Buzzcocks: Modern

Buzzcocks: Modern
Buzzcocks: Modern – A Different Kind of Product.
Label: EMI Europe, Go-Kart North America
Release Date: 1999
Review Date: 2000

Ok, let’s put aside the fact that I have to stiffle a scream every time that damned Toyota commercial comes on. I mean for christ sakes, they could have at least used an instrumental like “Walking Distance”. The Buzzcocks have been touring to promote this new record. I asssume they’re trying to promote this record, but that’s not because they’re saying anything on stage. In Chicago and Portland they have put in rather sloppy but loud, steamrolling performances without much chatter between songs, completely ignoring cries of “How much for the commercial?” OK, that was just me. Can you blame the guys for wanting to get paid? So what if this line up has been together longer than the original one.

But what about the recording? Modern doesn’t look or sound very modern, maybe 20 years old modern, but that’s not bad. A lot of the tracks sound like Shelly solo efforts would have sounded if he had stuck to guitars. “Phone” sounds like it could have been lifted from xl-1. “Why Compromise?” features a minimalist elctronic drum sound is another good example. Modern is filled with a lot of production effects and other gimmicks that their fans are used to, if not with a little less frequency. Where Buzzcocks songs used to have lyrical hooks that were immediately obvious, their recent work is a bit more rambling and unfocused, especially Diggles tunes. So should Modern be retitled Mediocre? I have to say that I was disappointed at first listen. Let me also say that I didn’t like their last release “All Set” either, but now it’s one of my favorites. Each time you listen to Modern it gets better and better. “Phone” is one of the standoout tracks. “Runaround” and “Choices” come closest to capturing the old vibe. As goofy as the production on “Doesn’t Mean Anything” is, it grows on you. I’ve seen them try to capture that live, and (House of Neil) Neil said it best when he described that act as “brave but foolish.” Most of the crowd at the show I saw just wanted to hear “Orgasm Addict,” which they played surprisingly. Any band has that’s been as influential as the Buzzcocks have been is going to have a hard time living up to their past. It takes a lot of guts to try and produce new material when so many other reunions have proven so embarrassing. Modern is a very good record. If the Buzzcocks were a new band this record would probably be getting lots of press, hype, and promotion. Let’s hope that enough people buy it so that Pete (Well Steve) doesn’t feel it necessary to sell the rights to Autonomy to Microsoft.

Which brings us to the special release, A Different Kind of Product. Remember the boxed set Product? It had the first three LP’s and the singles from (Singles going Steady) as well as Parts 1-3. This disk is available as an inmport only for you North Americans. What do I get? Not much, or a lot, depending on your point of view. The extra CD has 12 singles (including the one from the commercial) as well as an enhanced CD for your computer featuring 3 videos and “loads of memorabilia”. The singles are nice, but unless you’re new to the Buzzcoccks you’ve probably already got them. The videos were from the 80’s I.R.S. video release called Playback, which is excellent by the way. The memorabilia is in the form of a poorly designed multimedia piece that is little more than a slide show without commentary and a bad interface. The book from Product is much better, but you probably can’t find it, so this may be your only chance for memorablia (…for an age yet to come…). Is it worth the extra price for us North Americaners? probably not. Forget about it. Let’s talk about Playback instead. It’s got studio and live footage, promotional videos, and TV appearances from Top of the Pops, Jukebox Jury, and some bizarro kids program among others. Man, those Brits had some sketchy looking TV hosts. Throw in some interviews with Diggle and Shelley and some cheesey video post production and that’s it. If the myriad of live albums are any indication, maybe the Buzcocks fondness for products will prompt them to release an updated Playback on DVD. My vhs dub is having problems with tracking.

Modern (US): A (Import)B+

Online action: buzzcocks.com
Online action: gokartrecords.com