Customer Reviews

Chairs Missing

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1978, being qualified as "the Pink Floyd of the New Wave" might have come across as something of an insult; and by today's artistic strategies of rampant revivalism such a pithy remark may ring true to many a listener. That statement was, in fact, the critique prescribed to Chairs Missing, Wire's second album, as the album decelerated the pogo punk minimalism found on their first album with an increasing use of experimental production. In hindsight, Chairs Missing is the perfect transition between the high-strung velocity of Pink Flag and the staggering gloominess of 154; yet most transition records have a clunkiness about them, like a lanky teenager not quite able to fit into his sunday best. But Chairs Missing is miles above the average transition album.

To many a listener, Chairs Missing stands as the ultimate Wire album, with near perfect pop songs alternating between anthemic punk and eccentric production techniques (i.e. atonal synth drone, staccato guitar chops, overdubbed guitar distortion, etc.). Where Pink Flag kept many of the songs under a minute and half, Chairs Missing is downright baroque in its presentation of 3 minute tunes. The genius of Chairs Missing is how Colin Newman, Robert Gotobed, Bruce Gilbert, and Graham Lewis manage to steer through the diverse songwriting landscape, in how the album's opening track "Practice Makes Perfect" transitions from a delicate prance for jangled guitar into a precise expression of menace, in how "Outdoor Miner" creates the catchiest, Beatlesque chorus you'll never be able to sing back to yourself given the complexity of its rejoining, nonsensical syllables, in how jaggedly clean the guitars of Newman and Gilbert attack each other, in how Lewis' bass is fluid and effortless, in how this run-on sentence seems to have lost its way trying to fathom the complexity of Wire.

If you believe that the length of my reviews directly correlate to how good the record actually is, then I have failed as I would need to write a f-cking a book about how stunning this album is. Yeah, Chairs Missing is incredible; and if you don't have it, you really should.

There are some records that changed my life forever, and Chairs Missing is one of them. I first heard this record when it came to this country as a U.K. import over thirty years ago, and it is still as fantastic to me now as it was then. It certainly pointed me in a different direction and showed me the possibilities of what a band could be and do. From the moment I heard it, I was off down a new road, and I've never looked back. Sadly underrated, do yourself a favor and get this incredible album by an amazing band that was truly decades ahead of its time. It is wonderful to have this record on my iPod. And don't forget Pink Flag and 154, Wire's other great records that are required listening for lovers of modern music. Happy listening. Cheers, Robert Darlington (Singer/songwriter and guitarist for Translator)

'Chairs Missing' is yet another of those unfortunate "transitional" albums, that tend to get somewhat overlooked. 'Pink Flag' was a punk classic, and '154' widely acknowledged as a post-punk masterpiece, but 'Chairs Missing' sometimes falls between the cracks a bit. But this is arguably their best album, certainly it's their most diverse, retaining the energy of their debut while incorporating synths, studio effects and different shades of production.

There are a few energetic punk anthems worthy of 'Pink Flag' here; 'Men 2nd', 'From the Nursery', the proto-noise-rock 'Sand In My Joints' and the frenetic closer 'Too Late'. Elsewhere, the songs and arrangements are much more ambitious. The highlights are the defiant punk/pop declaration 'I Am The Fly', and the suprisingly sunny pop of 'Outdoor Miner'. 'Heartbeat' and the opener 'Practice Makes Perfect' are unsettling slow-burns, while 'Marooned', 'French Film Blurred' and 'Used To' are more subdued and accessible. The centrepiece 'Mercy' mixes punk attitude with an art-rock arrangement, while 'Another The Letter' sounds like a three-way marraige of punk, synthpop and psychadelia.

And it all works. There's not one mis-step or awkward moment here. The raw punk songs still hit hard, and the ambitious tracks never sound bloated or pretentious. And despite all the diversity, the album fits together as a whole quite well, because Wire sound so comfortable no matter what they're doing.

A great album from an legendary band in top form. Five stars.

Please get this album. You will like it.
While not as well known as Wire's debut, Pink Flag, this album, in my opinion, is much better. Wire's increasing use of synths really helps the music as well as adding yet another experimental quality to it.

Also, if you plan to get any wire album, why not get all three of their essential albums:

Pink Flag (1977), Chairs Missing (1978), 154 (1979)

If you like Post Punk or are interested in getting into "Post Punk" or New Wave or Power Pop then this is one of the many albums you NEED to get. Or even if you just like good music that is different than the rest- you NEED this album. Along with 154 and the first Wire album Pink Flag of course. I actually kinda resisted getting into Wire's early stuff untill a friend of mine (thank you forever Jules Hart)sat me down, smoked 8) and played this CD for me. I had to have him play the song French Film Blurred back for me at least five times! While I had listened to much of the early to mid to late 80's Wire such as A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck etc and liked it ok enough listening to Chairs Missing and then 154 really showed me what Wire is all about. You need to have at least Chairs Missing and 154 in your collection. Buy them. Get the 90's releases if you can as they have bonus tracks that are very cool but if you cant find those get the remastered ones ASAP. They will change your life.

I'm surprised at how few reviews this album has. Simply put, the first three albums of Wire are absolutely essential. Pink Flag was a punk masterpiece, 154 was a post-punk masterpiece, and Chairs Missing is a transitional masterpiece between the two. Get all three albums and listen to them in order to witness the incredible progression that Wire have followed in less than two years. It's astonishing.

This album is incredible. You will never hear another one like it. Thirty years later, no band in this genre has topped it. Not even close. A must-have for any serious music fan.

If you do not know what this title is and you are reading this review, then you are not that cool...just kidding (maybe you were born after it came out). Consider that in the late 70s early 80s pop music was a mix between hair bands, post disco pop drivel, and maybe some english synth bands ( a la duran duran). Wire was part of a post-punk movement that is influential amongst indie bands today. Consider the context of Joy Division--early New Order, early Cure, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, the Buzzcocks and you can see where Wire fits in. While Colin Newman and crew did not release too many albums, there was a precision and technical perfection that was lacking in punk releases yet not as extreme as some of the artier edges of alternative music. I must say that one of my all time FAVORITE songs is Outdoor Miner. This release is ethereal, powerful, interesting, and beautiful-but-edgy. When it came out it was lost (see the above context statements), yet it is timeless. Current bands like the Editors, Interpol, even TV on Radio owe as much a debt to Wire as Joy Division. Highly recommended to the kiddies as well as their parents (egads are we that old?).

Those of you who hold punk music in high esteem know only too well the invaluable role that Wire and "Pink Flag" have played in shaping the genre. And though I could never give enough credence to the likes of "12XU," this classic punk-rock headbanger does not even approach the full gamut of musical treasures that Wire has imparted over the years. "Chairs Missing" is the perfect case in point. Perhaps marking the most courageous and innovative leap from one style of music to another, "Chairs" (the follow up album to "Pink Flag") is replete with provocative and downright alluring musical textures that are sure to please. No individual claiming to love punk should be without this classic. And for those of you who are curious about punk, getting "Chairs" for your collection is no-brainer. After all, when you're talking about a staple classic, such as "Chairs," making the choice to get this CD is easy.
Enjoy!

This album, to me, is the point where Wire musically and artistically debut. I don't like Pink Flag; it's amateur, immature, and down-right weak in my opinion, with only a few shining moments that barely glow under the layers of crap.

Chairs Missing is experimental, no doubting that, but on the surface it seems like a punk record, but when I listen to it, which is like everyday, the difference between this and Pink Flag is night and day.

The whole experience is surreal and rather audacious. Songs like 'I am The Fly' (one of my favorites) 'Sand In My Joints' and 'From The Nursery' will leave you guessing exactly where Wire are in their minds.

The songs 'Mercy' and 'Too Late' are the only two that I'm not a big fan of; they're just a bit too long, which kind of brings down the atmosphere of shorter, more expressive and meaningful tracks.

I think it's a bummer though that the new remaster doesn't include the bonus tracks, because they are well worth getting.