The Way (Buzzcocks album)

Last updated

The Way
Buzzcocks-theway.jpg
Studio album by
Released1 May 2014
Studio
  • New Rose Studios, London
  • Great Eastern Studios, London
Genre Pop punk
Length36:19
Label
Producer
Buzzcocks chronology
Flat-Pack Philosophy
(2006)
The Way
(2014)
Sonics in the Soul
(2022)
Singles from The Way
  1. "It's Not You"
    Released: 2014
  2. "In the Back"
    Released: 2015
  3. "The Way"
    Released: 2015

The Way is the ninth studio album by English punk rock band Buzzcocks, released digitally on 1 May 2014 via PledgeMusic for pledgers only. It was released by 1-2-3-4 Go! Records as a digital download on 6 October with a physical release on 18 November. It is the first Buzzcocks album with bassist Chris Remmington and drummer Danny Farrant, [1] and the final album to feature Pete Shelley before his death in 2018. It was followed by Sonics in the Soul in 2022, which was the first album from the band released after Shelley's death and thus saw long-time guitarist and occasional co-vocalist Steve Diggle perform all vocals.

Contents

Background

The band wrote a message on their website:

We've teamed up with PledgeMusic to give you privileged access to pre-order the new album plus other premium items such as the new album on signed CD or vinyl, the chance to attend a VIP "meet and greet" and even a signed guitar. Each and every one of these items and experiences comes with a high quality digital download of our ninth studio album, plus bonus tracks exclusive to PledgeMusic!

The new album will be officially released to the public in the summer but by pre-ordering you'll get your copy much sooner. Throughout the pre-order period, you'll also get free access to our 'Pledgers Only' updates here on PledgeMusic where you will be able to enjoy a load of exclusive extras, videos from the studio, interviews, demos and much, much more [...] In addition to this, pledges will benefit Teenage Cancer Trust to help them continue the incredible work they do. So as you can see, there are so many great reasons to be a part of our new album from the outset. Thanks again for all your support over the years, Pete, Steve, Danny & Chris Buzzcocks

2014

5% of any money raised after the goal is reached will go to Teenage Cancer Trust.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 67/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Consequence of Sound B− [4]
Entertainment Weekly B [5]
Exclaim! 6/10 [6]
musicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Paste 8/10 [8]
Pitchfork Media 5.8/10 [9]
PopMatters 5/10 [10]
Wondering Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, The Way has an average score of 67 out of 100, which indicates "generally favorable" reception based on 12 reviews. [12]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Keep On Believing" Pete Shelley 2:54
2."People Are Strange Machines" Steve Diggle 3:31
3."The Way"Shelley3:12
4."In the Back"Diggle3:41
5."Virtually Real"Shelley3:35
6."Third Dimension"Diggle4:33
7."Out of the Blue"Shelley3:47
8."Chasing Rainbows" / "Modern Times"Diggle3:21
9."It's Not You"Shelley, Danny Farrant 2:42
10."Saving Yourself"Diggle5:03
Bonus tracks available on 'Pledger's Only' version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Disappointment" (Demo)Shelley2:11
12."Generation Suicide" (Demo)Diggle3:47
13."Happen" (Demo)Shelley2:35
14."Dream On Baby" (Demo)Diggle6:23

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes. [13]

Buzzcocks

Technical

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References

  1. Kreps, Daniel (17 September 2014). "Listen to Buzzcocks' Electrifying New Track 'It's Not You'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  2. "Reviews for The Way by Buzzcocks – Metacritic". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  3. Deming, Mark. "The Way – Buzzcocks". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. Brennan, Collin (18 November 2014). "Buzzcocks – The Way". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  5. Vain, Madison (22 November 2014). "The Way Review". Entertainment Weekly . Time Inc. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. Slingerland, Calum (17 November 2014). "Buzzcocks – The Way". Exclaim! . Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  7. Dowden, Neil (10 November 2014). "Buzzcocks – The Way". musicOMH . Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  8. G. Gaar, Gillian (18 November 2014). "Buzzcocks: The Way Review". Paste . Wolfgang's Vault . Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  9. Heller, Jason (21 November 2014). "Buzzcocks: The Way". Pitchfork Media.
  10. L. Murphy, John (17 November 2014). "Buzzcocks: The Way". Popmatters . Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  11. Partridge, Kenneth (18 November 2014). "Buzzcocks, The Way". Wondering Sound. eMusic . Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  12. The Way by Buzzcocks , retrieved 20 April 2023
  13. Buzzcocks (2014). The Way (Album liner notes). 1-2-3-4 Go! Records. 1234CD35.