1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die: #554 New Order

Thursday, June 21, 2018

#554 New Order - Low Life

Way back when I started this blog the first time, I reviewed New Order's Technique album. Here is the link to that post: New Order - Technique In that post I wrote that Technique was my favorite New Order album. Seven years later that still holds true. The band hasn't been super prolific with their album production. In their 38 years as a band they have only released 9 albums of new material. They have also released 9 compilation albums, but in my opinion, for a true fan, they are a waste of money. It is just repackaging of hits in different ways, with the occasional new song or mix added in to entice you to buy it.

This album is the second, and last, New Order album on the list. They maybe could have included one or two more of their albums, but I think they probably got it right by including just the two.

In my opinion here are their albums in order from best:

1. Technique (1989)
2. Brotherhood (1986)
3. Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
4. Low Life (1985)
5. Movement (1981)
6. Republic (1993)
7. Waiting for the Sirens Call (2005)
8. Get ready (2001)
9. Music Complete (2015)
I didn't include Substance since it is a compilation album released in 1987. It contains songs from their first 4 albums, and some remixes on disc 2. I love it and think if someone is a casual fan of the band it is the one album they should own.

As for this album, as you can see it would be my 4th favorite of the band, but I can totally see why it is included on the list. On “Movement” and “Power, Corruption & Lies” the band was discovering what would become their sound, after reforming from Joy Division after the death of Ian Curtis. This album is the album that the band showed that they can record some great dance hits, and boy does it have some great songs on it.

The album start with "Love Vigilantes" a song about a soldier who returns home from Vietnam only to find his wife has committed suicide after receiving a telegram telling her that he had been killed in combat. Next is "A Perfect Kiss" which most would consider the band first dance hit and one of their best songs. The second single from the album is "Sub-Culture" which is also a great dance hit. Two other great dance hits on the album are "Shellshock" and "Shame of the Nation".

I really can't say enough about this album and the band for that matter, especially all of their albums from the 80's. They are all great in their own way and really were influential for many other bands of the time.

"The Perfect Kiss"

"Shellshock"

"State of the Nation"

As an added bonus, since their are no more New Order albums to review, I'm including the videos for the band three biggest hits:

"Blue Monday" - the biggest selling dance single of all time