FAVE STUDIO LP.

Can't see that this has been done since the release of WFTSC - so lets have a crack... Might be interesting given all the bun fighting over what's overrated and underrated...

I'm still a PC&L-er.

Bere wrote: I'm still a PC&L-er.

That's not what it says in your profile

NObabe wrote:

Bere wrote: I'm still a PC&L-er.

That's not what it says in your profile

Substance doesn't count...

MOVEMENT!!!!!!! By a million miles.

Brotherhood and WFTSC languishing thus far...

Fascinating (Captain).

Somebody actually voted Get Ready which to me is the least New Order thing New Order ever did. Strange...

Still Technique

Non of them , my favorite studio album is;

Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd

PC&L for me i think. Its easier to pick my least fave - low life, with Brotherhood being better, but all the rest are kinda equally best

It's tight between Brotherhood,PC&L and Technique for moi...voted Brotherhood cos no one else has yet,and because its shit-hot!

brotherhood or lowlife,the usual battle goes on in my head my god,its true someone actually did vote for get ready:

Ray wrote: Somebody actually voted Get Ready which to me is the least New Order thing New Order ever did. Strange...

Maybe they were trying someting different, to me Get Ready is one of New Order's best albums but nothing comes near Technique.

ok, so I'm the second to vote for Get Ready. It was the first album I owned and was what got me into New Order when I was only...about 12. Besides, even if the lyrics aren't the best, I love this album!

Technique is ok, but i think WFTSC is there best offering

Then Movement

Boatraceface wrote: It's tight between Brotherhood,PC&L and Technique for moi...voted Brotherhood cos no one else has yet,and because its shit-hot!

I voted for Technique earlier but I had to flip a coin for that or Brotherhood. I'm surprised with Brotherhood's poor showing so far!

Technique,best album for me by a long way..

I voted Low Life. Most consistent flow of songs for me. Love it from beginning to end. Every song is perfect. It does sound a touch dated, circa 1985, but it's a great snapshot of a great time. PC&L has great tunes, but some weak spots. Brotherhood is fantastic, but tarnished by Every Little Shits at the end. Technique is great too, but not perfect...

My current ranking order: Low Life Brotherhood PC&L Technique WFTSC Movement Get Ready Republic

I love them all, but if i have to choose one, it would be Low-life, because it was the one that really got me in to New Order back in 1985. Praises.

Technique for me. All the elements (bass, guitar, synths, lyrics) that make New Order my all-time favorite band. Be great if they came out with a remaster of this album.

Technique gets my vote; I don't think they'll ever top it.

I voted Brotherhhod to be consistent with my profile but here is my real list

1. Brotherhood & Technique & Low-Life
2. PC&L
3. WFTSC
4. Get Ready
5. Republic
6. Movement

low life.

like bere says, substance doesn't count.

1 Technique 2 WFTSC 3 Get Ready 4 Brotherhood 5 Republic 6 Lowlife 7 Power corruption and lies 8 Movement

Wow! Tough call to make. Personally, New Order LPs got incremently better from PCL-Low Life-Brotherhood-Technique and right there it peaked or climaxed at Technique. It dropped off slightly at Republic, fell badly at Get Ready and picked back up with WFTSC.

Vote goes to Technique even tho my all-time fav NO songs: True Faith & Regret are not on it.

WFTSC is great but I don't think it will measure up to the superb Technique over time.

Low life. Always my personal favorite.

Ray wrote: Somebody actually voted Get Ready which to me is the least New Order thing New Order ever did. Strange...

Well, if I had to chose their "least" New Order album my choice would be Movement, since they sound like a little lost and trying to be too much Joy Division (or maybe just evolving from what they used to do before to what would become "typical" New Order sound.

Sammy said:

Wow! Tough call to make. Personally, New Order LPs got incremently better from PCL-Low Life-Brotherhood-Technique and right there it peaked or climaxed at Technique.

My sentiments exactly!

I can't ever see Technique being bettered!

C'mon, everybody knows the answer: TECHNIQUE... boring.

It's my answer, too, ha ha. BUT my second fave album is Waiting For The Siren's Call. :D

Brotherhood, once again. An album that came along at the right time in my life. Just edges out PC&L and Low-life.

|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3 wrote: C'mon, everybody knows the answer: TECHNIQUE... boring.

It's my answer, too, ha ha. BUT my second fave album is Waiting For The Siren's Call. :D

Looks like 2 people think WFTSC is the best Studio LP ever - this is what i'm wondering - how has WFTSC, and the passing of a few more years, affected peoples views?

After more than a decade and a half technique is still lording it!

I still need to give the albums more of a solid listen but at the moment - Power, Corruption & Lies.

It's a nobrainer isn't it? Technique.

Let's have a look at my relative feelings for the others..

Lowlife Power, Corruption and Lies Waiting for the Siren's Call Movement Brotherhood Republic/Get Ready

Even so, Republic and Get Ready have some cracking choons on them. Regret and Crystal stand out as probably their strongest singles to modern crowds, but then you have Temptation, and naturally, True Faith.. oh, sigh. It's times like this that make me realise how much I like them all.

I don't know how anyone could seriously put Brotherhood as their favourite album... I've only ever listened to it once all the way through. And I don't think I've tried to listen to the album for a couple of years now.

DShamen wrote: I don't know how anyone could seriously put Brotherhood as their favourite album... I've only ever listened to it once all the way through. And I don't think I've tried to listen to the album for a couple of years now.

Your loss then there, mate!

Overall favourite will always be Technique, closely followed by PC&L. Don't think any of NO's albums can be judged on one listen though. Brotherhood is certainly no worse than Republic !

I vaguely recall pontificating on this very subject before, eulogising on why Brotherhood's production was so disappointing, why Low Life drastically needs to be re-edited with something a bit sharper than a blunt trowel, why Technique pisses me off so much these days, and why Movement would have been the best if they'd kept Hannett off the brown.

Today's choice is the juggernaut known as PC&L - it represents such a leap forward, it was the demolition of their own Berlin Wall, the exorcism of Ian Curtis from their studio time and the way forward.

I rank them thus;

1. Technique.
2. PC&L / LowLife / Get Ready.
3. Movement / Brotherhood / Republic.
4. WFTSC.

Had to put six LP's in joint positions...

Love all 8 of them though.

Low-Life Brotherhood Movement WFTSC Technique PC&L Get Ready Republic

oldmonkey wrote: I vaguely recall pontificating on this very subject before, eulogising on why Brotherhood's production was so disappointing, why Low Life drastically needs to be re-edited with something a bit sharper than a blunt trowel, why Technique pisses me off so much these days, and why Movement would have been the best if they'd kept Hannett off the brown.

Today's choice is the juggernaut known as PC&L - it represents such a leap forward, it was the demolition of their own Berlin Wall, the exorcism of Ian Curtis from their studio time and the way forward.

IMO Hannett was the key to why Movement is the best. As I said here : http://ilx.wh3rd.net/thread.php?msgid=5724731

I'd be interested in hearing more of yr thoughts on Brotherhood's production. A little 'of it's time' perhaps?

Today's ranking:

PC&L WFTSC Low Life Movement Technique Republic Get Ready Brotherhood

DC wrote:

oldmonkey wrote: I vaguely recall pontificating on this very subject before, eulogising on why Brotherhood's production was so disappointing, why Low Life drastically needs to be re-edited with something a bit sharper than a blunt trowel, why Technique pisses me off so much these days, and why Movement would have been the best if they'd kept Hannett off the brown.

Today's choice is the juggernaut known as PC&L - it represents such a leap forward, it was the demolition of their own Berlin Wall, the exorcism of Ian Curtis from their studio time and the way forward.

IMO Hannett was the key to why Movement is the best. As I said here : http://ilx.wh3rd.net/thread.php?msgid=5724731

I'd be interested in hearing more of yr thoughts on Brotherhood's production. A little 'of it's time' perhaps?

I just think that Brotherhood was such a let down, having heard nearly all of the songs evolving in a live environment. They didn't do them justice on the record, it sounds as though it was recorded in a different room. At first I thought I had a dodgy copy, but subsequent purchases of CDs to complement my original vinyl confirmed my fears that it was just an uninspiring production. It didn't help I suppose that the album contains 75% of their weakest song output to these ears, with only BLT really shining through. As It Is was a good song but the production murders it. Broken Promise could have been a good song, it has a killer bassline but the production ruins it, takes the heavy edge off. Weirdo and Way of Life would have been out-takes on any other record. All Day Long should have been an instrumental, the lyrics are cringeworthy. Paradise was a good idea that went wrong in the writing. Every Little Counts is filler, an embarrassment. Angel Dust ain't that bad I suppose. Even State of the Nation, the great white hope for a single, smacks of a band desperate for a bit of inspiration. Safe to say they'd lost their way around this time on the songwriting front, only to find it again for True Faith and 1963.

oldmonkey wrote:

DC wrote:

oldmonkey wrote: I vaguely recall pontificating on this very subject before, eulogising on why Brotherhood's production was so disappointing, why Low Life drastically needs to be re-edited with something a bit sharper than a blunt trowel, why Technique pisses me off so much these days, and why Movement would have been the best if they'd kept Hannett off the brown.

Today's choice is the juggernaut known as PC&L - it represents such a leap forward, it was the demolition of their own Berlin Wall, the exorcism of Ian Curtis from their studio time and the way forward.

IMO Hannett was the key to why Movement is the best. As I said here : http://ilx.wh3rd.net/thread.php?msgid=5724731

I'd be interested in hearing more of yr thoughts on Brotherhood's production. A little 'of it's time' perhaps?

I just think that Brotherhood was such a let down, having heard nearly all of the songs evolving in a live environment. They didn't do them justice on the record, it sounds as though it was recorded in a different room. At first I thought I had a dodgy copy, but subsequent purchases of CDs to complement my original vinyl confirmed my fears that it was just an uninspiring production. It didn't help I suppose that the album contains 75% of their weakest song output to these ears, with only BLT really shining through. As It Is was a good song but the production murders it. Broken Promise could have been a good song, it has a killer bassline but the production ruins it, takes the heavy edge off. Weirdo and Way of Life would have been out-takes on any other record. All Day Long should have been an instrumental, the lyrics are cringeworthy. Paradise was a good idea that went wrong in the writing. Every Little Counts is filler, an embarrassment. Angel Dust ain't that bad I suppose. Even State of the Nation, the great white hope for a single, smacks of a band desperate for a bit of inspiration. Safe to say they'd lost their way around this time on the songwriting front, only to find it again for True Faith and 1963.

Interesting! I will have a listen and come back on this.

PCL. It was very brave. Imagine 1982 Britain. Japan, Depeche, Duran, Kajagoogoo!!! Human League had recently released a massive LP called Dare. Nearly every song was a single hit. The sleeve screamed DARE.. HUMAN LEAGUE with mugshots. About the same time New Order released Temptation 7" in speckly sleeve. Song title vaguely embossed. you could just see it if you held it at the right angle! No TOTP appearance. BBC on strike! A year later, did they play it different? No. PCL, no name, no title, weird colour code and Laura Ashley flowers. Content very experimental... It was a bloody breath of fresh air

LOW LIFE.

carlo

1. Technique
2. Low Life
3. Movement
4. Brotherhood
5. WFTSC
6. PC&L
7. Get Ready
8. Republic

I cringe to think of what would have occured had Hannett not been holding NO's hand through the baby steps of Movement. Eno possibly could have done a unique, if not necessarily good attempt at chicken-wiring an album out of a couple funeral dirges and faux-goth angsting. He had just recently produced the absolute best Talking Heads lp(Remain in Light) around the time NO were trudging back into the studio after dumping the loopy(Tony Wilson) concept of recruiting Kevin Hewick as New Order/Joy Division's new vocalist, an idea that Hannett summarily shat upon by announcing that they sounded like Fairport Convention and fucking off to bed underneath the producer's controls for the rest of the rehearsal.

Technique for me although I haven't played it for ages. I am getting drawn back to PC&L though. Waiting is still getting played aplenty here though.

so far the voting shows that Republic is better than Get Ready and WFTSC...... shurely shome mishtake?!

We've had 90 votes up to here. The difference isn't significant yet (only a few votes difference)...

What i'm surprised at is that WFTSC is the least favourite amongst fans; it should be at the height of it's popularity at the moment, not a good sign for it's posterity potential...

It's a shame we can't vote for our top three (i.e. your top choice would score 3 points, second choice 2 points, third choice 1 point and highest points out of all votes is the winner) on the poll function thingy... the results would be more interesting then.

So Technique is still the favourite and WFTSC is the least favourite...

Not good for;

http://www.neworderonline.com/Forums/MessageList.aspx?ThreadID=22405

Let's hope the next LP fares better in fan opinion...

Just because people voted for their favourite album here, it doesn't make WFTSC the least favourite. Well, it certainly isn't the best they've ever done, so I can understand why only 2 people voted for it, but if you really want to find out whether it's really the weakest or not, I suggest you make a new poll. ;)

I don't want to referee that bunfight - please feel free if you want to!

You got it! :D

DC wrote:

oldmonkey wrote:

DC wrote:

oldmonkey wrote: I vaguely recall pontificating on this very subject before, eulogising on why Brotherhood's production was so disappointing, why Low Life drastically needs to be re-edited with something a bit sharper than a blunt trowel, why Technique pisses me off so much these days, and why Movement would have been the best if they'd kept Hannett off the brown.

Today's choice is the juggernaut known as PC&L - it represents such a leap forward, it was the demolition of their own Berlin Wall, the exorcism of Ian Curtis from their studio time and the way forward.

IMO Hannett was the key to why Movement is the best. As I said here : http://ilx.wh3rd.net/thread.php?msgid=5724731

I'd be interested in hearing more of yr thoughts on Brotherhood's production. A little 'of it's time' perhaps?

I just think that Brotherhood was such a let down, having heard nearly all of the songs evolving in a live environment. They didn't do them justice on the record, it sounds as though it was recorded in a different room. At first I thought I had a dodgy copy, but subsequent purchases of CDs to complement my original vinyl confirmed my fears that it was just an uninspiring production. It didn't help I suppose that the album contains 75% of their weakest song output to these ears, with only BLT really shining through. As It Is was a good song but the production murders it. Broken Promise could have been a good song, it has a killer bassline but the production ruins it, takes the heavy edge off. Weirdo and Way of Life would have been out-takes on any other record. All Day Long should have been an instrumental, the lyrics are cringeworthy. Paradise was a good idea that went wrong in the writing. Every Little Counts is filler, an embarrassment. Angel Dust ain't that bad I suppose. Even State of the Nation, the great white hope for a single, smacks of a band desperate for a bit of inspiration. Safe to say they'd lost their way around this time on the songwriting front, only to find it again for True Faith and 1963.

Interesting! I will have a listen and come back on this.

The production on Brotherhood is the worse Ive ever come across. It sounds like the whole thing was recorded in a week (except BLT and SOTN). There is such a lack of variety and texture to the album. The guitar tabular on Broken Promise, Way of Life and end of As It Is When It Was are very grating. It just sounds very rushed. Lyrics to Weirdo are just lazy. Only Paradise, BLT, SOTN, and All Day Long have anything remotely like production valued. Maybe it was recorded in a bedroom? Barneys singing isnt as clear as other recordings and lots of songs are just demos (IMO).

NO Regret wrote:

DC wrote:

oldmonkey wrote:

DC wrote:

oldmonkey wrote: I vaguely recall pontificating on this very subject before, eulogising on why Brotherhood's production was so disappointing, why Low Life drastically needs to be re-edited with something a bit sharper than a blunt trowel, why Technique pisses me off so much these days, and why Movement would have been the best if they'd kept Hannett off the brown.

Today's choice is the juggernaut known as PC&L - it represents such a leap forward, it was the demolition of their own Berlin Wall, the exorcism of Ian Curtis from their studio time and the way forward.

IMO Hannett was the key to why Movement is the best. As I said here : http://ilx.wh3rd.net/thread.php?msgid=5724731

I'd be interested in hearing more of yr thoughts on Brotherhood's production. A little 'of it's time' perhaps?

I just think that Brotherhood was such a let down, having heard nearly all of the songs evolving in a live environment. They didn't do them justice on the record, it sounds as though it was recorded in a different room. At first I thought I had a dodgy copy, but subsequent purchases of CDs to complement my original vinyl confirmed my fears that it was just an uninspiring production. It didn't help I suppose that the album contains 75% of their weakest song output to these ears, with only BLT really shining through. As It Is was a good song but the production murders it. Broken Promise could have been a good song, it has a killer bassline but the production ruins it, takes the heavy edge off. Weirdo and Way of Life would have been out-takes on any other record. All Day Long should have been an instrumental, the lyrics are cringeworthy. Paradise was a good idea that went wrong in the writing. Every Little Counts is filler, an embarrassment. Angel Dust ain't that bad I suppose. Even State of the Nation, the great white hope for a single, smacks of a band desperate for a bit of inspiration. Safe to say they'd lost their way around this time on the songwriting front, only to find it again for True Faith and 1963.

Interesting! I will have a listen and come back on this.

The production on Brotherhood is the worse Ive ever come across. It sounds like the whole thing was recorded in a week (except BLT and SOTN). There is such a lack of variety and texture to the album. The guitar tabular on Broken Promise, Way of Life and end of As It Is When It Was are very grating. It just sounds very rushed. Lyrics to Weirdo are just lazy. Only Paradise, BLT, SOTN, and All Day Long have anything remotely like production valued. Maybe it was recorded in a bedroom? Barneys singing isnt as clear as other recordings and lots of songs are just demos (IMO).

I can't rate B'Hood as highly as the albums that came either side of it, but it's a pretty damn fascinating record. I see why people don't like the production, but I can't agree that it ruins the record. In fact I don't see the point in trying to talk about 'production' as something separate from the record/track itself. The notion that if something was 'better' produced seems pointless - you change one thing and find you that now you dislike something else. Anyway, I digress - it is what it is. It's a minor work, yes, but I think you often learn a lot about a band from flawed work. The grimyness of the 'guitar side' seems like a kickback against the fey janglings that passed for indie music in 1986. Also an interesting contrast to the way that many of NO's comtemporaneous pioneers from a few years back were sounding slicker and slicker with every release - The Cabs and ACR, for example. They sound as if they're simultaneously raging, yet struggling to break free of the dense sound. Most of the songs on side 1 have a vocal melody that is straining to break away towards the sun-kissed glory that Technique unleashed on us 3 years later. It's true that the lyrics sound rushed. But some of the details are fascinating - the paper and comb guitar sound, the meta-fragment of LWTUA in Way Of Life's outro. Actually I could talk about Way Of Life all day - that churning intro, the jaunty chorus and some uncharacteristically loooow bass from Hooky near the end are all wonderful.

Side 2 - is magnificent - as much experimentation here as Movement. I haven't a lot of time right now, so I'll post more on this later if I can. Suffice to say that the sunburst one-two of BLT and All Day Long are a real jolt after the storm clouds of side 1. I disagree about the lyrics of All Day Long - I think Barney has something to say here, and it's worth hearing. Angel Dust doesn't quite work, perhaps sitting uneasily half way between the two faces of NO on this record. Every Second Counts works musically and works to break the tension that has built throughout. So, listen again. Are you really judging this album fairly for what it is, or dismissing it for what it isn't and never could be?

I've voted for Technique but I like very much PCL too.

I'm very sorry to say that WFTSC is not as good as the others, there are good songs but not as good as an LP too much producers perhaps and I don't dislike jetstream (that's not he point).

I don't agree with the "Movement is the worst LP" point of view. That's a good LP; the problem is that is not a real NO LP but a JD LP with Barney and Hooky singing. The turning point was EGG.

Technique is the best to my eyes. WFTSC is the second.

Technique is timeless.

Technique and Low Life for me but if pushed I would have to go for Technique. I'ts one of my favourite albums ever, by any artist. I honestly can't see that ever changing.

Why has this been moved here when other polls are stuck to Digital Republic?

Technique still rules

WFTSC is my favorite since Brotherhood, wether that remains true in years to come i hope so. Technique 3rd for me.

WFTSC is like a surreal greatest hits to me; lots of good songs, but no overall cohesion in terms of the mood and tone of music.

All the other albums have a general mood or tone, i.e. Get Ready rocks out, Technique burns up the dance floor, Republic is maudlin synth, Movement is goth-techno etc...

Could be a good thing that WFTSC can't be pigeon holed, but I like to put on particular albums to suit particular moods, WFTSC doesn't fit this bill for me...

Ray wrote: Somebody actually voted Get Ready which to me is the least New Order thing New Order ever did. Strange...

That makes it more New Order to me.

Get Ready all the way.

All good albums (except Low Life)

Brotherhood has and always will be my favorite album. Sure, there may be some songs I like better on other albums, but I love all of Brotherhood. That's why it's my favorite; I think it's consistently great all the way around. Can't say the same with some other albums. And I've never had a problem with the production values of the album, or is that just because I bought mine in London and it says made in Germany? I don't know.

FAC 51 wrote:

Now what could that be...

Low life

Hi Everyone, 's been quite some time eh ? I simply didn't vote because I LOVE them ALL, honest ! My special mention tough to both 'P.C.L.' and 'Technique' Regards to all. Didier

It changes regularly but for the last six months it has been 'Power, Corruption and Lies'

Still technique and WFTSC laungishes...

I love Brotherhood but Technique is probably my favourite.

It should be Technique vs. everything else, then it would be a fair fight. I'm surprised and disappointed that WFTSC is dead last, though. I think it deserves a bit better, though I voted for Technique.

As I mentioned in another post, mine's Republic.

Sometimes I wonder whether there's something wrong with me for ranking Technique as one of my lesser favourites. It just loses momentum with tracks like "Love Less" and "Run," imo, although there are definitely some gems.

1. Low-life
2. P,C&L
3. Technique

Power, Corruption & Lies for me now but until fairly recently it was always Low-Life.

I've always liked Technique and Republic has grown on me over the years but I still can't say I like Get Ready, for me Waiting For The Sirens Call is an absolute classic compared to it...

teenage emotions can never be topped,so it's definetly LowLife but i have to agree with OldMonkey about PCL being a giant leap forwards

Technique is pure perfection.

went for PC&L but Low-Life is close behind, as is Technique

My favorite studio album so far is Waiting for the Sirens' Call. I have all the albums and it is their best yet. Definitely not a dissapointment.

there all bloody good ,,no dam brilliant ,,,but as im still putting movement on and being moved(sorry!!) by those songs it has to be,, and it does contain dreams never end ,, which as we all hope the order carry on ,,nails it.

,in the streets where i was born

For me, I don't care what anyone says. WFTSC is my favorite album because, there's not a whole lot of albums that I can listen to, from beginning to end, and actually love it all the way through.