154 (album)

September 2013 May 2020 154 studio Wire Wire-154 (album cover).jpg yes 1979 9 1979 4 1979 5 Advision Studios, West London, England, United Kingdom Post-punkhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/real-to-real-cacophony-mw0000195259 Real to Real Cacophony – Simple Minds AllMusic 5 April 2020 Kellman Andy art punkhttps://www.billboard.com/music/rock/wire-interview-reissues-8462176/ Wire Looks Back on Its Pioneering Art Punk Trilogy Billboard 21 June 2018 5 April 2020 Hart Ron avant-pophttps://www.treblezine.com/34339-10-essential-album-trilogies/ 10 Essential Album Trilogies Treble 16 March 2017 5 April 2020 44 41 Harvest Mike Thorne Wire studio album Chairs Missing 1978 The Ideal Copy 1987 154 studio Map Ref. 41°N 93°W 26 October 1979 154 is the third studio album by the English post-punk band Wire, released in 1979 on EMI imprint Harvest Records in the UK and Europe and Warner Bros. Records in America. Branching out even further from the minimalist punk rock style of their earlier work, 154 is considered a progression of the sounds displayed on Wire's previous album Chairs Missing, with the group experimenting with slower tempos, fuller song structures and a more prominent use of guitar effects, synthesizers and electronics. The album is so named because the band had played 154 gigs in their career at the time of the album's release. The unusual title of the track "Map Ref 41°N 93°W" was based on a guess of the centre of the American Midwest by bassist and singer Graham Lewis; the location of these coordinates is coincidentally close to Centerville, Iowa.Map Songs: Wire's Map Ref. 41° N 93° W https://makingmaps.net/2008/03/11/map-songs-wires-map-ref-41%C2%B0-n-93%C2%B0-w/ Making Maps: DIY Cartography 21 September 2021 en 11 March 2008 Following the album's release, a falling out with the band's record label, EMI, as well as creative differences led to their breaking up in 1980,https://trouserpress.com/magazine-covers-7/ Colin Newman Trouser Press New York 8 4 June 1981 December 24, 2021 Green Jim 18 making 154 the band's last album up until their eventual reunion in 1985 and subsequent release of The Ideal Copy in 1987. Release 154 peaked at number 39 in the UK Albums Chart, the highest position the band has achieved.http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17412/wire/ Wire Official Charts Company 8 April 2018 select "Albums" tab It was first issued on CD in 1987 by EMI Japan and later reissued by Restless Records in 1989. First editions of the vinyl album were accompanied by an EP, the tracks from which are included on the Harvest CD, issued in 1994, along with an additional bonus track. The 1996 remastered release, released on Wire's Pinkflag label as a digipack, does not contain any extra tracks, because, according to the band, such additions dishonour the "conceptual clarity of the original statements."http://posteverything.com/news/article.php?id=13620 Wire: 1977 > 1979 – Pinkflag (America) PostEverything 2 May 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060414082531/http://posteverything.com/news/article.php?id=13620 14 April 2006 dead In 2018 Pink Flag released a 3-CD Special Edition of the album. The first disc contains the remastered album, while the second disc includes 11 non-album tracks including the 4-song 154 bonus EP, two non-album singles and additional b-sides. The third disc contains the 16-song "Sixth" demo session. Music According to Joe Tangari of Pitchfork: "By their third album, Wire scarcely resembled the band that a few years earlier had released Pink Flag. They had lost much of their rawness, but none of their edge, pushing into clanging, even chilling electronic textures and oddly moving their catchiest melodies to the front of the mix, conceding to pop convention even as they perverted it. Of course, pop success was about the furthest thing from their minds, as evidenced by the sonic apocalypse of 'A Touching Display' and the fractured synth chords of 'On Returning,' and the fact that they titled the album’s lead single and most accessible song 'Map Ref. 41°N 93°W.'" Critical reception AllMusic 4.5 5https://www.allmusic.com/album/154-mw0000192482 154 – Wire AllMusic 29 February 2012 Huey Steve Encyclopedia of Popular Music 4 5Wire The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Encyclopedia of Popular Music Larkin Colin Colin Larkin Omnibus Press 5th concise 2011 978-0-85712-595-8 The Guardian 5 5https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/mar/03/popandrock.shopping7 Wire, 154 The Guardian 3 March 2006 29 February 2012 Simpson Dave Mojo 5 5Wire: 154 Mojo 295 June 2018 Myers Ben Ben Myers 104 Pitchfork 9.1/10https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11866-pink-flag-chairs-missing-154/ Wire: Pink Flag / Chairs Missing / 154 Pitchfork 5 May 2006 29 February 2012 Tangari Joe Q 5 5Dawning of a New Era Q 386 July 2018 Harris John John Harris (critic) 120–21 The Rolling Stone Album Guide 4.5 5Wire Gross Joe The New Rolling Stone Album Guide The Rolling Stone Album Guide Brackett Nathan Nathan Brackett Hoard Christian Christian Hoard Simon & Schuster 4th 2004 0-743-20169-8 883–84 Spin Alternative Record Guide 7/10Wire Weisbard Eric Eric Weisbard Spin Alternative Record Guide Spin Alternative Record Guide Weisbard Eric Marks Craig Vintage Books 1995 0-679-75574-8 435–37 Uncut 4 5Wire: 154 Uncut 106 March 2006 106 The Village Voice Bhttps://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv2-80.php Christgau's Consumer Guide The Village Voice 25 February 1980 29 February 2012 Christgau Robert Robert Christgau In 1979, shortly after the album's release, notable NME critic Nick Kent wrote that "154 makes 95 percent of the competition look feeble,"November 2024 Chris Westwood of Record Mirror stated that "Wire [were] achieving a lot of things other–and more recognized–names have been striving for," in a review of the album,November 2024 and Melody Maker writer Jon Savage called the album a "musical tour de force."November 2024 In a 1980 The Village Voice review, Robert Christgau wrote: "Predictions that these art-schoolers would turn into art-rockers no longer seems so cynical. Their gift for the horrifying vignette remains. But their tempos are slowing, sometimes to a crawl, as their textures venture toward the orchestral, and neither effect enhances the power of their vignettes, which become ever more personalistic and/or abstract." In a retrospective review, Steve Huey of AllMusic wrote: "154 refines and expands the innovations of Chairs Missing, with producer Mike Thorne's synthesizer effects playing an even more integral role; little of Pink Flag'''s rawness remains." He continues, "If Chairs Missing was a transitional album between punk and post-punk, 154 is squarely in the latter camp, devoting itself to experimental soundscapes that can sound cold and forbidding at times." Rolling Stone wrote that the album "continued to complicate their [Wire's] sound with more elaborate arrangements, a thicker sound, and more complex, studio-enabled melodies." The Guardian critic Dave Simpson called the album "an unexploded firework in that no one dares return to it" and "a benchmark for unsettling adventures with guitars." Influence and legacy Guided by Voices frontman Robert Pollard has cited the album as an influence, stating "154 was a bolt of lightning. When we started, we wanted to sound like a bunch of different bands. The songs were going to be short, sound like they were recorded in a bunch of different places. That was the Wire influence."The Records That Changed My Life - Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices Spin https://www.spin.com/2004/09/records-changed-my-life-robert-pollard-guided-voices/ Dolan Jon 22 September 2004 23 November 2024 en In a 2014 interview with Magnet, he expressed his fondness for the album: "I've decided that the greatest album of all time is Wire, 154. Yeah. That's not even a top-20 band, but that's the greatest album. I listened to it again the other day, and it's the most intelligent, rewarding-with-repeated-listenings album that I ... it just never fails."Robert Pollard: Scalping the Guru Magnet https://magnetmagazine.com/2014/09/19/robert-pollard-scalping-the-guru/ Valania Jonathan 19 September 2014 23 November 2024 en Guitarist Johnny Marr of the Smiths cited the album as a significant and long-lasting influence on his approach to guitar playing, stating that "Wire's approach to guitar was just something I couldn't ignore. It was a real pointer away from the blues-based guitar playing which dominated pop music – including punk – since rock music had started. As a young guitar player, discovering 154 showed me a world that was an alternative way of looking at the instrument. It has stuck with me all the way through my career."Rubber Rings: Johnny Marr's Favourite Albums The Quietus https://thequietus.com/interviews/bakers-dozen/johnny-marr-favourite-albums-interview/6/ Freeman John 16 June 2015 23 November 2024 en Lead vocalist and lyricist Michael Stipe of R.E.M. said that the track "The Other Window" "provided, in the early '80s, something to aspire to lyrically, [...] [a]nd the mood of the [track's] music is chilling and beautiful, like a memory."Future Tense Portland Mercury https://www.portlandmercury.com/music/2002/09/05/27557/future-tense Goldberg Michael Alan 5 September 2002 24 November 2024 en One of My Bloody Valentine's last releases prior to reconvening in 2007 was a cover of "Map Ref 41°N 93°W" for a Wire tribute entitled Whore, along with other artists for other 154 tracks, including "40 Versions" by Godflesh and "The 15th" by Minutemen bassist Mike Watt.Whore: Various Artists Play Wire - Various Artists Songs, Reviews, Credits AllMusic AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/album/whore-tribute-to-wire-mw0000182636 21 September 2021 en The song was selected as a favourite cover of the 1990s by Flak Magazine.Flak Magazine: Cover Tunes - "Map Ref 41N 93W," 1-29-01 http://www.flakmag.com/features/best/music/mapref.html 21 September 2021 19 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110519171305/http://www.flakmag.com/features/best/music/mapref.html 19 May 2011 Fischerspooner covered "The 15th" as part of their 2001 debut album #1.https://www.allmusic.com/album/1-mw0000019652 #1 - Fischerspooner | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic www.allmusic.com "The 15th" was featured as one of the earliest and most crucial examples of shoegaze by Treblezine in its list A History of Shoegaze in 45 Essential Songs.A History of Shoegaze in 45 Essential Songs https://www.treblezine.com/45-best-shoegaze-songs-history/ Treblezine.com 23 May 2022 24 November 2024 en In 2004, Pitchfork listed 154 as the 85th best album of the 1970s.http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5932-top-100-albums-of-the-1970s/2/ The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s Pitchfork 23 June 2004 30 August 2013 Pitchfork staff 2 7 March 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130307143252/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5932-top-100-albums-of-the-1970s/2/ dead Track listing Credits adapted from the 2018 Special Edition.154 Wire Pinkflag special 2018 PF13SE liner notes Side one I Should Have Known Better Lewis Graham Lewis 3:52 Two People in a Room Colin Newman Bruce Gilbert 2:00 The 15th Newman Newman 3:05 The Other Window Gilbert, Lewis Gilbert 2:07 Single K.O. Lewis, NewmanThe songwriting credits for 154 have been modified on all reissues since 2006.Read & Burn: A Book About Wire Neate Wilson Jawbone Press London 2013 978-1-90827-933-0 81 "Single K.O." was originally credited to Graham Lewis alone. "nb" Lewis 2:23 A Touching Display Lewis Lewis 6:55 On Returning Newman Newman 2:06 Side two A Mutual Friend Newman Lewis 4:28 Blessed State Gilbert Gilbert 3:28 Once Is Enough Newman Newman 3:23 Map Ref. 41°N 93°W Newman Lewis"Map Ref. 41°N 93°W" was originally credited to Graham Lewis, Colin Newman and Bruce Gilbert. "nb" 3:40 Indirect Enquiries Newman Lewis 3:36 40 Versions Gilbert, Newman"40 Versions" was originally credited to Bruce Gilbert alone. "nb" Gilbert 3:28 Bonus EP (included on 1979, 1987, 1989, 1994 and 1995 releases) Song 1 Robert Gotobed, Newman, Desmond Simmons 3:02 Get Down (Part I & II) David, Gotobed, Newman, Simmons, TV Smith 4:27 Let's Panic Later Lewis Lewis 3:20 Small Electric Piece Gilbert 3:33 Bonus track (included on 1994 and 1995 releases) Go Ahead single B-side Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman Lewis 4:01 Bonus tracks (1995 Japanese release only) Stepping Off Too Quick Newman Newman 1:22 Indirect Inquiries" (sic) Newman Lewis 3:18 Map Ref. 41°N 93°W Newman Lewis 3:49 A Question of Degree Newman Lewis 2:56 Two People in a Room Newman Gilbert 2:02 Former Airline Gilbert Gilbert 1:12 Tracks 19–24 are demo versions that have also appeared on compilations such as Behind the Curtain and After Midnight. 2018 Special Edition Disc one (Original Album) I Should Have Known Better Lewis Lewis 3:52 Two People in a Room Newman Gilbert 2:11 The 15th Newman Newman 3:05 The Other Window Gilbert, Lewis Gilbert 2:08 Single K.O. Lewis, Newman Lewis 2:24 A Touching Display Lewis Lewis 6:56 On Returning Newman Newman 2:06 A Mutual Friend Newman Lewis 4:28 Blessed State Gilbert Gilbert 3:28 Once Is Enough Newman Newman 3:23 Map Ref. 41ºN 93ºW Newman Lewis 3:40 Indirect Enquiries Newman Lewis 3:27 40 Versions Gilbert, Newman Gilbert 3:29 44:48 Disc two (Singles, B-sides & Studio Recordings) A Question of Degree single A-side, 1979 Newman Lewis 3:09 Former Airline single B-side, 1979 Gilbert Gilbert 3:19 Go Ahead single B-side, 1979 Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman Lewis 4:03 Our Swimmer single A-side, 1981 Gilbert, Newman"Our Swimmer" and "2nd Length (Our Swimmer)" was originally credited to Bruce Gilbert, Robert Gotobed, Graham Lewis and Colin Newman. "nb" Gilbert, Lewis, Newman 3:29 Midnight Bahnhof Cafe single B-side, 1981 Newman Lewis 4:30 2nd Length (Our Swimmer) single B-side, 1983 Gilbert, Newman Gilbert, Lewis, Newman 2:49 Catapult 30 single B-side, 1983 Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman 5:05 Song 1 154 EP, 1979 Gotobed, Newman, Simmons 3:02 Get Down (Parts I + II) 154 EP, 1979 David, Gotobed, Newman, Simmons, Smith 4:27 Let's Panic Later 154 EP, 1979 Lewis Lewis 3:19 Small Electric Piece 154 EP, 1979 Gilbert 3:31 40:43 Disc three (Sixth Demo Sessions, December 1978, Riverside Studios, London) 40 Versions Gilbert, Newman Gilbert 3:19 Ignorance No Plea (I Should Have Known Better) Lewis Lewis 4:02 Blessed State Gilbert Gilbert 3:11 A Touching Display Lewis Lewis 5:19 The 15th Newman Newman 2:30 A Mutual Friend Newman Lewis 3:56 Once Is Enough Newman Newman 2:39 The Other Window Lewis, Gilbert Gilbert 2:09 Stepping Off Too Quick Newman Newman 1:22 Indirect Enquiries (Version 2) Newman Lewis 3:15 Map Ref. 41°N 93°W Newman Lewis 3:50 Single KO Lewis, Newman Lewis 2:24 On Returning Newman Newman 1:49 A Question of Degree Newman Lewis 3:02 Former Airline Gilbert Gilbert 1:12 Two People in a Room Newman Gilbert 2:03 46:07 Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of the 2018 Special Edition. Wire Colin Newman – vocals, guitar, backing vocals, distorted bass on "On Returning" Graham Lewis – bass, vocals on "I Should Have Known Better", "A Touching Display" and "Blessed State", backing vocals, percussion on "Once Is Enough", sleeve concept B. C. Gilbert – guitar, spoken word on "The Other Window", sleeve concept Robert Gotobed – drums, percussion Additional personnel and production Kate Lukas – alto flute on "Single K.O." Tim Souster – electric viola on "A Touching Display" Hilly Kristal – bass vocals on "A Mutual Friend" Joan Whiting – cor anglais on "A Mutual Friend" Mike Thorne – production, synthesizer, piano on "Single K.O." Paul Hardiman – engineer Ken Thomas – assistant engineer Dave Dragon – art direction Brian Harris – typographic design Bonus tracks Colin Newman – vocals, guitar, syndrum on "Go Ahead", saxophone on "Former Airline", keyboards on "Midnight Bahnhof Cafe", production on "Get Down (Parts I + II)" Graham Lewis – bass, keyboards on "Go Ahead", saxophone on "Former Airline", vocals and production on "Let's Panic Later" B. C. Gilbert – guitar, bass on "Go Ahead", saxophone on "Former Airline", production on "Small Electric Piece" Robert Gotobed – drums, production on "Song 1" Mike Thorne – production on "A Question of Degree" and "Former Airline" Paul Hardiman – engineer on "A Question of Degree" and "Former Airline" Ken Thomas – assistant engineer on "A Question of Degree" and "Former Airline" Wire – production on "Go Ahead", "Our Swimmer", "Midnight Bahnhof Cafe", "Our Swimmer (2nd Length)", "Catapult 30" and the sixth demo sessions Nick Glennie-Smith – engineer on 154 EP and the sixth demo sessions Daniel Priest – engineer on "Go Ahead", "Our Swimmer" and "Midnight Bahnhof Cafe" Steve Parker – engineer on "Our Swimmer (2nd Length)" and "Catapult 30" "A Question of Degree" and "Former Airline" recorded and mixed April 1979 at Advision Studios, London 154'' bonus EP recorded and mixed July 1979 at Riverside Studios, London "Go Ahead", "Our Swimmer" and "Midnight Bahnhof Cafe" recorded and mixed November 1979 at Magritte Studios, Middlesex "2nd Length (Our Swimmer)" and "Catapult 30" recorded and mixed 1980 at Scorpio Sound, London References Informational notes "nb" External links 50606 154 https://www.pinkflag.com/read/discography/154.php Lyrics for the album on Wire's official website The making of Wire's 154 album Category:1979 albums Category:Wire (band) albums Category:Harvest Records albums Category:Warner Records albums Category:Restless Records albums Category:Albums produced by Mike Thorne Category:Avant-pop albums