Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63303 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-12-09
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Colour, DVD-Video, Widescreen, Import, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: French, German, English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 106 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Finsbury Park, 9th June 02 is what it says on the cover: an unadorned video record of New Order's outdoor concert in London on that date. As such, it suffers slightly from the same incongruity as any manifestation of New Order live. One tends to picture the creators of such sonic miracles as "Bizarre Love Triangle" and "Regret" wearing star-spangled robes and pointy hats; the prosaic reality of a bunch of blokes wearing jeans and T-shirts is inevitably somewhat disappointing.

There are other, more fundamental, problems with this performance. Granted that the sound is better than the sound at open-air concerts usually is ("Love Will Tear Us Apart" is especially tremendous), but whatever ambience may have been generated in the mud on the day has not translated to the small screen; there is an unintentionally poignant moment during the exhumation of Joy Division's "Atmosphere" when one shot over Barney Sumner's shoulder lingers on a distant burger van. Nor does it help that Sumner frequently, and off-puttingly obviously, refers to an autocue at his feet. Given that anyone who has taken a serious interest in British pop over the last 20 years knows all the words to "True Faith" and "Temptation", it is extraordinary that the man who wrote them doesn't.

On the DVD: Finsbury Park, 9th June 02 has subtitles in English, French and German. Sound is available in Stereo, DTS 5.1 Surround and Dolby Digital 5.1. Special features include a brief documentary called "New Order 9802", which comprises clips of their 1998 British tour and a few reminiscences from fans, and a three-minute montage of black and white footage of the set-up and sound check at Finsbury Park, titled "Earlier in the Day". There is also a song selector. --Andrew Mueller

Video Description
DVD Special Features :

Footage from other gigs:
Backstage stuff:
Tracklisting:

The set includes tracks from:
Get Ready
Regret
True Faith
Ceremony
Atmosphere

Synopsis
In this live set filmed during June 2002, New Order perform various hits and even dig up a few Joy Division chestnuts. Tracks include "True Faith," "Love Will Tear Us Apart," and "Ceremony."

Customer Reviews

It's a game of two halves, Brian...
Previous reviewers hit the nail squarely on the head in describing New Order as hit-and-miss, both as a live band, and on record. Sometimes the flaws are what make the band special, and for example Barnie’s wavering everyman vocals take on a vulnerable quality that adds to the emotional allure of the songs. At other times, well, the cracks just spoil the overall picture. This unpredictability makes a New Order concert frustrating, this one included. The DVD also suffers from a low-budget feel. Sure, picture quality is fine, but the way the whole thing is shot is pretty basic. Likewise, the sound quality is average, with Barnie’s vocals seeming over-loud in some ways, which is pretty damn annoying, given that on the day the vocals where almost inaudible at certain points.
I guess it’s worth pointing out that, even though it was an outdoor gig, as far as these things go it was a fairly low-key event, with a pretty basic set-up/ stage etc. It was a far cry from the enormous stadium concerts by the likes of the Stones and U2. Which is fine, as New Order hardly see themselves as that kind of band, and so they shouldn’t – and they are all the better for it. What it does mean, however, is that there is a faint air of amateurishness about the gig, but not so much that it spoils it (unlike the godawful weather on the day nearly did).
As for the actual performance, this is a superbly chosen/ well-paced set of songs.The Joy Division tracks were played with the correct level of reverence, in that they were warmly greeted back as old friends not seen for years, rather than treated as sacred artifacts that cannot be touched for fear of damaging them, and the (underrated) Get Ready material fitted in well, too. The whole band enjoyed playing the songs, and it showed, with some great “rock god” posing from Hooky, and some fabulously bad dancing from Bernard.
Downsides: Yes, it was June, so most of the gig was in daylight (ironic as it was the first daylight we had all day), and they have edited out some of Bernard’s great between-song banter. Worse than that, they have left a song out entirely! Admittedly World In Motion has always stuck out like a sore thumb in the New Order catalogue, but even leaving aside that it was a great crowd singalong moment, it was hilarious; poor old Barnie managed to sing the verses where the chorus should be and vice-versa, despite Hooky gesturing wildly at the autocue trying to attract his attention. Yes, it was a shambles, but it underlines everything that has been said about New Order being a band with flaws and contradictions. And it was a GREAT shambles!
Overall: a good (not quite great) gig, atrocious weather, average editing. Worth checking out as a record of modern-era New Order – a band who seem much more comfortable on stage than in years gone by – but don’t expect slick professionalism.

Stop shouting, Barney!
Starts off ferociously enough but eventually descends into something of a chimp's tea party. New Order fans will buy on sight but the more casual viewer who may be tempted for old time's sake (many Joy Division songs feature with variable degrees of success) should consider waiting until the price drops.

New Order at Finsbury Park
This is an excellent DVD. I have previously bought the 316 dvd and was disappointed with it because the was no 5.1 stereo.Also the 316 DVD doesn't have any dialogue between tracks, this DVD has and also has DTS sound. The sound quality is top notch and the quality of the tracks are amazing. I went to the concert and I stood around in the rain watching several bands, which were okay but I was waiting for New Order to come on. I was wet through by the time they were due to come on but, it seemed that just for them, it stopped raining and the sun began to shine. I remember Barney saying something about it not raining for the Queen, which is omitted on the DVD. Also there is no World in Motion,which went down well at the concert because of the World Cup. They open with the strong track Crystal and then they throw a few Joy Division tracks along the way. Whilst playing Digital they get John Simm(24HRPP) to come on and do the 'day in day out' part of the vocals, they hadn't performed the track for years but it sounds fantastic.They also played a song they had only performed once live before, 'Brutal',which Barney said was written for the film 'The Beach'.Their musical pedigree really shines,the classic 'Temptation' sounds amazing as does the Joy Division classic 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.
The DVD is really well produced, with picture in picture shots of what's going on (some folk larking around in the mud etc), lots of different camera shots.The menus are great with a 'set list' on 2 pages.
Once I start playing the DVD I find it hard to turn off. Yes you do get some silly dancing from Bernard and the out shout 'come on' within the tracks but that's just Barney and it doesn't spoil the DVD. Hooky's guitar over the years seems to get slung lower and lower, he looks as if he could play with his toes. Stephen Morris's drumming is up to his usual high standard. The new guy (stand in) Phil Cunningham does a great job on guitar and keyboards. Is Gillian missed? Well yes I definitely want to see her back touring with the band, but I'm sure she will be.
All in all a fantastic DVD and if like me, you are a fan of New Order then this DVD is a must have for your collection.