Release Date: 1979
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes

Impressions: As a budding young graphic designer/music fan, I loved the branding of Public Image Limited. The logo, the  generic “Album” conceit and even the name all seemed to be vaguely underground, but not obviously punk with stereotypical ransom lettering (like the Sex Pistols.) A nice bonus was that I even enjoyed their music. P.I.L. was still aggressive but more textured than the straight-forward assault of the Sex Pistols. Metal Box supposed to be especially “difficult.” Let’s play it…. “Albatross,” kicks off with droney, crazy guitar from ex-Clash member Keith Levene with a vaguely “Billy Jean” groove and John Lydon doing that not-quite-singing-but-not-quite-spoken-word thing he does. This mix of elements sounds like a disaster on paper, but the dub-y yet grooving rhythm section of bassist Jah Wobble and a bunch of drummers keeps the whole thing from falling apart. Other highlights include the circular, dreamy “Poptones” and the urgent synth-accented instrumental “Socialist.” They can even throw something like “Swan Lake” into their musical blender and somehow make it work with “Death Disco (Swan Lake.)” Great mood music if you need to get something done and you are a little pissed about it. Really warming up to this one, although I can see how this album would be poison for some people, especially if you aren’t a John Lydon fan. He sounds like he’s unraveling on songs like “Bad Baby” or “No Birds” but then he’ll hit on some great lyrics like “Drive to the forest in a Japanese car/The smell of rubber on concrete tar/Hindsight done me no good.” Punk in attitude but not in sounds. Not to mention, even packaging the records inside a metal cannister is a masterstroke. Sometimes you can pick out some sounds like Wire, Can, or Joy Division with a more dub groove, but this album still is a completely original and even shocking listen. And ending the album with the soothing “Radio 4” decompresses you and gets you ready for being back in the real world.

Starred Songs:“Poptones” “Memories”
Sneaky Track: “Death Disco (Swan Lake)”
Should this album be on the list? Yes
Will you listen to this again? Yes. When I’m on deadline.
Verdict: John Lydon’s wailing and Keith Levine’s abrasive guitar are contrasted with deep, driving grooves in this one-of-a-kind post-punk classic. (“Post-punk classic?” Is that a contradiction in terms?)

Rating:  ★★★★