A great album that really uses a lot of sounds that would go on to describe a large swath of alternative rock and indie rock bands for the next few decades. A real precursor to much of the garage rock bands of the late '90s and early 2000s. Really great punk rock sound that pushes the punk borders into new territory with goofy, mocking lyrics ("I love a man in a uniform," sung in a silly, swoony, almost disco-y way). Every time a song from this album would come on shuffle, I had to stop and check out what it was. Really awesome stuff.
One thing I really like about the band is how they embrace a lot of different styles or concepts not necessarily native to punk (funk, blues, dub, minimalism) and apply them to a very specific form of punk rock. They can get abrasive, but never hardcore, usually sticking to more dancy, yet biting abstract-pop-punk riffs. They love using female back-up singers which adds both idiomatic stylistic flavor and ironic juxtaposition with their lyrics and underlying punk sounds.
download: Gang of Four - 1982 - Songs of the Free.zip
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