First Issue cover

First Issue

Released

The energy here is unbridled, and the lack of control has aged pretty well. Jim Walker’s drumming only shows up on this one album, and it’s well powerful. Less known than the follow-up, Metal Box/Second Edition, this is where the ideas all run into each other. Jah Wobble puts his bass further into the mix than any other rock, and Keith Levene used all the same distortion and chorus as anyone hired to play in Banshees, with much less intention or stability. “Public Image” was more or less the template for U2, except with a singer who wanted to reject anyone who might love him.

Sasha Frere-Jones

Recommended by

Suggestions
Azabu cover

Azabu

Michael Ranta
Foras cover

Foras

Siavash Amini
Flink cover

Flink

Air Cushion Finish
Respiration cover

Respiration

Cecil Taylor
Solo Performance At Belgium 1983 cover

Solo Performance At Belgium 1983

John Cale, TH Twente Band
Space Hymn cover

Space Hymn

Lothar & the Hand People
Threats/Worship cover

Threats/Worship

Lullabye Arkestra