7a. Public Image Limited, 'First Issue'

Some unfocused lyrics on Lydon's part (cf. "Religion I" and "Religion II"), but that's always been his Achilles' heel. That having been said, by and large this album is a template, alongside Joy Division/New Order and Gang of Four, for so much of the new wave of DOR we're getting hit with right now. And First Issue's better than damned near any of the young bucks; this is how it's done. And "Public Image" is still one of the greatest singles of all time. A-