Wire are distinctive, unique, and utterly original. I've heard very, very few other artists in my life that are so willing to progess and experiment. With Wire, the MUSIC is the only thing that matters, and it's absolutetly wonderful to know that you can listen to every succesive album and actually discover something knew and different and enjoyable with each one. That's true of all their album's (70's-90's), but no more so than with their first three (not so arguably their best). I've often been puzzled as to why Wire fans are always arguing and disagreeing about which of Wire's first three album's ("Pink Flag", "Chairs Missing", "154") is the best. Sure, we all have our personal favorites (mine is "154"), but can't we all just agree that each one is, simply put, a Masterpiece? Look, here's the deal. For all you unfulfilled souls out there who have yet to hear Wire, then start with this album. It's an excellent sampler of their first three albums and shows the band at their peak. Once you come to worship it (and you will), then pass it on to someone you love and proceed directly to your nearest music store and purchase the first three.

As far as unique bands are concerned no one can beat Wire for sheer originality and strange career moves.After recording three of the most seminal albums in rock history in successive years they split up to reunite in the mid 80's reportedly because they were tired of watching crap acts swallow the punk driven integrity.And then started doing weird and highly original pop music that occasionaly brought back their past raw aggression.

"On Returning" is the best gateway to Wire,if not "Pink Flag" and "Chairs Missing",and showcases their progression from a minimalism akin to the Ramones or the Misfits in their first album to the post punk ahead of its time of "Chairs Missing" finishing with the dark excesses of"154".

What always shines through are the ideas,each song is a concept developed in the required time-there's the simple statement of"Three Girl Rhumba",the punk anthem that is "Ex Lion Tamer",the slant of "Reuters",the dark singalong of "I am the Fly",the whimsicality of "I feel Mysterious Today",the sweet pop tune of "Outdoor Miner" or the straight ahead post punk of "I should have known better".

If one word could describe Wire it would be inventive.

Although the 3 original albums are better, the video from this period is INDISPENSIBLE! I'm speaking, of course, of their Rockpalast show from 8/14/79, which still looks as fresh today as it must have when it was first broadcast. And it's SO GREAT to put a face to those voices and see those songs done live!