This is one of my all-time favorite records. I like Movement a bit better, but Power, Corruption & Lies is NOT CRAP at all.

Let me first state that this album is not well mixed.Having said that, I think PC&L is a very fine album.I also have a weakness for 'Your Silent Face.'
The album cover art is wonderfull.Peter Saville solidified his reputation as one of the best contemporary graphic designers.
He took a painting of Fantin-Latour and then added a small translucid coloured bar.He created a new work by simply changing the object-perspective(the context in which the painting is inserted).I think he was very clever.

Wonderful record.

I think it gets a little better every time I listen to it.

And yes, it's one of the best of all album covers.

I haven't heard it in years, but my cellular memory tells me I liked it.

I can't imagine anyone voting crap

Mike Greenlees wrote:I have a weakness for 'Your Silent Face.' Bombastic, triumphant synth section giving way to sad little melodica part, fake drums, weired little sequencer rhythms, flat as hell vocals, then back to the triumphant bombast. Nutty.

Oh god, so do I.

In fact, for years that was the only New Order song I liked.

Now I like two. Possibly three.

I want "yut" to tell me about the horrible disco.

If this record is from that brief period where New Order just sounded like Joy Division with a different singer, then I should listen to it. I don't remember such an album existing, but it is possible.

I do remember liking little things about New Order, like the occasional guitar line, bass ornament or vocal delivery, but I remember more clearly all the stuff I disliked:

*Linn Drum benching a fantastic and unique drummer.
*Defining a supremely phony sound that became ubiquitous.
*Sequencer as principle performer
*Roland Jazz Chorus
*Mock-scratching, DDL loops and symphonic stab samples

Joy Division was bleak, timeless (not of its time) and energetic. New Order was urbane, self-conciously modern, lazy and kitschy. Being unkind, I could call it club music. And detestable.

Although I haven't listened to them enough recently to be sure of it, I'm inclined to say fuck New Order. They knew what they were capable of and did this Arthur Baker crap instead.

steve wrote:If this record is from that brief period where New Order just sounded like Joy Division with a different singer, then I should listen to it. I don't remember such an album existing, but it is possible.

Movement is pretty damn close. It lacks many of the kitschy dance accoutrements that you've listed here.

Other than that record, I stick mainly to the first few singles and a few select tracks from Power and Low-Life.

New Order is widely known as an electonica/synthetic music band , but most of their songs have the usual rock instrumentation ( drum , bass , guitar ) , sometimes with a sequencer , often with Gillian violon-like keyboards waves.
To me , they 've made only one disco crap in the 80's ,which is "Subculture".
"Fine time" is close to crap too but it's a funny song.