New Order
Substance
Play Substance
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MOG Editorial Review
In what serves as the greatest second act in music history, New Order formed from the ashes of Joy Division after the tragic death of frontman Ian Curtis, and it was the singles collected on Substance that transformed them into the band we know and love today. Though New Order's early sound had plenty of the dreary post-punk of Joy Division (hints of which are on opener "Everything's Gone Green"), experimenting with singles let them discover not only a danceable new wave sound, but an earnest set of lyrics as well. Songs like "Temptation" and "Bizarre Love Triangle" were bleak beneath the surface, sure, but thanks to both the band's vocal delivery and euphoric, synth-heavy instrumentals, listeners are too overcome with joy to care. The occasional New Order essential is missing on Substance (like the classic "Ceremony"), but given that these songs were unavailable together before the release of this 1987 landmark, this is a must-have for every dance-lover's collection.
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AMG Review of Substance
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music GuideSubstance is a double-disc set collecting New Order's singles, including several songs that were never available on the group's albums, at least in these versions. While there are a couple of re-recordings of earlier singles, most of Substance consists of 12" single mixes designed for danceclub play. Arguably, these 12" mixes represent New Order's most groundbreaking and successful work, since they expanded the notion of what a rock & roll band, particularly an indie rock band, could do. Substance collects the best of their remixes, and in the process it showcases not only the group's musical innovations, but also their songwriting prowess -- "Temptation," "Blue Monday," "Bizarre Love Triangle," and "True Faith" are some of the finest pop songs of the '80s. Although it is a double-disc set, Substance isn't overly long. Instead it offers a perfect introduction to New Order, while providing collectors with an invaluable collection of singles.
 "Substance")
- Rate It:
- Release Date 1990
- Label Warner Bros.
- Genre Alternative/Indie
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