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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A different direction for Wire..., April 12, 2000
...that shows off their stunning creative depth. I was first slightly put off by the gothicism & dramaticism of some of the tracks, but soon learned to appreciate the album as a whole. 'two people in a room', 'the 15th', 'a mutual friend', 'once is enough', 'map ref.', '40 versions' and 'song 1' are as good as any songs Wire have ever recorded, and this includes 'Pink Flag'. The two reviewers below were either too impatient to really give this record a listen, or just didn't understand the direction the band was going in. 154 is one of the most influential rock records of the late 70s. Bands like Sonic Youth --listen to 'Two People in a Room'-- and REM --up to and including 'Fables of the Reconstruction'-- would have missed some key ideas had this album never been recorded. The darker music on this album, along with what 'The Damned' were doing at about the same time also inspired the entire '80s goth-rock scene (not my taste, but palatable in it's inception on 154), as well as bands like the Cure and Depeche Mode (whom I cared none too much for). This is a very strong album, and I have more respect for bands that evolve and challenge their listeners, than for those that grind out the same thing every time they record, unless they're selling out, of which Wire can certainly not be accused.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GET WIRED!!, March 15, 2003
I was blessed to grow up in Oz during this period of great musical evolution. The Saints and Radio Birdman charged the senses in the mid-70's to aspire you to listen to 'great music'. Both bands first three albums fit into this category of 'great'. Not one bad song amongst a plethora of power and energy. Such joy!
Very few bands of any era can boast of such. WIRE is one. An amazing array and combination of sounds and words that evolve over the first three albums that can only be classified as 'GREAT'. Of all three albums, which I bought when they were first released, '154' is in my top 5 albums of all time. Knowing and loving the transition through all three WIRE albums, '154' came as the biggest surprise on first listening. It is a wonderous collaboration between four talented musicians who pushed all the boundaries to produce something so unique that it demanded unlimited listenings to try and work out all the nuances that made this so audio-addictive. The moods, the themes, the riffs, the sound effects, the singing.....the every part of it is wonderous and rare. Open your heart and your mind, play it at all different volumes and times, only then will you realise that it deserves a place in your collection.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS ' NUMBER ' SHOULD BE PLAYED ---, November 4, 2002
Not without reason is this recording referred
to as 'Post-punk Floyd.'
And as such, headphones plus a well-tempered
E.Q. will reveal many clever audioscapes. WARNING: This is not Moby; if you want cutesy synth
pop, get a Casio. Responses welcome. I can't recommend this disk more urgently.
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by Wire 
