Album Review: Buzzcocks - Attitude Adjustment

Buzzcocks

Attitude Adjustment

**and1/2 out of *****

Back in 2018 when founding member Pete Shelley passed away, most thought that would be the end of the classic English punk band, but the remaining Buzzcocks soldiered on with 2022's Sonics in the Soul. Now they keep it rolling with Attitude Adjustment, an album that looks to expand their sound out past their drum tight, angsty rockers.    

Continuing as a trio, the group, Steve Diggle – vocals, guitar, keyboards, production, mixing, Chris Remmington – bass, Danny Farrant – drums, sprinkle in a bit more 60's pop, Paisley Underground and Motown influences to their classic pop-punk sound. Diggle takes over all songwriting, which was evenly split on the groups last album with Shelley, 2014's The Way.   

Diggle always acted as a foil to Shelley's more recognizable nasal whine, and the full album of lead vocals from the seventy year old would probably be better survived with a guest vocalist or two. As with all aging rock outfits, the vocals usually go first and on the opening "Queen of the Scene" the tension and playing are strong, but the singing could use an injection of energy to put it over the top. 

Better is the more restrained "Games" as Diggle gets great backing vocal support and "Seeing Daylight" which feels a bit more experimental as both tracks dig into 60's pop rock. That sense of, retro looking, flower child experimenting also arrives with the trio of "One of the Universe, Pt.1", "All Gone to War" and "One of the Universe, Pt. 2". 

The albums centerpiece combo starts mid jam as Diggle sings about universal connection before the acoustic anti-war folk ballad (complete with harmonica), then dives back into the chugging heavier jam. These hippie tendencies may have been scoffed out by their original punk fans, but it works 50 years into a career. 

The group still has punk in their veins though as the harder "Poetic Machine Gun" bangs while both "Tear of a Golden Girl" and the grooving "Feeling Uptight" feature great guitar work. "Just A Dream I Followed" also has good six strings with lyrics seemingly inspired by Bob Dylan while the clunker "Jesus At The Wheel" is much less successful. The Buzzcocks have delivered some strutting gems in their long career and both the echoing "Heavy Streets" and the slightly Motown fueled "Break That Ball and Chain" are confident head boppers.   

Continuing to evolve as an artist, and keeping at it in these tough times, finds Diggle and the boys strong on Attitude Adjustment, which opens a few new paths musically. Most importantly, it helps keep the Buzzcocks out on the road with some fine, if negligible, new material that will help supplement their classic hits. 

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