Album Anniversary - May 13, 2015

Today is the 30th anniversary of Low Life, the third album from New Order.

Video: "The Perfect Kiss"

Highlights from My Vinyl Collection, Part 11

This is the eleventh installment of "Highlights from My Vinyl Collection," an appreciation of great music, not necessarily rare finds or expensive imports. This is not about "deleted Smiths singles and original, not rereleased - underlined - Frank Zappa albums," as Rob Gordon so eloquently put it, though a small few select gems might appear every now and again.



New Order - Temptation (12" Single)

I'll be honest. I have no idea whether this record belongs to me or my brother. Growing up with many of the same tastes in music meant that we liked each other's records and would tend to buy similar albums and singles. There are some records that I definitely know are mine. I remember where I bought them and the sights, sounds, and smells of that particular day in the record store. But, other memories elude me. As such, this one might point to it belonging to my brother. As of right now, there are nine New Order records in my possession; this is one my favorites. "Temptation" is among a large group of great New Order songs. A shared trait of many popular songs is at least one memorable hook. "Temptation" has at least four, arguably five. From the opening childlike chant of "Oh you've got green eyes / Oh you've got blue eyes / Oh you've got grey eyes," to the chorus of "Up, down, turn around / Please don't let me hit the ground / Tonight, I think I'll walk alone / I'll find my soul as I go home," "Temptation" reels in listeners with hook after hook. With typically ambiguous lyrics, Bernard Sumner leads the group in their early phoenix-like years of the early 80s, displaying a stylistic change from fairly moody and ethereal first three post-Joy Division singles into a more upbeat, dance direction, one that would last up until their eventual demise some 20+ years later. Gone were the fairly funereal synths, replaced by a poppier version of said instrument. Gone was Sumner's mumbly drone, substituted with a voice-cracking, more emotionally open romantic. The song even transcends interpretation, with some believing it to be about drugs, and others thinking it more of a surface level look at first love. Though Sumner has said it is about "long lost love," it doesn't seem to matter. Plus, that itself is interpretable. The b-side, "Hurt," is equally fascinating, with Sumner's voice sounding the most off-key it's ever been, and most likely on purpose. There are punk elements as well as dance elements, while holding onto some of that earlier moody atmosphere. Less than a year later, New Order would release "Blue Monday," one of their biggest worldwide hits, and a dance anthem that would play in clubs ad infinitum. There are shades of "Blue Monday" in "Hurt," almost as if it were rehearsal for their big dance debut. I love this record; not only the music, but the Peter Saville minimalist design record cover, complete with embossed title, and the fact that each track lasts over eight minutes. There used to be a day when extended versions and remixes were more in both quality and quantity. New Order's singles were certainly indicative of that, "Temptation" a stellar example of such.

Great Songs from My Favorite Year in Music: 1985, Part 20

New Order - "The Perfect Kiss"



(Single Release: May 1985)
There's a reason I say that 1985 is a landmark year in music, at least in a personal sense. To put it bluntly, 1985 rocked my world. Not in a "rawk" sense, but in the original sense of the phrase, meaning that I was blown away when I discovered a certain genre of music for the first time. New Order, Echo & the Bunnymen, and the Smiths were my holy triumvirate. There is no doubt in my mind that these were my three favorite bands. Sure, there was room for the Cure, Depeche Mode, and U2, but the former three were unassailable in my eyes and ears. In New Order's case, the song that represented this paradigm shift in style was "The Perfect Kiss." With the 12" version clocking in at just under ten minutes, there was a lot to love without ever being mired in homogeneity. Sounds of car crashes, the melodic croaking of frogs, and a sheep bleating all added to the song's mystique, which was intriguing enough due to Bernard Sumner's story within the lyrics that could rival "In the Air Tonight." If we were to piece apart the lyrics and take them in a literal sense, we can surmise that an outing with a friend comes to disastrous end (poetry not intended). "The Perfect Kiss" is the ultimate example of why I love New Order. There is a brilliant balance between every instrument. At different times, I can marvel at Peter Hook's sinuous bass, Sumner's imperfect vocals and staccato guitar, Gillian Gilbert's sleek synths, and Stephen Morris's dance club drums. The most amazing thing about this song is that it still sounds fresh, now over a quarter century later.