I vote for The Pop Group. The first side of Y is better than anything any of the other bands put out. The second side sags a bit, yeah, but how are you going to follow up "We are time," one of the most intense songs ever written? "Savage Sea" does as good a job as anything could. And "Boys From Brazil" is as strong as anything [edit: on the first side. Though maybe it is actually as strong as anything].

I don't care for John Lydon's vocals at all. He sounds timid. Mark Stewart is far better, and he's also a better and funnier lyricist.

I'd vote Gang of Four second. I did not expect that these two would be in last place, but apparently we have a lot of PiL fans and Fall fans.

This one's too hard. I'm gonna go with The Slits, just for fun.

I changed my mind.

Babyshambles

Peripatetic wrote:I changed my mind.

Babyshambles

You cunt!

Killing Joke

Peripatetic wrote:I changed my mind.

Babyshambles

next time I see you I am putting somthing in your drink...

Among the choice here, Wire.

Actual preference - Orange Juice, for You Can't Hide Your Love Forever. Or The Slits.

Get dog costumes wrote:I vote for The Pop Group. The first side of Y is better than anything any of the other bands put out. The second side sags a bit, yeah, but how are you going to follow up "We are time," one of the most intense songs ever written? "Savage Sea" does as good a job as anything could. And "Boys From Brazil" is as strong as anything [edit: on the first side. Though maybe it is actually as strong as anything].

I don't care for John Lydon's vocals at all. He sounds timid. Mark Stewart is far better, and he's also a better and funnier lyricist.

I'd vote Gang of Four second. I did not expect that these two would be in last place, but apparently we have a lot of PiL fans and Fall fans.

I don't get how you could call Lydon timid on Metal Box - "Swan Lake," "Careering" and "Chant" should be enough to convince anyone. I would also call Mark Stewart's vocals and lyrics somewhat of an acquired taste.

"Savage Sea" and "The Boys From Brazil" are the certain highlights of the second side. Both those tracks are as great as anything on the first side. But "Don't Sell Your Dreams" is nearly seven minutes of insufferably pretentious trash, and "Words Disobey Me" (feels thrown together) and "Don't Call Me Pain" (dorky sax riff) are annoying, draggy and pretentious. Nope. I can't give it to The Pop Group, no matter how much fiery brilliance is contained on the first side. A slump is a slump.

the more I consider, the harder this becomes.

I have a strong attachment to Joy Division - teen angst ahoy.

However, the Fall are their own damn genre at their best, and I'd claim their best work is from the 'post-punk era' if I'm allowed to make that distinction, so I'll go with them.

However, The Birthday Party blow all away, and if I had my way I'd put The Scientists in there as well.

And the Primitive Calculators.

How about someone trying to explain why we have to give quantitative values to artists' work? Each of these bands is significant in its own unique way.

The desire to quantify bands is lazy and intellectually bankrupt.