Billy Budd
March 19, 2002, 11:36 AM
I seem to remember I promised a review of the Howard Devoto and Pete Shelley album - Buzzkunst, last time I was on here, been working at a different site for a few weeks, limited internet access.
The songs are all written by Devoto, and are really typical Devoto, think of a typical Magazine lyric and you're on the right lines. His vocal style is still exactly the same, which is great as there are no proper art school vocalists around anymore, an example is seen straight away with the opening track 'Can You See Me Shining'. Shelley contributes musically and with backing vocals. I wasn't quite sure how the balance between the two would work out, or whose trademark would have the largest stamp on this album, Devoto would get the nod slightly in that respect as they are his lyrics. If you are not into electronic music I don't think you will like the album as a whole, but I would imagine there would be some sort of universal aggreement on the track 'Till The Stars In His Eyes Are Dead', this should be a massive single, indeed if it was put out by some new young experimental indie/rock group it would be, but seen as its by these 2 now old codgers - no chance. Devoto looks a bit like Harry Hill on one of the inner sleeve photos, its certainly a bit weired now all the old punk new wave brigade are getting on in years, the fact that Shelley/Devoto etc could ever be in their 40s/50s is a bit silly really, thats the ageing process for you - I'm going grey, anyone else going grey on here ?
The electronic influence isn't at all suprising, and I can't really see too many people expecting the album to be some sort of punk/post punk revival, the very idea goes against the principals of the 76/77 punk revolt against stagnent shite. Indeed Shelley has stated that the intention for what became The Buzzcocks was to be along the lines of Kraftwerk and Can, but when the punk rock gravey train was coming into the platform that was put on hold 'till the early 80s, when he started doing tracks like Homosapien. This album actually reminds me of the brilliant second Magazine album, 'Secondhand Daylight', but is more spacey than powerful like that album is.
If you are purely a guitar person and are not particulary big on The Buzzcocks or Magazine, you might not want to bother getting this unless you have £12 burning a hole in your pocket, but then how can anyone on here not be into The Buzzcocks and Magazine, there is no doubt that Devotos influence on Morrissey lyrically is tremendous, I would say more influential than anyone else. So if you are into Shelley and Devotos previous work, this is a must, given their electronic influences in the past I don't think, what can at times be described as dance music, will bother you, in fact you may be pleasently suprised if you are open minded about your music.
I will award this album 7/10. When you play the first 4 tracks you may already be awarding this best album of 2002, but it is slightly inconsistent at times as the album progresses, I will reserve judgement on that for Billy Braggs new album, or maybe even some new spunky band might emerge this year.
The songs are all written by Devoto, and are really typical Devoto, think of a typical Magazine lyric and you're on the right lines. His vocal style is still exactly the same, which is great as there are no proper art school vocalists around anymore, an example is seen straight away with the opening track 'Can You See Me Shining'. Shelley contributes musically and with backing vocals. I wasn't quite sure how the balance between the two would work out, or whose trademark would have the largest stamp on this album, Devoto would get the nod slightly in that respect as they are his lyrics. If you are not into electronic music I don't think you will like the album as a whole, but I would imagine there would be some sort of universal aggreement on the track 'Till The Stars In His Eyes Are Dead', this should be a massive single, indeed if it was put out by some new young experimental indie/rock group it would be, but seen as its by these 2 now old codgers - no chance. Devoto looks a bit like Harry Hill on one of the inner sleeve photos, its certainly a bit weired now all the old punk new wave brigade are getting on in years, the fact that Shelley/Devoto etc could ever be in their 40s/50s is a bit silly really, thats the ageing process for you - I'm going grey, anyone else going grey on here ?
The electronic influence isn't at all suprising, and I can't really see too many people expecting the album to be some sort of punk/post punk revival, the very idea goes against the principals of the 76/77 punk revolt against stagnent shite. Indeed Shelley has stated that the intention for what became The Buzzcocks was to be along the lines of Kraftwerk and Can, but when the punk rock gravey train was coming into the platform that was put on hold 'till the early 80s, when he started doing tracks like Homosapien. This album actually reminds me of the brilliant second Magazine album, 'Secondhand Daylight', but is more spacey than powerful like that album is.
If you are purely a guitar person and are not particulary big on The Buzzcocks or Magazine, you might not want to bother getting this unless you have £12 burning a hole in your pocket, but then how can anyone on here not be into The Buzzcocks and Magazine, there is no doubt that Devotos influence on Morrissey lyrically is tremendous, I would say more influential than anyone else. So if you are into Shelley and Devotos previous work, this is a must, given their electronic influences in the past I don't think, what can at times be described as dance music, will bother you, in fact you may be pleasently suprised if you are open minded about your music.
I will award this album 7/10. When you play the first 4 tracks you may already be awarding this best album of 2002, but it is slightly inconsistent at times as the album progresses, I will reserve judgement on that for Billy Braggs new album, or maybe even some new spunky band might emerge this year.