In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, New Order was hibernating. No albums, no touring, nothing. Their hugely successful 1993 release Republic, was a distant memory. So when Get Ready was released in the fall of 2001, fans were ready, having waited a long time for something new from New Order.
Get Ready is a satisfying dose of New Orders’ signature blend of electro-British-alt-rock. At 50 minutes in length, it takes a while to dig through it, which is what you should expect from New Order. 6 minute songs are the norm. There are some slow patches in the record, some shining moments, and some fun surprises, including guest appearances from Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan and Primal Scream’s Bobby Gilespie.
New Orderists hold this album as sacred, because it’s the final album with the core quartet line-up still intact. Bernard Sumner is as clear as “Crystal”, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris held the tight “Primitive Notion” rhythm section, and Gillian Gilbert went “60 Miles and Hour” on spaced out synths.
16 years ago, the band were in their mid-forties, and this album was a reflection of that aging. The guys were getting old, and there is a maturity to this album that was not present in their previous six studio efforts. That can be a good thing, simplified and smarter songs with the right bite, but without the blind frenetic dance-hall energy.
Get Ready is a New Order litmus test. Listen to it, and you’ll know whether you like them or not, because at its core, Get Ready is the epitome of New Order, electronic, funky, and yet heartfelt music. If you’re a fan, you likely love this evolution in the bands career, if you’re not a fan, you should take this one for a test drive. It’s worth the listen.
