Buzzcocks Attitude Adjustment
Buzzcocks's Attitude Adjustment arrives as a jaunty, guitar-driven statement that balances legacy with reinvention, earning a broadly favorable critical reception. Across seven professional reviews the record garnered a 67/100 consensus score, and critics point repeatedly to melodic punk hooks and a willingness to twist expectations as the album's chief strengths. Critics consistently name “Queen Of The Scene”, “Jesus At The Wheel” and “Break That Ball And Chain” among the best songs on Attitude Adjustment, while “Attitude Adjustment” itself and “Heavy Streets” receive notice for their immediacy and riff-driven identity.
Reviewers praise the continuity of the line-up and the way Steve Diggle's rasp reshapes the Buzzcocks sound, framing the album as continuity and legacy rather than mere nostalgia. Several critics underline the record's diversity of styles - rockabilly flourishes on “Queen Of The Scene”, Motown-leaning grooves on “Break That Ball And Chain”, and acoustic protest touches on “All Gone To War” - arguing that those genre experiments reward repeated listens. At the same time some reviews register reserve: while many applaud energetic songwriting and catchy refrains, a few note that the shift in vocal character and production choices make parts feel less like a straight return to 1976 and more like a forward-looking, if uneven, reinvention.
The consensus suggests Attitude Adjustment will satisfy longtime fans and curious newcomers seeking the best tracks on the record, offering standout moments of pop-punk catchiness and thoughtful stylistic detours. Below, detailed reviews map where critics agree and where the album provokes debate within the Buzzcocks' catalogue.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Attitude Adjustment
1 mention
"new favourite tunes"— Buzz Magazine
unknown (album songs generally)
1 mention
"Every song is vibrant and energetic"— Buzz Magazine
Heavy Streets
3 mentions
"Heavy Streets too – sounds like Tin Machine rather than Buzzcocks."— Louder Than War
new favourite tunes
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Queen Of The Scene
Games
Seeing Daylight
Poetic Machine Gun
Tear Of A Golden Girl
Heavy Streets
One Of The Universe, Pt. 1
All Gone To War
One Of The Universe, Pt. 2
Jesus At The Wheel
Just A Dream I Followed
Feeling Uptight
Break That Ball And Chain
The Greatest Of Them All
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 7 critics who reviewed this album
Bu
Critic's Take
In her brisk, celebratory tone Amy Ford presents Buzzcocks's Attitude Adjustment as a joyous nod to 1976, singling out its new favourite tunes like “Attitude Adjustment” and the endlessly catchy refrains that make the best songs on Attitude Adjustment stick. Ford writes with jaunty affection, noting that every song is vibrant and energetic, which makes the best tracks on the record immediate and addictive. The review positions the album as both a nostalgic celebration and a fresh release, ideal for anyone searching for the best tracks on Attitude Adjustment or the best songs on Attitude Adjustment.
Key Points
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The best song(s) are those called out as "new favourite tunes" for their energy and stickiness.
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The album's core strengths are vintage 70s punk nostalgia, relentless energy, and highly replayable, catchy lyrics.
Themes
Critic's Take
In his characteristically cheeky, opinionated voice Ged Babey argues that Buzzcocks' Attitude Adjustment finds its best moments in songs that do not sound like textbook Buzzcocks - notably “Jesus At The Wheel” and “Heavy Streets”. He repeatedly praises the album's surprise elements and odd Dylan- and Bowie-ish echoes, celebrating invention over heritage. The review steers readers searching for the best songs on Attitude Adjustment toward those tracks that twist expectation and reveal Diggle's sly humour and melodic instincts. Overall the tone is warm, slightly bemused, and unmistakably Gad Babey - approving of risk and strange detours alike.
Key Points
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The best song is "Jesus At The Wheel" because it combines Diggle's melodic instincts with surprising Dylan/Bowie-like psych edges.
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The album's core strengths are surprise, invention and Diggle's willingness to depart from classic Buzzcocks templates.
Themes
Critic's Take
Buzzcocks return on Attitude Adjustment with a record that proves Steve Diggle remains a powerful force, and the best songs - notably “Jesus at the Wheel” and “Poetic Machine Gun” - bind punk bite to melodic heart. Badgley praises the album’s diversity, noting how “Queen of the Scene” leans pop with rockabilly flourishes while “Break That Ball and Chain” channels Motown strength. He frames the record as personal rather than political, and it is the melodic tracks that make the best songs on Attitude Adjustment stand out. The result is not a reinvention, but a brilliant continuation of the Buzzcocks' sound that rewards listeners seeking the album's best tracks.
Key Points
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The best song, "Jesus at the Wheel", binds melody and lyric to bring the album together.
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The album's core strengths are melodic punk-pop songwriting and a diversity of styles that keep the listener guessing.
Themes
Critic's Take
Buzzcocks return with a record that wears its history proudly, and on Attitude Adjustment the best songs - notably “Queen Of The Scene” and “Seeing Daylight” - feel like instant favourites that bridge 1978 energy with a contemporary bite. Jack Wilkie writes with appreciative authority, pointing out that “Queen Of The Scene” transports the listener back to 1978 while “Seeing Daylight” carries an insistent guitar that channels the Sex Pistols ghosts. The narrative is of a triumphant return, songs that nod to classic Buzzcocks pop-punk craft while admitting evolved, layered production. Overall the review recommends these standout tracks as the best songs on Attitude Adjustment for both longtime fans and a new generation.
Key Points
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The best song is “Queen Of The Scene” because it channels 1978 Buzzcocks energy and serves as an instant favourite.
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The album's core strengths are its mix of nostalgic punk roots and evolved, layered arrangements that connect legacy fans and a new generation.
Themes
Critic's Take
In a distinctly affectionate tone the reviewer frames Buzzcocks and their new record Attitude Adjustment as a continuation of an essential Manchester lineage, praising the album as a 14-track offering that will “delight fans.” The voice is celebratory and nostalgic, positioning songs like “Queen Of The Scene” and “Feeling Uptight” as part of the record’s charm and melodic punk-pop roots. There is an emphasis on continuity — the album is presented less as reinvention than as faithful service to the fanbase. The reviewer’s phrasing is straightforward and promotional, underscoring both history and present payoff for longtime listeners.
Key Points
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The best moments are valued for continuing Buzzcocks’ melodic punk-pop legacy rather than for radical innovation.
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The album’s core strength is faithful continuity that will satisfy longstanding fans of the band.
Themes
Re
Critic's Take
Buzzcocks' comeback on Attitude Adjustment feels like a rough-hewn reinvention, led by Diggle's rasp rather than Shelley's nasal charm. The reviewer singles out opener “Queen Of The Scene” for its "chunky, hypnotic, riffing whirr" and highlights “Jesus At The Wheel” and “Poetic Machine Gun” as notable cuts, even as they note differences in lyrical voice. Concise three-minute vignettes such as “Tear Of A Golden Girl” offer delicate counterpoints to the rip-roaring attack, giving listeners the best tracks on Attitude Adjustment to sample first. The tone is appreciative, emphasising successful noise and continuity rather than slavish copying of the past.
Key Points
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The best song, "Queen Of The Scene", is the standout opener for its hypnotic, riff-driven impact.
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The album's strengths are Diggle-led reinvention, tight three-piece noise, and brief vignettes that nod to the past without copying it.
Themes
Critic's Take
In a voice that still savours guitar detail, Buzzcocks on Attitude Adjustment deliver some of their best tracks yet, notably “Break That Ball And Chain” and “The Greatest Of Them All”, songs where Diggle's vocals and the band’s grooves truly land. The record leans into the classic double-tracked H&H riff while letting Diggle broaden the palette - Motown on “Break That Ball And Chain”, acoustic protest on “All Gone To War” and a Dylan salute in “Just A Dream I Followed”. For listeners asking "best songs on Attitude Adjustment" or "best tracks on Attitude Adjustment", these cuts best show Diggle’s blend of tradition and restless experimentation. The result feels like a confident onward step for the band rather than a nostalgic retread.
Key Points
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The best song is "Break That Ball And Chain" because its Motown groove and Diggle’s vocal make it a clear standout.
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The album’s core strengths are its preserved guitar identity and Diggle’s willingness to experiment with genres and observational songwriting.