With New Order’s latest album Waiting For The Sirens’ Call coming out in North America last week, Exclaim! takes the opportunity to recap the massively influential yet utterly unique band’s history in timeline form. I may be compromising all cred I have by saying I far prefer New Order to their forebears Joy Division, but it’s true. There are times when “Temptation” is simply the best song in the world.

The New Order news cycle brings us a few pieces worth reading, including these interviews with Bernard Sumner by the San Francisco Chronicle (via neworderonline.com) and Rolling Stone and this Chicago Sun-Times interview with Peter Hook. Hookie will also be in Toronto this Friday doing a DJ set at the Mod Club, admission $15.

You can see the first two videos from Sirens’ Call here. “Krafty” is vintage New Order and the video is equal parts snogariffic and vertigo-inducing. “Jetstream” is underwhelming and is probably only a single to capitalize on the appearance of the chick from The Scissor Sisters. And really, they’re not a band that should appear in their own videos…

Video (WMA): New Order – “Krafty”

Video (WMA): New Order – “Jetstream”

And while you’re enjoying all things New Order, check out Peter Saville’s website. The man responsible for the band’s distinctive visual style has a nice online gallery of his work and you can download fonts of the typefaces he used on all the different Joy Division and New Order album covers over the years. Very cool.

Wilco aren’t coming back to Toronto anytime soon, but they will be playing just down the 401 in sunny Buffalo on June 28 as part of the Rockin’ At The Knox festival at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. If it wasn’t a weekday and if I had a car, I’d consider going. But it is and I don’t, so that’s that. Oh, and I really don’t like Buffalo… but I digress. My Morning Jacket support.

But who IS coming to Toronto on July 25 is none other than Bruce Campbell, in town to promote his new book, Learn To Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way. Finally, some tips on how to use that chainsaw for a hand to satisfy the ladies.

Ex-Spinane Rebecca Gates will be at Lee’s Palace May 21 filling in the vacancy left when The Decemberists moved their show that night to the Phoenix.

Popmatters interviews Brendan Benson.

Stereogum brings us “21 High-Quality Albums From The Past Three Years (In No Particular Order)” courtesy of the very funny Chuck Klosterman. Klosterman seems to be a love ’em/hate ’em kind of polarizing figure, and I’m firmly in the first camp. Also happy to see his next book, Killing Yourself to Live : 85% of a True Story, is coming out next month.

24: Truly it does my heart proud to see the Chinese getting their moment in the sun as villains. No one ever gives us enough credit for having the capacity for evil. Granted, so far it’s only bureaucratic evil and they haven’t actually done anything really sinister yet, but it’s coming. Can you say season five? Jack Bauer vs China. But I was a little disappointed that the consulate infiltration was over so quickly. As Juan pointed out via email, it was very Metal Gear in execution – it would have been nice to see Jack have to drag and hide a guard’s body in a locker. A very intense final scene – it’s nice when they let Keifer act. The look on his face was really quite emotive. I tell ya, no one knows how to break up with a woman like Jack Bauer. And Chloe and Edgar are totally going to get it on. It will be the grossest thing ever.

np – Explosions In The Sky / The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place

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