Search - New Order: Live at Finsbury Park on DVD

Finally, a DVD for North America!

Nicolas LeBlanc | Montreal, QC Canada | 12/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This has always been a problem with the North American labels, for some reason, they prefer to promote N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys instead of a pioneer band from the 80's who still release good material.The 5 11 DVD (5 Joy Division songs, 11 New Order songs) is the concert New Order played at Finsbury Park (London, UK) minus one song, World In Motion was left out.For many people, seeing a band in their late 40's playing live in front of a large crowd might be odd, but to the fan base of New Order, this is normal.. The set is great, you will see that the band is getting human more than any other band, you'll see Bernard Sumner using a teleprompter, Gillian Gilbert is not there because she didn't tour to take care of her children, but the energy is good.Take you chance while you can to grab the first ever Region 1 New Order DVD, and visit www.neworderonline.com if you wish to have more details on this release."

Just a note in response to immediately previous review

S. McCandlish | United States | 04/07/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

""A viewer from San Francisco, CA United States" writes that Peter Hook should've sung the Joy Division songs. I think he may be confused. The deeper, more Ian Curtis-like vocals on some early New Order tracks are not Peter Hook, but Stephen Morris, who does in fact sound a lot like Curtis. Maybe Peter Hook could do those songs well, too; I'm not saying he can't sing, just that "historically" it's been Morris who's filled in when they wanted a Curtis-reminiscent sound. Personally I think it just totally kicks that New Order still do any of these songs at all. Keep in mind some of them date to 1978-9, and the entire Joy Division oeuvre is filled with a lot of angst for 3 of the 4 members of New Order. Consider yourself privileged to hear something like "Isolation" or "Atmosphere" at a New Order show or recording thereof. Speaking of which, you do not have to get this DVD to hear that, either. Look for the import version of the "Crystal" single with 4 live tracks on it. Two of them are N.O. doing J.D. songs. Which isn't to say this DVD isn't worth having if you're into videos and concert films. But if you're like me, you lost interest in *watching* pop music on TV years ago. I want to *listen* to it, yes. But if I want to *see* it, I'd better be there live in the front 5 rows or there's not much point."

I see so extraordinary

Russell E. Scott | Austin, TX | 05/01/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've seen New Order live on every American tour except the few dates in support of Get Ready. I've always felt the live aspect of their stage performances lacking, especially on the Republic tour. It was obvious at that time they were just going through the motions and had ceased to exist as a band. Resultantly, they broke up for 6 years upon completion of that tour. As Get Ready was important as a metamorphosis album, the 511 - Finsbury Park 6/09/02 live date is equally so. This is their statement that, yes they do care, and yes they can still pull all these elements from a 25 year experience and present them in a cohesive, creative, spontaneous manner. This is a wonderful DVD as New Order seldom gives hour plus long concerts. The additional behind-the-stage interviews are candid and personal. The fan interviews are random, impulsive, and give a man-off-the-street opinion totally free of media manipulation. I feel as good about this as anything they've done since Get Ready got going. I'm glad to see this for them and fans alike. They've added a few pounds, but their persona and performance is Grade A. (Note: The name 511 comes from 5 Joy Division songs and 11 New Order songs on the DVD. The reviewer who suggested in someone else's confusion - Ian Curtis sang in place of Peter Hook may not know that Peter sang most of the material on the 1st New Order album - Movement until it was decided by the band Barney would sing in Ian's absence)."

Sorrow the Undesired

walkingondiamonds | 01/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having had the privelige of seeing this show in person from the front row, I would have to say the DVD really did justice to the event itself. Being an American, I was amazed and thrilled to see how devoted the UK is to New Order, because they really aren't adored to the same degree in the States. The crowd rocked and reeled with every song, even as the crowd attests to in the DVD, it was a wet, muddy day.
In light criticism, I would have to say the crowd was left out a bit in the audio, so it comes across as almost a rough BBC session, with crowd overdubs. That is a testament to how wonderfully they sound live, yet to the shortcomings of the producer. The crowd roaring "New O'der! New O'der!" is never heard, unfortunately. Another criticism can be made, and many live recordings are guilty of, that Bernard's voice is mixed to low in the DVD audio thus losing the screaming vocals one is exposed to live. It would also have been nice if Bernard and Peter had dressed up to at least semi-informal wear for a recorded concert! The jeans and t-shirt looked out of place with music of such refinement. Following the Eno/Ferry ambient roots, one does not require silk suits and glam outfits, but at least a dress shirt and sportsjacket would do.
Yet, by the time Bizzare Love Triangle comes on you find yourself dancing in your living room along with Bernard, and hardly stop for the rest of the concert. They did edit out World in Motion (possibly due to the fact it was shamelessly nationalist at a time when the World Cup was in progress, not wanting to offend fellow football nations) for which Gillian Gilbert(who was missing in the tour) came out and did backing vocals with the band.
Though in the end, New Order's history of transcendent darkness and soulful sensuousness keeps the heart full, and in the case of "Finsbury Park", the eyes dazzled and full of love for them."