Band : Bad Lieutenant
Album title : Never Cry Another Tear
Label : Cooking Vinyl
Distributor : V2
Release date : 05/10/2009
Release : CD

When bassist Peter Hook left New Order in early 2007, the remaining members elected to continue under the same name, in a figurative sense, until early 2009. Then, lead singer/ guitarist Bernard Sumner announced that, after New Order’s demise in 2007, he had actually formed Bad Lieutenant with guitarists Phil Cunningham and Jake Evans (of Rambo and Leroy repute). Working on the songs together, the trio has allowed studio collaborations of Blur bassist Alex James and former New Order drummer Stephen Morris (recently announced as live drummer, alongside Tom Chapman on bass) to record the album. Additionally, The Mutineers’ Jack Mitchell also sat in on a coupld of drum recording sessions.

To be quite frank now, I’m only familiar with the New Order of the ‘80s, and so when I read in the bio we got along with our download promo copy that Sumner claims the 10 songs on the Bad Lieutenant to show a continuity with the sound of the past…I kinda lifted my eyebrows somewhat! So, into my music collection I dived to check out those sounds of the past…and eventually I found I could agree with Sumner up to a certain point. Gone are all the electronics, of course, and in stead BL now concentrates on those rare multi-guitar gems NO occasionally were able to produce (admittingly, there’s an occasional piano as well: check the very nice “Runaway”). With always an acoustic guitar backed by the slightly distorted electric ones, the atmosphere is that more uplifting than in the old days though. Mind you, I’m not saying this is a record full of joy, but somehow a lot of the old melancholy is out…which is refreshing! Depending on how you understand the available info (neither the info I got from the label’s bio nor that from the band’s MySpace page was very clear) it is now either Evans whom does the lead vocals, or he’s the one bringing all the nice backings! Quite frankly, I ain’t sure, but to me it don’t even matter, because eventually it’s the end result which will charm the fan of old, or deter ‘em…but then I rather feel like most will be jumpin’ on the Bad Lieutenant bandwagon!

Prior to the release of the album, the lead single “Sink Or Swim” (backed by album track “Dynamo”) was issued on September 28. The album itself reached #70 on the UK Album Charts in its first week of release, counts made from both the regular CD version and downloads. By the way, the album is not only available in the normal jewel case, but also in a digipak (including 2 bonus tracks) and as double vinyl. A limited offer (only 1,000 copies) was launched via badlieutenant.com for a Super Deluxe Limited edition, including the Limited Edition CD album, the double vinyl album, an exclusive 7-inch single featuring 2 unreleased tracks, a deluxe booklet, artwork print, and an exclusive T-shirt.

Check out the band’s music at myspace.com/badlieutenant, or on one of their live appearances in the UK throughout November (two gigs in the US: Chicago on Nov. 18 and New York on Nov. 21). No European dates set as yet!

80/100

Tony.