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Public Image Ltd.|Album (Super Deluxe Edition)

Album (Super Deluxe Edition)

Public Image Limited

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After the release of This Is What You Want, Lydon assembled yet another touring band. Martin Atkins stayed on as drummer, with Jebin Bruni and Mark Schulz joining the band's ranks. While gigging, Bruni and Schulz assisted in writing the material that wound up on Album. Atkins left to spend more time on his own projects after touring, and Lydon again scrapped his remaining associates prior to recording. Anyone's first 10,000 guesses as to who Lydon would work with next couldn't possibly come close, as the unlisted credits for Album read as a motley crew of established musicians who literally have no business being anywhere near Lydon, let alone in a studio with him or with one another. Well, maybe that made perfect sense, given Lydon's ability to baffle. The hardest working man in the avant-garde, Bill Laswell, produced and played bass, which isn't too much of a stretch. But Steve Vai and Ryuichi Sakamoto? Or better yet, Ginger Baker? (Especially odd since PiL played an April Fools' joke on the press by announcing his membership in the early '80s.) Strange bedfellows indeed, but the lineup makes for a surprisingly cohesive (if mediocre) rock record. "Rise" proves that "This Is Not a Love Song" was no fluke, not Lydon's lone stab at pop accessibility. Successfully marrying rock with Celtic folk (a heavier Dexy's Midnight Runners?), Lydon's chorus is his most hospitable yet. Opener "FFF" and "Home" are other strong points, just as driving and defiant as anything from PiL's previous output. The former is as good as hard rock got in 1985. But Album can be found lacking in its reliance on outright professionalism and polish, emphasizing skill over craft. Vai's scorched shredding likely repelled Lydon's fans more than any of PiL's earlier attempts to alienate and frustrate. The 90-second wailing over closer "Ease" is anything but; at most points, Vai's playing just doesn't fit. Unfortunately, Yellow Magic Orchestra member Sakamoto pops up only a couple times. His talent is pretty much wasted here. On the whole, Album (or Compact Disc, or Cassette) is just as generic as its title.

© Andy Kellman /TiVo

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Album (Super Deluxe Edition)

Public Image Ltd.

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1
F.F.F. (Remastered 2011)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:31

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky Skopelitis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Magee, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Worrell, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2011 Virgin Records Limited

2
Rise (Remastered 2011)
John Lydon
00:06:05

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky Skopelitis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ryuichi Sakamoto, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Magee, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Electric Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2011 Virgin Records Limited

3
Fishing (Remastered 2011)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:20

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky Skopelitis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ryuichi Sakamoto, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Schulz, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malachi Favors, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Magee, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ginger Baker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2011 Virgin Records Limited

4
Round (Remastered 2011)
Public Image Ltd.
00:04:26

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky Skopelitis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Schulz, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Magee, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Worrell, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Ginger Baker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Electric Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonas Hellborg, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Aiyb Dieng, Drum, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2011 Virgin Records Limited

5
Bags (Remastered 2011)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:26

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ryuichi Sakamoto, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Schulz, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malachi Favors, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Magee, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ginger Baker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2011 Virgin Records Limited

6
Home (Remastered 2011)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:49

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky Skopelitis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Magee, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Worrell, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2011 Virgin Records Limited

7
Ease (Remastered 2011)
Public Image Ltd.
00:08:13

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ryuichi Sakamoto, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Jebin Bruni, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malachi Favors, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Magee, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ginger Baker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Turre, Didgeridoo, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2011 Virgin Records Limited

DISC 2

1
Kashmir (Live)
John Lydon
00:02:50

Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Plant, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Page, ComposerLyricist - John Bonham, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

2
FFF (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:35

Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

3
Low Life (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:04:22

Keith Levene, ComposerLyricist - Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Wardle, ComposerLyricist - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Walker, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

4
Fishing (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:50

Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Schulz, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, ComposerLyricist - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

5
Poptones (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:03:53

Keith Levene, ComposerLyricist - Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Wardle, ComposerLyricist - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Walker, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

6
Pretty Vacant (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:03:47

Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Jones, ComposerLyricist - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Glen Matlock, ComposerLyricist - Paul Cook, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

7
Banging The Door (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:06:28

Martin Atkins, ComposerLyricist - Keith Levene, ComposerLyricist - Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

8
Flowers Of Romance (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:06:56

Keith Levene, ComposerLyricist - Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

9
Bags (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:10

Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Schulz, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, ComposerLyricist - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

10
Round (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:04:51

Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Schulz, ComposerLyricist - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

11
Home (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:02

Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

12
Public Image (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:07:19

Keith Levene, ComposerLyricist - Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Wardle, ComposerLyricist - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Walker, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

13
Rise (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:06:32

Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

14
Annalisa (Live)
Public Image Ltd.
00:03:27

Keith Levene, ComposerLyricist - Bruce Smith, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Wardle, ComposerLyricist - Allan Dias, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John McGeoch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Walker, ComposerLyricist - Robert Edmonds, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

DISC 3

1
Things In E (Ease) (Alternative Laswell Mix)
Public Image Ltd.
00:13:59

Jebin Bruni, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2011 Virgin Records Limited

2
Rise (7" Edit)
John Lydon
00:04:30

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky Skopelitis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ryuichi Sakamoto, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Mixer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Electric Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited

3
Rise (Instrumental)
Steve Vai
00:06:07

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky Skopelitis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ryuichi Sakamoto, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Electric Violin, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited

4
Home (Single Version)
Public Image Ltd.
00:04:37

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky Skopelitis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Magee, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Worrell, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited

5
Home (Live On The Old Grey Whistle Test)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:24

Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 BBC

6
Round (Live On The Old Grey Whistle Test)
Public Image Ltd.
00:03:45

Mark Schulz, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer

℗ 2016 BBC

7
Rise (Bob Clearmountain Remix)
John Lydon
00:06:18

Steve Vai, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky Skopelitis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Ryuichi Sakamoto, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Laswell, Producer, Mixer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Electric Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Fowler, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

8
World Destruction (12" Mix)
John Lydon
00:05:40

Afrika Bambaataa, Producer - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Laswell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - A Bambaataa, ComposerLyricist - Time Zone, MainArtist - Material, Producer

℗ 1984 Virgin Records Limited

9
World Destruction (Industrial Mix)
John Lydon
00:05:12

John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Laswell, ComposerLyricist - A Bambaataa, ComposerLyricist - Time Zone, MainArtist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

DISC 4

1
Animal (1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:53

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

2
Black Rubber Bags (aka Bags) (1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:33

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

3
European Cars (aka Round) (1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:07

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

4
Farewell Fairweather Friend (aka F.F.F.) (1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:05:34

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

5
Pearls Before Swine (aka Fishing) (1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:09:17

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

6
Things In E (aka Ease) (Instrumental / 1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:04:27

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

7
Ben Hur (Instrumental / 1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:04:50

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

8
Cats (Instrumental / 1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:03:34

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

9
Have A Nice Day (Instrumental / 1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:04:13

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

10
Untitled 3 (Instrumental / 1985 Demo)
Public Image Ltd.
00:06:26

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

11
Pearls Before Swine (aka Fishing) (Alternate Mix / Incomplete)
Public Image Ltd.
00:06:38

Mark Schulz, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jebin Bruni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Public Image Limited, MainArtist - John Lydon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Virgin Records Limited

Album review

After the release of This Is What You Want, Lydon assembled yet another touring band. Martin Atkins stayed on as drummer, with Jebin Bruni and Mark Schulz joining the band's ranks. While gigging, Bruni and Schulz assisted in writing the material that wound up on Album. Atkins left to spend more time on his own projects after touring, and Lydon again scrapped his remaining associates prior to recording. Anyone's first 10,000 guesses as to who Lydon would work with next couldn't possibly come close, as the unlisted credits for Album read as a motley crew of established musicians who literally have no business being anywhere near Lydon, let alone in a studio with him or with one another. Well, maybe that made perfect sense, given Lydon's ability to baffle. The hardest working man in the avant-garde, Bill Laswell, produced and played bass, which isn't too much of a stretch. But Steve Vai and Ryuichi Sakamoto? Or better yet, Ginger Baker? (Especially odd since PiL played an April Fools' joke on the press by announcing his membership in the early '80s.) Strange bedfellows indeed, but the lineup makes for a surprisingly cohesive (if mediocre) rock record. "Rise" proves that "This Is Not a Love Song" was no fluke, not Lydon's lone stab at pop accessibility. Successfully marrying rock with Celtic folk (a heavier Dexy's Midnight Runners?), Lydon's chorus is his most hospitable yet. Opener "FFF" and "Home" are other strong points, just as driving and defiant as anything from PiL's previous output. The former is as good as hard rock got in 1985. But Album can be found lacking in its reliance on outright professionalism and polish, emphasizing skill over craft. Vai's scorched shredding likely repelled Lydon's fans more than any of PiL's earlier attempts to alienate and frustrate. The 90-second wailing over closer "Ease" is anything but; at most points, Vai's playing just doesn't fit. Unfortunately, Yellow Magic Orchestra member Sakamoto pops up only a couple times. His talent is pretty much wasted here. On the whole, Album (or Compact Disc, or Cassette) is just as generic as its title.

© Andy Kellman /TiVo

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