Never Cry Another Tear Preview

Am I the only person who think's that this album is good, I know it is not a classic but it still very good with great guitar playing, synths and great melodies. I hope when this album comes out the general public will get to listen to it and they will love it, so far it is getting not that great reviews but they don't know what they are talking about anyway, so what if it sounds like New Order or the same old sound, hey as long as it sound good that is what matters, look at U2, Depeche Mode, PSB and many more with their new albums they are still keeping their sound so why is BL being critized for sounding like New Order or Electronic,in my opinion I give this album 4/5 stars, if it was bad I would say it but it isn't.

linus sulanki wrote: Am I the only person who think's that this album is good

No. I could wish that people give it a chance at least.

There's two pitfalls at opposite ends of the spectrum - one is forcing yourself to think it's better than it is, because you so much want it to be. The other is comparing it to "The Perfect Kiss" and finding that it comes up a bit short and hey, Barney's pretty feckin old these days. I assume no one coming on this site can possibly approach new music from these guys with a blank slate.

Including me of course. But as honest as I can be, I wouldn't give tracks 7, 8 or 10 another thought if they were the songs of an unknown band on the radio. I would, on the other hand, like the other seven. And most of them would really make me sit up and listen.

I can see the "AOR" criticism. That don't bother me at all because, well, I'm getting old myself and Land's End by Jimmy Webb is sounding ever better to my ears . What I don't get is "lazy": if anything, the opposite criticism, that it's been crafted to within an inch of its life, would be more accurate. But then such has been the case since, say, Technique onwards.

Two fairly objective points:

• this album is about as purely melodic as Sumner has ever been, or is ever going to get;
• the guitars on tracks 2-4 have more bite and growl to them then anything on WFTSC (if we draw a veil over "Working Overtime")

And one entirely subjective one:

• suppose "Twist of Fate" was a New Order song. Would it not be in the top 5 New Order songs from 93 onwards?

It's not a bad album but it's not good either. It has absolutely no character and it just leaves no impression on me at all, it's simply inoffensive and that's not enough.

To say that Barney is in his 50's therefore don't expect him to be cutting edge in rubbish. There are many artists who still produce interesting work later in life but it seems Barney is more interested in producing polished, well-crafted pieces rather than emotional, heartfelt stirring songs.

This is not new though is it? He's been on this path since the mid 90's when he learnt to sing 'properly' i.e. in tune but with no emotion, wrote 'better' lyrics i.e. purile junk that rhymes and 'good' songs i.e. they have verses and choruses and the title is mentioned in the song. None of this is what made him and NO great but he seems to not understand this and continues on his path to irrelevant blandness.

jamie fairlie wrote: To say that Barney is in his 50's therefore don't expect him to be cutting edge in rubbish.

Maybe. But as you also wrote:

jamie fairlie wrote:

He's been on this path since the mid 90's

...therefore, I don't expect him to be cutting edge.

jamie fairlie wrote: There are many artists who still produce interesting work later in life

Sure. But "interesting" is in the ear of the listener. You're also eliding a bit from "cutting edge". There's plenty of interest to be had in the later works of, say, Eno, Bowie, Neil Young or John Cale, but "cutting edge" they are not.

jamie fairlie wrote:

Barney is more interested in producing polished, well-crafted pieces rather than emotional, heartfelt stirring songs.

I don't see the contradiction. But I do agree with the general thrust of what you say. First New Order were unschooled and highly original. Then they got educated and became less original. And no one can invent the wheel twice anyway.

linus sulanki wrote: Am I the only person who think's that this album is good

No, you are not.

I knew there would be a race to see who could be the first one to steal it off the internet, snidely declare it to be crap and say they don't buy music anymore cause that's just how they roll...so I didn't pay any attention to the first few reviews. Who gives a shit?

All I've heard so far is Sink or Swim and Dynamo. Dynamo is a great song! I have no idea how someone can be a NO fan and think Dynamo is some kind of disaster, it's just mind-boggling.

Reading all the reviews, it sounds like it will be a solid, enjoyable album with more of an earthy and organic rock sound, which I'm fine with. I'm not expecting a radical new direction in music, just solid Bernard Sumner songwriting.

Bernard just doesn't do arty pretentiousness, it's just not his style.

I'm still going to buy the album, and maybe on CD & Vinyl(depends on if they do NA tour dates and where they do them..). The songs are not bad, just mediocre. However, Bernard's singing is some of the finest of his career and that is a high point of this record. Maybe it's hindsight, but on WFTSC he sounded tired (although it is better than NCAT overall). It's still exciting when any new material comes out of the NO camp, and I'm happy Bernard is still making records.

FtotheDoubleOff wrote:

Dynamo is a great song! I have no idea how someone can be a NO fan and think Dynamo is some kind of disaster, it's just mind-boggling.

That's musical taste for you. For you, Dynamo is 'great', and good luck to you. Each time I hear it however, a little piece of me dies inside.

Well maybe in another ten years we'll get good remasters of NO's entire catalog and we can forget anything from outside of NO that we don't like (whatever it is..). I'm still waiting for Electronic's entire catalog remastered + unreleased/live recordings and a Bernard Sumner solo album (really, truly solo). Until that time, BL will do, even if it is a bit mediocre- it's a little bit of everything I want. We just have to take it for what it is and find something we really enjoy about it.

FtotheDoubleOff wrote: I knew there would be a race to see who could be the first one to steal it off the internet, snidely declare it to be crap and say they don't buy music anymore cause that's just how they roll...so I didn't pay any attention to the first few reviews. Who gives a shit?

All I've heard so far is Sink or Swim and Dynamo. Dynamo is a great song! I have no idea how someone can be a NO fan and think Dynamo is some kind of disaster, it's just mind-boggling.

Reading all the reviews, it sounds like it will be a solid, enjoyable album with more of an earthy and organic rock sound, which I'm fine with. I'm not expecting a radical new direction in music, just solid Bernard Sumner songwriting.

Bernard just doesn't do arty pretentiousness, it's just not his style.

++

and as someone else said, his vocal work is at a high point here, more mature than ever before. vocal melodies i have never heard him even consider before.

i guess, as a cocteau twins and new order fan, lyrical content has never been a huge consideration for me. i listen to the melodies. even joy division, i focused more on ian's melodies than his words (which were brilliant).

i could really care less WHAT sumner is singing about (there has been a lot of lyric crit in this thread) - i listen to new order classics, and many have daft lyrics, and i could never give a shit. i am into this music for the emotions and melodies.... 1963? I love it, not cause he is singing about a man with a gun, but cause the SONG is just phenomenal.

these songs are NOT run of the mill. this is Sumner pushing his voice into new heights, and i dig it.

but i know there are many people here who wish new order's van had got totalled in 1990. they get upset to see them get wrinkles and put on some weight (so many negative comments on this forum about them putting on 10-20 pounds, how DARE they, at 50+ years old!) some folks here would have rather never heard them age and mature and find new directions.

whatever.

p.s. so is Poisonous Intent about Hook? even has a bass line right before the 3m mark that seems quite Hooky....

or am i just speculating too far?

regardless, the song kicks serious ass.

Level wrote: I think Bad Lieutenant is way much better than Electronic...

Me too!

So non fans who know nothing about New Order will find Never Cry Another Tear to be one of the best rock albums released in 2009? This record will inspire many? Some of these songs will be considered classic standards 20-30 years from now? including Dynamo? You are going to blast this out your car stereo loud, with the windows open? You guys are saying this record is great...

great.

...?

I enjoyed it...

Wasn't blown away by anything on it though but I thought it was pretty solid all the way through.

I'm still going to get the limited version with the four extra tracks and give it a few more listens it will probably grow on me.

linus sulanki wrote: look at U2, Depeche Mode, PSB and many more with their new albums they are still keeping their sound so why is BL being critized for sounding like New Order or Electronic,in my opinion I give this album 4/5 stars, if it was bad I would say it but it isn't.

why?

becuase bl is not electronic or new order, it is a new band, with new members.

simples.

0_o wrote: So non fans who know nothing about New Order will find Never Cry Another Tear to be one of the best rock albums released in 2009? This record will inspire many? Some of these songs will be considered classic standards 20-30 years from now? including Dynamo? You are going to blast this out your car stereo loud, with the windows open? You guys are saying this record is great...

great.

...?

there are a lot of great records that don't become a classic. also, 27 years ago nobody thought that "temptation" will be a future classic, for most people it was a record by a band that will never outgrow the shadow of their previous band.

0_o wrote: You are going to blast this out your car stereo loud, with the windows open?

Yes, why not. Apart from one or two tracks I'll be skipping when driving, the rest needs to be played loud to be appreciated and who cares if the outside world doesn't share your enthusiasm? Well I certainly don't.

I wouldn't call it a GREAT album, but it is a very solid one with some GREAT tracks. And like someone else said before, Sumner's voice is at an alltime best (even if his lyrics are going the opposite direction) :)

In my case, there are some musical 'masterpieces' that I can't stand to listen to (that's for another topic and board, right?).

But, I do think it's a solid album (judging from the tracks I've heard), and I don't really care much what the press says.

If I like it overall, I'll listen to it. Simple as that.

PS- I do think Bernard's voice sounds great on this album.

leather_girl wrote: In my case, there are some musical 'masterpieces' that I can't stand to listen to (that's for another topic and board, right?).

But, I do think it's a solid album (judging from the tracks I've heard), and I don't really care much what the press says.

If I like it overall, I'll listen to it. Simple as that.

PS- I do think Bernard's voice sounds great on this album.

I agree with you 100%, it has great guitars, great synth and great melodies.I hope that this album get's heard worldwide and people will love it.

linus sulanki wrote:

leather_girl wrote: In my case, there are some musical 'masterpieces' that I can't stand to listen to (that's for another topic and board, right?).

But, I do think it's a solid album (judging from the tracks I've heard), and I don't really care much what the press says.

If I like it overall, I'll listen to it. Simple as that.

PS- I do think Bernard's voice sounds great on this album.

I agree with you 100%, it has great guitars, great synth and great melodies.I hope that this album get's heard worldwide and people will love it.

I don't expect the whole world to love it, but I personally think it's worthwhile album to buy. (For me, that is.)

El Jarvo wrote:

FtotheDoubleOff wrote: I knew there would be a race to see who could be the first one to steal it off the internet, snidely declare it to be crap and say they don't buy music anymore cause that's just how they roll...so I didn't pay any attention to the first few reviews. Who gives a shit?

How does that work then?

How can you 'steal' summat you can't actually pay for?

intellectual property rights?

I'll tell you what, I'm about two minutes into track 2 and I fucking love it.

About three minutes in it aches for a Hooky bass solo.

It's a brilliant song though. Barney is singing like an angel and the words are brilliant. Cracking guitars, pistol-crack drumbeat throughout.

Quality

Summer Days on Holiday Kicks ASSSSSS !!!!!!!!!

Sounds good to me, nothing groundbreaking, good pop tunes, not 100% convinced by the Jake tracks though.

Has it been mentioned that the vinyl features 14 tracks, I'm not 100% sure but I think the 7" with the box-set features an acoustic version of "Sink Or Swim" and "Harder Wider Deeper".

First listen all the way through and I am amazed to find that I really like the album as a whole and there's more than a couple of tracks that I think are amazing.

The vocals are so good throughout. I must admit I'm looking at them like you look at a 60 year-old film star with perfect skin and perky tits and muttering that she's obviously had quite a bit of work done. However, the vocal melodies are gorgeous throughout so who cares?

Strangely, there's a really good track called Dynamo that sounds just like Sink or Swim without quite so much 12-string with very similar lyrics that are actually quite good. Yeah yeah yeah. Reminds me of the pub singer: now lets hear that done properly.

It's got everything, this album. Lovely drums, some quite stunning guitar work, enough catchy riffs to ensure that no one intrudes and a subtle dance feel thought.

He's pulled it off

Tony Casanova wrote:

jamie fairlie wrote: To say that Barney is in his 50's therefore don't expect him to be cutting edge in rubbish.

Maybe. But as you also wrote:

jamie fairlie wrote:

He's been on this path since the mid 90's

...therefore, I don't expect him to be cutting edge.

jamie fairlie wrote: There are many artists who still produce interesting work later in life

Sure. But "interesting" is in the ear of the listener. You're also eliding a bit from "cutting edge". There's plenty of interest to be had in the later works of, say, Eno, Bowie, Neil Young or John Cale, but "cutting edge" they are not.

jamie fairlie wrote:

Barney is more interested in producing polished, well-crafted pieces rather than emotional, heartfelt stirring songs.

I don't see the contradiction. But I do agree with the general thrust of what you say. First New Order were unschooled and highly original. Then they got educated and became less original. And no one can invent the wheel twice anyway.

Tony casanova indeed!

I really wonder who THIS could be?

Dontchya realise we can track any i.p adress to the nearest 2 meters in this day and age,scary shit innit!

http://neworderinfoweb.piczo.com

(new website coming VERY soon!)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3HIJGG1R5G471/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Toolbox wrote: First listen all the way through and I am amazed to find that I really like the album as a whole and there's more than a couple of tracks that I think are amazing.

The vocals are so good throughout. I must admit I'm looking at them like you look at a 60 year-old film star with perfect skin and perky tits and muttering that she's obviously had quite a bit of work done. However, the vocal melodies are gorgeous throughout so who cares?

Strangely, there's a really good track called Dynamo that sounds just like Sink or Swim without quite so much 12-string with very similar lyrics that are actually quite good. Yeah yeah yeah. Reminds me of the pub singer: now lets hear that done properly.

It's got everything, this album. Lovely drums, some quite stunning guitar work, enough catchy riffs to ensure that no one intrudes and a subtle dance feel thought.

He's pulled it off

I agree one hundred percent!

I'll definitely be saving my pennies for the Stuart Price album instead.

BL reminds me of the cheesy act of Hollywood actors disowning their previous (more violent) body of work, doing a dreadful family comedy, and saying they want to make something they can take their kids to.

Don't want to slag BL off, cos it's Sumner and he's a god in my book, but this just isn't my cup of tea.