Search - Magazine :: Real Life

Former punk rocker plays progressive rock shocker....

12/05/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are echoes here of Pink Floyd and Captain Beefheart and maybe a premonition of Joy Division and all being played by a bunch of punk rockers! This was Howard Devoto's first LP after surprising everyone by leaving the Buzzcocks just as they were poised on the brink of great things. In retrospect, the Buzzcocks would never have been as sucessful as they were with Howard's more grating voice and if this was the music he wanted to make there would have been no easy compromise. There is certainly no sign of the Buzzcocks' frenetic guitarwork or fey lovesongs. Instead we have Devoto's distinctive rasp and a band that includes future members of Siouxsie's Banshees, Nick Cave's Bad Seeds and er... Swing Out Sister (!). The highlight is the magnificent "The Light Pours Out Of Me" - the album is essential for this track alone. Maybe not as commercial as The Correct Use of Soap but it's a hard call which is the better place to start listening to Magazine; which you must!"

Timeless existentialist-punk

Peter Williams | Pasadena, CA United States | 02/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Had to laugh when I saw a previous reviewer's mention of Wax Trax (in Denver), as this is where I was turned on to Magazine. They were indeed playing Magazine when I was in the store, and I was so impressed I picked up "Play.", their live album. After that, I picked up everything Magazine I could get my hands on.



While this is not my favorite Magazine album -- I fall into the "Secondhand Daylight" camp -- this is still a very powerful document, and fairly bristles with a sophisticated punk energy. And it's unique enough that it can't be simply pegged with a convenient genre-tag, and still doesn't sound dated (unless one dates things by the presence of synthesizers, as some no doubt do).



While the music is driving and always interesting, the real strength is in the lyrics and in Devoto's intense and affected delivery; he declaims like a Bowery street preacher drunk on bathtub gin and Nietzsche.



If you're looking for something entirely "new" and exciting in music, look no further. For the first time Magazine listener, I'd recommend either this, "Correct Use of Soap" or "Play" (one of the great live recordings of all time, imho).



And to the good people of Wax Trax: thanks! (are they still there, I wonder?)"

Underrated Genius

Peter Williams | 07/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's difficult to tell that Real Life is over 20 years as Devoto and co. were years ahead of their time. This debut album from Magazine showed incredible maturity and is filled with top music. Highlights include Definitive Gaze,Shot By Both Sides and The Light Pours Out Of Me. Real Life is a must buy for any lover of good music"