Sex Pistols - "Pretty Vacant" (1977)

In amongst the explosive statements of anarchy and royal-bashing on a lot of the Sex Pistols’ work, “Pretty Vacant” is a lot less controversial yet has to be considered among the group’s finest work.

This might be one of the songs which most contributed to the Pistols’ later reputation as pub-rock, but it’s simply excellent; an apathetic anthem with a stonking riff (supposedly inspired by Abba). Johnny Rotten’s snarling delivery has an almost poetic way of putting life into his words, making his singing and compelling and “vacant” sound funny, at a time when profanity was highly frowned upon. As usual for Rotten, in amongst the rage and attitude is the odd bit of something really insightful (“I don't believe illusions ‘cos too much is real”).

Then there’s the B-side, an absolutely belter of a cover of The Stooges’ “No Fun”. Recorded without any rehearsal during some demo sessions, this adds even more coarseness to the brutalisation of the original, adding completely new angers of angst and chaos - one of the most breathless, brilliant covers ever. It’s also a great demonstration of what punk was achieving in ripping up what came before it, then mutating it into a manifestation of all the disquiet bubbling inside the musicians of the time.