The Giant Panther

It's a beautiful crisp autumn day here in New England. I live for this! Let's post two! Thanks Ernie (Banks). First I should just mention that no matter how many times I hear the first chord of Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart I get chills. Write it down. Chills. (S)He's Lost Control Again. I just saw, finally, the movie 24 Hour Party People. For the uninitiated, this film centers around the story of Factory Records, home to Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column, A Certain Ratio, and The Happy Mondays. The unfortunate story of Ian Curtis (played by actor Sean Harris) was featured briefly, but this is the tale of Tony Wilson and Shaun Ryder, of all people. Some of you may know Shaun as the allegedly drug addled lead singer of The Happy Mondays. Pills N' Thrills and Bellyaches might just be the ultimate ecstacy soundtrack for the alternative set, but more on that another time. This Independent film was never going to garner any Oscars, but I love stuff like this. Having lived the lite version over here in the states I was all over the Manchester Sound. Loved it. The Charlantan's UK's Some Friendly was a favorite among others. Anyway, the reason I tell the story is because I know many of New Order's fans checked out after the band imploded in flames after Republic. I remember seeing them mail it in one night at Great Woods here in Massachusetts. I think Public Enemy was on the undercard. It was sad to see them so not interested. The legendary New Order! This was no way for them to go out, but it sure seemed like the end. "Regret" was the only real listenable track on Republic for me. They were done. Stick a fork in them.

New Order has a great legacy for my money. Technique was brilliant. Low Life was brilliant. Perfect Kiss. Bizarre Love Triange (I can still see Michelle Pfeiffer in Married To The Mob). I hated to see them go out this way. Well, I'm here to tell you they haven't. I don't know what went on for what amounts to ten years, but if you failed to pick up a copy of Get Ready. For Shame! This is a fantastic record in my book. It's got everything New Order fans love and there isn't one weak song on it (alright I'll give you Rock The Shack). This proves decisively that New Order still lives. No one can tell me otherwise. If I can turn one person out there to this record I'll have done my job. For the rest of you that loved that era, but have long since pulled the plug on your love of New Order; get out there and buy this one. Turn on the Way Back Machine and Get Back to where you once belonged. I'm leaving you with 60 Miles an Hour, but it could have been any number of tracks. Enjoy.

New Order - 60 Miles An Hour.mp3

As someone who absolutely lived, musically speaking, the 70's, 80's, & 90's as well as the present decade, it amazes me how some records remain a mainstay in your mind. It doesn't matter that I personally bought 158 other CDs in 1990 (according to my cataloguing software) and that many of them history will show were superior to this release. It doesn't matter that this record is more known for a song called "There She Goes" which, if the rumors are to be believed, is a reference to heroin coursing through the veins of the protagonist. It also doesn't matter to me that it sold very poorly or that they can barely give away copies these days. I was surprised to find out when I went to do some research on the band for this post, that they are from Liverpool or that Steve Lillywhite, of Simple Minds and U2 fame, produced the record. I don't know how I missed that, but I did. It sure doesn't sound like a record that was shunned by the band and abandoned to be pieced together by Lillywhite after they failed to get along during the recording sessions. If you believe what has been printed, the band allegedly played poorly in the sessions in the hopes of getting the project scuttled and getting a divorce from their producer. I don't know about any of that, but I still love this record to this day. I can't put my finger on it, but it somehow consistently hits my aural pleasure center.

If you like your alternative rock jangly and poppy, sort of like R.E.M. before they went completely soft, you will like this record. I'm no musician or engineer, but it feels like it was recorded in a hollow edifice. It sounds like an acoustic guitar punched up and recorded in 3D somehow. I know that makes no sense. Suffice to say it's a rockin' acoustic guitar record. The harmonies are terrific. Whether you are paying close attention to the music or you just have it on in the background I'm betting your soul will hear it. I do know not enough people like me latched onto this as the treasure trove of, well, Timeless Melodies that it is. Normally I would give you a destination to go support this band, but I think they don't want to be found. Enjoy.