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I'd love Bernard Sumner to do a solo album, just his own guitar and keyboards accompanying his vocals on songs he's written, produced and mixed completely by himself. I'd be fascinated to hear what they'd sound like. Or maybe a solo album with just an anonymous bassist and drummer, along the lines of Bernard Butler and John Squire's solo stuff.
I'd also like Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant to do a solo album.
It sounds cool. But knowing Barney, he'd probably end up with another band on his hands and that would be the second big split of New Order. I don't think anyone really wants that.
As for Neil Tennant, I dunno after that last PSB album. It was good if you're into the really soft stuff. But they totally lost their sound. There was still a trace in Nightlife.
No way! No more NO side projects... just stick with the band, they are the ones who got him here, there should be just a little loyalty. He cannot make better music without them so why bother?
it's a bit late for that. new order are together and it doesn't look like they'd be taking a break from each other anytime soon.
Originally posted by Marco Pleil Isn't there already a Barney-solo-album called "Republic"?
zing!
:D Not entirely, Marco. He had some guest musicians on the first track, which is...ehm...BY FAR the best track.
NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO!!!!!
oh...did I forget to say NO!!!!! NewOrder is back together!!!!! Why EVEN think of a solo project????? Barney has the freedom (as do the rest of the band) to appear on other people's albums if he wants. He needs to concentrate his talents on NewOrder!!!!
BTW....Neil doesn't need to do solo album either. He and Chris have their producing, writing, and remixing jobs to take care of and there is always a little PSB in whatever they do.
NO SOLO PROJECTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A Sumner solo album?
Now come on, the last few solo albums by an artist with the surname Sumner stank to high heaven.
I'd rather have a solo album by Bernard MANNING at this rate.... At least HE'S fat, middle-aged, offensive and talentless with style. Unlike Barney.
As for the PetShopBoys. Can you imagine a neil Tenant or Chris Lowe solo album? It'll be filled with nothing but sardonic snoring over a sequenced (or sequinned) back beat.
Don't be so ridiculous.
No.
The side projects were all when and good but Neworder is better than the sum of E+(R+M)+O2.
Just be grateful they're back.
What? Why is everyone so opposed to a Bernard Sumner solo album? It's not as though we can expect a new New Order LP more than once in a blue moon anyway, even with the "demise" of Electronic and other people's solo projects. I'm not expecting a followup to "Get Ready" until next year at the earliest, by which time it will have been three years on from "Get Ready". And personally I'm one of those fans who believes that outside projects are ultimately good for New Order, giving everyone a "chance to breathe" and explore new ideas. If it hadn't been for Electronic, Revenge, The Other Two and Monaco, I doubt that they'd have even regrouped to make "Get Ready", because the alternate scenario is they'd have just carried on as New Order and it would've got even messier than it did anyway, and they'd have been a truly "unreformable" band, like The Smiths or The Stone Roses.
That's my take, anyway.
And why do most of you think a Sumner solo album would be crap? It's not like he's just a guitar hero like Squire, Butler or Marr, who needs a band to be great in, or at least a good vocalist or songwriting partner.
Originally posted by Butch Higgins And why do most of you think a Sumner solo album would be crap? It's not like he's just a guitar hero like Squire, Butler or Marr, who needs a band to be great in, or at least a good vocalist or songwriting partner.
He's not even a guitar hero, although I admit his playing is dead good. :) Bernard has his weaknesses and he has his reasons for not doing anything solo, as of now. He likes working with others whereas he can trade ideas with another individual. He worked well with JM mostly because they loved the same kind of music and they were good for each other to bounce ideas back and forth. Bernard works best with NO. He has loads of solo stuff (ideas) which he brings to the NO table.
His solo work would not be crap.
Originally posted by Butch Higgins What? Why is everyone so opposed to a Bernard Sumner solo album? It's not as though we can expect a new New Order LP more than once in a blue moon anyway, even with the "demise" of Electronic and other people's solo projects. I'm not expecting a followup to "Get Ready" until next year at the earliest, by which time it will have been three years on from "Get Ready". And personally I'm one of those fans who believes that outside projects are ultimately good for New Order, giving everyone a "chance to breathe" and explore new ideas. If it hadn't been for Electronic, Revenge, The Other Two and Monaco, I doubt that they'd have even regrouped to make "Get Ready", because the alternate scenario is they'd have just carried on as New Order and it would've got even messier than it did anyway, and they'd have been a truly "unreformable" band, like The Smiths or The Stone Roses.That's my take, anyway.And why do most of you think a Sumner solo album would be crap? It's not like he's just a guitar hero like Squire, Butler or Marr, who needs a band to be great in, or at least a good vocalist or songwriting partner.
Why? Do we really need to answer that? The answer is that it wouldn't be good. 90% of NO's side project stuff is about as good as their worst stuff as NO. Enough of musical dreck just because they have time to create dreck. I have time to create musical dreck, wanna pay $15 for a CD of mine? I doubt it.
I can't see the point really, what would it achieve? They are more than the sum of their parts and all side projects are just watered down versions of New Order anyway, with the odd outstanding track.
Cheers ALEX
Originally posted by Butch Higgins And personally I'm one of those fans who believes that outside projects are ultimately good for New Order, giving everyone a "chance to breathe" and explore new ideas.
Yup, I'll second that. The outside projects are good for New Order, ie. they're all basically sh*te and they now realise that what they do best, they do together.
Anyhow, I doubt Barney's got the work ethic as he approaches 50, and with a newborn baby to boot, to put in any extra hours on solo stuff. Let's just hope he puts his best ideas into the Order.
The side-projects were a good idea when they weren't talking to each other, so there couldn't have been new New Order material, but now they'd just be a distraction. They're lazy and slow enough as it is.
"The outside projects are good for New Order, ie. they're all basically sh*te and they now realise that what they do best, they do together. "
Sh*te?!?!?!? "Electronic" and "Raise The Pressure" are definitely not sh*te - they're two of the best albums Sumner has made in his entire career, period, and both are way better than "Republic" IMO (although I didn't like "Twisted Tenderness" as much). I've liked what I've heard of The Other Two, Revenge and Monaco. I don't know what your definition of sh*te music is, but mine is Ronan Keating, Westlife, etc., not New Order side projects.
For the sake of New Order it's probably not a good idea that Bernard complete a solo album at this stage. However I think it would be oustanding, given that he has proven his songwriting skills with three different bands: Joy Division, New Order, and Electronic. Everybody forgets that he arranged all the Joy Division songs--it wasn't all Ian. I think that element of Bernard's musicianship is often overlooked: he's not just a vocalist/casual guitar player.
i'll listen to anything barney puts out at least once. so i wouldn't mind a solo record. though most solo records tend self-indulgent messes with too many guest performers, i believe in barney's ability to deliver something decent if he so chose to. though, being the pragmatist i am, i severely doubt any solo project will come out in the near future cuz of the above reasons other people have mentioned.
Originally posted by Butch Higgins "The outside projects are good for New Order, ie. they're all basically sh*te and they now realise that what they do best, they do together. "Sh*te?!?!?!? "Electronic" and "Raise The Pressure" are definitely not sh*te - they're two of the best albums Sumner has made in his entire career, period, and both are way better than "Republic" IMO (although I didn't like "Twisted Tenderness" as much). I've liked what I've heard of The Other Two, Revenge and Monaco. I don't know what your definition of sh*te music is, but mine is Ronan Keating, Westlife, etc., not New Order side projects.
I'll have to agree with Butch here Al, although perspectivly NewOrder trounces anything Electronic have done, its clear that Barneys lyrics and even his vocal delivery is so much more fluid and relaxed with some Electronic material than with NewOrder stuff of a similar era. (ie Republic/GetReady)
At the end of the day all we want is for the respective members of NewOrder to achieve what we know they are well capable of doing, and whether that be in the main group or outside the group it deserves to be praised. We all know that they are strongest as a unit but also have so much to offer outside of that.
Help us if Barney does a solo album. . it would be over loaded with things like Run Wild from his vigilant yearning/whining. And/OR it would contain things like "every little counts" in which we get to see him intentionally make bullshit songs so he can get a laugh. Honestlty...without New Order (and Johnny Marr respectively as electronic was pretty good). Barney can come across as one irritating twinkie.
I'm all for a solo album from him. Since he obviously can't sing, he should just whoop and say things like "Let's rock the fookin' house."
