Many believe the band should have ended with their co-founder’s death, but long-serving guitarist Steve Diggle decided otherwise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his defence, bassist Chris Remington and drummer Danny Farrant had both been members for a decade or more before Shelley’s untimely demise, so are well versed in what being a Buzzcock is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, they don’t sound like the band who made classics like Everybody’s Happy Nowadays<\/em>, Promises <\/em>and Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn\u2019t\u2019ve)<\/em>. But it’s not 1979, and Diggle’s 70 years old, not 20.<\/p>\n\n\n Of course they miss Shelley’s songwriting nouse – who wouldn’t? – his distinctive voice and his lightness of touch. This version of Buzzcocks go a bit harder and a bit heavier, but are still worth listening to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diggle describes Attitude Adjustment<\/em> as “punk rock with a Motown vibe”, and it’s certainly got plenty of soul. Opener and lead single Queen Of The Scene<\/em>, about the effect reality TV shows have on contestants’ lives, is far and away the best song among the 14 on offer, full of vim and vigour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other highlights include Poetic Machine Gun<\/em>, Tear Of A Golden Girl<\/em> and Just A Dream I Followed<\/em>, which are all worthy additions to Buzzcocks’ canon of work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But was there really any need to split the psychedelic One Of The Universe<\/em> into two songs, and the least said about the repetitive Break That Ball And Chain<\/em> the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ipamusic.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/buzzcocks-5.jpg?resize=640%2C389\")