Republic's worst song

most reviews for Republic seem positive but here is a review from Trouser Press guide...

"Republic®, the only new New Order album released the 1990s, is pleasantly diverting and lightly inflected techno-pop. (Credit co-producer/co-writer Hague for both attributes.) Taking unspecified assistance from guest instrumentalists, the record gets off to a great start with the richly guitar textured "Regret" and the peppy, vocally active "World." The songs don't remake the New Order sound so much as add useful stylistic ideas and instruments to the mix, bringing out the essential tunefulness with deliriously seductive results. Other than those two and "Special," however, the record is prosaic, flat and dull. With Sumner still caught in Tennant's thrall but lacking the garish musical determination to make anything original (or even vivid) from the influence, the band winds up sounding half-hearted and misguided, hamstrung by flimsy songs, derivative stylings and wan arrangements."

actually, while rather harsh, i think that this review makes some very good points.

Times Change for me. Crap Rap #14 !! This would have been an out-take at any other stage in their career.

"Liar" for me. Actually i quite like "Times Change", because it's different. Right, Barney isn't the greatest rapper in town but i really dig this "Port Royal Town"-phrase. And it's one of the few moments where Hooky's present.

"Liar" is a good song. sure it's a little light, but hey everyone is entitled to a little levity. I like it for the same reasons i like "Mr. disco"

besides "spooky" always bored the crap out of me.

i can't believe ppl are dumping on liar. its one of my favourite songs off of republic (and yes i love republic). times change is a little weak though.

I haven't time to sympathise With all this nonsense and your lies You are the king of nothing But you shall hold me You've got your finger on the pulse And in my pocket, yes of course I am the voice of treason But you betrayed me I used up nearly all my luck I didn't have to try But yesterday is gone And now I need an alibi If this gets any stranger things are gonna change Cause I can't stand the music, always lying If that's what it takes I'll do it (I'll do it) I'll keep on right on through it (on through it) So please believe me when I say I wouldn't give the time of day Because then I'd be faking When I could tell the truth Were you abandoned in your youth Because if not, you will be soon I'm growing tired of waiting For you to say goodbye

GREAT SONG!

classic lyrics from Barney...i voted for Young Offender...i can handle the rest but the PSB had a song with the same title right around the same time...too close for comfort.

ps. Spotnick...the line is I can't stand the music always playing (not lying)

"Chemical" definately one of the worst songs from NO i've ever heard. The opening notes make me want to retch, and the lyrics and Barney's singning in general is awful. I like most of Republic, but this is inexcusable

Chemical would have made a great NO instrumental track if it weren't for those bland lyrics. Lyrics for lyrics sake! Especially when the Factory mess was a lingering thought in Barney's mind. Get's my vote!

Times change it has to be.

chemical, it sounds like a union song. It's just bad

chemical. the synth in this song just sucks, particularly in the chorus.

Chemical is just all-around sad. It's too bad they didn't have enough material to replace this track with. I think the poster who suggested that this song would have worked better as an instrumental has a good point though.

And stop dumping on Liar!!! I like this song; even though it has a lot of faults, it's a guilty pleasure for me for some strange reason.

chemical sounds like it started out as a rave-y techno song, and they forced it into the same bland lyrical structure as the other tracks. it doesnt really work, but is at least a song with some energy compared to the middle of the road boring adult contempary that fills up the middle of Republic. New Order used to have fun on their records. most of Republic seems to have the fun filtered out.

to me, tracks 4,5,6,7, and 9 barely even sound like New Order, might as well call most of Republic a Sumner solo record produced by Hague, with a couple of heavily edited appearences by the rest of New Order.

"Young Offender" it is!

young offender is a cool song.

I voted for Everyone Everywhere. I actually do like Republic, even though its probably my second least fave album to Movement.

Everyone Everywhere is a bit too mid-paced for my liking, while Young Offender has some urgency to it. Ive never been a huge fan of World either, but its not a bad song.

I also like Liar, Times Change and Chemical. Although I can't remember the last time I listened to the album.

I used to think the album was a bit too smooth for my liking, but I think it works well, the song writing is strong I think just Stephen Hague's production doesn't excite me much. But I definitely like it more than I used to. Special is the best song on the album though.

Cheers ALEX

Pity there isn't an "everything except Regret" button on the poll - this album is probably my least-liked NewOrder album, which is odd because Regret is probably in my top five NO songs. I just don't get stuff like Spooky, Times change and Liar - it's not NO at all to me, more like Raise the pressure tracks with less substance (and that's really saying something). Just an opinion.. CTB

Liar...total crap!

Originally posted by Alex Jacks I voted for Everyone Everywhere. I actually do like Republic, even though its probably my second least fave album to Movement.Everyone Everywhere is a bit too mid-paced for my liking, while Young Offender has some urgency to it. Ive never been a huge fan of World either, but its not a bad song. I also like Liar, Times Change and Chemical. Although I can't remember the last time I listened to the album.I used to think the album was a bit too smooth for my liking, but I think it works well, the song writing is strong I think just Stephen Hague's production doesn't excite me much. But I definitely like it more than I used to. Special is the best song on the album though.CheersALEX

I also voted for EE. It doesn't do anything for me. I agree with all the other comments too, except about Special.

EE is the best song, bar Regret, on the album IMO. Avalanche is very, very underrated.

Worse has to be Spooky, with such an interesting intro, it goes downhill from there sadly.

Avalanche--did they write this when they were sick or asleep or something? What's the point? Best & Marsh is a better song even. The album should end with Special, because it RULES! Avalanche is a watered down Other Two song.

I think Avalanche is beautiful.

Originally posted by Martin Fenner I think Avalanche is beautiful.

This man speaks the truth.

i hate it all bar regret i dont even own a copy anymore