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Title: Not the best; still better than most.
Review: All Set, the 1996 studio album by the Buzzcocks, is a strong outing that's marred by shaky production. Perhaps producer Neill King was going for the sound of the classic 1970s Martin Rushent-produced Buzzcocks records, but the weak bottom end that results only makes All Set seem dated. If I want that sound (but with better songwriting), I'll put on Singles Going Steady! The Buzzcocks made the right move in having bassist Tony Barber helm the followup to All Set, 1999's Modern.All Set's highlights include Kiss and Tell, What You Mean To Me, and the touching Steve Diggle contribution Back With You. Like all the Buzzcocks' 1990s output (and despite some of Pete Shelley's corniest lyric-writing ever), this is better music than at least 80 per cent of what's out there. And at its best moments, it is transcendent.
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