New Order - Low-Life

With the 1985 release of Low Life, New Order put forth their most commercially accessible effort to date. While some of the dark-wave drippings of their Joy Division roots are evident, high energy progressions, which would carry them for years to come, began to emerge here. Hits like "Perfect Kiss" and "Sub-Culture," with their synth hooks, club-stomping accents, and visceral lyrics, helped bridge the gap for growing synth-pop audiences who bolstered their success. Other refined techniques on the album became standard New Order conventions: sweeping analogue rolls, live and sequenced drum percussion, tight bass melodies, and edgy guitar leads. Sustained by a peerless level of emotional involvement, the vocals and lyrics further entice the listener with the obliquely nuanced style of Bernard Sumner. Standing the test of time, this release is a must-have in order to understand the origins of introspective pop-wave culture. --Lucas Hilbert Amazon.com essential recording

O.K., but far from their best

For those fans more into New Order's 80's techno-brit-pop sound, I suppose "Low-Life" might be a favorite. To me though, the band really came into its own with the lusher and more layered sounds of "Republic," "Get Ready," and "Waiting for the Sirens' Call," N.O.'s last three albums. While "Sub-Culture" is certainly one of their dance classics, it really doesn't have the resonance of "Age of Consent" or "Blue Monday." "Love Vigilantes" and "Perfect Kiss" are certainly fun, but hardly stand out. The other tracks (other than "Elegia" and "Sunrise," which are discussed below) hardly make an impression. In general Bernard Sumner's vocals and lyrics on "Low-Life" are sub-par.

There are two songs on "Low Life" I like quite alot. The instrumental "Elegia" strongly reminds me of the soundtrack from the "Phantasm" movies, and that, by itself, is enough for me to really like the song. What truly puzzles me though is that the other reviewers don't unanimously acknowledge what is clearly the best song on the album by far: the amazing "Sunrise." Finally we hear what the boys can sound like playing real instruments -- scintillating guitars, riveting bass-line, real drums, and Bernard Sumner singing with soul. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the song's obvious connection to The Cure's monumental "A Forest." Surely the opening notes are a dead giveaway that the comparison is meant to be made.

With these earlier albums, those with my taste heard alot of potential in New Order, but may have been somewhat put off by the all too frequent reliance on 80's styled synthesizers and drum machines. But the best was yet to come, as Bernard Sumner continued to grow into his role as the creative force of the band, both musically and lyrically. June 9, 2006

The Definitive Work By The Splendid New Order

"Low Life" is New Order's definitive work, and a defining moment in 80's music. Finally finding their post-Joy Division voice after the splendid but less confident "Power, Corruption & Lies", New Order joyfully arrive fully formed on "Low Life". Every song bristles with energy and is celebratory, even when dark. Starting with the haunting but deceptively upbeat "Love Vigilantes" it's game on. "The Perfect Kiss" follows, yet another New Order classic, and "Low Life" is chock full of them. There is the darkly sophisticated "Sooner Than You Think", club favorite "Sub-culture", and the gorgeous, and I mean gorgeous instrumental "Elegeia". The incredibly buoyant "Face Up" ends things. The sound of "Low Life" is everything that made New Order so very unique, and what still sets them apart as absolute originals; no one else sounds like them. Musically the relentlessly inventive and energetic counterpoint of synth, bass, guitar, and percussion create a sound that simply compells and propels every song. Bernard Sumner's lyrics and enigmatic vocals bring the sinister contrast to the almost ebullient chemistry of the music. "Low Life" is a midnight sun of happy darkness, and one of the very best albums of the 80's. December 19, 2005

the pinnacle of all their brilliance

This album is a cut above everything else they've ever done, and that's saying a lot. Even with New Order's long and magnificent career, I think this album truly stands out as something special. It has that special quality that can only be attained when Bernard is "Pumped Full of Drugs."

New Order has had so many songs with vague and hard-to-puzzle lyrics, but "Love Vigilantes" actually narrates the story of a man fighting in Vietman. Not my favorite song on the CD, but a good one.

If you're considering buying this album, you've probably already heard "The Perfect Kiss," and you know just how complex and beautiful this song is. If you haven't heard it, then you need to buy the album just to experience this one song. A lot of people prefer the longer version found on Substance, but I've always prefered the shorter one... it's just a rush.

The first time I listened to "This Time of Night," I thought to myself, "Wow, this is so 80's." The drums definitely give it a very typical 80's feel and in some ways I think it is exemplary of mid-80's synthpop, but it still kicks the ass of anything else like it.

"Sunrise" is the only song here that I've ever seen receive any real criticism. The guitar is very heavy, almost too heavy, and maybe the song isn't quite up to the standards of the rest of the album, but it's still New Order, and damn good.

"Elegia" perfectly lives up to its title and is one of my favorite instrumental tracks. The song is a line drawn between the first and second parts of the album, but in a good way.

"Sooner Than You Think" is always overlooked. Hard not to be, when it shares a disc with such greatness, but it stands on its own. The song starts in a mellow sort of way (following "Elegia," it almost has to), but after a minute or so, there's a kick-in with the sort of subdued energy that no one does like New Order.

"Sub-culture" is one of those songs that has caused New Order to be labelled "dark pop." Bernard's voice is almost monotone and emotionless at times, and it complements the song much more than any sort of lyric-matching wailing would have.

"Face Up" is a mood-lifter after Sub-Culture. I think others would agree that this one is reminiscent of "The Village" on Power, Corruption, and Lies. An all around good song, and a nice closer to their best of albums. June 4, 2005

Off the Hook!

This an awfully good album. I picked this up after purchasing Substance and Brotherhood back in the day.

I remember lying in my bed thinking this band is ridiculously good. Only two of these songs appear on Substance when realistically Love Vigilates would be the high point of most bands careers.

Pick it up and discover what the 80's were all about! May 11, 2005

"Tonight I Should Have Stayed At Home..."

Here you have it, New Order's first full fledged masterpiece. Flawless in every way, shape, and form. Band members Sumner, Morris, Hook, and that fine fox Gillian hit every note. "Low-Life" is sort of the theme for the whole album, because throughout the album the members of New Order make it blatently clear that they are in fact "low-lifes". If they are "low-lifes", they are some of the most talented, charismatic, hot (one member anyway) "low-lifes" I've ever heard. Now that you've seen my sneaky ploy to use the term "low-life" as many times as I can in a two sentence period let's get down to reviewing this album. This is one of the few albums where I don't think about how hot Gillian is when listening to it, and that takes a lot of willpower. That shows how good this album really is. "Love Vigilantes" starts off the album and is more or less a metaphor for Sumner being lost, alone, and confused for so long from Ian Curtis's death, but he finally finds his way home. Just so you know, that interpretation was probably a bunch of bullcrap, as I am really bad at interpreting lyrics. No matter what hidden message lies in the song, it doesn't change anything as the song is great, very, very poppy, but not overly sugar coated as to where it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, like that candy "Warheads". The second track, "The Perfect Kiss", is the most masterful use of synths I've ever heard. The song is just so elegant, and it's arguably the most complex song with synths ever recorded, screw The Cure. The rest of the album is great. "This Time Of Night" is probably the best dark and gritty song that New Order wrote, leagues above their Movement stuff. "Elegia" is one of my favorite instrumentals every, and it lives up to it's title. Every song is excellence, there's no reason to go in and review every song from you. I will tell you this though, "Face Up" has, in my opinion, the best vocal performance by Sumner ever. Uplifting and spirtual. Every song on here is a ten out of ten. And that is why it's my favourite album of all time. August 24, 2004

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