Buzzcocks - the Peel Sessions

This CD is a compilation of sessions that the B-cocks did for BBC/John Peel from late 1977 through early 1979. Per the brief liner notes, their concept was to promote a current record or two and then screw around and see what they could come up with. This "free rehearsal time" would often result in a tune for the next album!

The first session introduced the somewhat more dissonant (rather than melodic pop) punk of "Fast Cars" and "Pulse" before moving into what I normally think of when I think of the Buzzcocks - the great pop punk of "What Do I Get". We jump to April '78 for the next batch of tunes, starting with fun, sing-along, slightly jarring "Noise Annoys". "Walking Distance" is a super melodic instrumental and "Late For the Train" is a more cacophonous instro with some waves of ambient vocals sounding not unlike a train whizzing by before they conclude the session with the magnificent call'n'answer of "Promises".

Back a few months later and this time they produced three numbers - "Lipstick", a song that switches from pop to dark/riffy, then another one of their hits, "Everybody's Happy Nowadays", with it's cool drum breakdowns and Shelley straining for the high notes, and "16 Again", a nice bit of nostalgia. The final set happened in May of '79 and opens with the more straight-ahead punk of "I Don't Know What To Do With my Life" (they liked long song titles) and "Mad Mad Judy", followed by the more moody pop of "Hollow Inside" and finishing with "E.S.P.", with Shelley asking you to read his mind while a repetitive riff continues on and on.

Gotta love the Buzzcocks and this is a hip selection of alternative takes on some of their big hits as well as hidden tracks.