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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
I really only got this book because I was waiting for my hold on Peter Hook's Substance: Inside New Order at my library, I'll eventually come back to this
informative
fast-paced
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
Being the huge Joy Division/New Order/Electronic fan that I am, I have to say that I enjoyed Sumner's sort of laid back memoir. But I ended the book wanting more. After the chapters on him growing up, and the Joy Division era, he skips around quite a bit, and it almost feels like he's rushing in the final chapters.
Naturally, I wanted an album-by-album, song-by-song reminiscence, but that's probably asking too much. Sumner's written A LOT of music, and I wouldn't expect him to have an earth-shattering revelation or interesting origin story for all of it.
Of course, loathe though I am to admit it, I love all the Hooky vs. Barney stuff—personally, I don't care who's really at fault, because it's never affected my enjoyment of the music (and I love Hooky's side projects, too), so it's none of my business. Fun to read, though.
All in all, it's a brisk, sometimes rambling (and oft-times repetitive), but ultimately enjoyable memoir for fans of the bands, the music, the era, etc.
Naturally, I wanted an album-by-album, song-by-song reminiscence, but that's probably asking too much. Sumner's written A LOT of music, and I wouldn't expect him to have an earth-shattering revelation or interesting origin story for all of it.
Of course, loathe though I am to admit it, I love all the Hooky vs. Barney stuff—personally, I don't care who's really at fault, because it's never affected my enjoyment of the music (and I love Hooky's side projects, too), so it's none of my business. Fun to read, though.
All in all, it's a brisk, sometimes rambling (and oft-times repetitive), but ultimately enjoyable memoir for fans of the bands, the music, the era, etc.
4,5/5. No me voy a detener mucho en este libro pero no me parece justa la forma en la que muchos lo juzgan pero puede ser que esté biased. Para mí estuvo bastante bien e incluso me conmovió bastante. Cuando leo autobiografías no busco que sean la cosa mejor escrita en el mundo pero no sentí que tuviera tantos errores como muchos lo comentan, tal vez son cosas que los angloparlantes notan y yo paso por alto sin darme cuenta pero siento que el libro es bastante personal y no a todos les gusta por eso; buscan mucha información sobre los grupos y se decepcionan porque ven que Bernard habla mucho de él como si fuese no sé, su autobiografía... Ah, esperen.
Earnest but lacking
Two of my all time favorite bands’ guitarist and guitarist/singer (respectively in order of time and preference) lays out his history, out of and into music, and, while it was enjoyable, I wanted much more on the writing and recording of such amazing albums from Joy Division through New Order. Most of it was the touring and drinking story of young New Order. Luckily, Bernard spent less time complaining about Hooky than Hooky complained about Bernard in his book. It did turn me on to Electronic and Bad Lieutenant and I recommend both bands!
Two of my all time favorite bands’ guitarist and guitarist/singer (respectively in order of time and preference) lays out his history, out of and into music, and, while it was enjoyable, I wanted much more on the writing and recording of such amazing albums from Joy Division through New Order. Most of it was the touring and drinking story of young New Order. Luckily, Bernard spent less time complaining about Hooky than Hooky complained about Bernard in his book. It did turn me on to Electronic and Bad Lieutenant and I recommend both bands!
This is an interesting autobiography by someone who's been in some really successful bands and who's now trying to sort out things. I have little doubt that the advent of his former Joy Division/New Order band mate Peter Hook's autobiography, which was released a little earlier this year, which threw daggers at Sumner. Here, Sumner spends a good deal of time to sort that out.
At the same time, Sumner explains his growing up in Salford, Manchester, a lot. It's been really interesting to read about his upbringing and how he's handled things, including massive success.
Sumner's really self-deprecating which is funny and injects air into the story. In other words, he takes the piss out of himself which is fun.
All in all: a good read on what his life's been like so far. He seems to know that he's lucky enough to be able to support himself by creating and performing music.
At the same time, Sumner explains his growing up in Salford, Manchester, a lot. It's been really interesting to read about his upbringing and how he's handled things, including massive success.
Sumner's really self-deprecating which is funny and injects air into the story. In other words, he takes the piss out of himself which is fun.
All in all: a good read on what his life's been like so far. He seems to know that he's lucky enough to be able to support himself by creating and performing music.
Would have benefited from a ghostwriter or a stricter editor
Bernard Sumner is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He is a founding member of both Joy Division and New Order. Sumner is credited with the latter band's move towards electronica and synthpop. He was a founding member of Joy Division, a Salford band formed in 1976. He and childhood (but not later) friend [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg] both attended the fabled Sex Pistols concert at Manchester's Free Trade Hall on July 20, 1976 and were inspired to form a band. The band is considered one of the most influential bands of the era. He is known as the band's lead guitarist. But he also plays keyboards for synthesizer parts and made his first vocal appearance on record singing the chorus of "Walked In Line" on the Warsaw album. In May 1980, the band's singer, Ian Curtis, committed suicide, resulting in Joy Division's end.
Sumner and remaining band members [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg] and Stephen Morris started a new band named New Order. They were later joined by keyboardist Gillian Gilbert in October 1980. Though [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg], Morris and Gilbert also contributed vocals on some early tracks, Sumner emerged as the band's permanent singer and lyricist, alongside playing guitar and keyboards.
In 1989, Sumner joined up with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to form Electronic. He later went on to form Bad Lieutenant which as a result of the 2011 reformation of New Order, went on hiatus.
I started reading this book not long after having read both [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg]'s books: Unknown Pleasures and Substance. While [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg]'s book’s are VERY detailed descriptions of the Joy Division and New Order, Sumner's book takes a different approach. The early years in Salford and early days of Joy Division are fascinating. But then the chronology goes out of the window. After having discussed Blue Monday, for instance, he skips a whole era and talks about Touched by the Hand of God and Confusion. In fact, he mostly discusses individual songs rather than albums. Movement is discussed in length, but the next album he talks about is Technique. He doesn't mention Power, Corruption and Lies and Low-Life. Brotherhood is talked about in one sentence, specifically Saville's cover. Also, many other things are not or only minimally discussed. He skates over things a competent editor would have insisted he elaborate on.
Another aspect missing is the highs and lows of key relationships. Especially the conflict with Hooky. Apart from some token self-deprecation, he genuinely doesn't seem to think he's done anything wrong. He is keen to tell the world about it (I suggest he reads [b:Substance: Inside New Order|31345705|Substance Inside New Order|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470270281s/31345705.jpg|52022524] by Hooky). Bizarrely, he chooses not to focus on this yet there are lengthy passages about getting wrecked in Ibiza. You’re left wondering if any of this is going anywhere? If you read Hooky’s books, you’ll find Hooky had a larger creative role to play than Sumner acknowledges here. What would Blue Monday sound like without Hookys bass lines for example?
The book will be of interest to any Joy Division or New Order fan. It gives another perspective on both these bands. But its best read in conjunction with Hooky’s literary output.
Bernard Sumner is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He is a founding member of both Joy Division and New Order. Sumner is credited with the latter band's move towards electronica and synthpop. He was a founding member of Joy Division, a Salford band formed in 1976. He and childhood (but not later) friend [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg] both attended the fabled Sex Pistols concert at Manchester's Free Trade Hall on July 20, 1976 and were inspired to form a band. The band is considered one of the most influential bands of the era. He is known as the band's lead guitarist. But he also plays keyboards for synthesizer parts and made his first vocal appearance on record singing the chorus of "Walked In Line" on the Warsaw album. In May 1980, the band's singer, Ian Curtis, committed suicide, resulting in Joy Division's end.
Sumner and remaining band members [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg] and Stephen Morris started a new band named New Order. They were later joined by keyboardist Gillian Gilbert in October 1980. Though [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg], Morris and Gilbert also contributed vocals on some early tracks, Sumner emerged as the band's permanent singer and lyricist, alongside playing guitar and keyboards.
In 1989, Sumner joined up with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to form Electronic. He later went on to form Bad Lieutenant which as a result of the 2011 reformation of New Order, went on hiatus.
I started reading this book not long after having read both [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg]'s books: Unknown Pleasures and Substance. While [a:Peter Hook|539498|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1370445455p2/539498.jpg]'s book’s are VERY detailed descriptions of the Joy Division and New Order, Sumner's book takes a different approach. The early years in Salford and early days of Joy Division are fascinating. But then the chronology goes out of the window. After having discussed Blue Monday, for instance, he skips a whole era and talks about Touched by the Hand of God and Confusion. In fact, he mostly discusses individual songs rather than albums. Movement is discussed in length, but the next album he talks about is Technique. He doesn't mention Power, Corruption and Lies and Low-Life. Brotherhood is talked about in one sentence, specifically Saville's cover. Also, many other things are not or only minimally discussed. He skates over things a competent editor would have insisted he elaborate on.
Another aspect missing is the highs and lows of key relationships. Especially the conflict with Hooky. Apart from some token self-deprecation, he genuinely doesn't seem to think he's done anything wrong. He is keen to tell the world about it (I suggest he reads [b:Substance: Inside New Order|31345705|Substance Inside New Order|Peter Hook|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470270281s/31345705.jpg|52022524] by Hooky). Bizarrely, he chooses not to focus on this yet there are lengthy passages about getting wrecked in Ibiza. You’re left wondering if any of this is going anywhere? If you read Hooky’s books, you’ll find Hooky had a larger creative role to play than Sumner acknowledges here. What would Blue Monday sound like without Hookys bass lines for example?
The book will be of interest to any Joy Division or New Order fan. It gives another perspective on both these bands. But its best read in conjunction with Hooky’s literary output.