| Buy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1979 | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 30:08 39:47(Bonus tracks) | |||
| Label | ZE | |||
| Producer | James Chance | |||
| Contortions chronology | ||||
| ||||
Buy is the debut studio album by Americanno wave bandContortions. It was released in 1979 throughZE Records following the band's inclusion on the 1978 compilationNo New York.
Fashion designer and band managerAnya Phillips photographedTerence Sellers wearing an outfit designed by Phillips for the album's cover artwork.[4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| DownBeat | [5] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[6] |
| Mojo |  [7] |
| Record Collector | [3] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[8] |
| Uncut | 8/10[9] |
| The Village Voice | B+[10] |
ForThe Village Voice, criticRobert Christgau stated that "in theoryJames 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 (deliberately) stunted it needs a voice for sonic muscle, and James's lyrics do have a certain petty honesty and jerk-off humor."[10]
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."[11] Dean McFarlane ofAllMusic stated that Chance "never quite topped the warped distillation ofpunk,funk, andfree jazz presented here, makingBuy a pivotal recording of the New Yorkpost-punk era."[2]
All tracks are written byJames Chance
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Design to Kill" | 2:48 |
| 2. | "My Infatuation" | 2:21 |
| 3. | "I Don't Want to Be Happy" | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Anesthetic" | 3:54 |
| 5. | "Contort Yourself" | 4:25 |
| 6. | "Throw Me Away" | 2:45 |
| 7. | "Roving Eye" | 3:10 |
| 8. | "Twice Removed" | 3:05 |
| 9. | "Bedroom Athlete" | 4:17 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Throw Me Away" (Live) | 3:04 | |
| 11. | "Twice Removed" (Live) | 3:12 | |
| 12. | "Jailhouse Rock" (Live) | Jerry Leiber,Mike Stoller | 3:23 |
