Customer Reviews

That What Is Not

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

 

 

"That What Is Not" inhabits a vague realm: it's not particularly loved, but it doesn't appear to be despised either. It's simply regarded as what it is: the last PiL album. It doesn't achieve true greatness, but it's not boring or offensively bad, and is quite excellent in places. Despite having a settled lineup and fixed locale, the latter-era PiL was not afraid to change styles: there's nothing on "That What Is Not" that would have fitted on the two previous albums. In fact, the album is almost entirely devoid of the dance element that characterised "Happy?" and "9." Instead, "That What Is Not" opts for a harder, more metal-based sound (this is probably the PiL album the late John McGeoch has the most audible presence on), and while this is no "Album," Lydon's vulture-scavenging vocals and the imaginative musical touches and flourishes still keep PiL out of simple heavy rock. The album's grammatically-wonky title is a lyric in the opening song, "Acid Drops." The song is, fittingly enough, acidic (Lydon chastising government censorship), but the music is almost upbeat (the "No Future" refrain from the Pistols' "God Save The Queen" is effectively and nostalgically mixed into the outro; as a famously once-banned song, it's contextually perfect). Elsewhere, PiL demonstrates just how they were never able to cut it as a truly commercial, accessible band, letting their idiosyncrasies compromise mainstream appeal: "Luck's Up" has an emotive guitar line, but the chorus has an overlay of weird doggy wheezes; and the tuneful "God" could have been a great hit if it was shorter, had less outspoken lyrics, and had someone with a more radio-friendly voice than Lydon singing it. "Good Things" sounds like a refurbished "This Is What You Want" outtake, and in "Think Tank" Lydon takes a swipe at the middle-class journalists and music historians constantly reinterpreting and misrepresenting his life and the Punk era ("Rewriting history/Tampering in my story/Standing in my shadow/But still so pale/So shallow"). Given the extreme unlikelihood of another PiL album being made, it's disappointing that "That What Is Not" was their last studio release - not that it's unsatisfactory, it's just that you know PiL made it without the knowledge of it being their swansong. After its release, Lydon wrote his autobiography, reunited the Sex Pistols, released his solo album, clowned around for TV...It's been over a decade now, and as he inches ever so closely to 50, one hopes Lydon comes to his senses, reunites PiL, and makes sure "That What Is Not" is a comma, not a full stop.

How could people who loved PIL's 9 album not enjoy That What is Not? It's a bit of a mind-boggler, that's for sure. The songs "God," "Emperor," and "Think Tank" are amongst some of PIL's catchiest and best. There are no filler songs on this album, either. Most of the songs here have the guitar near the front of the mix, so it's more audible, but that certainly doesn't give the songs a "metal-based" sound (as many a previous reviewer has wrongfully pointed out). If you like any PIL from 1983-1990, there's something here for you.

Last and final album for this glorious band.1992.I love their more ¨accessible ¨ period, that is to say, their latest albums like Happy ? but this one is dull, unimaginative, and sounds like it had been jammed in the studio, probably to fulfill contractual obligations ? .And god forgive me but it has a certain air of Rush (the canadian prog-metal band)to it.Even guitar god John McGeoch seems to have run out of ideas on this one. All tracks sound alike, and the prime appeal of the band to me, John Lydon's voice, is insultingly low in the mix.Nevertheless, the sound is incredibly hi-fi .For completists ONLY.

It took about 15 years, but Lydon finally sounds like he is behind the times. Acid Drops starts off promising enough, with a hard rocking riff, but then towards the end, the song is ruined by repeated samples the line "No future..." from the Sex Pistols' "God Save The Queen." Luck's Up is kind of pointless. Cruel is the only track that is truly interesting sonically, with Lydon juxtaposing his low monotone voice with his high squealy voice. God is just a bad, pointless song. By this point I quickly lose interest. Covered and Think Tank are decent, but they don't hit me like songs from 9 or Happy. The rest of it is just boring and monotanous.

I don't know why there is such a drop off between 9 and this one. The McGeogh / Dias lineup sounds stale, which is hard to believe after the two previous albums which were dynamic and interesting musically. But also, Lydon doesn't really have anything interesting to say.

Overall, TWIN is a disappointing ending to PIL.

That What is Not (1992) was the last disc from the John Lydon Band. Every disc Lydon made after forcing Keith Levene from the band buried the legacy of Public Image Limited further into the ground. This album buried them so deep in the world of MTV and VH1 that it was impossible for them to ever be considered a force in the pop world. Instead of defying the conventional wisdom, Lydon and his session players embraced it and became another phony band who'll forever be labled a "college" rock band.

Lydon destroyed what the original ideals of what Public Image Limited stood for. The name lost all meaning as
he turned it into a banner for himself. With the death of P.I.L.
and John Lydon reviving the Sex Pistols as an arena band during the mid-90's how far wil Lydon go in burying his
tarnished legacy?

Bad music only for fans of Public Image Limited 3.0 (1986-1992) and "college" rock fans.

This album of powerful guitar driven music marked John Lydon's return in the 1990s. Lydon is assisted by John McGeoch, Alan Dias and Curt Bisquera. Acid Drops is a scorching slab of heavy metal, Lucks Up is similar, a farewell song to a drug abuser. The thrash metal vibe continues on Cruel and Covered, whilst Unfairground and Love Hope have a more eclectic mix that includes harmonica and psychedelic twists and turns. Lydon's piercing voice rides the sonic wave to impressive effect. Emperor is a frenzied throwback to his punk roots, Good Things is a type of retro electro with a funky rhythmic undertone and Think Tank has a catchy tune and almost singalong chorus. That What Is Not is a strong album of neo heavy metal, exploring various avenues of the genre. It also contains some great melodic songs with intelligent lyrics and Lydon's trademark caustic observations. This work is as good as anything he came up with in the previous two decades, including the Metal Box set and his work with Sex Pistols.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with "That What is Not". It's a wonderful album if you enjoy John Lydon's warbling set to endearing pop music. Just for the sake of making it known, "God" is my favourite track on the album. As for the negative reviews... I don't see what peoples' beef is with Public Image Limited's commercial albums that are not only listenable but damn addictive at that. The only incarnation of PIL I don't like is their "experimental" early stages that consisted of minimal scratchy guitar, and full-on drums without a freakin' beat. I bought "Second Edition" and I wish I hadn't. Just because something's experimental doesn't mean it has to sound like crap. Too bad it took John until "This is What You Want" to figure that out. "That What is Not" should be right up your alley if you loved Compact Disk, Happy, and 9.

Oh, and fans of "That What is Not" may want to get a listen of of John's amazing solo dance album titled "Psycho's Path". Unless you're a snoot who's stuck in the past and continues to live by the Sex Pistols' narrow world view and scoffs at anything with an actual melody and blazing synthesizers. If you're one of those snoots, then I highly recommend it to you; I hope it gives you an aneurysm!

When Jah Wobble was ousted from the pil enterprise it was an irreplacable loss.
When Keith Levene was ousted from the pil enterprise it was an irreplacable loss.

With John Lydon left with no discernable talent of his own to steer the pil enterprise it is an irretrievable mess.

Lydon is an imperious nobody riding on the coat tails of the emperor's new clothes for those without a clue.

Go ahead and buy this turgid rubbish.

Fool.

THIS RANKS RIGHT UP THERE, WITH HELIUM - DIRT OF LUCK
PESTILENCE - TESTIMONY OF THE ANCIENTS
DIMMU BORGIR - DEATH CULT ARMEGEDDEN
VERUCA SALT- AMERICAN THIGHS
SEX PISTOLS- NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS
EYEHATEGOD- TAKE FOR PAIN AS NEEDED

AS ONE OF THE GREATEST CDS OF ALL TIME.

NUFF SAID!!

Down to a trio by the time of this February 1992 release, it is the last studio album for Public Image Limited, though John Lydon has not formally disbanded the group.

With John McGeoch (g) and Alan Dias (b, key), Lydon takes the soundscape into hard rock, with his songwriting the strongest on Acid Drops, as he blurts out, What does it mean/What does anything mean, which seems to be as good a response as any on the era in which the band recorded and toured the world.

Covered utilizes sampled vocals and horns in the intriguing mix, with Think Tank and Good Things a slight cut above the rest. That it stalled at #46 on the UK album chart - it did not chart in the U.S. - shows a weariness by fans and record label; Lydon had to self-finance the tour to support the release.

It wasn't a bitter PiL, but - at least for now - the "final" cuts rumble into a power-trio format from the old school of rock-n-roll.