Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

so today at work I listened to "favoritesneworder.01" a couple of times, and was even more knocked out than I thought I'd be. I haven't spent much time with new order in a while, and was amazed by the songs. not the synths, not the arrangements, not bernard sumner's singing, but how damned well-written their songs are. then I wanted to remind myself what christgau thought - knew he liked 'em plenty, didn't remember why. interestingly, he generally goes the opposite direction and loves their feel, their propulsion. I say we're both right. to quote the dean, new order were "the greatest disco band of the '80s except chic, and these guys outlasted chic."