Seconds
Wire: Blessed State

By: Ian Mathers
2006-01-18



Posted 01/18/2006 - 10:21:26 AM by IanMathers:
 My mind was playing tricks on me - the long centre of Chairs Missing is of course "Mercy", not "Heartbeat" (although the latter is certainly key as well); but if I hadn't slipped up my point would be changed, not obviated, the records are still represented by a song directly about something, a feeling or quality and then by a song ("A Touching Display") about the presentation of something, about a remove.
 
Posted 01/18/2006 - 02:22:01 PM by boilingboy:
 154 is my all time favorite record. The soundscapes, melody, noisy effects and, yes, the beyond biting sarcasm have blown my mind for years. I'm so happy to see someone reclaim this album, and Blessed State in particular. Believe it or not, some critics don't even understand that it's sardonic!
 
Posted 01/19/2006 - 02:02:22 AM by IanMathers:
 Really? I was raised in a house full of sarcastic people, and I'm really not sure how someone could miss it in "Blessed State", particularly in the middle of 154. If you have any links available, I'd love to read someone being really clueless about it.
 
Posted 01/24/2006 - 01:49:47 PM by boilingboy:
 No links available. i'm thinking of what I've read in mags. I think the asardonic edge is too strong and too subtle for most. Being a bit older, it's right up my ally. Kudos to you for a true understanding of the complexity of a Wire song. You got it spot on.