The Millennial Depeche Mode?

June 30, 2015 6:39 PM

The New Division has a new album... Gemini. It's very New Wave 3.0 you can stream it here John Kunkel began writing new wave/synth pop songs in 2005 while attending California Baptist University in Riverside, California, heavily inspired by bands such as New Order and Depeche Mode. Over the next few years, the New Division began to develop into a full band, with Michael Janz and Mark Michalski joining Kunkel on synthesizer, and Brock Woolsey contributing guitar. The group gigged heavily around Riverside, developing its modern take on '80s-inspired sounds, and began digitally self-releasing singles and EPs in 2010. start here: Introspection a little darker here: Alive
posted by bobdow (11 comments total)

I prefer Joy Order.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:50 PM on June 30, 2015 [22 favorites]

It really is astonishing how clear the New Order influence is. That said, I really enjoyed this.
posted by 4ster at 7:21 PM on June 30, 2015

I'm really liking this so far, but it's late and I can't stay awake long enough to listen to it all.

I have to say, though, the name New Division puts me off a bit. It kind of hits me like something some kid thought sounded like a cool/clever homage to Joy Division, but was totally unaware where that name came from.

Still, I've always loved this sound and I'm happy to hear it again.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:37 PM on June 30, 2015 [5 favorites]

I thought the name of this band sounded familiar and it's because I own one of their EPs from a few years ago. Thanks for reminding me of them; I really like that EP. I'm looking forward to investigating their current music.
posted by immlass at 7:50 PM on June 30, 2015

It really is astonishing how clear the New Order influence is.

When I was 12 or 13, I would have loved this. Now it sounds a bit nostalgic, mostly, but not something I'd probably listen to anymore.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:22 PM on June 30, 2015

Agree that the name hurts them a bit; sounds like some sort of gimmicky cover band. The music is nice, but like a lot of extremely retro stuff, it may be hard to convert the folks who'd rather just hear the actual classic stuff instead.

This reminded me though how much I've been digging the recent instrumental album by Depeche Mode's Martin Gore. Very cinematic electronica.
posted by p3t3 at 8:39 PM on June 30, 2015 [6 favorites]

Hear also: Washed Out. Heard them in the local coffeehouse; my brain said THIS IS DEPECHE MODE and then WAIT THIS IS NOT DEPECHE MODE.

After listening to a few songs, though, I'm clear this is not a band I can listen to extensively -- the melodies have that Morrissey-like tendency to go flat and/or span the vast and galloping range of two half-steps up or down from one note, and that drives me bananas.
posted by gusandrews at 9:59 PM on June 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

I dig what they're trying to do but that name is just so on the nose that it irks me.
posted by tunewell at 11:30 PM on June 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

This pushes enough of my buttons that I don't care about the name.

/holsters imaginary Uzi, cruises away in imaginary Corvette to fight imaginary ninjas
posted by obiwanwasabi at 2:58 AM on July 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Now, if someone can just do Metamatic-era John Foxx? ktnxbai
posted by Devonian at 3:31 AM on July 1, 2015

I thought that was The Killers' first album…
posted by acb at 11:53 AM on July 1, 2015