After 30 seconds of female "oohing," the beat finally kicks in and we are flying headfirst through "Crystal," full of soaring synthesizers and an infectious bass line courtesy of Peter Hook, while lead singer Bernard Sumner declares, "We're like crystal/ We break easy." Whether this line is about fragile hearts or the troubles of aging rockers is unclear. But one thing is certain: New Order has definitely been missed; Get Ready is the group's first album since 1993's Republic. Perhaps the recent butchering of their classic "Blue Monday" by wannabe goth stars Orgy prompted New Order to get back in the studio and show the kids how it's done.
Get Ready alternates between fast, hard-hitting songs and slower ballads, with some occasional sonic throwbacks to the '80s. "Rock the Shack" and "60 Miles An Hour" are full on rockers with driving guitars and screaming vocals, while "Run Wild" is an acoustic number complete with a harmonica solo and some lyrics about Jesus. The only mistakes here are the occasional sophomoric lyrics ("Here comes love/ It's like honey/ You can't buy it/ With money"). New Order brings some of its friends along for the ride with two guest appearances on Get Ready: vocals by ex-Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan on "Turn My Way" and guitars from Primal Scream on "Rock the Shack." But New Order needed no help pulling off this fine album, proving that no matter how long it takes, we'll always be ready to hear what they have to say next.
