New man

Legendary status aside, I've always thought Wire were at their best when they balanced out their post-punk stone-facedness with a healthy helping of pouty English posturing. Frontman Colin Newman's solo debut is pretty much an extension of the band's aesthetic, albeit with some surprisingly Cure-esque turns like this. Is that an accordion I'm noticing in the outro?

Colin Newman - Alone

Coiled

Who needs drums! Aided by their fabulously toy-like drum machine, Young Marble Giants fashioned the basic rock essentials and tied it together with the taut wire of understatement. There's so much fury just waiting to escape those muted 8th notes and library vocals, and the band smartly kept it below the surface, forcing us listeners to supply the mental catharsis and aftermath our damn selves.

Young Marble Giants - Music For Evenings