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Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
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CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Steve B
Format:Audio CD
It disheartens me to hear anyone dismiss this album as anything less than the mighty, enduring, anthemic album that it is. Considering just how much average at best rock was doing the rounds at the time, this work stood out head and shoulders above the rest. The true test of great songs is how often you come back and listen again, and I still am nearly twenty years later.
Consider this - seven songs, every single one a distinct winner in it's own right. No fillers on this album, people. And don't let the 'session musician' sneer from others fool you - these boys all drip class, and all are operating outside of their comfort zone, with the exception of Steve Vai, who sounds like he could solo along to this forever without breaking a sweat. And Ginger Baker - even drumming for Hawkwind couldn't take him outside of his normal operating zone like this wonderfully eclectic mixture can.
So what are the highlights? For me, it is undoubtedly the sheer majesty of 'Ease', which is a build track in the extreme sense - the song develops into an astonishing soundscape of beauty and intricacy. You would be hard pushed to find an album closer that leaves you completely spent yet needing more all at the same time. Everything that leads up to the closing grandeur still hits the spot, though - every song has incredible depth, and hooks to drill into your brain. The tortured harmony vocals in the chorus of 'Home'. The apposite nature of guitar, drums and Lydon's vocals in 'Round'. The discomforting angularity of 'Bags'.
This album is a definite must have, not only for rock fans, but also for lovers of strong songwriting. I would stand this album against what is around today, and today will be found wanting. Buy it - you won't be disappointed.
Consider this - seven songs, every single one a distinct winner in it's own right. No fillers on this album, people. And don't let the 'session musician' sneer from others fool you - these boys all drip class, and all are operating outside of their comfort zone, with the exception of Steve Vai, who sounds like he could solo along to this forever without breaking a sweat. And Ginger Baker - even drumming for Hawkwind couldn't take him outside of his normal operating zone like this wonderfully eclectic mixture can.
So what are the highlights? For me, it is undoubtedly the sheer majesty of 'Ease', which is a build track in the extreme sense - the song develops into an astonishing soundscape of beauty and intricacy. You would be hard pushed to find an album closer that leaves you completely spent yet needing more all at the same time. Everything that leads up to the closing grandeur still hits the spot, though - every song has incredible depth, and hooks to drill into your brain. The tortured harmony vocals in the chorus of 'Home'. The apposite nature of guitar, drums and Lydon's vocals in 'Round'. The discomforting angularity of 'Bags'.
This album is a definite must have, not only for rock fans, but also for lovers of strong songwriting. I would stand this album against what is around today, and today will be found wanting. Buy it - you won't be disappointed.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By gregmccoll
Format:Audio CD
This album has a sound all of its' own. The production is fantastic. The song content,musically and lyrically, is unbelievably good. The whole feel of the album is only what I could describe as anarchic, new age, big rock. Seriously this album (pun intended) has it all. Lyrically, it is amusing, thought provoking and surprising. Musically, it's a work of art. Each song has classic hooks, melodies and the overall sound of each track feels more like it was painted than recorded. It also has some of the biggest drum sounds I've ever heard. Add to this a rather large pinch of Steve Vai guitar work, (I have to say if you listen to this album it sounds almost more like a Steve Vai album but with a guest vocalist, some of the songs have a very Alcatrazz feel to them !). All in all, a great album, one that I feel I should own.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By J. Beagles
Format:Audio CD
This was /is an astounding album. However the other musicians on this album (apart from Vai, Baker) were not 'session' musicians. This implies they are somehow inferior to Baker and Vai (a bit of rock ignorance on the part of reviewers). The reason this album is as dramatic and compelling now as it was then, is because of the contribution of all the musicians. Tony Williams (who drums on several of the tracks -'Rise' for instance) is one of the finest jazz drummers of the last fourty years. His work on Miles Davis 'in a Silent way' is for example, exceptional. The jazz influenced violin of Shankar and the bass of Jonas Hellborg (who played with the Mahavishnu Orchestra )are two other vital reasons why musically this is such a dense, complex record. Add to this the mercurial gifts of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Bernie Worrell and Bill Laswell's production and you've got the reason this was and remains one of the most successful fusion records of the last thirty years. Its amusing and slightly ironic that Miles Davis attended the recording sessions, because in many respects the music this reminds me of most are the last electric albums that Davis recorded in the mid seventies (such as Agharta).
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Shouldn't this be called 'MP3 Download'?
While they did blag the concept from the now-forgotten American grind-punks Flipper (now notably chiefly for having spawned Moby), 'Album' was, and remains, a landmark. Read more
Published on 7 April 2011 by D. A. Mclean
5.0 out of 5 stars
I could be wrong but i am defiantly RIGHT!
This album won me over after the first and most famous 'Rise' off the album and i just had to have it. Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2010 by J. Arthur
1.0 out of 5 stars
this is PIL for morons
Rubbish !!!!!! 'Rise' is a plodder for grannys. People who like this album are simply too dumb to undersatand first edition, metal box, and flowers of romance. thats it! Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2009 by casio smith
3.0 out of 5 stars
This is where it all went wrong
PiL's John Lydon managed to get entirely lost, after the great music and earlier bandmembers were well out of the picture. 'This is what you want... Read more
Published on 9 July 2008 by C. J. Van Hall
5.0 out of 5 stars
don't forget the Special Guest guitarist
Steve Vai did the lead guitar parts - he just turned up and did it - more or less first take on every track, if I remember correctly. Awesome!
Published on 24 Mar 2006 by B. Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
PiL Pop
A lot of people (perhaps way too many people) fantasise and rave about PiL's early work, and though I've no argument with that, I have no idea why latterday PiL were largely... Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2005 by Mo
5.0 out of 5 stars
bad time, now they must end!!!!!!
This has to be the best Pil album ever made!!!
Starting with FFF, the album is very VERY powerful and in your face. Read more
Starting with FFF, the album is very VERY powerful and in your face. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic!
PiL! What can you say! Rise and Fall. And I still think that this classic 80's album was the best damn moth froth thing to come out. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2004 by Michael Channon
3.0 out of 5 stars
And so begins...........
.........that journey into how to turn a once innovative and fresh band into a corporate mess. Original guitarist Keith Levene( the band's real innovator) was now gone, as was the... Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2002
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