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Thursday, September 24, 2009
Never Cry Another Tear: The NOOL Review
Nicolas LeBlanc
NewOrderOnline.com
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As a New Order fan, you have to have mixed feelings when you are about to listen to Bad Lieutenant's first LP Never Cry Another Tear (released in UK on October 5th), you're sure you won't like it because it's not New Order and wish for them to come back, but then you watch the video for Sink or Swim, the album opener and first single off the album (which you can view here and suddenly it looks like it's New Order circa 2005 with the obvious missing bass god.
And this is what you get from listening to the album, you find yourself expecting Hooky's bass at specific places in songs and it's nowhere to be found or it's replaced by guitar and you know it would have been amazing featuring Hooky instead.
But, we had that feeling earlier with Electronic material, so it's not new for the New Order fan, while Monaco was Hooky's bass, and as close to Bernard Sumner's vocal David Potts can be, he's not Bernard Sumner, and it's nothing against David which I met and talked with when we collaborated on the Community tribute project.
Overall, Never Cry Another Tear is exactly like all material coming from Bernard Sumner, you are not sure if you enjoy it, but the more you listen to it, the more you actually enjoy it. It's always hard to detect the input of other band members Phil Cunningham and Jake Evans, as it seems every song in there could have been written by New Order, but that was also the case with Johnny Marr's work with Electronic, we never really how which percentage is Bernard Sumner, but that album has obviously his touch all over it. You can't be a Manchester legend and let the others drive the show!
For the New Order fan, if you followed the band on their UK tour like I did in 2006, you will maybe remember Jake Evans from the support band Rambo and Leroy, which was supporting New order in Wolverhampton. Many of us were in the pub at that time sadly.
Now on with the album and the track by track reviews of the promo I received.
Sink or Swin
We first experienced this song via an acoustic version played on TV, but I'm forced to admit that the album version is very catchy and is the perfect first single of the album. The guitar is very catchy on it, and you can clearly remember Bernard Sumner's lyrics. The only problem this track will suffer is the obvious New Order comparison, you will always wonder "what if" that guitar line was Hooky, but deal with it, it's not going to happen. That song also reminds me a lot of This Time I'm not wrong that Bernard did with former incarnation of Doves, Sub-Sub. This will (and should) diserve airplay as this is the obvious standout track of the album. *****
Twist of Fate
This is probably the 2nd strongest track of the album, and the one song on this album you wish New Order would have done, this is "the" New Order track of the album, and even worst, there IS a Hooky-style bass solo in it. If this is not the second single off the album, I won't understand it. This track could have been on Get Ready or Waiting For The Sirens Call, and would be put a few songs to shame, but the solo at 2:45 is so making you regret Peter Hook was not there, that's going to be difficult to adapt to it. *****
Summer Days On Holiday
After a few listens to this track, I have to say it reminds me a lot to the music style of New Order's B-Side Behind Closed Doors which was the B-Side of Crystal. It features Jake on vocals for the chorus and it works well, Bernard's part is a bit generic though. Also, listen to that with the bass bosted, and tell me the bassline isn't very close to The Cure's Lovesong. ***
This Is Home
Featuring Jake on vocals, and Bernard on chorus.. and once again, it works very well. The major problem I had with this song is that after a few listens Maybe it's just me, but I found it very similar. Musically this song songs really like something The Cure would have done, if the previous track had the bassline very similar to Lovesong, this one has the guitar. But I actually enjoy this track a lot. ****
Runaway
If you always wondered why New Order never really manage to write a ballad, or that when they did songs
like that, such as Run Wild, it never really worked for you.. well, for me anyways.. it seems Bernard's vocals are just not meant to be on such songs. This is the slow song of the album, it's not bad, but it's not one of my favorite. It sounds a bit like something Coldplay would do. The guitars on that track was pretty good though. Give it a few tries, might grow on you. ***
Running Out of Luck
Sounds mostly like a New Order B-Side, but the highlight of this song is the obvious place you'd hear Hooky's bass once again. I told you it would be a hard habit to overcome, but once again it's rather evident. This song has very good musical bits in it, strangely it's the vocal melody that makes it average for me, but the ending is very good. ***
Dynamo
It's an ok track, doesn't stand out really. I have a feeling this song will be very good live. ***
Poisonious Intent
Probably the less New Order sounding track of the album. Although we had various styles with New Order when they did Rock The Shack and I Told You so. It's an ok track, but it doesn't stand out. ***
Shine Like The Sun
This is a very interesting track, it's Jake on vocals, it reminds me of Love Vigilantes, and not only because of the small bits of Melodica. When members of NOOL say Jake sounds like the singer from Doves, this is probably the best proof here. The funny thing is I really think this track would fit perfect on Monaco's 2nd album. *** 1/2
Head Into Tomorrow
Obviously this doesn't sound like New Order at all, but the song is beautiful. This sounds like something Oasis would do. Good think I like Oasis. The guitar work is amazing, and Jake's vocals are very good. Makes you wonder what Steve will do live if they play this track, as there is no drums at all. ****
So overall, this is a good album, on first listens you might have more trouble with the 2nd part of the album, because the album starts with the 2 strongest tracks in my humble opinion, so it's hard to make up for it. But it passed the car test, if you can put the CD in your car and put it on repeat all the time, it's a good sign.. of course I sometimes skipped back to Sink or Swim because it's a monster track and sounds amazing when played loud.
So, for the New Order fan, this is a must. If you enjoy Jake's vocals, a little reminder that his band Rambo and Leroy will release a new album soon and that we will talk about it on NewOrderOnline now that he's officially in the "circle of friends".
NOOL Overall Rating: ****
- Nicolas LeBlanc
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