Datapanik in the Year Zero cover

Datapanik in the Year Zero

Pere Ubu · 1996

350 min · 94 tracks · art rock

A kaleidoscopic blend of avant-garde rock and experimental soundscapes that defy genre boundaries.

Why this album works

'Datapanik in the Year Zero' is significant for its critical reception, often hailed as a bold exploration of sound that pushes the limits of rock music. It received praise from various publications, including a positive review from 'The Wire', which highlighted Ubu's willingness to challenge musical conventions. The album also contributed to the band's influence on subsequent generations of experimental and art rock musicians.
Best for
dynamic journey with varied pacing wave-like emotional fluctuations explorative listening sessions required
Context
When 'Datapanik in the Year Zero' was released in 1996, Pere Ubu was navigating a period of resurgence after their early influential years. This album followed their 1994 release 'Story of My Life', showcasing a return to their experimental roots while integrating modern influences. The band, known for their pioneering role in the art rock movement, continued to evolve their sound amidst a changing music landscape.
Stylistic neighbors
The Velvet Underground· Kate Bush· Lou Reed

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 30 Seconds Over Tokyo Standout 6:23
  • 2 Heart of Darkness Standout 4:46
  • 3 Final Solution Standout 4:59
  • 4 Cloud 149 2:38
  • 5 [untitled] 3:34
  • 6 My Dark Ages 4:01
  • 7 Heaven 3:06
  • 8 Nonalignment Pact 3:19
  • 9 The Modern Dance 3:30
  • 10 Laughing 4:37
  • 11 Street Waves 3:06
  • 12 Chinese Radiation 3:29
  • 13 Life Stinks 1:52
  • 14 Real World 4:01
  • 15 Over My Head 3:49
  • 16 Sentimental Journey 6:08
  • 17 Humor Me 2:45
  • 18 The Book is on the Table 3:56

Disc 2

  • 1 Navvy 2:42
  • 2 On the Surface 2:37
  • 3 Dub Housing 3:42
  • 4 Caligari's Mirror 3:52
  • 5 Thriller! 4:41
  • 6 I, Will Wait 1:47
  • 7 Drinking Wine Spodyody 2:46
  • 8 Ubu Dance Party 4:49
  • 9 Blow Daddy O 3:42
  • 10 Codex 4:58
  • 11 The Fabulous Sequel 3:07
  • 12 49 Guitars & One Girl 2:54
  • 13 A Small Dark Cloud 5:51
  • 14 Small Was Fast 3:33
  • 15 All the Dogs Are Barking 3:03
  • 16 One Less Worry 3:48
  • 17 Make Hay 4:06
  • 18 Goodbye 5:21
  • 19 Voice of the Sand 1:28
  • 20 Kingdom Come 3:14

Disc 3

  • 1 Go 3:37
  • 2 Rhapsody in Pink 3:36
  • 3 Arabia 5:04
  • 4 Young Miles in the Basement 4:20
  • 5 Misery Goats 2:40
  • 6 Loop 3:17
  • 7 Rounder 3:24
  • 8 Birdies 2:30
  • 9 Lost in Art 5:16
  • 10 Horses 2:37
  • 11 Crush This Horn 3:02
  • 12 The Long Walk Home 2:37
  • 13 Petrified 2:19
  • 14 Stormy Weather 3:20
  • 15 West Side Story 2:51
  • 16 Thoughts That Go by Steam 3:50
  • 17 Big Ed's Used Farms 2:24
  • 18 A Day Such as This 7:22
  • 19 The Vulgar Boatman Bird 2:51
  • 20 My Hat 1:22
  • 21 Horns Are a Dilemma 4:20

Disc 4

  • 1 Vocal Liner Notes 0:56
  • 2 Theatre 140, 5-5-78 0:07
  • 3 Real World 4:33
  • 4 Laughing 5:16
  • 5 Street Waves 4:34
  • 6 Humor Me 2:58
  • 7 Over My Head 5:10
  • 8 Sentimental Journey 8:49
  • 9 Life Stinks 3:14
  • 10 My Dark Ages 5:30
  • 11 C. Teatro Medica, 3-3-81 0:12
  • 12 The Modern Dance 3:41
  • 13 Codex 3:24
  • 14 Ubu Dance Party 3:58
  • 15 Big Ed's Used Farms 3:28
  • 16 Real World 2:47
  • 17 Birdies 2:12

Disc 5

  • 1 The Incredible Truth 2:34
  • 2 It's in Imagination 4:43
  • 3 Never Again 2:20
  • 4 Sunset in the Antipodes 2:26
  • 5 (Please) Fix My Horn (My Brakes Don't Work) 3:24
  • 6 Baking Bread 2:13
  • 7 Atom Mind 2:29
  • 8 Autumn Leaves 4:17
  • 9 Dear Richard 5:55
  • 10 You're Gonna Watch Me 1:40
  • 11 Amphetamine 5:32
  • 12 She Smiled Wild 3:57
  • 13 Jaguar Ride 1:46
  • 14 Steve Canyon Blues 4:16
  • 15 Home Life 6:43
  • 16 30 Seconds Over Tokyo Standout 7:00
  • 17 Heart of Darkness Standout 8:46
  • 18 Pushin Too Hard 3:53

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata