you’ve got ~10 years on my life as a new order fan, so i come humbly. i am so grateful for this list! i love LOVE new order and “power” is my #1, but this has convinced me to dig back into the rest of their discography. thanks for this AWESOME list. looking forward to many years as a fan of the archive. 💛
Thanks for sharing the magic that was New Order. II saw them in late August 1987 on the Hudson River in NYC with Echo & The Bunnymen and Gene Loves Jezebel. What I most remember about their set was bass player Peter Hook anchoring the whole affair, his bass slung down to his knees. He was just ripping it up. Hit after sweaty hit, the crowd pulsating and nearly levitating the entire venue above the Hudson River. They were on their game.
New Order are also one of my favorite bands and are probably responsible for a sizable chunk of my record collection as they sent me in many directions as I explored other bands on Factory (The Wake, Stockholm Monsters, Durutti Column, etc.) and many side projects of the various members (Monaco, Electronic, The Other Two, Revenge, Freebase, etc.) along with countless guest appearances etc.
My top 2 would be a toss up between Power, Corruption, Lies and Brotherhood and always thought that Weirdo was one of their greatest songs.
Anytime I get new speakers, Airpods, etc., 'Weirdo' is one of the first songs I use to test them out. I'm glad you mentioned the side projects as well! Not sure I've ever met anyone else that has heard of Monaco. FWIW, The Other Two are reissuing their record.
I'm a massive New Order fan, as I think I've mentioned in the past. Best album? That's tough. Power, Corruption, and Lies maybe? Or Technique? Do not make me choose. I will not choose!
A fan since before they were New Order, seen them loads of times (sweaty Hacienda to old railway station for Festival of the 10th Summer to re-purposed Granada studios with added keyboards). I’d put Republic at 6 and your top 3 could be moved around every day and I’d still agree.
I never really listened to many New Order albums in full so I trust your judgement and ranking here! I was a big fan of their previously unreleased song "Sugarcane" in 2013 (as will be clear when I get to that year in my memoir!) Thoughts?
This wasn't my favorite era of the band, but I've always really liked how bouncy/up tempo this is. It feels like something Stock Aitken & Waterman would've helped put together.
...and now I'm curious how this fits in with your memoir! I've got, what, 30 years to go?
For a long time, I thought I wasn't a New Order fan (beyond Ceremony and Blue Monday) because I was too upset over Ian Curtis' death. But I've grown to understand that they just went in a direction that wasn't for me. According to my ticket collection, I even saw them live once...but this Peter Hook fanboy doesn't remember a thing about it! No matter; I love reading what passionate and knowledgeable fans have to say about almost any music - and this is no exception!
1st: Love that you still have the ticket stub ! I have an old shoebox full of ticket stubs. Well into the eticket age I will pay the extra fee to have proper tickets mailed to me so I can have another stub for the shoebox.
2nd: Not nearly enough of a New Order Head to comment on your album rankings. There are a lot of worse bands one could devote their life too 😜
3rd: Had a remarkably similar formative experience seeing The Allman Brothers Band in 96 with my roommate and this cute blonde girl that lived across the hall. The whole day was just an adventure. I didn't know my roommate used to be a big time weed dealer. We didn't know that a whole other group of kids from our small school were also going to be there. I didn't know that a 20 minute version of 'Jessica' plus a few beers and a few puffs were in fact the path to enlightenment. I especially didn't know that the cute blonde girl across the hall was destined to become the future Sra Dinero 😊
Kevin, I love seeing you share your love for New Order. I feel much the same way about Depeche Mode, and more recently, Frightened Rabbit.
This is what stacks you up, in my mind, as a true music lover. You seek what's new and new to you, but you also hold tight to the music that first lit the light in you that took you from a listener to an avid lover of music.
This is terrific, as always! Even in the relatively short time I've been acquainted with you through this site and music community, it's become clear through my occasional New Order mentions that your fandom is several deviations beyond the average!
I appreciate this story and this review, and it will likely become the impetus for me to chronicle my own life-changing concert experience from August 2021 when the anniversary of that show comes around again in a few months. But I think everyone who reads your work and who is invested in this community on Substack can appreciate where you're coming from with this and likely has their own story (or stories) of concerts or moments where music transcended everything and became more than just something you listen to.
Whoa! No kidding?
Well, I think that's pretty cool.
you’ve got ~10 years on my life as a new order fan, so i come humbly. i am so grateful for this list! i love LOVE new order and “power” is my #1, but this has convinced me to dig back into the rest of their discography. thanks for this AWESOME list. looking forward to many years as a fan of the archive. 💛
Of course! I'm glad you enjoyed it. "Power" is a fantastic record.
Thanks for sharing the magic that was New Order. II saw them in late August 1987 on the Hudson River in NYC with Echo & The Bunnymen and Gene Loves Jezebel. What I most remember about their set was bass player Peter Hook anchoring the whole affair, his bass slung down to his knees. He was just ripping it up. Hit after sweaty hit, the crowd pulsating and nearly levitating the entire venue above the Hudson River. They were on their game.
Indeed, Pier 84 nearly floated away that night! What a phenomenal show that was.
Echo & the Bunnymen were epic, too.
You two were at the same show?!
What a lineup! Sounds like a killer show. I was struck by how low slung his bass was too. I'd never seen anything like it.
Kevin, great list and ranking!
New Order are also one of my favorite bands and are probably responsible for a sizable chunk of my record collection as they sent me in many directions as I explored other bands on Factory (The Wake, Stockholm Monsters, Durutti Column, etc.) and many side projects of the various members (Monaco, Electronic, The Other Two, Revenge, Freebase, etc.) along with countless guest appearances etc.
My top 2 would be a toss up between Power, Corruption, Lies and Brotherhood and always thought that Weirdo was one of their greatest songs.
Anytime I get new speakers, Airpods, etc., 'Weirdo' is one of the first songs I use to test them out. I'm glad you mentioned the side projects as well! Not sure I've ever met anyone else that has heard of Monaco. FWIW, The Other Two are reissuing their record.
Yes I saw that reissue by The Other Two and am tempted but I did buy the reissue from a while back when LTM reissued them on CD with extra tracks
I'm a massive New Order fan, as I think I've mentioned in the past. Best album? That's tough. Power, Corruption, and Lies maybe? Or Technique? Do not make me choose. I will not choose!
Lol. I won't. You can have 'em all!
We are the same age, but I'm pretty sure I was still eating my boogers around this time.
Lol.
One of the first pieces that I’ve read of yours and still a favorite. Happy Anniversary!
Thank you!!
Love reading this, Kevin. Great work. I gotta go with Low Life as #1 and Power, Corruption, and Lies as #2.
I will add that New Order without Peter Hook is like Led Zeppelin without John Bohnam.
Low Life is incredible.
...and agreed on Peter Hook. I loved seeing the "new" lineup play, but it's not the same.
A fan since before they were New Order, seen them loads of times (sweaty Hacienda to old railway station for Festival of the 10th Summer to re-purposed Granada studios with added keyboards). I’d put Republic at 6 and your top 3 could be moved around every day and I’d still agree.
That Top 3 could shift on any given day for me as well.
Test
A+ ?
Well played sir 😁
I never really listened to many New Order albums in full so I trust your judgement and ranking here! I was a big fan of their previously unreleased song "Sugarcane" in 2013 (as will be clear when I get to that year in my memoir!) Thoughts?
This wasn't my favorite era of the band, but I've always really liked how bouncy/up tempo this is. It feels like something Stock Aitken & Waterman would've helped put together.
...and now I'm curious how this fits in with your memoir! I've got, what, 30 years to go?
It was a significant song for me!
I’m looking forward to seeing how it fits into your story!
For a long time, I thought I wasn't a New Order fan (beyond Ceremony and Blue Monday) because I was too upset over Ian Curtis' death. But I've grown to understand that they just went in a direction that wasn't for me. According to my ticket collection, I even saw them live once...but this Peter Hook fanboy doesn't remember a thing about it! No matter; I love reading what passionate and knowledgeable fans have to say about almost any music - and this is no exception!
Thank you, Jeremy!
1st: Love that you still have the ticket stub ! I have an old shoebox full of ticket stubs. Well into the eticket age I will pay the extra fee to have proper tickets mailed to me so I can have another stub for the shoebox.
2nd: Not nearly enough of a New Order Head to comment on your album rankings. There are a lot of worse bands one could devote their life too 😜
3rd: Had a remarkably similar formative experience seeing The Allman Brothers Band in 96 with my roommate and this cute blonde girl that lived across the hall. The whole day was just an adventure. I didn't know my roommate used to be a big time weed dealer. We didn't know that a whole other group of kids from our small school were also going to be there. I didn't know that a 20 minute version of 'Jessica' plus a few beers and a few puffs were in fact the path to enlightenment. I especially didn't know that the cute blonde girl across the hall was destined to become the future Sra Dinero 😊
These are the stories I love to hear!
Kevin, I love seeing you share your love for New Order. I feel much the same way about Depeche Mode, and more recently, Frightened Rabbit.
This is what stacks you up, in my mind, as a true music lover. You seek what's new and new to you, but you also hold tight to the music that first lit the light in you that took you from a listener to an avid lover of music.
THIS. So true.
Thank you, Mallie!
This is terrific, as always! Even in the relatively short time I've been acquainted with you through this site and music community, it's become clear through my occasional New Order mentions that your fandom is several deviations beyond the average!
I appreciate this story and this review, and it will likely become the impetus for me to chronicle my own life-changing concert experience from August 2021 when the anniversary of that show comes around again in a few months. But I think everyone who reads your work and who is invested in this community on Substack can appreciate where you're coming from with this and likely has their own story (or stories) of concerts or moments where music transcended everything and became more than just something you listen to.
Thank you, Matt! I'd love to read that story come August.
So, I have a pondering question for you, how many concerts have we been at together? Not together..together, but attending the same show?
Good question! We should start making a list and see. I'll bet it's at least a few.