Buzzcocks
Love Bites

THE REVIEW

The Buzzcocks are undoubtedly one of the most technically skilled and gifted bands from the entire English punk scene of the seventies.
From an image perspective, however, although in their attitude they faithfully reflected the movement's norms and clichés (they were drinking and brawling mates of Rotten and Vicious' Pistols, and on many occasions they opened their concerts), they formed a sui generis group, mainly due to their clearly sixties-inspired look, thus very normal and countertrend compared to the period's fashions, and their sound imbued with pop melody, also deriving from the previous decade.
Their lyrics also completely deviated from the political and social themes characterizing the various Pistols, Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, to tackle topics quite unusual for the genre like drugs, sex, and youthful unease.
But, more than anything, the Buzzcocks knew how to play.
Do not expect, of course, high school perfectionism and numerous tempo changes, these are not traits of punk, but rather compositions that, in their simplicity, turned out to be technically perfect. This merit is mainly due to the skill of guitarist and singer Pete Shelley, with a melodic and never shouted voice, and bassist Steve Diggle.

I discovered the Buzzcocks thanks to “Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)” (shamelessly copied by Green Day in “When I Comes Around”), a punk rock song with a fast-paced and engaging rhythm. The album that includes it, “Love Bites”, dated 1978, is undoubtedly a noteworthy punk-pop work.
The opener “Real World” is in full Buzzcocks style, an example of a punk rock song with pop melodic overtones, in which Diggle's performance on bass shines, along with the Buddy Holly-style central guitar solo.
The album speeds up with “Operator’s Manual”, where the energetic rhythm section is softened by Shelley's calm yet determined voice. In “Nostalgia”, it is Pete's vocal performance that changes, becoming more angry and robust, accompanying the punk rock undertones in the background.
The next song, “Just Lust”, is predictable and somewhat monotonous, in my opinion, the album's only real weak point. Conversely, the very beautiful and danceable “Sixteen Again” and the ballad “Love is Lies”, characterized by a fresh and positive sound, represent, in my view, the strengths of “Love Bites”.
Finally, worth mentioning are the thrilling rock ride of “Nothing Left” and the instrumental “Walking Distance”, where the band shows they know their way around with instruments in hand.

If you intend to rediscover or get to know the history of English punk from the late 70s, the Buzzcocks are an absolute must in your research, with this “Love Bites” considered one of the best episodes.