Customer Reviews

Music for Pleasure

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Monaco only proves that Peter Hook was/is much more than New Order's bass player. Clearly, Monaco establishes the fact that Hook was/is one of the primary songwriters in the band. He might be THE songwriting force behind the band. These songs echo New Order (especially when a certain and most distinct bass dances it way through every song). Any fan will instantly recognize the melodies, beats, arrangements, and overall feel of NO. Even the vocals could have been lifted right off of a recent NO release. And that is no bad thing. If it helps, think of this as another great New Order offering.

Song-wise, one could easily believe this is just a slight trip down a new path for the band. However, knowing this is Hook's post-Revenge side project, there are some creative twists and turns. Some hear an Oasis hook or two amongst Hook's hooks (sorry!) and I am no exception. There are moments when I imagine Peter and Noel Gallagher sitting in a room together (with bass and guitar in hand, respectively) banging out some very catchy tunes. Again, this is no bad thing. Both are master songwriters.

There are even hints of the Pet Shop Boys' pop-genius here. Certainly, Monaco has sprinkles of other-greatness flavoring every song. No doubt, David Potts (with Hook's Revenge) contributes no small part to this masterpiece. Blending what's best of the 80's with what's best of the 90's, this is one unique breed of sound.

This all happens in a context that is way past Hook's Revenge stage. No longer is he feeling the need to escape that New Order sound- his sound (that persistent, driving, melodic bass). Here, Hook embraces all that he is, all that New Order is, and ultimately, all that Monaco is. This is a mature, expansive, emotional, danceable, and beautiful thing. This is music for the sake of music. In one word... PURE.

Monaco is, in retrospect, after hearing NO's Get Ready and Waiting for the Sirens' Call, the fulcrum at which NO's past meets and welcomes the future. It is a seminal moment in New Order's timeline, and a completely unique thing unto itself as the transient but evolutionary Monaco. But it is truly impossible to deny that Monaco plays a pivotal role in the New Order story.

This cd oozes with melody. There's nothing here that will offend any New Order fan. Think of it as New Order bonus material. Really good bonus material. It is both transitional and original. It is certainly good and New. Inspirational and... music for pleasure, indeed!

Although Peter Hook is first and foremost New Order's oh-so-distinctive bassist, his side work (Revenge, Monaco) has also been interesting and worthwhile. Music For Pleasure is no exception. Other reviewers have mentioned how different songs on this album sound like Oasis or Portishead tracks -- and they're absolutely right. There's also some techno, and even some disco (#3 - Sweet Lips) thrown in. In that respect, the album has a total lack of consistency -- there's no unifying theme and stylistically it's a hodgepodge. That would kill a lesser album (or a lesser group), but for Monaco it's a virtue. Every song's different, and every song is still a gem. Peter Hook's the centerpiece here, but the lyrics are thoughtful, and David Pott's singing and guitar work are great too.

This isn't New Order, but if you're a NO fan, this shouldn't disappoint. I actually bought this album and NO's Get Ready the same day, and I like this one muuuch better. It's a great album, and the name suits it perfectly.

Always in the shadow of Bernard Sumner's high-flying Electronic venture, Peter Hook's Monaco was bound to play second fiddle in the post-New Order order. However most of the criticisms of this album are incoherent. Derided as a gratuitous tribute to Hook's ankle-level bass playing and glam-rock proclivities, "Music for Pleasure" is indeed just that: solid Manchester gold to put into your CD player and turn way up. That's the reason I buy CDs. And will somebody please tell me why a song is bad if it's over five minutes long? To criticize a track on that basis alone betrays an absence of aesthetic sensibility. Maybe that's why music critics are music critics and not the successful musicians that they wish they were. Anyway, cheers to Hooky for this one--anyone who listens to "Music for Pleasure" will know where New Order got its groove from.

New order side project. I love it. I think this one is a underated synth gem

After Revenge, Peter went on to write some music together with David Potts (also in Revenge) but not under the same umbrella. They need a name-change. A fresh start. So I bought their first single WDYWFM in februari 1997 and was very enthusiastic about it. Second single Sweet Lips was a great pop single (the bass sounds like Vicious Circle, b-side from New Order's Ruined In A Day) and the 3rd single (Shine) was absolutely 'hooky' ;-) The album is full of surprises, dance music & rocky stuff...

...as the title for this review suggests because it's no longer available domestically (at least here in the U.S.!). Such a shame it's almost out of print because Hooky (of New Order fame) and company have put together such a fine album! Aside from hearing Hooky's trademark bass guitar, you have songs which dabble in disco and techno ("Sweet Lips", "Junk"), Oasiseque-Beatlesque pop ("Buzz Gum"), and the rest being typical new-wave Britpop (some reminiscent of New Order) which is not a bad thing! I only wished that Monaco could've had much more commercial success with this CD at least here in the States. If you like New Order, Oasis, and Blur, you'll definitely like this one. Catchy, moody, Britpop at its best!

The opening guitar is superb. Potts's singing voice is great: deep, rich, and superb. I would recommend this to anyone who liked New Order. Monaco is sort of like New Order, only much sunnier. If only the would make another CD!

This is such a great CD. "What Do You Want From Me" is such a fabulous song. I've been listening to this CD almost 7 years and it still blows me away. This is a keeper! It's like New Order with a twist. Very groovy, upbeat, and just feels refreshing. I'm glad this New Order side project stayed humble because it means it won't be spoiled in the masses. A cult-classic for sure!

Enjoy!

I own well over three hundred CD's, including all of New Order's albums, both Electronic albums, and a lot of other great works. This one outshines them all. To me the appropriately entitled "Music For Pleasure" represents the epitomy of what great music should sound like. This album does sound like New Order, but with a much greater emphasis on rockn'roll. Peter Hook's bass and rhythm playing is at its peak here, and his deep, driving voice adds greatly to the album's perfection. If you've ever listened to New Order's "Technique" you may note that it merely sounds like a prototype to this superb masterpiece. It's extremely difficult to pick out highlights because almost every single song on this album is outstanding. The only two tracks I'd have to say are weaker than the rest are "Blue" and "Billy Bones." However, being slower and more moody than the rest, they still add beauty to this CD overall. Song's like "Buzz Gum," "Happy Jack," and "Under The Stars" (for some reason the latter isn't mentioned in the list of songs above, I hope that doesn't mean its not on there) are more rock-based while songs like "Sweet Lips" and "Junk" provide groovy beats to dance to...if you can dance which I admit I can't. And then there's "What Do You Want From Me?" Being the only song I've ever heard from this album on the radio, I'd have to say that's why most of us got it. It's a classic and the best track on here, but by far not the only good one. If you are a fan of GREAT MUSIC do not pass this one up! You have not experienced music at its greatest until you've heard this.

As a fan of all things New Order, I've come to the conclusion that MUSIC FOR PLEASURE is the best of all the band's many side projects. Peter "Hooky" Hook has always been NO's most prolific "solo" artist, and Monaco's two records comprise his best work (his first group was called Revenge, his most recent is Freebass).

Of course Bernard Sumner and The Smiths' Johnny Marr produced three LPs and numerous singles under the name Electronic, and Stephen Morris and Gilian Gilbert released two records as the cutely named The Other Two (whose second album actually has some incredibly good techno songs). But Monaco always had a much stronger (and conspicuously familiar) sound than the strictly dance-oriented Other Two, and frequently soared to greater heights than Electronic, who sometimes sound a bit dull despite their impressive talent pool.

What makes MUSIC FOR PLEASURE such a success from beginning to end is the daring and striking difference in approach from one track to the next. Most reviewers single out the opening track and lead single ("What Do You Want From Me") as their favorite moment, but the second track "Shine" completely surpasses it, imho. "Shine" is sophisticated, poignant, uplifting, and forward-thrusting in the great Hooky/New Order tradition. Just a brilliant track!

From there, MUSIC FOR PLEASURE never lets up, roaring along with the disco-flavored "Sweet Lips," the Oasis-like "Buzz Gum", the folksier sounding "Blue," the epic techno-pop of "Junk," climaxing with the adrenaline-pumping "Under the Stars" (my own personal fav), and easing out gently with the chill "Sedona."

The one common factor underlying all of these tracks is of course Hooky's glorious signature bass sound, unleashed in a way that it never quite was on any New Order record (though the Hook-heavy BROTHERHOOD comes close).

My only complaint is that Monaco's sound is VERY blatantly derivative of New Order, to the extent it may be something of a turn-off to some fans. I suggest looking past this flaw, because MUSIC FOR PLEASURE is a rare treat for insatiable and discerning NO fans, especially in light of their latest unamicable breakup.

So anyways, I'd say PLEASURE is definitely the place to start for anyone curious about the solo projects, and for anyone else with a sweet tooth for quality upbeat "Brit Pop". Electronic's best-of collection GET THE MESSAGE is another sure-fire winner, and if you're into dance music, The Other Two's SUPER HIGHWAYS have some truly stomping moments (stomping's a good thing, btw).

Enjoy.