PiL were formed in 1978 after The Sex Pistols came to an abrupt end having rewritten British music history as punk upstarts and upset thousands for saying 'fuck' on TV at 6.30pm. Johnny Rotten from the Pistols became John Lydon of Public Image Limited and eschewed the snarling bumflap of punk-rock for a far broader spectrum of experimental rock that still carried attitude, but came wrapped in a coating of dub, rock, a rotating membership and that trademark bilous roar of Lydon's barking vocals. PiL went on an indefinite hiatus in 1992, but returned in 2012 with a generally well-received album, "This is Pil".
If you are new to PiL and are not sure which albums to invest in, read on:
"First Issue" - 7.5/10
1978
Virgin
Recommended tracks: Public Image, Lowlife, Religion
Featuring Jah Wobble on bass, Keith Levene on guitar and Jim Walker on drums, "First Issue" begins with a low-end growl entitled "Theme" and ends with a cheap stab at a filler-track, "Fodderstomp". Between these two overlong bookends lies a clutch of tracks that formed something of a benchmark for the band's work in the '70s and early '80s. The debut-single "Public Image", the controversial spoken-rant "Religion" (and more musical and still venomous "Religion 2" and the underrated "Low Life" (featuring a cracking Wobble bassline throughout) rank as some of PiL's key moments and justify the admission fee alone. A good start.
"Metal Box" - 10/10
1979
Virgin
Recommended tracks: All of them (except Chant perhaps)
Wobble, Levene and numerous drummers reconvened in 1979 to piece together what is considered by many critics, fans and onlookers to be their masterpiece - and it is. Impossible to just 'dip into', "Metal Box" came issued in a mock film-can, pressed on three 12" and minimal sleeve information. You are greeted with a 10-minute speaker-testing bass-heavy epic ("Albatross") and then bounced around from pillar to post via pounding drum-beats, snakey basslines and guitar riffs that could cut steel. Truly a template for the harsh metallic sound occasionally utilized by the likes of Wire, Section 25 and Magazine, "Metal Box" (sometimes known as "Second Edition") is one of the most important contributions to British music in the last 50 years and for proof head to the explosive swirling majesty of "Poptones" and bathe yourself in its thunderous splendour at as loud a volume as your local council will allow.
"Flowers of Romance" - 7/10
1981
Virgin
Recommended tracks: Under the House, Flowers of Romance, Go Back (and, if you can find it, Home Is Where The Heart Is, the b-side to the Flowers of Romance single)
If Lydon's charges had collectively 'pushed boundaries' with "Metal Box", then they probably bulldozed them with their third studio album, which saw more line-up changes (most notably the installation of Jeanette Lee and the absence of Jah Wobble) and stark, minimal tracks that took several listens to sink in and alienated some followers. Weird sampled voices, found-sounds, bizarre percussion, personal lyrics and very little bass ensured that PiL fans became divided about its content. Stay with it though - despite the haphazard nature of the album, it probably reveals more of Lydon's active brain than most other PiL works afterwards.
"This Is What You Want, This Is What You Get" - 5/10
1984
Virgin
Recommended tracks: This Is Not A Love Song, Solitaire, The Order of Death
Despite a three-year gap between this and Flowers of Romance and a big hit with first single "This Is Not A Love Song", their fourth album came as something of a disappointment and stiffed both creatively and sales-wise. But when it's good, it's very good and the single and punk-funk workout "Solitaire" remain timeless, even if the limited line-up on the sessions failed to ignite the fires that created the first three albums. "Bad Life" was chosen as a second single but fell short - it should have remained on the album.
"Album" - 9/10
1986
Virgin
Recommended Tracks: All of them
If you're going to make anything like a 'comeback' (let's face it though, Lydon doesn't 'do' comebacks, per se), here is how to do it. Surround yourself with some of the world's greatest musicians and enjoy yourself. The legendary sessioneers ranged from Steve Vai, Ginger Baker, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Nicky Skopelitis to esteemed producer Bill Laswell and co-writers (and ex-members) Mark Schulz and Jebin Bruni. At the time, the assembled musicians were not featured on the already-minimally branded sleeve, nor did they join Lydon for further sessions (mainly due to the fact that Laswell assembled the band himself). "Rise" became a huge hit-single, "Home" didn't and perhaps better songs such as "Ease" and "Fishing" remained on the album. A really worthwhile album, just seven (lengthy) tracks long but pin-sharp throughout, with Lydon on particularly fine vitriolic form.
"Happy?" - 7.5/10
1987
Virgin
Recommended Tracks: The Body, Rules and Regulations, Fat Chance Hotel, Save Me and b-side Selfish Rubbish
Rather than repeat the same sound over and over for album number six, Lydon assembled yet another new line-up that included the now sadly-departed genius guitarist John McGeoch (who remained with Pil for the remainder of their first phase albums) and current member Lu Edmonds. Whilst lacking in 'big hits, "Happy?" is actually a rewarding listen throughout, although there appears to be an element of '80s American rock sneaking in. What makes this album worthy of a listen is its consistency in mood and musicianship. Although the rock-out element was tempered by a new collective eyeing each other carefully during the sessions, songs such as "Fat Chance Hotel" and "The Body" remain counterpoint moments in PiL's later years. There isn't a duff track, but there isn't a killer either. The UK remix of The Body is worth seeking out, chiefly due to the fine sample of Schooly-D's "PSK" breakbeat throughout.
"9" - 6/10
1989
Virgin
Recommended Tracks: Same Old Story, Disappointed, Warrior (esp 12" remix)
Principally, 9 suffered from being too polite and too soft, production-wise. Band-wise, despite Lu Edmonds having to nurse tinnitus and miss the sessions as a result, PiL were spot-on. Sure, there are still remaining elements of venom and bile, but much of it is swamped with a keyboard-heavy production that detracts in places. However where it does work, such as on "Same Old Story" and the two singles "Warrior" and "Disappointed", the songs gleam with a polished hue and an energetic vigour that is absent from its remainder. If you can find the CJ Mackintosh/Dave Dorrell remix of Warrior, grab it, it's a rare example of PiL being remixed by anyone outside of the band and ain't too shabby.
"That What Is Not" - 7/10
1992
Virgin
Recommended Tracks: Luck's Up, Cruel, Acid Drops, Covered, Think Tank
In some ways, That What Is Not returned to the bluster that accompanied the terrific Album some six years before. Big drums, tough riffs and excellent snarling made a welcome reappearance on what is a perfectly robust and respectable rock album. Although nowhere near PiL's best work, That What Is Not superseded the disappointing 9 with a sparky vitality and a belting single in "Cruel". The opening "Acid Drops" cheekily concludes with a sample of the Pistol's infamous "..no future.." refrain from God Save The Queen and "Luck's Up" is a comment about narcotic addicts - so whilst not a bundle of laughs, Lydon's subject matters at least stay within his usual jurisdiction of social commentary.
"This is Pil" - 9/10
2012
PiL
Recommended Tracks: Most of them
From the point the opening track ends and song number two rumbles within earshot, you quickly realize that Lydon's muse of old has returned and it's a sign of relief all round. "Deeper Water" is perhaps one of the album's key counterpoints - initially written 'on the hoof', the powerful six-minute anthem features a supercharged guitar-riff from previous Pil-head Lu Edmonds that sounds for all the world like the ghost of the great and sadly-departed John McGeoch is watching over the sessions. "One Drop", chosen as a taster single for Record Store Day, isn't the highlight of "This is PiL" by a long chalk, but it's still possessed of purpose and prosaic lyrical imagery. Afterwards, there follows a raft of top-notch trademark Public Image Limited, spearheaded by "Terra-Gate", "Human" and "I Must Be Dreaming". Only the title track disappoints, the rest delight. Excellent album.
Other releases:
Live in Tokyo - Double live album issued in 1983 - 6/10
Paris Au Printemps - Budget-priced live debut issued in 1980 - 6/10
The Greatest Hits...So Far - Compilation issued in 1990. Featured new song Don't Ask Me - 8/10
If you are new to PiL and are not sure which albums to invest in, read on:
"First Issue" - 7.5/10
1978
Virgin
Recommended tracks: Public Image, Lowlife, Religion
"Metal Box" - 10/10
1979
Virgin
Recommended tracks: All of them (except Chant perhaps)
"Flowers of Romance" - 7/10
1981
Virgin
Recommended tracks: Under the House, Flowers of Romance, Go Back (and, if you can find it, Home Is Where The Heart Is, the b-side to the Flowers of Romance single)
"This Is What You Want, This Is What You Get" - 5/10
1984
Virgin
Recommended tracks: This Is Not A Love Song, Solitaire, The Order of Death
"Album" - 9/10
1986
Virgin
Recommended Tracks: All of them
"Happy?" - 7.5/10
1987
Virgin
Recommended Tracks: The Body, Rules and Regulations, Fat Chance Hotel, Save Me and b-side Selfish Rubbish
"9" - 6/10
1989
Virgin
Recommended Tracks: Same Old Story, Disappointed, Warrior (esp 12" remix)
"That What Is Not" - 7/10
1992
Virgin
Recommended Tracks: Luck's Up, Cruel, Acid Drops, Covered, Think Tank
"This is Pil" - 9/10
2012
PiL
Recommended Tracks: Most of them
From the point the opening track ends and song number two rumbles within earshot, you quickly realize that Lydon's muse of old has returned and it's a sign of relief all round. "Deeper Water" is perhaps one of the album's key counterpoints - initially written 'on the hoof', the powerful six-minute anthem features a supercharged guitar-riff from previous Pil-head Lu Edmonds that sounds for all the world like the ghost of the great and sadly-departed John McGeoch is watching over the sessions. "One Drop", chosen as a taster single for Record Store Day, isn't the highlight of "This is PiL" by a long chalk, but it's still possessed of purpose and prosaic lyrical imagery. Afterwards, there follows a raft of top-notch trademark Public Image Limited, spearheaded by "Terra-Gate", "Human" and "I Must Be Dreaming". Only the title track disappoints, the rest delight. Excellent album.Other releases:
Live in Tokyo - Double live album issued in 1983 - 6/10
Paris Au Printemps - Budget-priced live debut issued in 1980 - 6/10
The Greatest Hits...So Far - Compilation issued in 1990. Featured new song Don't Ask Me - 8/10
Second Edition - Metal Box rejigged and packaged as a double album in 1980 - 9/10
Plastic Box - Career-spanning assemblage (2009) from '78 to '92, a good round-up - 8/10
Best of British £1 Notes - Pistols, PiL and Lydon works assembled in a jumble in 2005 - 7/10
