Music Complete: Reviews

The excitement is really killing me, can't wait to listen to the album, I guess one more month before we get to listen to it. plus the Japanese Bonus track.

JG wrote:

Hitting the newstands in London this weekend were new editions of all the three main UK music monthlys....Q, Uncut and Mojo. Each carried a positive review of Music Complete and contained the same message......this is the best New Order album since Technique.

Here's a summary of their ratings:

Mojo - 4 stars.....'ninth album lays claim to iconic status'

Q - 4 stars......includes a 20 page feature article, part historic and part focussed on the new LP which is commented on elsewhere on this forum. Well worth getting.

Uncut - 7/10.......'easily New Order's best album since Technique and their most diverse ever'

It's encouraging that three established music writers have all formed pretty much the same conclusion and are consistent in their praise.

Thanks for posting! How many stars for Mojo & Q rank out of (5, 4, or something else?)

Hey everyone. I think Linus is excited about new New Order music! I don't know if he can wait though. Just sayin....

Linus Solanki wrote: The excitement is really killing me, can't wait to listen to the album, I guess one more month before we get to listen to it.

I agree with you and can't wait to listen to the album also.

That sounds great, can't wait to listen to the full album, the excitement is killing me, still have to wait 6 more weeks.

Great to hear Bernards voice again, good single not bad at all, very excited to hear the new album.

Can't wait to hear it and very excited about it, Let's hope the single release comes with some remixes and a B-side.

They are still capable of making great music even at this age and stage in life.

Thanks it sounds good, can't wait for the whole album, I don't know how I will get through waiting till sept to hear the whole thing, really super excited for the album.

waiting till sept to hear something seem too long for me.

Great News, great news for a boring monday, very excited to hear it.

Great news and can't wait for it

That is amazing that your friend is getting to listen to the new album already, he is very lucky.

Very good news

I am very excited to hear it, summer can't come soon, hopefully we will hear a single pretty soon.

Great News, very excited to hear the new stuff.

So the guy's excited. Why not collect all the negative crap people continually post? Does Michael Monkhouse, for instance, even like New Order?!

LostSiren wrote: So the guy's excited. Why not collect all the negative crap people continually post? Does Michael Monkhouse, for instance, even like New Order?!

I didn't say he was wrong to be excited. I'm just having some fun. No offence intended.

LostSiren wrote: Does Michael Monkhouse, for instance, even like New Order?!

Sounds like we need a poll. So..

Does Michael Monkhouse even like New Order?

A - Yes

B- No

C- There is no poll function on this forum.

The Quietus review: Track by Track HERE. Has he got all the track titles correct? Or have they changed some?

People on the High Line = New York Deli? Nothing but a Fool = Unkle? Superheated = 172?

The review sounds very good to me, only a month away from now or maybe even earlier.

Linus Solanki wrote: The review sounds very good to me, only a month away from now or maybe even earlier.

I'll admit it: I'm disappointed you didn't say you're excited for the new album

LostSiren wrote:

Linus Solanki wrote: The review sounds very good to me, only a month away from now or maybe even earlier.

I'll admit it: I'm disappointed you didn't say you're excited for the new album

loll, ok I will say it, I am really excited to listen to it and the waiting is driving me crazy.

Well... that Quietus review is getting me a bit excited...

I really like Restless, yet I want to hear stuff that's more BANGING, so if the album tracks are better than Restless AND feature far more in your face electronics, I'm sold.

Anyone else already feeling that Mr Morris really wanted to stamp his mark on this album? More so than on the last few?

And that "weak" track... Academic... is that the guitar track that they've released a YouTube clip of already? If so... I'm liking that as well. A lot. There might even be no weak tracks on the album for me at this rate... for the first time since... when? Technique?

JG wrote: Some great quotes from Luke in that review..

Oh JG, you had me at "Restless is the weakest"!

I've read that some cats here are enjoying it but for me it's a clunker with ropier-than-ever lyrics.

My fear was if they were releasing the best track on the album, what unholy mess did we have in the wings? But it appears they might have, somehow, in true NO style, done the opposite.

Whoosh! Just laid down some notes for the deluxe vinyl set.

dC

Picked up the Q issue and Mojo today.Couldn't find Uncut, will try another day. The 20 pager in Q looks ace, one or two old photos i've never seen.Will read the full feature this evening. Was going to just read the Mojo review in the shop but saw they have a 2 page special on all the Cocteau Twins albums so had to buy it!

Well I imagine after these reviews everyone on this forum is getting extremely excited. Good to see respectable sites like quietus are enjoying the album. If restless is the worst track then this album is going to be pretty damn good as I love restless even if as somebody says on the comments on the quietus for the fat and over 50's!

For the record Michael Monkhouse must be a new order obsessive judging by the number of comments he has made on this site,ctwisted or otherwise. I bet he is more excited than Linus for the new album

The Shadow wrote: Well I imagine after these reviews everyone on this forum is getting extremely excited. Good to see respectable sites like quietus are enjoying the album. If restless is the worst track then this album is going to be pretty damn good as I love restless even if as somebody says on the comments on the quietus for the fat and over 50's!

For the record Michael Monkhouse must be a new order obsessive judging by the number of comments he has made on this site,ctwisted or otherwise. I bet he is more excited than Linus for the new album

Chances are, Monkhouse is currently engorged with excitement. Don't worry, he'll get a hold of himself.

Got the Uncut review today.It's the most gushing of the 3 magazine reviews so far, and also the longest at a pretty much full page. The Q one and the Mojo one though very positive were maybe a little short.

"Among its rich, eclectic, 65 minute sprawl, Music Complete contains a couple of contenders for the canon of all time New Order greats.One is the gold plated, weapons grade Eurodisco anthem Plastic.It's vivid, acid house plumage wrapped around a rubberised spine of Moroder esque electro.Meanwhile Sumner's deceptively warm vocal taps into his inner seam of sulky Salford sarcasm "You're so special/So iconic" he croons repeatedly before the killer kiss-off line "You're like plastic/so artificial/you don't mean nothing baby/so superficial" It's bitchy.It's trashy.It's fantastic."

"Another potential future classic is the roaringly romantic "Nothing But A Fool" .... A warm endorphin rush of jingle jangle guitars and softly glowing synths swimming around an inescapibly Hooky-ish bassline, this is vintage autumnal New Order, falling somewhere between the heart bruised majesty of Regret and the underrated, Springsteen sized Waiting For the Sirens' Call"

From that description i've got a feeling Nothing But A Fool is the second teaser snippet they released.I maybe proved wrong of course but the "warm endorphin rush of jingle jangle guitars and softly glowing synths" would seem to fit, no?

Fotzepolitic wrote: Got the Uncut review today.It's the most gushing of the lot so far, and also the longest at a pretty much full page. The Q one and the Mojo one though very positive were maybe a little short.

"Among its rich, eclectic, 65 minute sprawl, Music Complete contains a couple of contenders for the canon of all time New Order greats"

Wow the build up for me is getting crazy high to listen to the album, I would even be happy with the 30 second clips on Amazon now.

Also a short interview with Steve.

one snippet "Because we weren't working with Hooky this time, we had to think about it more.I think it helped, really, it makes you work a bit harder"

It almost feels and seems now like Hooky has been holding them back the last few albums. Hi Hooky

"New Order have never been a convincing rock band but they are often a brilliantly perverse pop band.And sometimes, just sometimes, a great soul band"

Yep. I've often found it soul music.

Fotzepolitic wrote: Got the Uncut review today.It's the most gushing of the 3 magazine reviews so far, and also the longest at a pretty much full page. The Q one and the Mojo one though very positive were maybe a little short.

"Among its rich, eclectic, 65 minute sprawl, Music Complete contains a couple of contenders for the canon of all time New Order greats.One is the gold plated, weapons grade Eurodisco anthem Plastic.It's vivid, acid house plumage wrapped around a rubberised spine of Moroder esque electro.Meanwhile Sumner's deceptively warm vocal taps into his inner seam of sulky Salford sarcasm "You're so special/So iconic" he croons repeatedly before the killer kiss-off line "You're like plastic/so artificial/you don't mean nothing baby/so superficial" It's bitchy.It's trashy.It's fantastic."

"Another potential future classic is the roaringly romantic "Nothing But A Fool" .... A warm endorphin rush of jingle jangle guitars and softly glowing synths swimming around an inescapibly Hooky-ish bassline, this is vintage autumnal New Order, falling somewhere between the heart bruised majesty of Regret and the underrated, Springsteen sized Waiting For the Sirens' Call"

From that description i've got a feeling Nothing But A Fool is the second teaser snippet they released.I maybe proved wrong of course but the "warm endorphin rush of jingle jangle guitars and softly glowing synths" would seem to fit, no?

When I first heard Plastic I couldn't get Peter Hook out of my mind.

Fotzepolitic wrote: From that description i've got a feeling Nothing But A Fool is the second teaser snippet they released.I maybe proved wrong of course but the "warm endorphin rush of jingle jangle guitars and softly glowing synths" would seem to fit, no?

I thought Steve identified clip 2 (or clip 3 if we include the 8 second Restless teaser) as "Unlearn This Hatred" on the Radcliffe & Maconie show a couple of weeks back. Or did I just imagine that?

Linus Solanki wrote:

Fotzepolitic wrote: Got the Uncut review today.It's the most gushing of the lot so far, and also the longest at a pretty much full page. The Q one and the Mojo one though very positive were maybe a little short.

"Among its rich, eclectic, 65 minute sprawl, Music Complete contains a couple of contenders for the canon of all time New Order greats"

Wow the build up for me is getting crazy high to listen to the album, I would even be happy with the 30 second clips on Amazon now.

I suggest cold showers.

edspess wrote:

Fotzepolitic wrote: From that description i've got a feeling Nothing But A Fool is the second teaser snippet they released.I maybe proved wrong of course but the "warm endorphin rush of jingle jangle guitars and softly glowing synths" would seem to fit, no?

I thought Steve identified clip 2 (or clip 3 if we include the 8 second Restless teaser) as "Unlearn This Hatred" on the Radcliffe & Maconie show a couple of weeks back. Or did I just imagine that?

Well, Steve identified on Radcliffe & Maconie this clip (no.3) as Unlearn this Hatred

This clip (no.2) i reckon is Nothing But A Fool ("warm endorphin rush of jingle jangle guitars and softly glowing synths" ) Though as i said i may be wrong

Though it gets complicated as the intro to Restless was technically the 1st clip but the Singularity clip is numbered as 1st though really it was the 2nd

We've heard live versions of Plastic and Singularity already. They're decent but I'm not sure they're as good as the reviewers have said they are...

I like the download of restless they give out for the pre-order. Differs from the video and makes it more complete.

When one is older than the hills it is easy to wait. And another favorite supergiant,David Gilmour has a new album the week before. I am grateful I have lived to see and hear them and thank them for their achievements

Does Michael Monkhouse even like New Order?

A - Yes

B - No

C - I don't give a fuck about Michael Monkhouse.

D - Michael Monkhouse doesn't give a fuck about me.

E - No one gives a fuck about anyone really. We live in a dark and lonely world beneath an unfeeling, unflinching sky and death is the only truth.

F - Melanie C.

Yes I like NO, though my obsessive / collector days wore off in the mid-90's, partly because leaving the UK made it tough to track down info and songs, but mainly because of dross like 'Rep' and 'RTP'. I just like to remain objective (often confused with critical) and realistic (often confused with pessimistic). I was nutsy re '93 but some of the journalistic hyperbole and 'NO Story' comments made me physically sick... As a forum user I also have the right to expose some of the more ridiculous comments I've read here, but I won't bring any up 'cos it'll be misunderstood as being rude. I can't be bothered with the reviews. Whatever they say I know I'm gonna buy and listen and make up my own mind anyway.

Fotzepolitic wrote:

edspess wrote:

Fotzepolitic wrote: From that description i've got a feeling Nothing But A Fool is the second teaser snippet they released.I maybe proved wrong of course but the "warm endorphin rush of jingle jangle guitars and softly glowing synths" would seem to fit, no?

I thought Steve identified clip 2 (or clip 3 if we include the 8 second Restless teaser) as "Unlearn This Hatred" on the Radcliffe & Maconie show a couple of weeks back. Or did I just imagine that?

Well, Steve identified on Radcliffe & Maconie this clip (no.3) as Unlearn this Hatred

That just shows how poor my memory is...

Debaser wrote:

LostSiren wrote: I'm just having some fun. No offence intended.

You're in the wrong place.

^ Ha, you've managed to muck up the quotes there somehow. You've got Lost Siren saying my quote , and you've got me saying your comment. Confusion! Anyway, "ooh!" is what I wanted to reply to you Mr Monkhouse.

Fucking difficult this Internetty thingy.

Andy wrote:

The Shadow wrote: Well I imagine after these reviews everyone on this forum is getting extremely excited. Good to see respectable sites like quietus are enjoying the album. If restless is the worst track then this album is going to be pretty damn good as I love restless even if as somebody says on the comments on the quietus for the fat and over 50's!

For the record Michael Monkhouse must be a new order obsessive judging by the number of comments he has made on this site,ctwisted or otherwise. I bet he is more excited than Linus for the new album

Chances are, Monkhouse is currently engorged with excitement. Don't worry, he'll get a hold of himself.

Maybe that's the problem, he needs to let go of himself!

In the words of Oscar Wilde, there is only one thing worse than being spoken about. And that is One Direction. I don't mind if the albums crap cos there's a PIL one coming out at the same time.

Cranelane wrote:

Andy wrote:

The Shadow wrote: Well I imagine after these reviews everyone on this forum is getting extremely excited. Good to see respectable sites like quietus are enjoying the album. If restless is the worst track then this album is going to be pretty damn good as I love restless even if as somebody says on the comments on the quietus for the fat and over 50's!

For the record Michael Monkhouse must be a new order obsessive judging by the number of comments he has made on this site,ctwisted or otherwise. I bet he is more excited than Linus for the new album

Chances are, Monkhouse is currently engorged with excitement. Don't worry, he'll get a hold of himself.

Maybe that's the problem, he needs to let go of himself!

Yes. Clearly a reference to him holding his sausage hostage.

On this day, whatever the fuck it is, I hereby declare that as per the new forum guidelines:

1. If Bernard says the words 'new material' and we all know it won't be for another 496251 years, I shall get excited and start a new thread. Under no circumstances whatsoever shall I write 'we all know it won't be for another 496251 years', because that is negative and moaning and spoiling it for wide-eyed, wetarded womantics.
2. The Other Two are very nice. Doesn't matter they've only done 2 albums in 24 years and they're both shit, because they are so fucking NICE. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vPUeB2ZqQU
3. Gillian is gorgeous. Like, if any right-minded guy could choose between her or Cameron Diaz, Megan Fox, Scarlett Johanson or Melanie C, it'd have to be sexy, charismatic, no-make-up-at-all 'Bertie wunnit.
4. If Hooky says anything not NICE, I shall be gob-smacked thereby. Peter Hook is renowned in the biz for his reticence, discretion and kindness towards any other act, even if he doesn't like it. How could he stoop so low?
5. I was born the day 'Unknown Pleasures' came out and bought it on vinyl when still a foetus. Over the last 36 years it's gone from vinyl to CD to vinyl to CD to vinyl to CD and is, in 2015, now on vinyl again. I shall therefore get excited again and start another thread and place my order straight away, even though (a) Rhino are contractually obliged to fuck it up, (b) I've had all my life to listen to it and could hear it for free on Youtube anyway, (c) I have less money than Van Gogh, (d) no one's bought a record player since Buddha, and (e).

Michael Monkhouse wrote: On this day, whatever the fuck it is, I hereby declare that as per the new forum guidelines:

1. If Bernard says the words 'new material' and we all know it won't be for another 496251 years, I shall get excited and start a new thread. Under no circumstances whatsoever shall I write 'we all know it won't be for another 496251 years', because that is negative and moaning and spoiling it for wide-eyed, wetarded womantics.
2. The Other Two are very nice. Doesn't matter they've only done 2 albums in 24 years and they're both shit, because they are so fucking NICE. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vPUeB2ZqQU
3. Gillian is gorgeous. Like, if any right-minded guy could choose between her or Cameron Diaz, Megan Fox, Scarlett Johanson or Melanie C, it'd have to be sexy, charismatic, no-make-up-at-all 'Bertie wunnit.
4. If Hooky says anything not NICE, I shall be gob-smacked thereby. Peter Hook is renowned in the biz for his reticence, discretion and kindness towards any other act, even if he doesn't like it. How could he stoop so low?
5. I was born the day 'Unknown Pleasures' came out and bought it on vinyl when still a foetus. Over the last 36 years it's gone from vinyl to CD to vinyl to CD to vinyl to CD and is, in 2015, now on vinyl again. I shall therefore get excited again and start another thread and place my order straight away, even though (a) Rhino are contractually obliged to fuck it up, (b) I've had all my life to listen to it and could hear it for free on Youtube anyway, (c) I have less money than Van Gogh, (d) no one's bought a record player since Buddha, and (e).

Aye!

Excerpts from q magazine:

There's plenty to surprise on Music Complete, the 10th New Order album and their first completely new recording together in a decade. There are outright techno bangers with an aggression they’ve never achieved before. There’s an irrepressible bouncy castle of Euro-pop called Tutti Frutti, complete with a lascivious Italian voice, an echo of the ersatz Barry White who oozed, “You’ve got loooove technique” on Fine Time back in the E’d-up days of 1988. And there’s an Elmore Leonard-style spoken-word soliloquy (Stray Dog) gruffly delivered by none other than Iggy Pop. It is New Order with the colour turned up.

But strangest and most brilliant of all – and by far the furthest that New Order have travelled from their monochrome beginnings as Joy Division, the most magnificently fatalistic band in all music history – is an extraordinary new song called People On The High Line. Beginning with a flurry of Chic guitar, it unfurls into a balls-out hilarious fantasia of hammering house pianos, actual funk bass, disco strings and ecstatically lovelorn lyrics. It’s a tentpole track for Music Complete, an unabashed report-to-the- dancefloor album that matches New Order’s previous Ibizan zenith Technique for outright rave-mental excitement. If nothing else, it should finally see off anyone who’s still holding out for another Love Will Tear Us Apart. People On The High Line is New Order’s very own Club Tropicana. Actually, scratch that – it’s their Uptown Funk.

“You can blame Tom for that,” says Stephen Morris, 57, New Order’s lugubrious drummer-programmer-producer, in reference to bassist and new boy Tom Chapman. “He loves all that stuff. Nothing wrong with wanting to be in a disco band. God knows, we did for years. These tunes just make you smile, don’t they? Joy Division would never, ever make something like that. Which,” he adds mischievously, “is all the more reason for doing it.”

later -1

Michael Monkhouse wrote: On this day, whatever the fuck it is, I hereby declare that as per the new forum guidelines:

1. If Bernard says the words 'new material' and we all know it won't be for another 496251 years, I shall get excited and start a new thread. Under no circumstances whatsoever shall I write 'we all know it won't be for another 496251 years', because that is negative and moaning and spoiling it for wide-eyed, wetarded womantics.
2. The Other Two are very nice. Doesn't matter they've only done 2 albums in 24 years and they're both shit, because they are so fucking NICE. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vPUeB2ZqQU
3. Gillian is gorgeous. Like, if any right-minded guy could choose between her or Cameron Diaz, Megan Fox, Scarlett Johanson or Melanie C, it'd have to be sexy, charismatic, no-make-up-at-all 'Bertie wunnit.
4. If Hooky says anything not NICE, I shall be gob-smacked thereby. Peter Hook is renowned in the biz for his reticence, discretion and kindness towards any other act, even if he doesn't like it. How could he stoop so low?
5. I was born the day 'Unknown Pleasures' came out and bought it on vinyl when still a foetus. Over the last 36 years it's gone from vinyl to CD to vinyl to CD to vinyl to CD and is, in 2015, now on vinyl again. I shall therefore get excited again and start another thread and place my order straight away, even though (a) Rhino are contractually obliged to fuck it up, (b) I've had all my life to listen to it and could hear it for free on Youtube anyway, (c) I have less money than Van Gogh, (d) no one's bought a record player since Buddha, and (e).

Michael, I apologize for using your name earlier. I was defending Linus for being dinged for being enthusiastic, really, not looking to take other people to task. You must feel like someone walked in on you unexpectedly!

No no, I wasn't offended or anything! My post had nothing to do with your comment - I was just ironising on some of the things I hear from the fans. Apologies if that wasn't clear.

Feck it.Some of our overseas friends like young Linus may not have seen these reviews so here yer go.I guess you can right click and save image to computer where you can open in a programme where they are easy to read.

Q magazine

Mojo

Uncut (sorry, only have a pic of this not a scan but it should be just about readable if you save to your pc and open in your pics programme and zoom in)

Fotzepolitic wrote: Feck it.Some of our overseas friends like young Linus may not have seen these reviews so here yer go.I guess you can right click and save image to computer where you can open in a programme where they are easy to read.

Q magazine

Mojo

Uncut (sorry, only have a pic of this not a scan but it should be just about readable if you save to your pc and open in your pics programme and zoom in)

Thanks for posting it, I really appreciate it, enjoyed reading it.

Small mistake in the Mojo review: Gillian was actually involved in writing and recording Get Ready, but not touring it. She's still ugly though.

You know when you think something, and then you think: If I say that out loud it might sound sexist or whatever? Well I'm thinking: Hmm, Gillian looks like she's lost weight. And in the interests of balance: Bernard looks like he needs to. Anyway, as you were...

Nothing sexist about that. Steve's even worse. The great thing about a new album is it gives forums users something to talk about. Look how desperate we get in the wilderness (tee hee) periods: http://forums.neworderonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=1429.

Fotzepolitic wrote: Feck it.Some of our overseas friends like young Linus may not have seen these reviews so here yer go.I guess you can right click and save image to computer where you can open in a programme where they are easy to read.

Q magazine

Mojo

Uncut (sorry, only have a pic of this not a scan but it should be just about readable if you save to your pc and open in your pics programme and zoom in)

Thanks for posting! First I read these and it has me very, very excited for the album. Not an original thought, but still...

The brazilian's biggest newspaper - Folha de São Paulo - rated "Music Complete" as "VG" (very good). Folha wrote "nothing new really, but it's pure New Order and that is enough". The following picture is not mine.

JG wrote: [albumimg]98[/albumimg]

Here's Dorian Lynskey's view in GQ, including......

"perhaps the tight security surrounding Music Complete.....is down to fear that Hooky might hear it and perform the whole thing before they did"

"Hook won't accept that this is NO's best album since their 1989 masterpiece Technique, but it is"

"Relentlessly vivid and dynamic"

GQ don't give ratings but it reads every bit as glowingly as the 4 star-ers above.

Starts from the bottom para of the left hand column.

THANKS

Linus Solanki wrote:

JG wrote: [albumimg]98[/albumimg]

Here's Dorian Lynskey's view in GQ, including......

"perhaps the tight security surrounding Music Complete.....is down to fear that Hooky might hear it and perform the whole thing before they did"

"Hook won't accept that this is NO's best album since their 1989 masterpiece Technique, but it is"

"Relentlessly vivid and dynamic"

GQ don't give ratings but it reads every bit as glowingly as the 4 star-ers above.

Starts from the bottom para of the left hand column.

THANKS

Thank you for thanking JG.

Tomorrow's evening I'll have an opportunity to listen to the new album, so if you are willing to get some hints on its sound etc. I can provide some informaton though I'm not a native so my english is not as vivid in describing as it (probably) should be in case of this record :)

JG wrote: [albumimg]98[/albumimg]

Here's Dorian Lynskey's view in GQ, including......

"perhaps the tight security surrounding Music Complete.....is down to fear that Hooky might hear it and perform the whole thing before they did"

"Hook won't accept that this is NO's best album since their 1989 masterpiece Technique, but it is"

"Relentlessly vivid and dynamic"

GQ don't give ratings but it reads every bit as glowingly as the 4 star-ers above.

Starts from the bottom para of the left hand column.

Great stuff.I liked the fact she's "always preferred the exuberant mess of New Order to the solemn precision of Joy Division" My thoughts exactly.Great to get back to some new fresh music .All we've had for years since WFTSC is Joy Division this Joy Division that blah blah blah fucking blah and Hooky being a whining cunt.Reissue after reissue after reissue.You can trace it back to 1995 in my opinion when Love Will Tear Us Apart was re released and then the Permanent compilation.Then in the late 90s the Heart And Soul box set came out then the Control film in 2007.The looking back thing has been almost constant ever since.Always found it odd that the last few years has been all this looking back when New Order used to be about moving forward, new sounds, new ideas.Oh dear i appear to have gone off on a rant.Sorry, it's been a long hard week.

Good rant Mr TwoSheds! Thanks

TheScotsman

Andy wrote: TheScotsman

Weirdly the first time i read that review it came across as quite negative review for some reason and i laughed yeah usual bitter Jocks but read it again and it's really positive actually(4 stars!)

https://tomhocknell.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/new-new-order-music-complete-album-review/

Who is this Peter Morris?

Fuck me, this ever changing line up is hard to keep track of.

Speaking of which, is Peter Hook still in the band, Tomhocknell doesn't seem to want to mention it ;-) - although I did chuckle at his Freebass reference.

Linus Solanki wrote: https://tomhocknell.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/new-new-order-music-complete-album-review/

Yet another really positive review, wonder if anyone will buck the trend and give it a negative.Hard to imagine at the moment.Mind you, Hooky hasn't given his review yet.And remember, Hooky is always right and everyone else is wrong.

Georgie magazine

Fotzepolitic wrote: Georgie magazine

So Hooky should receive compensation as, according to this review, the LP features his "...patented sound"?

Actually, this reviewer seems to have missed the minor bit of news about Hooky's exit...

It's nice to read a review that doesn't have to repeatedly reference the flouncing fucker, though.

(It's also promising that different reviews pick out different tracks as highlights.)

Andy wrote:

Fotzepolitic wrote: Georgie magazine

So Hooky should receive compensation as, according to this review, the LP features his "...patented sound"?

Actually, this reviewer seems to have missed the minor bit of news about Hooky's exit...

None of it sounds like Hooky, not really. It's just bass, he hasn't trademarked the bass.

Louder Than War

Mixmag

Not much depth to the review, but very positive again. 8/10.

And a word from our Australian friends:

The Music

Negative about both Restless and of a couple of tracks I haven't seen criticised elsewhere - Nothing but a Fool and The Game - and yet still 4.5/5.

Bit worried now. Won't feel confident until Pitchfork give it 3.3 recurring / 10.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/new-order-music-complete--album-review-10506169.html

On the band’s first studio album since the departure of Peter Hook, New Order don’t attempt to replace his characteristic lead basslines, but shift instead towards a more general electronic orientation.

It’s most effectively realised in tracks produced by Tom Rowlands, especially “Unlearn This Hatred”, a twitchy electro strut infectious enough to help one overlook the ragbag of clichés that passes for its lyric. A similar over-reliance on the familiar infects “Plastic”, a pulsing footnote to “I Feel Love”; and more agreeably “People on the High Line”, which approximates the propulsive guitar and bass interplay of Chic.

But mostly, the album comprises a series of scuttling bleepscapes lent individual character by unorthodox instrumental detail. The standout is “Nothing But a Fool”, which develops genuine depth from its lean openings of acoustic guitar arpeggios and drone textures.

http://www.mixmag.net/read/new-order-reviews

Mixmag Magazine 8/10

The music world is built on hyperbole. But sometimes there is stone-cold fact. Like this one: New Order changed the face of modern music and shaped club culture in the UK and beyond. The Mancunian legends' first LP without Peter Hook is their 10th of a 35-year career that now sees them deliver, in 'Music Complete', an album of outstanding pop, shuddering dance-rock and intricate electronic moods.

Opener 'Restless' is classic New Order: big chords, even bigger hooks, jangly guitars and the sound of bass player Tom Chapman laying down the sort of low-slung, hammering rhythm the previous incumbent trademarked. Guests include La Roux's Elly Jackson, Iggy Pop and The Killers' Brandon Flowers (who named his band after a fictional group in a New Order video), while The Chems' Tom Rowlands produces two tracks and Stuart Price co-produces another.

Rowlands and Flowers contribute to 'Superheated's glorious, soaring stadium pop. Elsewhere, Italo pianos decorate both the Liquid Liquid-style post-punk of 'People High On The Line' and 'Tutti Frutti'. Here, Bernard Sumner goes head-to-head with Jackson on a hazy, spiralling disco-house stormer that references classic house and even 'Voodoo Ray'. The other stand-out, 'Plastic', uses Moroder-style keys to create a neo-Balearic classic.

A runaway victory for class over hype.

Tony Casanova wrote: And a word from our Australian friends:

The Music

Negative about both Restless and of a couple of tracks I haven't seen criticised elsewhere - Nothing but a Fool and The Game - and yet still 4.5/5.

This guy is a massive NO fan who used to post here circa Get Ready. He's all over this record.

http://www.northerntransmissions.com/album-review/music-complete-new-order/

Linus Solanki wrote: http://www.northerntransmissions.com/album-review/music-complete-new-order/

Cheers. By far the most comprehensive review so far. You get excited - I get excited too.

Tony Casanova wrote:

Linus Solanki wrote: http://www.northerntransmissions.com/album-review/music-complete-new-order/

Cheers. By far the most comprehensive review so far. You get excited - I get excited too.

Yep very comprehensive but also the nearest to a negative/mixed review yet going on about it being an exhausting (much like reading the review), too long listen and yet the reviewer still gave it 7 out of 10.

Has this one been posted before? I'm losing track now there's so many,

The Skinny

Fotzepolitic wrote:

Tony Casanova wrote:

Linus Solanki wrote: http://www.northerntransmissions.com/album-review/music-complete-new-order/

Cheers. By far the most comprehensive review so far. You get excited - I get excited too.

Yep very comprehensive but also the nearest to a negative/mixed review yet going on about it being an exhausting (much like reading the review), too long listen and yet the reviewer still gave it 7 out of 10.

If the reviewer has the same taste as me, I am going to love Academic and The Game to such a degree that it will be worth buying the album just for those two tracks. The majority of the rest, I shall just about tolerate despite their inordinate length. One or two tracks will be skipped altogether.

I will then look forward to hearing those tracks that didn't make the final cut being released in either mini album format or as B sides.

Hopefully, I have more patience than the reviewer (who might only have listened to the album a couple of times). When I first heard Restless I was underwhelmed and concerned for the rest of the album. After listening to it dozens of times, I realised that I was wrong about that track - I absolutely love it.

At least the reviewer comes across as honest (even if he is wrong). Some of the other reviews come across as Paul Morley on E - sycophantic, pretentious, self-centred.

Just 6 days to go, but I won't jump all over the album until I have heard each new song at least ten times.

The genius with Technique was how so utterly effortless it sounded.All The Way, Loveless, Run, Vanishing Point, Dream Attack... just effortless genius.The effortless was what made Technique the masterpiece.Every album since it sounded like New Order were trying and working and as good as Music Complete may turn out to be that effortless air will never be captured again.

Fotzepolitic wrote: The genius with Technique was how so utterly effortless it sounded.All The Way, Loveless, Run, Vanishing Point, Dream Attack... just effortless genius.The effortless was what made Technique the masterpiece.Every album since it sounded like New Order were trying and working and as good as Music Complete may turn out to be that effortless air will never be captured again.

Restless sounds effortless and that's why it's a grower. At first you hate how it sounds same-y compared to most of New Order's back catalogue, but then with every repeated listen you start to pick up on little bits here and there that make it a one-off and then it just clicks. The RAC Remix is meticulously crafted but I grew tired of it. The original, still fresh, still a wonderful sound to my ears every time I spin it.

Plastic, while it seems a bit more restrained and minimal compared to Restless, also has that air of effortlessness about it. It doesn't flow as seamlessy as Restless does, but I love it and very much look forward to the album. The great thing about both of the new songs we've heard up until now is that they have that sense of empty space in them, they're not maximalist in terms of being overly layered (which is my biggest gripe with Republic or any of the later albums, except Crystal, what a fu*king masterpiece) and they hark back to the New Order of the 80s, which we all admit is the best kind. Speaking of maximalist, that's exactly what, for me, the RAC Mix does to Restless. The original is like a guitar-driven Technique track with just the right amount of everything, whereas the RAC Mix, as great and sparkly and perfectly produced it is, slightly crosses the line in terms of cramming so many layers into a piece of music and it doesn't bring out the basic charm of the song as the original does.

A reviewer (not going to bother with linking the review, it's in one of the comments before) compared this album, respectively the songs on the album, as being very similar to The Perfect Kiss as in being great pieces of music and meticulously crafted, but with no soul or mystique like e.g. Blue Monday or any other iconic NO song (pfft...like The Perfect Kiss isn't). If his words are anything to go by, and the new album is 11 Perfect Kisses in a row, wow..what a masterpiece it has to be.

NikacP0kac93 wrote:

Fotzepolitic wrote: The genius with Technique was how so utterly effortless it sounded.All The Way, Loveless, Run, Vanishing Point, Dream Attack... just effortless genius.The effortless was what made Technique the masterpiece.Every album since it sounded like New Order were trying and working and as good as Music Complete may turn out to be that effortless air will never be captured again.

Restless sounds effortless and that's why it's a grower. At first you hate how it sounds same-y compared to most of New Order's back catalogue, but then with every repeated listen you start to pick up on little bits here and there that make it a one-off and then it just clicks. The RAC Remix is meticulously crafted but I grew tired of it. The original, still fresh, still a wonderful sound to my ears every time I spin it.

Plastic, while it seems a bit more restrained and minimal compared to Restless, also has that air of effortlessness about it. It doesn't flow as seamlessy as Restless does, but I love it and very much look forward to the album. The great thing about both of the new songs we've heard up until now is that they have that sense of empty space in them, they're not maximalist in terms of being overly layered (which is my biggest gripe with Republic or any of the later albums, except Crystal, what a fu*king masterpiece) and they hark back to the New Order of the 80s, which we all admit is the best kind. Speaking of maximalist, that's exactly what, for me, the RAC Mix does to Restless. The original is like a guitar-driven Technique track with just the right amount of everything, whereas the RAC Mix, as great and sparkly and perfectly produced it is, slightly crosses the line in terms of cramming so many layers into a piece of music and it doesn't bring out the basic charm of the song as the original does.

A reviewer (not going to bother with linking the review, it's in one of the comments before) compared this album, respectively the songs on the album, as being very similar to The Perfect Kiss as in being great pieces of music and meticulously crafted, but with no soul or mystique like e.g. Blue Monday or any other iconic NO song (pfft...like The Perfect Kiss isn't). If his words are anything to go by, and the new album is 11 Perfect Kisses in a row, wow..what a masterpiece it has to be.

I actually hate the perfect kiss, but judging by the 30 second snippets, which seem to have disappeared now there are some rally good stuff on this recored, not sure of the tutti frutti fruit machine intro sound and worried it sounds a bit electronic, raise the pressure, but two steps forward and one step back!

pmep100 wrote: I actually hate the perfect kiss, but judging by the 30 second snippets, which seem to have disappeared now there are some rally good stuff on this recored, not sure of the tutti frutti fruit machine intro sound and worried it sounds a bit electronic, raise the pressure, but two steps forward and one step back!

I find Perfect Kiss to work for me only when I'm feeling well or happy or any kind of positive. It's a sort of uplifting song for me and it's a full-on sonic attack with all its drums and frogs and sequencers, but it's my favourite NO song by a mile (12" version of course, the album version is so underpowered) because it takes me on a journey like no other. During that 8-9 minutes it's only me clapping on my thighs manically or dancing like a retard to the wonderful soundscapes.

TheArtsDesk

PopMatters

List

DoubleJ

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/new-order-music-complete-20150921

Linus Solanki wrote: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/new-order-music-complete-20150921

Laziest “review” so far. People get paid to write so little!? You could almost tweet that

Linus Solanki wrote: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/new-order-music-complete-20150921

I remember distinctly their 3 out 5 star review of Technique. They were dismissive of the dance tracks yet gave Madonna a 4 star review in the same issue.

Rolling Stone sux donkey dongs.

Pitchfork

RollingStone Australia

http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/music/8872/new-order-are-back-new-album-music-complete/

http://www.xsnoize.com/album-review-new-order-music-complete/

Spittingcat wrote: http://www.xsnoize.com/album-review-new-order-music-complete/

Nice review, from a North American perspective.

Consequence Of Sound

musicOMH

http://exclaim.ca/music/article/new_order-music_complete

Thanks for posting all the reviews everyone. So great to read them in anticipation of the big day. I remember back in the day waiting to see what Melody Maker (sadly departed) and NME (still around and now free!) had to say about the albums. Glad to see that the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. I especially liked Consequence of Sound's statement (I think it was their statement) that the first three songs are the best first three songs of any album this year.

LasVegasWeekly

DHLaw wrote: Thanks for posting all the reviews everyone. So great to read them in anticipation of the big day. I remember back in the day waiting to see what Melody Maker (sadly departed) and NME (still around and now free!) had to say about the albums. Glad to see that the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. I especially liked Consequence of Sound's statement (I think it was their statement) that the first three songs are the best first three songs of any album this year.

You're welcome.

The album is superb and, as good as they are, at this point, none of those first three tracks are my favourite.

The Australian

Live4Ever

User review on Amoeba.com by some guy named Andy:

Amoeba.com

Andy wrote: User review on Amoeba.com by some guy named Andy:

Amoeba.com

Yes, I concur with most of what you've said, although I like Plastic more with repeated listens, it's grown on me.

Glad you've noted 'Nothing but a Fool' as being a highlight. I honestly think it's not just one of the best guitar centred songs he's ever written, but one of the best songs in any style that he's penned. As I said elsewhere [and I don't know how songs go about getting nominated] this song should see him getting an Ivor Novello award. It's a song both lyrically, musically and in its production that any songwriter of any generation would be massively proud they'd written. I don't mind admitting nearly shedding a tear after hearing it, it's the epitome of melancholic, minor key, but also uplifting New Order for me. Genius is probably an over used word these days, but this is approaching it.

Salford Corner wrote:

Andy wrote: User review on Amoeba.com by some guy named Andy:

Amoeba.com

Yes, I concur with most of what you've said, although I like Plastic more with repeated listens, it's grown on me.

Glad you've noted 'Nothing but a Fool' as being a highlight. I honestly think it's not just one of the best guitar centred songs he's ever written, but one of the best songs in any style that he's penned. As I said elsewhere [and I don't know how songs go about getting nominated] this song should see him getting an Ivor Novello award. It's a song both lyrically, musically and in its production that any songwriter of any generation would be massively proud they'd written. I don't mind admitting nearly shedding a tear after hearing it, it's the epitome of melancholic, minor key, but also uplifting New Order for me. Genius is probably an over used word these days, but this is approaching it.

Girlfriend brought to tears by Nothing but a Fool and Superheated. In her defence, she is a Killers fan and had had a few glasses of wine.

http://undertheradarmag.com/reviews/new\_order\_music\_complete

The Guardian

Salford Corner wrote:

Glad you've noted 'Nothing but a Fool' as being a highlight. I honestly think it's not just one of the best guitar centred songs he's ever written, but one of the best songs in any style that he's penned. As I said elsewhere [and I don't know how songs go about getting nominated] this song should see him getting an Ivor Novello award. It's a song both lyrically, musically and in its production that any songwriter of any generation would be massively proud they'd written. I don't mind admitting nearly shedding a tear after hearing it, it's the epitome of melancholic, minor key, but also uplifting New Order for me. Genius is probably an over used word these days, but this is approaching it.

Yep i nearly shed a tear as well mate.Alright, feck it; i did shed a tear.There, i've said it.It's a fucking big song.Agree totally with all what you've said about this song.

Evening....

IrishTimes

I've compiled a review megamix - enjoy

Mojo - 'Ninth album lays claim to iconic status'

Uncut - 'Easily New Order's best album since Technique and their most diverse ever. Among its rich, eclectic, 65 minute sprawl, Music Complete contains a couple of songs that are contenders for the canon of all time New Order greats’

The Quietus –‘Thrilling, progressive and fun, which ought to stand as a highlight of their career’

Q Magazine – ‘What’s so impressive about Music Complete is not just that New Order have returned but they’ve come back in such vibrant form’

GQ -"Relentlessly vivid and dynamic’

Louder Than War – ‘Music Complete is going to go down as one of New Order’s finest works. It is where the band come back out of the dark and into the sun.’

Mixmag – ‘An album of outstanding pop, shuddering dance-rock and intricate electronic moods. A runaway victory for class over hype.’

The ArtsDesk – ‘Music Complete sees New Order rejuvenated and fighting fit. The songs here run the gamut of dance, rock, electronica and even disco with a kind of manic glee.’

PopMatters – ‘Music Complete is the best New Order album since 1989’s Technique.’

List – ‘The world should be very happy that what it has right now is a new New Order album.’

DoubleJ – ‘For some reason, bands tend to get pretty rubbish as they get old. Trends change, they lose the hunger for stardom and lose touch with what an audience wants.No one told New Order that, though. Music Complete, released 35 years after the band formed, is an example of a band still at the top of their game. They're not defining genres anymore, but they're still making mighty good music. New Order don't need to change the game anymore, they've already done that enough in their lifetime. The fact they can still give us such vital, relevant music after so many years is testament to the power of this great band. ‘

RollingStone – ‘Their most varied and substantial work in decades.’

ConsequenceOfSound – ‘It’s the rare late era LP that blossoms with life, while also echoing the past.

Exclaim – ‘New Order have made their best album since 1989's Technique. Few people expected this to happen so far into their career, but then New Order have always been about beating the odds’

Live4Ever – ‘Bold, creative and without doubt a tour-de-force.’

The Guardian – ‘Music Complete feels like the freshest thing they’ve done in ages.’

UnderTheArmMag – ‘The best collection of songs that they've produced in years.’

Pitchfork -'The most refined record they’ve released since 1989’s Technique..... sounds like classic New Order, and now over three decades deep into their career, it's kind of amazing that nothing else really does.

^ No Pitchfork? With their pretentious 7.2 score?

Debaser wrote: ^ No Pitchfork? With their pretentious 7.2 score?

OK, i've added Pitchfork

I'm surprised there has been no NME review yet, but maybe I'm not now with the likes of Rhianna and that Vampire actor bloke on the new free issue.

Oh dear, finally a shit review! http://diymag.com/2015/09/25/new-order-music-complete-album-review

A.V. Club

nme

http://www.nme.com/reviews/new-order/16267

DorsetEcho

AllMusic

First bad/mixed review I've seen from the usually dependable AllMusic.

I've just listened for the first time and its a cracker, especially the first 5 tracks

A second review in The Quietus

Evening Standard

poorshakes wrote: AllMusic

First bad/mixed review I've seen from the usually dependable AllMusic.

I've just listened for the first time and its a cracker, especially the first 5 tracks

Considering this sentiment from the article, it's a wonder the review is somewhat favorable at all:

"New Order without Hook is like Joy Division withoutIan Curtis, only instead of New Order forming in the wake, it's Bad Lieutenant."

Thanks Bill - Always the best at the NEWS

Fotzepolitic wrote: I've compiled a review megamix - enjoy

Mojo - 'Ninth album lays claim to iconic status'

Uncut - 'Easily New Order's best album since Technique and their most diverse ever. Among its rich, eclectic, 65 minute sprawl, Music Complete contains a couple of songs that are contenders for the canon of all time New Order greats’

The Quietus –‘Thrilling, progressive and fun, which ought to stand as a highlight of their career’

Q Magazine – ‘What’s so impressive about Music Complete is not just that New Order have returned but they’ve come back in such vibrant form’

GQ -"Relentlessly vivid and dynamic’

Louder Than War – ‘Music Complete is going to go down as one of New Order’s finest works. It is where the band come back out of the dark and into the sun.’

Mixmag – ‘An album of outstanding pop, shuddering dance-rock and intricate electronic moods. A runaway victory for class over hype.’

The ArtsDesk – ‘Music Complete sees New Order rejuvenated and fighting fit. The songs here run the gamut of dance, rock, electronica and even disco with a kind of manic glee.’

PopMatters – ‘Music Complete is the best New Order album since 1989’s Technique.’

List – ‘The world should be very happy that what it has right now is a new New Order album.’

DoubleJ – ‘For some reason, bands tend to get pretty rubbish as they get old. Trends change, they lose the hunger for stardom and lose touch with what an audience wants.No one told New Order that, though. Music Complete, released 35 years after the band formed, is an example of a band still at the top of their game. They're not defining genres anymore, but they're still making mighty good music. New Order don't need to change the game anymore, they've already done that enough in their lifetime. The fact they can still give us such vital, relevant music after so many years is testament to the power of this great band. ‘

RollingStone – ‘Their most varied and substantial work in decades.’

ConsequenceOfSound – ‘It’s the rare late era LP that blossoms with life, while also echoing the past.

Exclaim – ‘New Order have made their best album since 1989's Technique. Few people expected this to happen so far into their career, but then New Order have always been about beating the odds’

Live4Ever – ‘Bold, creative and without doubt a tour-de-force.’

The Guardian – ‘Music Complete feels like the freshest thing they’ve done in ages.’

UnderTheArmMag – ‘The best collection of songs that they've produced in years.’

Pitchfork -'The most refined record they’ve released since 1989’s Technique..... sounds like classic New Order, and now over three decades deep into their career, it's kind of amazing that nothing else really does.

BostonGlobe

Andy wrote: BostonGlobe

Is that a pub in Lincolnshire where the next tribute gig is?

TheAsterisk

Andy wrote: TheAsterisk

A good nod to Chromatics… love their stuff.

The Guardian

Interesting reading but is anyone here gonna actually buy this on the strength of a review? I'd buy it even if they all said it was bollocks. Which is what 90% of reviews are.

Michael Monkhouse wrote: Interesting reading but is anyone here gonna actually buy this on the strength of a review? I'd buy it even if they all said it was bollocks. Which is what 90% of reviews are.

They're never as interesting as the Monkhouse dispatches.

We just like reading the favourable reviews to justify our continued fascination with New Order. I also like to believe that all the hits to those websites helps to remind publications there's still lots of interest in the band. That's why I post links instead of pasting entire articles.

TheNewYorker

Treble

Clash

Talked about and reviewed on the Jo Wiley Radio 2 show earlier this evening, go to 1 hour 7 minutes 30 seconds in

Andy wrote: TheNewYorker

NYer reviewer doesn't know how to just enjoy an album. Oh, hinting at disco was done last year, this album is no good then. No frogs. That review angered me.

WashingtonSquareNews

MiddleEastNorthAfricaFinancialNetwork

HitTheFloor

LostSiren wrote:

Andy wrote: TheNewYorker

NYer reviewer doesn't know how to just enjoy an album. Oh, hinting at disco was done last year, this album is no good then. No frogs. That review angered me.

Agreed; I have a subscription but music journalism (aside from Sasha Frere-Jones, and I don't necessarily always favor his style) is not their strong suit. Often over analytical and self-consciously restrained in offering fair praise, like the grey haired version of some uppity Pitchfork newbie.

LostSiren wrote:

Andy wrote: TheNewYorker

NYer reviewer doesn't know how to just enjoy an album. Oh, hinting at disco was done last year, this album is no good then. No frogs. That review angered me.

Yeah, the reviewer goes on about New Order copying the Chic/Nile Rodgers style guitar that was in 2 years ago..PAH! Bernard was championing Chic many many years ago, around the early 90s, way before they became fashionable again in 2013.Heck , his guitar playing on Sate Of The Nation way back in 1986 was a homage to Chic/Nile Rodgers.

On average these seem like some of the best reviews they've ever received, aside from Technique. Hasn't nearly every album been greeted with, "Ahem, well, erm, some nice songs buried here, but isn't it mostly atmosphere and daft lyrics? Their fans are too serious. They're not really innovators anymore, are they? Mmmm, they peaked a long time ago..."

Get Ready and WFTSC have had a critical mauling in a lot of these reviews of Music Complete. A lot of reviewers now seem to hold those two albums in retrospect as shite.Funnily enough i'm sure i remember Get Ready having mainly good reviews.I think i you could make one good album from the two of them.

Get Ready For The Sirens' Call

1.Crystal 2.Who's Joe 3.Krafty 4.Turn My Way 5.Primitive Notion 6.Vicious Streak 7.60 Miles An Hour 8.Slow Jam 9.Waiting For The Sirens' Call 10.Turn

ABCNews

NotAMod wrote:

Andy wrote: ABCNews

"alterna-club legends"

Americans do love their little sub-sub-sub-genres

Strange review in that it's quite favourable, yet he also see's it as a follow-up to the Bad Lieutenant LP.

Andy wrote:

Strange review in that it's quite favourable, yet he also see's it as a follow-up to the Bad Lieutenant LP.

The reviewer should listen to Jake's album… that's far more like a follow up to the Bad Lieutenant stuff.

In WH Smith today i saw that Louder Than War now has a physical magazine which comes out just quarterly and this was the first issue.In it there's another review of Music Complete which differs from the one previously on their website which was very positive.However, this new, second review is not so favourable; gave the album just 6 out of 10 and basically said it's just a Bernard Sumner solo album.Welllllll.... maybe you could take that point of view if you wanted but there's a lot lot more to this album than just Bernard.The mag does have a nice full page advert for Music Complete on the back cover though.Nearly enough to make me buy it but i didn't feel like parting with £4.99 on this occasion.

Fotzepolitic wrote: Get Ready and WFTSC have had a critical mauling in a lot of these reviews of Music Complete. A lot of reviewers now seem to hold those two albums in retrospect as shite.Funnily enough i'm sure i remember Get Ready having mainly good reviews.I think i you could make one good album from the two of them.

Yup. I wasn't really into them circa GR but I remember the reviews were above-average. I think people were pleased to get anything at all so long after Republic and that was shit too. Reviewers are fickle buggers. I remember Republic getting a bad press - then the Other Two and You (sheesh) appeared and it was even worse, so they started going, 'It suffers by comparison...' I used to write reviews (for comedy not music but it's the same process) and most of it is just journos (a) filling up space and (b) indulging in their love of language. Amazingly I STILL ain't found a copy of the album out here. Must try harder.

SydneyMorningHerald

TorontoSun

TheDailyCalifornian

ABS-CBN

Have a look at this 1 star review from "Neil" on Amazon, funny as fuck..

Music for middle aged office workers. You can picture the band wearing cardigans and tucking into a tin of baked beans whilst writing it. Total tripe, even my cat was rolling on the floor laughing at this old cobbage. The only thing I can compare it to is a bunch of Erasure b-sides or Right Said Fred after a dodgy curry

Well "Neil" the joke's on you as this change in the weather means wearing a cardigan is eminently sensible. Also, I hope your cat dies.

TwinCities

SanBernadinoCountySun

MessengerNewspaper

Andy wrote: SanBernadinoCountySun

So The Killers got their band name from the mythical group in Touched by the hand of God video. You learn something new everyday. [eek3]

6 Music Rountable

steven wrote: 6 Music Rountable

Yeah i listened to that last week when it was on.They didn't talk an awful lot about it though really! Just a few comments, mainly positive though.

SlugMagazine

Nouse

Some idiot on YouTube.I actually watched this the whole way through.He seemed to have a mixed to negative on most tracks but still gave it 7 out of 10 if i recall (was a week or so ago i watched)

Oh boy this is too much.

Fotzepolitic wrote: Get Ready and WFTSC have had a critical mauling in a lot of these reviews of Music Complete. A lot of reviewers now seem to hold those two albums in retrospect as shite. I think i you could make one good album from the two of them.

Never mind that - I think you could make a really strong record from WFTSC and Lost Sirens. And that's surely what they would have done had they been able to see into the future...

Dump Hey Now.../ Morning Night and Day/ Dracula../Jetstream / Working Overtime. Replace with I'll Stay With You / Californian Grass/ Recoil / Shake it up / Hellbent / I've got a feeling, and use the Stuart Price mix of I Told You So.

I was listening a lot to Lost Sirens while waiting for the new album, and the only song that doesn't come up to scratch is Sugarcane. I liked Shake it up, Hellbent and Recoil a lot more than I did when they were released.

I agree that the last two proper albums have been taking more shit than necessary in order to praise the new album. Even more, I think it's a pity that the Lost Sirens' songs just fell through the cracks. I reckon e.g. Shake it Up would have been received very well indeed had it been on Music Complete - it's certainly a much better song than People on the High Line.

TheNational

Andy wrote: TheNational

Superheated seems to get mentioned in every review as either a glorious finale or a damp squib. I'm still in the latter camp, it's the one track I just can't relate to the NO I know and love

I think it's the 'We're so different but we're the same' lyric that really makes me cringe. If one of my primary school students handed rubbish up like that I'd send them back to try harder. I know we're a million years away from 1979 but don't you every now and then ponder 'What would Mr C think?'

Rest of the album's a cracker though.

TheSpectrum

M1 wrote:

Andy wrote: TheNational

Superheated seems to get mentioned in every review as either a glorious finale or a damp squib. I'm still in the latter camp, it's the one track I just can't relate to the NO I know and love

I know what you mean. I think the disconnect is that the lyrics seem more in line with what the band previously would have set to a more traditional guitar led track (such as Turn or even Love Less).

Having said that, I really like the track. But I also appreciate The Killers and Pet Shop Boys which this compares favourably to.

"Waitrose Weekend" (15 October 2015) - the freebie paper available at all Waitroses (yes, I pop in there from time to time as it's only about 5 minutes walk away on the way to the train station)!

Anyway, on page 34, there's a half-page article by Stuart Maconie on Music Complete - he likes it! :)

SouthChinaMorningPost

ContactMusic

I cant believe they've done this.

Thought they'd lost it.

They've nailed this one. Best New Order album.

Although my opinion might not be worth much, I thought Electronic (eponymous) was the best New Order album before this.

Reminds me of many good times.

Fotzepolitic wrote: Some idiot on YouTube.I actually watched this the whole way through.He seemed to have a mixed to negative on most tracks but still gave it 7 out of 10 if i recall (was a week or so ago i watched)

The embed doesn't work for me but I see the YT link when I reply. Here's another from The Needle Drop, who I usually quite like, 7/10:

http://www.theneedledrop.com/articles/2015/10/new-order-music-complete

Another stunning 1 star review from off of Amazon...

Really, really, REALLY poor.

I grew up listening to N.O. but, on reflection, I'd have to concede that they haven't released a thoroughly decent LP since Low-Life (30 years ago!!) & even that had a couple of Barney's trademark "Will this do?" stinkers on it.

Tellingly, the best songs on Music Complete aren't as good as Low-Life's worst ('nuff said).

No more. Please.

So, essentially, Rooksby (who grew up listening to New Order, don't forget) only likes Movement, P C & L and some of Low-Life.

HARDCORE FAN!

ColoradoSpringsIndependent

Thank you Andy for all the reviews. As you are always posting many interesting things I have assumed you are the band's manager . Anyways thanks

keepitcoming wrote: Thank you Andy for all the reviews. As you are always posting many interesting things I have assumed you are the band's manager . Anyways thanks

I'm not their manager.

I was introduced to Mr. Robinson by JG a few years back. JG described me as "The biggest New Order fan in L.A". I've never lived there. JG was smashed!

Another anecdote: In 1993 I saw Rob Gretton hanging around the soundboard before the Mountain View show. I thanked him and said he was doing a great job. He just smiled at me through teeth clenching a cigar. A couple of days later, I saw him right after the Hollywood Bowl gig (tickets courtesy of Tom Atencio). I didn't approach him as I couldn't think of anything positive to say (easily their worst tour). I still regret not speaking up as there will never be another chance to thank him...

NowToronto

TheMancunion

Andy wrote: TheMancunion

from that review

When keyboardist Gillian Gilbert takes joint vocals on ‘Tutti Frutti’,

Is that confirmed anywhere? She's not credited as a vocalist afaik. I'd like to think it was true.

Edit: I read 'backing' but it says joint. So this is just flat-out wrong.heh.

MetroWeekly

American magazine and online website (obviously) seems fond of it too.

http://www.metroweekly.com/2015/10/new-order-yields-yet-another-fine-crop-of-pop/

Andy wrote: MetroWeekly

OK that's spooky. I should also read.

SouthFloridaGayNews

Coops wrote: Another stunning 1 star review from off of Amazon...

Really, really, REALLY poor.

I grew up listening to N.O. but, on reflection, I'd have to concede that they haven't released a thoroughly decent LP since Low-Life (30 years ago!!) & even that had a couple of Barney's trademark "Will this do?" stinkers on it.

Tellingly, the best songs on Music Complete aren't as good as Low-Life's worst ('nuff said).

No more. Please.

So, essentially, Rooksby (who grew up listening to New Order, don't forget) only likes Movement, P C & L and some of Low-Life.

HARDCORE FAN!

So they don't really even like most of New Order.

SantaFeNewMexican

Number 5 in Q's 50 best albums of 2015 in the new issue (there's also a 2 page spread from the Q Awards, for Outstanding Contribution To Music)

Relix

Andy wrote: Relix

I really liked and agree what this guy said "the star of the show remains Sumner who, after 40 years, deserves a prime spot beside Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix as one of the best lead guitarist frontmen in the annals of rock history."

And our supergiant sings and writes gloriously. Yes, Bernard is assuredly as great as any one now or before, but Bernard is for now a silent star , not yet gone galactic