noWax

The Buzzcocks are one of the most influential and best Punk bands to come out of the UK. They formed after seeing The Sex Pistols in 1976 but instead of copying them they found their own style and stance. They in fact supported The Pistols in ‘76 and after the tour borrowed £200 to press up 1000 copies of their first EP, Spiral Scratch. This was the first independently produced single of the punk era. They were shortly signed to United Artists and released Orgasm Addict in early ‘77. Music In A Different Kitchen followed shortly.

‘Fast Cars’ starts the album, unrelenting, thrashy and totally full of beans. The fast guitar lines and drums set the pace for the whole album. The songs have a very light fun theme. Most of the Pete Shelley penned tracks are about girls, cars and being a teenager, a nice contrast to much of punk’s then strong political standpoint. They had created 15 perfect little pop songs that just happened to be really edgy and punk. ‘Autonomy’ has guitar lines that are pure 1980s stadium metal, and Love Battery sounds very like The Sex Pistols. Shouty lyrics, basic chords and driving drums that you just wanna jump about to. Then of course there’s Orgasm Addict, lyrically the champion here and one of the staples of punk. The lyrics that start before the song really kicks off - “Well you tried just once/ found it alright for kicks/ but now you’ve found out that it’s a habit that sticks/ and you’re an orgasm addict�. Does any other song sum up male teenage lust as well?

There are no slow songs on this album but it’s a punk rock album so why would there be.
30 years on this album stands up better than virtually any current rock record, which is both slightly sad and a testament to The Buzzcocks ability. It’s very clear that this young band had something very special. “Sneaking in the backdoor with dirt in my seams/ your mother wants to know what all the stains on your jeans are/ and you’re an orgasm addict.�