Customer Reviews

Crystal

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Skip over the original edit (fine if you like rock I suppose) and the Digweed and Muir Bedrock radio edit as well. The latter, abridged, version never develops the crescendo of the thirteen minute mix. Their full version delivers a widescreen epic as good as anything they've done except "Heaven Scent"; certainly a nice rebound from the underwhelming "Beautiful Strange." It's a complete rebuild with just the well-written vocal intact, a metallic throb that rides for seven minutes before a lengthy vocal climb throws it over the top. The following dub take strips the voice even more and works well back to back, as proven from his Homelands set this year. A shame, actually, that they aren't mixed together for the consumer - it's not like there are tons of CD DJ's out there.

The Lee Coombs version may be just as big a hit, smartly peeling the effects off Bernard Sumner's voice and restoring some rock expanse, with guitar and live bass to a mid-speed house beat. FYI, this tune can be heard in those Headline News promos. The dub turns the tempo one notch higher and adds some sine-wave stabs throughout. To their credit, both accomplish more in half the time of everything else here.

John Creamer and Stephane K trot out a piano on Ibiza ambient piece with heavy vocal distortion, way too short for justice at three minutes. Creamer K's main mix goes the minimal progressive house route. The subdued backing really needs less vocal with it, but oh well.

So let's see...every version is excellent, there are nine widely different tracks, and it totals 70 minutes for half the cost of an album. That'd make it essential, right?

New Order's new album 'Get Ready' is sadly marginal. The frightening reality is it may be one of the best albums of the year. It all relies on the playing and instrumental tension. It must be that, because "Crystal" sounds wonderful. Lyrically the song just has nothing much to say. No tension, no ambivalence, just Eh.

Eh Eh Eh. Still and all, it sounds great, and the best version is here. The version you'll find on 'Get Ready' is too long, with a Pink Floydesque (David Gilmour Floyd) intro, and some drum/keyboard vamps that simply eat up time. The single version gets right there and makes its case quickly, for good or bad. It's concise and musically perfect. The thrill of the tune is so strong that McCartnyesque lines like - "Here comes love - it's like honey - you can't buy it with money" almost work. Almost, but no. New Order's tension is gone. So why are we still listening? Only the music, because it's so damn good.

The rest of this EP bashes out remixes of "Crystal", none of them interesting. (this is a ROCK tune, hard to mix that...) There IS a B-side ("Behind Closed Doors") which is lyrically good but musically so-so. Oh well, better luck next time.

I have to admit, I was let down when I first heard this track. But I didn't tire of it, even after listening to all the remixes. This CD-single didn't wear out its welcome, even after hearing what is essentially the same song (albeit in 8 quite different versions) over and over. And now I find myself humming the tune and wanting more. The "B-side" (track 9) is also quite good, perhaps better than the single itself. Can't wait for the whole album.

Bottom line - this song is every bit as good as previous New Order offerings, even if it doesn't grab you on the first listen.

Yes, its true, this is new material from the legendary and influential pop band! It sounds very much like new order should: hooky's bass, live and electronic drums, live guitar and melodeous synths. This single is terrific and very well produced. one little gripe is that the lyrics seem a bit uninspired, but it is very catchy, easy to listen to, and easily a favorite! can't wait until the full length album comes out. true new order fans will not be disappointed and new fans will appreciate the fresh sound.

After a lengthy hiatus spanning 8 years, the original synth-dance band from the UK is back with a smashing new single Crystal. If their contribution on The Beach soundtrack leaves you wanting more, you've got it here.
The song is heavy on hooks and is extremely well-suited for that smashing dancefloor. Add a couple of those hi-energy dance remixes, you'll get a smash! Plus an incredible non-LP track...

It's wonderful to see New Order back after an eight year abscense. 'Crystal' is a very fresh and raw sounding track. It epitomizes Bernard Sumner's angst while complimented most eagerly by Peter Hook's talented bass playing. After seeing them perform live in California, I can wholeheartedly tell you that they are BACK!! The thing to do now is e-mail your radio stations and request that 'Crystal' be on the playlist.

New Order is back with a killer new single, a preview of their first new album in 8 years. "Crystal" recalls the guitar-heavy era of "Brotherhood" and "Low-Life," incorporating New Order's trademark of solid hooks and Bernard Sumner's instantly recognizable vocals. New Order's extended hiatus has obviously energized the band; "Crystal" is a solid, cathartic, rocking tune from a band not often associated with pure rock 'n' roll. But fans of New Order's more dance-oriented releases need not worry. "Crystal" boasts a solid groove tailor-made for dance floors, and the Digweed/Muir remixes on the maxi-single release are instant classics. New Order is definitely back, and the world of music is a much better place with their participation.

This CD is really terrific. First off for only half the price of a regular CD you get an hour's worth of music. That's good. "Crystal" is a really good song...but what makes this CD is the b-side "Behind Closed Doors" it's worth the price alone. It's slow and has haunting vocals...the lyrics are great the piano meshes perfectly. Crystal is...well Crystal. Good guitar hook (the female vocals do sound out of place a bit) and the song bops along merrily at its own pace.

The remixes tend to get tedious after awhile (especially the Digweed ones..too long and dull) but the overall quality makes up for it.

Worthwhile pickup.

I haven't enjoyed a New Order album in a long time (well, it's been like 10 years since their last one, anyway). But, after one listen to their new full-length "Get Ready", I gotta admit that there's some pretty good stuff on this. More live drumming and guitar playing, less programmed synth stuff = a very good thing! Of course, Peter Hook's distinctive bass lines stick out, and are as wonderful as ever (if you like this sorta thing). Sumner's chicken-scratchin' guitar lines are still very much in evidence, but the surprise is the return of Stephen Morris's rock-style drumming. One song even evokes JD's "Heart and Soul", albeit with funkier drumming... As a huge fan of Joy Division, I've viewed New Order's career as the epitome of the law of diminishing returns: I loved their early stuff, but each album seemed to get further and further away from what I originally enjoyed about their music. But this harks back to the "low-life" album from 1985 (their last good one, IMHO). It does at times revert to formula and predictability, but they manage to rock out a little harder than they have in quite a while. These folks still have it, I'm happy to say.

is obvious on the sound and the production, but even in lieu of that, the song is simply superb. It's not a flat-out masterpiece like "True Faith", but when you're one of the best bands in the world, what are you going to do other than what you do best? A driving fusion of dance and rock, and that's what "Crystal" is. Hopefully the success of the single and their upcoming release will drag these legends from their respective self-inflicted reclusions, but hey, if they release killer songs like "Brutal" and "Crystal" on a semi-regular basis, us lovers of music won't complain too much, will we?