There’d be a lot of skinny-jean wearing hipsters without a day job if it wasn’t for the boys of Wire.  Brits who started thrashing about in the mid-1970s, these gentlemen (actually rocking some tight denim themselves in the above photo) helped to create what would later be defined as post-punk.  I’m of the mind that if you’ve helped to start something you should, after a few albums or so, either step aside for good or attempt to start something else.  Otherwise you end up dry-mouthed like a skeleton playing “Under My Thumb” for a stadium filled with physician’s assistants.

Wire on the other hand, perhaps it’s the influence of the tight jeans, are just now releasing a new album.  And, to the unfortunate demise of my usually rock-solid theory, it sounds fairly amazing.  This song “Two Minutes” literally roils with fuzz.  Colin Newman’s voice (sounding as crudely British as always) jabs out from the noise, puncturing holes that draw you down in to it.

What’s remarkable, and surprising, about this material is that not only does it fit in to today’s sonic landscape, but it inspires me at least to dig deeper in to the category of British post-punk.  The future and the past, music don’t usually get that far.

Wire - Two Minutes