New Order article in The Metro

There was an article about New Order (can I say it?....splitting up) by the geezer who does a music column in yesterdays London freebie (Metro). I blundered by leaving it on the tube, otherwise I would have posted on here it word for word (my scanner doesnt work).

In brief he was saying that he was glad of the split because the NO of now dont have the same ethos as in the 80's (ie they put album tracks out as singles, they do encores, blah blah) and that its kind of liberating to let them go (as in a rite of passage). That they are his favourite band ever (first single he bought "Procession", first LP "PC&L") and his second favourite band were The Smiths (who enjoyed a considerably shorter career but couldnt see reforming).

He also said they hadnt done a decent album since Republic and that they "were" moody live and once got so bored that they left the stage while a roadie sang "Love Action" by Human League for 20 minutes.

I dont know if anyone else saw it? It made for an interesting read on the way home, even though I kinda half agreed/half thought it was a load of tosh. The same guy slagged off RHCP last week and I thought he was spot on. They use to be one of my favourite bands but their current stuff is complete crud.

Best bit was the way he asked at the end whether people agreed with him. Can't be arsed to mail in and reply though, as despite all the good times we've had in the last five or six years, part of me sort of agrees with him, at least in hankering for the mid 80s. I remember when we were young.

All smacks of 'old bastard syndrome'.

Next he'll be talking about when it was all green fields...

NO of now dont have the same ethos as in the 80's? No shit. No 80's band does! Though I'm very close to agreeing with his comment that they haven't had a really good album since Republic (some good songs on the gtwo subsequent albums, but not the front to back quality I'm usd to from NO), I'd still rather have them making music now, even if not all of it is great, than have them disbanded and making no music.

Shellshocker wrote: NO of now dont have the same ethos as in the 80's? No shit. No 80's band does! Though I'm very close to agreeing with his comment that they haven't had a really good album since Republic (some good songs on the gtwo subsequent albums, but not the front to back quality I'm usd to from NO), I'd still rather have them making music now, even if not all of it is great, than have them disbanded and making no music.

Yeah me too. If NO had, say, disbanded after Republic then Crystal and Turn would never have been and I wouldnt have ever got to see them play live.

Since when was Republic a good album?

Boatraceface wrote: Since when was Republic a good album?

I hear it's great on drugs.

Boatraceface wrote: Since when was Republic a good album?

Since the fact that you're in the minority?

It's arguably one of their best albums, even without Hookey on most songs.

Big Black wrote:

Boatraceface wrote: Since when was Republic a good album?

I hear it's great on drugs.

Druids and their fluids

NO Regret wrote:

Shellshocker wrote: NO of now dont have the same ethos as in the 80's? No shit. No 80's band does! Though I'm very close to agreeing with his comment that they haven't had a really good album since Republic (some good songs on the gtwo subsequent albums, but not the front to back quality I'm usd to from NO), I'd still rather have them making music now, even if not all of it is great, than have them disbanded and making no music.

Yeah me too. If NO had, say, disbanded after Republic then Crystal and Turn would never have been and I wouldnt have ever got to see them play live.

My thoughts as well. Okay they didn't do another Low Life or Technique but I think it was good thing that they moved on to new sounds/styles and NO's output over the last 5-6 years was IMO as good as anything else which was put out in that period and they can still rock hard live - Wembley last year being a good example. I've enjoyed Get Ready and WFTSC, the live shows - I othewise would've missed out on if they'd split in '93 and wish them the best for whatever they decide to do! Cheers!

Isamu wrote:

Boatraceface wrote: Since when was Republic a good album?

Since the fact that you're in the minority?

It's nothing I regret....

I do love Regret though,natch.

The rest is,well,erm,bland shite pour moi.

Isamu wrote:

Boatraceface wrote: Since when was Republic a good album?

Since the fact that you're in the minority?

It's arguably one of their best albums, even without Hookey on most songs.

I agree...with the arguably bit.

Isamu wrote:

Boatraceface wrote: Since when was Republic a good album?

Since the fact that you're in the minority?

It's arguably one of their best albums, even without Hookey on most songs.

stick to the Mission, pal

Alan Paul Kitching wrote:

My thoughts as well. Okay they didn't do another Low Life or Technique but I think it was good thing that they moved on to new sounds/styles and NO's output over the last 5-6 years was IMO as good as anything else which was put out in that period and they can still rock hard live - Wembley last year being a good example. I've enjoyed Get Ready and WFTSC, the live shows - I othewise would've missed out on if they'd split in '93 and wish them the best for whatever they decide to do! Cheers!

Really, how many "80's" bands have been relevant in the 21st century? NO have two very good (but not great) studio albums in that time. Far better than most other bands I loved back in the day.

am I the only one who thinks "Get Ready" is a really GREAT album, in terms of being influential the best album of 2001? I mean which other "80ies band" had a song like Crystal in the 00ies which drove kids who've never ever heard them before crazy, not just the old fans? I was at a lot of parties at that time and it got played everywhere and sounded completely otherworldy. Not that I am a fan of Pete Tong, but he was right when saying "Crystal" was their most relevant single since "blue Monday". I rather like them seeking new ground than returning to some kind of formula as they did on WFTSC, which sounded pale and uninspired in comparison.

must be quite frustrating when you really try hard to come up with new stuff as they did in 2001 and all you get are old fans muttering "we want the old stuff".

I'm not sure why everyone beats up on Republic and beyond albums. That Republic is one of their weaker albums, which is only in relation to the strong albums they put out...it beats the socks off of what most bands put out in a career.

The hard part is getting radio play, it seems that the radio stations only want to play new bands or old classic songs, and while there have been some really strong albums from 80s artists (NO -WFTSC; DM - Playing the Angel; Morrissey - You are the Quarry), all of them only received minimal airplay. Yet bands that copy these sounds (Bravery, Killers, Interpol) get mass attention.

Maybe its due to idiots like the author of the article that won't allow for bands to go outside thier box. If NO's newer albums seem stiffled, maybe its because they are trying to conform to a sound they invented (because of these idiots).....which goes completely against how they started out from the begining.

EdelBrock wrote: That Republic is one of their weaker albums, which is only in relation to the strong albums they put out...

Strangely something I never considered.Due to circumstances and old Bastard syndrome have always made comparisons with their past output. If i knew what was hip then maybe the later albums would stand up viewed against the competition. Then again, I doubt republic can save itself, least it had a typically NO title.

EdelBrock wrote: That Republic is one of their weaker albums, which is only in relation to the strong albums they put out...it beats the socks off of what most bands put out in a career.

Republic is a great early 90's dance(ish) album, but not a great New Order album (bar Regret).

The hard part is getting radio play

See, to me that's the main problem - radio play should not be a factor in consodering NO's success. One of the saddest parts of NO's progress from the late 80's has been an ever increasing focus on commercial success'. This has lead them to to do lots of things that just aren't 'New Ordery' e.g. greatest hits live sets, singles on albums, doing promo-slots, etc. That crap didn't used to be important and it shouldn't be now. Why couldn't they just work in a more 'Factory-like' way, setup their own record label and just produce what they want to produce, when they want to produce it? Wire are a great example of a band that have continued to produce great work through 4 decades now, they come together every few years and produce something great then they go off on their own and do other great work - all on their own label where they control everything. I'm afraid our heroes have become a bit hooked on acting and being treated like pampered rock stars.

Alan Paul Kitching wrote: Okay they didn't do another Low Life or Technique but I think it was good thing that they moved on to new sounds/styles and NO's output over the last 5-6 years was IMO as good as anything else which was put out in that period I've enjoyed Get Ready and WFTSC, the live shows - I othewise would've missed out on if they'd split in '93 and wish them the best for whatever they decide to do! Cheers!

ThanX for the Metro news. if called such. How many Times before.. Like how familar themes are trotted out under different guises. How even sections of NO's listeners, we'll chime in saying familiar lines that their Earlier vibrancy, the will succeed and almost Survival and cheeky Dance between synth, Bass, Drums and Phil's keys and meloncholy is rarely glipsed. Yet they still 'Rock that House Down @for example the more recent 2000s Greek Summer Case Fest.s. So reading reviews. To see how many Times it can be re- worded.

Shellshocker wrote:

Alan Paul Kitching wrote:

My thoughts as well. Okay they didn't do another Low Life or Technique but I think it was good thing that they moved on to new sounds/styles and NO's output over the last 5-6 years was IMO as good as anything else which was put out in that period and they can still rock hard live - Wembley last year being a good example. I've enjoyed Get Ready and WFTSC, the live shows - I othewise would've missed out on if they'd split in '93 and wish them the best for whatever they decide to do! Cheers!

Really, how many "80's" bands have been relevant in the 21st century? NO have two very good (but not great) studio albums in that time. Far better than most other bands I loved back in the day.

I thought the Bunnymen's Siberia had some really fine songs. It seems they're doing a lot better than NO are in terms of recognition for recent efforts.

Also, I can tell you Sonic Youth and Mission of Burma are still relevant. A case can actually be made for MOB's The Obliterati being as good as VS, their classic '82 album.

Sounds like yet another "It was better before" types. Probably the reason I don't read music magazines.

how about adding a link to the article "FFS"

J

Jackson Withrow wrote: Sounds like yet another "It was better before" types. Probably the reason I don't read music magazines.

It's not a music magazine though, is it?

It's a crappy newspaper that they try to give away to commuters, then dump in large numbers in dustbins around the capital to make the readership figures look good.

People pretend to read it while they're eying up the fancy-looking office sorts on the Tube.

If this dick new what he was on about he'd work for a decent Newspaper or even get a proper job.

Fuck him

I think BIGINOIL's got it about right there. Metro is a horrible piece of shit "newspaper" that most people pick up to look at the pictures as they slowly come to on the way to work in the morning. We've got a similar rancid rag in Brighton called the Argus Lite, which just seems to be about squeezing as many ads past tired eyes as poss.

Er, sorry. Rant over.

Republic- patchy, very patchy. And, if I may say so amongst so many rabid fans, a little bit boring?

I agree for the most part.But I'm on old bastard so there you go!

As for this Republic argument,where does disliking it place you in the minority??! I thought the general consensus was it's quite poor overall.Never play it,tho' keep meaning to blow the cobwebs off it & give it a spin.Just need to buy some drugs first

Republic? Take Regret off and it would be universally condemned as their worst album. Besides Regret, only the Price of Love, Everyone Everywhere and Special are half-decent songs, and they would be the weakest tracks on any other album. The rest of it is sub-standard filler.