Buy (album)


Buy is the debut studio album by American no wave band Contortions. It was released in 1979 through ZE Records following the band's inclusion on the 1978 compilation No New York.

Critical reception

For The Village Voice, critic Robert Christgau stated that "in theory James White's music is better without the words: you get the jagged rhythms and tonic off-harmonies without being distracted by his 'ideas,’” but added that “in fact the music is so stunted it needs a voice for sonic muscle, and James's lyrics do have a certain petty honesty and jerk-off humor."
All About Jazz critic Trevor MacLaren wrote that "through the anger and aggression Chance made a solid record that had a sound like nothing before or since," describing the album as "a great disc that sounds as original and cutting edge as when it was released." Dean McFarlane of AllMusic stated: "His hybrid of free jazz sax blowing and agitated funk takes the contortions up a notch from the four tracks the band contributed to the Eno-produced No New York compilation."

Track listing

Personnel