No more 'Blue Mondays' for New Order

I don't know what it is about 1980s music that gives it such a distinct sound; just listen to Tears for Fears or Tiffany and you will know what I am talking about. New Order, until this year, was another band that conjured up a period where funky hair and ragged, white-washed jeans were considered impeccably fashionable. \nNew Order maintained that classic 1980s sound so evident in "Blue Monday" and "The Perfect Kiss." Now with the release of Get Ready, the band's first disc chock full of all-new material since 1993's Republic, the group has modernized and revamped its sound, oozing into the music scene with a fresh techno-rock and electronica combination sure to dazzle audiences of this decade. \nGet Ready opens with New Order's first new single, "Crystal." Starting off with Dawn Zee's mesmerizing background vocals, the song quickly changes pace, switching from a new-age synthesized sound to an all out head-bopping rock track. Zee comes back into the piece complementing guitarist Bernard Sumner perfectly.\nIn "60 Miles an Hour," the intro plays for a few seconds before rocking out with lead vocals by Sumner. Peter Hook's bass brings us back briefly to the decade that formed this group, but not lingering for too long, thankfully.\nBilly Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame lends his familiar vocal talents to "Turn My Way," creating a track that resembles a typical Pumpkins' tune, remaining just different enough to make a positive lasting impression. \nAnother must-listen is "Rock the Shack" which features members of Primal Scream. This track practically encourages listeners to yell out the lyrics during the chorus.\nOld fans of New Order may be disappointed in this new sound, but hey, they should get over the 1980s. \n"We're having the time of our lives," sings Sumner in "Someone Like You." And these musicians certainly are. New Order proves itself worthy of our ears and its ability to morph with the changing times. You can count on hearing the updated sounds of this "ex-1980s" rock band for many years to come.\nRating: 9