Reviews (page 2 of 9)
Autism be damned, these cats can shred
really good variety
THIS WAS SO FIRE I liked sm songs off it they ate also first album from the 80s
loooove this! i loved the intensity of the instrumentals on top of the creative flow of lyrics. new order, to me, are one of the rulers of synthesizers. i'm so glad that joy division continued to evolve favorites: the perfect kiss; sunrise; sooner than you think
really really really good. No skips.
Loved it!
I knew the first few songs from 1st Wave. Superb, I loved every track (except maybe the final one but I still liked it). There definitely is something with New Order's sound that leaves me mesmerized
New Order is one of those bands that I just haven’t spent enough time with. I know they’re bigger in the UK than the US (where I’m from), and my perception is that in the US they’re a bit overshadowed, at least critically and in the music snob circles, by Joy Division. I’ve listened to both Unknown Pleasures and Closer several times, and while they may not be my personal favorites I definitely appreciate them. New Order in a way has the same misfortune as Foo Fighters in that no matter how successful or artistically accomplished they are they’ll always be compared to the former band, maybe even moreso for New Order since it’s basically the whole band minus Ian Curtis. One thing that I think sticks out about Low-Life is that while it certainly explores some darker themes, I come away with optimistic vibes from it. You certainly don’t get that with Joy Division… those are bleak records written by an immensely talented and deeply disturbed individual. New Order’s songs celebrate life here: Love Vigilantes is an amazing song. Album closer Face Up is the other highlight song, and while its lyrics are a little dark and angry it also is brimming with life. My ears hear a masterpiece here. I think it’s more like a high end 4 for me with a couple of listens but I’m giving it an anticipatory 5.
46/1089 4.4672* New order is one of my All time favorite bands so this was an easy 5 and I was glad to get another 5 star album (just 3 out of 46 so far). Bernard could start his car and I'd go listen to it. I recommend everyone just pick an early NO album and listen to it, you'll probably like it. Hits...lv, egelia, subculture, tpk
Great stuff. Really liked the first song. There’s a simplicity to New Order’s lyrics that sits really well with me.
amo new order
Top class
Weirdly doesn’t feel like a five star album, but I don’t dislike any song. Listens to it twice & liked them more the second time as well.
Completely blown away by that one. It's melancholic and dark, yet super energetic, eclectic and uplifting. I loved it from the beginning to the end.
I’m a big fan of New Order & synth pop in general. This album made me want to dance with my friends. Rating it 5 stars for Elegia alone. It sounds like something straight out of a video game or Interstellar. I want to listen to it on repeat.
I don't think there's a bad song on this album. The Perfect Kiss might be my standout track, but I literally think they're all good. This tracklist is so fucking tight. 5 Stars easily.
Fantastic album, great discovery
One of my favourite albums of all times
i'd take them over joy division most days as i am not a nihilist, but not all days as i do get sad sometimes. the frog noises on Perfect Kiss cheer me up. i used to have a copy of this record with the nice obi. not sure where that went. i also have fond memories of listening to Brotherhood on my walkman. both good records, but their defining document is the Substance comp of 12" mixes.
New Order defines the 80s for me yet I’m always blown away how modern their stuff always sounds. The melody of the opening song feels like it’s always been buried in my head. Great way to kick off the album. Perfect Kiss is a great follow up and the one I know best from their Substance compilation. The next couple songs weren’t quite as good as the first two but still develop into great pieces to finish a near perfect first half. The second side kicks off with the coolest song on the album. It evokes the same power some of their stuff like Decades has - haunting and epic. Sooner Than You Think almost makes me laugh how quickly they change up the mood after Elegia. That’s actually a fantastic track wow, probably my choice for most underrated New Order song. Sub-culture is another classic although they improve upon it with the version on Substance. The final song is one of the weaker on the album but still have some euphoric moments that put a smile on my face as it ends. I’ve never thought of this as my favorite album of theirs but it might be. Rating: 4.9
Love the 80s composition and sound, kind of one note throughout the album though. Some sick licks throughout.
9/10
Your mouth this morning was soft and sloppy and insistent. I left little finger marks on your hips. Your shaved pussy makes my dick look so big, and I stretched your asshole apart while you stayed bent over. You’re the kind of good girl that thanks me for coming so fast. You’re welcome.
I love new order and joy division
This was really, really good. I think they could probably lose the harmonica in the beginning song but there was so much tonal and vocal variety which, for lack of a better reference right now, really gave off the vibes of something like a Donkey Kong Country or Earthbound soundtrack.
This album is exactly why I’m happy I’m doing this project - totally something I like that I have somehow missed listening to all these years. Added to my iPod. Really good album does sound slightly dated at times but still so listenable today - somewhere between a 4 and 5 for sure - catchy jammable sounds like walking in the city at night
Crisp, absolutely perfect production. Every instrument rings through so clearly and there isn't a weak song in the bunch. Elegia sounds cinematic.
Kannte ich auch noch nicht. Jeder Song hat gehittet. Klasse Band!
While not my favorite New Order album, I still love every it of it. However, I wish that they used the full version of "Perfect Kiss" The edit is always jarring to me. And an extended "Elegia" would be great too. Plus, "Bizarre Love Triangle" is on of my all time favorite songs, but I prefer a different mix. My qualms aside, this album is still brilliant!
What a great way to start the week. New Order is one of my favorite groups, alternative/progressive or otherwise. I happen to own this album on vinyl and it is brilliant. Listening brought back some very nice late 80's memories. More New Order!
Love, love, love ❤
New Order's best songs are the non-album singles collected on Substance, but this is still a banging album. Humanistic synth pop that's dark and moody but also joyfully dancey, oscillating between Joy Division, Cure, and Depeche Mode sounds of the gothy new wave, but always distinctly New Order with those incredible melodic Hooky baselines and affectless flat vocals that are nonetheless deeply emotive.
Never hear this album before and it is great! I was surprised how good it is actually!
it was so fun to listen to!! reminded me of the smiths and such bands with similar sounds
Excellent album!
his is the point where New Order perfect the balance between post punk tension and synth pop lift. “Love Vigilantes” opens with a folkish melodica hook before Peter Hook’s melodic bass and Gillian Gilbert’s glassy keys pull it into something luminous. “The Perfect Kiss” clicks and pulses with sequencers that feel alive, while “Sunrise” brings back the jagged guitar bite. “Elegia” slows everything to a haunted glow and shows how much feeling they can draw from space and restraint. Bernard Sumner’s voice sounds unsure and human in a way that suits the material, and Stephen Morris keeps everything moving with exact, motorik drums. The flow is near flawless. Side two leans into the club with “This Time of Night” and “Sub culture,” then lifts off with “Face Up,” which turns ache into celebration. The production still feels modern, clean without losing grit, and the songwriting never chooses gloss over heart. It is sleek, sad, and euphoric at once, a record you can dance to while it quietly breaks you
love it
💿 Rating: 4.8 / 5 💬 Short Review: Low-Life is the sound of survivors trying to dance their trauma away—and kind of succeeding. It’s romantic, robotic, and a little tragic… like falling in love at a bus stop in the rain while wearing shoulder pads. ❤️ Favorite Track: “Love Vigilantes” Yes, it’s got that upbeat Western-style riff. Yes, it’s about death. Yes, it will trick you into singing along to a narrative tragedy. Peak New Order.
This album is simultaneously stereotypical 80s but in the next song we are alt rock. This album is a ride and would highly recommend
All I’ve ever heard from New Order is the England World Cup song World In Motion and despite the lack of John Barnes rapping on here this album was BRILLIANT. There wasn’t one track I didn’t like. Top Track - This Time Of Night
Ofc 5/5 for New Order
Musically out of this world and lyrically humdrum but that only somehow humanises the songs on this album. I love it, one of the best of the 80's NO were on a run of classic albums at this time.
One of the best synth-pop albums of all time, immaculate songs and deep themes and lyrics. It's packaged in a few set of songs that let you go in a journey of love and discovery of oneself.
You know the meme where Joe Rogan grabs the shoulder of his UFC co-commentator and screams “Woooah!” whilst witnessing a blistering knockout performance in a championship fight? Well that’s kind of how I felt upon discovering this album. Except this wasn’t so much of a one-punch KO, this was more of a five round, 25 minute beat down of monumental proportions. Once it starts, there’s no letting up from start to finish. A technically skillful warrior who better restrains and directs the raw power the up and coming fighter known as Joy Division once brought to the ring, we witness a relentless ability to sustain a high championship standard tempo, but it never strays too far from the elegant. It’s a stand out performance, it really is. I’ll 💯 be going on YouTube to watch some other early fights. Side note : I was fully expecting Robert Smith to deliver the vocal on sunrise. It sounded so much like The Cure! To my ear
I used to genuinely hate new wave music and I could never explain why. Then recently I listened to the Pet Shop Boys' "Introspective", which isn't even new wave, and it somehow unlocked my appreciation of late 80s synth-rock/pop. There's something about the contrast between the upbeat stretches of songs and the more somber rock-oriented stretches that brings the fabric of these albums together. This is a 4.5 rounded up.
This is really good. The integration of rock and newer, more electronic sounds is seamless. The soaring synths are used perfectly in e.g. the perfect kiss. This is like my favorite aspects of Kraftwerk in conversation with Prog Rockers. In short, it's awesome.
I loved this. Last song sounds a little goofy for a "motivating" track but besides that, album was a banger. Sounds like I'm in a dark ass room, dancing my ass off, sipping on gin, hands up and everything.
Awesome! New Order. Dude, The Perfect Kiss is on this album, and Elegia! What a great album so far. Totally diggin it. 5 stars. Oh shit!! I forgot about Sub-Culture!! It's been forever since I heard it.
PEDRADA MÁXIMA. infelizmente eh o ultimo new order da lista. não é meu preferido, mas acho que é um dos mais coesos dos mano absurdíssimo!!!!! ouviria esse aqui todo dia o dia todo durante o resto da minha vida!!
so good
There are a lot of fun songs in new wave.
While I'm quite familiar with Joy Dovosion I had never listened to the band post Ian Curtis suicide before today, but Im super glad I did Now. This album is such an I credible vibe front to Back, peak new wave that just makes you want to move while still being sonically interesting and deep, very Atmospheric. Great discovery
Perfect record by a perfect band no notes
HOLY SHREDDER ON SUNRISE
Love Vigilantes and Elegia are the best songs on this album, maybe of their entire career as New Order. One of my favorite bands so I was excited to see them on the list!
This was really special
Increíble. Banger tras banger.
Part of the absolutely incredible run of albums that are all favourites of mine.
80s pop rock without too much cheese
This album is amazing, it’s the best so far. I added “Love Vigilante” to my favorites the second time listening to it. I also added like half the album to my playlists.
Really good
I love everything about this. Sonically it's perfect, there isn't a bad song on it, and it makes me imagine my parents, aunts and uncles dancing in 80s nightclubs
Awesome first listen. Big fan of the guitar sounds on this album
A BANGERRRRE! Love New Order. Elegia best track on this one 👌👌👌
New Order has always been one of my favorite bands for lifting my spirits. They’ve done an amazing job blending synthpop with post punk and alternative rock while staying at the forefront of electronic music. What I appreciate most is how their music stands the test of time. This album feels like the point where their sound became more refined, marking a new phase in their evolution.
Nostalgic
New Order at the peak of their powers. Synth-pop perfection from front to back.
Excellent stuff. Really enjoyed this.
I own some of these tracks on New Order Singles, I haven't heard these: This Time of Night Sunrise Sooner Than You Think Face-up I own Singles, Substance and Get Ready on CD so I'm a New Order fan. I learned a little bit about Joy Division looking this album up too, so I think I'll explore their work more since New Order was founded from the remaining members. I love this sound and the vocalist, and this is definitely a 5 star for me.
5 Stars (14/15)
New Order has always been one of my favorite bands for lifting my spirits. They’ve done an amazing job blending synthpop with post-punk and alternative rock while staying at the forefront of electronic music. What I appreciate most is how their music stands the test of time. This album feels like the point where their sound became more refined, marking a new phase in their evolution.
Brilliant
Loved this on a crisp fall morning walk.
I love New Order!!
Damn, this is full of bangers! I thought I only knew Blue Monday, but Love Vigilantes sounds familiar
I see the argument that this album can feel a bit rough around the edges, but in my opinion that actually works to the album's strengths, having it not feel overproduced, or "glossy". The mix of guitars and synths is almost unmatched by how well New Order manage it, and the wide range of influences that they take really makes this my favourite album of theirs.
As good as new wave gets! Dancy, but also intelligent, thoughtful, and meaningful.
I've been a huge Joy Division fan for a while, but never really checked out New Order. I am glad to say I enjoyed this. It reminds me a lot of the early Cure works. The singing isn't the best but I think it fits the music well. My favorite thing about this album is the production and the way all of the instruments and synths sounds together. Low 5.
Peak 80s, but actually sounds good? Sick
Love it
It's New Order. it gets 5 stars.
I love an album that starts with heavy hitters and builds, it feels like any of the first four tracks could be the strongest one yet. Tons of energy, amazing bass sound and keyboards. The instruments are clear and distinct in the mix. After Sunrise it's the perfect time to slow things down with the instrumental Elegia. The rest of the second half is upbeat again, with Sub-culture being my favorite on the side and maybe the record. Very nostalgic synth sound for me. 8 songs, 40 minutes, perfect length. Everything's good so I can't help but give this top marks.
SO GOOD
If I’m gonna have a synth pop 80s record on my top page I think it’s gonna be this one. Loved this one so much. Maybe even better than PC&L?
i have to admit i slightly wrote off new order when i first tried to listen several years ago, thinking that the difference in style wasnt enough to overcome my fundamental disconnect that i also have with joy division. idk whats happened in the years since but this is one of the most Completely and Instantly good times ive had with these so far....maybe its just getting a Little More Morbid (these are still Goth Classics), maybe its the group having drifted further away at this point from the joy division routes, maybe its acknowledging that i basically want all music ever to have big synthesizers, maybe its just an undeniably tight and hard hitting tracklist idk FHJFS all i know is this is the coolest warehouse trip ever and i wish i could dance
I never really managed to get into New Order in the same way I did Joy Division. I tried listening to Power, Corruption & Lies and, although I love Age Of Consent, couldn’t get past how different We All Stand sounded. I should have started with Low-Life, because this is exactly how I want my New Order to sound, still with the Gothic edge and darkness that comes from their Post-Punk roots, but with the sparkle of electronica. There’s a sort of typical 80’s-ness about this, because it sounds like the best of the Alternative, left of the dial stuff, mixed with the best of the Electronica stuff that was really starting to make it’s mark. A Platonic ideal of 80’s music would possibly sound like Low-Life. I’ve talked about Platonic Idealism, or I suppose Transcendental Idealism, before, during my review of Tubular Bells. The difference in my attitude here is that Tubular Bells feels like a particular case of an artists actively seeking to create a Platonic Ideal of music as complex sound. What Low-Life is doing is accidentally creating an amalgamation of notable trends in music of their era, and therefore creating an almost perfect storm of styles. It’s not accidentally genius, it’s genius is clear to see, is tangible. But it’s genius as representation of an Ideal of music styles in the mid 80’s by definition cannot have been planned. And yet it is still there, this is what comes to mind when someone says ‘80’s Music’ to me. And I love it. Well, time to give Power, Corruption & Lies another go then
Beautiful melodies and a great flow of music with a rousing rhythm.
New Order is a band I always knew about but didn't listen to. Metal kid back then and liked heavy and heavier music. Now I listen and know I missed out on some killer tunes. This album is nostalgia and old friends long gone and soundtracks for 80's coming of age movies. Simpler times when going to school 5 days a week was the hardest thing in life.
This album starts with a New Order live classic Love Vigilantes, I have great memories of this song live when I saw them at the O2 many years back. Some of my favourite new order songs are on this album like The Perfect Kiss and Sub-Culture this album doesn’t have any of the big hitters yet its strong! Favourite song: Subculture Least favourite: Sooner than you think. Album artwork: Great cover
Из-за наличия Elegia хочется поставить 5 баллов. В целом альбом звучит в духе новой волны, прям квинтэссенция жанра.
I think I'll listen again when it gets seasonable.
Actually Barney is a great singer but the rest of the band miss all the notes.
imagine how much improved this would have been if auto-tune had existed in 1985. or would it?
Having only heard of New Order before from the singles "Blue Monday" and "Ceremony", I can say this album was quite the treat. It's good vibing post-punk complete with popping synthesizers, well-accented percussion from Stephen Morris, and Bernard Sumner's effortless vocal delivery. Tracks like "The Perfect Kiss", "Sunrise" and the instrumental "Elegia" pop off remarkably well, and the guitars get some time in the limelight on "Sooner Than You Think". Perhaps the songwriting and production are not consistently up to the high standard set by "Blue Monday", but there's no denying the group's performance is well done here. It's worth checking out if you're curious. Update 1/20/2025: I decided to revisit this album for its 40th anniversary, after listening to two hundred-plus albums and hearing "Elegia" during the funeral scene in Stranger Things. I will admit now that the production and songwriting on Low Life is just as good as "Blue Monday", and that every track popped off well. I can pick up more incredible guitar and bass lines, and Bernard's lyrics take a more striking melancholy. The lone exception of course is "Elegia", which is appropriately haunting as a tribute to fallen brother Ian Curtis, who fronted Joy Division before taking his life and the subsequent band became what we now know as New Order. I'm glad to have revisited Low Life as this album can go toe-to-toe with some of the best synth-pop albums I've heard thus far.
love New Order, they're usually in my rotation. The Perfect Kiss is the best song on this album.
I've seen a lot of things in the reviews on here, including THAT Napalm Death review, but nothing quite so surprising as to see New Order referred to as 'the band who did that one song'. But, I guess kids will keep happening. I am getting old. I very much grew up with this band, more than any other probably. Mostly Substance. Much later I grew to appreciate Power Corruption and Lies, their best album - oddly not included here (but I guess I understand the rationale of this one instead). I played Substance to death throughout, I was old enough when Technique came out to be fully immersed in it, and Republic followed years later when they all hated eachother. Low-Life was the first full album before those I was able to go back to and love in full. Elegia is lovely, This time of night is weird. Sunrise is great. Sooner than you think sounds oddly contemporary, because listening in 2024 that synth sound has come absolutely right back in. Whereas Face Up is dated to a joyful degree, reminds me of Stock Aitken and Waterman! They would co-opt this sound a year or two later with most of the cast of Neighbours, one at a time. I think even love rat Dr Karl Kennedy had a music career at one point. So, for the uninitiated, some facts. Yes, Barney isn't a great singer - you might have heard why he's the singer though. The 12" of Perfect Kiss is an absolute must listen, the 5 minutes included here cannot hope to contain it's full greatness. There are better versions of Subculture out there, go find them (I always find the Low-Life version slightly anaemic, but it's a terrific song!). Including, weirdly, one released as a promo single on a magazine. It's flawed as fuck but I don't care. 5 stars
When I was younger, I'd occassionally go to a club and you'd always expect to hear New Order. Always. Always. It wasn't a good night until you heard a few New Order songs. And maybe Dead or Alive. But these songs you always heard. It literally was the music of my youth. So good.
This album represents New Order’s transition from a straight post-punk band to a more synth-rock/dance rock band. The album starts with a more straightforward song before adding more electronic elements culminating in a full synth rock production. It is one of the best transitions I’ve ever heard. In a groundbreaking career, this is one of New Order’s best albums and that is about the highest praise I can give it.
God I love New Order. 10/10
Excellent. I love New Order, but I wasn't too familiar with this particular album. Parts of it stray into The Cure territory, which is never a bad thing.
I never gave stuff like this a chance in high school. Wish I had.
EXCELLENT. Sunrise song is A+.
Absolutely belongs on this list. Speaks my 80’s love language from beginning to end. “Face Up” was new to me and it’s a treasure.
I love New Order, this is one of my favorites of theirs. The Perfect Kiss, Elegia, and Sub-Culture would honestly be enough for me to give this rating even if the rest was like 3.5* kinda level, but that's not the case. Easy 5. PS: Peter Hook is a god.
I love New Order. But I realized upon listening again that what I adored -- deeply adored -- were the hits and the shift to electronic music/synthesizers. I try to remember that this album was their foray into dance hits. I will always love techno and New Order.
Loved it!
This is a great album. I can't believe I had never heard the band before. I'm shocked that this seems to be a less liked album. This is a brilliant album by all sense of the word. 5/5, 9/10
wow! i didn't really know what to expect going into this because i didn't quite mesh with the first joy division album, but I really liked this one! just a really great sounding, catchy synthpop album. not sure why i liked this one so much more, but i think it's because a lot of the songs are hookier, catchier, and more bombastic to me. a fun listen!
Great album, and great music!
Amazing!!!
This is a solid musical statement I love how natural it sounds even though it is basically electronic dance pop.
A five for me. It’s one of my favourite new wave albums. So succinct and pleasing to listen to
Excellent
Awesome.
i already know i'm kind of a sucker for this kind of stuff even though i don't really listen to it directly, just covers
Another one of my all time favourites This is the moment New Order managed to break away from the post-punk bindings of Joy Division and decided to go in a more electronic route and the results are very satisfying Favourite tracks: Love Vigilantes, The Perfect Kiss, Sunrise, Sub-Culture
Oldie but a goodie
It's hard to think of any artist that did the synth-pop/new-wave sound better than New Order did in their prime. It's like they just couldn't help but make every song sound like a huge epic, while simultaneously being insanely catchy, especially on this album. Even when they dip back into the more post-punk style on a song like Sunrise, it's a complete banger of a track (very similar to The Cure though). There's about 4 albums from them you could put on the list and I wouldn't have an issue with a single one honestly. Maybe the lyrics are a little cheesy sometimes, and the singing isn't perfect, but god damn how can you not just dance around like an idiot listening to this?
Amazing, pure 80's nostalgia! 9/10
Nothing but bangers, absolutely loved this album. 9/10, my favorite so far.
Amazing.
BLOWN AWAY
Low-life, more like ur a lowlife if u dont like new order
80/80 new smith order
I had heard the hits, but never the deep cuts. Solid album. Entire modern genres like synthwave owe a large debt to this.
Great 80s music, I love this style. This album is going on rotation.
tem gosto de the smiths e deepeche mode hmmm que sabor
йен кертис был тем самым депрессивным чуваком в компании из за которого остальные не могут норм веселиться
she's really good
Highlights: Love Vigilantes, The Perfect Kiss, This Time of Night, Sunrise, Elegia My favourite New Order album. Elegia is such a beautiful song
I am not the world's biggest new wave fan, citing bands like Joy Division among my least favorite. Having only listened to the "hits" by New Order, I wasn't super excited about listening to this one. It's not that I dislike them at all, I just don't get really hyped when I hear Age of Consent (although that riff rips). But I really, really dug this record. The ending of Elegia had me completely immersed into what the band was serving up. The percussive synths throughout bring a consistent life to the album, and the vocals are so much livelier than a lot of new wave stuff. I think overall this album just has a positivity to it (not necessarily lyrically, but in the music) that makes you want to drive a convertible through a mountain road. I'm a convert. You dance rock assholes got me. 5 stars.
"Low-Life" is the third studio album by English rock band New Order. Synth pop, dance-pop and post-punk. Yep. This album is considered among their strongest work completing their transition from post-punk to dance-rockers. There's still some of what I consider post-punk here. They increased the use of synths and samplers. The album did reach the UK top ten. A couple drum beats and Bernard Sumner on the melodica open "Love Vigilantes." The melody chorus. Peter Hook's bass. A searing guitar solo to end the song. A happy-sounding song which tells the story of a soldier returning home to find his wife on the floor with a letter saying he was dead. Was that real? Did he really die? Near the top New Order for me. The first single was "The Perfect Kiss." Complex rhythm. Mutliple percussion sounds. Synth melody. Oh yeah, 80's dance territory. The first side ends with "Sunrise." This is post-punk. It moves fast...great bass, guitar and drums. It's about despair. Is this about their former Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis? Well, side two opens up with a song about Ian Curtis in the instrumental "Elegia." Synths open and build. For some reason, this reminds me of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells." The familiar dirge-like synth open their other single "Sub-culture." The beat comes in. I also like emotionless vocals in a hypnotic song and Sumner has them. The album closes with "Face Up." The song starts with darker, mysterious keys but the song turns happy and dance with Peter Hook's bass, a synth horn and Stephen Morris' drums. Two people were love and now he cannot bear the thought of her. A great song. This a very solid album with no bad songs. It's what I think of when you say a New Order sound. My favorite songs are the last two songs of each side which are basically deep cuts. Is this their best? Yeah, probably, although "Power, Corruption and Lies" and "Technique" are right there.
𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 🐸 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤. 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝙺𝚒𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚜, 𝚎𝚛, 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝. 𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚔, 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚡𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚋 𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖. 𝙻𝚘𝚠- 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚋𝚞𝚖 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚌𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚢𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝. 𝙽𝚎𝚠 𝙾𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚔𝚒𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚛. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚋 𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚊 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝.
Hell yeah
The more I listen the more I like it
Rock forward synth - this is a fantastic album by one of my favorite bands. I've known some of these songs for decades, particularly Elegia for being in Pretty In Pink & Perfect Kiss for its cute as heck frog noises (I could probably just hear a loop of the frog noises & be happy). This album is a mix of joy, sorrow, and anguish done in a danceable fashion. I've never seen New Order live as a whole, but I have seen Peter Hook and The Light, and that show was PHENOMENAL. It was at an intimate venue & he did a full Joy Division & a full New Order set. Just spectacular. Great album by a great band. The more I listen, the more I want to get lost in it. 4.5
Love it! Reminds me of Chicago late 80s.
Thought it was just going to be shitty 80s synth pop but it was soooo good
Key tracks: Love Vigilantes, Perfect Kiss, Elegia
All the synth pop one could want.
Absolutely delightful. Elegia took my breath away
One of my favourite albums of all time
Low-Life is great of course, even a bit better than Brotherhood and Technique, which are obviously 5 stars too. But of course the album you expect to see in a list like this is Power Corruption and Lies.
New wave sounding… listen again!
Amazing album! For me, it's nearly flawless. I love the dark/techno synths, the danceable beats, the thoughtful lyrics, that instrumental, everything. I only did not care much for the first song (it's a great, catchy beat/tune and everything, I just don't care about the subject matter. I also don't like much country, and that's what it sounded like to me) but even that one was still pretty good and the last one, too, which still was not bad. I knew I liked New Order before listening to this album, but I never knew how much. Now THIS is a must-hear-before-you-die album. Definite 5 star from me. <3
Am I the 1000th person to say STRANGER THINGS tv series opening title track owes everything to ELEGIA by New Order? To New Order. Their genius. They are the music of my 90s. 7 am drive to uni, grad a free parking spot and wait for the library to open. It's never enough until you're stops beating. The perfect kiss. Dancing under strobes , carefree to Bizaar Love Triangle at the From Nightclub. the rapture and energy of youth. Yes you had to be there. And I was. But I listened to their compilation SUBSTANCE v1&2. (Mostly 2) Not actual albums. So the masterpiece ELEGIA is a revelation to me. Also remembering a perfect kiss.
Erstatta albumversjonen av Elegia med fullversjonen, siden eg har ein svakhet for 17 min lange sanga. Og lure på om detta e første gang eg hørre heile?? Siden iTunes-versjonen eg har alltid skippe ette ca 9 min av ein eller anna grunn. The Perfect Kiss minne meg om han tiktok-fyren eg fulgte før som laga ein dans til den lol. Nostalgisk album med masse bra synth
More upbeat than the New Order I’ve listened to recently but love love loved this album. Some of the coolest stuff coming out in that period imo
LOOOOVE
This was such a good album. It was right up my alley, my kind of music. The opening and ending (loved face up) were great songs and this time of night.
Great early alternative rock
Awesome album. Full of high notes and high energy songs, as well as contains one of my favourite New Order tracks - Elegia. It is also short and sweet, not too long, not too short. While I think their previous album is a classic (Power, Corruption and Lies), this still comes through as a very string album. I would give it 4.5 out of 5, but there is no such rating, so I will round it up - 5 it is.
take the Kraftwerk foundation and add enough poppiness to make every track a banger. this scratches multiple itches in my brain: like emotional Stranger Things montage music + bittersweet Cyberpunk denoument music. floored I enjoyed the album this much. 5/5
Jesus christ this album is fucking fantastic
Yes NEW ORDER !! TOTALLY INTO THIS !! SEEN THEM 1X AND LISTENED 20X
Cannot separate the nostalgia from the music. This is ❤️
Прослушано! Отличный альбом, слушать обязательно.
Arguably the best New Order album with start to finish mix of guitars, drums, synths and that bass. Oh how I CAN bear the thought of you!
Magnificent.
First time listening. Had it on loop flying back from Malaga at 3am after a long weekend on the piss. Slept most of the flight but whenever I'd wake up, every track was sensational 🤌🏻
The debate will always rage about New Order's 80s albums vs the singles, possibly the last group where this a genuine discussion. The Perfect Kiss 12" is better than the album version, they recorded a 17 minute version of Elegia and put out another 12" version of Sub-culture. But it's a pretty perfect album nevertheless.
This surprised me, very much a headphones album with layers and layers. No massive stand out tune and not blown away by vocals but an album to get lost in. 4.5
It's a great album and a great way to be introduced to New Order. For someone who had not heard of them.
One of my favourite New Order albums - love Subculture and Elegia and Face Up
Yes I like New Order
Very nice
New old-sound for this age.
Thought this was brilliant. High energy and intense. "Elegia" was absolutely standout for me, will be listening to it fairly regularly from now on.
There was a long time that New Order was a secret guilty pleasure band for me, and this record in particular because electronic/dance was most definitely not my scene. Love Vigilantes has always been a favorite, but damn, I like the dancy bits. Maybe me, but I hear a fair amount of “The Cure” sound in here too with the guitars.
I was more familiar with Power, Corruption & Lies. This is a great followup. Moody synths, sort of dancey, not quite as hooky as Blue Monday. Just a great Friday listen.
My 17 year old is into New Order and has recently breathed new life into this band for me. Elegia has long been a favourite song of mine but I have not listened to this album for a long time. So it was a pleasure rediscovering it. Faves: Love Vigilantes - is he a ghost? The Perfect Kiss - slightly creepy, Elegia, just beautiful.
It's so much better than any Joy Division album. Been using "The Perfect Kiss" to test headphones for years now hahah And "Sunrise" was an unexpected banger. Minds of 99 has no doubt taken inspiration from these guys. Oh My God. "Elegia" is amazing. Holy shit I love this. 5
Their very best. 8 perfect tracks on long play format, enjoy this from start to finish.
mu weeeno full 80tero
Ahead of its time. New Order is fantastic.
Låter otroligt bra.
Ah, New Order. I never had this album, but I knew every song from various compilations, mix tapes, and an obsessed college roommate. Some of these I haven't heard in many years. Although I was a huge fan, I never learned the song titles very well, since they are never very well connected to the lyrics. Thus I didn't make connections later in the download age. Eighties British electronic dance music was my favorite in college, and New Order was right at the top. Although this would probably not be my favorite New Order album, I love it and I was happily brought back in time and I score it on that feeling.
I like New Order and own a compilation disc of their music and one of their 90s releases. I hadn’t listened to this album before. I had heard the first two songs before listening to this but was surprised to discover my favorite stuff in the tracks I had never heard before. Highlights: Love the beats and frogs and sheep and cowbells in “The Perfect Kiss”. The guitars were fantastic in “Sunrise.” Really love this song’s echos of punk music melded with 80s dance. Great song, great intensity! The synth and guitar instrumental “Elegia” was fantastic. Moody. Complex. Beautiful. “Sooner Than You Think” has such great lyrics. Love the music too, those guitars near the end are too good. “Sub-Culture” and “Face Up” seems to end the album on a note that sets a course toward New Order’s future albums. Great New Order album! Had my rating floating between 4 and 5, but “Sunrise” made this one easy to round up.
Amazing beat techno really jamming out to this for hours!!
This is a great one.
Love it. Sad Boy anthem
fedt
Suuuuper 80s and a little emo. I like it a lot more than I was expecting to. Reminds me of some of that old emo punk like early Blink.
The first really good album I've been given that I haven't heard already. 4.5
Has some of my favourite songs of all time with some of Bernard's corniest lyrics. Solid 8
This hasn't been one of my go-to New Order albums (maybe because the cover photos are so lame and put me off) but perhaps that can change? I enjoyed this a lot. The A-side, at least, I thought was golden. Love Vigilantes, The Perfect Kiss and This Time of Night are wonderful, and Sunrise is thunderingly good. I was less enamoured with the B-side, though it's still a solid listen. It's such a testament to the strength of New Order's songs that they're largely unimpeded by Bernard Sumner's almost total lack of vocal ability. He starts the album sounding bad and ends it sounding actually in need of medical help. The guy might be worse than Anthony Kiedis in the "couldn't sing his way out of a paper bag but it didn't stop him" rankings, but at least Sumner's got other musical talents and isn't a complete dog. A good album!
The 4th best of the 5 New Order records that count (and none of the top 3 are on this list wtf), but I still absolutely love it. When I was a kid I had a Yamaha keyboard that had the exact same frog sample they use in the weirdo breakdown of Perfect Kiss and I still think about how happy that made me whenever I hear this. Other than ‘Face Up’ it’s all good.
The funny thing is that I often think I'm listening to The Cure. Great music.
Haven’t been intimate with this one for ages, although I did buy the LP the day it was released, back in 1985. I loved New Order, because I loved Joy Division. Low Life continued in the dancefloor direction that would eventually push me away from the band, but in 1985 there were still a few hints of the goth past. Today I remember fondly my New Order/ JD fandom, but with Unknown Pleasures and Closer a click away it is hard to see putting this record on over those 2 at any time. For the dance floor it's straight to the 12” collections.
4.5 - an absolutely glorious New Order album. This is the scientific ideal for synth pop. Catchy, dancy, but still cool and dark around the edges.
The album where New Order found their sound (the single where they found it was, of course, “Blue Monday”). All about groove and layering and texture, wonderful stuff. On the right day, “The Perfect Kiss” is my favorite song from them.
it's good synth vibes not as gloomy as expected, but also still pretty gloomy 💥this time of night 💥sunrise 💥elegia
It’s for sure in that British post-punk/new-wave/rock band space as a bunch of other stuff, but it works for me more than some of the others around the same time because I think there’s something to Bernard Sumner’s vocals that really hits in step with the music to my ear (which gets past my eternal issue with The Cure for example) and the instrumental sound also twigging me round to the synthy delights of Pet Shop Boys helps alongside. There’s almost the hints of that Madchester dance scene coming through especially by the last track, but it gets offset by traditional instruments and also just making vibe tracks elsewhere and it’s an interesting mix - feels ahead of the curve for ‘85 and also a great slide of its time and also like it hasn’t missed a day and you could still get stuff that sounded like this and it’d work.
8/10 Oh, I do like me a bit of New Order. The key element is the organic bass guitar (and occasional 6-string too) that offsets the beeps and boops of the electronic section.
Maybe the most 80s sounding New Order
aw
Not bad.
great album by a great band. early 80's electronica defined.
leuk
Markedly better than the last album we had, which I think was a bit later and was much more fancy, this was more dark electronic stuff which is far more up my street. Elegia was the stand out track, really liked face up too. There were a few throwaway tracks in there but still overall a good listen.
Pretty good. Upbeat!
A pretty good album, even though Their Substance compilation has kinda ruined it for me since I heard the more refined and remixed versions of some of their songs, which have ended up sounding a lot better than the original versions. Still though, it is nice to hear songs I hadn't heard before. I did kinda need to explore other albums of New Order, and this was a good one, definitely satisfying my love of new wave electronica music.
As someone who's not particularly into synthpop, this blew me away. The synths on this album have such a uniquely gloomy character, and I loved how that contrasted with the upbeat compositions. Almost all of the tracks have this propulsive momentum that's absolutely infectious, with the exception of the beautifully haunting Elegia, which acted as a great intermission from the high energy of the rest of the album. I also liked the slightly roughshod nature of the production, it was a welcome departure from the more polished synthpop that I typically don't enjoy as much. For something so distinctly 80s, it still feels so fresh and exciting. Great stuff.
Very solid album
Like many American teens my experience of New Order is mostly filtered through the Substance collection first, then other records second. Having memorized all the bits and bytes of the former always means an encounter with the latter when they're releases that have had some selection of their contents incorporated into Substance means there will be moments of intense recognition and in some cases also moments of extreme alienation where the music is vaguely familiar yet also somehow out of focus. It makes it difficult to listen to something like Low-Life without feeling an unevenness that might otherwise not be there. On the one hand the record comes with a couple of pre-loved tracks of which I'm extremely familiar and the rest is only distantly known with the vague outlines of a band whose style they've incorporated but in music that does not tickle any memory. A little unsettling and kind of exciting to hear something like Sunrise which I don't recall at all and yet, is utterly enjoyable...whereas the feeling of vague defamiliarization is also present in Sooner Than You Think but I'm less enthused with the results. Or, how the album version of Sub-culture is flattened compared to the enlivened and fuller Substance edit. Overall, Low-Life is not my New Order high-point, but I can hear why it might be for someone who approached the record riding time's arrow forward through to the release rather than looking back at it with glasses made messy by the substance of time passed.
This was just like a collection of sounds from the 80s. And I LOVE the 80s.
Best thing to come out of the '80s, probably. (The band that is.)
Had to listen a second time. Really just one bad song. 3.5
<3 Love Vigilantes
7/7.5, un album que tranquilamente podría escuchar. Muy tranquilo y con buen ritmo
J’aime beaucoup la première, qui me fait effectivement penser à joy division Et dès la deuxième ça se rapproche plus de ce que je connais déjà de new order (blue monday) : c’est bien même si c’est dans son jus des 80s. Ça reste cool parce que j’aime bien le son de cette époque Elegia : magnifique ! Sooner that you think a un beat accrocher au début Sub culture : très cool, très blue monday L’Album finit avec une chanson également cool En fait l’album en un mot est stylé
Ah new order, always a special place in my heart. Perfect Kiss will always be banger, Soon Than You Think really stood out to me on this time
~~synthy explosion~~ I SEE A SHIP IN THE HARBOR
New Order is generally pretty awesome, and it was cool to listen this record for the first time in its entirety and chart their movement out of the haze of the Joy Division era and into the moody, techno rock vibe. There is some Tangerine Dream and The Cure type stuff creeping in, but this is a good listen. Maybe more emotional than other NO, with plenty of great synth sounds.
Bernard Sumner’s vocals take some adjustment—he still sounds a bit tentative and strained—but once you settle into it, they suit the music’s emotional tone. And the music itself is the real draw: shimmering synths, tight grooves, and that perfect blend of post-punk moodiness with increasingly bold electronic textures. Tracks like “Love Vigilantes” and “The Perfect Kiss” show off two sides of the band—one more direct and emotional, the other expansive and experimental—and both land brilliantly. It’s not flawless, but it’s a big step forward and surprisingly addictive once it clicks.
This is probably my second favorite New Order album, but it's definitely deserves to be here. Favorite track: Love Vigilantes
This, their third album seems to cement their move from post punk band to then first proper rock and electro crossover. New Order have that quality that all great bands have - they are greater than the sum of their parts. Bernard Sumner audibly struggles with some of the lead vocals and yet he sounds distinctive, Peter Hook is no Jaco Pastorius but creates memorable and simple high range bass melodies, Stephen Morris sounds the most technically proficient member of the band with his high energy quick patterns and Gillian Gilbert doesn't dominate on keyboards. Yet the perfect kiss and sub culture are strong singles, Love Vigilantes sounds like a country song and there's even an instrumental in triple time. It shouldn't work but yet prevails - al the cool kids liked New Order at school, I had to wait til student years.
The back half of this album is much better than the first half. Love me some New Order
New Order at their New-Ordermost, a cohesive album of 8 solid tracks, more straightforward of an album offering than Power, Corruption & Lies even if their tradeoff for this consistency is to not have any songs quite as great as Age of Consent The first half is extra solid, the second half is still at a good level, the instrumental track didn't wow me but other than that it's a fully worthwhile listen
Nice
yeah ok
good stuff
Love 80s, and this was enjoyable.
Całkiem zacne. Tak z 2 piosenki warte zapamiętania. Na 4
Can never hate on new wave
A good album. NO definitely carved out a new sound melding rock and dance elements in their sound. Both ground breaking and influential
A little too new wave dancy for me, but the reality is that this is much more interesting than their contemporaries. Plus, there's a couple of dope rockers on it.
I have a really weird relationship with this album. For the most part I consider it just alright but there are some impressive highs that elevate it much more in my eyes. As a starter the whole atmosphere of the album is perfectly moody. Both the upbeat parts and the slower ones manage to stay coherent to the original vision. The whole package consists of 8 songs which make up a really nice listen. Bonus points if it's one of these gray days that would elevate the experience even more. Now as far as the ranking. My favorite song of the record is "Elegia". This one is a bit more special for me. It is actually one of my all-time favorite songs in general. There is something about it that throws me to the deepest corners of my psyche. Everything from the slow build-up to the eerie sounds layering on top of one another makes it a truly magnificent piece of art. I ultimately consider it New Order's greatest achievement. It also greatly skews my overall rating of the album. The second standout track, in my opinion, is "Sunrise".
Buenos sonidos futuristas del pasado, esos bombos medios comprimidoso y los teclados con sonidos tipo laser, son fantásticos. La voz de el ayuda mucho a acompañar todo esto, pero no se porque tengo como si la voz de joy division fuera otra. This time of night tema a destacar realmente muy bueno. El siguiente track (SUNRISE)también, se nota mucho el sentimiento, tanto en la voz como en el ritmo del track que va escalando llegando a un punto de climax intenso. Super valorable y positivo. Sonner than you think también gran tema a destacar, es un buen buen sonido que te hace moverte y disfrutar. En definitiva le tiro un 4 estrellas porque realmente es muy bueno new order y ni hablar joey division en esto. Los sonidos son muy futuristas para la epoca del disco y es sumamente agradable.
This album grew on me throughout the listen. It is really cool synth music and the actual sound is really full and satisfying. I really dug Sub-culture. I'll definitely listen to this again.
I was expecting New Order to pop up at some point since, y'know, Blue Monday exists, but after searching around, it seems that never was released on a traditional album. Honestly, if you had told me this album was released after Blue Monday, I wouldn't have believed you; this sounds way more 80's than Blue Monday does. I still like it, but there's a lot more rock than I expected. It almost feels like they're taunting me with that synth sound at times, but choosing to focus more on the guitars.
Det va mer interessant enn mye anna de siste dagan, men de siste to uken har vært gudsjammerlig kjedelig, så det sier veldig lite. Men det va passe gøy, æ klage ikke!
I've never been a big New Order fan, but I enjoyed this album. My favorite song is Elegia, such a beautiful, haunting song.
Frogs??? Faves: Love vigilantes Perfect kiss (besides the frogs)
I have a few New Orders albums, not this one. Actually, I don't recognise any of the songs. Starts great, sounds like New Order, no duds but then again no total standouts. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? No Owned: No 59/247 (23%) Will I get: Maybe
Jeg kan faktisk ret godt lide det. Jeg er overrasket over det, fordi det er så sindsygt dateret i lyden, men på en charmerende måde. Den får lige et lyt mere idag. 👌
Bellino dai. Musica anni 80 ma non è noiosa.
Released on **May 13, 1985**, *Low-Life* represents a pivotal moment for New Order. It was their third studio album, recorded at Britannia Row and Jam Studios in London, and notably the first to feature the band members' faces on the cover—wrapped in tracing paper that had to be torn open. This was a significant departure from Peter Saville's typically abstract designs . --- ## Lyrics Bernard Sumner's lyrical approach on *Low-Life* is characteristically **deceptively simple yet emotionally resonant**. The album showcases a fascinating duality: **Narrative Storytelling:** "Love Vigilantes" opens the album with what appears to be a straightforward country-tinged tale of a soldier returning from war—though many interpret it as the ghost of a fallen soldier. Inspired partly by Kenny Rogers' "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," it carries an anti-Vietnam War message beneath its bittersweet melody . **Dark Humor and Provocation:** The band's mischievous side emerges in tracks like "The Perfect Kiss" (originally titled "I've Got A Cock Like The M1") with lines like *"Tonight I should have stayed at home/Playing with my pleasure zone"* and "Sub-culture's" *"You realise you can't shaft without someone else"* . These deliberately provocative lyrics, delivered with deadpan sincerity by backing vocalists, create moments of unintentional hilarity. **Existential Melancholy:** "This Time of Night" features the album's title source—a sample of journalist Jeffrey Bernard saying *"I'm one of the few people who lives what's called a low-life"* from his *Spectator* column. The sample caused controversy when Bernard threatened legal action, leading the band to sneakily reduce its volume to a barely perceptible whisper while keeping it on the record . **Collective Writing:** Unlike "Love Vigilantes," most lyrics were written collectively by the entire band, contributing to the album's diverse emotional palette . --- ## Music & Sound *Low-Life* represents New Order's **most eclectic musical statement**, seamlessly blending multiple genres: **Genre Fusion:** The album moves from country-tinged pop ("Love Vigilantes") to ecstatic dance-rock ("The Perfect Kiss"), brooding instrumentals ("Elegia"), and guitar-driven rock ("Sunrise"). This diversity is arguably the album's greatest strength . **"The Perfect Kiss":** A nine-month production journey that became the album's centerpiece. The track features the famous "frog solo"—the band sampled a pinball machine flipper after Warner Brothers demanded $30,000 to license the "That's All Folks!" sample . **"Elegia":** A 17.5-minute instrumental edited down to under five minutes, dedicated to Ian Curtis on the fifth anniversary of his death. Inspired by Ennio Morricone's score for *For A Few Dollars More*, it creates a "cyclical motif" of "twinkling glacial keyboards, ringing bass, alternately shimmering and choppy guitars" . **Innovative Techniques:** For "Sunrise," the band achieved a metallic lead guitar tone by removing strings and placing small metal washers at the bridge end. "Sooner Than You Think" opens with the same sampled congas as "The Perfect Kiss" . **The Cure Connection:** "This Time of Night" features a bass sequencer melody that Robert Smith noted was "a direct steal" from The Cure's "A Forest"—slowed down. Smith took it good-humoredly, suggesting the band "must have had a few beers, got drunk, put the Cure record on and then decided 'wow! that sounds like a good tune!'" . --- ## Production **Self-Production:** Produced by New Order themselves with engineering by Michael Johnson, the album reflects the band's growing confidence in the studio. Stephen Morris noted: *"With Low-life, I think we grew up and became a proper band... we wrote great songs and played them with conviction"* . **Technological Evolution:** The band adopted MIDI and SMPTE timecode, adding a Voyetra-8 polyphonic analogue synth to their existing gear from *Power, Corruption & Lies*. The mixing process at Britannia Row was described as "slow and painstaking" . **Tension and Chaos:** The sessions were fueled by cocaine (a new addition to their previous habits of pot and acid), alcohol, and increasing internal friction. Bernard Sumner's habitual lateness, chaotic working patterns, and the band's divergent lifestyles (Morris, Sumner and Gilbert being nocturnal while Hook tried to maintain boundaries) created pressure . **The "Sub-Culture" Remix Controversy:** The John Robie remix of "Sub-culture" for single release was widely criticized as "over-egged/overcooked," though later Razormaid remixes were more favorably received . --- ## Themes **Duality of "Low-Life":** The album title encapsulates its central tension—between the hedonistic, nocturnal club culture (the band frequented leather subculture clubs like Skin Two, inspiring "Sub-culture" and "This Time of Night") and moments of genuine emotional vulnerability . **Memory and Loss:** "Elegia" explicitly memorializes Ian Curtis, while the album as a whole represents the band's navigation of their post-Joy Division identity—no longer purely post-punk, not yet purely dance-pop. **War and Violence:** Beyond "Love Vigilantes," the Falklands War influenced the album's atmosphere, with Bernard's military obsession shaping lyrics . **Sexuality and Subculture:** The leather/S&M club scene permeates tracks like "Sub-culture," reflecting the band's immersion in these worlds—Peter Saville was even spotted "skulking in the shadows" at such clubs, claiming to be "just curious" . --- ## Influence & Legacy **Chart Success:** *Low-Life* became New Order's first album to chart in America, reaching #94 on the Billboard 200. "The Perfect Kiss" hit #1 on the UK Indie Singles chart and #5 on US dance charts . **MTV Breakthrough:** The Jonathan Demme-directed video for "The Perfect Kiss" helped establish New Order as MTV stars, bridging indie credibility with mainstream exposure . **Genre Creation:** As one reviewer noted, *Low-Life* was *"the first in a genre no one could name, but everyone recognised"*—perfectly synthesizing bass-driven post-punk with electronic dance music . **Cover Versions:** The Oyster Band covered "Love Vigilantes" as a single in 1989, demonstrating the track's belated recognition as a classic . **Cultural Permanence:** Forty years later, the album remains *"one of New Order's defining works"* and *"still shines as brightly as ever"* . --- ## Pros | Aspect | Strength | |--------|----------| | **Diversity** | Seamlessly blends country, synth-pop, rock, dance, and ambient instrumentals—no two tracks sound alike | | **Songcraft** | Contains some of New Order's most enduring songs: "The Perfect Kiss," "Love Vigilantes," "Elegia," "Sunrise" | | **Production** | Flawless self-production that balances electronic precision with human warmth | | **Emotional Range** | Moves from euphoric dance tracks to melancholic tributes without losing coherence | | **Innovation** | Pioneering use of sampling, MIDI, and genre fusion that influenced countless synth-pop and dance-rock acts | | **Band Chemistry** | Peter Hook's melodic bass, Sumner's guitar textures, Morris's drum programming, and Gillian Gilbert's synths achieve perfect interplay | | **Accessibility** | More immediately engaging than *Power, Corruption & Lies* while maintaining artistic integrity | --- ## Cons | Aspect | Weakness | |--------|----------| | **Vocal Limitations** | Bernard Sumner's "slightly strained vocal style" and "nasally" delivery can be "grating" to some listeners—one reviewer compared it to "a guy singing karaoke at a bar after several drinks" | | **Lyricism** | Some critics find the lyrics "simple" or "nursery rhyme" level—"mundane and banal subject matter" that occasionally feels like an afterthought | | **Inconsistency** | The extreme diversity means not every track appeals to every listener; "Sooner Than You Think" is sometimes cited as a relative weak spot | | **Mix Issues** | Some tracks suffer from "weird" mixing choices—"This Time of Night" features "overdubbed drum fills [that] practically coat the song" | | **"Sub-culture" Remix** | The single remix by John Robie is widely considered "godawful naff" and "dated" compared to the album version | | **Cultural Barriers** | The 80s production aesthetics (gated reverb drums, specific synth sounds) can sound "dated" or "like someone just got a new Casio for Christmas" to modern ears | --- ## Conclusion *Low-Life* stands as **New Order's most eclectic and arguably most complete album**—the moment when they fully synthesized their post-punk heritage with dance music innovation. While Bernard Sumner's vocals and occasionally simple lyrics remain points of contention, the musical achievement is undeniable. The album captures a band at the height of their creative powers, navigating internal tensions and external pressures to create something that defined an era and influenced generations of electronic and alternative music. As Stephen Morris reflected: *"Everybody knew what they were doing and even if we didn't realise it at the time, we were somewhere near the top of our game"* . Forty years on, that assessment holds true—*Low-Life* remains a cornerstone of 1980s music, bridging the gap between rock and electronic dance culture in ways that still resonate today.
New Wave and Post Punk are such a hit or miss genres for me, and I blame it on this list, because it features an incredibly amount of bland and mediocre records that fall under these categories. As a result, I thought I wasn't going to like this, and the first seconds didn't help, as it opens with the drum sounding incredibly loud and with that particular sound of the 80's I cannot stand. However, it seems like I shouldn't have doubt the band previously known as Joy Division, because this album actually slaps. What I thought was going to be a generic pop album from the 80's turned out to be a very moody, melodic and grandiose post-punk record with some touches of synth-pop. I want to make emphasises in the moody sound of this album, as it is the aspect I enjoyed the most. It reminded my a lot of The Cure, not only because the bass and vocals sound incredibly similar, but also because some songs have some gloomy and sad atmospheres with the very vulnerable and intimate melodies. The best examples of dark moments are "This Time of Night", "Sunrise", "Elegia" and "Sub-culture", being very slow and deep songs. "Sunrise" might not be as slow as the others, but it has a very sinister intro and I also wanted to mentioned it because I believe it is the best song of the album. The choruses in here are sound absurdly epic and grandiose and the vocals are super expressive. Although its darkness is great, this album is also incredibly catchy and vibrant. There are a handful of quite cheerful and uplifting parts, like the opening "Love Vigilantes", the very ambitious "Perfect Kiss" and its use of frog sounding noises and the very infectious ending "Face Up". So yes, I was incredibly surprised with this. It may have some dated aspects from the 80's, but in this instance, it didn't even bothered me.
4/5
Good find
Great new wave sound captured here on an enjoyable album.
Oh this has that song from Stranger Things. I didn’t know the others here as I only know a handful of their songs, but ya, good stuff.
Pretty cool
Love this album. Clean 80s alternative sound.
I was not too familiar with new order and was really impressed with this album. I thought of them as dance music and this is far more than that.
Powerful and moody
Class
This is a bit of me this. Love the bass and synth driving the songs. Like the Cure esq vocals. Like the vibe of wearing Sergio Tacchini and Fila on the dance floor. A fun and at times anthemic listen. I like it more than Unknown Pleasures I'd go as far to say.
Aww man. Dang it! I really thought I had found my next 5 star album. I just wrapped listening to the last two songs before writing this, and while they were fine, I didn't love them as much as the rest of the album before it. And considering there's only 8 tracks, that has to just SLIGHTLY bring this down to 4.5 stars. Still, REALLY enjoyed this listen, had only heard of New Order from the Blue Monday song, and they have some good stuff! Kind of sounds like The Cure meets a happier version of early Nine Inch Nails.
7.5/10 - Good album. Reminds me of The Cure in a few songs which is high praise. Hard to believe this band came out of Joy Division.
There isn't a bad song on here but it's less emotionally charged than some of their other work. Good vibes and good grooves. 8/10
Dope
I always thought the two versions of Joy Division/New Order were distinct but even in the third album of the second iteration you can still hear the angst of the former, but with synths. Let’s be honest Sumners vocals are not a patch on Curtis , but this band would not exist if Ian had not died.
Great album - solid
New Order has a unique sound I've always enjoyed and this is no exception. Personally the vocals really appeal to me and complete the effect. There are some outstanding songs on this and a few slightly weaker ones, but overall this is great.
4⭐️/5 02.08.2026
I tend to think of New Order as a singles band but this holds up. Still not sure I’d choose it over Substance but enjoyed it.
Pretty good, but not my favourite New Order album I would say. Some standout tracks mixed with some mixed synth-post punk styles. I prefer it when they fully embrace one or the other. Still a great time though. 03/0226
I thought was quite good
The only band to have one foot on electropop and the other on rock'n'roll. No other band from this era is as musically rich. "Love Vigilantes" has to be taken without prejudice. "Perfect Kiss" is the electro equivalent of prog.
Great record! I usually don't listen to new wave or whatnot, but this album has just the right amount of diverse and rich tracks. 'Love Vigilantes' is one hell of an opening. I will definetely return to this one.
Love vigilantes I knew already, one of my favourite tracks fron the 80s 10/10!). The rest was not consistent enough for 5 stars overall, but a few more glimpses of brilliance (Sunrise!)
8/10. Love the instrumentals... but not a huge fan of the vocal delivery. A solid album though!
I listened to the album first with vocals, and thought it's a shocking mix of some of the worst singing and best instrumental I've ever heard. Then I listened to it without vocals, and it's truly a masterpiece.
New Order always sounds like New Order
Electronic dance music with dark lyrics. I liked it! Torn between a 3 and a 4.
fave songs: Sunrise, Love Vigilantes, Sooner Than You Think SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD. i did not know that new order had game like this... i am not a huge joy division fan so i think that put me off of new order but maybe i need to put myself back on because this album was fire, so cohesive, the 80s continues to be the best decade for music probably ever
chill nothing insane
Substance is so great that I’m not sure I ever listened to a New Order album: my mistake.
I had never heard of this band or album before, but I can see how their influence rippled forward for bands like LCD Soundsystem. It wasn't all for me, but I really enjoyed parts and it may just be a gateway for me to get into New Order and contemporaries like The Smiths. 7/10
Really good - no obvious stand out tracks, but all decent - think will be even better after a few more listens
Dig this, have always liked New Order when they come up. Elegia and Sub-Culture highlights
Very 80s very vibes
I really enjoyed this even on first listen. I think Newwave could be good for me.
About halfway through this album on initial listen I thought "is this The Cure?" and checked the year of release. Same year as Head on the Door which may very well be my favourite Cure album of not top 3. This sounds massively similar, which means I love it. I am very familiar with New Order, as are most due to Blue Monday but it is strange rating this before any Joy Division. Having heard their other work this album was a surprise in the best of fashions, and is incredibly coherent and cohesive in structure, and while there are no definitive catchy bangers like on many other New Order albums I actually prefer that. There's no massive high to compare to, and that makes listening to the full album in a single session pretty easy. I didn't even clock it was 40 minutes, which is fairly standard but I did double check expecting to see a low 30 runtime, which is just further expression that this is a fantastically consistent. I am tempted to give this a 5 based on pure bias but I am trying to be more intensive about what does and doesn't cross that threshold. I adore the sound but I think the writing isn't quite up to snuff, but again if you're a fan of the Cure especially in that mid 80s era this is a definitive recommendation. It's getting a very high push up the list because I am just that much of a fan of this sonically. Best songs: Sunrise / Elegia Worst songs: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 19/53 (below Nevermind the Bollocks, above The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady)
Yeah this was a good listen. I liked the vocals up until the last song. He's a lot better at singing nowadays. Got a lot of feel and oomph from just a guitar and a few synths. Good stuff.
the perfect kiss? the perfect song more like
This rocks. I love those synths. Just good songwriting all around here. Not the best thing ive listened to on here but easily in the top half. Saved a bunch of tracks and will be happy when they come up. It feels like another goth rock type album but less depressing than the usual of that genre. Had alot of somber moments but just ad many joyful moments as well. I appreciate having that vibe from this type of music. Good stuff all around
Quite suprised this made it on, over Power Corruption and Lies and Brotherhood, given both of them are stronger albums and have more recognisable singles. Nevertheless, it's a strong continuation of New Order's 80s hot streak, with the Perfect Kiss being a top ten New Order song.
Man, what a great band. Love Vigilantes and Face Up were my favorite tracks, but really this whole album put me in a good mood.
As 'Lost Vigilantes' starts, you'd swear you'd heard that from some early Beatles record ('Love Me Do,' or is it 'I Want to Hold You Hand'?), but the lyrics, which are a tongue-in-cheek analysis of a vet returning home from Nam, are almost mockingly American, placing you in some weird meeting-ground for Bruce Springsteen (Born in the U.S.A.) and The Kinks (Arthur). The rest of the record, which is very good, but not as stunning as the first track ('Elegia' is a beautiful but meaningless instrumental), is an alloy of the tormented accents of Robert Smith and Blondie's ironic-not-so-ironic take on dance-rock. Not as grand as Power, Corruption, and Lies, which boasts the perfect 'Age of Consent,' Low-Life is nonetheless a classic of its time.
Absolutely fantastic album, but just a few weak tracks in the middle. Overall loving this new discovery though, never knew about this group before this project.
Glad I gave this one a fair chance. It didn’t grab me on the first listen, but after a few spins, I grew to really like it. 4/5 Highlights: Love Vigilantes Elegia
8.5/10 Best songs: The Perfect Kiss, This Time of Night, Sunrise, Elegia Kind of like a less-depressing and more synth-heavy Depeche Mode. I am VERY into the music - but man, the singer's voice is... not the best. I think the first half of the album (through Elegia) is genius, more than deserving of 5 stars, but I was thinking the last few songs are a bit weak. Overall a great discovery and a band I'll revisit in the future, but not a perfect album.
Love this album. British new wave, at its best.
Sunrise goes so fucking hard.
so good, re-listened immediately afterwards
i've never really listened to new wave much before so this was a nice introduction to the genre! i have to say i wasn't a massive fan of the first track (sorry!) but the rest of the album was really good and the use of synths was so catchy and upbeat that it kept me wanting more!
Overall very good, only a few songs where the instrumentation just didn’t sit right with me. But definitely will listen to again.
One of their best. Peter Hook rocks
SOOOOO GOOD, so bouncy and dancey and happy and sad and fun and devastating
New Order is a major blind spot for me (I basically only know 1986’s Brotherhood) so it was really interesting to dig into these 8 lengthy and forward thinking tracks which I found to be very atmospheric. Will require repeat listening to really wrap my head around the song structures.
good album, a bit 80s goofy at times but some of the songs were really standout. Specifically sunrise and elgia.
Really good. Not my style but I definitely see why it's so popular.
enjoyed it a lot!! v joy division/the smiths estque
Excellent
Never listened to this one beyond the singles before. Always preferred their gloomy post-Joy Division period but really enjoyed this
I love new order but this album isn't my favourite. 3.5 Edit: I got technique and this mixed up. This is unreal.
Better than I expected