From the album, Black Sea

Saw them perform this on TV (US) when I was a little kid, and it freaked me out. Praying to aliens seemed way out of bounds.

Just one man's opinion, but the John Foxx-led Ultravox was better than the Midge Ure-led one.

From the Spanish Revolution single.

I've heard a dozen Pere Ubu tracks on compilations—mostly the early classics. I really like the sense of doom and pressure in "Heart of Darkness," but I have a very very hard time getting past the tight atonal croon of David Thomas. By all accounts, however, there's something special and important about what they do. And I'd like to make one more real effort to appreciate it.

To those familiar with their full discography, where could I go to find something more subdued or tuneful, or somethings with an intensity that puts Thomas's hysteria in a better light? I ask in good faith.

(While I'm at it, I have nearly the exact same problem enjoying The Fall and Mark E. Smith.)

From the Chronic Town EP (1981)

This is a genius-level cover of their own song.

Not the "best female post-punk" list version. The actual pocket: Jayne Casey after Pink Military, Liverpool, cold wave that never got warm.

Low to the Zero (1983) is the one that sticks for me. Vocals sit a little ahead of the rhythm, bass does half the emotional work, and the whole thing feels unfinished in a way that reads intentional rather than broken. Less anthem, more empty corridor.

Curious who else lands here versus who bounced off it for being too sparse. What's the track that converted you, if any?

From his masterpiece "Dreams of reason produce monsters" (1987), here Mick Karn doesn't play bass but instead keyboards and all kinds of wind instruments. Percussionist is former Japan bandmate Steve Jansen.

another favorite <3

From the "Songs of Love and Fury" album. One of my favorites from that period. John Robb is an amazingly nice guy too.

A radio-only B-side that was unavailable to the great unwashed for years. It was easily found on illegal file sharing sites, but the quality of the files was always kinda sketchy. So glad it's widely available now. It's a great cover of the Patti Smith original.

From "Waiting For A Miracle"

This is their self-released 1980 debut single.

From their debut