New Order will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 14, alongside the band's predecessor, Joy Division. New Order formed after the suicide of Joy Division vocalist Ian Curtis, tweaked the sound, and continued to release pieces of brilliance.
The band will not perform at the Rock Hall ceremony because a couple of members have health issues, but their doing songs at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles isn't necessary. The group has a long and deep catalog that should be explored.
The list that follows could easily have been 50 strong, but having songs that everyone knows, such as "True Faith" and "Blue Monday," would have been superfluous. Instead, the gems that follow should also be in heavy rotation.
Gems from New Order that everyone should know
"Regret" - Republic (1993)
The band was forced to head into the studio to generate some income because their label, Factory Records, had shut down. The process of making an album before the group really wanted to wasn't fun for the members, but they still managed to crank out some excellent tunes.
"Regret" is arguably New Order's most perfect single, as it's relatively straightforward with a brilliant hook. No one ever truly sounded like the band, which is part of the magic they were able to create.
"Ceremony" - Non-album single (1981)
Originally, this was a Joy Division song, but it was only performed live once, and the studio version was unlistenable because the late Ian Curtis's vocals were inaudible. How difficult it must have been to re-record the song as New Order, using Curtis's lyrics with Bernard Sumner on vocals.
This was the band's first single, and likely their most Joy Division-sounding one. Forget the pop feel of later tracks; this one has bleak lyrics and a raw mix.
"Age of Consent" - Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
The opening track from the band's second album, the song immediately grabs you because of Peter Hook's bass line. This gem has been used in lots of various commercials since it was released, so maybe that will turn off some fans.
Still, one might find it difficult to truly dislike the bass-driven melody. The simplicity of it belies just how unique the entire song feels. Whatever lyrics were laid over the bed of instrumentation would have worked. Musically, it is a near-perfect song.
"Bizarre Love Triangle" - Brotherhood (1986)
You can dance your butt off to this song and have a lot of fun doing it. The lyrics are classic New Order, where they feel current but also hark back to an older time. Plus, just like the best of the band, the music would be strong enough as an instrumental, but the sing-along lyrics are just as good.
The song was a commercial dud when it first came out, but because Joy Division and New Order were cult bands, "Bizarre Love Triangle" eventually caught on and became the band's most covered song. It is too good for you not to sing along with in your car, too.
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