Republic (album)


Republic is the sixth studio album by English rock band New Order. It was first released on 3 May 1993 in the United Kingdom by London Records and on 11 May 1993 in the United States by Qwest and Warner Bros. Records. It was the band's first album following the demise of their former label Factory Records, and would be their last studio album for eight years until 2001's Get Ready.
Republic became New Order's second consecutive album to top the UK Albums Chart, and was nominated for the 1993 Mercury Music Prize. In the United States, it reached number 11 on the Billboard 200, the band's highest-peaking album on the chart to date. Its lead single "Regret" became New Order's last top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart. The band went on hiatus following a gig at the Reading Festival in promotion of the album in August 1993. Lead singer Bernard Sumner was known to not like travelling to North America, and media reports suggested that the pressure of the long leg there contributed to the band's temporary demise, although they reunited in 1998.

Artwork

The album follows on the standard New Order principles of not having anything other than the credits and art inside the CD sleeve, and of having a Peter Saville-designed cover. The sleeve itself is a reference to the US, and in particular, California, where Saville had relocated. The sleeve displays different aspects of California—people relaxing on the beach, while some people's houses are being burnt down ; vast natural landscapes, contrasting to the skyline of Los Angeles, etc. Most images were taken from stock photo libraries to achieve a commercial look, and were heavily retouched. Several of these images have also been used in marketing, e.g., direct mailing, catalogues, and adverts for businesses. Another interpretation of the album's artwork alludes to the Fall of Rome.

''Republic: The Limited Run..''

A limited-edition version of Republic, titled Republic: The Limited Run.., was released in the United States. Although the tracks are the same as the standard release, the packaging is entirely different. Instead of a jewel case, the CD comes in a folding wallet made of bright orange vinyl underpadded with soft foam, giving it the feel of an inner tube. The CD's label is also redesigned, with no words but with a picture of several orange rubber inner tubes against a background of flames, a reference to the cover artwork. The booklet, tucked into a pocket of the vinyl wallet, is the same as the standard version, but made of a plastic waterproof material instead of paper.

Track listing

Personnel

New Order

Musician credits for New Order are not listed in the liner notes of the album's personnel. Below are the instruments that the group typically plays.
The original liner notes list the album's personnel as follows:

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications