lambchops's Full Review: (The Best Of) New Order by New Order
After lead singer Ian Curtis of Joy Division hanged himself in 1980, the remaining members of the band still had a desire to make music. Guitarist Bernard Sumner picked up the role of vocalist while bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris remained in position. The trio added Gillian Gilbert as keyboardist. The resulting band would come to be known as New Order.
Early in their career, New Order stayed away from synthesizers and true to their Joy Division roots. Yet, audiences didn’t buy the sound. It took until their third single (and subsequent offerings) before clubs grabbed hold of the synthesizer-laden dance tracks for their own use. British fans loved the music and helped to make each of New Order’s early LP’s a hit. It took until an album of remixes, 1987’s Substance, before Americans really picked up on the phenomenon.
(The Best of) New Order was released in 1995 by Qwest during the band’s long hiatus for the purpose of solo albums. In fact, New Order released no new material between 1993’s Republic and 2000’s Get Ready. Maybe that’s for the better, because what music fans are left with are some notable tracks and great memories. No washed-up wanna be New Wavers in sight.
This 1995 compilation manages to incorporate at least one track from each of their albums including just one from New Order’s earliest album (and most atypical) Movement. At the time of this release, the band’s most recent album was 1993’s Republic. As a result of that, there are three songs from the release included although the most come from Technique with four.
I’m not exactly one for experimenting with New Order and their lesser-known singles. Rather it seems that my favorite songs from this band are on this album. For example, I enjoy ”Blue Monday”, ”True Faith”, and Bizarre Love Triangle the most of all seventeen tracks. Sure, there are other bright spots like Age of Consent and Dreams Never End, but I still am drawn to the band’s biggest and for that matter most obvious hits.
Blue Monday 88’ always gives me chills. This is the mix that I know best from adolescence through today. It’s driving, upbeat, yet strangely mechanical and macabre. I suppose these qualities are the reason why Orgy chose to record the track a few years ago. New Order sounds nothing like any band today, something that makes it surprising to me that this song still sounds relevant.
My favorite track is, hands down, True Faith 94’. I love the melodic thumping of the synthesizers mixed with Sumner’s effortlessly lilting vocals. Beginning as an understated statement, the song picks up to a mild frenzy at the chorus. Another outstanding aspect of this song is the lyrical content. It’s never expected that the words will be profound in New Wave music. But, with this track there appears to be some real emotion. If you don’t recall this track, check out the chorus…it really is what makes this song:
I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
Bizarre Love Triangle is one of New Order’s biggest hits. Once again, the track is chock full of synthesizers and drum machines. But, as with the other two tracks I’ve spoken about I feel that there is some actual musical content to the track. This aspect is sorely lacking in some of the more uninspired offerings on this album and by this artist and from other artists altogether.
One more thing. Not all of these songs are worthwhile listens. The album does at times go overboard. For big New Order fans I’m sure that all seventeen tracks can be appreciated. For moderate fans (like me), songs like Regret and World are big departures from the sound that initially made New Order a success. There are actually real instruments. That’s not a bad thing, but when the song is just a mediocre throwback to 1985 it proves clichéd and trite.
There are other songs that people should recognize. For example, Round and Round and Love Vigilantes are both decent tracks although I get little joy out of them. New Order put together some of the most impressive dance tracks of the 1980’s. By the time the 1990’s came around, their previously popular style was extinct. This album is a nice ode to things that were. To songs that were popular, to a band that was appreciated, and to synthesizers. I am only slightly impressed by this album. I suppose part of the problem lies in the fact that this is (The Best of) New Order, thus these songs were never really meant to be strung together in this manner. Of the seventeen songs, I only truly enjoy three of them. Some are okay while some are schlock. I will rate this 3/5 stars and recommend it conditionally to fans of 80’s music, New Order, and new wave music.
Track Listing:
1. Let's Go (Nothing For Me) [Salvation (Original Soundtrack) – 1987]
2. Dreams Never End [Movement – 1981]
3. Age Of Consent [Power, Corruption and Lies – 1983]
4. Love Vigilantes [Low-Life – 1985]
5. True Faith - ('94) [Substance – 1987]
6. Bizarre Love Triangle [Brotherhood – 1986]
7. 1963 - ('95) [Substance – 1987]
8. Fine Time [Technique –1989]
9. Vanishing Point [Technique –1989]
10. Run [Technique –1989]
11. Round & Round - ('94) [Technique –1989]
12. Regret [Republic – 1993]
13. World [Republic – 1993]
14. Ruined In A Day [Republic – 1993]
15. Touched By The Hand Of God [Salvation (Original Soundtrack) – 1987]
16. Blue Monday - ('88) [Power, Corruption and Lies – 1983]
17. World In Motion [1990 World Cup Theme]
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