• Record Label: Pinkflag
  • Release Date: Jun 25, 2002
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Negative: 1 out of 6

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  1. PaulK.
    Aug 8, 2002
    10
    Wire's coldly distainful wit has allowed them to carry their bite into the '00s. These guys will forever kick anyone's ass.
  2. AlanK.
    Aug 16, 2002
    6
    Not truly awful, inspite of the praise others have heaped, Read & Burn sound standard, formulaic hard rock. Sure, it's energetic and sometimes compelling, but everything here's been done better by other artists. There are hooks, but there mostly formulaic. I've listened to it several times, it doesn't stick. This is the first time Wire has ever sound generic, and in a Not truly awful, inspite of the praise others have heaped, Read & Burn sound standard, formulaic hard rock. Sure, it's energetic and sometimes compelling, but everything here's been done better by other artists. There are hooks, but there mostly formulaic. I've listened to it several times, it doesn't stick. This is the first time Wire has ever sound generic, and in a way that's worse than a failed experiment: Taking a chance and failing (as Wire often did in the 80s) is more respectable than unambitious mediocrity (ie Read & Burn). Collapse
  3. ChemicalScum
    Apr 28, 2005
    10
    I have been bored lately nothing seemed to quite set me on fire untill I heard Read and Burn 01. Warning his music is dangerous to drive on - you will speed and try to carve up every other vehicle on the road. The ultimate kick ass noise rock - Old punks just get better and better.

Awards & Rankings

Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. This short EP clearly isn't up to the muster of classic 70s Wire.
  2. Read & Burn is still Wire, and without even retreading the past.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    It's a still-thrilling combo, even if these new songs lack the tuneful pop smarts that made Pink Flag tracks like "Field Day for the Sundays" classics. [Review of EPs 01 and 02, 21 Oct 2002]