Disco de Public Image Ltd.: “Album/Compact Disc/Cassette”

A stunning return to form. As assembled by producer Bill Laswell, there's not really a PiL to speak of - it's basically Lydon and a group of session musicians - but who's complaining when these guests include Steve Vai, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Ginger Baker? With its emphasis on big guitars and big drums, "Album" was written off by the unenlightened as PiL going stadium rock, but Lydon's confrontational lyrics and caterwaul vocals, and the abundance of Eastern melodies, help steer this away from the realm of conventional 80s metal. "Anger is an energy" is the mantra of "Rise": one of PiL's finest moments ever, the song manages to be both a tribute to Lydon's Irish heritage and also a scathing indictment of Apartheid torture practices. Lydon's impassioned vocal presence has never sounded so graceful. Elsewhere, the album is rife with surprising and very effective musical flourishes: never is this more evident than on the closing "Ease," a beautiful, monumental mood/rock piece with synth, sitar and didgeridoo (and a killer Vai guitar solo). In a marked contrast to the sporadic quality of the two previous PiL studio albums, there's no filler here: EVERY track is a highlight. "FFF" is a rollicking opener in which Lydon lashes out at a former friend/colleague ("Farewell my fairweather friend/On you no one can depend"). Lydon continues the apocalyptic themes of "World Destruction" (his 1985 single collaboration with Afrika Baambattaa and Laswell) on "Round" ("Mushrooms on the horizon") and the mistanthropic, catchy numbers "Fishing" ("Talking to you is a waste of time/Go crawl back into your dustbin"), "Bags," and "Home" ("Better days will never be"). Easily PiL's most essential 80s moment (apologies to all those "Flowers Of Romance" fans), "Album" is second only to "Metal Box" as the best PiL album ever. It's an extraordinary, non-condescending and underrated highlight of a largely boring musical landscape (a.k.a. the 1980s). NOTE: in keeping with the generic packaging of this release, the LP was titled "Album," the CD "Compact Disc" and the cassette "Cassette."

One of the best post-punk albums of the 80s, hands down. Steve Vai, Bernie Worrel, Ginger Baker, Bill Laswell, Ryuchi Sakamoto, and of course, John Lydon. Every track is a stunner, lushly arranged and mixed, brutal drums, throbbing bass. A perfect album. A surprisingly overlooked and underated album.

...this sucker is as "legitimate" as anything Lydon's done before or since. As soon as anyone starts delving into PiL's body of work, it is inevitable that they'll get a lot of static involving "ALBUM/CASSETTE/COMPACT DISC"- much of it from the purists who insist that somehow this thing was a compromise, a betrayal of the pure experimental/revolutionary ethic that PiL had (just read some of the previous reviews likening it to the works of INXS and Genesis.) Stuff and nonsense! Incoherence does not automatically equal credibility- and when you let this screaming, blasting hellcat of an album out of its deceptively generic package, you'll see why craft can and does matter. With this polished crew backing him, Lydon's bile goes down easier, gets past one's defenses against "art for art's sake"- and then eats right in.

Steve Vai's guitar is matched by Lydon's own gruff howling- and Ginger Baker's rhythm makes one want to- well, RISE and stomp along. This isn't for the laserium or beer commercial crowd- one listen to "FFF", "Fishing", or "Bags" , and you'll know why the man once wore a "I hate Pink Floyd" shirt...

Young listeners: There is plenty of great music already in existence if you make the effort to find it. Newer isn't always better, kids! At 41 years old, I am constantly finding awesome music that was released years/decades ago. This album was one of my favorites back in the day.

Anyway, on to the review: I had this album in high school, loved it then, and I am so happy to have it again (my awesome wife gave it to me for Christmas)! In my opinion, this may be PiL's best record, because it bridges the experimentalism of the early material with the popiness of Happy? and 9. Lydon's vocals are an acquired taste sometimes, but they mate well with the music on this album, never getting too out of hand.

Happy? was my first foray into PiL, but my fanhood was cemented after hearing this album. My faves are FFF and Rise, but the whole album is rock solid. As an added bit of awesomeness, Steve Vai plays the guitars on this album. I can only imagine what those sessions with Vai and Lydon collaborating would be like. Two legends from completely different musical universes!

This album is one of the most accessible from PiL, and certainly one of their best. If you decide to buy it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Balls to the wall KIller album by one of rocks most original bands. I bought this album back in the 80's not really knowing what to expect... I LOVED IT! I've been a fan ever since,well...up and till they broke up. I just purchased their box set, it cost me $80!!!, but it was worth it. "FFF","Home" and "Ease" are three of the most jamming songs I've ever had the pleasure of listening to, finger blistering guitar work, pounding drums, thumping bass, Johnny's acidy vocals...I LOVE IT! BUY THIS CD and crank it up. WAY UP!