Technique: the most under-rated album in history?

Now I know Technique isn't under-rated by any NO fan, but I'm looking at this from a critics perspective. We get bombarded in the media with "Top ___ Greatest Albums Ever" lists on an annual basis, and to me, it's a crime that Technique isn't even anywhere near the Top 10 in any of them.

It remains to this day New Order's best, most consistent album, surely NO's own Sgt. Pepper or Dark Side Of The Moon. It reached No.1 in the UK, and arguably there is not a duff track on the whole thing, with 'Guilty Partner' IMO being the weakest of a generally excellent tracklist. Technique was the album that confirmed New Order as the World's Number One "Alternative" group, it introduced a nation (or nationS) to Ibiza/Balearic beats and fused acid house with indie and that sumptuous Factory sound that NO/Joy Division had crafted a decade or so previous.

So why does Technique continue to get ignored by critics and music press? It has to be the best known NO album (exc. compilations such as Substance, was the first to reach #1 and was famously the band's last long player for Factory. The musicianship is faultless, Bernard's lyrics are among the best of his life, three brilliant singles, other gems such as 'All The Way' and 'Dream Attack'... I could go on.

Even Joy Division's only two proper LPs seem to make these Best Album lists more than Technique, and while thats fine, I personaly find Unknown Pleasures to be patchy and Closer pretty much unlistenable. But Technique has stood the test of time for over 20 years now, it sounds as fresh and exciting today as it did back in 1989. This isn't me wantying a debate ovcer the best NO album; I know some with prefer Low-Life or Brotherhood over Technique, but it's just me pondering why such an influential, near-perfect record doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

I prefer Rubber Soul and Revolver to Sgt. Pepper, but I agree that Pepper was and remains the Beatles' most influential and talked about LP. Technique does happen to be my favourite NO record, but even so, it is their opus, a band at their creative peak (let's face it, they've never quite hit those heights since, as good as parts of Republic and Get Ready are). It is New Order's Dark Side Of The Moon, their Brothers In Arms even, but still remains largely ignored or forgotten by the music media.

I'm with you all the way on this one, I just think it's a fantastic slab of powerful, beautiful, uplifting, heart-rending, toe-tapping music, by FAR my most favourite album ever.

Interesting point about why it doesn't even get the kind of critical acclaim that, say, Screamadelica does. Perhaps it's perceived as just an evolution of their previous musical direction rather than a radical departure or breakthrough... and great as all the tracks are, I doubt many non-fans could name many tracks off it - didn't have a hugely successful lead single or anything. And they didn't tour it very extensively here (just flogged it to death in the States, nearly killing themselves in the process).

Anyway, I'm not that bothered about critical acclaim, I just think it's a masterpiece and happy to enjoy it as such (on a daily basis).

Dunno, i just always find it odd that it's regarded as a "summer" album

Or a "dance" album for that matter

been hammering technique misel the last two weeks or so.

hated fine time for years,but its grown on me again,for now.

vanishing point my favourite track.

Very much my favourite New Order album, with some of my favourite New Order songs ever.

So much so that I have a line from Vanishing Point tattooed on my forearm - "Life is short but love is strong".

That one line means a hell of a lot to me.

it does not have any bonos, slashes , or stings or fleas

My all time favourite album. It's been in my car again for the last couple of weeks. I can pick it up anywhere and just listen to it without jumping, time after time.

Have actually burned my own version with 12" singles for R&R and Run2 with the instrumentals tagged on, ending with Vanishing Point making out mix.

Perfection.

If the rest of the world is ignorant of this beauty, then it is their loss.

I suppose critical acclaim is largely irrelevent when one enjoys an album regardless, I just wonder why Technique is largely ignored when, as some have said, it is an absolute masterpiece and certainly the crown jewel in the New Order catalogue.

Perhaps as some have mentioned, it could be the lack of touring at the time, or the fact that it's by NO and not Primal Scream or the massively OVER-rated Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

James Stephen Barnes wrote:

Perhaps as some have mentioned, it could be the lack of touring at the time, or the fact that it's by NO and not Primal Scream or the massively OVER-rated Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Ugh, don't get me started on that bunch of tossers. Have always been at an utter loss to fathom the band's appeal Appalling music. Horrible, horrible band.

I have theory.

Perhaps Fine Time should have been a non-album single. It was timely, still sounds amazing and was surprisingly effect live. But a critic hearing it as the leadoff track on an album was probably a bit disconcerted.

If New Order released it as a non-album track and IF they could have had a track or two of Technique caliber to substitue, I think the album would have been perceived differently.

Didn't it get rave reviews upon its release in the UK?

Check these lists again in about 10 years time, when journalists biased in favor of "rock n roll" finally let the 60s go.

But yes, Technique is brilliant. Some say the production is dated, but honestly, something like Nirvana's Nevermind sounds way more dated. Again, I chalk it up to a cultural bias.

Andy wrote:

Perhaps Fine Time should have been a non-album single. It was timely, still sounds amazing and was surprisingly effect live. But a critic hearing it as the leadoff track on an album was probably a bit disconcerted.

If New Order released it as a non-album track and IF they could have had a track or two of Technique caliber to substitue, I think the album would have been perceived differently.

I agree with that - I love "Fine Time" but it should have been left as a stand-alone single, like in the good old days.

"The Happy One" or "Don't Do It" could have been openers, only if they had worked a bit more on them and mixed them properly.

Andy wrote: I have theory.

Perhaps Fine Time should have been a non-album single. It was timely, still sounds amazing and was surprisingly effect live. But a critic hearing it as the leadoff track on an album was probably a bit disconcerted.

If New Order released it as a non-album track and IF they could have had a track or two of Technique caliber to substitue, I think the album would have been perceived differently.

Interesting theory, and thinking about it, yes Fine Time is perhaps a little bit of an odd choice as lead-off single for Technique and may have been better as a stand-alone release.

Technique had plenty of strong "pop" songs that could have made Top 10 singles, 'All The Way', 'Mr. Disco', 'Dream Attack', even 'Vanishing Point' which someone was saying in the recent Compilations poll I did was mooted as a potential 4th single from the LP, even so far as that the Utah Saints did some mixes of 'VP' which are now sadly confined to God knows where.

James Stephen Barnes wrote:

Andy wrote: Technique had plenty of strong "pop" songs that could have made Top 10 singles, including Vanishing Point which someone was saying in the recent Compilations poll I did was mooted as a potential 4th single from the LP, even so far as that the Utah Saints did some mixes of 'VP' which are now sadly confined to God knows where.

You never know.

Did you get your copy of the 2004 New Order vs 808 State Blue Monday/Confusion acid house remixes?

To be honest, I've never been that keen on Technique. Waiting For The Sirens' Call is my favourite New Order album.

Because it's too much of a pop album for an indie band. That fact that I've seen Low-life consistently on various lists seem to prove the point.

I love Technique, but I think critics find it too spineless (although we know that lyrically it may be NO's best effort to date).

@Empress Touch, btw, would you be so kind as to fix this mess on the page?

I agree! I've never understood why Technique is ignored everywhere cept by the fans, ever since it came out. Not only my fave NO album, but all time favourite album ever, just liek plenty of good folks on here.

Even Bernard doesn't seem to like/rate it much, they don't like playing it live anymore do they??

As for Primal Scream I cannot believe the credibility they get for a remix album!! Look at the credits of technique and you'll see the band and not much more. No producers, no remixers, just perfect songs that just happened to be (and invented at the same time) a wonderful Mesh of rock and dance.

I've got a feeling that deep down most new order fans like the fact that that we love this album & it doesnt make those top album lists.

Andy wrote: I have theory.

Perhaps Fine Time should have been a non-album single. It was timely, still sounds amazing and was surprisingly effect live. But a critic hearing it as the leadoff track on an album was probably a bit disconcerted.

If New Order released it as a non-album track and IF they could have had a track or two of Technique caliber to substitue, I think the album would have been perceived differently.

I totally agree with this. Fine Time as the opener sets a weird mood, and one that really isn't in line with the rest of the record. It's a shame, because the next 2 tracks would make a great 1-2 punch to start an album.

|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3 wrote: Because it's too much of a pop album for an indie band. That fact that I've seen Low-life consistently on various lists seem to prove the point.

I love Technique, but I think critics find it too spineless (although we know that lyrically it may be NO's best effort to date).

@Empress Touch, btw, would you be so kind as to fix this mess on the page?

I can't say I've seen Low-Life on any Best Albums Ever lists either.

How critics can find Technique "spineless" I'm not sure, and yes, I agree 100% it's NO's best lyrically.

Absolutely YES. New Order should have been much more popular and critically acclaimed as a whole. Their music still shines today. As for Technique, should of been through the roof world wide.

I know I repeat myself...

"Technique" is their weakest album for me. And I'm almost the only one thinking that way.

Bere wrote: I know I repeat myself...

"Technique" is their weakest album for me. And I'm almost the only one thinking that way.

Fair enough. I think Sgt. Pepper is one of the Beatle's worser albums (certainly the worst of their "later" era) but doesn't stop folks generally regarding it as their best or most important work. Horses for courses.