Bad Lieutenant

Never Cry Another Tear

[2.5/5]



In a mid-’90s interview, Bernard Sumner, founding member of Joy Division and New Order, tartly observed, “I’d rather see a room full of machines coming out with a great dance track than some boring fat session musicians who are way past the sell-by date playing music that is way past its sell-by date as well.” Quite ironic, then, given the “return to rock” on display on the last (final?) New Order album from ’05; the limp and inert Waiting For The Sirens’ Call featured minimal machines, minimal memorable hooks, and more than a whiff of obesity and boredom. Call was such a fetid turd that its failures tore the band asunder forever, with Peter Hook forming an all-bass-player band called Freebass (seriously, that’s their name), while Sumner seeking solace in Bad Lieutenant, featuring later-era NO sideman Phil Cunningham and Jake Evans, frontman of a band called Rambo And Leroy (again, seriously). If Sumner felt the pull of power-sharing in his previous bands, there’s no doubt that Bad Lieutenant is Sumner’s project from port to stern, the artistic calling card behind Never Cry Another Tear.



First, the obvious: It’s no New Order. Shit, it’s not even Electronic, Sumner’s ’90s side project with Johnny Marr (the Smiths), as the electronic textures of both those bands have been shaved away to mere stubble. Instead, Tear is earnest, well-played yet faceless British rock in the vein of Elbow, South, and countless other pedestrian performers who were no doubt influenced by Sumner’s canonical contributions to music history.  Some of the more compelling tracks on Tear aren’t even sung by Sumner, as the husky vocal melancholy of Evans brings “This Is Home” and “Head Into Tomorrow” nicely into Doves territory. To be sure, there’s nothing as grand as “60 Miles An Hour” from New Order’s Get Ready or “Feel Every Beat” from Electronic’s self-titled debut,  but as far as melodies go, one person’s paucity is another man’s measured minimalism.



It’s hard to deny the comfort food in Sumner’s unmannered vocals and economical guitar work, especially on the opener “Sink Or Swim.” But if you’re trying to downplay expectations, don’t name your band after a stark and stunning Abel Ferrara film like Bad Lieutenant when you’re offering the minor charms of New Rose Hotel instead. (TRIPLE ECHO) Erick Haight



 GO DOWNLOAD: “This Is Home”