Many of us use that term, but I'm sure "classic New Order" means something different for each of us. I'm interested to know what this is for everyone, so in this thread, please pick 3 to 5 songs that really define the classic New Order sound, and take a moment to describe why.
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What defines "classic New Order" for you?
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not in order of importance:
- blend of programmed and live drumming
- killer hooky baseline
- simple icy synth background + melody
- shite lyrics
- simple, scratchy pop-via-punk rhythm guitar
- attitude
ah, you had instructions for this assignment. well, i didn't do homework in school and i ain't gonna start now. Classic New Order? Try 81/82 EP and Low-Life, both perfectly sum up the best New Order have to offer. Easier to hear than to define in words.
L O W L I FE
no explanation necessary.
Of course this is one of those threads where Jeff goes: Guilt is a useless emotion! 
Maja, you are more than welcome to lick my left testicle...
but Guilt is a pretty damn good song!!!
Spotnick wrote: The perfect example is "Regret"
Sprinkler dispenses his magic dust for us all to enjoy.
I heartily concur.
New Order is one of those bands everyone and their third cousin twice removed has heard of and/or namedrops, but only a select few have actually bothered to listen to past a single track. Frequently referred to here in the States as an "Eighties Staple" which is why you will hear the bizzare single triangle on every pop station's 80s nostalgia night:
Blue Monday True Faith Bizzare Love Triangle
All three kind of grate on me these days.
True 'classic' Order would be along the lines of Let's Go, Round & Round, or Perfect Kiss, though socially Low-Life and Technique, New Order's best attempts at album rock, were virtually ignored in the States. Substance defined to all of us what Classic Order is and also gave us the assumption they were a singles band.
Dreams Never End Temptation Age of Consent Love Vigilantes The Perfect Kiss Bizarre Love Triangle Round & Round Regret
I hesitate to put anything from Get Ready, as the close closer to "classic New Order" to me is 60 Miles An Hour because the bass-line on Crystal is not classic New Order.. but the one on 60MAH is very very classic!
For me, a classic New Order song begin with Hooky's bassline... I'd even consider "What Do You Want From Me?" as classic New Order !
Dominant bass line is the best element of it.
Most of their mid to late 80's work is what I call "New Order". Beautiful synth along with Hooky's wonderful bass complementing the overall structure of the songs. And of course, Bernard's cool, soft light vocals. All this equals a great sound.
No other song has given me the extroadinary feeling that True Faith does. The atmosphere and feel of that song is just amazing. And how can you forget the happiness Bizarre Love Triangle gives you when listening to it.
Biznotic Love Trapezoid wrote: not in order of importance:
- blend of programmed and live drumming
- killer hooky baseline
- simple icy synth background + melody
- shite lyrics
- simple, scratchy pop-via-punk rhythm guitar
- attitude
Let there be no dissent towards this entirely accurate distillation of the quintessential. Forget all these bullshit reviews and long-winded magazine articles written by jaded hacks with thesaurus constipation, simply apply the six crucial criteria listed above and judge for yourself. If at least five are present, it is a classic. Less than four and skip to the next track. The button won't get much use, as they already told you if you flipped Fine vinyl.
NObabe wrote: L O W L I FE
no explanation necessary. Of course this is one of those threads where Jeff goes: Guilt is a useless emotion!
AGREES!!!!
put it on and let it play...
eCKo
I would have to go with The Perfect Kiss as the best example of "classic" New Order. The song really encompasses all of the elements of their sound (well, except maybe live drums) more than any of their other songs, IMHO - the synths, Barney's scratchy guitars, hooky - its all there and in abundance. Even the slightly cliche` hand claps are so NO'ish.
Beyond that, I'd say really that PCL and Low Life embody classing NO the most. Maybe because after Low Life, they never sounded quite so raw - I think Technique is a better album, but the classic sound was lost a bit in favor of something more slick.
- Temptation
- Blue Monday
- Age of Consent
- Thieves Like Us
- Leave me alone
The above songs totally changed my outlook on life, im now a right miserable thirty something, who finds it difficult to socialise, wouldnt want it any other way though. Back in the Eighties it was the above or Duran Duran, so glad I took the new order route
'What defines "classic New Order" for you?'
Ceremony through Jetstream singles wise and every album they've done.
Oh, and every single gig.
That just about sums it up.
True faith Temptation Dream Attack
Beautiful melodies, hairs on back standing up music, great drumming, cool synths and you just got lost in the music. Songs no one else could come up with.
Thats how I best describe it.
L O W L I FE
I worked out last night while listening to Low-Life. Even Elegia doesn't get in the way. Love it.
In no order of preference
Your Silent Face, Love Vigilantes, Paridise, Round & Round, Special, Vicious Streak, Turn
One song from the last 6 albums, I could post many more lists containg different songs from each album there are very few songs that I dont class as classic NO
Basically Bri summed it up and Tim was right with delete one or two of Brian's list as appropriate....
Ceremony / Temptation / AOC / TPK / VP / Regret.
Obviously there are loads more, but you get the idea.
There is something unique in them, that make their songs so good. I think that they have a melody that catchs you from beginning to end. My all time favorite is Bizarre, but is hard for me to decide which one to choose. It's a combination of Bernie voice, Hooky's bass and the patterned drums from Steve and the keyboards from Giilian.
EGG/TPK/BLT/Dream Attack/Regret/Turn
One NO trick I have always been hooked on is the layering of tracks - there's just so much going on. Take a bow TPK.
one aspect that has always got to me is that in thier best songs, there's always this extra special little added-in section, a little piece of lyric or sound, that just wipes me out
examples: "oh youve got green eyes...."
"just wait till tomorrow, I guess....."
"youve caught me at a bad time...."
the grinding syth solo in perfect kiss
the whole front end of the original 12" of "touched..."
get ready didnt have much...havent explored WFTSC in depth yet
Biznotic Love Trapezoid wrote: not in order of importance:
- blend of programmed and live drumming
- killer hooky baseline
- simple icy synth background + melody
- shite lyrics
- simple, scratchy pop-via-punk rhythm guitar
- attitude
Perfect. And which tracks cover all these bases for me?
Let's Go (excepting the shite lyrics, obviously) Temptation TPK Turn
Age Of Consent Temptation Subculture Dream Attack Krafty
No other bands could have done songs like these...This is the classic New Order!!!!!!
I have to agree on Perfect Kiss, but it has to be the 12", especially the last 2:30. The raunchy synth, the build, build, build and then Hooky slamming in at the high end with that last couple of riffs. It just drives and drives and then as it dies....the desparate baby's cry at the end.
I played it to my 13 year old (Evanescence, Simple Plan, Linkin Park) in the car yesterday at full volume. At the end she went really quiet and whispered "majorly cool, Dad". I had tears in my eyes...
Classic New order changes by the week, sometimes by the day for me.
Today its: The peel sessions The "live" disc from retro Movement And last, but not least, The good bits from "Republic".
