is this the best debut ever released?
so, who are gang of four? gang of four are a post-punk band formed in leeds, england, in 1976. the most well-known lineup consisted of jon king (vocals), andy gill (vocals/guitar), dave allen (bass), and hugo burnham (drums). king, gill, and burnham were art/literature graduates from the university of leeds, with allen joining as a bassist later on through an advertisement for an ‘r&b’ band. entertainment! is their 1979 debut. it might be one of the most important (and fun) albums ever released.
what’s so special about entertainment!? well, let’s think back to when this album was released. just two years ago, the sex pistols released their revolutionary debut, and all of a sudden mainstream rock, at least in the uk, was being dominated by folks who largely taught themselves how to play their instruments as mohawks and leather filled the streets. this new version of rock seemed to reject everything traditionally valued in music: technical skill, lyrics with universal themes, melodic riffs and vocals. it seemed as though all of a sudden, anyone could pick up a guitar, start a band, and make music guided by nothing but pure creativity and ambition.
entertainment! was certainly a product of its era. it was more acceptable, more palatable, even, to go against the grain. and that’s what this album does: reject musical sophistication for art and the ‘feel’ of the song. the opener, “Ether“, a gritty track about the treatment of prisoners in ireland, immediately establishes two things: one, gang of four is here to be political. two, gang of four isn’t afraid to combine hooks with experimental dissonance.
the album is defined by allen’s melodic, dynamic bass lines, gill’s jerky, unpredictable guitar, and a sophisticated sense of rhythm. the instruments all follow a distinct timing, playing in parallel and occasionally unifying for emphasis, keeping you on your toes for every song. on top of these interlocking pieces are king’s vocals, which combine simple vocal melodies with philosophical lyrics critiquing everything from broad contemporary british politics to personal experiences in modern society. now, the parts have a very punk-rock simplicity to them: but it’s the way they interact in smart ways that makes entertainment! both accessible and high-minded.
beyond that, entertainment! also provides an interesting take on politics and society. going back to the sex pistols: them and the many other british punk rock bands that would spawn after them (like the oi! scene) had working-class upbringings and direct, anti-establishment views that easily resonated with the masses. however, gang of four was distinctly middle-class and educated (with the exception of dave allen). as such, king’s lyrics are a little more subtle, and touch on slightly different subjects. “Natural’s Not In It” and “Contract” talk about the effect consumerism has on intimate matters. “I Found That Essence Rare“, “5.45“, and “At Home He’s a Tourist” focus on television and the media. they’re observational enough to be relatable, but thoughtful enough to be intellectual with a healthy dose of sarcasm helped by sharp songwriting and andy gill’s deadpan backing vocals.
overall, entertainment! manages to be an album that’s solidly punk while being as artsy as possible. while it loses some of its hooks and energy on the b-side, the entire album is filled to the brim with fresh ideas from start to finish. take “Love Like Anthrax“, the final track, which elegantly overlaps gill’s spoken-word monologue with king’s pleasant singing. or “Damaged Goods“, which removes instruments one by one in its interludes before exploding into a cathartic, sing-along chorus.
the main highlights of this album are “Damaged Goods”- an unforgettable tune that showcases the band at its finest, “Natural’s Not In It”, a bouncy track with fun rhythms, and “I Found That Essence Rare”, the most pop-like gang of four ever gets on this album. this album is an intriguing, no-skip masterwork. there’s nothing like it, and personally, i love entertainment! from start to finish. 9.5/10!
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