Extricate
Released
A perfect and unexpected way into post-punk and The Fall because this is the album where Mark’s love of dance music comes into focus. And what was the real post-punk? Dance music, and New Order went there straight away. Ah, you think he’s a grouch, this Mark fella, and then there he is very sincerely getting into the Manchester sound on “Telephone Thing,” an absolutely top five Fall tune. Don’t @ me! “Bill Is Dead” is one of Mark’s softer moments, while “Arms Control Poseur’” (a B-side, technically) is one of the rare moments where Smith bothers to insult an American politician. Great Craig Leon sheen—could have had about five more like this, tbh.