Why New Order ROCK

[MARV]

It is'nt enough that they - a rock band, for all intents and purposes - have the all time selling 12" single in dance music history. That they established this fact more than two decades ago and that in 20+ years, not one dance artist has been able to top this feat of mega proportions. For every Taborah, Amber or freakin' Esthero record that sells, there are 5,000 Blue Monday records that have been sold. And that does'nt even touch the rest of their discography. But whatever. It's not enough that they released punk, rock, alt. rock, Brit. rock, dance records over the years, since the seventies. Or that they have Peter Saville in their corner designing some of the most profound and influential album/CD sleeves. Don't even get me started on their Hacienda club. How there would'nt have been a rave scene had it not been for Barney & co. I could go on.

[MARV]

But this is why New Order R-O-C-K.

[MARV]

Because when they perform their art live, Hooky's bass goes through you in exaltation. Stephen's drums announce every song with such an authoritative furor that it evokes an emotional response tantamount to epiphany. The keyboards escalate in ethereal perfection. But above all, Barney's poetic, lyrical, sometimes simplistic-sometimes deep-always make you think words paint pictures in your mind of symphonic perfection. The layered and harmonious melodies stir your soul and you realize yeah, this is what it's about.

[MARV]

And Hooky plays that damned bass hanging down to his knees. His growl is the perfect counter to Barney's pop croon. The interaction with the audience. With eachother. Stephen's relentless beating the shit out of those drums. And the new guy Cunningham is'nt all that bad. He provides a fresh rock guitar edge to the N/O backdrop.

[MARV]

New Order are an amalgamation of inter genre splicing and crossover (see my firstpost). And at their age, after all these years, to keep up with the demands of touring, promotion then going back to the studio to start recording more all the while trying to stay fresh and attractive to the fickle & narrow minded music industry as a whole.....it's just mind boggling. And yet they do it.

Really people, is it any wonder that of all the eighties acts we talk about, New Order are one of the few bands still making any music at all, relevant or otherwise? And I assure you, their brand of music is most notably relevant, if the presence of Moby and Interpol at tonight's festivities are to demonstrate anything at all. You see, it is precisely because Moby and Interpol grews up with N/O in their diet that they are ground breaking in their own right. And this is how it should be. Relevant artists influencing new relevant artists. Interpol sitting in a booth at one of NYC's most high profile clubs with some of the hottest broads you ever saw in your life sitting in their laps. The new guys paying homage to the elders.

[MARV]

New Order, elder statesmen of relevant pop music.

Period.

[Frau_Blucher]

I concur. [:I]

[2Nu]

Hey Marv, after all that was said, ya left out one leetle detail....
<MARQUEE><h1>DID YA HAVE FUN DUDE?</h1></MARQUEE>

[MARV]

^ oh yeah, you know it ^

[8D]

[Bitter Almonds]

I dis-agree. They used to be real good many many years ago. Last full-length album that fits these descriptions was 1989's [i]Technique[/i]. Everything that came after was sparse and inconsistent (to the point where one wouldn't know the full track listing in order of these subsequent albums). They are not worth the 13$ for the new album, not anymore, much less the 100$ they command to hear them play for an hour at a festival. I'll gladly stick with Steely Dan, Rush, and Roxy Music who are a little older and certainly better established Rock bands, not to mention more considerate of their fanbase by giving them proper live shows worth their hard cash.

[schwenko]

[quote][i]Originally posted by XXX[/i]
<br>I dis-agree. They used to be real good many many years ago. Last full-length album that fits these descriptions was 1989's [i]Technique[/i]. Everything that came after was sparse and inconsistent (to the point where one wouldn't know the full track listing in order of these subsequent albums). They are not worth the 13$ for the new album, not anymore, much less the 100$ they command to hear them play for an hour at a festival. I'll gladly stick with Steely Dan, Rush, and Roxy Music who are a little older and certainly better established Rock bands, not to mention more considerate of their fanbase by giving them proper live shows worth their hard cash.
[/quote]

I agree that the 2 recent albums pale in comparison to their previous work, but there are good songs on both of them (Run Wild, Krafty).And think how hard it is to maintain the level of excellence that they have achieved for 10-15 years. I would say that last night's version of Temptation is as good as they have ever done.
The Hammerstein venue was not a festival event,the sound was excellent, we had great views, and were very comfortable in the mezzanine. Did you see the set list? More than half of it was pre-1988 songs, including 4 Classic Joy Division songs. And the ticket price was about $40 if you don't count the TicketBastard fees.
If you're an oldtime JD/NO fan I believe you would have had a great time last night. Yes, they are playing more festival gigs, and unfortunately this is probably one of the last times it will be possible to see NO in a small venue in the USA. Try renting the DVD when it comes out and see what you think!

[SwampThing]

[quote]I dis-agree. They used to be real good many many years ago. Last full-length album that fits these descriptions was 1989's Technique.[/quote] Yep see the poll http://www.nwoutpost.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5765

I purchased every 12" and proper release through Technique, after that I stopped. Doesn't make me any less of a fan, they just don't meet my expectations anymore. I'm probably guilty of holding them to a higher standard because their earlier material kicked so much ass!!!!

[MARV]

[quote][i]Originally posted by XXX[/i]
<br>I dis-agree. They used to be real good many many years ago. Last full-length album that fits these descriptions was 1989's [i]Technique[/i]. Everything that came after was sparse and inconsistent (to the point where one wouldn't know the full track listing in order of these subsequent albums). They are not worth the 13$ for the new album, not anymore, much less the 100$ they command to hear them play for an hour at a festival. I'll gladly stick with Steely Dan, Rush, and Roxy Music who are a little older and certainly better established Rock bands, not to mention more considerate of their fanbase by giving them proper live shows worth their hard cash.
[/quote]

You're off kilter. If you don't like New Order now, you were never a real New Order fan. Why are they inconsistent, because they have a more rock sound? Go back to Power-Corruption-Lies, Low Life, Brotherhood, um...Joy Division, Warsaw and tell me they are'nt doing the same thing. True, the seminal dance masterpiece of Technique was highly seductive but you can't expect them to ignore an entire heritage of moody & rock driven loveliness and hooks.

I see a most consistent band. It's all there, you just have to get past the 'newness' that every band has to do in order to survive. Hooky's escalating and melodic bass lines, Barney's staccato guitar strumming, Stephen's persistent drum sequenced like performance.

You see, for many years - all of the 80's and almost all of the nineties, they completely did an about face on their Joy Division roots. Now they're acknowledging them and this is good. They need this for closure. They need this to mature as artists and people. And they need to show the fans that yeah, this is who we are and we like it so we're not gonna pretend the Ian Curtis thing never happened. The obvious Joy Division texture in their music now weaves a more complex sonic tapestry. To me, this is New Order as they are meant to be. Comfortable in their skins at middle age, not giving a fucking shit what anybody says about them, and well seasoned.

[MARV]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
<br>[quote]I dis-agree. They used to be real good many many years ago. Last full-length album that fits these descriptions was 1989's Technique.[/quote] Yep see the poll http://www.nwoutpost.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5765

I purchased every 12" and proper release through Technique, after that I stopped. Doesn't make me any less of a fan, they just don't meet my expectations anymore. I'm probably guilty of holding them to a higher standard because their earlier material kicked so much ass!!!!
[/quote]

I appreciate your POV but I have to point out that just as a band has to evolve throughout their career, a true fan has to grow with them and understand the changes an artist must go through in order to maintain personal artistic satisfaction.

You say Technique was your favorite album but was'nt Republic a true extension of Technique? Listen to World, Spooky, Liar. Could they not have been on the same album as Run, Mr. Disco, Vanishing Point, and Dream Attack? You could almost make a new album out of these seven tracks. I don't see how anyone could not like Republic if they like Technique.

[MARV]

And as far $100 tix for festivals like Coachella go, I guess that's the price you have to pay to see a few dozen bands. Seems a darn good deal to me.....