Repackaged disco keeps my interest

I've just been listening to Entertainment!. The '80s generated a lot of pure shite pop, but when they were on form there were few decades that could compete with them. And with Gang of Four, they were on form indeed.

Oh, there's a lot of criticism one can level at the Gang. I enjoy their undergraduate Marxism in a spirit of postmodern irony, but I'm not certain they were being altogether ironic about it. And the lyrics to Ether--really, there are few things more tiresome than the Irish republicanism of Englishmen. But put all that to one side and consider Damaged Goods:

I can't work,
I can't achieve;
Send me back.
Open the till;
give me the change
you said would do me good.

And I can forgive a lot for a supple, assured bass line.

The only question that remains for me is, why did Gang of Four, after their first LP, begin so suddenly to suck so badly?