Buzzcocks

A gang of pan-sexual Mancunian punk fiends, the Buzzcocks’ influence is completely immeasurable. Basically, anyone who’s ever picked up a guitar over the last 30 years owes them a sizeable debt. This 28-track live album, which was recorded on their anniversary tour last year, isn’t the greatest testament to their punk majesty if we’re honest. Sure, all their fantastic, breakneck hits – ‘Orgasm Addict’, ‘Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t Have)’, ‘Autonomy’, ‘Boredom’ – are present and correct. And even a cursory listen makes it clear that Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle splutter with more passion than pot-bellied middle-aged men could ever reasonably be expected to muster. But, ultimately, this completists-only release is kind of everything that punk shouldn’t be: very hoary, over-long and… well, totally boring.

Rick Martin