Pink Flag (1977)

Although in their origins Wire was contemporary with British punk-rock they are actually much more of an art-rock outfit and always have been, as this conceptual debut amply demonstrates. Among the first to exploit the self-consciously short (minute and a half or less) song -- think also Ramones, Vibrators, or Minutemen -- Wire nonetheless pretty much confines that particular exercise to this album alone of theirs. Other features for which they became known are already abundantly in evidence: the crunchy and throbbing attack, with no lack of dead stops and starts, and the proceedings frequently stripped down to basic elements of feedback, yelpy vocals, in-your-face reverb, obdurate lyrical concerns, and/or minor-key tunefulness. Yet no matter how wild it may get a crust of civilization remains always. It's a pretty neat trick.