Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols

Alright, so, Sex Pistols was probably the most controversial band- a punk band. While the punk movement did begin with Iggy Pop, I'd say the Pistols propelled it. The Sex Pistols was a political statement, an outcry against societal injustices, the elitists ruling the poor and changing the status quo. It's literally bottled anger in a musical form.

With Johnny Rotten's sneering threats, Steve Jone's musical backing with his thick explosive riffs (he also handled the base after Glen left/ was forced to leave) and Paul Cooke's pounding of the drums, the album "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols" is a sneering, snarling, aggressive, raw and vicious masterpiece which expresses pure rage and represented an anarchist threat to the classist society (specifically England, but I believe it can be taken to other societies too). It brilliantly captures punk rock’s revolutionary political ethos.

Okay, so onto the songs I love. The very first one I want to pull up is "Bodies". Considering what's happening in the States, I'm not sure if this is the right time to talk about the song, but here I go. Also, before I begin, I'm pro-choice.

Now, 'Bodies' is probably the most reviled and lambasted song by critics because of its lyrics. It is supposedly based on a real-life story of a fan who told her story to Lydon, and he created a song out of it. The lyrics mostly come off as pro-life, but if you really look at it, I think, just as Lydon put it: “The song is about abortion, and yes, it is a woman’s right absolutely because she has to bear the child and all the issues thereinafter.” I think it's more about the trauma the poor girl had to endure. It is gut-wrenching, relentless and gruesome. The song shoves the horrific and grotesque brutality the girl was put through and the forced abortion she had to go through. Notice how her choice was always taken away from her the entire time? Yea. That's pathetic. And the world hasn't changed much anyway.

'Holidays in the Sun' starts with the lyric "A cheap holiday in other people's misery!". This one's a splendid opening track that rants about the Berlin Wall, communism, claustrophobia and paranoia. No words can actually describe this track, so you have to listen to it. Believe me, it's worth a listen.

'EMI' is another killer track, trashy and spleen-venting. And yes, it is a direct hit at the EMI label company. EMI dropped the Pistols amidst the controversy they were stirring. This one made me laugh because that was a very bold move, and it's just amusing.

'Anarchy in the UK' and 'God Save the Queen' are the most notable ones that keep popping up. They're pretty good, too, completely churning with their anarchic chaos, especially Anarchy in the UK. It is a sensational killer track, anthemic too- one that could be blasted at deafening volume in the midst of an ensuing furore.

I like the whole album because, firstly, it's a damn fine rock ‘n’ roll album. Secondly, my inner sociology-nerd screams every time I listen and interpret the album. The tracks in the album channel such rage and passion to expose the hypocrisies and the injustices in society. It's a genius album- unsophisticated, uncompromising and raw.

Also, I had just watched FX Pistols, a miniseries biopic of the Sex Pistols. I liked it, they've really captured the era, and I liked everything about it. It is just too slow, though; they did drag on. But nevertheless, worth a watch if you want the songs.