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Buzzcocks

A Different Kind of Tension
1979
A&M

Buzzcocks - A Different Kind of Tension (Cover Artwork)

Review by: -Strewtho-
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Published on September 25th 2005

An improvement on the previous album Love Bites, the songwriting is stronger and the band take some chances to change.

The great thing about this album is that it has no instrumentals; when the Buzzcocks use instrumentals, they tend to be overly long and nowhere near as enjoyable as the vocal tracks. This album also has a few songs with Diggle on lead vocal, including the top song “Sitting Round at Home.” Diggle is a good vocalist in his own right and it makes for a nice change of pace from Shelley’s high-pitched vocals.

The band has tried a few different tricks on this album to try and differentiate it from the previous efforts. The best example of this is the robotic voice on the title track; it’s odd and very 80’s but they manage to pull it off (think Styxx and the song "Mr. Roboto"). The final track “Radio Nine” is the sound of a radio tuning with snippets of previously released singles. “I Believe” is the seven-minute track embracing an expansive sound and featuring echoed vocals. The end result is a much more varied album than their previous two.

While the band is trying something new, there are enough tracks to satisfy those after songs similar to previous albums; for example, “Paradise” is a great opener to the album, fast paced and catchy. "You Know You Can’t Help It” and “I Don’t Know What to Do with My Life” are also good examples of this. “Mad Mad Judy” begins in the same fashion, and the band then expands on the track, drawing it out.

I’d recommend picking up their first album Another Music in a Different Kitchen or the collection Singles Going Steady as the best introduction to this band, as you really can’t go wrong with those. If you’ve heard those releases and want more, this is very worthy of picking up.

Standout tracks:

Paradise
Sitting Round at Home
I Believe

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Posted by roxygrl on 2005-09-29 22:42:07
My Score:

The songs here are great, the best pop/punk. You can see where Orange stole their album from!,

Posted by lushj on 2005-09-29 02:27:56
My Score:

This is an incredible album. Much better than the so-so second album "Love Bites", this is where they expanded their pop punk into what was becoming new wave. I'd rate this even higher than the reviewer does.

Essential Buzzcocks (in order, I guess I agree with the reviewer about this)
"Singles Going Steady"
"Spiral Scratch"
"A Different Kind of Tension"
"Another Music in a Different Kitchen"

and then "Love Bites"- there's some great songs on that, but nowhere near as consistent as on the albums and ep above.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 4:06 PM (EDT)

you're welcome

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-09-26 15:53:28

"he is jealous of superdude being back. look at his comments, jones is trying to get attention and nobody is responding so he gets offended. im pretty sure that im intensly correct"

how are these comments different from any of my comments? you can argue all my comments are for attention, sure. but i dont see how they're any different here than any other time. except for the fact that i havent been posting lately

but i guess i got attention from you, someone, so my plan worked

- jones the bones

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 3:00 PM (EDT)

he is jealous of superdude being back. look at his comments, jones is trying to get attention and nobody is responding so he gets offended. im pretty sure that im intensly correct

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 2:43 PM (EDT)

"i think jones the bones is jealous"

of?

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 9:55 AM (EDT)

i think jones the bones is jealous

Posted by aubin on 2005-09-26 08:40:53

What's with the old reviews? We know they're good.

We added an extra reviews day (Sunday) for classic reviews. Tuesday and Friday reviews are still being posted of (mostly) new stuff.

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-09-26 02:31:08

ok. i'm a better person now. thanks

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-09-26 01:51:51

i am procrastinating up the asshole, so i am going to comment on all 30 of these reviews, and when i'm done i will be a better person for it

BANGCOCK!!!!!

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo..com

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 12:45 AM (EDT)

This review fucking sucks.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 10:46 PM (EDT)
My Score:

What's with the old reviews? We know they're good.

The score is for being outdated.

Posted by sirens on 2005-09-25 21:41:44

Life is so good with Superdude back.

-sirens.... speachless.

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-09-25 17:46:49

you guys ever do that thing where you ask someone what the capital of thailand is and regardless of whether or not they answer, you still yell BANGCOCK! and slap them in the balls?

the good ol days

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by Anchors on 2005-09-25 15:43:04

I like Superdude's new gimmick. Random as fuck, but definitely amusing.

Posted by skanknsmile on 2005-09-25 14:59:46
My Score:

super fantastic.

Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-09-25 12:32:28
My Score:

Damn, I love the Buzzcocks...And maybe superdude too. Just because his comment made no sense.
-Dante

Posted by superdude on 2005-09-25 09:43:37

Dear Buzzcocks,

I bet your moms hated your name. Well, probably all of your moms except the mom of the guy whose mom and dad let you guys borrow a van for your first tour. She probably told all her friends that her son was in an edgy band. She probably smoked too.

But the rest of you, your moms must have hated it. DId they ever forgive you? DId they keep pestering you to change your name to The Buzzers or just straight up The Buzz?

In Quebec, everyone smokes. Trust me, it's gross.

You know, there are other bands that have bad words in their name, and some of them are worse than you. Trapdoor Fucking Exit, The Fucking Champs, Asshole Parade.

Imagine that? A parade of assholes!

Anyways, I hope you don't get too overwhelmed from your mothers' pressure. Stick it to the (wo)man!

Love,
Superdude

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 7:21 AM (EDT)
My Score:

now THIS is Pop Punk!

Posted by ElVaquero on 2005-09-25 05:07:27

No mention of "You Say You Don't Love Me" = Lame.

Nowhere near as good as Love Bites or Another Music In A Different Kitchen... but still pretty good. Early holy trinity. Still... new self-titles is the most consistently awesome.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 1:09 AM (EDT)
My Score:

ya spiral scratch and singles going steady are better. but this is still good

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 12:50 AM (EDT)

"Spiral Scratch" and the Devoto era are more minimalistic and far less poppy than what they'd become. This album is okay. Not really great, but not as bad as most punk bands got by their 3rd album.

-Will

Posted by gladimnotemo on 2005-09-25 00:47:09
My Score:

I only have "Singles Going Steady"; after seeing "Punk : Attitude", I'd really like to get the Spiral Scratch EP with Howard Devoto.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 12:40 AM (EDT)
My Score:

This is one of the top 10 punk rock records of all time.