Buzzcocks - The Way (2014) Lossless

Here it is – the brand-spanking new Buzzcocks album “The Way”, the first for 8 years. And it is a belter !!

At 36 minutes for 10 songs (or 51 minutes if you went for the Pledgemusic pre-order fan edition with 4 bonus tracks) it fits well alongside earlier work, more tuneful than some of their contempories, and still capable of bursts of frantic energy.

As ever, Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle share the lead vocals alternating between the two, both being distinctive but effective. Glad to see neither appears to have lost their abilities despite the number of years that have gone by since they started. The rhythm section may be replacements for the umpteenth time but fit well, there is a good interplay demonstrated live between them all and it has translated well on to record.

Whilst there isn’t a new “Orgasm Addict” or “What Do I Get ?” on here, the album is of a very consistent high quality, with no “fillers”, and it’s been on constant rotation since I got my hands on it. I’d not be able to say the original 3 albums were totally filler-free, but this album certainly is.

On the production side, it is less sparse than earlier works, the guitars are beefier and I suppose more “modern” (no surprise) than 35 years ago. Drums are a bit cloudy at times, but then this isn’t Pink Floyd is it !

The Punk veterans could’ve tried reinventing the wheel, but stuck with the tried and tested formula of catchy tunes and nothing too over-complicated.