Sex Pistols

[Dr. Medulla]

Musically the Pistols would sound brilliant. But they days of John writing any relevant lyrics for such a project are long behind him. Whilst I like some recent PiL tracks I find his lyrics over repetitive and lazy.

Album is probably the last time there was any real effort. After that, we got such gems as "You, you make me angry" and "Wait to serve this / Wait for this, miss / And don't you diss this / This is bliss, miss / Around the world with this, miss / Disgusting lewd rudeness." He reached the top of the mountain early in his career, but, yikes, he fell hard.

There are little gems like The Animal Speaks/Open Up and World Destruction (same time as Album) but it's a big drop off after that. A few good later PiL tracks like Fat Chance Hotel but nothing remotely as credible as his earlier works. Considering the huge legacy he lives off it's mostly poor returns for his fan base.

He's been coasting off an amazing run from around 1976 to 1979. To be fair, it's pretty damned tough to maintain that level of creativity and influence—by 1972 or so, all of the Beatles were coasting—but that's 45 years of cooling off.

That what is not or even could've been.

If only That What Is Not hadn't.

[Marky Dread]

Album is probably the last time there was any real effort. After that, we got such gems as "You, you make me angry" and "Wait to serve this / Wait for this, miss / And don't you diss this / This is bliss, miss / Around the world with this, miss / Disgusting lewd rudeness." He reached the top of the mountain early in his career, but, yikes, he fell hard.

There are little gems like The Animal Speaks/Open Up and World Destruction (same time as Album) but it's a big drop off after that. A few good later PiL tracks like Fat Chance Hotel but nothing remotely as credible as his earlier works. Considering the huge legacy he lives off it's mostly poor returns for his fan base.

He's been coasting off an amazing run from around 1976 to 1979. To be fair, it's pretty damned tough to maintain that level of creativity and influence—by 1972 or so, all of the Beatles were coasting—but that's 45 years of cooling off.

That what is not or even could've been.

If only That What Is Not hadn't.

When life gives you acid drops...

[Dr. Medulla]

There are little gems like The Animal Speaks/Open Up and World Destruction (same time as Album) but it's a big drop off after that. A few good later PiL tracks like Fat Chance Hotel but nothing remotely as credible as his earlier works. Considering the huge legacy he lives off it's mostly poor returns for his fan base.

He's been coasting off an amazing run from around 1976 to 1979. To be fair, it's pretty damned tough to maintain that level of creativity and influence—by 1972 or so, all of the Beatles were coasting—but that's 45 years of cooling off.

That what is not or even could've been.

If only That What Is Not hadn't.

When life gives you acid drops...

… you bin the record. I mean, it's telling that when he restarted PiL, nothing from that record made the setlist (if "Think Tank" got played at some point, please don't tell me).

[Marky Dread]

He's been coasting off an amazing run from around 1976 to 1979. To be fair, it's pretty damned tough to maintain that level of creativity and influence—by 1972 or so, all of the Beatles were coasting—but that's 45 years of cooling off.

That what is not or even could've been.

If only That What Is Not hadn't.

When life gives you acid drops...

… you bin the record. I mean, it's telling that when he restarted PiL, nothing from that record made the setlist (if "Think Tank" got played at some point, please don't tell me).

Nor anything from Psycho's Path. Lydon's such a light weight.

[Dr. Medulla]

That what is not or even could've been.

If only That What Is Not hadn't.

When life gives you acid drops...

… you bin the record. I mean, it's telling that when he restarted PiL, nothing from that record made the setlist (if "Think Tank" got played at some point, please don't tell me).

Nor anything from Psycho's Path. Lydon's such a light weight.

Some birds are so precious that they should forever be kept in a golden cage.

[Marky Dread]

John Lydon comes to town...

Intro (tape) The Cowboy Song
The Rabbit Song
Angry
Save Me
Think Tank
Same Old Story
A No and a Yes

Encore (Unwanted)
This Is Not a Love Song (Club Version)
Outro (tape) God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes Remix)

Ever get the feeling you've been treated (unfairly).

[Dr. Medulla]

John Lydon comes to town...

Intro (tape) The Cowboy Song
The Rabbit Song
Angry
Save Me
Think Tank
Same Old Story
A No and a Yes

Encore (Unwanted)
This Is Not a Love Song (Club Version)
Outro (tape) God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes Remix)

Ever get the feeling you've been treated (unfairly).

I really should have known something was up on something called the Spite Tour, but I'd stick around for the first two "songs."

[FujiVice]

It seems as if Lydon's post 1988 music career is what happens when you reach a point where you dont listen to ideas anymore. There something there with a lot of his output, but the ideas arent expanded on and he wont allow anyone to disagree with him. Hence you get that disjointed solo album and all those newer PIL releases. Lydon is quite a wordsmith, his best albums. They were all collaborative. Never Mind the Bollocks with Glen, Steve and Paul. First Edition and Metal Box with Wobble and Levene. Album with the likes of Steve Vai and Ginger Baker. World Destruction with Bambaataa. Open up with Leftfield. Animal Speaks with Golden Palaminos.

He turned down Albarn a few years back, who wanted him on a Gorillaz album. Probably right to do that in fairness. But the days of collaborating with new ideas seem to be over. They were over 30 years ago, in fairness. Now you have no hope of good music out of him.

[FujiVice]

n/a

[Dr. Medulla]

It seems as if Lydon's post 1988 music career is what happens when you reach a point where you dont listen to ideas anymore. There something there with a lot of his output, but the ideas arent expanded on and he wont allow anyone to disagree with him. Hence you get that disjointed solo album and all those newer PIL releases. Lydon is quite a wordsmith, his best albums. They were all collaborative. Never Mind the Bollocks with Glen, Steve and Paul. First Edition and Metal Box with Wobble and Levene. Album with the likes of Steve Vai and Ginger Baker. World Destruction with Bambaataa. Open up with Leftfield. Animal Speaks with Golden Palaminos.

He turned down Albarn a few years back, who wanted him on a Gorillaz album. Probably right to do that in fairness. But the days of collaborating with new ideas seem to be over. They were over 30 years ago, in fairness. Now you have no hope of good music out of him.

I'm not sure I agree with this, or at least all of it. The problem of the McGeoch-era PiL was that, if anything, he was listening to what the trends were in alternative pop at the time. If PiL, once upon a time, sounded distinct from what was happening, post-Album the group sounded like any number of indie guitar-dance groups. The strange thing about the the rebooted PiL is that it's arguably the best set of musicians he's ever had to work with, yet the music itself is uninspired. Maybe as a group they aren't effective songwriters or maybe writing around him just doesn't work, but I'm surprised that the results of the music itself is rather meh.

[Marky Dread]

It seems as if Lydon's post 1988 music career is what happens when you reach a point where you dont listen to ideas anymore. There something there with a lot of his output, but the ideas arent expanded on and he wont allow anyone to disagree with him. Hence you get that disjointed solo album and all those newer PIL releases. Lydon is quite a wordsmith, his best albums. They were all collaborative. Never Mind the Bollocks with Glen, Steve and Paul. First Edition and Metal Box with Wobble and Levene. Album with the likes of Steve Vai and Ginger Baker. World Destruction with Bambaataa. Open up with Leftfield. Animal Speaks with Golden Palaminos.

He turned down Albarn a few years back, who wanted him on a Gorillaz album. Probably right to do that in fairness. But the days of collaborating with new ideas seem to be over. They were over 30 years ago, in fairness. Now you have no hope of good music out of him.

I'm not sure I agree with this, or at least all of it. The problem of the McGeoch-era PiL was that, if anything, he was listening to what the trends were in alternative pop at the time. If PiL, once upon a time, sounded distinct from what was happening, post-Album the group sounded like any number of indie guitar-dance groups. The strange thing about the the rebooted PiL is that it's arguably the best set of musicians he's ever had to work with, yet the music itself is uninspired. Maybe as a group they aren't effective songwriters or maybe writing around him just doesn't work, but I'm surprised that the results of the music itself is rather meh.

You can't beat Mark E. Smith fronting Simple Minds.

[Dr. Medulla]

It seems as if Lydon's post 1988 music career is what happens when you reach a point where you dont listen to ideas anymore. There something there with a lot of his output, but the ideas arent expanded on and he wont allow anyone to disagree with him. Hence you get that disjointed solo album and all those newer PIL releases. Lydon is quite a wordsmith, his best albums. They were all collaborative. Never Mind the Bollocks with Glen, Steve and Paul. First Edition and Metal Box with Wobble and Levene. Album with the likes of Steve Vai and Ginger Baker. World Destruction with Bambaataa. Open up with Leftfield. Animal Speaks with Golden Palaminos.

He turned down Albarn a few years back, who wanted him on a Gorillaz album. Probably right to do that in fairness. But the days of collaborating with new ideas seem to be over. They were over 30 years ago, in fairness. Now you have no hope of good music out of him.

I'm not sure I agree with this, or at least all of it. The problem of the McGeoch-era PiL was that, if anything, he was listening to what the trends were in alternative pop at the time. If PiL, once upon a time, sounded distinct from what was happening, post-Album the group sounded like any number of indie guitar-dance groups. The strange thing about the the rebooted PiL is that it's arguably the best set of musicians he's ever had to work with, yet the music itself is uninspired. Maybe as a group they aren't effective songwriters or maybe writing around him just doesn't work, but I'm surprised that the results of the music itself is rather meh.

You can't beat Mark E. Smith fronting Simple Minds.

Ha! Yes, exactly.

[Kory]

It seems as if Lydon's post 1988 music career is what happens when you reach a point where you dont listen to ideas anymore. There something there with a lot of his output, but the ideas arent expanded on and he wont allow anyone to disagree with him. Hence you get that disjointed solo album and all those newer PIL releases. Lydon is quite a wordsmith, his best albums. They were all collaborative. Never Mind the Bollocks with Glen, Steve and Paul. First Edition and Metal Box with Wobble and Levene. Album with the likes of Steve Vai and Ginger Baker. World Destruction with Bambaataa. Open up with Leftfield. Animal Speaks with Golden Palaminos.

He turned down Albarn a few years back, who wanted him on a Gorillaz album. Probably right to do that in fairness. But the days of collaborating with new ideas seem to be over. They were over 30 years ago, in fairness. Now you have no hope of good music out of him.

I'm not sure I agree with this, or at least all of it. The problem of the McGeoch-era PiL was that, if anything, he was listening to what the trends were in alternative pop at the time. If PiL, once upon a time, sounded distinct from what was happening, post-Album the group sounded like any number of indie guitar-dance groups. The strange thing about the the rebooted PiL is that it's arguably the best set of musicians he's ever had to work with, yet the music itself is uninspired. Maybe as a group they aren't effective songwriters or maybe writing around him just doesn't work, but I'm surprised that the results of the music itself is rather meh.

The first reunion album is quite good, I think, but they peter out after that. I'd be curious to know if you thought McGeoch-era PiL was aping anyone (or any collection of groups) in particular. I can definitely see what you're saying about their change in direction and what "inspired" it, but they still sound unique enough to me—that is, I can't think of another group they sound like. Although thinking more on it, I can hear a little touch of DM in there from time to time.

[Dr. Medulla]

It seems as if Lydon's post 1988 music career is what happens when you reach a point where you dont listen to ideas anymore. There something there with a lot of his output, but the ideas arent expanded on and he wont allow anyone to disagree with him. Hence you get that disjointed solo album and all those newer PIL releases. Lydon is quite a wordsmith, his best albums. They were all collaborative. Never Mind the Bollocks with Glen, Steve and Paul. First Edition and Metal Box with Wobble and Levene. Album with the likes of Steve Vai and Ginger Baker. World Destruction with Bambaataa. Open up with Leftfield. Animal Speaks with Golden Palaminos.

He turned down Albarn a few years back, who wanted him on a Gorillaz album. Probably right to do that in fairness. But the days of collaborating with new ideas seem to be over. They were over 30 years ago, in fairness. Now you have no hope of good music out of him.

I'm not sure I agree with this, or at least all of it. The problem of the McGeoch-era PiL was that, if anything, he was listening to what the trends were in alternative pop at the time. If PiL, once upon a time, sounded distinct from what was happening, post-Album the group sounded like any number of indie guitar-dance groups. The strange thing about the the rebooted PiL is that it's arguably the best set of musicians he's ever had to work with, yet the music itself is uninspired. Maybe as a group they aren't effective songwriters or maybe writing around him just doesn't work, but I'm surprised that the results of the music itself is rather meh.

The first reunion album is quite good, I think, but they peter out after that. I'd be curious to know if you thought McGeoch-era PiL was aping anyone (or any collection of groups) in particular. I can definitely see what you're saying about their change in direction and what "inspired" it, but they still sound unique enough to me—that is, I can't think of another group they sound like. Although thinking more on it, I can hear a little touch of DM in there from time to time.

New Order comes to mind a bit, Wire was chasing a similar sound in the late 80s, the Banshees, a little Depeche Mode, yes. Maybe INXS or, because Marky invoked them, Simple Minds. I don't think there was a conscious effort to sound like these bands, but they were all chasing a similar audience.

[Kory]

It seems as if Lydon's post 1988 music career is what happens when you reach a point where you dont listen to ideas anymore. There something there with a lot of his output, but the ideas arent expanded on and he wont allow anyone to disagree with him. Hence you get that disjointed solo album and all those newer PIL releases. Lydon is quite a wordsmith, his best albums. They were all collaborative. Never Mind the Bollocks with Glen, Steve and Paul. First Edition and Metal Box with Wobble and Levene. Album with the likes of Steve Vai and Ginger Baker. World Destruction with Bambaataa. Open up with Leftfield. Animal Speaks with Golden Palaminos.

He turned down Albarn a few years back, who wanted him on a Gorillaz album. Probably right to do that in fairness. But the days of collaborating with new ideas seem to be over. They were over 30 years ago, in fairness. Now you have no hope of good music out of him.

I'm not sure I agree with this, or at least all of it. The problem of the McGeoch-era PiL was that, if anything, he was listening to what the trends were in alternative pop at the time. If PiL, once upon a time, sounded distinct from what was happening, post-Album the group sounded like any number of indie guitar-dance groups. The strange thing about the the rebooted PiL is that it's arguably the best set of musicians he's ever had to work with, yet the music itself is uninspired. Maybe as a group they aren't effective songwriters or maybe writing around him just doesn't work, but I'm surprised that the results of the music itself is rather meh.

The first reunion album is quite good, I think, but they peter out after that. I'd be curious to know if you thought McGeoch-era PiL was aping anyone (or any collection of groups) in particular. I can definitely see what you're saying about their change in direction and what "inspired" it, but they still sound unique enough to me—that is, I can't think of another group they sound like. Although thinking more on it, I can hear a little touch of DM in there from time to time.

New Order comes to mind a bit, Wire was chasing a similar sound in the late 80s, the Banshees, a little Depeche Mode, yes. Maybe INXS or, because Marky invoked them, Simple Minds. I don't think there was a conscious effort to sound like these bands, but they were all chasing a similar audience.

I can see it. I wouldn't have thought NO, but I'm not familiar with any of their work beyond Technique.