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New Order - Low-Life (2 CD Collector's Edition) Audio CD

A fair review of the New Order "Low-Life (2 CD Collector's Edition)" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all New Order reviews here, or go back to the New Order tabs.

New Order Band: New Order
Title: Low-Life (2 CD Collector's Edition)
Rating:
Release Date: 2008-11-11
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Love Vigilantes 2: Perfect Kiss 3: This Time of Night 4: Sunrise 5: Elegia 6: Sooner Than You Think 7: Sub-Culture 8: Face Up 9: Perfect Kiss [*] 10: Sub-Culture [John Robie Remix][*] 11: Shellshock [John Robie Remix][*] 12: Shame of the Nation [*] 13: Elegia [*] 14: Let's Go [*] 15: Salvation Theme [*] 16: Dub Vulture [*]

Not as consistent as PCL and Technique
Only two songs, 'This Time of Night' and the classic 'Subculture', hark back to their earlier electronic-driven sound. Building on the direction of PCL songs such as 'Age of Consent', and the single 'Thieves Like Us', New Order move toward a warmer, more pop-rock sound on their third album. Elsewhere, the keyboards and dance beats are reigned in a bit, with the guitar and vocals pushed a bit further up front. In some ways, 'Low Life' points the way forward to the more stripped back rock sound of 'Brotherhood'.

The highlights here are the two singles: 'The Perfect Kiss' (which unfortunately appears in an abridged single mix and not the fulll ten minute version), and 'Subculture' (which actually sounds better here than the terrible 12" mix). The folksy, almost acoustic 'Love Vigilantes' is another strong song and fan favourite. Those apart, the songs are good but not great, and not as consistent as on 'Power Corruption and Lies'. A couple of songs such as the instrumental 'Elegia' seem a bit unfinished and unfocussed. And while the music is often strong, the more straightforward sound only emphasises Bernard Sumner's lyrics, which are starting to drift into that territory between the quirky and the silly.

In all, it's a step down from the heights of 'Power Corruption and Lies', and shows signs of the weakness and carelessness which characterised 'Brotherhood'. Not their worst, but not their strongest.


Caution DO NOT BUY THIS VERSION
DO NOT BUY the November 11, 2008 versions. These CD's have been in effect recalled for numerous sonic errors primarily on the second disks. Rhino has re-released them as of August 25, 2009. These are the corrected versions.


good material - bad remastering


See the two newest reviews (other than this one). Please note - most reviews are not about this cd set. New Order fans consensus seems to be that there is a major but quick flaw on the first disc and many problems on the bonus discs.


Great Album - Flawed Master
I just bought this yesterday and I have the same flaw on the song Sunrise that the previous reviewer reported. This is one of my favorite albums of all time but I have to jump in on the remastering issues. I'll take his word for the exact time of the flaw but there is definitely a remarkable volume drop in the right channel in the middle of the song. The right channel corrects itself pretty quickly but when I heard it I thought something was wrong with my CD player. This is a very noticeable flaw. I even pulled out my Retro box set to listen to the song there to see if the flaw was part of the original master. The Retro version is fine as is my old copy of the CD. Is there anyone out there who bought a copy of this reissue that doesn't have that volume drop on Sunrise?.


NO MASTERING PROBLEMS!
Rhino cleaned up the problems. Attention buyers, the negative hype is surrounding the UK edition released in September. In fact, I think disc 2 sounds AMAZING! I hear NONE of the problems stated in the prior review. I think that review is based on the UK edition, not this one. YAY!.


You can see a complete list of all New Order discography, or go back to the New Order tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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