New Order: Low-Life (1985) (reissue 11 November)

[WotUNeed]

When Entertainment Weekly made their list of the top one hundred albums of the past 25 years, i.e., 1983-2008, this was the only New Order entry to make the list. It's ranked #84.

Released in 1985, Low-Life was the group's third studio album, and the first one to chart in the United States.

Tracks:
1. Love Vigilantes
2. The Perfect Kiss
3. This Time of Night
4. Sunrise
5. Elegia
6. Sooner Than You Think
7. Sub-culture
8. Face Up

Would you agree with EW? Was it all downhill from here for New Order? Or did their singles simply outshine their albums?

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Low-Life is one of the New Order albums (their first five) getting the 2-CD Collector's Edition treatment and seeing release 11 November. The second disc will include:

1. The Perfect Kiss (12" version)
2. Sub-Culture (12" version)
3. Shellshock (John Robie Remix, 12" version)
4. Shame of the Nation
5. Elegia
6. Let's Go
7. Salvation Theme
8. Dub Vulture

[oscillations.]

A genre-defining album and one I gladly overplay. When I fall into N.O. mode, the pursuit for aural satay is honest and ceaseless. It's like I have a fever, and the only prescription is more drum loops. It hits at least twice a year.

Was it all downhill from here? In my book, no. Brotherhood and Technique are both fine efforts. Admittedly, their Nineties and Aughties track record is considered spotty and lackluster, but even those releases sported enviable singles.

I've always enjoyed New Order primarily as a singles band, anyway.

[jazklash]

Actually, in my book, bar Substance or any other of their anthologies, Technique is their best album. Now from THEN on, it was all downhill.

[halo19]

I only own Technique and Get Ready as far as studio albums but think both are great. I might get around to buying this album and Power some day.

[busyboy]

Sept 27, 2008 15:13:41 GMT -5 WotUNeed said:

Or did their singles simply outshine their albums?

This. Which doesn't necessarily mean their albums were bad, especially considering I even managed to somehow like Republic and GetReady, LOL.

[oscillations.]

www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/147284-new-order-movement-power-corruption-and-lies-low-life-brotherhood-technique-deluxe-editions

[busyboy]

New Order Reissues Plagued With Sound Problems

A label renowned for its elaborate reissues of vintage albums has annoyed British rock group New Order and its fans with a flawed package of the group's classics discs.

Rhino Records recently reissued "collector's editions" of New Order's first five albums, which all originally came out in the 1980s. Each one features a bonus disc, with 7- and 12-inch versions, instrumentals and remixes.

But alert fans quickly complained of about 300 errors, mostly relating to poor sound quality on the bonus discs. The pops and crackles on many of the tracks suggest they were transferred directly from commercially available vinyl recordings rather than from the original master tapes.

The discs were released in Britain last month, and music magazines there, such as Q and Mojo, did not mention any of the technical shortcomings in their rave reviews.

But Peter Hook, the bass player with the defunct group, said on his MySpace page that the reissue project was a "mess." He blamed the label for not sending out advance copies so that he and his former bandmates could do some quality control.

Despite the discontent, Rhino released the discs in the United States last Tuesday, and U.S. fans noticed the same problems. Rhino, an affiliate of Warner Bros. Records, plans to reissue the reissues, and will allow fans to exchange their dud CDs.

"Warner Bros. UK, Rhino and New Order regret that the initial pressings of the Collector Editions of 'Movement,' 'Power, Corruption & Lies,' 'Low-Life,' 'Brotherhood' and 'Technique' contain some minor audio problems on the bonus discs," a statement issued yesterday (Nov. 20) said.

"We are now in the process of correcting the problems, but it should be noted that due to the age and condition of some of the original source tapes, the sound quality may vary. A further statement will be issued once the corrected product is available. At that time, the procedure for exchanging CD's will be announced. Thank you for your patience while we resolve this situation."

www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003895673

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LOL. Original masters are basically all that record labels have left, and they can't even get the re-releases right?

[WotUNeed]

Yep. I haven't bothered with them because I heard so many reports about the crap transfers, and now I'm glad. At least they're bothering to fix them. More than a lot of labels do...

EDIT: And in case anyone's not seen it yet, there's a nice Peter Hook interview here: www.magicrpm.com/artistes/new-order/videos/saga-new-order-1-5

[Ky]

I love low-life, but I definitely don't think it's all downhill from there. I'd say Technique was their peak, with Low-Life and and Republic being next on the list. I consider Get Ready their low point with a move in the right direction with Waiting For The Sirens Call.

[God]

I agree with Cleveland Brown and K-Y Intense arousal gel. I don't think Low-Life was their peak by any means, and Technique is also my favorite New Order album.

[newpower]

This was my first New Order album. I still remember getting the cassette in 1985. So good.
Subculture is my favorite.