Album of the Day

“This should be the last straw for Joy Division fans,” said New Order singer Bernard Sumner of “World In Motion,” the band's improbable 1990 hit. It's hard to imagine anything further from the quartet's post-punk roots than this football anthem, written to support England's team in its World Cup bid, but the song's success underlines New Order's skill and versatility. Co-written with comedian Keith Allen, the track frames an anti-hooligan message (and a rap by athlete John Barnes) with buoyant alternative rock based on a BBC theme penned by the band's Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert. “World In Motion” became New Order's sole U.K. No.1 single, and as the FIFA World Cup kicks off again, it's our song of the day.