasta Metal Boxissa, kun taas John Lydonin ulina on monesti raskasta kuunneltavaa. Albumi herättää ristiriitaisia tunteita, mutta sen kokeellisessa soundissa on jotain kiehtovaa. Olin aiemmin kuullut PiL:in debyyttilevyn ja pidän siitä enemmän.
Never heard the artist, nor seen the album. Rock is good, but I have no idea what to expect, rating gives me the idea that it's that basic sound of rockness that's easy to find anywhere, either way it won't be as bad I hope. First song, amazing start I have to say. Vocals are a bit echoey, or better to say, coming from afar. Sounds like Morrissey too idk. It is permanent wave I think, but that doesn't diminish its goodness.. yet. It is too long now hm. Did become repetitive, but I hope this isn't the majority of the album. Weird ah sounds at the end from him. Second song, also a good start. Good for walking actually. A bit shorter so that's a plus cuz I'm afraid this is how the whole song sounds like, buuut the length helps make it look likeable. Oh nvm he talking a lot now and the beat is fully changed. Better with each second somehow. Third song, hope the name is actually suitable for what I expect. Not what I wanted yet, but it's going somewhere. NEVERMIND I can hear the swan lake, goooood, really wanted the rock version at some point. My favorite so far. 4th song, here this and songs after are all less popular, so I can't expect much from them, tho I did enjoy the ones before so. Kinda meh, but can't say it's boring either. 5th song, probably the best intro yet. Shortest one too I think, but that doesn't matter rn. It's a bitt futuristic in some parts, and also quite less active as the other ones. 6th song, more classic way to start this one, I'm talking about the intros always cuz it's the most different part of whatever comes after the song which is usually the same thing over and over again, not that I'm complaining though. 7th song, kinda electric and ravey already. Great instrumentals, damn I feel like it's talking in its own way. No lyrics for this one, and I'd say it wasn't even necessary. 8th song, voice remembers me of Shock Treatment the movie's that one guy. Wasn't bad, but it didn't fulfil me with balanced use of the voice and instruments. 9th song, same structure as the 8th song. Not bad, it got better and better kinda. 10th song, also no lyrics for this one. Had a bit of a progression after the middle which made it worth it, but usually it was one thing going on and on, then again not complaining, at this point I'm not gonna ask for more. 11th song, somehow the majority of the beat is the guy repeating something over and over, but it's well done, does explain the name too kinda. Screamed that "chant" more and louder as the song got to the end too. 12th song, probably the most passive song on the album, no repetitive beat, but.. I think the violin is doing the most work here. Love that they included this, cuz it really is a rest from all that thumping sound being the most part of the album, plus considering that it's the end of it too. While the end is playing I guess I could write a conclusion too. I've been thinking it over and it's not more than 3 stars for me, meaning it's just.. there. Nothing new for me, it didn't surprise me with anything, and I for sure wasn't enjoying the whole thing with enthusiasm. It had its moments and that's why the rating is accurate for me. Hmm, I think it could have gone a little harder with the instruments or also had one song which was focused on vocals, but less quirky than the ones that were presented. Anywayy enjoyed it, but wanted a lot more.
Saying some bs over a fat beat. I did not mind one bit. Got a little old over the course of an album though
Best interessant. Doet me denken aan Joy Division. De nummers (en het album) zijn wel aan de lange kant, maar als ik zo'n bandje op LOTD zou zien zou ik wel genieten. Ga ook lekker op de synth bliep bloops
More creatively interesting than the Sex Pistols in my opinion, but it overstayed its welcome
I know there's PIL out there that I really like a lot...but this ain't it. 3
I can see how this was different and new in a lot of ways, but just didn’t hit like their self titled album for me.
I didn't hate it but I didn't love it
Surprising! I enjoyed it more than I anticipated, though it was overlong.
Esse Álbum me surpreendeu positivamente. Achei um pós punk bem executado com pitadas experimentais bem interessantes. Letshuoer D13.
Imperfect, but boundary pushing. Earns a place on the list even if it's not something I'd come back to again and again.
Sounded kinda terrible, but I kind of liked it.
weird
Didn't hate this as much as I thought reading the description but not something I would revisit 3*
Okay, why do I always get Public Image Ltd. albums in close proximity to other albums with its members? I got the first one 12 days after the Sex Pistols album and now I'm getting the second one 4 days after the Jah Wobble thing! What the hell, website? I don't dislike this band, but you've got to give me a better chance at really enjoying them. Whatever. It's not like there's a third chance seeing as this is all they have on the list. Well, I guess we'll have to just accept what we've got. This album's good. I'd say I enjoyed it about as much as the debut, maybe a little less though. They're both good, but I don't really love either of them. Of course, there are things about Metal Box that I do enjoy. The atmosphere is interesting, but in a good way. It's dark and echoey, but it makes sense given the vague lyrical matter. I think the band members do a good job with the compositions. The aforementioned Jah Wobble is actually pretty talented when he's just playing bass and not trying to make his weird-ass world music stuff or whatever. I'm still not huge on John Lydon's vocals, but they work at times on the album. The songs have some good variety and there are standouts. The 10-minute opener "Albatross" and "Swan Lake" in particular are pretty neat. I definitely understand the appeal of this band and album, but I don't think they're really for me. I certainly don't hate them as much as this website does, that's for sure. Metal Box is good, but not really my thing. I wish I had more to say. High 3/5.
No strong feelings about this which is weird for me for a scorpio Halloween vibe!
Ok everyone be like this band such an inspiration but I didn’t love it. I think it’s one of those things where people who know about it love it yk. For me this was my album of the day and I ain’t gonna act like I hated it, it had some interesting stuff. Maybe a little anger put out on this album because I had my first day of school after winter break today.
meh
I still like it and think it’s quite cool
I liked the music hated the vocals
3.5/5
Interessant, aber ein nervig langweiliges Schlagzeug
6/10… dance punk / new wave / *1979
I wanted to like it and I preferred it to the other PIL album but honestly Johnny Rotten works in 2-3 minute bursts not
14/1089 It took me three listens but it definitely got better each time. Johnny Rotten has quite the range going from sex pistols punk to PiL new wave. This is another album that I'd probably bump to 4* if it had Rise or This is not a love song included. Hits....pop tones, socialist.
Alright
This is quite a mixed bag, the start of this album is phenomenal, the bass in particular is fantastic (a consistent throughout the whole thing to be honest). However, it dips in the middle when things lean a little too into the avant-garde approach for my liking.
Has nice instrumentals though a few tracks did get a bit out there to hold my interest
Fantastic bass work and a truly gritty sound. Made great music to be up all night studying to, but I don't think it would be as good if I wasn't listening to it in a 4:00 AM stupor.
not my style
Metal Box is hard to sum up. The album opens with Albatross, a track that runs for more than eight minutes — the rumbling bass, the dissonant guitar and the vocals that sound more like a curse than singing all feel deliberately confrontational in a way that some listeners might love. The stretch from Graveyard into The Suit honestly left me thinking, What am I even listening to? It’s hard to judge. I think I kind of like No Birds, but at this point I’m not even sure I trust my own judgment anymore.
dub, scratchy guitars, Lydon wailing. careering is standout.
not for me. rather punk lol
Vähän vaikeeta mun makuun kyllä. Periaatteessa arvostan ja vinyylijulkaisuhan on hieno kun tulee metallisessa boksissa, mutta jotenkin ei lähde ihan täysii. 3/5
I'm more familiar with PiL's Album and Happy era. It was nice to dive into one of their earlier, more experimental, albums. I like the Dub-influenced post-punk vibe of the album. Some songs ("Albatross", "Swan Lake", "Careering") I really enjoyed. Others were good, but I'd be more likely to revisit Happy again before giving Metal Box another full listen.
1979, experimental period, I figured it was time for something good. This list seems to go through the motions all week, while you just wait for that one album to catch your attention. This one caught my attention for sure, the Jah Wobble driving bass lines are pretty hypnotic at times. I did feel fatigued by the end of the album. Not sure if I would listen again or not.
Psychedelic rock kinda like the pixies pretty good album
Perfectly weird on an early fall day.
Talking Heads and David Byrnes vibes. Albatross was freaking 10 minutes long, seemed to drone on forever. I do find it sonically interesting. Especially Swan Lake. Maybe it’s the bass. Not really my vibe, but interesting and formative without a doubt.
I tried, the post-punk drowned vocals with metal sounds vibe really isn’t for me, but I did listen to most of the album before falling asleep to it. I would say the lyrics I did hear were cool, and I understood what the record was trying to say. Probably wouldn’t listen again, but I can hear the late 60s influence and like that.
I liked this, very underground dindgy vibes
Pretty damn cool, but also a bit grating.
I wanted to give it four stars for being innovative, but I just don’t like it enough. I wanted to! I think it’s mostly the vocals that put me off. I don’t expect post-a to have a ton of melody but this was a bit too repetitive both within the songs and throughout the album. That said, their are moments of very nice instrumentation
Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Beep. Boop. Beep. Some futuristic notes are present in this album. Overall this was quite average-ish album for me.
Won't deny that it was influential and groundbreaking. But did I enjoy it? Not really.
I could barely get through the first song. It's piercing and barely together. Plus I really hate the voice. Like so much. It's so boring to listen to and you can barely understand him. Also it sounds like he's in a tunnel. Why is Albatross 10 minutes long!!!!? It did get progressively better as the album progressed. Kinda sounds like Echo and the Bunnymen to me??? Idk I'm liking it more and more as it goes on. I think I just hate Albatross. Yeah, it's a good album that I liked but holy god Albatross really brings it down for me.
I like that Lydon turned his back on the previous Sex Pistols style punk music and chose to do something different. The album sounds pretty amazing considering it is almost 50 years old. The bass lines are simply fantastic on many tracks. The problem is, however, that the songs have no melodies and Lydon's vocal performance is pretty terrible. I would have enjoyed this more as an instrumental album.
First album/band served that I’m completely unfamiliar with. I liked the instrumentals best—Graveyard, Socialist, & Radio 4.
Knepig skiva. Gillade omedelbart de första sekunderna på första låten. Tycker nog den är rätt najs i grund och botten fortfarande. Men lång och sången drar ner. Sången är bitvis fruktansvärd på resten av skivan. Jävligt svårt,.två eller tre? Jag diggar soundet på många låtar, så jag landar nog på tre ändå. Men gränsfall.
The driving bass lines are really enjoyable, and the songs have a distinct post-punk crunch and reverb to them - a very decent album that I can see people loving, but not one that I’ll personally be listening to on repeat
Great opener. Driving violin. Driving rhythm too for epic Lovers. These long tunes are great. I imagine myself at a concert just swaying away lost. Maybe not two cds worth and not sure essential. 4 verging toward 3 but the good feelings push to 4. By the way, if you haven't looked it up, a "bang on the ear" is a fond greeting. Laid back driving--make sense?
I was digging this more than the last PIL album we had...that is until Chant. All in all, I can't say I'll spin this again but I was glad to have a good listen.
I was looking at the reviews on this site. It took a long time to get one that was neutral. It seems like people love or hate this album. I liked it but thinking about it now the next day. It wasnt really memorable and parts were repetitive.
surprisingly kinda nice
I think I get this. The scratchy guitars and strained vocals are held together by some absolutely bumping basslines. The long songs allow for the grooves to sit with you. Favorites were Swan Lake, Poptones, Socialist, and Graveyard.
Started off really disliking this but after a while it got more enjoyable. Not sure if that’s because the songs got better or I became more understanding. 2.5/5
2.9 / 5 stars for me on this one. A lot to take into consideration when listening to this. I read a bit of the backstory and the album definitely sounds like it was a lot of expermentation with a completely different sound, thus the post-punk tag that is thrown on it. But unlike Joy Division at this time, these guys were not really putting it all together into cohesive songs. The music is there as a foundation but just a smattering of hooks and random vocal warbling from John Lydon does not make this worth hearing more than a couple of times. Later material is more entertaining.
I was pretty meh on most of it besides Radio 4. I don't think I can constitute giving it less than a three with that track.
This is the second day in a row I've had a second album by an artist whose previous album in the project was a 1 for me. And I don't hand out many 1s! So I wasn't terribly excited going into either day. But this is also the second day in a row I haven't hated this next album. Again, is my musical mind expanding, or are these albums actually more pleasant to my ears? Hard to say for sure, but I liked how rockin' this was, and I didn't mind how long a few of the songs were. I did listen to the Second Edition version though, as I couldn't find the original Metal Box on Spotify, and that version breaks up the last 12-minute song into three parts. At any rate, I enjoyed Rotten's dark, broody lyrics mixed with a lot of really cool instrumentation. It's not an album I'd probably choose to listen to again, but I appreciate the artistry!
2.5 étoiles pour le drum et la basse.
Okay
just fine for work background. Could not listen around other people as its definitely weird. Great quick pace. Would have been a 1 if it came on in the car instead. A work 3
Was this mentioned enough in the early ‘00s as inspiration for all those bands? This basically sounds like it came out in 2006.
A real mixed bag.
Oh, I know someone who's got this. Bit rusty but still intact. The perfect antidote to fucking Belle and Sebastian that I was just listening to. How is that rubbish tasted higher than this. MF'ers have no taste. Let's dig in. Fuck, bit lengthy. Quite hypnotic. One of my favorite songs about Albatrosses on this album, though, I think. I could get into this. Maybe a couple more listens. Solid Three on the first go around though.
Well this was quite a challenging listen, there was a lot of good in the opening tracks from a musical perspective but I wasn’t a fan of John Lydon’s vocals unfortunately. The album seemed to get increasingly experimental for the 2nd half and perhaps there are a lot of ideas that are hard to grasp with one listen. Hard to think when I’d come back for this but part of me thinks there would be merit in coming back, although running past the hour mark isn’t in its favour.
Chewy, challenging, some moments felt White Light White Heat-ish
Little less punk, little more production. There's good beats in here, along with some "huh?" lyrics and some extra odd sounds, but Graveyard and No Birds are solid
A bit self indulgent for sure but there’s some interesting things happening
Yes, they are interesting. Yes, they are creative. Yes, there are some interesting songs on the album. BUT No, apart from 2-3 songs I wouldn't like to listen again. Still it is a 3 for the creativity.
The vocalist(s) remind me of untrained garage band singers. Too often they are out of tune. They are musically interesting, however.
3.1 2x. Catch up
I was not expecting much from this, not knowing much about PIL I was expecting a sex pistols rip off. Think there is probably a decent album in this if if it was half the length. At its best it reminded me of dance-indie like the Rapture but about two decades earlier, which is pretty ahead of its time. Unfortunately this being a one man show where no one else can challenge crap ideas means it's stuffed full of rubbish too. Lots of annoying singing bits and songs going on two minutes longer than they should. I wouldn't listen again I don't think, the bad parts ruin the enjoyment of the good stuff. Worth one go though I'd say, 2.5.
I was convinced these were Public Enemy. I was surprised that instead of hip hop, which I have to be in a certain mood to listen to, this was Punk, which I also have to be in a certain mood to listen to. Memories and Careering were my favourite tracks. A lot of the album does sound the same, I think it is a strong 3.
I'd forgotten that John Lydon had done anything after the sex pistols, but I do remember hearing "rise" now come to think of it..... Hmm, this is strange and hard to rate, it's fairly difficult to listen to in parts, but it's pretty unique sounding. Can't have been much else sounding like this at the time and I do think its pretty punk in fairness. I quite like the dub elements which are reminiscent of that Bauhaus album we had. The repeated hooks at almost remind me of Sleaford Mods, who I'm never quite sure if I like or not either, but find myself drawn in by. I don't think I'm going to be listening to this again, but I reckon it does fit the bill of an album you should hear before you die, if not just for it's uniqueness.
I didn't really enjoy this one, but I can hear its importance in how much it influenced early 80s music.
I liked it more than I thought I would - several songs were standouts. I'm not sure how often I would listen to it though. Wish I could do a half star, although I think it is closer to 3 than 4 for me.
I really thought I’d like this from the first few minutes, but it didn’t fully hold my attention. I’d say I learn more toward liking it than disliking it; I was a little disappointed, though. (Just for my own reference, I really enjoyed the song that autoplayed afterward: Modern Art - Hello / Goodbye)
If Swan Lake had a rebellious teenage phase, Metal Box would be it, beautiful in theory, but mostly loud, weird, and a little bit terrifying.
Hyvää replay value hyvä albumi aijaijai
A wild ride in early post punk, almost industrial at times. I quite enjoyed it without thinking it was something I would be hooked into.
Not this one. But PIL is fantastic.
Give a 5 year old a microphone and a backing track of machine noise and you’ve recreated the first song. I considered bailing after the first song but am actually glad I didn’t. The rest of the album is hit or miss for me. One of the biggest distractions is that the mastering feels extremely all over the place. I want to say that was an artistic choice that pushed boundaries given the time and genre, but idk maybe that’s too generous. Through the discord I heard origins of bands I really enjoy today, many in fact who joined dischord records. Lol. “Poptones” and “socialist” are my faves.
Good stuff but not particularly unique imo
some parts of this album are kind of neat. some parts are unlistenable. the instrumentation is pretty cool but the vocals are really hit or miss. i gather that's sort of the point. obviously john lydon doesn't give a shit whether or not something is listenable. it was definitely interesting, but not something i'm particularly keen on listening to again. a one and done type of deal.
Public Image Ltd are a well-polished machine that sound great on the album and were probably even better live. Brooding but eccentric post-punk with lots of driving riffs and beats. The bass was the star of the show for me, or at least the element that grabbed my attention the most. I don’t go crazy for this sort of post-punk band (I understand why some people do though), but the bass is usually fantastic in this genre.
Some pretty interesting noisy alt punk. I liked how droning the music was while the vocalist did stuff on top- like "Poptones" has an incredible bass line groove with the drums, and it makes for a really nice foundation for the shifting tones that the guitar and vocals place on top. Unfortunately after a few tracks of it it got a little grating, but luckily right around this mark (5-6 songs in), we get treated to some songs that are a bit different than the rest, like some dance-y proto emo, and some cool electronic exploration on "Socialist". I dug this, and I enjoyed not really knowing where it was going.
Two days of avant-guard music and im beat
An alright album but no real standout songs.
I've always had a soft spot for this band and hadn't really listened to this particular album. TBH, my initial listen wasn't all that profound. I decided I hadn't really listened to it. I turned the volume up and put it back on. On a second listen, I found it a bit more compelling. I think the key, honestly, is that the record came out in 1979. It was unusual for the time. The songs did not have typical structures. They meandered. It was clearly heavily influenced by dub, which wasn't something that was typically part of mass market music, with distortion and repetition. The vocals were clearly post punk and surreal. Would I say this is a great record? No, it's not. Would I say that it's an influential record? Yes, absolutely. Was it ahead of its time? Certainly. I like other material from PiL better.
Effects and vocals that haunt
What if we swapped out all the musicians on this record with, let's say, some of the most gifted jazz and metal instrumentalists of all time? Oh, they did... *Listens to "album"* Oh, that's much better. I'll take that instead.
It was ok.
Experimental and avant-garde if not a bit repetitive. John "Johnny Rotten" Lydon's trajectory through the music biz has always been nothing but interesting.
On I-tunes, Metal Box is titled Second Edition
Nice finding.
I feel like PIL is one of those bands that's always recommended to me by various music services but I've never really gotten into. There are some intriguing moments on this album but it's very cohesive. I also find it amusing that the First Issue wiki says "It is considered one of the pioneering records in the development of post-punk." And the wiki for this album says "Metal Box is widely regarded as a landmark of post-punk." Anyway, Faves: Poptones, Radio 4
Enjoyed it but not a must listen in my opinion
Grew on me little by little as the bass wormed into my subconscious. Unique, yes, interesting, somewhat, but overall, a slog. Arguably a reasonable inclusion on this list.
There were a lot of things I liked here and a lot of things I didn't. I could see the influence that came from this, but I just didn't love listening to the whole album.
I knew nothing about this band going in and was not expecting much only to be pleasantly surprised. Particularly by the instrumental tracks towards the end.
It was good, but not totally my thing. Probably needs another listen
It just sounds like a band with a lot of ideas and styles that just doesn't meld well together. It's not bad but it just sounds like a mess at times.
This is a tough one to rate. I really like Jah Wobbles bass anchoring the tunes and the kind of annoying guitars and vocals work on most of the tracks. But sometimes it feels a bit too intentionally irritating which tips into contrived. Socialist reminds me of early Police.
Was pretty good. Didn't mind it. Probably won't listen again.
Not nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be. 3/5
Fair play for abandoning the Sex Pistols' sound and exploring new and interesting sonic textures, but this seems like a case of PiL crawling in a slow, ungainly manner so other post-punks could run. There's music that’s discordant in an edgy, strangely hypnotic way (which this is some of the time), and then there are downright tuneless, repetitive dirges (which this album veers into a bit too often). 2.5⭐️
The best part of this alb is the guitar and bass work. John Lyndon vocals are all over the place and for me, not that great. Standouts for me were Graveyard and Socialist
Murky to the point of almost sounding subaqueous, I can definitely hear how this would not be everyone's cup of tea, but I can't help but at least appreciate the bitter aftertaste.
A weird mix of quite unpleasant and very interesting. That's both my review of this album and the Thai street food I ate on the same day, which was definitely either an egg or a radish.
De hecho, es más interesante que el otro de PiL que ya salió en esta lista, pero no logra superar la barrera que separa a los discos que quiero volver a escuchar. Es abrasivo, muy a propósito, claro, pero difícil de igual forma. Nada amable. Curiosamente, y si no están de acuerdo puede achacarlo a mi inexperiencia, escuché harto a Thom Yorke en la voz de John Lydon.
This was fun.
Very strange, discordant, noisy, but always intriguing. Even if I can't say I liked all of it, it seems like a record that will reveal more of its layers upon repeated listens. Key tracks: Albatross Memories Careering
I’m just too old and boring for avant garde stuff these days, that said, there was a nugget of something decent in here which lifted it above the experimental, and I particularly liked the incorporation of the Swan theme
Okay but not for me
Interesting abum. Really great bass and guitar work, fascinating songwriting, but Lydon is the wrong vocalist for this. Really could have been great without him.
Highly influential and infinitely better than the horrible debut. The instrumentation is great and I can easily hear how some of my favorite groups of the last decade have been influenced by songs like “Poptones”. It’s not an easy listen and there’s definitely aspects of it I’m more into than others - it’s also too long, but that’s not really a surprise.
3 stars for Jah Wobble's bass
An improvement on their first album. Post-punk is weird.
Pretty fuckin weird really cool really good
I really wanted to like this thing a lot more than I did, but it just didn't quite get there for me. I generally like the post-punk thing, and this seems to be a pretty well-regarded album in that world, but it just didn't do it. I generally liked the basslines (s/o to Jah Wobble the bassist, I did not his your solo album on here but you crushed this one) and guitar stuff, but I really struggled with the vocals. I find them a bit annoying at least on first listen. I can totally see this being something that grows on me over time, and if I squint real hard I can see something like Joy Division-esque here, but right now it's not quite there. This is closer to a 2 than a 4, but I think there's enough good for a solid 3. "Swan Lake" is where it all comes together best for me on here, and a few of the other songs with no or limited vocals are some of the better ones for me. Side note, the fact that they packaged their album in a literal metal box is a pretty good gimmick, I respect it. Favorite song: Swan Lake Other: Poptones, Graveyard, Radio 4 11/24/24
I'm glad I listened. The comparisons to Captain Beefheart are fair warning: this album is not for everyone. Then again, most people don’t curl up with Moby Dick for a cozy night in — doesn’t mean it’s not a classic. So ignore the 1 and 2 star ratings. That said, I’m giving this a 3. Some parts feel like a 3.5, maybe even a 4, but just like Moby Dick isn’t exactly a page-turner, this album isn’t what you’d call ‘catchy.’ And when I put on music, I mostly want to just enjoy myself, not decode an abstract painting composed with sound. This is more ‘I appreciate what you’re doing here’ than ‘heck yeah, turn it up.’ (I do love the bass playing. I'm a sucker for that, and the sparseness of the music helps the bass stand out.)
As with so many John Lydon projects, this would be better without John Lydon. Seriously, the guy’s a dick. I can see how this was a classic of its time, but I can’t get past what I know of the lead singer.
Fine. Whatever.
ahugavert
This list doesn't need two PiL records but this is very much the better of the two, dark and intense and not so silly-clubby or dancy as Lydon would get in the latter, lurid stages of PiL. One's never much liked his singing but the austere and relentless guitars have a bigger presence here and so lighten the (annoying) load of the vocals to a certain degree. The overlap with Joy Division and early Cure are undeniable.
Not as bad as all the reviews on here. Wont listen to it again though. Decent music ruined by the vocals…..again. 2.9
Kinda joy division coded. I liked this but I’m still giving it a 3
good ideas for an experimental punk project, it's just too long, I will never listen to it again, still it's more interresting than a lot of average boring pop song
Hmm, so heres the thing. I dont hate this album, and I dont hate PIL. But I wouldnt suggest this album to anyone, really. Its not great, and its only saving grace is that its a pretty good representation of post-punk. Cant do better than 3 stars, really. 3/5
Punk que da gusto oír su presencia.
weird af
This album brought back Memories of Poptones over Swan Lake.
The bass is the best part of the album by far, it truly helps save the whole thing. I like the droning, repetitive, and oppressive sound of the music, really creates an atmosphere. The worst part was definitely the vocals, I just wish the dude would shut up so I could listen to the music. Favorites: "Albatross", "Poptones", "Careering"
Interesting experimental/post-punk stuff. Definitely never would have found this without this list, presumed everything Johnny Rotten touched would have been overrated. Some interesting moments on here, specially in the first half. Latter part runs flat a bit, The Suit & Chant particularly poor moments. Delete the naff and there's a great EP here.
It's fine, but pretty uninteresting
The music is mostly bad but the bass lines save it from disaster.
These guys got another album on the list? I mean it's not horrible but it's still meh. 2.5/5
Low expectations because I really don't like the Sex Pistols, but this was actually kinda good. For this type of album you just have to accept that it's going to get tedious at times; that's just part of the deal.
An interesting album with some nice grooves, but too much atonality and ugly vocal parts to return to it any time soon. Here and there it reminds me of Joy Division, which I much rather listen to.
Some good grooves are present, the sound is somewhat dull.
Metal Box was Public Image Ltd.'s second album, released as three, 12" 45 rpm discs, in a metal box which resembled a 16mm film case. The production costs limited the first run of the box, so the material was re-released as Second Edition, a 2-LP version of the work. Public Image, Ltd. was formed by John Lydon - Johnny Rotton - after the break-up of the Sex Pistols. The band went through a number of line-up and stylistic changes in their career, and their progress is considered noteworthy in the development of post-punk genres. Metal Box was created when PiL was exploring a bass-heavy, dub version of their sound. As a defining element, Lydon's vocals give the band's work the energy and angst of punk, through all of their post-punk experiments.
joy division enjoyers creaming rn
I'm convinced the people on this website just want to pretend they hate long songs. If a 10min song was split into parts floyd-style no one would bat an eye, I tell you. That being said, this was... fine. I'm sure if you're actively looking for things to hate that's all you'll find, though. This album deserves to be looked upon with fresh perspective, as hard as that may be to do.
Shades of Devo here
On Spotify as "Second Edition," it's a pure post-punk play full of avant-garde weirdness that moved to define that genre as it developed.
Albums like this are why I signed up for this project. They're strange, cool, I've never heard of them before, probably won't listen to them again, but love that I took the time to listen to them once and know about them and that they're out there
I bought this as a real metal box when it came out with 4, 12 inch singles in a metal tin. It is not an easy listen but I think there are a few gems here. Hasn't aged greatly but an important album for the time.
3-4
3.75
memories is good didn’t have have time to listen to all of it i like some of it - some of it sounds like joy division
Traditional English folk rock yesterday and post punk experimental music today. How diverse is that? Reason why I like following this list religiously every day. This album received glowing accolades from the music press and I was tempted to buy it. But what I heard of the album beforehand put me off as I had no interest in sitting through a protracted jam session with wailing inaudible vocals over the top. So I didn’t bother but a part of me still wishes I had had done just to possess one of the most iconic album covers of all time (and worth a bit!) John Lydon now becoming a national treasure also makes me regret not buying this album at the time. But looking at the low average rating given by fellow reviewers it is obvious that the musicality of the album still leaves a lot to be desired despite a lot of music critics still hollowing on about what a game changing album this is. Listening today was very much a chore and on some of the longer tracks the FF button was deployed. I like John Lydon and what he stands for. So, as I do occasionally, I will ignore what the music sounds like and reward a rating based on my appreciation of those who make it even if it’s rubbish. The average global rating today is 2.49 and Johnny Rotten deserves more than this so he can have a 3. 3/5 4/8/24
More Goth than punk, Metal Box by PiL is not for everyone. It's full of noise, unusual but dancable rhythms, and sounds not typically found in popular music. Overall, it sounds experimental, but that's because it is. It presages the industrial sounds of the later 80s and early 90s rather than the sensibilities of late 70s punk and post-punk. Johnny Lydon's limited range and wailing is oft times unsettling. It's like keening at an Irish wake. It is, however, worth listening to if only to see the evolution of Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols to Johnny Lydon of PiL, as will as punk to industrial.
The accursed precursor to music of the penis. A minimalist motherfucker. Hobgoblin music. Can't believe there were only 2 years between "Nevermind the Bollocks" and this, because this is something you should only drag from the darkest depths of your subconscious after 30 years of being stranded in the Gobi Desert. I don't exactly love it, but some unabashed weirdo shit is always a nice change of pace.
Let me preface this by saying, I try to listen to every album like a friend has recommended it to me. Most of the time it has helped keep my mind open, but I hated PiL’s First Issue almost immediately. Imagine my disbelief when I found out there was another on this list, longer and even more abrasive (according to reviews) >:0 But, like many entries on this list, my opinion of First Issue has changed over time, most notably with the opening track “Theme”. Once an atonal slog, the emotion & intensity became more believable to me on repeat listens. It also seems to be the prototype for how this album sounds, cold & uncompromising. Yet against all odds, this longer offering felt easier to listen to. While the greater focus on the rhythm section and atmosphere drove many of the songs into repetition & abstraction, it also means there’s less of Johnny Rotten’s more annoying vocal tendencies. If you’ve heard Trans-Europe Express, you might agree that despite the repetition, you feel like you’re in transit, on the way somewhere. Metal Box/Second Edition, gives me a similar vibe, except the destination sounds a lot more ghastly. There are perhaps too many stinkers to rank it higher (um, “The Suit” for one, don’t really like “Albatross” either), but overall I loved the strange guitar tone (which maybe isn’t as strange compared to later new wave releases), as well as the more dubby bass from Jah Wobble. HL: “Radio 4”, “Graveyard”, “Poptones”, “Swan Lake”, “Memories” July 27, 2024
-This is pretty interesting, has a sort of darkwave vibe to it -Anything experimental I’m all for but it definitely dragged on a bit long in some songs -Favorites are Careering and Socialist
The two stars of the album are Keith Levene's icy guitar stylings and Jah Wobble's slinky bass lines. They give this album depth and musical tastiness. The two problems are it's too long and John Lydon's somewhat dispassionate vocals. Having said all this, I thought it was better than most reviewers think and I may give this a follow up in the future.
I do have to admit that this coming out in '79 surprised me since it sounded more experimental in a way than I would've thought at that time. The rhythm section on Poptones feels a bit like someone is trying to hypnotize me. Man, the more I'm ignoring listening to this as a normal album and letting myself focus rhythm first and the rest to round it out the more interesting it is. I almost hate that I'm saying this but I could see myself wanting to hear this again and seeing if I find something else.
Excited for this one as I have come to realize I'm a big post-punk kinda guy apparently. A few songs in and it sounds dirty and improvy - not complaining about either, I like the style. Careering is ominous af. The album as a whole reminds me of Can, but drags on a little bit too much for my liking and at times gets a bit too noise-rocky. Really enjoyed a lot of it though. Going high 3 here.
Bass is great, voice is terrible
It's good if you like avant guarde. It also still sounds fresh. Not what you might expect from PiL, but it's their second album, so they were telling you to abandon your expectations.
I continue to be confused how people hate the lowest-rated albums so much. I didn't mind this at all. I even saved "Socialist" for my 1001 Highlights playlist. I probably wouldn't listen to the entire album again but it wasn't bad.
I wasn't a huge fan of this album but it wasn't bad.
I liked the beginning a lot, the bass was great and the music set a moody atmosphere very well. But it got quite tiring by the end, not helped by the occasionally annoying vocals. Stand-out: Memories
For those unaware, Public Image Ltd. was formed by John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten shortly after the Sex Pistols broke up. He recruited an old friend of his Jah Wobble as bassist and former Clash member Keith Levene as guitarist. Metal Box, subsequently known as Second Edition, is their second album, categorized by what they're getting away with as an "avant-garde" sound, with stream-of-consciousness lyrics, dub-inspired bass grooves, and an abrasive "metallic" guitar sound. Now that formalities are out of the way, my enjoyment was admittedly slightly better than the Sex Pistols' one album. Keith Levene's guitar playing may not be as hook-driven as Steve Jones's was, yet it's also weirdly hypnotic in its unorthodox behavior. The rhythm section shines here, where Jah Wobble's playing up and down bass is well executed, and the session drummers do a superb job with the beats. Once again, Johnny Rotten is the worst part of his own group. He's a terrible singer, but instead of badly snarking he's now badly wailing. Similarly, he hasn't improved much as a lyricist, though he probably got away with using abstract imagery under the guise of "avant-garde." Thankfully, we don't get a "Bodies" here. Also helping to ease things between are the instrumental tracks "Socialist", "Graveyard" and closer "Radio 4", which I admittedly found pleasant. Overall, it is technically a step up from Never Mind the Bollocks, but not by much. I can see how someone would classify this as a landmark album for post-punk. Just one more Public Image album on this journey, and then Johnny can fuck right off.
It's okay
hmm, ehkä olen kullut niin paskoja aöbumeja viime aikoina että tämä on melkein henkäisy raikasta ilmaa. basso vie kiimassa koko bändiä eteenpäin kuin iroquois šamaani konsanaan koko saatanan studio heiluu kun basso soi, ja "metallimainen", heh, kitaransointto kuulostaa raastavalta, hirvittävältä ja perkele hyvältä. kuitenkin on selvää, että laulu tuo albumia pakosti aivan vitun paljon alaspäin, edes minä en voi mitenkään tykätä tuom brittinilkin vittumaisesta vinkumisesta + paskat lyriikat + ratio swan lake
I still don't dig their style.
A diligent exercise in studied noise. Not a "listening album" per se, but I still found it quite listenable. Probably because of the groove laid down by the bass, primarily.
曲听不懂词听不懂靴靴
Good
Definitely a tortured anguish slow punk vibe that is pretty cool. The first part of the album is really strong... i like Albatross, Swan Lake, Poptones and Careering. Even though Graveyard is an instrumental, i think it is the best track. Unfortunately The Suit undermines all the good will they built up to that point. I feel like given the arrogance of Johnny Lydon, he would put out something better than The Suit... i'm not sure its even defendable. The rest is pretty mediocre and though we were strongly headed to 4 territory at the beginning... we ended up pulling back to a...
One of my favorite albums in college was PiL's "Album". Really, that seems like a John Lydon solo album. He assembled who he wanted and made some great rock tunes. This is a bit more experimental, and unfortunately, most of the tracks go on WAY too long. "Albatross," the 10 minute opener, gave me a good idea that I was in for a bit of a slog. Still, this is definitely a step up from their first album. I don't know what that really says. I did like "Poptones," and "Death Disco," but things like "Chant" _REALLY_ overstayed their welcome. Better than the first album? I gave the first album a 2, so this gets a 3.
- Moody Tracks dabei, wobei gesanglich nicht so ganz meins (immerhin ist der Gesang sehr zurückgestellt und damit leicht auszublenden) - als Hintergrundmusik allemal geeignet - Graveyard und Chant sind mir negativ aufgefallen, sehr nervige Tracks
I hate punk but this post punk is pretty damn good. I especially enjoyed the bass. I quite liked the vibe. This album surprised me. 3
Post Punk Album mit dem unverkennbaren PIL Stil. Aber das improvisierte Werk ist stellenweise sehr anstrengend mit seiner experimentellen Art. Man muss dem Album Zeit geben - aber manches wird man wohl nie verstehen. Ganz gut sind „Memories“, „Swan Lake“ & „Radio 4“ furchtbar „No Bird“.
Can't get more post punk than Lydon and enjoyed the driving base in most of the songs and albatross and careering were a bit of a revelation. Lydons sneering grates after a while though.
On first listen I was using EarPods and thought it was almost good but kinda flat. It was not till I drove home and felt the bass cords from the car stereo that I realized there was more to this album
This was interesting. Home to some really cool songs and ideas but as a whole it's very strange. If anything, I would add a few songs to a playlist and check out some other albums by this group or at least dig into their history.
This album was just middle of the road for me. Unfortunately it’s getting a lot of bad reviews because people are completely unaware of the context around the album, such as what was going on with music and the UK punk scene at the time. Also even though it’s a very influential album, but it’s for a very niche genre, which will make if more unrelatable to the average person. although it was a influential album, it really phase doesn’t seem to hold much value against time.
Punk pop
Ei oo tullut kuunneltua aiemmin. Parempi kuin mikä mun mielikuva oli. Kokonaisuus aika levällään mutta hyviä biisejä Kohokohtia: poptones, careering, the suit
Johnny Rotten can't sing for shit but the music is so damn good
Different but enjoyable
Weird but original. Weird darkness to it.
2.5 rounded up
Post-punk rock band
Interesting proto-industrial. A bit repetitive though. I think some of their later stuff is better.
This album feels really uneven to me, which has been true of the other Public Image albums that I've heard. Some songs are great, and some songs feel boring and self-indulgent. Much like Johnny Rotten himself, it's a real mixed bag 3/5
Nog kova sound, glad att ja hörde det men idk om ja vill höra de igen
This isn’t the first album I’ve listened to by Public Image Ltd. It’s also not the first time I’ve gotten them muddled up with Public Enemy. They’re a bit different to each other, yet I can’t seem to separate them. I quite enjoyed the self titled album of their’s, so let’s hope this one is good! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Albatross, Swan Lane This is the type of album that I can enjoy, but can also completely understand if a different person hates it. It’s really apathetic punk music, where it sounds like the band really don’t care much about what they’re doing. The vocals are about what you’d expect from Johnny Rotten, and the music is something you’d be able to learn to play in about 5 minutes. Sounds nice though.
equal parts boring and interesting. would have gotten a much higher rating with better vocals and lyrics.
Didn’t think much of it based on the first song. By half way through the album I could see how a band like this has influenced many of the other bands I listen to that would follow in the years to come. Overall not my fave album but going to give it the credit it deserves.
Pretty interesting post punk. Long songs. Instrumentals. Pretty good.
pretty good. pretty weird.
Rock/Techno sound
Challenging, dissonant and overwhelmingly unejoyable which I assume is exactly what he was going for
this was alright!
This is really fucking ugly so far but I really like the guitar lines on Albatross. Almost hypnotic. The Suit is standard punk subject matter but it sounds as boring as what it’s describing and it works. Most other songs I checked out of tbh. I I’ve never heard a Sex Pistols or PIL album prior to this so I don’t have a reference point but this was alright.
This has two different titles
Very very strange. Part of me wants to give it one star but then again I didn’t want to stop it.
Noisy and weird, but not as good as their first or, obviously, John's previous band. An interesting choice, but probably not one I'll come back to
I actually quite like this garbage. No need for any of the songs to be longer than 3 minutes though. And definitely no reason for this to be an hour long album. Scaled WAY down this would be a fun post-punk party. If the whole thing was 30 minutes long, it'd be a 5.
moany but good
Interesting that this came out the same year as Unknown Pleasures. This reminds me of my least favorite parts of that album though. Fine post punk but a lot of it sounds like he’s singing from the other room.
That was cool. Merry Christmas! C+
Ich weiß nich… abgefahren aber ich weiß nicht ob gut oder schlecht… okay es wird besser! 3 sterne
This is the sound of a British dystopia - but also, while listening to it - I kept on thinking - who is this record for? It sounds like a jam band, and one of the punk's most seminal frontmen warbling above the meandering tracks. But, at the same time, I'm glad it exists? Critic wank and 'had to be there' claimers aside, it's not a great album - maybe groundbreaking at the time, but it's novelty did wear off.
I see how this was an influential album but it was not as enjoyable as their previous album.
This album have a some great moments in it, but it's sadly too long winded. It's good to hear post-punk meeting krautrock, tho. The general dark ambiance of Metal Box is also well rendered.
Great bass. Mediocre singer.
Decent, but PIL have better stuff than this
In the right whiskey fueled stupor, I could see this being the greatest thing ever. In all other situations, it's still quite decent. 🥃🥃🥃
Will never be a favourite but enjoyed it.
Interesting and I can imagine ahead of their time.
Not my cup of tea. Reminds me of bad Joy Division.
A pretty cool concept with the literal metal box as the cover on the original release. Their sound is more of an experimental concept album that is alt rock/punk avant-garde yet just works as a whole. I can see if you were to listen to them in isolation, then it would be mildly confusing. You really need to listen to the whole album in it's entirety. Best: Albatross Worst: Radio 4
Pretty good, but I liked their other one better, and they didn't need two albums on the list
Pretty challenging and diverse set of songs. I certainly liked it more than I expected, but I can’t see this being something I revisit often. At its best, there are some really cool grooves.
Not on Spotify
Liked the sound and vibes, but got frustrated with the long unstructured songs. This was hugely influential to a lot of music I love, but I didn't enjoy listening to this album.
Do I have amnesia? Definitely listened to this album, definitely don't remember it at all. My brain is mush.
It was fine…. The music was kind of a vibe, especially the bass on that first song, but the singer was not great. I also didn’t like that one song where there was a ton of beeping in the left channel.
I'm going to guess that I liked this more than most of the rest of the group, but even I have to admit it's not particularly...listenable. I'd give it a 3.5 but not in good conscience a 4 so rounding down. A lot of it sounds familiar in difficult-to-pin-down ways which makes me think this is one of those "musicians liked it and no one else listened to it" albums?
A few memorable lyrics, decent album The line ‘I know you very well // You are unbearable’ is so funny to me Also ‘Everyone loves you // Until they know you’ ouch Socialist sounds like I’m a mad scientist working in a lab
3.5/5. Post punk and alternative shit is awesome but even I have limits.
Good instrumentals but In some of the songs I really didn't like his voice
I'm conflicted on John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten. But there is no doubt his post Sex Pistols project Public Image Limited has put out amazing quality music and this debut settles in as a post-punk classic. 3.5/5
songs are too long not enough substance but was a good album
On the cusp of punk and psychedelic.
Decent, rough. Post-punk 2.5
I like their first album more. This one isn't bad, but it's just not something I'd really choose to listen to.
Best lekker weer eens
On paper the combination sounds odd but in the end it's decent music
Interesting, didn't really click with me but there was something there
It was interesting, but even though they may have broken ground with the sound they explore, the ones building off of them have usually done it better.
Never heard of these guys, who are they? Why is this album not available on Apple Music, except for the retitled "Second Edition" vinyl rerelease? Lots of unanswered questions here, in the music as well. Some freaky-deaky genre exploration around punk rock, which I think is pretty nice. Love when synths get involved, who said punk has to be completely DIY garage stuff? I liked this much more than I thought I would, at least the handful of tracks I'll be keeping. Nothing that blew me away necessarily, though "Socialist" is really cool. Not a bad way to end this weird week, which took me from a 4.5 to a 1.5 and then pinballed in the middle. Favorite tracks: Socialist, The Suit, Albatross, Radio 4. Album art: It's a metal canister of music I guess. The "Second Edition" release that I have access to has a different cover, a warping distorted face that I guess is a guy in the band. It's warping with what seems to be a really creepy alien head. I like that cover more than the can. 3.5/5
I've always liked the singles particularly Careering and Memories. It's really the bass and drums that I enjoy mixed in with icy synths and with guitar reminiscent of Martin Hamnett producing Joy Division. Way too long songs and Levine's guitar work is hit and miss. All the drummers seem to get it right along with Jah Wobble's delicious groovy basslines. John Lydon's singing is mostly dreadful, of course. I realise he's trying to irritate and push our buttons and show just how non-rock and "clever" he is. He hits it right with the astonishingly awful Chant. A nadir. However, unlike most reviews, I kind of enjoyed much of the album, although it was so very long. I'll give it a 3 because there are at least four songs I'll choose again.
Great packaging, and one of those where, though it appears old hat today, I imagine it's impact at the time would have been considerable.
this isn't what you want, but this is what you get
Yep, liked it right from the start. That first song is hauntingly familiar…..cant place it. 3/5
Discordant, not for listening for pleasure, fantastically packaged, not for everyone but the combination of Wobble, Levene and Lydon is quite special.
Innovative, but hard to listen to at times.
3.5/5. I have to say this was not terrible. But it's not something that I would ever choose to listen to. I can see how people would like this, though.
A groovier, timelier Joy Division-esque LP. Definitely suffers due to some editorial oversight (most tracks could stand to lose some fat) and not every sonic experiment hits, but there are some great pulsing moments of rhythm and emotional intensity that caught my attention. Can see how someone would absolutely hate this, but it mostly vibed for me.
Imagine shelling out the ducats for a 3-disc set of 45s in a special, metal, collector's-edition case and then finding out that the whole first disc is completely unlistenable. John Lydon is possibly a genius, probably a nutjob, and definitely a jerk for making people who buy his albums suffer through at least three tracks of utter garbage before he gives them something that resembles a song. That was true of Public Image's first release and it holds true here as well. It's not until track 4, "Poptones", which is the first track of disc 2 in the original pressing, that we start to get legit songs from Lydon and his boys. This one started as a 1-star and slowly clawed its way up to a 3-star album for me.
3.0 - Touted as some post-punk masterpiece akin to "Closer" by Joy Division, I had high hopes for this. For me there's too much atmosphere and not enough structured songcraft. I enjoy the subtle background sonics: snaking guitar lines, buoyant dub bass and staccato bleeps. Unfortunately, the vocals sound like a combination of my neighbor's dog wailing to be let in, and troll living under the bridge.
eh... almost wonderful.
When I read "dub", I got excuted. King Tubby this isn't :(
Suffered from the opposite of most punk albums, this one just went on and on.
Solid album. This is the album, where PIL really found their defining sound and form, moving away from the garage/punk origin.
De muziek is vaak echt goed, de zang soms irritant.
Strong 6
Eh, weird. 6/10
Ca-lassic, but not my mood so much anymore.
While listening to this album I kept going back and forth between this is one of the best bass lines in have ever heard and why is this song so long and terrible. With some editing or cutting the length of some of the songs I think this would have been better.
The singer makes this practically unlistenable. It was a slog.
The music was okay but the singing was off-key. I can hear other genres in this, such as 80s goth and darkwave so they were definitely influential.
I wouldn't call it good music.
Not for me
not my thing
I missed PiL in their heyday, and when I finally got around to listening to Metal Box ~20 years ago, my reaction basically amounted to ???. While I appreciate the radical left turn John Lydon took post-Sex Pistols, I didn't (and don't) enjoy it. Jah Wobble's bass is the star here, and while there are moments I can get into, my original verdict stands: pass.
Well... It has Jah Wobble, and I thought his other album on this list was excellent... And there were a few parts that reminded me of Joy Division and Talking Heads... And it's not the agonizing country that the algorithm has been relentlessly foisting upon us lately... BUT... I can't say this was an especially enjoyable experience from start to finish... I think maybe it's the combination of its length and lack of structure that makes it feel more like a chore to complete than something you'd want to voluntarily return to for pleasure... Ultimately, it feels more like ad-libbed experimentation than a complete product... Final verdict: points for some interesting ideas, but huge deductions for lazy underdevelopment...
Man these guys are long winded. This severely needed to be edited and polished to give this a passing grade
2.4
Unconstrained John Lyndon, pushes the boundaries but not for me
i'm neither experimental nor avantgarde
Very chaotic
I'm certain there is something worthwile here, but I can't find it.
2 a wee bit boring
2 I get that this was hugely influential and I could see the ways that so many bands i like were inspired, but I just would rather be listening to any of those bands. This sucks. And any good will that it would get from me for the influence is canceled out by John lydon being a complete bellend
Not my kind of music