New Order 2005 — Forum Archive

23 Jan 2005, 12:08

So now when we´ve heard the first song from the new album, what do we think about the present version of New Order?

Since the band has been around for about 28 years and the members are soon turning 50 years old, it´s not surprising that the music isn´t that groundbreaking anymore. The maturity also influences the lyrics and the music. You can tell that Barney, in some ways, is having a more happy and balanced life. I wouldn´t like him to start taking loads of drugs again, but I don´t think we will ever hear beautiful lyrics like the opening of Dream Attack: "Nothing in this world, Can touch the music that I heard, When I woke up this morning, It put the Sun into my life, It cut my heartbeat with a knife, It was like no other morning".

I really love Krafty´s catchy chorus, especially the second part starting with "I´ll say one last time...". But the verse is quite weak, both the music and the lyrics. "Gotta go to work before it gets too late Sitting in a car and driving down the road" and "But that's what you do to earn your daily wage That's the kind of world that we live in today" is actually a bit embarrising. It sounds like it comes from a school essay by a 10 year old kid.

The music is too much Monaco for my taste. The first Monaco album was quite decent but the second was real shit! I think I´ve only played it about five times all time. I can´t express how bad I think it is. Silly, childish shit. Unfortunately I can hear some (only a little bit though) influences from Monaco in Krafty.

I hope the rest of the album will sound much more like Technique. A real mix between sequenzers and guitars, melancholy nicely mixed with euphoria, atmospheric and emotional lyrics.

Even if I will get really disappointed about the new album I think something is better than nothing. But I would hate to see them become a "cover band" touring around mostly with their own old songs.

/Erik

23 Jan 2005, 12:16

um, Erik, i hate to tell you, but they've already become the live act you fear. pick any 3 shows from the Get Ready dates and you'll see they're a parody of they're former selves. basically the same shit said before every song, predictable whoops and whistles from Bernard, Hooky's permanent "Lets Go!" shout, reading lyrics from a telepromter, identical set lists filled with preprogrammed hit songs...the whole thing is a joke now. the new songs they do play are typically mangled and the whole thing leaves wondering if it's all a big joke. i guess they've got to get paid somehow though, and it's obvious their preference is to put as little effort as needed into a live show, but collect the highest amount of money. not a bad deal if you're in the band, but if you're paying 35bones for a ticket, it's a bit of a skam.

23 Jan 2005, 12:20

Originally posted by Erik Myrhage I really love Krafty´s catchy chorus, especially the second part starting with "I´ll say one last time...". But the verse is quite weak, both the music and the lyrics. "Gotta go to work before it gets too lateSitting in a car and driving down the road" and "But that's what you do to earn your daily wageThat's the kind of world that we live in today" is actually a bit embarrising. It sounds like it comes from a school essay by a 10 year old kid.

Well I for one think he's just taking the piss with the lyrics, à la Love Vigilantes. Or maybe that's just positive thinking. ;)

23 Jan 2005, 16:15

I will not judge what I don't know. My expectations are high

23 Jan 2005, 16:28

See where you're coming from. Bit harsh!?

It's New Order in this day and age whether you like it or not, they had their day back in the 80's. They just make music now for a bit of fun and of course it's their job. Do I think Bernard could be more serious at concerts today? Absolutely. But come on, for a band that's still going they are still capable of making at least half decent tunes if not much better. Krafty sounds great and you shouldn't worry so much about the lyrics and just enjoy it man, that's what it's there for, for you, the fans. Overall, Krafty sounds good to me, as did their last album Get Ready, for a band that are over 40, bloody great stuff.

You should be thankful that they're even releasing another album. Just think, we could still be here listening to all the old stuff (which is great on it's own) But not only do we get that, we get music from them TODAY, in the PRESENT. How cool is that?

Now put on BLT and start getting into the New Order spirit.

23 Jan 2005, 16:37

i'm a huge fan of their recent studio work. only a few songs i don't love from 2001/02 tracks. newOrder's faults are part of what endears them to me. i'm not too blinded by my love for them to see their serious shortcomings, though. it's like a parent/child relationship, even their mistakes are beautiful in my eyes, but i call em as i see em. why on earth can't they spontaneously play Age of Consent or Procession? Are they not good musicians? The synth bits in both songs aren't that tough to play and considering the amazing, "spontaneous" live shows other Electronic musicians are doing these days, it's sad that one of the most influential bands cannot play a set that isn't preprogrammed and highly predictable. They should be able to select from a ton of their backcataloge and not just what some outside party (Roger Lyons) has time to program for them.

23 Jan 2005, 16:46

One thing I do hope though (although it may not seem that serious) I hope they play the original True Faith live this time around.

23 Jan 2005, 17:19

Originally posted by Erik Myrhage The music is too much Monaco for my taste. The first Monaco album was quite decent but the second was real shit! I think I´ve only played it about five times all time. I can´t express how bad I think it is. Silly, childish shit. Unfortunately I can hear some (only a little bit though) influences from Monaco in Krafty.

I'm not just saying this because I'm the resident Monaco nut, but your description of the second album as "Silly, childish shit" is one of the most bizarre opinions I've heard of *any* album in my life :nuts: Tell me, what defines that particular LP as "childish shit" as opposed to "regular shit"? Love it or hate it, alot of the lyrics on "Monaco" are about the breakdown of a relationship (Most likely Hook/Aherne); a pretty adult thing. However I myself still prefer Music for pleasure to "Monaco", and chunks of New Order's weaker stuff if I'm honest. "Monaco" is more of a consistent album, but I prefered the experimental stuff on MFP like Billy Bones and the more melodic moments Tender and Happy Jack. "Monaco" does have it's moments though, A Life Apart is pretty cool, as is Kashmere and the gloomy End of the World.

As for Krafty, yeah I can see Monaco's influence there a bit (Christ, that's a surreal statement: "Hooky influencing Hooky influencing Hooky") and that is no bad thing. It was a choice between a Hooky's Monaco influences or Barney's more Twisted Tenderness influences which is all Get Ready reeked of in 2001, I'll take a bouncy synthline with melodic bass over the likes of Slow Jam any day.

Also, wishing for New Order to behave and create albums exactly as they did in the mid to late 80s is just not going to happen, and awfully naive. Everyone moves on with their lives, new experiences, new friendships, new relationships, new tragedies/joys etc. all affect the creativity of an individual(s). You can't freeze a band in time and force them to follow the Technique blueprint every time they're releasing new material.

Ally.

24 Jan 2005, 15:05

I got to say that I've been a new order fan since I was kid and to me, everything post technique has been a bit of a let down. I'm not saying it's crap, but to me it seems to have something missing that I can't put my finger on. Maybe, it's because the early albums were out when I was growing up and I was possibly more influenced, I dunno. Don’t’ get me wrong, I have enjoyed, Republic, Get ready, Monaco and Electronic, but nothing since 1989 has stuck a proper chord with me.

Regards, Jon http://www.polestarmusic.net