Wire - Silver/Lead (2017)

Noisey is streaming the forthcoming Wire release Silver/Lead (out 3/31 via their own Pinkflag label) which Alex Robert Ross
says

is another timely record from a band with an unwavering eye for the present. The angst is still there, but it follows a line drawn by their last three records: 2013's Change Becomes Us, 2015's Wire, and 2016's Nocturnal Koreans. The paranoia doesn't come through frantic ticks; instead it bubbles up in a distorted subterfuge, underpinning Newman's occasionally disturbing deadpan vocal delivery. It's deceptive, too, built around pop hooks, drawing the listener in for long enough to confound them. Here we are, Newman sings on "Short Elevated Period," "in a pivotal moment, in an uncertain future." It would have made sense 40 years ago, too; but it catches on right now.

http://images.popmatters.com/news_art/w/wire-silver-lead.jpg

Silver/Lead Tracklist:
01. Playing Harp For The Fishes
02. Short Elevated Period
03. Diamonds in Cups
04. Forever & A Day
05. An Alibi
06. Sonic Lens
07. This Time
08. Brio
09. Sleep On The Wing
10. Silver/Lead

It leaked a few weeks ago, and very good it is though it took a couple of listens to start to reveal it's charms.

And I'd say it's a straight line from the self-titled and Nocturnal Koreans, but Change Becomes Us is something different, being reworked versions of songs that would've followed 154.

I still love Wire but since Bruce left it's felt more like Colin's other band, Githead, as the oddness decreases and the popness increases.

Graham's recent solo albums of odds, sods and soundtracks is my CD favorite Wire-related release since Send.

^^^every word of this otm, ALTHOUGH i'm listening to this now and much preferring it to Wire and Nocturnal Koreans - the songwriting and sonic depth seems stronger. RYM ratings are very low for some reason - people seem to have had enough of the Matt Simms era, although it's hardly his fault

All Over is lovely but yeah All Under is flipping incredible. the confessional clips snapped shut

Hmm, I'll have to give this a listen!

Excellent album. Songs are pretty tuneful. I like it more than anything I have heard after the first three classic albums

Saw the lads in Cambridge, MA last night. It was a fun show with a setlist covering 40 years of Wire.

My friend insists we stand at the very front, where the sound is just a big smear. But it was fun to stare at everyone doing their thing: Matt and his inventive guitar parts, Robert with eyes closed tight hammering away, Graham with a rose in his bass and Colin standing on the balls of his feet everytime he sings.

Thinking of going tonight in W. DC. Tuneful latest album on first listen sounds ok, but doesn't wow me.

might as well remind this thread that graham lewis and matt simms are about to release a record they made with thighpaulsandra and valentina magaletti under the name 'uuuu' and it's going to be amazing

http://editionsmego.com/release/EMEGO-239

does it come with this

http://vintageactionfigures.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/star-trek-1974-mego-kirk-5face-card.jpg

It was a fun show with a setlist covering 40 years of Wire.

Enjoyed the DC show last night (the night after tat Cambridge, MA one) but as I expected, there were not a lot of songs from their early days. Also, Matt was off in the right rear corner, sometime adding extra elements with his guitar and pedals, but other times just looked bored.

the main set they have been doing for months now is: Ahead
Diamonds In Cups
An Alibi
This Time
Three Girl Rhumba
Art Of Persistence
Brio
Underwater Experiences
Red Barked Trees
Small Black Reptile
Keep Exhaling
Split Your Ends
...
Plus encores (usually-- Silver/Lead; Used; Stealth)

But some of those new ones sounded good, alongside my old fave "Three Girl Rhumba"

Got tickets for the Saturday show in Brooklyn. Expectations are low and no wonder Matt Simms seems bored They are playing the same set. Every. Night. I’d be bored too.

They've been playing that same set for months. The others somehow looked more into it at times.

Not sure why would want to play the same set over and over again. Seems lazy to me. And no fun.

They should do "No Fun" as an encore

Even though they are workmanlike at it live mostly now (it's just a job it seems), they do it well and the brief little bits of human emotion on their faces and in their singing and playing makes it worth it. A good set of songs goes a long way, and I am not out on tour with them having to watch them do them over and over.

So they've dropped "Change becomes us"?

when I saw them on the Red Barked Tree tour I was struck by how inspired they seemed. but yeah this latest show was not that. ewwww they're huuuuuman.

I'm so spoiled - in 1999 I thought I'd never see Wire play live and since then I've seen them 7 times! I'll give them a pass for a less-than-amazing show.

Planning to see them at the start of next month, will be my first time.

Final Brooklyn show was actually quite excellent and inspired. It seems like since they had some extra time in town they had a chance to mix-up the set list a bit. They laid down a hectic version of Drill near the end of the set. Best Wire show I've seen a quite a while.

well