Magazine “Real Life” released 45 years ago, in June 1978. Considered one of the first post-punk releases, Real Life was Magazine’s debut album (Magazine formed after Howard Devoto left the Buzzcocks in ’77). The record went to #29 in the UK and its rollicking single “Shot By Both Sides” hit #41. “Shot By Both Sides” is credited to both Devoto and Buzzcocks’ Pete Shelley: according to Wiki “The song originated in a riff that Shelley came up with when Devoto was helping him with some tentative Buzzcocks songs…An identical guitar riff was used in the song “Lipstick,” released by Buzzcocks as a B-side in November 1978, for which Devoto received a co-writing credit.”

Real Life is a great mix of snotty punk sensibility (and vocals courtesy of Devoto), especially on the breakneck track “Recoil” and new wave like on “My Tulpa” (brought by Dave Formula on keyboards). There’s also dashes of 60’s garage when the keyboards are tuned in more of the organ direction, some experimental/art-rock/prog nods on more relaxed-beat songs like “Burst,” and even a bit of dark goth (“Motorcade“). The song “The Light Pours Out of Me” combines all three of those vibes. Real Life did just so-so from a commercial standpoint but in retrospect has been recognized as a pioneer in the newly emerged post-punk genre and listed on many best-of lists (NME, The Guardian, Uncut).