Album of the Day

Released 30 years ago today, New Order's SUBSTANCE is an essential supplement to the British quartet's studio albums, gathering their single A- and B-sides to date (many of which were non-LP). From "Temptation," "Blue Monday" and "Bizarre Love Triangle" to the then-brand-new "True Faith," these are the songs that elevated New Order to the pantheon of alternative dance, presented in a mixture of re-recorded, edited and 12" versions that bring out the best in each track. The band's progression from haunted post-punk to dancefloor icons is thrilling to hear on this double-disc set, named by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time. SUBSTANCE was also a substantial commercial success, selling more than a million copies, and it remains the ideal entry point for listeners who are new to New Order.