Public Image Ltd – Public Image (1978)

December 22, 2024

PiL are a band that has always passed me by. I’m not sure why, as they surely spearheaded the post-punk movement along with other bands from the late 70s, such as Wire. The Fall, Killing Joke, and even Christian Death on the other side of the Atlantic. Sure, all of these (PiL included) would go off on their own paths, but at their gestation, the core of their sound was based on weird and angular guitar playing that almost seems completely at odds with the rhythm section, coupled with the insane ramblings of their respective frontmen. The above mentioned bands are far from the only ones to play in this style, but there’s a pattern that needs to be addressed. PiL’s self titled debut is a prime example of this kind of sound. It is a foundational building block in the world of post punk.

The production is quite nice, in all fairness. The rhythm section is dry and tight, allowing both the guitar and vocal elements to wander as they please. The poetry is a bit up its own arse I’ll be honest, but the core of the dirging songs are all highly enjoyable. “Annalisa” steps things up a bit, but it was the opening duo of “Theme” and “Religion II” that truly won me over and are my favs. I enjoyed the whole album, including the closing track, even though it’s quite repetitive. I look forward to hearing the rest of the PiL discography.