Album of the Day

Among the most distinctive bands to emerge from the U.K. punk scene, Wire was revolutionary less in their political stance than in their music, paring songs down to their barest essence. This minimalist approach gave the 21 cuts on PINK FLAG a brevity recalling the Ramones - and an art-school experimentalism that sounded like nobody else. Even to the far left of the dial, you were unlikely to hear “12 X U,” “Mannequin” or the title track on the radio, but groups like R.E.M., The Minutemen and Elastica were avid listeners and helped spread the gospel of Wire, whose 1977 debut is today hailed as an alternative rock landmark. Band guitarist Bruce Gilbert was born on this day in 1946, and we'll wave the PINK FLAG to celebrate his birthday.