Buzzcocks: Classic or Dud

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I really do think that A Different Kind of Tension is *the best album ever*. Has it ever come out on CD apart from in the Product box?

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 17 August 2004 11:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 17 August 2004 11:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Unfortunately it's only available as an import but if you look around you'll probably be able to find it cheaper than that.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 17 August 2004 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't really want it - my vinyl is fine. I just wondered.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 17 August 2004 11:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Did anyone buy the boxset of singles? All the early 7"s and EPs on a CD apiece with the original sleever art. Way overpriced and useless, but kind of cool looking.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 17 August 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

No, just all the early singles and EP's on vinyl when they first came out.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 17 August 2004 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I dunno...I got Singles Going Steady and gave up by about track four. Very disappointing for me.

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Tuesday, 17 August 2004 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

seven months pass...

Ouch! Revive!

Interesting piece on them in this Mojo Punk Special. I envy those of you who got to see those TOTP performances, etc.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 10 April 2005 07:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Why is there even a thread about this? Barnstorming classic on every level. Singles Going Steady is non-stop awesome and doesn't even have Boredom on it, which is my favourite of their's.

― Nick H (Nick H), Sunday, 10 April 2005 13:37 (twenty-one years ago)

what's wrong with the descendents?
while descendents may have spawned a slew of hateworthy bands, they themselves make genuine, unpretentious pop in the tradition of buzzcocks.

buzzcocks fans with descendents hate are like
run-dmc fans who hate public enemy. don't hate the playa, hate the game, etc...

― peteshelleygoestocollege, Sunday, 10 April 2005 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Singles Going Steady was quite a bit better upon second listen, but I'm still disappointed. It isn't that the Buzzcocks necessarily fail at anything they attempt; rather, it's that the group doesn't seem very ambitious. But that's punk rock, innit?

Blame it on X-Ray Spex.

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Sunday, 10 April 2005 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

That was the only Buzzcocks record that I ever owned and I was also not so into it. I think "Ever Fallen Love" is a really good song, but beyond that, it seemed to me that there were a lot of songs that were just okay. (It's been a long time, so maybe I'm wrong.)

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 10 April 2005 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Speaking of their unfortunate influence: is it just me, or did the strokes rip their entire style from "Everybody's Happy Nowadays?" Take out the chorus and replace the vocals with Julian Casablancas's bad-cell-phone-connection singing and you get every song on "Is This It."

By the way, Buzzcock's are as classic as it gets. A little maudlin sometimes, but aren't we all.

― Fa Fa fa FA, Fa fa Fa fa FA Fa (poop), Sunday, 10 April 2005 20:05 (twenty-one years ago)

oops. cocks. not cock's. cock cock cock.

― Fa Fa fa FA, Fa fa Fa fa FA Fa (poop), Sunday, 10 April 2005 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Orgasm Addict is pretty neat. I used to think the one part was "Johnny would fuck you always and all ways / He had the energy, you were amazed." Or something like that.

Anyway, I liked my lyrics better. Call Pansy Division. If they haven't already gone to it.

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Monday, 11 April 2005 04:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Is This It has a neat cover. In one nation.

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Monday, 11 April 2005 04:06 (twenty-one years ago)

all this "Singles Going Steady isn't the greatest LP/CD-comp of the '70s"-talk is craziness.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Monday, 11 April 2005 04:31 (twenty-one years ago)

With Devoto: Classic

Another Music in a Different Kitchen / Singles Going Steady: Pretty awesome.

Afterwards, progressively losing the plot.

― Sasha (sgh), Monday, 11 April 2005 07:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I love the "big" singles, though I sometimes feel a little burned out on them after so many years. Never tire of "I Don't Mind" and "Love You More," though. Which says something to me about the group's total aceness during their first run.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 11 April 2005 07:38 (twenty-one years ago)

"I Believe" is so my favorite song ever.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 11 April 2005 14:32 (twenty-one years ago)

"Nostalgia" s my fave Buzzcocks tune, I'd say.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 11 April 2005 16:44 (twenty-one years ago)

six months pass...

Oh man, for some reason I'd just heard a couple of songs, thought they were good, but nowhere in the league of the Clash / Damned / Stiff Little Fingers...on a whim today I bought Singles Going Steady, and it's a revelation. This isn't going to be news for many of you, but it's fantastic. "Harmony in my Head," "Strange Thing," "Autonomy," "Why Can't I touch it?" all genius.

By the time you get to "Airwaves Dream," you're a million miles from "Orgasm" (one of the few songs I knew) - it's positively Joy Divisionish.

― paulhw (paulhw), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:32 (twenty years ago)

Interesting comparison, and indeed the bands toured together and had many similar fave groups and singers and etc. Glad to see revelation is settling in with yer. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:43 (twenty years ago)

Even old and w/ anonymous new rhythm section, still one of my favorite shows I've ever gone to. "I Believe" was fucking incredible.

"Ever Fallen In Love" might be the my favorite single by a first-wave UK punk band.

― A|ex P@reene (Pareene), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:50 (twenty years ago)

this band broke my summer wide open. when i'd play Fast Cars on my computer, the girlfriend would say to me "I'd like to listen to what I'm playing on my computer, but the song on yours is so much better"

― lemin (lemin), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:52 (twenty years ago)

What was she listening to?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

that's what I asked her. if i remember correctly, she said something along the lines of "it doesn't really matter"

― lemin (lemin), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

Killing Joke. Er, wait. *flees*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/wonderland/queen2a.gif

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!!!!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:57 (twenty years ago)

Best listening experience of the Buzzcocks was when I didn't own the records. I'd listen to tracks like ESP at a friends, and try to carry the song in my mind but lose it a day later.

Over-familiarisation with their music ruined the Buzzcocks for me big time.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Thursday, 20 October 2005 22:15 (twenty years ago)

Classic, no question about that. My favourite Buzzcocks tune is "Sixteen Again" maybe.

― zeus (zeus), Thursday, 20 October 2005 22:21 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

Classic obviously. Everyone hails the singles album, which I love, but it has it's flaws. Firstly, my vinyl copy has poor sound quality - too many tracks crammed in? Secondly, it misses out some essentials - the spiral scratch stuff and 'You Say You Don't Love Me' (and if that wasn't ever a single, it damn well should have been).
The 3 original studio albums I find it hard to choose between. Bookending 'Another Music' with the boredom riff was a stroke of genius, and that album has some fine shelley songs like Fast Cars, I Don't Mind, Fiction Romance. The 2 guitars on Autonomy are great, though diggle's singing sucks. Pulsebeat has one of my favourite drumbeats ever.
Love Bites is a patchier affair, despite boasting Ever Fallen in Love and Sixteen Again, which is my favourite BUzzcocks tune. some of the other shelley stuff is below par (though his bar was set very high). Side 2 kicks off with a great instrumental, but is a little too flat and samey. Late for the Train is ok, but a poor cousin to Pulsebeat.
I probably play 'A Different Kind of Tension' the most, despite there being too many Diggle songs on side 1 for my taste. However, the Shelley stuff is so good it more than compensates. The link between Mad Mad Judy and Raison D'etre is one of the finest moments that I own on vinyl. Side 2 goes all conceptual, mostly in a good way (though a little too abstract for my taste on the title track, perhaps - was that song an inspriation to radiohead???), but recovers again with the superb 'I Believe'.
I don't own any later stuff. Is Trade Test Transmission any good?

― dr x o'skeleton, Tuesday, 28 March 2006 09:31 (twenty years ago)

Yes, great songs (Crystal Night, Palm Of Your Hand, Innocent) but production is poor. The recent reissue might be the best bet as the sharper sound may help the muddy production. I say *may* because I haven't heard the reissue.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 09:55 (twenty years ago)

thanx Dr C. Think I'll soulseek these tracks first before investing in TTC

― dr x o'skeleton, Tuesday, 28 March 2006 10:35 (twenty years ago)

Can't think of their imitators who moved me at all

Try the Fastbacks. "The Question Is NO" is their "Singles Going Steady" (and is just as good says me).

― drench, Tuesday, 28 March 2006 14:48 (twenty years ago)

"The aim of existence is to offer resistance to the flow of time."

Get the fuck in, Peter Shelley. What a band.

― Venga (Venga), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 23:26 (twenty years ago)

"I know the meaning of life, it doesn't help me a bit"

Devoto

― dr x o'skeleton, Wednesday, 29 March 2006 12:56 (twenty years ago)

"Never Mind The Buzzcocks"

Right, they've done Jonathan Ross and Simon thingy as guest presenters.

Let's be having Pete Shelley up next you bbc you.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 29 March 2006 13:00 (twenty years ago)

'I know beauty and I know a good thing when I see it.'

We need a new recd from Howard about now I think.

Anyone see the Devoto/Shelley piece in Q's Machester Special? Good Slaughter and The Dogs article too.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 29 March 2006 13:59 (twenty years ago)

No news of anything from Howie I'm afraid, but there is a new Buzzcocks album called Flat Pack Philosophy out now.

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000CQJZ30.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

And rather fine it is too.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 29 March 2006 20:24 (twenty years ago)

"I don't own any later stuff. Is Trade Test Transmission any good?"

It's good - but if you want to buy one post '89 Buzzcocks album I'd recommend 2003's Buzzcocks (for starters).

Quite apart from being probably the best album they've recorded since they reformed, it includes a version of the original Howie-era song "Lester Sands" (previously only available on the Time's Up bootleg) and a more aggressive take on "'Til The Stars In His Eyes Are Dead" (retitled simply "Stars") from the previous year's ShelleyDevoto album Buzzkunst.

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00008IUW4.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 29 March 2006 20:43 (twenty years ago)

Good evening Stew!

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 29 March 2006 21:02 (twenty years ago)

> It's good - but if you want to buy one post '89 Buzzcocks album I'd recommend 2003's Buzzcocks (for starters).

I prefer TTT myself, but 'Buzzcocks' is pretty damned good too. Haven't heard the new one yet - my copy's in the post. Just don't break your neck to find copies of 'All Set' and 'Modern' cos they're decidedly patchy to these ears.

If you want to head the post '89 band in rip-roaring live form, then the two CDs issued by Dojo in 1995 are what you want: 'French', and the mail-order only 'Encore Du Pain'. IIRC they have been reissued as one double CD called 'The complete French sessions' or some such.

― Niall, Wednesday, 29 March 2006 21:23 (twenty years ago)

Or even *hear* them in rip-roaring live form...

― Niall, Wednesday, 29 March 2006 21:24 (twenty years ago)

All Set has one fantastic track - 'Your Love'. It's worth getting it for that.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 30 March 2006 08:47 (twenty years ago)

> All Set has one fantastic track - 'Your Love'. It's worth getting it for that.

There's 'Totally from the heart' and 'Give it to me' too. The rest of it's a bit shonky, though.

Is 'All set' the only out-of-print Buzzcocks album?

― Niall, Thursday, 30 March 2006 15:42 (twenty years ago)

Probably is the only OOP studio one, yes, although as far as I know 'Tension' still hasn't been released on CD in the UK.

Anyway I picked up the rerelease of TTT (there's lots of copies for £3.95 in SellandBuy in Harrow) and I'm pleased to say that it sounds a lot better than the orig. It's still not a great production - the guitars are a bit diffuse at times and the drums are not well recorded - but it's a lot more listenable than before. I guess we're somewhat spoiled by the classic Rushent productions - urgent and poweful, yet lots of space. I don't know Ralph Ruppert, producer of TTT, anyone know what else he's produced? He's German apparently.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 31 March 2006 07:49 (twenty years ago)

Hey guys don't forget that Shelley's solo albums Homosapien and XL1 are finally released on cd on Monday. I wonder if XL1 will do have the computer graphics that were on the original tape release.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 31 March 2006 10:02 (twenty years ago)

They've been out before though - I've got Homo on the Grapevine label, 16 tracks.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 31 March 2006 10:12 (twenty years ago)

> although as far as I know 'Tension' still hasn't been released on CD in the UK.

Don't ever recall seeing it myself, but Jeff Hall's discography says:

"CD released (UK) as EMI CZ93"

so maybe it was and it's also OOP?

> I wonder if XL1 will do have the computer graphics that were on the original tape release.

Anyone got a working Speccy to play them on? I'll YSI 'em if anyone wants.

― Niall, Friday, 31 March 2006 20:47 (twenty years ago)

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