Red Barked Tree

Wire | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 11, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Pink Flag
• ASIN: B004C9PA32
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,478 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stop comparing Wire to Pink Flag., January 11, 2011

By 

jPOW! (seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Barked Tree (Audio CD)

I've spent most of the morning reading, and watching Youtube reviews of the new Wire album Red Barked Tree. Highly disappointed to know how much people are slamming it, and STILL comparing everything Wire has done to Pink Flag, 30 plus years ago. People really miss the point of Wire, completely miss the point.

A lot of "critics" are jumping on a bandwagon against it, although some even admit they haven't followed Wire since 154, yet think they can judge the new album without knowing the progression of thirty years of Wire, and the multiple amazing solo projects that point the way to this new layered, almost "shoegaze" guitar style. I for one am glad Wire hasn't tried to cash in and make another Pink Flag. I am really enjoying the quieter songs on this album the most, since it is something new for Wire, the song Adapt being an early listen favorite, as well as the two closing tracks on the album.

On another subject, it is a shame that some really great Wire-related solo projects are so desperately out of print. I'm talking about A.C. Marias, He Said, P'o, and Colin Newman's solo albums, to name a few.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody does Wire better than Wire, January 22, 2011

By 

Charles Miller "objective clarity" (Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Red Barked Tree (Audio CD)

Reportedly, a recording engineer for this album made a comment to the band regarding how large the sound was for music featuring only three people. Such is the case. It is amazing only three musicians created this "big" album.

The one drawback this, and material since Send have, is the lack of lead guitarist, Bruce Gilbert, but Wire have made the best of the situation with Colin Newman's "lead" rhythm guitar, unusual for most bands, but not Wire. And he is admirably supported by the traditional rhythm section, bassist Graham Lewis and drummer Robert Grey. It should be noted Lewis has contributed some of his finest Wire material ever to include excellent lyrics.

Wire's previous non-Gilbert album, Object 47, was an excellent outting, but felt more like a Newman/Lewis collaboration than a traditional Wire album. That still made it better than most other albums released that year. On Red Barked Tree however, Wire sounds like Wire again... a very strong release. All of the tracks are quite memorable and become familiar after only a couple of listenings. And the final title track is acoustic... perhaps the first time for Wire and a remarkable high-point.

This is a fine album that can be recommended to long-time followers of this band as well as newcomers as it lives up to Wire's potential... one of the best bands of all time.

FYI... a free 4-track bonus EP is available directly from Wire featuring 4 tracks by the touring band version of Wire entitled Strays with replacement guitarist, Matt Simms (recorded post-RBT?). Its stated intention is to commit to disc songs that were never recorded in the studio (save one). Albeit clocking in at only 18 minutes, it is definitely worth seeking out to complete the package.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Wire record!, March 12, 2011

By 

Lovblad (Geneva, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Red Barked Tree (Audio CD)

Wire have surprisingly managed to continue to change while still retaining thier sound and image. The last record was already a very pleasant surprise and here they continue on this new artistic road. the first two songs are more traditional and even "pop" than usual (even though classic Wire excelled at thier mo re pop oriented songs. Then the record gets a harder sometimes more electronic sound. The trademark angular rhythm that one usually found on wire records is here but the singing is slightly different which is a pleasant thing since sometimes Colin Newman's singing can be somewhat too stereotyped. Overall Wire have made a great return since Burn and Send and the recordings stand out as better than their 80 90's output and as good as those intial records.