Public Image Ltd: End of The World

I tried reading reviews for John Lydon’s newest album but most of them devoted three or four paragraphs to his personal life or statements about politics instead of, you know, the music. I just gave up and went into the album with no pre-conceived notions, knowing only that it would be contradictory and not what you would expect.

After all, this is a guy I used to see watching the sunset on off of the Washington Blvd Pier when I lived in Venice which was the most punk thing ever. And judging by the seething reviews, it is amusing he is still pissing people off nearly fifty years after the Sex Pistols neverminded us with the bollocks.

Having said that, and regardless of whether one thinks of the lyrics, End of the World is a surprisingly good album and the first in eight years. It sometimes veers on fantastic. “End of The World,” is a stand out track. “Being Stupid Again,” is an industrial dance vibe and is designed to piss off a lot of people. “Strange,” on the other hand, is quite brooding.

“Dirty Murky Delight,” mixes it up with some funk, and “The Do That” seems like a word exercise. When taken together these tracks could either be the start of a weird musical or an Adam Ant collaboration. Or both.

“LFCF” is a (Liars, fakes, cheats, frauds) continues the righteous anger with a shake-your-ass groove.

The only song that didn’t hold my interest was“Down on the clown.” It just sort of plodded along.

But “Hawaii,” the tribute to his dear departed Nora and their beautiful love story is still as moving as the first day I heard it and a fitting end to the album “All journeys end. Some begin again.” It takes even more meaning now with the wildfires devastating Maui.

So the verdict for me at least is that this album is worth the listen not just because it’s good but because it will provoke people which is what the best art always does. When is the last time a musician has done that?