Brotherhood [Import]

This album tends to get maligned, I think, and with good reason. Offset by two very strong singles, Paradise and Bizzare Love Triangle, the lyrically-dull guitar tracks which make up a good deal of the album seem like rank filler. 'As It Was When It Was' tries for a delicate sound, but the lyrics are too horrible to stomach. 'All Day Long' has a similiar problem, made worse because it tries to tackle the subject of child abuse with its second-(or third, of fourth)-rate poetry. The only non-single song which I liked at first listen was 'Angel Dust,' a very intense three minutes with better-than-average lyrics and a strangely effective Middle-Eastern theme. As for the other songs, though, beginning with the two very similiar rock songs, 'Way of Life' and 'Broken Promise' (which I always mix up because the titles have very little relation to lyrics which make little sense), I tried to give the album a second chance. In the end, I think, it does have some value; the loud, clean sound on 'Weirdo' and 'Way of Life/Broken Promise' is uplifting, and the two singles plus Angel Dust count for a lot ('Bizzare Love Triangle' does suffer from a particularly bad case of singlitis; anyone who's heard the single mix on Substance will lose a lot of esteem for this trimmed version). As for the final track, I just don't know what to do with that. "Every second counts / when I am with you / I think you are a pig / you should be in a zoo"-and then he breaks down laughing. Yes, with the tapes running. Benefit of the doubt; I'll chalk it up to clever self-satire.

the best new order album, in the middle of the 80's, 80's rules!

I love some New Order records. Movement. Power Corruption and Lies. Technique is good. Substance is pretty good.

My advice is pick any of the above. If you're a really mainstream person who listens to Paula Abdul, get Substance or possibly Technique. If you like the Cure, try the first two. Power Corruption and Lies is probably the definitive New Order record. Movement is in its own genre.