I wanted the first album I listened to for this blog to be something I knew was great. So I cheated a little.

I mean, it’s just that I’ve absolutely listened to Power Corruption and Lies before. sorry. Now before I jump into the album let me set the scene a little bit.

In 1980 after the death of their lead singer and guitarist, English post-punk band Joy Division (if you don’t know who joy division is, you’ve probably seen this album cover before:

<—–that’s them). Anyways, they reform into the band that made the album I’m talking about today, New Order. and they put out their first album called Movement in 1980, it sounds a little bit to much like their old stuff and they take this to heart when in 1983 they release the 42-minute Power Corruption and Lies. it’s a fresh, dancy, synthpop/new-wave album that I think absolutely rocks.

I first listened to some of the songs of this Album when I was pretty young and I have a fond memory of hearing it most of the way through on a road trip with my dad when I was 16. But for this blog post, I of course sat down and listened all the way through to the press that I have on vinyl. And I still think it absolutely holds up.

Unless you’re an invested listener I think there’s probably only two songs you don’t need to listen to on this album. those are the 6th and 7th tracks Ultraviolence and Ecstasy. It’s not that they’re bad it’s just that they don’t do anything I really like with the very heavy synth that’s prevalent in this album and I think it can come off like a bit much, which is fair considering nothing like what Power Corruption and Lies did with synth had been done before, so it’s okay if there’s a miss or two.

The 1st track Age of consent is the most listened to on the album according to Spotify and I think that’s completely fair. The bassline is supremely catchy and unlike some of the other songs on this album, the lyrics are too. I’m also a huge fan of the drum machine on this track, It’s understated, but the snares are great. and when the synth comes in it hits just right. It gets stuck in your head and I think if any song on this album should be listened and danced too with a pair of nice speakers, it’s this one.

I would understand if you told me you skip the second track We All Stand when you’re listening to music casually throughout the day. but I still think it’s great. We All Stand may be the most “joy division” sounding track on the album, it’s dark and moody and I think it struggles to keep the sound that New order were going for on this album. I’m not listening to it on walks or anything, but laying in my bed with my eyes closed, I still love it.

I absolutely adore the next track, The Village. To my mind, it’s in competition with the song after it; 5 8 6, for the most underrated on the album. It has a super upbeat disco-ish vibe that somehow still manages to keep the new-wave “I dance in abandoned warehouses” vibe that the rest of the album has going on. Also, the lyrics are just great, they’re perhaps my favorite on the album, there’s that particular quality that bands like The Cure and New order themselves have where they’re more depressing than you can tell on a casual listen but you still get sing-songy and happy when they get stuck in your head even if you’re paying attention. Just great stuff.

5 8 6 is next and like I said, I think it is supremely underrated. I mean, It’s 8 minutes and the first 2 is just a slow drum beat and a moody synth, but once it kicks in with the guitar and the singing I think it’s up there with Age of Consent and the last track Leave Me Alone. the drums changing into a smooth snare beat and the commanding but airy vocals combined with the groovy bassline make it one of the most gothic (which is to my preference), and danceable tracks on this album.

Your Silent Face is track 5 and lets us take a step back from the very dancy, upbeat, previous songs. New Order’s command of the synth is in full bloom in this song even as it takes a slower, more reflective cadence. there’s not an explosion of dancy beats and groovy sounds as with the other tracks but rather a combined melody that if you let it, will seep into your brain.

Ultraviolence and Ecstasy are next up but I already talked about them so we come to the last track, Leave Me Alone. this is my favorite song on the album. New Order is great at pulling at your heartstrings and in that regard this is a masterpiece. It’s a perfect fusion of their previous Joy Division sound while having the fresh, hypnotic noise that they wanted out of this album. It’s mastered what We All Stand was trying to do. I don’t know if I’d say the lyrics in this song are “catchy” but they are great. And the monotone, separated sounding singing pairs great with the single riff running in the mid-ground of the song

So that’s Power Corruption and Lies. I honestly don’t care if you liked this review as long you go listen to one or two of the tracks from this album. If you do, let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks. Next week will probably be something from the 90’s.