.
http://www.rollingstone.com/assets/images/album_review/fde528df95e3d189200fa62598724f30ce7e3236.jpg Red Barked Tree

Wire

Red Barked Tree

Pink Flag
Rolling Stone: star rating
Community: star rating
5 3 0
February 15, 2011

On their awesome 2003 comeback set, Send, these UK art punks didn't just recapture the ferocity of their influential 1977 debut, Pink Flag — they exceeded it, like pitbulls gone rabid. Maybe with less to prove, the shapeshifters make some of their prettiest music ever here; apocalyptic vibe notwithstanding, the strummy guitar wash of "Adapt" wouldn't sound too out of place on a Coldplay CD. Which is not to say they don't still spit venom. "Fuck off out of my face" sings a cool-headed Colin Newman on the dreamy "Please Take." And on "Two Minutes," he conducts a non-sequitur debate with what sounds like a TV announcer over grinding guitars, sneering "I'll tell you who I hate on a daily basis." Now that'd be a show worth watching.

Listen to "Two Minutes":

Gallery: Random Notes, Rock's Hottest Photos

prev
Album Review Main Next

ADD A COMMENT

Community Guidelines »
loading comments

loading comments...

COMMENTS

Sort by:
    Read More

    Music Reviews

    more Reviews »
    Daily Newsletter

    Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

    Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
    marketing partners.

    X

    We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

    Song Stories

    “(We're Not) The Jet Set”

    George Jones and Tammy Wynette | 1973

    George Jones and Tammy Wynette were still married when they recorded the tongue-in-cheek "(We're Not) The Jet Set." The lyrics, written by Nashville songwriter Bobby Braddock, who also penned Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," make fun of the good life by declaring, "We're not the Jet Set/We're the old Chevrolet set." Braddock recalled that while writing the song, he needed the name of a city that evened out the rhyme he had with "Riviera" and "Missourah." “I got out a Rand McNally atlas," he said. "In the first part are the maps. The last part is an alphabetical listing of cities. I wanted a rustic, small-time sound. I went to the listing for Missouri. And I found 'Festus.' I loved the sound of it."

    More Song Stories entries »