Search - Public Image Ltd. :: Compact Disc

Great NewWave/Punk

Gustave O. Frey | Oracle, AZ | 10/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This music has some of the rough, up-in-your-face quality of Patti Smith ("Easter" "Horses") and of course the Sex Pistols. The more mainstream, pop melodies are not integrated as much with the rancor as they are on "9." However, this gives you something almost as good, as the juxtapositions are generally very well executed. The catharses are more simplistic, but often more freeing. Primitive, prowling, "Gang of Four" rhythms blossom into the fragrant flowers you associate with U2.



"Compact Disc" has the peculiar distinction of having a lot of great dance rhythms and melodic riffs woven into Johnny's otherwise insane warbling. The guitar work is sometimes jarring and overdone, though some of it is remarkably fast and pure.



Of particular interest are the beautiful melodies on the second and last tracks. On "Ease," Johnny confides, "What makes you happy, your misery." These two PIL albums rank right up there with the Beatles, Stones, Bowie, etc. that made monumental music from the grist of this statement."

Forget the "sell-out" blather-

E. Hill | Arlington, TX USA | 03/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...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..."

Tony Williams played on this

Bruce Neilson | Salt Lake City, Ut United States | 02/25/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I saw Tony Williams (the great jazz drummer) in the 80's and my friend brought this record to have him sign.

Somehow he knew he played on it? And, Tony SIGNED it! So, I guess he DID play on it.

Pretty weird, huh?

I like this record alot... thats my review."