This Is PiL

This is an awesome record! Its got that droning bass back that was gone from PIL's last 3-4 records. Lyrically Lydon is on top of his game, but then he never really wrote crappy songs as far as lyrics are concerned.The album opens up with "This is PIL". essentially it's just Lydon saying over and over in 3 different ways "hey...PIL's back!" and it suits him just well, he has always had a loud mouth so telling us his projects back in this manner is a fitting introduction track. The next track is One Drop which I'm sure all PIL fans have heard by now either via radio, download or Youtube. Deeper water is sung with a sort of stream of consciousness style. The next 2 tracks are typical Post Punk rock songs, Terra-Gate being much quicker paced and more energetic and Human having a catchy quirkiness to it, really nice guitar on the latter's track. I Must Be Dreaming has a more relaxed and funky feel to it, really chill song. It Said That is very spacey, as far as sound is concerned, and an awesome chorus, has a very southern eurpoean flavor to it (it sound like its from another song I just cannot place my finger on at the moment). The Room I am In is very gothic rockish in style, kinda like something you would expect to hear from Peter Murphy or Bauhaus, very personal lyrics with an eastern feel to them. Lollipop Opera is an experimental track, even for PIL's standards, lots of electronics in here, it's a standout track on the record. Fools is very straight forward, nothing really special, a typical PIL track, imo the least interesting on the record, but still not a bad song by any means. Reggie Song is an upbeat song, another rocker, very similar to something you would hear off of "Happy?" in fact. The final track, Out of The Woods, is another great song, probly my favorite off the entire record. Its a 9 min. long epic track with a nice slow build up and incredible chorus, worthy enough to stand up to anything off of Metal Box.The record is very strong, it proves Lydon can steer his crew in the right direction even after such a long hiatus. in fact I would say its a good place to start if you are new to Public Image Limited. Not only would I recommend this to PIL Fans but also to fans of newer music. Why is that you might say? Because on This Is PIL, you can hear Trip Hop, Alt. Rock, Gothic Rock, Industrial and a bit of Electronic.... and you very well should. Public Image Ltd heavily inspired many artists in those genres, in fact one could say Mr Lydon and crew helped reinvent rock when it was becoming boring and stale in the latter half of the 70's and early 80's, becoming the very first (or one of the very first) "alternative" group(s).Its a record I will enjoy putting next to Metal Box or Flowers of Romance....if I can get it out of my car! If "selling out" is doing butter ads to form and fund your own record label and release an incredible comeback album, then by all means Mr Rotten, sell out a few more times for us please!

First of all, the music world has been missing something lately without Johnny. Whether it is his worldview or his vocal delivery, no one does things the way he does. After a 20 year layoff, he sounds vibrant and engaged. He has something to say and is going all-in to say it.As for the songs themselves, the opener/title track is fitting, sort of a modern-day version of Theme. I like the next four songs and even though the lyrics sometimes feel a little forced they aggressively get the message across. Lollipop Opera stands out with its unique beat and bass line. The last two tracks are what make the album special. Reggie's Song does a great job of making you empathize with the subject. Out of the Wood is a real surprise. While I know that the song is about a black Confederate soldier, the story being told isn't completely obvious (and there is no lyric sheet). The thing it that it is such a great track musically that I want to listen to again and again and I am sure that it will eventually make sense.My biggest problem with the album is that it (like most albums of the CD/post-CD era) is too long. Other than Metal Box (which was originally released as a triple EP, not a double LP), all of the rest of their albums have been the length of a traditional 40 minute LP. This time, the songs in the middle get lost in the shuffle and don't make much of an impact. They aren't horrible, they just aren't exceptional. I feel that it has much more of an impact this way with this running order:This is PiLOne DropDeeper WaterHumanTerrorgate---Lollipop OperaFoolReggie's SongOut of the WoodOne last thing, if you think you are likely to like this album, go ahead and buy the deluxe version. The DVD concert is very good.

When I first ordered this package I thought I would get caught up with Mr. Lydon and the current PIL, he would rant a bit, it would be like the old days, and I would put the CD on the shelf. Boy was I wrong, this is a really, really good CD! The band is tight, the songs are good and catchy, and John is in good voice. If there is a downside, some of the songs do run a bit long, but that is my only complaint. If you order the set with the DVD included, and I certainly would, the concert was very recent, the band shows how good they are live, again as with the CD some of the songs do tend do ramble a bit. But there are some old PIL songs included and they are well done.

What could I say about Public Image Ltd that other don't know... everything. But I am not here to talk about the bands history, rather, I will just talk about a great album. THIS IS PIL is Public Image Limited's return to an actual album in 20 years. For some bands it sometimes doesn't work or their sound is to different which turns off old fans. Public Image Limited continues exactly where they left off. Unpredictable and in many directions. With haunting and industrio style post punk instrumentals still intact, John Lydon keeps himself angry, cynical and poetic just the way fans like it. The album is well balanced and even at their most commercial (ONE DROP) they remain secular and matter even more in the process. If you like the old PIL, this new PIL will satisfy immensely. If it does not, just pop in the bonus DVD. It will blow any PIL fan away.

Mr Lydon and company have crafted an excellent batch of songs that I recommend to anyone who likes modern rock music. And that's just the CD, which should be a part of your music collection. But the DVD captures a quartet of fifty-somethings putting in a performance that many guys half their age wish they could pull off. John's singing is in top form, the great Lu Edmonds guitar playing is amazing, Scott Firth is great on bass and Bruce Smith is as tight a drummer as they come.Stop reading reviews and BUY IT, you will not feel cheated.