From Amazon.co.uk
Howard Devoto's more arty and intellectual inclinations were never likely to be accommodated by a band as formulaic and reductive--though utterly marvellous--as
The Buzzcocks. Devoto left Pete Shelley to it shortly after
Orgasm Addict and founded Magazine with guitarist John McGeoch (later of
Siouxsie & The Banshees and
Public Image Ltd) and bassplayer
Barry Adamson (later of
Visage and
Nick Cave's Bad Seeds, as well as distinguishing himself as a solo artist). As might be guessed from the later careers of the personnel involved, Magazine were and remain a terrifically influential band, whose determined wedding of punkish energy with the art-school delusions of
Roxy Music has been echoed since by
Blur,
Elastica,
The Auteurs and
Happy Mondays, among many others. That said,
Real Life--Magazine's debut album--has not weathered the passing of the years all that well. By far the best thing on it is the anthemic single "Shot By Both Sides", and it is of somewhat dubious parentage, credited to Devoto/Shelley. The rest of the album--with the arguable exception of "The Light Pours Out Of Me"--bears the unmistakable awkwardness that comes of being created by people whose ambitions, at this early stage, are beyond the grasp of their abilities. --
Andrew Mueller
Album Details
Import pressing of Magazine's debut album features the original nine tracks, including the anthemic single, 'Shot By Both Sides'. EMI.
