Buzzcocks- The Way (ALBUM REVIEW)

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buzzcockslpThe power-pop, punk icons the Buzzcocks are back with their first album in over eight years titled The Way, showing that the band still possess the talent which saw them churn out some of the catchiest 70’s punk tunes.

The two original members Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle split the songwriting, guitar playing and singing duties throughout The Way as the duo record for the first time with the rhythm section of Chris Remmington (bass) and Danny Farrant (drums). Funded through PledgeMusic the band went right to the fans for this one, a bit of a surprise for a classic group with as long of a history as the Buzzcocks but the end result should please diehards; although if you are new to the band you should stop reading this and immediately grab the all-time classic Singles Going Steady.

For The Way the bands original style is present, if muted by age. “Keep On Believing” kicks things off on Shelley’s classic Buzzcock nasal tip if the production swirls towards a more distorted/underwater sound then the crisp past studio efforts. The back and forth between vocalists starts immediately with Diggle’s “People Are Strange Machines” next, supported by oh-oh backing vocals but ends on a dull note. A better Diggle effort is the rawer pound of “Third Dimension” that fades out with a spacey six string work hinting at expansive soloing in the live setting. His “Chasing Windows/Modern Times” on the other hand sounds like a Ramones knock off rather than something from the Buzzcocks but it still is a fun listen.

Shelley focuses more on the groups classic whining, riff heavy, pop/punk sound with “Out of the Blue” and “It’s Not You” but more interesting is his take on social media with “Virtually Real” that has a menacing undercurrent of musical darkness that stands out as unique. The group can’t be expected to match their early career highlights but a collection like The Way will lend itself to the live shows the Buzzcocks still rock with ease and confidence.

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