We believe in the Land Of Love....

When I hit college, there were a holy quartet of bands, Depeche Mode, Erasure, the Smiths, and New Order. Suffice to say besides the Smiths the rest of the groups were going strong, though it's up in the air whether New Order are through for good (they've been done before).

New Order formed from the remains of post-punk pioneers Joy Division after lead singer Ian Curtis hung himself in 1980. With guitarist Bernard Sumner taking over most of the vocal duties, and adding keyboardist Gillian Gilbert to the mix, New Order progressed to be the quintessential alternative electronic band through the 80's through the 90's. Singles is the fifth attempt to anthologize the group, and for the newcomer pretty much does the trick, containing all of their charting British singles save for a couple of (very) low-charting instrumental tracks. Sprawled out on 2 CD's with 32 songs, Singles is the best single listen you can get from the band. No extended remixes, no 8 minute long exercises, just the radio singles...And (almost) every one is a gem unto itself.

"Ceremony" (1981) is the closest they would come to a Joy Division track - in fact it was planned to be one with even a demo being recorded and a live recording existing. However it New Order's introduction, and Sumner tries his best at the time to emulate Curtis' drone, while the jangling guitars portend a brighter future. The great upside to Singles is that is contains the original NO recording, as all of the other compilations have the rerecorded version from later that year.



"Procession" (1981), again reviving Ian Curtis (he wrote the lyrics), but in a muted setting, where the vocals are almost drowned out by the layers of synths (Gilbert exerting herself boldly with that and backing vocals), and dancing guitarwork. Good more for the musical texture than any "statement".



"Everything Gone Green" (1981) is New Order finding disco. With an even more prominent synth riff, Sumner deadpans lyrics that predict their star-turn on "Blue Monday" later on. "Seems like I've been here before", indeed. Great use of new-wave to not sound kitschy.



"Temptation" (1982) is here in a dramatically different form than on their previous extended best-of, Substance. Mixed more as a pop song, it comes across as sweeter than I originally heard it.



"Blue Monday" (1983) And here is where it really began. Reaching the upper parts of the UK pop and US dance charts, this was a phenomenon of a record. With eerie keyboards over an infectious Kraut-funk drum/bass combo, "Blue Monday" became reputedly the biggest 12" record of all time. With no real chorus, just a plaintive verse ("How does it feel..." and all) which adds to the drama. Classic.



"Confusion" (1983) - where New Order "finds" Madonna. Producer/mixer Arthur Baker provides a blippy, poppy backdrop to the bands never-changing dark lyrics. This is the original single version, drastically different from the 1987 mix on Substance. Unbelievably even made the R&B/Soul chart.



"Thieves Like Us" (1984) is a more classic new-wave track, though it does have a great sunny bass/drum back to it. And love enters the picture in a big way, though there's still paranoia "It's called love and it's belongs to us, and it dies so quickly, and grows so slowly, and when it dies it dies for good". Whoa.



"The Perfect Kiss" (1985) - this so takes me back to my collage years. Great, busy, track, though the edit on this compilation truncates off the actual singing of the title (revolutionary for this band). Also the first single they released that would appear (in a different form) on an album.



"Subculture" (1985) is my favorite early-NO track. Almost funky, accessible but not sell-out version of the "New Order brand". Love the backup singers.



"Shellshock" (1986) is from the "Pretty In Pink" soundtrack. It's very martial in production, and relievably unconformist to the "brat pack" distillation that usually accompanys a John Hughes film.



"State Of The Nation" (1986) has aged better than I thought it would, although it still sounds more of an album track than a bonifide single. And I'm not sure if it's supposed to be an "issue song" or what, its so oblique.



"Bizarre Love Triangle" (1986). Along with "Blue Monday", the classic NO song. Surprisingly it bombed in their home country, reaching #56, while becoming their highest-charting dance hit in the US at the time. Swirling string-like keyboard parts with holiday-like bells in the back of a busy, happy dance ditty belie the dark, moody meaning to the lyrics. The first New Order song I heard (and anyone should hear, for that matter).



"True Faith" (1987) was their first American top-40 hit. Supposedly about drugs, it's vague enough to just let me ride along the melody. Deservedly popular, big bold and unabashedly pop.



"1963" (1987) - According to the liner notes, Sumner says this was about John and Jackie Kennedy. Which makes sense because of the title. Though I so had a different take on this when I was younger, mine being a young gay couple where one kills the other one. It doesn't help the Sumner sings in the "female" role. Either way, a great album track that fluked into a single. Check out Jane Horrocks ("little voice") in the video!



"Touched By The Hand Of God" (1987) was not from any album, but from the little-seen movie Salvation. I always associate it with the remix of "Blue Monday" since it was the American B-side, it's a good, pop by-the-numbers New Order track.



Disc 2 begins with the 1988 remix of "Blue Monday '88" (1988) by none other than Quincy Jones, and sounds nothing like he would've done. Sped up a little and everything but the sink thrown in, it can't be sunk but it's not as satisfying as the original.



"Fine Time" (1988) - I just don't get this song. Maybe I have to be on drugs. Nothing but a repetitive beat, with weird thrown in lyrics like "You're much too young to be a part of me". I'll give them points for not selling out, but this is too whacked out.



"Round And Round" (1989), though, totally makes up for it. With its fantastic machinegun bassline, swirling melody, and noncompromising dourness over a heavy dancebeat, this song is by far my favorite later-day NO song and damn close to my all-around fave of theirs. The video's kinda creepy with the beautiful models interspersed with subliminal imagery.



"Run 2" (1989) was allegedly nicked from John Denver's "Leaving On A Jet Plane", but I don't really see it, besides the coincidental chord change.



"World In Motion" (1990) is NO's "jump the shark" moment. Nothing like the poster-children for post-punk sing what basically is an sports advert for England's soccer team. Extra icky points for the "rap" and background singing done by the players. Musically sounds, but morally corrupt. And sadly their only #1 song in the UK.



"Regret" (1993) though, puts the band back on track, with their old-school chiming guitars and rawer production. This is their biggest US pop hit, and deservedly so. Not the best, but worthy of most popular.



"Ruined In A Day" (1993) does cop the Soul II Soul/Enigma beat a little late, but this is a welldone minor hit for them.



"World (Price Of Love)" (1993) is not to be confused with the soccer song, is album Republic's "Round and Round", though with slower production and piano riffs complimenting the more understated bass.



"Spooky" (1993), on the other hand, is their newer "Fine Time". However, this time they add an actual melody and vocal structure. More of a good album cut than a great single.



"Crystal" (2001) - After an eight-year hiatus, New Order returned as a alt-rock band. A nod to the more "goth" NO fans. Tidbit - The Killers got their name from the fake band in the video.



"60 Miles An Hour" (2001) - While the US dance clubs got "Someone Like You" (which was sadly omitted from this collection), the UK got this song. It does have an interesting Smithereens/Kinks vibe to it.



"Here To Stay" (2002) sounds in sync with the Get Ready singles, but was a toss-off from the 24 Hour Party People soundtrack. More dance-oriented than the album, it works as a single.



"Krafty" (2005), meant as an allusion to band Kraftwerk, is more sing-songy than "Crystal", but equally successful. Almost product-like, though subversively so.



"Jetstream" (2005) included Ana Mantronic from the Scissor Sisters, which gives extra bonus points for me already, and with it fun, almost Kylie-like bounciness, a welcome if unintellectual addition to their canon.



"Waiting For The Sirens' Call" (2005) - Wikipedia (and you know you can't always trust that) says this is Bernard Sumner's favorite New Order song. I'm not sure why. It's not bad, but it sounds like a lot of what's gone before.



"Turn" (2005) - failing to chart even in England, it's not horrific but a little derivative.



"Temptation (Secret Machine Remix)" (2005) is totally not necessary. I hate good alternative pop bands needing the "drum-and-bass" remix. Could've been replaced by "Someone Like You" or even an instrumental like "Murder" or "Video 586" easily.

All told, with only a couple minor complaints, this is a compilation New Order needed and deserves. In fact Depeche, Erasure, and the Smiths could use one like this. First point of purchase for any newcomers to this genre. Sidenote - also get Substance for the 12" experience.

Grade: Disc 1 - A; Disc 2-B+;Total - A
Best Cuts: "Ceremony", "Everything's Gone Green", "Temptation", "Blue Monday", "Thieves Like Us", "The Perfect Kiss", "Sub-Culture", "Shellshock", "Bizarre Love Triangle", "True Faith", "Touched By The Hand Of God", "Blue Monday '88", "Round And Round", "Regret", "World (Price Of Love)", "Crystal", "Krafty", "Jetstream"
Weakest Links: "Fine Time", "World In Motion", "Temptation (Secret Machine Mix)"

Singles hit #14 on the UK Album Chart.
"Ceremony" hit #61 US Dance Club Play and #34 in the UK.
"Procession" made #38 in the UK.
"Everything's Gone Green" made #64 Dance Club Play and #38 in the UK as the Bside to "Procession".
"Temptation" hit #68 Dance Club and #29 in the UK.
"Blue Monday" hit #5 Dance Club and #9 in the UK.
"Confusion" made #5 Dance Club, #71 R&B, and #12 in the UK.
"Thieves Like Us" made #18 in the UK.
"The Perfect Kiss" hit #5 Dance Club and #46 in the UK.
"Sub-Culture" hit #35 Dance Club and #63 in the UK.
"Shellshock" made #14 Dance Club and #28 in the UK.
"State Of The Nation" made #4 Dance Club as the B-side to "Bizare.." and #30 in the UK.
"Bizarre Love Triangle" made #98 US Pop (in 1995), #4 Dance Club, and #56 in the UK.
"True Faith" hit #32 pop, #3 Dance Club, and #4 in the UK.
"1963" hit #21 in the UK in its 1995 remix.
"Touched By The Hand Of God" made #1 Dance Club as the B-side to "Blue Monday 88", and #18 in the UK.
"Blue Monday '88" made #68 pop, #1 Dance Club, and #3 in the UK.
"Fine Time" hit #2 Dance Club, #3 Modern Rock, and #4 in the UK.
"Round And Round" hit #64 pop, #1 Dance Club, #6 Modern Rock, and #21 in the UK.
"Run 2" hit #29 in the UK.
"World In Motion" made #10 Dance Club, #5 Modern Rock, and #1 in the UK.
"Regret" hit #28 pop, #1 Dance Club, #1 Modern Rock, and #4 in the UK.
"Ruined In A Day" hit #30 Modern Rock and #22 in the UK.
"World (Price Of Love)" made #92 pop, #1 Dance Club, #5 Modern Rock, and #13 in the UK.
"Spooky" made #6 Dance Club and #22 in the UK.
"Crystal" hit #1 Dance Club and #8 in the UK.
"60 Miles An Hour" hit #29 in the UK.
"Here To Stay" made #15 in the UK.
"Krafty" made #2 Dance Club and #8 in the UK.
"Jetstream" hit #3 Dance Club and #20 in the UK.
"Waiting For The Siren's Call" hit #21 in the UK.

Listen: "True Faith (Morel's Pink Noize Mix Radio Edit)" (click to link)

Buy: You can pick up Singles at websites like here and here.


and here's the video for the missing single "Someone Like You"...