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Rating: Sifting through the overly crowded pages of Rock History, you can find the most disparate situations. You can find bands that with a total discography of 40 minutes condensed into 26 songs encode and kickstart a genre that, twenty years later, is still in excellent health and has a huge following; bands that in 25 years of long career manage to keep their fans close by releasing less than one record every five years; bands that have never done and will never do concerts, perhaps because they are made up of a single member, who might also be locked up in jail for murder… and then, much more humbly, there are bands that are little—or at least not sufficiently—known, that have always played with honesty and passion and have exercised a much greater influence on the music that followed them than their low-profile name might suggest. You can find many examples of the latter case, but the ones I find most endearing are the Buzzcocks.
I find them endearing because they knew how to play just right and almost always remembered to tune their instruments; because Pete Shelley's voice was sometimes on the verge of being off-key and sometimes beyond; because they could play a single open guitar string and make it sound like a real riff. But above all, they are endearing because their records tell you “Hey, playing is easy! And it's a whole lot of fun!”.
This message, which in theory is somewhat that of any band (in various ways) definable as punk, with the Buzzcocks comes even more spontaneously and directly. They tell you “what's the point of knowing how to tap with your gums if with three guitar notes (not chords, NOTES!), a drum fill on the toms and a guitar solo that even my aunt could do, you can put together refined tracks like 'Fiction Romance' or 'Promises'?”. True, it’s the same thing that the Ramones, the Queers, and down down to the Lurkers or the Groovie Ghoulies have always told us. But add in a delicious and veeeery English proto-pop ambition, and there come the Buzzcocks. Because here, besides grinding out chord after chord, cranking up the Marshall distortion to the max, and speeding up the TUM-PA TRRRRUM-PA of the drums as much as possible, there's something more. Or better, less! Here they play by subtraction. Here, the distortion is lowered, the speed halved, there's time to “arrange” some more harmonies here and there, with some single guitar notes placed ad hoc, to emphasize or counterpoint the melody.
If Blur had been their contemporaries, the Buzzcocks would have been the "poor cousins" who, to make up for shortcomings in technique and production, would have had to rely only on a great deal of good taste and a lot of care in chiseling small songs made of nothing. And they would have succeeded perfectly.
This live is their document that I prefer, probably because it brings together all their mouth-watering songs, including the historic “What do I get?”, also re-played (with a sound a little too much like “Marshall overdrive with compressor” for my taste) by Prozac+, and especially “Everybody’s happy nowadays”, with a wicked melody that sticks to you, like a strawberry BigBabol. But I also prefer it because here there is absolutely none of that (anyway little) more polished air of their studio productions. Here it almost sounds like you can hear fingers scraping on the strings between one chord and another, drumsticks accidentally hitting the rim of the drum in the middle of a roll. It’s a record still alive, smelly, breathing down your neck!
But it's also true that they’re not “just little songs”. Because in this 1979 record (and generally in most of their works of the time) there is practically everything—or almost everything—that was happening and would happen in Britain for at least the next ten years. The riff opening “Autonomy”, with its mechanical and obsessive drums and depersonalized guitar, carries within it the “dark wave” of Joy Division and Sister of Mercy; “Noise Annoys” and “Promises” sound more like English pop-punk (see Ash); “Have you ever fallen in love…” is brit-pop ante-litteram; anything in the Buzzcocks' music sounds like something else that most often came after.
Rediscovering this band that history has left in a somewhat sidelined position can only do good, at least to remember that Manchester has not only been the home of the (great) Joy Division, the Happy Mondays and—unfortunately—the Oasis. And because the impact they had on the music that followed was enormous. But perhaps they wouldn't even like to hear it said, and they prefer to remain so, in the background; after all, as they themselves defined, they were just “four people from Manchester who just make music”.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 I Don't Know What To Do With My Life (02:57)
I don't know what to do with my life
Should I give it up and make a new start
I don't know what to do with my life
'Cos the one I've got just tears me apart
I can't wake up in the morning
And I can't get to sleep at night
I'm not expecting things to be perfect
But a high success rate would be nice
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what's gone wrong with my life
But you know I never do seem to win
Whenever I think I've straightened it out
It becomes a vicious circle again
I can't love when anyone loves me
And I can't find the someone to love
But then I start to count my blessings
And I feel I'm getting more than enough
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
[Solo]
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what's gone wrong with my life
But you know I never do seem to win
Whenever I think I've straightened it out
It becomes a vicious circle again
I can't love when anyone loves me
And I can't find the someone to love
But then I start to count my blessings
And I feel I'm getting more than enough of love
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
I don't know what to do with my life
It's my life
02 I Don't Mind (02:26)
Reality's a dream
A game in which I seem
To never find out just what I am
I don't know if I'm an actor or ham
A shamen or sham
But if you don't mind
I don't mind
I'm lost without a clue
So how can I undo
The tangle of these webs I keep weaving
I don't know if I should be believing
Deceptive perceiving
But if you don't mind
I don't mind
I used to bet that you didn't care
But gambling never got me anywhere
Each time I used to feel so sure
Something about you made me doubt you more
How can you convince me
When everything I see
Just makes me feel you're putting me down
And if it's true this pathetic clown'll
Keep hanging around
That's if you don't mind
I don't mind
I used to bet that you didn't care
But gambling never got me anywhere
Each time I used to be so sure
Something about you made me doubt you more
I even think you hate me when you call me on the phone
And sometimes when we go out I wish I'd stayed at home
And when I'm dreaming or just lying in my bed
I think you've got it in for me
Is it all in my head is it in my head
How can you convince me
When everything I see
Just makes me feel you're putting me down
And if it's true this pathetic clown'll
Keep hanging around
That's if you don't mind
I don't mind
I don't mind
03 Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) (02:53)
You spurn my natural emotions
You make me feel like dirt
And I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I run the risk of losing you
And that's worse
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
I can't see much of a future
Unless we find out what's to blame
What a shame
And we won't be together much longer
Unless we realize that we are the same
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
You disturb my natural emotions
You make me feel like dirt
And I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I'll only end up losing you
And that's worse
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
Fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
05 Fiction Romance (04:39)
A fiction romance
I love this love story
That never seems to happen in my life
A fiction romance
All love and glory
That never seems to happen in my life
Dreams of love and dreams of pain
And dreams again again again
A gain which can be yours just by taking hold
Dreams that I can realize
Are quite contained within your eyes
Say fiction romance is not so old
A fiction romance
The love of the ages
That never seems to matter in my life
A fiction romance
On magazine pages
That never seems to feature in my life
Dreaming scheming unaware
That quite somewhere some unaware folk
Are not thinking 'bout what they have been told
Something strange is happening to
The way I see the world I view
That fiction romance is not sold
As a fiction romantic
I never expected
All these things to happen in real life
And no fiction romantic
Could ever've predicted
All the things that happen in my life
When I don't know what to do
I just think about me and you
If I was a little stronger then I'd be bold
Something strange is happening to me
I don't know what these shivers mean to you
Is this fiction romance getting hold
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
Fiction romance
06 Harmony In My Head (03:17)
Whenever I'm in doubt about things I do
I listen to the high street wailing sounds in a queue
I go out for my walking sailing social news
Don't let it get me down I'm long in the tooth
When I'm out in the open clattering shoppers around
The neon signs that take your eyes to town
Your thoughts are chosen your world is advertising now
And extravagance matters to worshippers of the pound
But it's a harmony in my head
It's a harmony in my head
The tortured faces expression out aloud
And life's little ironies seem so obvious now
Your cashed in cheques have placed the payments down
And there's a line of buses all wait to take you out
But it's a harmony in my head
It's a harmony in my head
It's a...
It's a harmony in my head
It's a harmony in my head
It's a harmony in my head
It's a harmony in my head
Whenever I'm in doubt about things I do
I listen to the high street wailing sounds in a queue
I go out for my walking sailing social news
Don't let it get me down I'm long in the tooth
'Cos it's a harmony in my head
It's a harmony in my head
It's a harmony in my head
It's a harmony in my head
07 Moving Away From The Pulsebeat (06:22)
You said the things you did in the past
Were all because you're living too fast
But now I'm here you're taking it slow
You know what you know you know you know now
I only want to be with you
You do you do you do you do too
You do you do you do you do too
But I'm so happy just to be with you
I knew what you knew what you knew you knew too
Ah
You said that time you didn't love me
Although I'd been the cutest you'd seen
But would the past have changed even though
You know what you know you know you know now
I only want you by my side
Some kinds of pride I just can't hide
Some kinds of pride just can't be denied
But I know that oh no no no
08 Autonomy (03:59)
It's a thing that's worth having
Yes I would
Buys you your life sir
If it could
I, I want you
Autonomy
It leaves us all wondering
And it should
Risking something
For the good
I, I want you
Autonomy
Yes I, I want you
Autonomy
09 Nothing Left (05:12)
I'm on my own now
You've gone and left me
I bet you don't know
How you've upset me
'Cos I've nothing left at all
At all at all at all at all at all at all at all
I've nothing left at all
Did you love me
I'd like to think so
But I was blameless
So why did you go
'Cos I've nothing left at all
At all at all at all at all at all at all at all
I've nothing left at all
I've lost a lover
And I am certain
I'll get another
So why'm I hurtin'
'Cos I've nothing left at all
At all at all at all at all at all at all at all
I've nothing left at all
'Cos I've nothing left at all
At all at all at all at all at all at all at all
I've nothing left at all
10 Noise Annoys (03:20)
Pretty girls,
Pretty boys,
Have you ever heard your momma say,
"Noise Annoys"?
Go..
Pretty girls,
Pretty boys,
Have you ever heard your momma shout,
"Noise Annoys!"?
Pretty girls,
Pretty boys,
Have you ever heard your momma scream,
"NOISE ANNOYS!"
Pretty girls,
Pretty boys,
Have you ever heard your momma say,
"Noise Annoys"
11 Lipstick (03:36)
When you kiss me
Does the lipstick on your lip stick on my face
Will you miss me
In your dreams does your lover have my face
Ah when you kiss me
Does the lipstick on your lip stick on my face
Ah will you miss me
In your dreams does your lover have my face
It's the morning
And the mourning it is dawning on me too
I'd no warning
Just a condolence card to tell me that we're through
Ah it's the morning
And the mourning it is dawning on me too
I had no warning
Just a condolence card to tell me that we're through
Will you kiss me
Does the lipstick on your lip stick on my face
When you miss me
In your dreams does my lover have your face
Ah when you kiss me
Does the lipstick on your lip stick on my face
Ah will you miss me
In your dreams does your lover have my face
12 Everybody's Happy Nowadays (03:15)
I was so tired of being upset
Always wanting something i never could get
Life�s an illusion love is a dream
But I don't know what it is
Everybody's happy nowadays
Everybody's happy nowadays
I was so tired of being upset
Always wanting something i never could get
Life�s an illusion love is a dream
But I don't know what it is
'Cos everybody's happy nowadays
Everybody's happy nowadays
Life�s an illusion love is the $ream
But I don't know what it is
Everyone�s saying things to me
But I know it's okay, okay
Everybody's happy nowadays
Everybody's happy nowadays
Everybody's happy nowadays
Everybody's happy nowadays
Life�s an illusion love is a dream
Life�s an illusion love is the dream
Life�s the illusion love is a dream
Life�s the illusion love is the dream
Everybody's happy nowadays
Everybody's happy nowadays
Todays are good bet
You are tired of being upset
Always wanting something you never can get
Life�s no illusion love's not a dream
Now I know just what it is
Everybody's happy nowadays
Everybody's happy nowadays
13 Promises (02:23)
Ah loving you is easy you are on my side
We play the game strictly to our rules
We led the field a love affair
Which made all other lovers fools
Oh how can you ever let me down (down)
How can you ever let me down (down)
How can you ever let me down (down)
These promises (ah-ah-ah)
Are made for us (ah-ah-ah)
We promised that we'd always have time for each other
Whenever I needed you'd be there
We promised to be true there'd be no other
We promised that forever we would care
Oh how can you ever let me down (down)
How can you ever let me down (down)
How can you ever let me down (down)
These promises (ah-ah-ah)
Are made for us
We had to change
But you stayed the same
You wouldn't change
Oh what a shame
Cos loving you's not easy you're not on my side
We play a game with two sets of rules we
Lead the field in a love affair
Ah strictly meant for fools
Oh why did you ever let me down (down)
Why did you ever let me down (down)
Why did you ever let me down (down)
Those promises (ah-ah-ah)
Were made for us
You never have any time for me
Whenever I need you you're not there
You've never been true and it's plain to see
The fact is you never really cared
Oh why did you ever let me down (down)
Why did you ever let me down (down)
Why did you ever let me down (down)
Those promises we made for us
14 Orgasm Addict (02:09)
well you tried it out for once,
found it alright for kicks.
but then you found out
it's a habit that sticks
you're an orgasm addict
you're an orgasm addict
sneakin' in the back door
with dirty magazines
and your mother wants to know
"what are those stains on your jeans?"
you're an orgasm addict
you're an orgasm addict
you get in a heat,
you get in a sulk
but you still keep beatin'
your meat to pulp
you're an orgasm addict
you're an orgasm addict
you're a kid cassanova
you're a no-joseph
it's a labor of love
fucking yourself to death
you're an orgasm addict
you're an orgasm addict
you're makin' out with school kids,
winos and heads of state
you've even made it with the lady
who puts the little plastic robbins
on the christmas cakes
butcher's assistants and belhops
you've had 'em all here and there
children of god and their joystrings
international women with no body hair
so you're asking in an alley
and you're voice ain't steady
the sex mechanic's rough
you're more than ready
you're an orgasm addict
you're an orgasm addict
johnnie want fuckie
all ways and always
he's got the energy
he will amaze
he's an orgasm addict,
he's an orgasm addict.
he's always at it
he's an orgasm addict.
16 Breakdown (02:14)
If I seem a little jittery I can't restrain myself
I'm falling into fancy fragments - can't contain myself
I'm gonna breakdown - breakdown yes
Now I can stand austerity but it gets a little much
when there's all these livid things that you never get to touch
I'm gonna breakdown ...
I feel me brain like porridge coming out of me ears
and I was anticipating reverie
I've taken leave of me senses - and I'm in arrears
my legs buckle over - I'm living on my knees
I'm gonna breakdown ...
Whatever makes me tick it takes away my concentration
sets my hands a-trembling - gives me frustration
I'm gonna breakdown ...
So I hear that two is company for me it's plenty trouble
though my double thoughts are clearer now that I am seeing double
I'm gonna breakdown ...
Oh mum can I grow out of what's too big for me?
I'll give up that ghost before it gives up me
I wander loaded as a crowd - a nowhere wolf of pain
Living next to nothing - my nevermind remains
I'm gonna breakdown ...
17 Fast Cars (03:10)
They're nice and precise, each one begins and ends
They may win you admirers, but they'll never earn you friends
Fast cars, fast cars
Fast cars, I hate fast cars
They're so depressing going around and around
Ooh, they make me dizzy, oh fast cars they run me down
Fast cars, fast cars,
Fast cars, I hate fast cars
Sooner or later, you're gonna listen to Ralph Nader
I don't wanna cause a fuss, but fast cars are so dangerous
Fast cars, fast cars
Fast cars, I hate fast cars, fast cars
Fast cars, fast cars
I hate fast cars
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