Cyberpunk Songs Ranked
Cyberpunk is the fifth studio album by English rock musician Billy Idol, released on 29 June 1993 by Chrysalis Records. A concept album, it was inspired by his personal interest in technology and his first attempts to use computers in the creation of his music. Idol based the album on the cyberdelic subculture of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Heavily experimental in its style, the album was an attempt to take control of the creative process in the production of his albums, while simultaneously introducing Idol’s fans and other musicians to the opportunities presented by digital media. Released to negative reviews, Cyberpunk polarised internet communities of the time, with detractors viewing it as an act of cooptation and opportunistic commercialisation. It was also seen as part of a process that saw the overuse of the term “cyberpunk” until it lost its original meaning. Alternatively, supporters saw Idol’s efforts as harmless and well-intentioned, and we’re encouraged by his new interest in cyberculture. Here are all of Cyberpunk songs ranked.
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10. Closing Manifesto
“What is this album? One the one hand, it’s an immersive blend of punk and trance, that creates an earthy, belly-deep spasm of gratification. That’s what punk is supposed to do; that’s what trance aspires to, once it gets out of the heady, dry, banal electronica that too often passes for “rave”.”
9. Segue Electronic Presence
“Cyberpunk is definitely my favorite Billy Idol album and every song is very powerful masterpiece, ahead if its time and a dog whistle to those who can accept out of the ordinary and grow as a result. Absolutely brilliant!”
8. Opening Manifesto
“I have most of Billy Idol’s cds, and this by far is my favorite to listen to straight through. The songs on it are some of his most diverse with some of the most thought out and thought provoking lyrics that he has produced. He uses his voice in ways that he seemed to avoid on previous albums.”
See more: Billy Idol Albums Ranked
7. Segue L.A. Riots
” This album is what piqued my interest in electronic music and I eventually went on to become a chart topping drum and bass dj. The album and concept were groundbreaking, the linear story he told with cyberpunk is what taught me how to lay out my dj mixes, so that they took you on a journey.”
6. Venus
“One track in particular, “One Touch of Venus,” is very stimulating. It was my favorite track from the beginning, and I dearly loved it… However, when I played the song for my best friend, she misheard the song’s lyrics.”
5. Concrete Kingdom
“The best thing about all this historical context is that none of it matters, except in understanding what Cyberpunk is about. Regardless of what critics think: Billy Idol’s experiment works in many ways. “
4. Tomorrow People
” I think this album encapsulates things rather nicely. It’s easy for people who are not Billy Idol fans to think this album came “out of nowhere.” Not so if you realize that Billy was always a science fiction fan (his love of Star Trek is well-known from interviews from at the earliest the early eighties).”
3. Neuromancer
“Although Cyberpunk appears to include a full band of Mark Younger-Smith and other band-members of that time, it seems to include a lot of programming and new production techniques. Again Billy was trying out new things in true punk spirit.”
2. Segue Injection
“Is it a departure from his previous albums? Yes. Is it, in typical Billy Idol form, a little bit cliched? Yeah. But it is also groundbreaking and outstanding at what it does, and it may be my favorite Idol album, which is saying something, because I love them all. It’s well written… in many ways, ahead of its time, espousing the themes of a Matrix world well before 95% of Americans even had email. “
1. Power Junkie
“Clearly this album isn’t for everyone, and I do think some of the spoken bits are a bit silly and unnecccessary, though I love his speaking voice too. (I personally would love to see a book on tape read by him. Mmm…) It isn’t your standard dance/hardcore bouncing music that he is well known for. And he doesn’t perform any of these songs live anymore, I wish he did.”
