Customer Reviews

9

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lazy title identifies this as PiL's ninth album release, although it's the seventh studio album (and Lydon's second with the McGeoch/Dias/Smith nucleus). And it's another effective rebuttal to those who casually dismiss the latter-era, LA-based PiL. When plans for Bill Laswell to produce fell through, production chores were taken over by Simple Minds-cohort Stephen Hague (who specialises in lavish, art-of-noise production - and it shows here) and Eric "E.T." Thorngren. Like its predecessor "Happy?", "9" is steeped in unmistakable, archetypal 80s rock production, but if you accept it on its own merits, it's compelling nonetheless: synth-based, catchy, dancey hard rock (highlights include the opening "Happy" [why wasn't it on the previous album?], the airforce-bashing "U.S.L.S 1," the carnivalesque "Sand Castles In The Snow," and the synth-pinball chorus of "Same Old Story"). "Brave New World" has an incredible chorus, and "Like That" has an inherent goofy charm. "Warrior" boasts some embarrassing lyrics and musical touches, but "Disappointed" is one of the most stunning PiL songs, ever: great rousing music and Gospel vocals set to Lydon's cynical appraisal of friendship ("Disappointed a few people/When friendship reared its ugly head/Well, isn't that/What friends are for?"). Lydon is especially playful with his lyrics throughout, with liberal use of well-worn clichés ("The best things in this life are never free", "The devil takes care of his own", "Why should the devil have all the good tunes", "The emperor's new clothes", "The King and his castle," etc). His abrasive vocals don't chafe against the PiL/Hague musical environment of spiralling riffs and rhythms and gothic melodies, which makes this relatively accessible, as PiL albums go: wild and sprightly, but musically disciplined. In retrospect, "9" is probably PiL's most underrated release: infectious, likeable, brilliant.

By the time of this May 30, 1989, release, Public Image Ltd. had become an ongoing solo project for John Lydon and long gone was an exploration of a cutting-edge vision for the soundscapes.

Slated to be a collaboration between Lydon and producer/bassist Bill Laswell - which fell apart due to artistic differences - the 10 tracks fit easily into clubland rhythms, with Disappointed the superior track; it reached #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.

The mostly-instrumental U.S.L.S. 1, Happy? and Brave New World allow the musicians - Alan Dias (b), John McGeoch (g), Bruce Smith (d) - to keep the grooves moving.

Even as the band settled into the "alternative" dance sound, it continued to expand the fan base - being part of "The Monsters of Alternative Rock" tour - with PiL demonstrating staying power as the post-punk movement began to swerve into a revival of the darkwave style.

I happen to disagree with Jed, the reviewer above, but I think lots of people may agree with him. He is right about one thing, which is that it does sound like an album made in 1989, which to me is an album that crosses over between sophisticated arrangements and slightly chincey arrangements. It seems like quite a few albums did come out like that, but for me and many, the late 80's were a weak spot in the rock genre anyway. If you can put that aside, you can really start to see that this album was mixed, arranged, and written the way it should have been. I do mean that in a complimentary way. If you like the PiL vibe itself, you'll probably like this album all the way through. If you like only a couple PiL songs, you will probably only like Happy and Disappointed, maybe a few others. I do actually like Lydon's ostentatiousness, in his singing and as a person, and if you don't, then you are probably creepy anyway.

I think the guy below was probably looking for some Sex Pistols-esque music, which, as Lydon admitted, really was "a sham". Punk was such a phony genre of music. It's even worse now. Too bad PIL isn't putting out any albums anymore, because they'd be a ray of sunshine and a huge dose of reality to all these I-Hate-Myself-And-Wanna-Die bands that are popular nowadays. It's true that the PIL albums from the generically-titled Compact Disk up to their final That What is Not are very Pop-sounding, but who cares? John Lydon's voice offsets the Popiness of the music a bit with his warbly and unique voice, and the songs themselves have great lyrics on a range of topics. 9 is a solid album, and there are a few songs I really love, like 'Warrior' which is about standing up and defending your land (not to be confused with being Nationalistic), the haunting 'USLS 1', and of course the Disneyfied 'Disappointed' which has those "damn backup singers". I find it funny that people have qualms about the backup singers, because they were nothing new at that point; John had been using them on at least two of his PIL albums before 9.

what can i say this mans back catalogue is so diversified it really speaks volumes
not the trend setter of old but trotting and carrying still
usls1 was a flight he n nora missed going 2 scotland and was bombed killing everyone
disapointed is anything 2 do with friends and.....warrior another ditty of his mindset
2 more quite favorable tunes worry and brave new world are graciously putting it out there 4 u n me
of john i have always admired his utter diverse yet humble at times yet never a waist of time like green gay
it's a great mix no not metal box but well worth your ears
enjoy

Though the last reveiw was extremely blasphemous... i would have to argue that though this album doesn't sound like the earlier works... neither does alternative music in these days... popular alternative music changed and PIL did an excellent job of changing with it, this album has a few newer sounds that are still good to hear and also retracts a bit in a few songs to earlier styles, this album is a good starter because if you like this one, you can choose which way to go for your next PIL purchase... if you like the newer sound, go for the newer albums, but if you appreciate the older sounds go for the earlier ones...

this album would be amazing if it werent for those goddamn backup singers.. they make it sound like its a disney soundtrack.

"Disappointed", in my opinion, is one of THE BEST songs of the 80's. If you've ever had a 'friend' that messed you over, this song could be your anthem. Besides that, it just sounds wonderful. The whole CD does. I have always liked John's voice, as well as his wisdom. 9 is the only PiL we have on CD as, but we plan to get more..

I hardly ever take the time to post negative reviews of albums, particularly albums that have been out for a long time. I just had "warrior" pop up on my shuffle mix in iTunes for the second time today, and I don't think I can listen to it again.

This is an album that represents John Lydon as a complete hack. The music is a faceless, slick studio concoction over which the formerly Johhny Rotten bleats his typical rants that by this point are recycled; it is apparent that he had nothing new to say.

Public Image early on represented a lot of things, including a defiant stance concerning commercialism and fan worship (the infamous live concert at the Ritz from behind the screen). This album is a perfect illustration of why that was important - for artistic integrity it is important to not too become to comfortable with what your fans expect. It is clear here that he is literally giving his fans what he thinks they want, a cynical, calculated series of tracks that go from one to the next, not really saying anything that hasn't been said before by those that have more talent and vision.

And now he sells butter. Enough said.

The worst thing about this 1989 album by PiL is that it sounds like an album that was made in 1989. I thought this was the most horrid piece of garbage when i bought it a few years ago used. however, many listens later i can say that while there are a few disgusting, cringe-inducing tracks on here (warrior, like that, sand castles) the other songs are actually excellent, having interesting lyrics and great musicianship. The other thing that really keeps this album (and all PiL albums, for that matter) from being perfect is john lydon's voice. Whiny, fruity, and unlistenable he is, which is funny since i think he was an excellent singer with the sex pistols. he should have stuck to the growling, yelling, and adlibing that he did so well at that time. Not a good intro to PiL. Go ahead and buy it if you have a lot of patience or if you have a taste for albums that sound like they were made in 1989.