Having now got all the NO albums on cd (big shout going out to the wife's sister's boyfriend - Technique & Low-life 4 xmas and he's a student - ty Tom) bar Republic, what i want to know is should i shellout 15 seckels on Repulic to complete the collection ????? i had on tape once and seem to remember it as pretty crappy- What do you the great unwashed think ??
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Republic - is it worth it ?
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Of course!!!! And it is worth the money...don't listen to anyone else!:D How could your NO collection be complete without Republic??
Yes, it's defenitely worth it. Republic may not be their best album, but tracks like Regret, World, Ruined In A Day and Special are still great songs.
Republic is fantastic, definitely worth it. I picked it up used at a record store for about $7-8 three or four years ago, and I wouldn't part with it if forced at gunpoint (hopefully it never comes down to that, I'm just saying)
I heartily agree!, what is the use of being a fan of NO if are not going to take the good, and the slightly less good. I love republic as well, and would not see anyone spurn this peice of NO history, it is like a tragedy, sood things followed by bad things!
Buy it, but buy it once. I purchased it new when it came out, traded it in about a year later, and then broke down and bought a used copy last year. I just felt so...dirty...not having it in the collection. So I ended up paying for it twice...and I still don't like it.
Republic inhabits a weird place in my collection: CDs I own because I believe that, somehow, someday, I'll "get it." So I drag them out every year or so to see if they've improved. They haven't.
Prime examples are "Bossanova" by the Pixies, "Cuckoo" by Curve, and "Republic." It just can't be as bad as it sounds...can it? Maybe next year...
Republic surely isn't the best NO album. But there's some really good songs.
And anyway, could you ever get enough New Order songs to listen to ?
I think not.
Keep them coming, keep them coming...
Republic is a good album all the way through. Give it enough listens to know the words and you'll be wishin' the album had been longer. I'm glad to see you didn't pay full price for it though. Never pay full price for CD's. Record companies are scalping us by charging tons of money for a product that costs pennies to make. Fuck the Record Companies. If neworder get dropped, they may sign to an independant and stop letting Pete Dong pick their remixers.
I had the same dilema with the Movement CD - mainly because I hadn't listened to the album for ages, but once I got it - it was on me stereo for the next 2 weeks, so you've gotta complete yer collection - Republic's not that bad....honest;)
REPUBLIC is genuine crap, undeniably the crappiest New Order album. But it still IS a New Order album...
Aldrich, can you honestly say Movement is better than Republic? When was the last time you listened to Republic?
I beg to differ - Repubic.... pah! Bland! MOR! Dull! Boring! Conservative! There's only two good songs on it to be honest - the first and last songs on side one. As for the rest. what a waste. Did you see the videos for the first three singles? All shot in exotic locations....remind you of anybody? (think 80s decadence....). That's it, on Republic, Barney and the boys are....DURAN DURAN!! I'd give the LP a miss if I were you, certainly not their most essential release, even though it was probably their biggest success.
Aldric me ole fruit and china;)
How can any album with Regret, World, Special and Liar possibly be classed as Crap
It's not their best album agreed
But it's certainly not crap - the only thing they've done, that could possibly described as crap - would be "World In Fucking Motion";) 
Originally posted by Hubert Mickle That's it, on Republic, Barney and the boys are....DURAN DURAN!!
And is there something wrong with this? *not wanting to start up this old chesnut again*
On the main topic, Republic is a great album. Its not one of their best, granted, but it always makes me happy listening to it. Tracks like Everyone Everywhere and World shouldnt be missed...
Liv
Originally posted by Niel Johnstone ..........but i loved WIM - especially the John Barnes rap !
Niely boy - Tell me yer joking...please
Originally posted by Aldric DUSSOURT REPUBLIC is genuine crap, undeniably the crappiest New Order album. But it still IS a New Order album...
Definitely agree with Aldric... A NO album is a NO album...must have in collection eventhough it's crap....BLIND FAITH. No, I don't think REpublic is crap...Regret, Special & World is worth it...
But if NO were to release a STEPS tribute album, I'll probably buy it......BLIND FAITH.
( BTW, love that Blind Faith's controversial girl cover...)
Originally posted by Niel Johnstone Shuggy - when it comes to Barnsey Boy's rappin skills i never joke :D
Say no more;)
Wow! After all that gushing praise for Republic, I feel like I should run out right now and buy the bright orange squishy pack special edition! Or two!
Seriously, though...I am going to order the singles (well, obviously I've had Regret clasped tightly in my fingers since day one...love that digipak cover).
Republic strikes me as less a New Order record than an Electronic record without Johnny Marr, and you know what that leaves you...a Barney solo album...shudder.
Take a band with a great drummer and a history of innovative drum programming and introduce...drum loops! Then, when you remember, bring in Hooky to play four bars of the fade out....you know, to give it that New Order (TM) sound that the kids dig.
By the way, what did happen in Port Royal Town? As a father, I'm worried about all those children running. Honest.
Originally posted by Gnu Odor Wow! After all that gushing praise for Republic, I feel like I should run out right now and buy the bright orange squishy pack special edition! Or two!Seriously, though...I am going to order the singles (well, obviously I've had Regret clasped tightly in my fingers since day one...love that digipak cover).Republic strikes me as less a New Order record than an Electronic record without Johnny Marr, and you know what that leaves you...a Barney solo album...shudder.Take a band with a great drummer and a history of innovative drum programming and introduce...drum loops! Then, when you remember, bring in Hooky to play four bars of the fade out....you know, to give it that New Order (TM) sound that the kids dig.By the way, what did happen in Port Royal Town? As a father, I'm worried about all those children running. Honest.
May I recall that at the time of 'Republic's release, it was said the album had a lot of input from Gillian and Stephen, musically, probably more than Hooky and Barney.
It's obvious for Hooky as we almost don't hear his distinctive bass sound...
These two quotes (found elsewhere on this very site) sum it up pretty well for me:
Peter Hook: "We weren't writing together. If we had. it might have turned out more like Technique."
Bernard Sumner: "I was crawling up the walls in a room on my own, wondering why the others weren't coming in."
Originally posted by Patrick The CD singles for World and Spooky are must-haves.
Dammit! I got all hot to order World, Spooky, and Ruined in a Day, only to find out that the Ruined in a Day single wasn't released in the U.S. (is that true?).
Oh well...the first two are on their way, but a pack of three seemed like such a nice number...so right.
I will give Republic credit for being a good record to have on an overcast day like today, when you just don't have it in you to rock the shack.
Well I still reckon Republic sucks. Very poor record (Hooky's absence probably has a lot to do with my opinion, granted). Get Ready is an improvement, but then the whole of that is still a tenth of what Technique was.
Republic:
- production is too clean
- Mr. Peter Hook obviously took a lot of lunch breaks
- Mr. Bernard Sumner sings in-tune most of the time
to me this does not sound like a typical NewOrder record. It's my least favourite NewOrder-Album.
...but despite that, "Regret" and "Special" are great songs!
cheers. :D
Originally posted by Gnu Odor > Originally posted by Patrick> The CD singles for World and Spooky are must-haves.> >
Dammit! I got all hot to order World, Spooky, and Ruined in a Day, only to find out that the Ruined in a Day single wasn't released in the U.S. (is that true?).
Oh well...the first two are on their way, but a pack of three seemed like such a nice number...so right.
I will give Republic credit for being a good record to have on an overcast day like today, when you just don't have it in you to rock the shack.
My recollection is that Ruined was only an import (2 CD's)
Originally posted by Patrick My recollection is that Ruined was only an import (2 CD's)
The very very good New Order discography at http://www.niagara.edu/neworder/ suggests that it was a promotional release only in the U.S. The "official" U.S. site by Reprise lists it happily among the other singles, though, but with a different track listing than the one I ordered from Amazon.
The World CD I ordered includes a couple of the Ruined remixes, so I'm assuming those were slapped on the U.S. version because we didn't get a proper single...
...which seems to be the case with Someone Like You, remixes of which ended up on the 60MPH single (more remixes, actually, than the "A" side got)...hmmm.
I know the record company folks are on drugs; I'm just wondering which ones.
I've started listening to Republic again - four times in last three days in fact. It's finally beginning to grow on me. Always did like the first five anyway, but I'm starting to appreciate Young Offender and Liar now as well. Maybe by 2010 I will like Times Change, but I doubt it. But, as they say, times change !
You have to face it that Barney's...um.."rapping" on that is terrible. No guts, no passion, no feeling.....
he'll never be Grandmaster Flash!
Buy it. You shouldn't be concerned with the expense! I've gone mental in the past and bought multiple copies of New Order releases just cause they were different (and I was a student then too). E.g. Pwer, Corruption and Lies (first on vinyl), then again when CD's came out, then again on import from the US cause the CD includes two extra tracks (Blue Monady and The Beach). I think I have about four different vinyl release of BLT and True Faith. Does anyone else suffer from these dillusions?
If you ignore the awful 'rapping' on a track or two its otherwise a good album. Don't expect much Hooky bass though, I don't think he was around after they recorded the first few tracks.
Have also been listening to Republic for the last two weeks, to see if I'd overlooked anything. It still won't replace Technique or Low-life or Get Ready at the top anytime soon, but it sounds a bit better than my initial impressions.
Also have the turntable on the other side of the house, away from the computer, to make it somewhat harder to change the record if it's no good. Since I had usually hit the lift needle button on Times Change, before the end of the album, I have rediscovered Special and Avalanche.
"Liar" is the track on that LP that truly makes me cringe....doo doo-doo doo doo!!,..,, what bollocks!!
the more i listen to republic, the more i believe that it could have been a masterwork. the songwriting is very strong, theres real pathos there, buried under that sub-ace of base production. now that ive entered the ranks of the unemployed ive been spending my days lying in bed pondering (among other things of course)the great album that could have been, and in my head i can hear exactly how it shouldve turned out. if they had ditched the house-by-numbers strategy and gone for the full-on glitch effect,coupled with enhanced atmospherics (maybe even ala movement)and more varied textures it would have surely been a classic; of course the removal of backing singers and rapping is taken for granted. they shouldve revelled in the melancholia of it all not tried to make it bloody chirpy. if only the fuckers would re-record it..ok now im definitely in the realms of delusional fantasy.
the more i listen to republic, the more i believe that it could have been a masterwork. the songwriting is very strong, theres real pathos there, buried under that sub-ace of base production. now that ive entered the ranks of the unemployed ive been spending my days lying in bed pondering (among other things of course)the great album that could have been, and in my head i can hear exactly how it shouldve turned out. if they had ditched the house-by-numbers strategy and gone for the full-on glitch effect,coupled with enhanced atmospherics (maybe even ala movement)and more varied textures it would have surely been a classic; of course the removal of backing singers and rapping is taken for granted. they shouldve revelled in the melancholia of it all not tried to make it bloody chirpy. if only the fuckers would re-record it..ok now im definitely in the realms of delusional fantasy.
WEll...you surely do need to purchase this here disc...simply for regret and special...
and so that barney can get another beer!!!!
REPUBLIC hrrrrrrrrm i rember buying it when it came out it grows on u its an odd one but since it has regret and spooky it does get listned to but not all the way im not sure if i like it or not but as many has said it is NO so that means u should buy it anyway i think they were under a lot of stress at the point of recording it new label and all plus not all members were in the studio while it was recorded and it does show its very clean and nice sounding unlike PC&L etc
Originally posted by velocity girl if only the fuckers would re-record it..ok now i`m definitely in the realms of delusional fantasy.
Hell, there's enough of us on the forum that, if we all worked together, we could lock 'em in a studio and make 'em re-record it, Get Ready style.
Now, the only question is who we'd stick behind the board. The obvious choice is me, of course. Barring that, who? John Robie's barred for life for what he did to Subculture. I've liked Steve Osborne's work with Curve, but I wish he'd clean the wool out of the microphones before recording.
Oh man...who would let NO be NO, while at the same time crack the whip on those backing vocalists?
It's me after all. London Records, I await your call.
Originally posted by Gnu Odor > > > Hell, there's enough of us on the forum that, if we all worked together, we could lock 'em in a studio and make 'em re-record it, Get Ready style.> > Now, the only question is who we'd stick behind the board. The obvious choice is me, of course. Barring that, who? John Robie's barred for life for what he did to Subculture. I've liked Steve Osborne's work with Curve, but I wish he'd clean the wool out of the microphones before recording.> > Oh man...who would let NO be NO, while at the same time crack the whip on those backing vocalists?> > It's me after all. London Records, I await your call.
Fantastically put, Mr Gnu!! One small problem, who should brandish the whips once the band were all rounded up together? And should they be made of leather or steel?! (assuming of course, this should be a major factor in determining the actual Sound of the finished sessions!)
Hooky should produce it - having heard some of the stuff he has done for other bands (Blessed Ethel being one that I know well), there would certainly be no poxy backing vocals, and there would be B A S S :)
Hey Mr Guiseppe - how on earth do you get yer letters to appear so big? Is there a secret method in your madness or do you just have a very smart computer, huh? :D
Originally posted by Todd (Ben Sweeney) Hey Mr Guiseppe - how on earth do you get yer letters to appear so big? Is there a secret method in your madness or do you just have a very smart computer, huh? :D
"Subtle" use of HTML. I put in a tag to increase font size for that one word. In much the same way as I made this go red and this green :)
I actually listened to Republic for the first time in about 6 years. I was back home for the weekend and found my mum's copy.
I was surprised at how good it sounded after all these years. Regret, World and Ruined sounded great. Even the second side sounded better than I remembered it apart from Young Offender and Liar. I had forgotten all about Barney's 'rap' on Times Change as well but it still sounded alright.
If GRrrr had Republic's keyboards or Republic had GRrrr's bass we could be looking at a classic NO album.
Ah well...
Originally posted by Mickey Way I actually listened to Republic for the first time in about 6 years. I was back home for the weekend and found my mum's copy.I was surprised at how good it sounded after all these years. Regret, World and Ruined sounded great. Even the second side sounded better than I remembered it apart from Young Offender and Liar. I had forgotten all about Barney's 'rap' on Times Change as well but it still sounded alright.If GRrrr had Republic's keyboards or Republic had GRrrr's bass we could be looking at a classic NO album.Ah well...
Come again? Yer MAM's copy of Republic? That was nine years ago!! - that must make her one of the oldest New Order fans in the country then, man!! Jeesus! How come YOU didn't have Republic then - yer're not that young are yer surely??
I bought Republic on its first day of release (as you do) but only on vinyl and as I am without a record player at the moment I've not had a chance to listen to it for a while. My Mum was well into the Order, through my influence, but loved Lowlife particularly and bought alot of the records off her own back...quite cool really. ;)
Originally posted by Mickey Way I bought Republic on its first day of release (as you do) but only on vinyl and as I am without a record player at the moment I've not had a chance to listen to it for a while. My Mum was well into the Order, through my influence, but loved Lowlife particularly and bought alot of the records off her own back...quite cool really. ;)
LowLife release day Saturday 18th May 1985. I remember the day well, as I was playing cricket for my school, and had to go down at the lunch interval in my whites to get a copy. Was well happy walking back with new vinyl to look forward to, as I hadn't heard Peel playing the tracks the few days before, so only had the live versions to go on, and didn't know the titles of all of them for sure.
I'm interested as to whether anyone bought that special release orange squishy pack of Republic. Were there extra songs (the track listing said no)? If not what was the point? I guess you could use it as a pillow to catch a few extra winks at work while the boss wasn't looking.
Well, like you said - it was a pretty pointless exercise (about 4 copies available or sumthing). Bit like the actual album itself, mind....
Originally posted by Mickey Way I bought Republic on its first day of release (as you do) but only on vinyl and as I am without a record player at the moment I've not had a chance to listen to it for a while. My Mum was well into the Order, through my influence, but loved Lowlife particularly and bought alot of the records off her own back...quite cool really. ;)
Indeed it is, mate!
There actually is bass in Times Change. If you turn the bass up to max, you can just make it out. They made the bass too quiet compared to everything else. I personally like Avalanche too.
Not very original message:
BUY IT!!!!!!!
Buy the Japanese version (including bonus track) Buy the original version (now for sale very cheap in Holland: EUR 11,32 or less). Buy the CD singles, including fantastic remixes, for World, Spooky and Ruined in a Day.
And enjoy the Special Order!
DJ
Originally posted by And You Will Know Me By the Trail of Empty G&Ts I'm interested as to whether anyone bought that special release orange squishy pack of Republic. Were there extra songs (the track listing said no)? If not what was the point? I guess you could use it as a pillow to catch a few extra winks at work while the boss wasn't looking.
I did. No extra-track, just the pillow :D
That's a pisser. And, when I think about it, it wastes a lot space in your cd rack. Sir Ni, I hope it becomes a collector's item and you make tons of money on it.
Originally posted by Knight of Ni > Originally posted by And You Will Know Me By the Trail of Empty G&Ts> I'm interested as to whether anyone bought that special release orange squishy pack of Republic. Were there extra songs (the track listing said no)? If not what was the point? I guess you could use it as a pillow to catch a few extra winks at work while the boss wasn't looking.
I did. No extra-track, just the pillow :D
There are used copies of this POS (piece of shit) in this city. The problem was/is that Very from the Pet Shop Boys was released in the same special edition packaging. Why charge more for a cheaply made piece of orange fluff with no bonus material/post cards/interview/chewing gum etc...Maybe the special edition includes Peter Hook on bass.
Thank you one and all for your comments and feedback on the above. I have said disc now and feel confident after listening to it a number of times that it won't see the light of day for a considerable amount of time. :\ohwell:
I must admit I have a confession to make. I NEVER bought the Best of or the Rest of releases (though I did buy the re-released singles from this period).
Again last night I was playing my Mum's copy of the best of (the tape version) but was surprised to see that is hasn't got Temptation or Ceremony on it - come again??!
I think I've also seen the CD version with DNE and Love Vigilantes on it but they weren't on the tape version. The only album track it had was Vanishing Point and the earliest single was Thieves.
One question - what the fuck was that release all about?
A blatant money making scheme by the record company because they suspected it would be years before they had anything new to release.
Originally posted by Mickey Way I must admit I have a confession to make. I NEVER bought the Best of or the Rest of releases (though I did buy the re-released singles from this period). Again last night I was playing my Mum's copy of the best of (the tape version) but was surprised to see that is hasn't got Temptation or Ceremony on it - come again??!I think I've also seen the CD version with DNE and Love Vigilantes on it but they weren't on the tape version. The only album track it had was Vanishing Point and the earliest single was Thieves.One question - what the fuck was that release all about?
I didn't buy either of the "Best of/Rest of" compilations or the re-released singles. Still don't own any Electronic records either !
