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''That What Is Not'' is the eighth studio album by
Public Image Ltd
Public Image Ltd (abbreviated and stylized as PiL) are an English post-punk band formed by lead vocalist John Lydon (previously, as Johnny Rotten, lead vocalist of the Sex Pistols), guitarist Keith Levene (a founding member of the Clash), bassi ...
, released on 10 February 1992 in the US, and on 24 February 1992 in the UK. It was the band's final album before a 20-year hiatus, and the final recordings with longtime members Allan Dias (bass) and
John McGeoch (lead guitar).
Critical reception
The ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' wrote that Lydon "has been able to stay somewhat current by rocking persuasively and directing his still considerable bile toward such germane targets as censors and militarists." ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' wrote that the album "showcases PIL’s brutal version of modern dance rock, an angry sound that pummels rather than lulls."
''
Trouser Press
''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who, Dave Schulps, and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...
'' wrote that the songs "display either a loss of conviction, an absence of inspiration or a grave lack of effort."
Track listing
All tracks written by PiL
Personnel
;Public Image Limited
*
John Lydon
John Joseph Lydon ( ; born 31 January 1956), also known by his former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a British-born singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. He was the lead vocalist of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols, which was ...
– lead vocals (uncredited on actual album packaging)
*
John McGeoch – lead guitar
*Gregg "J.P." Arreguin – rhythm guitar
*Allan Dias – bass, backing vocals, keyboards
*
Curt "Kirkee B." Bisquera – drums, percussion
with:
*
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. The band has had a number of lead vocalists, the best-known being Lenny Williams, who fronted ...
– horns on "Covered" and "Good Things"
*Jimmie Wood – harmonica on "Covered", "Love Hope" and "Good Things"
*
Bonnie Sheridan – background vocals on "Good Things"
Track by track commentary by band members
"Acid Drops":
*John Lydon (1992): "
he song is aboutcensorship – that particularly relates to America, because there's a lot of vested interest groups, like all these religious fanatics. They're saying the human body, and everything connected with it, is dirty – that's wrong. I don't believe in censorship of any kind".''
[Ralph Heibutzki: ''"15 Years Later Lydon's Still Howling"'' ('' South Haven Daily Tribune'', 10 April 1992)] ''"Well,
sing a Sex Pistols sample for the song">Sex_Pistols.html" ;"title="sing a Sex Pistols">sing a Sex Pistols sample for the songstarted off as a joke. Dave Jerden">The producer
"The Producer" is the fourth episode of the third season of '' Gilligan's Island'', in which the castaways stage a musical version of ''Hamlet''. It first aired in on October 3, 1966.
Synopsis
After curmudgeonly film producer Harold Hecuba ( Ph ...
threw it in one night for a laugh. I didn't find it too funny at first! But now I think it's perfect for the song. Oh, why not? I can't take myself too seriously". "I'd recommend him to anyone – he's the best producer I've ever worked with. He's a rarity, in that he speaks his mind. He doesn't do things for fashionable reasons".
"Luck's Up":
*John Lydon (1999): “'Luck's Up' is about the hopelessness of junkies and druggies".
[John Lydon liner notes (Public Image Ltd.: ''"Plastic Box"'' compilation, Virgin Records, 1999)]
"Think Tank":
*John Lydon (1992/99): “'Think Tank' is me having a go back at all the people who all the time rewrite and misrepresent the events of my past, usually middle-class journalists who were never there at the time".
"Yes,
Think Tank' is about rewritingmy history, in particular. I know
Jon very well – I just don't like the slant of his book with that upper-class attitude of those who know everything, while us working-class bums know nothing".
Related tracks
"Criminal":
*John Lydon (1990/99): "A whole bunch of new stuff which will be recorded in January, February, March
991
Year 991 (Roman numerals, CMXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.
Events
* March 1: In Rouen, Pope John XV ratifies the first Peace and Truce of God, Truce of God, between Æthelred the Unready and Richard I o ...
– that way, and I think in England. I couldn't tell you who the producer is at the moment, because me and my record company are squabbling! Yes, folks, I do love to drag my dirty laundry out in public!” “'Criminal' was for the soundtrack for the movie ''
Point Break
''Point Break'' is a 1991 American action film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by W. Peter Iliff. It stars Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty and Gary Busey. The film's title refers to the surfing term " point break", where a ...
''.”
*Allan Dias (2004): "It was written specifically for the movie. I think initially it was one of
John McGeoch's songs, or a sketch that he had, it was based on that. We went into the studio with a producer specifically to do that track, it was a one-off thing, it wasn't an outtake or anything. As I recall we were approached by someone from the movie, but I think we were in the middle of recording an album or something, possibly working on
'9', and by the time we got the track done and put it to them it was too late to be considered for the title track. But they put it on there regardless".
[Scott Murphy: ''"Allan Dias Interview"'' (''Fodderstompf.com'' website, May 2004)]
Charts
References
{{Authority control
1992 albums
Public Image Ltd albums
Albums produced by Dave Jerden
Virgin Records albums