Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Det er faktisk ret fedt. Prog-Post-Punk
Sometimes this list feels like a post punk playlist - so many bands I discovered from the Simon Reynolds book on 1978-84. That book (like his others, to be honest) completely changed what I hear in music, and broadened out my tastes. This is great, and like Pere Ubu, a reminder of how early the experimentation of post punk began. Some highs - not least Shot by Both Sides - if not perfect as an album. Plenty of depths for relistening, too.
Meh
"Hey! Is that the new Juno 106 synthesizer?" "Sure is. I'm trying out all the settings." "Maybe one at a time instead of all in one song?" "Hogwash."
Kinda neat brit prog rock
Good post-punk and not mad it’s on the list, but I would rather throw on Gang of Four’s Entertainment! or Pink Flag by Wire.
I still love this record. When Howard left the Buzzcocks I thought that he would end up in a more arty project. Instead he found a willing partner in McGeoch and Barry Adamson. The first two singles were co-written with Pete Shelley - the classic Shot By Both Sides and The Light Pours Out of Me. The Buzzcocks changed my life as that was the first LP where I got it. Loved Howard’s vocals on Spiral Scratch EP and it was natural to just follow where he went particularly as he left the band just as the single was released. Real Life was among the first true post-punk records along with Public Image and Gang of Four. Those records form the touchstone for everything after. Really. Real Life is a complete album with no skips. For the uninitiated, start with The Light Pours Out Of Me and Parade the last two songs on the record then flip to side one. I have no idea why this sets up the whole record with the schizophrenic keyboards, McGeoch’s solos and Howard’s droll vocals, but it does. The album is full of gems but it does take some effort. But it is fucking worth it. All the Magazine albums are excellent. They were remarkably consistent and reached bigger heights. I’d seek out the tracks Permafrost and Rhythm of Cruelty on Magazine’s next LP, Secondhand Daylight, and then come back to this album and say, wholly crap this is awesome! 5/5
I liked Real Life a little more than i was expecting to. Barry Adamson was involved on this (he was the bass player by the way) so i did at least expect this to be pretty good. While the album does lack the creativity that his mock film soundtracks, Moss Side Story and Oedipus Schmoedipus, I still found it to have a pretty enjoyable post punk, almost glam rock sort of sound. I think that this is an album where the back half shines more than the front half with a lot of those songs being really good especially on those guitars and melodies. In fact, i was initially gonna give this a high 3 stars but as i kept hearing those back half songs, that was enough to push it to a 4. Best Song: Shot By Both Sides (Single Version) Worst Song: Recoil
Meh. Not really what I was in the mood for today. It’s good for what it is I suppose but punk rock is not something I’d typically listen to. (3)
I read the wiki summary of all albums I don’t know before I listen to them. At this point I’m automatically expecting each unknown band to have “English rock band” in the first sentence on its wiki. Every time I see it, I shudder. It’s gotten so repetitive that I’ve gone past the stages of anger, it just makes me chuckle now. So how’s this one? Solid. Probably a little ahead of its time. Moments like the weird patchwork of noises that fade out on "Recoil", or the circusy "Great Beautician in the Sky" which was a personal favorite. The whole album is worth it just to hear the manic 'you can tell me all about it go and tell me all about it' line. Lots of attitude lots of heart. I'm gonna 3 this one but I'll probably kick myself for not giving it more stars in hindsight
Didn’t care for this sound.
This is a pretty cool album and feels a good bit ahead of its time. "The Great Beautician in the Sky" had a very interesting funhouse vibe.
issssss
Siento que estoy escuchando un older MCR
Real Life was a bit too experimental for my taste so i dont really vibe with it much. Eso dicho, Shot By Both Sides es sendo palote de cacion, la añadi a mis playlists. Por esa cancion na mas le doy 3/5 al album
Interesting album which sounded kinda fresh at this golden age of over production. There were plenty of variance in the songs also, so it wasn’t just the same old new wave without anything really new. Have to listen to this one again.
I'm kinda fed up with these post-punk albums that aren't basically anything. Can't get a grip and doesn't provide any vibes.
Artsy post-punk is not what I was expecting, but it is what I got. It's not that I hate this, but it's done so much better and more interesting way. This is a genre of music that time has not been kind to and it's really showing it's age. One extra point for being one of the forerunners.
mi cumple y un álbum como la gente página dw re mierda
Enjoyable Likes: Shot by Both Sides, Burst
enjoyed this one! will revisit
Favorite Track: Shot By Both Sides
Sometimes there just isn’t much to say about an album other than it was a great record and I really enjoyed it. That’s the case here. Nothing really sticks out in particular, it’s just a great overall post-punk album.
Ping piss I have no idea
not bad. Post Punk new wave. this album is one of those tranistional album when punk was losing steam and the new wave sound was starting up. i believe this is one of the first new wave type album. it was fine. "Shot by Both Sides" is the most well known song on the album. "Motorcade" and "The Light Pours out of Me" are others that stand out.
Wow!! This album was really really good!! The music was a five star for me!! The lyrics were a 4, and the singing was a 2. Throw in a different lead singer and this had the possibility of being a 5 star for me. I loved the complexity of the music, so many layers, but yet it sounded simplistic. I loved the energy and the beats. Just the singing was rough, but it's right for that genre, I just don't love that genre.
Not a punk fan. The music seems rushed
Did not enjoy this at all. However, there have been worse albums.
It took me a minute to get through the album and actually enjoy it, but once I got used to the unique vibes, it's quite good. 3.5/5
I liked this
I paused reviewing this for a few days after having read some reviews. Felt I needed to listen a few more times to check if there was something obvious I'd missed. I imagine I could listen a few more times again and it may grow on me a bit more. It's OK and I can see it was influential and so worth listening to, but this isn't any better than OK as an album in itself for me
Great set of songs, never drags. The Light Pours Out of Me is a classic.
This album is super cool! A lot of like post punk stuff I don’t understand or enjoy because it just seems like weird, subpar poetry with some sucky and quirky instrumental but I was rockin out to this
This album gives me circus vibes in a weird punk way. I almost certainly won't be returning to this album but it wasn't terrible.
De zang voelt een beetje pretentieus aan. Het zal vast wel een origineel en verrassend album geweest zijn in 1979, maar ik word niet heel warm van de nogal droge gitaardeuntjes. Soms zit er nog wel een leuke solo in, maar daar blijft het dan wel bij. Magere 2
Shot by both sides is great. The rest I wanted to like but failed
Excellent. Every track is good. How amazing would it have been to see this band live?!!
Okay. Interesting.
OK, but I'm glad that post-punk didn't stagnate at this level. ★★★
More tolerable than most post-punk on this list.
I was really grooving along to the first track on this album until they started singing. Kinda hope I can find an instrumental, because the music was fun. The vocals are less jarring on other tracks, but overall I'm definitely enjoying the music far more than vocals. I'm listening to the 2007 remastered version which has 'Shot by both sides' twice, and I liked it more on second listen. Possibly something that I'll come back to, but not a fave.
A decent enough listen, but the lyrics seem lazy. Maybe it’s just punk nonchalance, but that’s my take.
the vocalist? weird. like genuinely weird. i don't even know if i liked it or not, but i can say it's too distracting. but man… the instrumental is insane. genuinely liked the lyrics too, very suitable, nothing too crazy, but cool. this album screams the rocky horror picture show and other cool cult movies. very theatrical. has a nice flow, nothing too extreme, but very nicely executed. 100% sure if i listen more i'll end up obsessed. i loved the guitar, it's dirt but not disruptive, everything matches. this is what if the clash, bowie and black sabbath had a funny child. That voice is sitting on the fence for me right now. the rest of the album is begging me to fall in love, but the vocalist keeps playing hard to get. if the weirdness clicks on repeat listens, this becomes a 5. for now, it's a "respect but not obsessed", with a heavy side-eye toward obsession. i can be totally wrong, but i believe alex turner is trying to bring this energy to arctic monkeys, it resembles something in the delivery.
Hätte nach den ersten 2 Lieder fast abgebrochen, aber ab dann wars ganz cool.
Gut! Vocals mag ich nicht immer.
i like this fine - kind of giallo vibes sometimes so i have to rate it
Listened in the car while driving around. Pretty standard British post punk, alt rock record. Found myself liking it less as it went on. Started strong but got more boring and forgettable by the end. Not my favourite.
A beautiful 60s folk album that somehow was recorded and released in the 80s
Overall: 8/10 What I love about this album is that they add in these strange sounds in sections of songs that end up being the ear worm that you can't stop thinking about. It adds a lot of texture to the album that would have been missing otherwise. On the other hand, lots of this sounds like circus music to me. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that, it's very strange and different but also pretty catchy? I listen to Mr. Bungle so I don't know why it should be an issue. Fav Song: Recoil
My tulipa is a song that I end up turning up so much whenever I listen to it that my ears hurt, idk if that’s good or not. The great beautician in the sky has this really weird circus vibe it’s one that I just remembered instantly as it came on. The lights pours out of me is so dramatic 5/5
This is proto-everything-I-love… but I don’t connect to it. I honestly don’t know why. Maybe it was just not the moment for me to hear it? Maybe it was the vocals? They’re eclectic and unique. I usually like that, right? Who knows. It just wasn’t for me but I respect it in the pantheon of music.
Never heard of Magazine before. They made me a pretty good album here chock full of New Wave/Post Punk goodness. Kept me interested the whole listen. Will absolutely listen to again.
Like the sound but not the vocals
Conocía la banda pero nunca me había puesto a escucharla atentamente. Es un gran disco, la mezcla perfecta entre punk y post punk.
dobar album.
Surprised by this album from a group I don't think I had any knowledge of. Not a bad track on there. Sounds like it could have been released 30 years later than it actually was and still seem fresh.
Sometimes you start an album cold, get grabbed by a promising opening, and then wait expectantly for the vocalist to take the stage. That's how I felt starting "Definitive Gaze," which builds through some different sounds until the singer finally comes in around the 1:12 mark. Unfortunately the vocalist who shows up, Howard Devoto, is the kind of stock English rock singer archetype that generally doesn't excite me. There's a quote on Wikipedia that describes him as having had a "speak-sing voice that veered between amused croon and panicked yelp." Okay, so the vocals might be a minor letdown, but otherwise I found a lot to enjoy in this album. It's post-punk, new wave, art rock and it sounds pretty great. The chorus on "Shot by Both Sides" has a great energy. The Bowie-esque "Burst" is another standout on Side A, especially when it launches into the "You will forget yourself" refrain around the halfway mark. I'd return to this one.
"Definitive Gaze", "My Tulpa", and "The Light Pours Out Of Me" are soo great.
This album is alright, nothing too exciting, it was fine just leaving it in the background, and all songs were pretty similar-sounding, but I don't know if this was super popular because it was released fairly recently. It would've been a lot more popular maybe a couple of decades earlier, but it's okay.
A band I have never heard of before, so reading the description I saw English rock band, and just sighed. I already knew what the experience was going to be, and it was just as middling and uninteresting as expected.
More brit rock, gave up
this is a worse, new wave/pink floyish sort of like the clash version of the buzzcocks.
I don't really have much to say about this album in particular; it's one of, if not the first, British post-punk albums and that alone warrants its placement on this list. What I find more interesting, in a broad sense, is the web of connections between artists that you discover through the course of doing a project such as this. This band helps create a connective tissue between Buzzcocks, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Siouxie and the Banshees, and probably other acts. This is just an example of the links that one can find through this project.
Noisy
Although I'd heard of Magazine before, it seems I've never heard anything by them before, apart from "Shot by Both Sides", which I had somehow green-ticked on Spotify years ago, and what a track it is! The vocals take a little time to get used to, but I was loving them by the end. Everything else clicked immediately, like a breath of fresh air, a wonderful mix of styles that on paper might not sound like they would mesh, but they do, and it's wonderful. The keyboards should sound jarring, as should the saxophone, but it just all fits together somehow. I have to give a special shout out to John McGeoch, as the guitar is simply stellar. I'm going with five stars, as this album is just fantastic. I can't believe I'm almost fifty years late to the party though.
Hated it
Clever lyrics, good melodies, good music but for me it was sometimes derailed by annoying repitition (lyrics, electronic sounds) 3
gostei de algumas mas algumas lost the plot
This is clearly well made and you can hear the precision in it but it never really pulled me in. The jagged guitars are the strongest part for me but Devoto’s vocals just didn’t connect. It’s cohesive in sound, but not in meaning as I felt it never builds toward a bigger emotional payoff or leaves you with a defining feeling. Motorcade is the one that stuck however, I did like that one. Overall it was okay and completely listenable, but not something I’m actively looking to return to.
Been on a post punk journey so this is up my alley.
Reminds me of The Clash a bit, but nowhere near as good. Reasonably enjoyable.
Trash.
13# Reminds me a lot of mission of burma. And then i went to hear Mission of Burma and forgot about Magazines. Magazines rely on weird arpeggios, its interesting and I like the sound of it. Good record for it to be the start of post punk. I guess I'll just like everything that is going to be thrown here. Noice.
Solid post-punk rock, catchy, fun hooks.
Actually kinda liked this one!
So so much fun, never listened to em before. Best discovery i made so far. The key lowkey remind me of genesis sometimes. Fav Song: Definitive gaze
This album is a real mixed bag for me. It really jumps the gamut as far as post-punk goes. Some more straight punk type stuff, some more goth rock type stuff (Like Motorcade), some weird 70's post-punk type stuff like David Bowie and Iggy Pop were doing. Overall, it's better than most 70's post-punk I've listened to (Especially the aforementioned Motorcade), but with the quality IMO being pretty hit and miss, it's not doing a ton for me personally.
Couple of good songs - Shot by both sides is fun
decent
Hele albummet har samme vibe som "should i stay or should i go" med The Clash. Er ikke altid til punk, men det her går lige an. Synes det havde highlights, fx åbningsnummeret
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Definitive Gaze, Shot By Both Sides, The Great Beautician In The Sky Pretty funky for a post-punk band. Good guitar licks and good organ. Seemingly quite obscure, barely any listens on YouTube Music (comparatively). I liked this.
unexpectedly good
It does a good job of being more good than interesting. The most important metric of albums on this list.
I enjoyed this quite a lot. Not enough for a full five, but it's a high four.
Diferenciado esse rockzinho, umas partes tensas legais, me lembra um pouco Bovary com Tony Hawk. Teve uns solinhos zoados huheuhehu. Bem diferenciada a banda, uns sons estranhos e únicos. Não foi muito foda, mas vou dar 4* pela ousadia de tentar algo novo.
Former Buzzcock Howard Devoto released several albums with his post-punk outfit Magazine, this is the first and the only one I'm familiar with. The single 'Shot By Both Sides' is a classic of the era, with its instantly recognisable guitar riff. Devoto's vocals have mix of anger and self-righteousness typical of original punks, it's a great album still sounding good decades later.
No. 104 I get their style, but not my thing
I'm really enjoying the music here so far - upbeat, catchy, some great little guitar riffs and cool bass lines. "Shot By Both Sides" is my best track so far, and though at first listen I didn't like the vocals I don't mind them on this track. I liked hearing the switch up in styles with "Burst" and "Motorcade". I expected it to just be the upbeat catchy/heavy feel all the way through (nothing wrong with that mind) but always interesting to hear something different. They're both really good songs. Couple of tracks towards the end didn't hit the mark, and sometimes I can't quite take to the singer's voice - but it does work on most songs I feel. I'll give this a confident 4 stars as I really loved it musically. Another mention for the bass because that stood out for me here.
Had never heard of this band. Not bad. I appreciate their energy. They don’t sound like everybody else. The vocalist’s tendency to over-enunciate when wanting to be dramatic is a bit annoying. But using 3/4 time is a nice touch (The great Beautician in the Sky)- sounds like a punk waltz with a bit of merry-go-round music thrown in. I’m not saying this is one of my favorite albums, but at over 700 albums in, it’s nice to hear something with originality.
Another awesome new-to-me band and album.
post punk brilliance
Brilliant. Weird. Power-pop.
An interesting album. This feels early new wave/goth, but at the same time it also feels ahead of its time in some ways. Shades of Bauhaus, definitely, and as this album was doing the rounds at the same time Bauhaus were forming it wouldn't surprise me if Pete Murphy & co were influenced by Magazine in some way. This is the first time I'm hearing this album, but it definitely won't be the last. A good four stars.
5 star post punk album
Okay new wave album that has some very good highs but is very uneven. Tries to thread a delicate balance of art rock that just comes off as silly/clunky more often than not. Peaks early and never really manages to recapture that sound. A few standout songs but not much else to revisit. Top tracks: Definitive Gaze, Motorcade
Pleasantly surprised by how engaging and unique this sounded. Seamlessly fusing new wave and punk with a gentle dash of reggae. I wont call this a tastemakers choice but someone out there definitely likes this album more than most. But even if I fall in that camp I'm glad this expanded my knowledge of the genre.
brutal
1 good song the rest was creepy and trash
Favorite Tracks: Shot By Both Sides / The Light Pours Out of Me / Touch and Go Rating: 3.7 I listened to the 2007 remastered version on Spotify. Jagged, jangly, synth-y post-punk that rattles and rockets throughout a very to-the-point album. Some really cool guitar work here, and the keys are very in your face. Great album that I wasn't familiar with before this!
Similar feels to Pink Floyd , more punk… the 70s were wild
2/3. Listened through this one twice since I didn’t give it a fair shake the first time, and ended up liking it quite a bit. I’m not sure if it’s just the synth sounds (is that an ARP Pro Soloist?) that call back to a lot of prog for me, but this sounds like a unique fusion of prog musicality and instrumentation with punk energy. Pretty cool.
Fine album.
Inconsistent but occasionally VERY catchy album. Even the songs I didn’t like that much had a great chorus or some fun riffs. Definitely has some issues, and this post-punk production style isn’t my favorite thing, but I really enjoyed this album. Great songwriting.
70s British glam rock, didn't like the lead singer and didn't make much of an impression on me.
This was alright
OPIIJJKAJJSJSLAFHSDDDDDDDDDDDC
I'm not a big fan of punk but I can understand the appeal. This album wasn't anything amazing. "Shot from both sides" was a good listen
3.9 Nothing really grabbed me the first listen but never really skipped anything either. Had some time today to give a 2nd run through. There is a fair bit of depth in the recording (burst), Shot by both sides is a catchier single.
Based on the description and Wikipedia I thought I would really like this but it really didn’t catch my ear - a little too synth-y or prog rock or something that just isn’t very me - has me thinking what is post punk
Don't care for the slow-mo singing, hasn't aged well
Not terrible, but a bit too much New-Wavey for me. Really the turning point in the punk movement. 6/10
- Bra sanger. Post-punk
pretty neat
Perfectly paced, the flow of the final four songs is incredible
Damn, I was a huge fan of The Buzzcocks in the late 80s... they were more punk than pop metal/ glam rock, but melodic. For some reason, though, I never got around to listening to Magazine. That was not a good decision.
Never heard of Magazine before. But post punk sounds good. The first half of this album absolutely bangs! Motorcade especially stands out to me. Really enjoyable album overall.
this album is pretty cool. lots going on here and only a couple boring tracks. this time period is a huge blind spot for me so this was cool to listen to
Ok. I get their style, but not my thing
good
Best Song: Burst The best way to describe this is, not noteworthy. It isn't terrible or anything, it is just nothing memorable. It sounds like your standard pre-New Wave that was creeping up around this time. I have made it no secret I don't like New Wave so pre-New Wave that hasn't gone full New Wave doesn't get a pass. 3/5.
This would be awesome if the lead singer could carry a tune. It’s mostly very good during solos and instrumental sections, but the weak vocals hold it back. Doesn’t end well either - I was turned off by “Parade”.
This is a first for me and it’s amazing! I don’t think all of the songs work, and not all parts of all songs work, but the ones/bits that do are mesmerizing.
Motorcade and Shot from both sides - fantastic. The Goldfinger cover made me laugh. Not sure I’ll listen to the album again - I wasn’t that wowed by it but it was very fun.
I was strangely captivated by this. Initially, the attitude — mostly in the lead vocal — made me wary, but I settled into the aesthetic and found myself engaged. Seemed less out to prove anything and more self-assured than I expected.
There was definitely some cool music here, at moments reminding me of Roxy Music, though the singer bothered me. He has a little bit of Robyn Hitchcock's nasally snarl but without the charisma.
This didn't register with me. I listened and have nothing of note
As another reviewer wrote, this album sounds like a punk band gave the middle finger to their own genre: "it sounds like punk is already in the rear view mirror." (Good riddance.) I agree with this. The non-vocal instruments have an air of 80s about them without the horrific production that plagued the decade. Admittedly, the singing is pretty horrific, but after more than 800 albums (half of which seem to be punk or Britpop) I've learned to mostly tune them out. The remaining instruments do much better at dispelling the air of punk, apart from possibly the drums, which are halfway between that and glam/post-psychedelia (think early Nick Mason). Nice synth line to open the album (surely it's Eno-inspired), and Definitive Gaze commits completely to the electronic theme by using a synth for pretty much every melodic instrument. Throughout the album, the bassline is taken by either said synth or an actual guitar, which I think is a fun idea to diversify the band's sound. Another highlight is Shot By Both Sides, which features not only an excellent guitar solo but also several huge textural buildups that never fail to restore my faith in music. Burst is also a gem with a fantastic guitar solo – it could fit flawlessly into the Ziggy Stardust record – but the intro is just a little too long for comfort. I have the exact same comment for Motorcade, plus the bassline is kind of insane. The Light Pours Out Of Me is noteworthy for its guitar riff, but the rest of the song drags on a bit. (In fact, these songs are generally longer than I'd like.) 4/5 Key tracks: Definitive Gaze, Shot By Both Sides, Motorcade
I love this sound!! I was looking for it but didnt know where or how to start
The man with the hotdog sells lemonade, someone over there needs first aid, you live and learn, and you have no choice
Good shit
Pretty good
I have listened to "Shot by Both Sides" many times, but never to the whole album. "Definitive Gaze" and "My Tulpa" where great discoveries, two energetic and inventive songs with great bass lines. The rest of the album has good moments but, for me, it is not on par with the first three songs. 3.75/5
I really enjoyed this
This is a pretty cool album. I have never listened to it before but can remember holding the vinyl in my hands at one point. I should have bought it right away. Anyways it’s great music.
Hadn't heard this before. Deserves multiple listens, I think. Yeah, I love this. Every song feels like a curve ball in a great way. Gotta keep this in the rotation.
I’m just not a fan of this kind of music. I’m getting tired of the repetitive album genre’s being listed. It feels like we get a non punk album every three or four days and then it’s back to this.
Album wasn’t terrible just felt run of the mill. I’ve heard this album a thousand times on this list before and it was done way better
Really enjoyed this
Feels like a Ramones cover band
This was a fun surprise, I enjoyed this more than I expected! Kaiser Chiefs-esque (though obviously a few decades before)
2.7.
Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Ill probably need to have it a second listen before I get to a conclusion bc it seemed like smtg id usually enjoy... it just didnt struck me this first time
can't
Fine
Aguante el post punk y el punk. Seguro no llega al 3 este álbum. No entienden nada. 8/10
More New Wave than post-punk, but it's still a good set of tracks, regardless. Solid 4 Stars.
I’m at a 5. Between the two 1978 post-punk albums we’ve gotten on back to back days, I can safely give this one the nod. This is a really good album. I can’t say I’ve heard of Magazine before this, but some of their members went on to do big stuff with other bands (namely Siouxsie & The Banshees and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds), so their talent level combined here makes for a pretty cool set of tracks, especially for 1978. Straight out of the gate with the buzzy & bassy intro of “Definitive Gaze”, the album never really hits a lull point instrumentally, managing to mix together some Kraftwerk-y synth use, some Bowie-esque guitar work, a bit of prog influence & just a touch of grunge / metal to come, for an eclectic mix of styles that holds up really nicely. It’s hard to fully classify this as post-punk, but whatever it is, I liked it a lot. Lyrically, I think this album tends to be pretty strong; there’s a few times where the metaphors / intentions feel really loose, but parsing them feels like it’s meant as a satisfying bonus. Truthfully, you can get away with ignoring the lyrics on this album, save for whatever manages to catch your ear, which is usually pretty intentional. I don’t want to type a bunch of paragraphs about what I think each track means, but I do want to specifically point at “The Great Beautician in the Sky” – I think the idea of God as a beautician, pampering people with makeup (religion) as a sort of society-approving temptation is a really fascinating bit of imagery. The song doesn’t really spell that out, but that’s what I took it as. Vocally, while I do think it takes a bit of time to get used to the slightly nasally tones of Howard Devoto, once you settle in, his vocals do end up sounding alright, especially by the back half of the album. It is still the weakest aspect here, but it’s not THAT bad. There are points where he overdoes some of the scratchier / aggressive tones, but that’s just a quirk to get used to. If nothing else, he’s usually got the right mood in his voice to get the emotions of the track across. I know vocal control to indicate tone should be second nature, but there’s a lot of post-punk albums we’ve gotten where the vocalists just feel sort of samey throughout, so even a bit of exaggerated emotion is better than sticking to a default setting. Ultimately, I think they all blend together well. The witty songwriting covers for some of the odd vocal moments, and when the songwriting itself feels a bit too clever or confusing, the instrumental energy of the album more than covers for that. It’s a super satisfying 41 minutes if you just kinda loosen up & let yourself get into it, with a lot of variety across the board. After you get past the slightly long outro of “Burst”, the album really opens itself up, with the final 4 tracks being my favorite ones here. I love an album that feels bigger the longer it goes, & this fits the bill nicely. Hence, a 5, and a pretty strong 5 at that. It certainly feels like a seminal post-punk album, and I’m glad it’s on the list.
This album is one the foundations of post-punk. And as an avid post-punk enjoyer, I was kind of surprised that (1) I never heard of this record and (2) (obviously) never heard this record. Yeah... this album is great. I don't think it is up there with some acts that owe a lot of their sound to this album. But nonetheless this is a seminal album.
Liked it, only about halfway through will have to go back 3.6 stars 6.9/10
I seemed to be only getting rubbish albums lately and this was another one!
First impression was that I didn't like the vocals but it quickly grew on me. Great musicianship, sounds ahead of its time
How did this website know that I've been going through a huge post-punk phase lately? I like very much, even if the vocals sound a bit pedo-ey. Shot By Both Sides is especially great.
I'd never heard of this band/album before, which is strange because I do like the music. The first song started off a bit meh but Shot By Both Sides sounds sort of like a titletrack for a more action-filled Bond movie, I really like it. The song after reminds me more of something you'd hear in a skate video, quite uptempo and alternative but not too loud. Many of the tracks have this feeling really. Overall this is probably the first time I've liked the music of a band that is described as post-punk.
Was too young for this when released. Heard of them (and Devoto / Barry Adamson) but not explored. Opening Synth heavy track was catchy. Shot By Both Sides sounded like a Stranglers song. Recoil is a less tuneful edgier Buzzcocks. Then much more post punk artsy Burst and Motorcade. A bit different overall with some mildly interesting or weird experimentation - e.g. Fairground intro and annoying intonation in Great Beautician track. The Light Pours Out of Me was decent - a bit goth like. Overall not quite enough for a 4 for me.
Above average Wire-y angular post-punk
I was vaguely aware of Magazine without having consciously ever listened to them before. I was admittedly a bit thrown with the 2007 release date on Spotify, as I was thinking it’s a really good nod to the early 80s postpunk scene. Turns out that it was a ‘79 release, a classic of its genre, and a big influence on the movement. I can see why. It’s a really good album which kept me engaged throughout. Well until the last song that is which I felt was a bit of a let down and a weak sign off. Easy 4.
It was ok, but not really my thing
This was really close to a 3 for me, but just missed because of the art-house inspired songs that I didn't really dig. I like the Buzzcocks better, but there are some good songs on this album that are mostly buried in the last bit of the album. Shot by Both Sides is easily the best song on the album.
Trop punk pour moi
I will not include the bonus tracks from the 2007 remastered edition in this review. I had at least heard of the English post-punk group Magazine before; their single "The Light Pours Out on Me" from their debut album was later covered by Ministry. Formed by frontman Howard Devoto after he left Buzzcocks, and also featuring a young Barry Adamson on bass in the original lineup, the band would become highly influential, and Real Life would be considered one of the first British post-punk records. How does it hold up decades later? I can certainly say this is a real kooky record, complete with squelching synthesizers, John McGeogh's crunchy guitar riffs, Barry's thick bass lines, Martin Jackson's tight percussive beats, and Howard's rowdy talk-singing vocals. The tracks here are stacked with distinct and memorable hooks, all the while Howard described the seedy underbelly of his view of society with such dark, twisted lyrical imagery. Songs like "Shot by Both Sides", "Motorcade", "My Tulpa", and the aforementioned "The Light Pours Out on Me" effectively captured the lingering danger in this world. That said, I'm not sure every track fully gripped me. I wasn't into the carnival-esque waltz that opens "The Great Beautician in the Sky", or how slurred Howard's delivery was on "Recoil", even if the fast-paced instrumental composition was stellar save for the stilted outro. Still, I enjoyed Real Life and can recognize how instrumental Magazine was for the post-punk genre and the acts that would follow.
Started strong, if a little weird, but it got too punky for my tastes. A lot of timeless shouting over noisy instruments
punk. trippy. psychedelic. rock.
Could easily be a contemporary rock band. Really holds up well.
Apparently this is my 13th postpunk album out of 183. That seems like altogether far too many. The best parts of this album reminded me of Midnight Oil (who apparently aren't represented in this list...how can we sleep while this injustice goes unrectified?). The worse parts of this album just reminded me that this wasn't Midnight Oil. I still don't know what postpunk is, but based on my ratings, one unifying characteristic of postpunk albums is that if Brian Eno wasn't involved in their production I will distain them. Anyway, this album was pretty good!
Never mind the Magazine.
Stick with the vocals if it's not something you usually listen to and feel out the vibes before dropping this album - it's a certified banger! Best = Burst Skip = The great beautician in the sky
Pretty good! 3.5/5
cover is better than the music
it was ok
This one was a great surprise. I hadn't really heard anything by these guys and this album just hit right. Like a mix of the Buzzcocks, early XTC, all with a punkish sheen. Interesting that the 3 bonus tracks are more like accessible singles (including a cover of "Goidfinger") while the album proper is artier and a little more angular and weird. I enjoyed this so much that I listened again. "Shot on Borh Sides" is a great song and there are lots of sonic details throughout these songs that really drew me in and worked on me. Loved this one.
A really different record. Was thinking to myself "this sounds like a bizarro Buzzcocks" until I looked more into them and learned it was a couple of the same guys. Seems they kept the Buzzcocks energy and combined with some artsier American influences, like Television and Talking Heads. I'm into it, would definitely listen again
Great - liked this and had never heard about this album. Exactly the reason why I am doing travelling through this (very strange to say the least) list.
Idk, I didn't connect with this one at all
Couple songs I enjoyed! Really liked the first few off the album
A surprisingly good one. How have I never heard of them before?
Post punk art rock. OK. 3/5
mIiid
This was decent arty punk but nothing mindblowing
Quite enjoyed this one, and it would have scored higher if not for the pretty awful vocals. The actual music was really good and better than I expected, as I'm usually not a fan of post-punk stuff. 2.5/5
Didn't have a long listen, seemed interesting, but sounded uncomfortable at times.
Strange band. Punk/ rock?
Some more of that late '70s turn-of-the-decade wacky experimentalism, cool and enough to be enjoyed for a listen
Debated between 1 and 2 stars, really didn't enjoy or feel inspired by almost any track
Very much a mixed bag of some great songs and some that felt a bit underwhelming.
Never previously heard of them, but this is good stuff
yesssssssss
I like it. Sounds a bit like early punk? But very raw and still clean at the same time
This one's pretty decent overall. It doesn't sound like the 70's (not that the 70's necessarily sound bad, it just feels ahead of its time). It's got some cool tracks but a few are weaker. There's some really great guitar motifs. Favorite tracks: "Burst," "The Light Pours Out of Me"
This album will take some time to get into, I think. Even though Shot By Both Sides is a fantastic song, I prefer Devoto’s work with Buzzcocks,
weird
This is the kind of experience I’m hoping for every time I get a new album. Completely new to me, never would have stumbled upon it myself, kind of weird, totally enjoyable.
nice enough
pretty listenable. wiki mentions this as one of the first post-punk new wave albums. i dont hate it.
Distinct for its time, bud does not age well
"Guys! Guys! I got a synthesizer!" "What does it sound like?" /eyes wide, looking wildly about "Like the FUTURE" "Radical! What should we do with it?" "Well, you know how we all agree that The Doors are the best and deepest and coolest band ever?" /others in unison "Yes." "What if we made a record that was trying to sound like them, but, like, more circus-y." /unison "Yes!" "But every now and then I wanna put some up-tempo kickass guitar riffs in there to make it just barely tolerable." /unison "Awwwwww..." "But don't worry, we'll layer the guitar with way more effects than necessary, and the whole thing will still be tedious and faux deep." /unison "Fiiiiiiine."
It's been a rough run lately, very few over 2 stars.
This is not for me
Eccentric post-punk. Not really for me, but not bad either.
Apparently I have listened to this album before, though I don't really remember it. I had already saved a couple songs to my likes on Spotify. I think I was expecting a little too much from this. After reading a couple reviews I was sure I would love this album a lot. A few songs in and I'm not exactly sold. I really do like it but I'm not quite to the 'oh man I love this and will listen to more from them' point yet. I ended up really liking this a lot. I don't think it is a perfect album but as I listened I liked it more and more. I can see why people say it was ahead of its time, but maybe just by a few years. I'll definitely revisit this one to see if I was just off at first or if this is a better/worse album than I thought. As of right now I call it a 4/5.
Like it, can't see me relistening often. But glad it found me.
twas aight
Post-Punk New-Wave Art-Rock. The genre Art-Rock usually indicates that the band are a bunch of pretentious students and they have to be good to pull it off, for example Roxy Music (who, apparently, were one of the influences for this band). I'm not convinced that they manage to pull it off, but it's not a complete disaster. For me, the best track on the album was "The Light Pours Out of Me".
I listen to maybe more than half of it and liked it, I added it to my library.
Early post punk? I like it!
I've never listened to this album (66). Closer to punk than post-punk, which is always a good thing.
seems like the post-punk classic but it was just okay to me.
A classic punk style record I enjoyed a lot. What surprised me the most was the amount of brass, it was weird but it fit well. I liked it a lot. 8/10
Magazines are one of those bands where all the elements are there fully formed from the start. The artiness, the considerable technical abilities and the distinct musical personalities of the four are all on display. Whilst they certainly develop and grow in their craft over the following years, this is a confident debut. They have a plan and they’re going to put it into practice. You can hear influence besides punk; Berlin era Bowie stalks the tracks and Roxie Music have something to answer for. Sonically it’s very early 80s, attitudinally it’s new wave, overall it’s not quite like anything else.
Fab album. Enjoyed alot. I really like the Buzzcocks but had not realized the connection and had only listened to Shot by Both Sides previously. Fav track Definitive Gaze.
Real Life I had a period a few years back when I was quite into this album, maybe off the back of Howard Devoto’s appearance in 24 Hour Party People. I think I may even have it on vinyl somewhere in the loft. But it’s been a while since I’ve listened to it, although Shot by Both Sides is a playlist staple, and it’s nice to be reminded what an interesting album it is, a great intersection of punk and post punk with 70s art rock influenced synths and keyboards - there’s obviously a bit of Buzzcocks to it, but also a nice bit of Bowie and Roxy Music amid the scratchy, abrasive guitars and rhythms. Definitive Gaze is a great opener, some Dancing Queen-esque piano, some Eno-esque synth, some chugging guitars, melodic bass and a sneerful vocal all make it a brilliant track. Shot By Both Sides is of course a classic post punk track, a great, urgent riff with an excellent bass and organ underpinning. Burst is great too with elements of Low, elements of Bowie in general and elements of early 70s classic rock. I love The Light Pours Out of Me, particularly the big bass sound and that guitar hook. And Parade is probably the most overt nod to For Your Pleasure era Roxy Music, a great wonky bit of arty synth-post punk, with some middle eastern atmospheres. I like how it’s clearly a post punk album in attitude and spirit, but it pulls on loads of elements of pre-punk and pop music - the vocal melodies may not always be that catchy but the organ, synths, bass and guitars add lots of great, memorable hooks. It’s right in my sweetspot, so it's a 5 for me. 📔📔📔📔📔 Playlist submission: It’s Shot By Both Sides really, although I was particularly struck by Definitive Gaze on this occasion.
I was looking forward to an album of new-wave meets garage guitar rock, much like the excellent 'Shot by Both Sides', the one song here I knew. It's a lot more focused on the new-wave elements of synth, with dubby bass and a touch of ska ('My Tulpa') than I had imagined. There is that conspicuous element of the glam rock running through this, amongst the more crepuscular undertones. It's a fantastic album, brimming with much more idiosyncratic character than I had expected. It is much more than post-punk, new-wave rock, whatever you want to call it. A great distillation of different types of 70s altern-rock with a heavy dose of the dark carnival.
I feel like if I had listened to this on a different day I might put it in the 4-5 range, but today I found the vocals annoying and I couldn't always vibe with the music. But again, I think I'm just not in the mood to fully appreciate this record today. 2.7
Not unenjoyable - worth another listen
Good sound, I can hear a lot of influences on more modern bands. But not my cup of tea personally and not taking anything to the hit list.
I love British post punk, but this was just kinda "meh"
It is hard to believe that an album released in 1978 can be distinctively post-punk and can still feel at home with contemporary music in this genre almost 50-years later. We listened to this album several times over the weekend and we just kept commenting on how much we loved the music. It is easy to see the influence of this album on much of the music I’ve fallen in love with over the years. The tunes on Real Life are groundbreaking, deceptively complex. A great pick for this list and a solid album.
This album is so much demented fun, right off the bat there’s a weird mix of post punk and synths that crashes into a beautiful piano jingle. A shout out to Shot by Both Sides - it’s is one of my all time favorite tracks. For fans of Diamond Dogs era Bowie and Siouxsie and the Banshees. It sounds like a funhouse of swirling dystopian 80s ideals presaged in the late 70s and writ large. Real Life is indescribably filthy.
Scooby doo ass haunted house music
3.0 (41:24, 9 tracks in original 1978 format (couldn't find), 13 in the 2007 remastered, debut album) Basically, Magazine is spinoff after the Buzzcocks broke up - Howard Devoto created a more progressive sound now known as "post-punk" (then new wave or artistic rock). They released only 3 albums before breaking up in 1981 and the lead guitarist forming another spin off Siouxsie and the Banshees, Deveto formed a less successful solo project.) Better in headphones. I have to respect how groundbreaking this was at the time as the 'post punk' genre had not been invented yet but overall there wasn't anything I loved. I'd listen to it again.
No es un mal álbum para nada, puedo guardarme alguna canción para el futuro
Magazine were always a bit too prog for me to really get into them, but they had a few great tunes, and Devoto's sharp lyrics and languid presence hide a few sins in places too. The opener, Shot and The Light Pours Out Of Me alone make this a classic, but I struggle with some of the other tracks here - brave given the times, but a bit too grandiose for me.
A really interesting record, released between punk and the rise of post-punk. _Pre-post-punk?_ Art house gets a bad press when it comes to music. But Real Life shows that it needn't be up its own arse. Shot By Both Sides amplifies the fucked by left and right message throughout. No future, etc.
Never heard this (or heard of it) before. Probably not a good sign than I thought they were German. I've heard worse though, tbh.
Tight tight tight. Hyperactive melodic bass gives this a relentless propulsive energy, powerful high-up the neck dirty rhythm guitar bursts into surprisingly rock solos and melodic lead parts. Lots of tension building up and up then bursting out into a big major chorus. Some basic 1st gen punk songs as starting points but too much chaos and musicality to stick to that formula - instead they get weird and artsy. Absolutely rips.
Probably getting 4 stars because I was so surprised I didn't hate it.
We have had some dreadful British post-punk lately. However I quite enjoyed this album.
Wait, 1970s UK post-punk can actually be enjoyable?
Sharp choppy wiry punk. Exciting. The light Pours Out Of Me is God Tier.
When it comes to give 5 stars, this software tends to reinforce my already existing biases. I'll for sure rate with ***** Rust In Peace or Reign in Blood, because they are my all time favourites. Then if I discover that I love everything by Bowie or Waits I'll probably be biased to rate them with 5 out of 5 (or maybe 4 in the worst scenario) because I'm already convinced that I really dig that artist. Even for artists that I don't know but are legendary, I won't be able to escape the bias. This happened with Sam Cooke. Man, did I like that damned live album! With this Magazine album, nevertheless, have happened a totally different thing. I didn't know about them. I don't know if they are a cult band (like Television for example, talk about media...). I absolutely know nothing about the band. But I've dig the album thoroughly! This is an amazing album of "after-punk" (?) but to me is much more than that. It have an amazing horns sound, catchy songs, more punki ones (one of them even resounded like Voivod's Dimension Hatröss!!). I'll keep this album as one of my main discoveries using this software.
Some solid rock and roll. Never heard of these guys, but I liked their style.
Very much from what I would consider the "smarter" end of the punk spectrum (Buzzcocks obvs, Stranglers etc) with Devoto's unique choppy snarling vocals powering everything along. Gets a little bit samey, but "Shot By Both Sides" is an absolute masterpiece that is worthy of a re-listen any time. The drum build into the chorus that then just keeps going..........*chefs kiss*
In my music, I like to be able to at the very least understand if not wholly relate to / sympathize with the lyrical content of a song. I wasn't getting a ton of that here, probably due to my lack of familiarity with post punk, so it's down a star because of it. However, with lots of fun riffs and other weirdness that didn't make a ton of sense but tickled the ear, I think I'll be returning to a few of what's here. An enjoyable ride despite my qualms with the vocals
*1978. English post-punk. *Sounds very The Clash and like it could be in the sequels of a horror/halloween film franchise. *Fun to listen to in small doses. RATING - 5.5/10
New to me
puike post punk
Never heard of this band - but was excited to see they are an offshoot of the Buzzcocks. That first riff hooked me - it's rad !!! As it went on it was ok ... not earth shattering but pleasantly different
Just very bad
Umm. Pass.
Some of it was kinda cool. Was hoping to enjoy it a bit more.
Had they know print media would be dying in a few decades time, do you think they’d have chosen a different name?
Really enjoyed it compared to the last punk album. 4/5
oh, its an associate of nick cave. seems like the streak happily continues... and also 1978? wdym that this album was released in 1978? it sound like a blend of every post punk and new wave album but it is not released in the 80s? wtf 4/5
Never knew of the band and that it was by former Buzzcocks. No wonder it's good
The pink attitude voice was perfected two decades before this.
SHOT BY BOTH SIIIIIIIIIDES
Some songs I liked, some I was hoping would be over soon. Reminds me of the Clash.
As far as art rock goes, it wasn't bad I guess. I didn't have strong feelings one way or the other.
This isn't what I wanted to start my Monday morning with. If this were Friday afternoon I'd probably have liked them more. Very reminiscent of The Damned.
Wild
Did not care for it
Rv
mikäs näissä brittirokkenrolli bändeissä on? Ihan kuunneltavaa tämäkin meininki.
Not for me.
Yeah, this is just shit isn't it?
A little Bowie-esque at times
Fine. But a little lacking in personality
This one feels halloween-y! Love the harpsichord ish synths and sort of goth-wave stylings. I can't describe it well, but there's something a little bit musical theater about it too. Like in the song "Parade."
This was a cool Bowie-esque punk rock discovery. Rating it a ‘4’ so it stands out but would really prefer to go with ‘3.5.’
Du rock
M’oui… c’est sympa, j’oublierai
Plutôt ma came! J'aime bien le mélange rock expérimental, pas mal de bonnes pistes 4/5
Very solid album, some standout songs. Mid 4.
Back to the post punk albums. Shot by Both Sides is a banger
Enjoyed this, but wanted more from it
I enjoyed this. Some bangers. It's the baseline of what I enjoy but doesn't fully scratch an itch. 3.5* in reality
Great stuff, I want to buy a synth now
Not my favourite, but it did sound good.
I had never heard of Magazine before. After listening to this album, I think I would’ve been fine never having heard them. I didn’t hate the album, but I didn’t connect with it at all. I found some of the instrumentation and rhythms enjoyable, but I didn’t like the vocals. For the diverse sounds the album offers, I found it to be quite boring overall. Thankfully, it’s only 42 minutes. Definitely won’t revisit this one.
I quite liked the guitar lines on this
My Spotify premium finished today, so it was difficult to listen to the whole album in one go... But even then I wasn't too impressed.
Dave Formula's keyboards absolutely make this band - shimmery and grimy and stately and wild and everything in between, as the mood suits him. The keys propel this slab of Tense Britannica with high energy throughout - even the lulls, as on the first half of "The Great Beautician in the Sky," have a purpose. "Shot by Both Sides" proves they can rock plenty. And while I'm not certain that Howard Devoto's thoughts are *quite* as original and insightful as he thinks they are, that doesn't mean he has nothing to say. "The smart ones understand how your heart bursts," he sings with veracity on "Burst." Think of this as a companion piece to the first couple Specials albums in the same way that a Matisse compliments a Picasso.
Completely bounced off me and sounded like so much else I've already heard here.
what a collection of songs placed together to make an album. Kool. I wish other such talented folk could do so! ]I guess I am just not feeling it[
Shot by Both Sides, Motorcade, Light Pours Out of Me were all saved, great songs. Rest were fine. Will return to those songs but not the album.
Un álbum olvidable y poco relevante. No me parece malo, creo que está bien grabado e interpretado, pero no es un gran aporte a la lista de álbumes para escuchar antes de morir. Supongo que pesa el gusto personal en este caso, ya que el post punk no es de mis estilos favoritos, pero álbumes dentro de este género que sí me gustan, y este no es el caso. No encuentro un aporte particularmente destacable en este álbum.
I feel like this music would be cool in an old turn base rpg during boss fights. Thats about it.
It was fun and different. They were a little edgy in a good way.
This gave me Television vibes. I think it’s interesting and I enjoyed it greatly, but on first listen it sounded like every other band from that time period. After discovering how influential Magazine were on Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Simple Minds and Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, I gave it another spin to listen deeply from those bands’ perspective, which helped me to appreciate this album far more.
This album had really good energy, and I liked how artsy and abstract it felt. Definitely one I want to come back to again!
Only ever heard shot by both sides before … this was unexpectedly excellent 👍
I can't listen to someone 'sing' like that for more than five minutes
pretty good
I thought I had never heard of this band. Until 'Shot By Both Sides' came on. Ah yes I remember that. I wonder why they didn't break into the bigtime because a lot of this album is really good. Though it kinda loses its way towards the end. Solid.
What a journey. From the very opening choords this was interesting, but I'm not sure I was ready for where this was going. Solid 5.
I like it. It’s unusual and loud. But it actually makes you feel something when listening to it. That’s pretty special. I feel like there’s so many similar albums that have tried so hard to achieve the meaning and sense of direction that this album has, that have simply just created a meaningless mess of melodies they haven’t bothered to turn into a proper song and stupid spat out lyrics and titles that are trying to make them seem poetical and listening to them just annoys you. But this album is good.
I love Buzzcocks and I love post-punk so really surprised I've never heard this band before. A pretty great album but "The Great Beautician In The Sky" is pretty bad, almost Sex Pistols "Who Killed Bambi?" bad. This album was really ahead of it's time, post-punk before punk had even got off the ground.
I understand where this comes from and where it's going, but it's a style that's just not for me. Great energy, fun guitar licks, but the vocals kill it. There's nothing happening here that The Clash doesn't do better.
Cool sound thought it was going to be way duller
The instrumentals were good! The rest was pretty generic brit-rock
With this group sometimes you come across something truly unique. Magazine has done that here. From spacey beats to wild post punk lyrics. They have crafted an album that truly stands out to me.
What a slog. Most times the instrumentals were interesting, but the singer was just so damn generic. Brit punk vibes, but really not it for me.
I had no clue what to think heading into this album, and I was impressed. It started off strong and tasteful with the first couple tracks (the synth on "Definitive Gaze" was hot), then it just kinda petered down I felt. Didn't hold up on my initial thoughts. All in all, still solid. Just didn't hold up throughout.
One of the bands I know, but haven't heard enough of. Such a cool album.
2.18
Short, sharp and pogoable - just what you want from a punk album
A bona fide classic album. Alongside the likes of The Fall, Gang of Four, Wire et al. this band were a cornerstone of the weird, off-kilter post punk style which would inspire countless later acts. This is their best work and an album which sounds head and shoulders above the vast majority of anything else which was doing the rounds at the time, in terms of its production values and innovation.
Listenable
I always thought the name of the genre Post Punk was a bit misleading. Most bands or albums that are described as Post Punk really don't feel very connected to punk music at all. Real Life by Magazine somewhat connected the dots for me. I saw this album described as "the first Post Punk album." As an arbitrary classification of a genre that's obviously impossible to prove, but I did hear the lingering gritty vibes of the early British punk scene while listening to this - probably due in part to their close connection to Buzzcocks. While this album did totally connect the dots for me between Post Punk and Punk music, there were still elements that felt just a bit dated and cheesy. I also think I may be a bit over saturated on this genre at this point , I might have loved this album if I was listening to it another day.
Oh man, another great post-punk discovery! I can't believe I'd never heard of Magazine, but this is an absolutely amazing album! I feel like this album really straddles the line between angsty post-punk and gothic new wave, which is just perfect for me and is made all the more impressive considering they’re one of the early post-punk/new wave acts.