New Order reunited in 1998, and so began their more guitar-orientated era. They began playing live again, even playing songs by Joy Division which they had previously been reluctant to do, and there were the same musicians too, unlike some reformations where some core members refused to join in. Yet it took until 2001 for the band to release their next album, the aptly named Get Ready. It's easy to ask what anyone should be getting ready for, and I'm guessing they meant the big difference in sound.
I personally loved synth-led New Order, however it's reasonable they didn't continue this by 2001 - Technique was released a decade ago, house had its peak and downfall, and Britpop became resurgant before also collapsing. Even the cover tries to be with the times, portraying a model holding a camera. It's quite sleek and polished, rather unoffensive and not reflective of what's in store, but anything compared to the abomination that was the Republic artwork would be better. And the album is also somewhat better than Republic, though it never hits the very high peaks the band achieved in the 1980s - it's very polished and safe, though not uneventful.
The first few seconds of the opening track Crystal try to lull you into thinking synths will be at the centre, but a raw guitar riff quickly proves that to be wrong. It's resurgant and upbeat with backing vocals that are pleasant even if ultimately needless, and Bernard Sumner can sing even if the words mean nothing whatsoever. There's a delightful fluorish of Peter Hook's bass amongst the countless instrumental breaks, and Stephen Morris as always has tight drumming. It's by far the longest track - nearly seven minutes! - yet it's a great rocker to open the album which never loses energy.
Warbly synths by Gilbert make 60 Miles an Hour slightly unsettling, though there's an unmistakeable groove thanks to Hook's playing that proves the band haven't lost their dance influences. It's more pop-like than Crystal, a tighter track that's perfect for radio play with a buoyant chorus and screeching guitar solo. Still a solid track, though, even if in the opener's shadow.
Turn My Way has Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins for some reason, his vocals don't add much. It's a brooding track which is made decent by Gilbert's synths and Morris' metronomic drumming; it doesn't do anything for me otherwise and the slacker-esque chorus is more edgy teenager than anything else. Vicious Streak's opening is fantastic, however, and I really like the ringtone-like synths coupled with Hook's bass, yet even as Sumner starts singing it doesn't go anywhere remarkable afterwards. "I keep hanging on", Sumner so often repeats, much like the synths that continuously repeat. I'll give them a pass, though, as no matter how bland the song may be, I like the idea and wish the band were more ambitious with it. Six minutes is too much, though.
Hook's bass at the start of Primitive Notion sounds like the opening to Joy Division's "Twenty Four Hours", yet instead of Curtis lamenting, we get an energetic track where Sumner says zoos wouldn't impound a lover. It's all the better for having violins and bleeping synths too, and it lets Morris go wild with a closing drum solo. It's quite a fun track, all in all. Slow Jam is a more ordinary rock song where Sumner says being sick is better than arithmetic (something we can all agree on). There's an anthemic chorus and the band hold their own, especially Morris - his drumming is certainly more alive without a drum machine. Yet it doesn't go further than that, and doesn't particularly show just how innovative the band is.
Rock the Shack is lively but suffers from poor lyrics, and apparently also has Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream on it. I really like the guitar and drumming, and am less of a fan of the "swinging gate" synth loop in the second verse. Much like every song to this point, it fluctuates between verse, chorus and instrumental break, and I much prefer the latter here - the guitar goes mad and sounds fantastic.
The opening two tracks were singles, and so is track eight, Someone Like You. Fast paced synths dominate the beginning, and soon the drums and bass enter, making a great opening. Sumner's vocals are good as well, and the song overall is a very good dance track. There's a lovely guitar and bass solo as well, and I'd consider it to be a better Vicious Streak (the ringtone synths are back). And then it dies down, just in time for Close Range which is more brooding until another anthemic chorus comes in. It's a good song with some of the better lyrics of the album as well as great bass playing by Hook - in fact, I'd say it's one of the best on the album.
Run Wild is a surprising closer, what with it being acoustic and including a harmonica. It's quite sweet, its lyrics detailing love, and includes even more strings that add to its subtle beauty. Maybe it's too optimistic, but the music more than makes up for it. And thus New Order's longest album yet ends with an out of place closer, no synths in sight.
Get Ready isn't the worst album ever, in fact it's an improvement over Republic and has many songs I'd happily listen to at any time. However, many of the songs don't truly stand out amongst the crowd - there's less sonic diversity than would be found on other New Order albums, and I'm not too fond of the songs following the verse-chorus structure like a formula. Their first albums felt more special because they sounded less accessible, and the songs can feel too safe. But Get Ready is still a solid collection of songs which I wouldn't shy away from playing again.
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