The UK in the late 1970s was a drastically different place than in earlier postwar times. The country had moved from the swinging sixties into something far more inappropriate and nasty. The Winter Of Discontent was just around the corner. People no longer expected to be civil in public matters and anarchy was rife. The UK was in a domestic situation of paralysis. The British Labour Party in power was at the behest of the Union movement and this prompted their downfall. What hope was there left for young people at the time? There was very little, which created a musical void amongst the imported Disco Music of the time. Along came the Sex Pistols, who apart from their interesting name as a band featured Johnny Rotten (vocals), Glen Matlock (bass guitar), Steve Jones (electric guitar) and Paul Cook (drums). Infamously, Glen Matlock was purged out of the group for Sid Vicious, who could not play bass guitar at all. An odd situation nonetheless. Still, the Sex Pistols made their landmark release, this album, which was released in late 1977 and that changed music forever. Let’s take a retrospective listen to this album and hear what it sounds like.

Holidays In The Sun begins with a goose-stepping intro and launches into action with heavy Gibson Les Pauls. Drumrolls enter, and this awesome tune begins into action. Johnny Rotten kicks into action about taking a cheap holiday in other people’s miserable countries. It actually addresses the divide between Western democracies and Eastern Communism that divided Europe at the time. Nonetheless, this is powerful, direct and fantastic to hear. The whole band play with an undeniable energy and fury to impress the listener at hand. Excellent musically, and twisted lyrically. This was inspired by real-life events where the Sex Pistols actually went to the Berlin Wall, and peeked over the other side of it. The guitar solo present is really brilliant as well. The music here is simple, quick and punchy, showcasing a new style of music that hadn’t really been attempted to that point. A fantastic song with a memorable guitar riff throughout. Great to hear, even today.

Bodies was inspired by a real-life encounter that Johnny Rotten had with a stalker. It begins with an interesting guitar riff that is unique and has pounding drums and an awesome attitude. This sounds very fantastic as well and is also very hilarious. Very different and weird lyrically, this is matched by some of the most powerfully moving music you will ever hear. Again, this is a great song to listen to and the depiction of bodies and pro/anti-abortion stance will get you thinking. Nonetheless, this is really musically legendary and fantastic throughout. There are many uses of the “f” word throughout, and Johnny Rotten proves himself to be a brilliant and unlikely singer present. His vocal delivery is unique, being a so-called “anti” singer. All in all, another killer tune. Hilarious, too.

No Feelings begins with another good guitar riff and launches into a song that is again, fantastic. This is an ironic song about having no feelings or compassion for someone that you dislike. Brilliant, it points out the abrasive nature of human beings at hand. Some of the lyrics present are very brutal, but not designed to be taken seriously at all. A short, sharp and excellent song that is again, unforgettable. The guitar solo is gritty, loud and powerful throughout. Great to hear, this sounds euphoric and fantastic throughout. With references to fools who go out nightclubbing after moonlight and other weird circumstances, Johnny Rotten in particular proves himself to be something of a character here. A great song.

Liar makes perfect sense if you are an honest person. It begins with aggressive guitar riffs and launches into a song with lyrics against liars out there. This can apply to anyone out there who is a compulsive liar and is a great song to play or recite to them if you despise them. A fantastic listening experience that never gets old, Johnny Rotten articulates the anger and abrasion of not just Punk Music, but those who he dislikes as dishonest. Plenty of liars are in the world, and he easily points this out as a singer. The music here matches the lyrics as well, and many notable lyrics are present in this song. A great listen, just before Margaret Thatcher was elected as UK Prime Minister. Fantastic listening.

God Save The Queen itself is a parody song, railing against Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family in general. It is totally awesome from the start, and Johnny Rotten puts in 100% over a great song constructed by the Sex Pistols. It coincided with the Silver Jubilee celebrations back in 1977, which caused a great deal of chaos on a little island. Pointing out the stupidity and hypocrisy of the Royal Family, deeming them Fascists, Johnny Rotten cries, “No future for you!” over a loud and powerful Rock backing. The guitar solos present are brilliantly fantastic, and this song deserves respect from those who hate authority. The chanting at the end is excellent and proves that in 1977, the UK’s 1960s swinging dream was well and truly dead. A great song, period. Worth listening to alone from this album.

Problems is up next, beginning with more chaotic guitar riffs and drumming. This is sarcasm central, and Johnny Rotten is not afraid to reveal this song to be so. It was a statement of honesty and irony that was not supposed to be taken seriously. Given the fact that the Sex Pistols were public enemy #1 at the time, this is gold to listen to. A call to arms for those listening at the time, this is absolutely excellent and brilliant simultaneously. Catchy enough to mosh along to, but intellectual enough not to be taken seriously, this is mint. A furious guitar solo is present here, and it does sound legendary. A great, great song from start to finish. Every second is chaos here, and the music is super cool throughout. Great music to hear, and although the band power through this song, Johnny Rotten is clearly the intellectual star here of the Sex Pistols. A great album to listen to and this song is another gem by the group. One only ever has themselves to blame for their own problems, and this song cleverly points that out. This ends with interesting music and Johnny Rotten singing like a police siren. Sweet.

Seventeen begins with drums and loud and interesting guitar work. It sounds punchy and powerful. This is a weaker moment on this album, but it still sounds extraordinarily fantastic throughout. This is abrasive and loud sarcasm throughout, and Johnny Rotten depicts the lifestyle that the Sex Pistols had. “I’m a lazy sod!” is the anti-chorus here, and it sure sounds really brilliant. A great listen nonetheless, this is two minutes of fury. With a nasty reference to Sid Vicious in the second chorus as well, this is a fantastic song. Great and bitter. It ends with some interesting guitar feedback.

Anarchy In The UK is the anthem of 1977, which kickstarted the notoriety of the Sex Pistols. It sounds awesome, hilarious and straightforward. Johnny Rotten does not hold back here, and he sounds powerful and intriguingly intelligent in his bitterness. Nonetheless, if you have to pick a single track from this album, this is the one. Loud, powerful and anarchic, this has some brilliant guitar solos and work from Steve Jones throughout. A really cool tune, these guys clearly had no respect for authority (real or fake) and they delivered a powerful musical statement right here. A great tune to listen to, this showcases the late 1970s UK as a basketcase society that needed a kick in the nads. Excellent, wonderful and brilliant to listen to, even today. This album changed music forever, whether people liked it or not. An anthem for youth forever, great to listen to.

Submission was designed to be a tongue-in-cheek attack at the band’s megalomaniac manager Malcolm McLaren. It begins with sustained guitar chords and launches into an interesting song with a touch of morse code. Brilliant from the go, this is irony and sarcasm central, once again but it is ridiculously good musically. Johnny Rotten’s anti-singing is in full force here, and the whole song is very nasty indeed. This is the sort of music that Coldplay would hate. It is better in many respects to their melancholy musings. A really honest, brutal and above all, human song, this showcases a side to Pop/Rock culture that had been held back for so long. The solo section has some weird vocal sounds, before launching straight back into the verses. A fantastic and aggressive listen that directly impacts the listener at hand, this is revolutionary in a musical sense. “I’ve gotta solve your mystery, you’re sitting around, having no fun!” is sung here. A legendary song indeed, even though it was never paid much attention to at the time. A bit lengthy, but that is okay. Johnny Rotten delivers a punch in the face where needed. Brilliant.

Pretty Vacant begins with some very simple palm-muted riffing by guitarist Steve Jones, just before Paul Cook enters on drums. This eventually launches into another great song about being lazy and inattentive at work. Hence, Pretty Vacant. This is a take on the lazy workers in the Union-led industries at the time who were notably unproductive and stupid at the time. Musically, this is really awesome listening and it is very memorable. Notably, it was released as a single at the time and did no harm to the band’s popularity. A witty, sharp and direct tune to listen to this very day. Very, very cool. It seems that the Sex Pistols lacked pretension in their days as a band, reflecting on the late 1970s UK. It ends with a repeated chorus over loud, noisy Rock Music. Very great to hear, and worth your ears along all the way. Powerful.

New York is likely a mockery of Malcolm McLaren’s previous band that he managed, New York Dolls. There is some rather right-wing imagery here, including racism and homophobia. Still, if you can look past this, this is a really awesome tune to listen to. A great tune to listen to. Irony is everywhere here, and the music matches the lyrics very, very well. An interesting listen throughout which has some golden lyrics, humour and an aggressive attitude. If the UK was in a bad state in 1977, these guys pointed to a better, more realistic future as a country, at least musically. A great listening experience that is undeniably cool. Great to hear, this sounds very powerful. The ironic outro at the end is really cool. Worth hearing.

EMI is a direct middle finger to the record company that attempted to milk the Sex Pistols dry. Fair enough. It sounds awesome, loud and powerful throughout. Sadly, record companies have not changed one bit since the release of this song. The Sex Pistols reveal themselves as better human beings than the corporate slugs in the music industry that destroyed them initially. Musically, this is Heavy Rock and powerful drumming that simply works with nasty vocals. An underrated number from the Sex Pistols, and something that merits listening with open ears. Understandably, no regrets after making this song about the band’s relationship with the powerful record company. Sarcasm galore is present in the middle eight here towards the end. A great song, once again, that merits intense and loud listening. It has a fantastic conclusion, and this monumental album ends here.

This is an album that changed everything in music. It kickstarted a musical revolution that has lasted, in various forms, to this very day. The combination of loud guitars, pounding drums and kicking the proverbial attitude has lasted and inspired many bands to this very day. Therefore, this is an essential listening experience that is a real winner. Should you listen to this album? Yes, everyone should at least once in their lifetime. An absolute classic from start to finish.

Wonderful.

9/10