The beauty of hindsight. (After 11 years, I really like 'Republic'.)

Its a funny thing,Republic. From day one,i`ve always thought of it as like a long single. Side 1 is great New Order,side 2 is like a little less quality kind of like B.Sides

Originally posted by a a ...and Hooky must have played a lot of keyborads as well, since I remember an interview on Vox where he talked about how fed up he was with bass playing altogether around that time...

I've never heard this before. I thought Stephen Hague was to blame (based on what I've read) for splitting the band up during the song writing process, which lead to the Hooky-less album.

After 11 years, I still never listen to this record. Perhaps Barney's best lyrics, but the music is generic and very un-New Order (except for Regret).

Perhaps part of my issue with Republic is that Regret's release in advance of the LP set my expectations for a classic sounding NO LP...and when none of the tunes on Republic sounded anything like Regret (or New Order for that matter), I was unpleasantly surprised.

Originally posted by Low-Life To put it all in perspective, try this.Well over half the next New Order album after Technique ended up as "Electronic". Half the next Electronic album ended up as "Republic". That should give you a clue as to songwriting duties and prevailing attitudes towards the future of New Order at the time.

Excellent point. Again, a product of Hague's involvement?

republic is the one NO album i almost never listen to (ok, movement rarely gets any play, either). i have to admit that when it first came out i listened to it quite a bit-- i think i was just excited that NO had released some new material. but now it just sounds so dull compared to the rest of their work. regret and world are probably the only exceptions.

Originally posted by AgentWood republic is the one NO album i almost never listen to (ok, movement rarely gets any play, either). i have to admit that when it first came out i listened to it quite a bit-- i think i was just excited that NO had released some new material. but now it just sounds so dull compared to the rest of their work. regret and world are probably the only exceptions.

(and SPECIAL of course!)

Totally agree, i listened to it non stop on its purchase in 93 i think i was just so happy to have some new material to soak up!!!

Originally posted by Major Tarantino Great tracks on republic: Regret, SpecialGood tracks on republic: Spooky, Ruined in a day, Everyone Everywhere, Avalanche, WorldCrap tracks on republic: Young Offender, Liar, Chemical, Times Change.Well, thats what i think anyway

I'd say that was pretty much spot-on, Stevie....thing is those crap tracks are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO crap it makes me cry just thinking about it......

It seems universally accepted that the distinct lack of Hooky on Republic has watered down it down to such an extent that it gathers dust in most peoples collection...

Thank fook he's all over GetReady! :D

Just goes to show that NewOrder cant be NewOrder without the 3 essential ingredients that make them what they are. Barney-Hooky-Steve

Yes Gillian was "nice" but she never led any songs did she??

Originally posted by Biznotic Love Trapezoid > Originally posted by Sir CHUNKS > Originally posted by Biznotic Love Trapezoid> Republic is a great album. Seriously. Lyrically it's one of Bernards best efforts. If only Hooky had bothered strapping on the Bass to give it a bit more Substance. Still ranks behind Low Life, Technique & Brotherhood in my favorites list but sometimes edges out Get Ready for the 4th spot.

Edges out Get Ready?? Serious?! Ouch BLT...very ouch.

The word SOMETIMES is a compound word meaning exactly what the two words that form it literally mean SOME TIMES as in NOT ALWAYS.

Remember, Get Ready has SLOW JAM and ROCK THE SHACK...two of the worst songs they ever wrote. Lyrically, Get Ready is very disappointing. LIAR, on the other hand, while hated by most here is one of my favorites.

Today, Get Ready would be in the 4 slot (if some Newbie decides to start a poll!)

I haven't time to sympathize with all this NONSENSE!!!!!

Ouch...

Have a drink on me!!

I understand SOME TIMES but I really can't suscribe to that THEORY...REPUBLIC is that bad!!

Run Wild and RTS...not that bad. Could they have been better? YES. But there is ALMOST no excuse for REPUBLIC....

"Me mum said it was the ABORTION that lived!!"

Sir Chunks OBE, could you please not mention ABORTION again? I myself was an abortion, and I've overcome odds and prospered. Your comment was very insensitive to those of us in the abortion survivors community.

:D

Republic, in my opinion, is a fairly good pop album, although it does need more bass. Regret always seemed too bland, RIAD was too boring, and the remixes of Spooky were better than the album version, but World, EE, Young Offender, Special, and Liar aren't that bad - but do sound like average Electronic tracks, which makes sense for the time. Chemical is just too mediocre, although with a better chorus and an intro, it might have been better, and Avalanche is nothing memorable.

They used the wrong RIAD. People would have liked it if they'd put the Reunited in a Day mix on the album.

Originally posted by Al Jarvis I must be the only person who quite likes Chemical.

*tumbleweed*

--dust devil--

Originally posted by Tracey Spivey > Originally posted by a a> ...and Hooky must have played a lot of keyborads as well, since I remember an interview on Vox where he talked about how fed up he was with bass playing altogether around that time...

I've never heard this before. I thought Stephen Hague was to blame (based on what I've read) for splitting the band up during the song writing process, which lead to the Hooky-less album.

After 11 years, I still never listen to this record. Perhaps Barney's best lyrics, but the music is generic and very un-New Order (except for Regret).

Perhaps part of my issue with Republic is that Regret's release in advance of the LP set my expectations for a classic sounding NO LP...and when none of the tunes on Republic sounded anything like Regret (or New Order for that matter), I was unpleasantly surprised.

When Republic came out, there was Gillian somwhere (I don't remember where) explaining what a tiresome process it'd been to make the album, especially because it was her, Steve and Hooky laying the bases during the day, then Barney turning up in the evening and staying all night. Also how difficult it was to concentrate on anything when the shit was very severely hitting the fan down on Whitworth Street West. Either way, if you saw New Order playing live at the time, you then noticed Hooky playing bass on all those Republic tracks, only that he would play a regular bassline, as opposed to his traditional solo-like thing (and Steve played the drums, not keyboards).

Then when Monaco's first album came out (need I name it for you?), there was Hooky and Pottsy on Vox playing pool and taking the piss out of Scunthorpe. Hooky explained how happy he was to get back to playing bass the way he used to before Republic, and how at the time of recording Republic he just thought of it as 'repetitive' (sic).

As for Steve Hague's production, well, I don't really know what to say. 'True faith' has never been among my favourite NO tracks, and the reason why I was so disappointed with Republic when it came out was that I thought it just sounded too much like everything else around at the time, and I thought NO too special to come up with something so seemingly trivial. But then again, listening to it more carefully nowadays has made me realise what a personal and straightfoward album that is, and how difficult it really must have been for them to make it - as opposed to how absolutely relaxed they must have been making Get ready, which IS the only reason why they let Slow jam and Rock the shack be put out in the first place. (Guess what? These aren't two of my fave NO tracks ever either.)

One of the last Order albums I got my hands on, Republic still always teeters between mediocre shite and a masterpiece

I've never cared much for Regret, maybe my opinion will change when (hopefully not "if") I see em up close and personal.

World is great, but the single version ruins it by omitting the electronic call and response in the middle of the song. It also ends anti-climatically compaired to other of their classics. (The "big songs, small..." well you get the idea).

Ruined in a Day used to captivate me, but grew old after a few listens. I've never heard the Spooky mixes, but the album version is acceptable. Everyone Everywhere is fantastic, especially lyrically. Young Offender isn't bad at all, one of the few songs on the album with a good driving beat.

However, it declines with Liar and Chemical, ugh

Times Change is good, Speical is a masterpiece, and Avalance is beautiful and haunting.

Of course, not enough Hooky, but also Stephen doesn't get much of a chance to demonstrate his talent, there's way too many programmed beats (once again, Barney in his full Electronic mode here).

Bottom Line: The good outweighs the bad slightly, which should never be the case of any NO album.

Tune-wise it is reminiscent of JD in places.

I always thought that, too. Much more so than any of their more recent work.

On Rage in 2002,(music prorgamme, ABC TV in Australia where the band were guest programmers) Hookey whilst announcing a song by the Avalanches asked Steve: "Didn't you and Gillian once record a song called Avalanche?" and Steve said something like: It's on Republic.

I think this just symbolises the disjointed effort Republic was. According to this Avalanche is really a song by The Other Two.

Originally posted by Ronald Kirsch On Rage in 2002,(music prorgamme, ABC TV in Australia where the band were guest programmers) Hookey whilst announcing a song by the Avalanches asked Steve: "Didn't you and Gillian once record a song called Avalanche?" and Steve said something like: It's on Republic. I think this just symbolises the disjointed effort Republic was. According to this Avalanche is rally a song by the Other Two.

You may be absolutly right in fact...who's to say that those two DIDN'T do Avalanche themselves...certainly the only tune in recent memory that Gillian can actually be heard one, vocally that is.

Originally posted by His Holiness, The Pope Sir Chunks OBE, could you please not mention ABORTION again? I myself was an abortion, and I've overcome odds and prospered. Your comment was very insensitive to those of us in the abortion survivors community.

:D

So sorry Holiness...you'll hafta forgive my non-PC nature. PC is against my religion.

I shall never mention the word ABORTION again.

Hehehehehe!!!! Snicker...Tee Hee!! :D;)

So solly...it's that I've been trying to give some of Republic a chance through a new bought of open minded listening...well, something else got in there so me a bit baka at the moment!!

I never disliked "Republic". Depeche Mode has been able to maintain their status by changing their tune a bit but Republic still sounds like its New Order. Just like "Violator" and "Exciter" are unmistakely Depeche Mode. "Republic" isn't one of my favorites but even so, its a GREAT album so sit on the porch of your cottage on a stickey summer day with a few bottles of beer and listen to.

Nice cover

I play it all on Republic. I think "Rock the shack", "Fine Time", and "Every second counts" are the only NO tracks I give the big miss. I have no loyalty hehe, if I thought a NO album was garbage I wouldn't buy it. ( I have them all, so). Republic is great. Hands down.

However though, high antisipation I think is what eeked "Get Ready" into my collection. It's just good enough in my opinion and DOES NOT see my player as much as the more STATISTICALLY(fact) and ARTISTICALLY(opinion)successful "Exciter" a la DM. "Freelove" becomming one of my favorites of all time.

Am I the only freak that likes Liar????????

Originally posted by twist Am I the only freak that likes Liar????????

yes

Originally posted by twist Am I the only freak that likes Liar????????

Don't worry...there's "freaks" who like Movement, We All Stand, Every Little Counts, Angel Dust, Fine Time, Slow Jam, and Rock the Shack...even though we won't admit to it most of the time :p