The Buzzcocks may not have had the charisma of the Sex Pistols or the political agenda of The Clash, but as far as writing classic three-minute pop songs went, they were fully the equal of any of their more famous punk contemporaries. Now that it's 2003, however, it only seems fair to ask whether these aging Mancunians still have anything to offer. Well, to judge from their new self-titled album, the answer is an emphatic yes - Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle may be a little more mellow than they were in their heyday, but their frenzied take on rock'n'roll is as fast, furious and indecently entertaining as ever. And while old fans may complain that the album is basically a slightly paler version of those late 70s masterpieces, they too may be won over by the presence of two old compositions from founder member Howard Devoto, dusted down and finally given a decent home. This no-frills, back to basics record may ultimately be a minor entry in the Buzzcocks' rich catalogue - but it's a highly enjoyable one nonetheless.
