Electronic vs Republic

I don't get why Electronic gets all the love while Twisted Tenderness is slagged most of the time. I haven't listened to TT in years but I loved it at the time. It is some of Johnny Marr's best work, and one of the only cases where his guitars chime loud and clear, unlike the murky production of the Smiths. The actual song Twisted Tenderness is kind of embarrassing at first becasue it just sounds so awful and cheesy, but then once it gets to the beautiful melody of the chorus it doesn't matter.

I honestly think TT is one of the most underrated albums of all time. Nobody seemed to like it when it came out and it sold sweet fuck all. I dont understand why?! If it was promoted properly I think it could've been huge, especially in america as it had a much more guitar-oriented sound.

Have to say Raise the Pressure isn't that great though, it's mostly Bernard on auto-pilot. I remember him saying when it was released that it was "the best thing I've ever done".

Now the Other Two, they're awesome. I also listened to The Other Two and You recently for the first time in ages and it's great. The melodies, arrangements and production are all first rate. Gillian's voice is really appealing. Have to admit, I wouldnt play it with friends around as it seems embarrassingly bad at first listen, especially the opener Tasty Fish. But once you pay attention to it it's shockingly good.

I also downloaded Superhighways and listened to it for the first time (you can get it for 9.99 on iTunes) and it's even better.

I feel kind of bad for them, they obviously put a lot of work into both albums but the world didnt seem to care.

By the way, does anyone have mp3s of their remixes on singles? I've tried looking for them on Soulseek but cant get them.

Electronic makes me think Bernard always had a huge hand in the keyboard lines for NO, even though in some interview preceding Technique he said he'd prefer to just be a lyricist. Maybe he was just being flippant about band roles.

I bought Electronic and Twisted Tenderness on CD. I haven't listened to them at all. I only listened to the songs through the podcasts. Republic is not that bad, imo. I can't stand Times Change, though.

I agree about The Other Two and You. A very underrated album. Should be more popular. Thanks for the tip on Superhighways. I can't find it in the US, even online. I haven't listened to Twisted Tenderness in quite a while. It was my least favorite Electronic album, but I should probably give it some more listens and see if my opinion changes.

Good Lord!!!

All these years passed and here we are, still debating Republic vs. Electronic.

Anyway, How´re you all?

Huber http://www.benevolencia.blogspot.com

Budvar Huber wrote: Good Lord!!!

All these years passed and here we are, still debating Republic vs. Electronic.

Anyway, How´re you all?

Huber http://www.benevolencia.blogspot.com

Good to see you BACK?How the hell are YOU?

Electronic's 1st album was for me one of the top 5 album's of the decade, an excellent mix of songs, 'Some Distant Memory' being the outstanding track for me, it still sends shivers down my spine now, if you havn't got Electronics's other albums I would highly recommend them both.

As for 'Republic', it did have a hard act to follow and the band were fragmenting at the time but it is still an essential purchase if you like New Order if you see it buy it.

Shellshocker wrote: I agree about The Other Two and You. A very underrated album. Should be more popular. Thanks for the tip on Superhighways. I can't find it in the US, even online.

I'll definitely agree with this, on first hearing I didnt think much about either of their albums but Gillian's voice just sneaks up and grabs you by the throat.

Shellshocker wrote:

I haven't listened to Twisted Tenderness in quite a while. It was my least favorite Electronic album, but I should probably give it some more listens and see if my opinion changes.

Twisted Tenderness is a grower , dig it out and give it another try, I played it once and then consigned it to the depths of my collection only to come across it again after purchasing 'Raise The Pressure'. IMHO 'Twisted Tenderness ' is Electronc's most underrated album.

I actually prefer Republic over Electronic's debut, but , I like Twisted Tenderness more than Republic, though I don't know the merit of comparing the two

I love the Electronic debut, but I love Republic even more as it's my favourite NO album! Am I the only one?? In fact, I don't think of it in terms of having to live up to Technique, because the latter is my least favourite pre-Phil album... *hides*

Anyway, R and E are both very enjoyable, but (imo!) I find Republic to be more consistent.

Shellshocker wrote: I agree about The Other Two and You. A very underrated album. Should be more popular. Thanks for the tip on Superhighways. I can't find it in the US, even online.

Also agreed about TO2&Y. I eventually found Super Highways used on Amazon, but it took time. It's worth the effort (and the probably hefty price :-P)! Gillian's voice is absolutely gorgeous.

many of the synths on the Electronic debut seem awfully sterile and dated to me, but i suppose that similar styles appeared on Republic also.

Bernard's vocals on the Electronic debut do seem like some of his most lively and confident, while Republic seems so much more forced and "filtered" overall... you can tell that this was "work" to get all the way thru to complete the record, not fun

I love both. I like all songs of Electronic's debut album, but in Republic I don't like much "Young Offender".

I've never understood why all the negativity about Republic :( It's my favourite NO album! If you compare it to Electronic's debut, I would say it is very very similar. If you like that one, you'll love Republic. So yeah... go get it! ;)

FtotheDoubleOff wrote: Republic sounded full of intense emotion and dense layers of sound, with the songwriting making a cohesive whole.

Kudos!

FtotheDoubleOff wrote: I think you just have to be in the right mood to appreciate Republic; sometimes it sounds like total crap and other times genius.

Aww come on, really?

FtotheDoubleOff wrote: Now the Other Two, they're awesome. I also listened to The Other Two and You recently for the first time in ages and it's great. The melodies, arrangements and production are all first rate. Gillian's voice is really appealing. Have to admit, I wouldnt play it with friends around as it seems embarrassingly bad at first listen, especially the opener Tasty Fish. But once you pay attention to it it's shockingly good.

I also downloaded Superhighways and listened to it for the first time (you can get it for 9.99 on iTunes) and it's even better.

I feel kind of bad for them, they obviously put a lot of work into both albums but the world didnt seem to care.

By the way, does anyone have mp3s of their remixes on singles? I've tried looking for them on Soulseek but cant get them.

Absoluteley agree with everything you have siad here. The layers of the other two songs is astounding - really brilliant, very underrated work. The melody of selfish is just pure heaven.

I have a few mp3s of remixes and a bside, send us an email and tell me your prefences and maybe we can sort summat out.

mil wrote:

FtotheDoubleOff wrote: Now the Other Two, they're awesome. I also listened to The Other Two and You recently for the first time in ages and it's great. The melodies, arrangements and production are all first rate. Gillian's voice is really appealing. Have to admit, I wouldnt play it with friends around as it seems embarrassingly bad at first listen, especially the opener Tasty Fish. But once you pay attention to it it's shockingly good.

I also downloaded Superhighways and listened to it for the first time (you can get it for 9.99 on iTunes) and it's even better.

I feel kind of bad for them, they obviously put a lot of work into both albums but the world didnt seem to care.

By the way, does anyone have mp3s of their remixes on singles? I've tried looking for them on Soulseek but cant get them.

Absoluteley agree with everything you have siad here. The layers of the other two songs is astounding - really brilliant, very underrated work. The melody of selfish is just pure heaven.

I have a few mp3s of remixes and a bside, send us an email and tell me your prefences and maybe we can sort summat out.

Add my voice to that too. Except, I don't mind playing it to friends - thet all think my music taste is embarrasing already - bloody U2 & coldplay they listen to W@nkers!

For me, I would have to say, Electronic, but that is mostly due to I liked just about all the songs on the album. While with Republic, I liked just a handfull of the songs.

Psy

Francis Maguire wrote: Electronic's 1st album was for me one of the top 5 album's of the decade, an excellent mix of songs, 'Some Distant Memory' being the outstanding track for me, it still sends shivers down my spine now, if you havn't got Electronics's other albums I would highly recommend them both.

As for 'Republic', it did have a hard act to follow and the band were fragmenting at the time but it is still an essential purchase if you like New Order if you see it buy it.

Shellshocker wrote: I agree about The Other Two and You. A very underrated album. Should be more popular. Thanks for the tip on Superhighways. I can't find it in the US, even online.

I'll definitely agree with this, on first hearing I didnt think much about either of their albums but Gillian's voice just sneaks up and grabs you by the throat.

Shellshocker wrote:

I haven't listened to Twisted Tenderness in quite a while. It was my least favorite Electronic album, but I should probably give it some more listens and see if my opinion changes.

Twisted Tenderness is a grower , dig it out and give it another try, I played it once and then consigned it to the depths of my collection only to come across it again after purchasing 'Raise The Pressure'. IMHO 'Twisted Tenderness ' is Electronc's most underrated album.

OK, I've given Twisted Tenderness some more listens. I'll agree it's a very good album. I didn't give it a fair listen before. I loved the dance oriented Raise the Pressure so much, and Twisted Tenderness is nothing like it, so I was disappointed. However, some of the songs are reminiscent of their first album, and some songs have got a bit of The Smiths in them.

I actually like 'Republic', but it doesn't stand a chance against 'Electronic' which is superb.