Release Date: January 11Label: Pink Flag
Long after the Sex Pistols, the Ramones and the Clash have ascended into history or descended self-parody, Wire are still here. The seminal English art-punk band have withstood the test of time, continuing to release intriguing records while their more celebrated peers have faded away. Red Barked Tree is the latest addition to their stunning body of work. The fact that it comes over thirty years after their most celebrated releases is just gravy. The original 1970s trilogy of Wire albums, Pink Flag, Chairs Missing and 154, tracked the band's evolution from minimalist, abstract visions of three-chord fury towards a more keyboard-heavy, textured post-punk sound. Red Barked Tree continues this legacy, showcasing the band's more jagged tendencies with songs like "Two Minutes," while still giving plenty of time to the group's more restrained side. The opening track, "Please Take," is insidiously catchy, especially for a song that opens with the line "please take your knife out of my back." The album reaches a fantastic balance between these styles, offering a concise encapsulation of everything Wire have been and continue to be.
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