Customer Reviews

Homosapien

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Pete Shelley sheds his punk image in favor of a nu-wave look and sound that was quite a departure from what he was doing with the Buzzcocks. This 1981 release was not only an instant hit on late night MTV during the first year of its excistence (with the video smash "Homosapien"), but a college radio sensation as well. A great number of Buzzcock fans became disappointed and disenchanted by what they perceived as Shelley jumping on the Gary Numan bandwagon. However, this post-modern classic garnered him even more fans than he originally had. Shelley's lyrics remain just as cold, disjointed and disgruntled as they ever were, only now they're placed much more in the forefront of his sound instead of being just an afterthought like they were with the noise he was making with the Buzzcocks. Tracks like "I Generate A Feeling" and the relentless "I Don't Know What Love Is" is mere confirmation of this testament. "It's Hard Enough Knowing" rounds out this post-punk masterpiece. Also not to be missed is Shelley's schizophrenic in-your-face cover of Steppenwolf's The Pusher ie; "Pusher Man". Pete Shelley's Homosapien is the pure definition of what the Reagan/Thatcher era sounded like, and a brilliant observation of the 80's "ME" generation values. "Homosuperior in my interior"...you can't get any more narcissistic than that!

olofpalme63

Good grief, am I THAT OLD? This is yet another album that has brought back loads of good memories of a youth gone by...& hair! Once the lead singer with the Buzzcocks, this is Pete Shelleys move into the Synth age...Some of the tracks work, but Punk it is not!

While it was not his first outing with electronic music: he had previously produced the unlisteneble droning LP Sky Yen, this was quite a surprise. Coming after the buzzsaw punk of the buzzcocks, Steve Shelley produced a very fresh LP of electronic music. While his pop sensibility is the same as during his tenure in the Buzzcocks this was entirely another thing. Beautifully produced electronic pop punk. The next one was not as good even if it would be slightly better produced (XL1).

we love Pete Shelly. This IS an 80s record, but so what, it is as good as any Buzzcocks recording, just a little more homo...sapien.