On November in 1977: London’s Wire released their ground breaking & influential debut album, ‘Pink Flag’, on Harvest Records – one of the most original debut albums to come out of the first wave of British punk (making it, in sound & spirit, one of the foundation releases of what would become known as ‘post-punk’); very few of the songs followed traditional verse/chorus structures – if one or two riffs sufficed, no more were added; if a musical hook or lyric didn’t need to be repeated, they immediately stopped playing, accounting for the album’s brevity (21 songs in under 36 minutes)…”Pink Flag” is one of the most original debut albums in the punk world, and one could argue it’s one of the “punkest” records on this list based on the fact that Wire follows no rules. The band’s blend of punk energy and avant-garde sensibilities also placed the band at the forefront of the post-punk movement. Labels aside, “Pink Flag” still sounds as fresh today as it did in 1977. Ranging from minimalist numbers with no repetition to faster songs featuring memorable vocals and biting wit, Wire’s ability to be unpredictable and incredibly consistent has cemented their legacy as a highly influential group that’s inspired countless genres.
Wire [push] minimalism to new heights” and said the band “dredges up images of…beat poetry–short fragments of impressions set to music.” the 21 tracks are “not songs…There’s no easy structure or meter. Each explores or describes or electrifies or challenges. There’s no easy listening.” “I can’t say this is an enjoyable album. Maybe it’s just a stupid bit of rubbish. But you won’t know unless you find out.
“Pink Flag” was perhaps the most original debut album to come out of the first wave of British punk” and also “recognizable, yet simultaneously quite unlike anything that preceded it. “Pink Flag’s” enduring influence pops up in hardcore, post-punk, alternative rock, and even Britpop, and it still remains a fresh, invigorating listen today: a fascinating, highly inventive rethinking of punk rock and its freedom to make up your own rules.” Retrospectively, Trouser Press called the album “a brilliant 21-song suite” in which the band “manipulated classic rock song structure by condensing them into brief, intense explosions of attitude and energy, coming up with a collection of unforgettable tunes”
The Fat Angel Sings 