Three Tune Tuesday : NO B-Sides

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For this week's #threetunetuesday, as initiated by @ablaze, I went to old school NO. NO, of course, happens to be New Order. New Order, of course, rose from the ashes of the classic band Joy Division. Like most of my Napster adventures, the finding of JD and NO were about the same. Find Unknown Pleasures, then find Closer, and then find JD's Substance. If that isn't enough for you, then find New Order's Substance, and then get lost in an epic catalog of singles and long plays. I of course found the two disc set of NO's Substance and have loved it forever more.

This week, I wanted to share three old school New Order b-sides. Most probably don't even know their a-sides, but I'll start with the b-sides anyway. So here we go...

New Order : Procession

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I love this song...it's the perfect segue between what the band was and what the band was about to embrace. This features those beautiful Sumner guitars and that fantastic Hook bass. Add to it the murkiness of Joy Division's sonic veil and the drum line...and...well, I think its one of their better tracks. That's just me, but I've probably listened to this song a thousand times, and will listen to it a thousand more times.

New Order : Cries and Whispers

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Another one with one foot in the past and in the future. This one doesn't have the guitar sound as much, as Hook's bass drives this one forward. Very recurring in song structure as it builds up and builds up. Another classic from early Manchester.

New Order : Lonesome Tonight

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Last but not least is yet one more b-side featuring that NO guitar and bass synthesis. It's a very basic song for the most part; easy lyrics and a 1950's sensibility. The song hints at the 1980's synth sound the first go around with the chorus, but I always put my money on the transition starting at 2:50. The outtro is pretty much spot on what the New Order sound will always be to me. Melancholic, dark, building, and filled with call and returns. It's another the band felt compelled to bury on the b-side of a single. Good stuff!

That's it for this week's share. Let me know what you think of the band, the songs, or even that time of pop music. Until next week's #ttt.