Unknown Pleasures

Bit monotone for my liking. However this was only the beginning of greater progress unfortunately Curtis could not make that journey..

Dark and brooding with bloody great bass lines. I hadn't really listened Joy Division before this, but I really enjoyed this album

Very strong post-punk vibes. Creative album.

I like the album cover a lot. Before this album the only Joy Division I had listened to was their most popular song, so I had some expectations. I wasn't the biggest fan of the style of this album, but I enjoyed this more than the punk music on other albums we've listened to.

Another English rock album?? How many can there be? This was fine, didn’t love it didn’t hate it. Cool album cover. 6/10

Didn't find it that interesting to listen to. Was fine though

Joy Division is one of those bands I didn't listen to at the time and though I'm a fan of new wave, punk and rock from the late 70's, I didn't think I would enjoy their music. More recently, I've tried to listen to like-minded bands like New Order, the Cure and Bauhaus, but I never was enthused by their post-punk, goth sounds. I do enjoy a lot of Unknown Pleasures, especially the upbeat songs and some songs remind me of the Cramps. The guitar sound is nice and the bass work on Disorder (and throughout) is incredible. A solid debut album and though they're not essential to me, I can understand why they made the list.

I know a number of people that swear by Joy Division. But the singer just... he didn't connect for me that first time. But listening to it a second time, I am coming to appreciate him more. The music is still a bit bleep blorp, but I get the sound they were going for. I feel like it's something I should come back to, unlike other albums where I was like "no, there's nothing there." Maybe I will...

Am starting to think the author(s) of this list is British

Dark and moody. Doesn’t hold up well. Coincidence that I just listened to New Order like two days ago??

Every song on this album goes something like: - Drums start - Keyboard adds ambience - sick guitar comes in - I start thinking “oh this gonna be good” - awful, excruciating, out of key vocals totally ruin it. - and repeat This is a 5 star instrumental album ruined by the bad singing. I know it’s probably a deliberate artistic decision, but it’s still a bad decision.

There were times during this album that I was considering 4 stars, and other times, I was considering 2 stars. All the way through I was thinking this could be a great song, if the vocals were different. It's better than other albums we've had in this genre.

Alright. Only ever heard Shadow Play before because of the killers' cover.

Get a bit of that atonal singing that I don't love. Sounds like the first step towards the British punk a bit. Cleaned up brit punk.

kind of good music, 3 stars

This album reminds me of being 15. Not because I listened to it then, although I am that old. But because I was in a band, and each of us had been playing for a year or so and we kind of knew chords and how music fit together, but for the most part, we just wanted to make interesting noise that didn't sound like anyone else, and we were just old enough to start to understand that life is hard no matter who you are, and no matter what you do it never actually makes any sense, and - most importantly - we were starting to have those moments when the five of us who almost but didn't quite know how to make our instrument do exactly what we wanted, but we did know how to make it kind of do what we wanted and could start to listen and react to each other. There's so much beauty and excitement and even transcendence in that moment. And this album captures it like few others. Add to that the knowledge we all now have that we're listening to this larva explore its musical world, but as soon as it becomes a pupa and is struggling to wrest itself from its youth and fly, a huge beast comes along and kills it.

Joy Division is a band I should like more but I cannot stand that snare sound. Clearly though, no Joy Division, no Interpol,

first listen, probably should've checked them out by now, honestly not *that* impressed, maybe I built it up in my head too much

Don't get joy division or most post punk, probably never will

liked a few songs but it was tough to get through for some reason.

Couple of good songs. Not worth the whole album though for me

It's fine. I know this album and it's story, and there are some interesting tracks. But it's telling that I haven't found cause to listen to it over the intervening 20 or so years.

The guitar and percussion on some songs were really good, but once again some songs just gave me a headache. It’s hard to hear the lyrics through how loud the instruments are. I think I would like these songs individually more in a playlist than I do as an album cohesively. Top Song: New Dawn Fades

interesante descenso a la depresión. Buen disco

I really like Joy Division's music but I don't love the vocals (may Ian Curtis RIP). Is it weird that I like Joy Division mostly for giving rise to New Order? In any case, I can appreciate the instrumentation of Sumner, Morris, and Hooky on this album (and on the second JD album as well as the Substance compilation). I think She's Lost Control is my favorite song here.

Tragic story

Man i really wanted to love this and buy into the hype but i cannot get into it despite trying 3 times. Some tracks i like and the guitar droning i vibe with but something about the vocals grates on me. I feel like the cure does this but better in disintegration.

The music is very strong, but the singing divides the hell outta my joy.

Not a fan

אני בטוח שהאלבום הזה טוב אם מקשיבים לו הרבה או יודעים את הסיפור או משהו, אבל לט התחברתי למוזיקה...

I know people love this album, and it's okay, but it is still sort of average for me. To 80s euro-pop for my tastes. Much better than The Cure however.

Actually kinda disappointing for me. I've heard so many great things about this album and I was prepared to have my mind blown. But, that was not the case. This album is not for me, and although I do find the lyrics to be great and profound and are actually a highlight of the album for me, the music itself is just "okay" to me. 7/10 or I guess 3/5 for this website.

Pretty good for new wave music but ultimately can’t get it over three

Kuunneltu muutaman kertaan... Listalle päätynyt coverin seurauksena... Hyvä thumbnaili.. sanokkona klikkibaitti ehkä ehkä.. laatua löytyy eri paikoista täältä sieltä.. Laitamma 3 tähtöstä.. Enemmän laatua olisi jostain toisista paikoista ehkäpä mielekkäämpi kuuntelu..

Liked it fine

No bad, not great.

7/10 Awesome bass. If only Ian Curtis could sing.

May have been repetitive. Not much to say about this album.

Some glimmers of greatness but unfortunately just doesn't quite do much for me, feels a little bit unfocused at times.

His voice is wonderful. The lyrics are incredibly sad. I couldn’t listen to the entire album. Heartbreaking

dark and moody, the bass especially stands out. overall sounds good, but not a lot really stands out. the singing gets pretty repetitive since it's lacking musicality

Post-punk drudge and sadness are apparent in the beginning, but eventually the record strikes a chord and hits that reinvention of rock stride. I think the ambition is phenomenal and the execution is acceptable. I still don’t understand why every 50 year old with a gray beard has to where the shirt, but perhaps if this has been released while I was in my formative years, I may have a softer spot for it? Idk… it’s just missing passion. It weaves some wicked guitar chords and SFX in, but doesn’t keep the pace.

• Tror omslaget är kändare än innehållet i albumet, av rimliga skäl för det är väldigt fränt; en inspiration till AM antar jag. Funderar ibland på vilka album som kan dyka upp nån dag, och detta är en av dem som har passerat genom tankarna • Disorder = bra låt och ett coolt ord generellt • Candidate, Insight = inte den bästa direkt • Alla låtar har coolt sound, men det monotona sjungandet kan bli tråkigt efter en stund Betyg: Även fast jag gillar Joy Division, är jag nog mer för den Nya Ordningen. Jag kan inte heller med att ge albumet högre betyg bara för det är en klassiker och har ett snyggt omslag => 3/5

I like joy division but some are a lil weird for me

Pretty mid for me. I like the instrumentals but the vocals lose it for me. Ok as background music but not something I would purposely put on.

Obviously an outstanding album which sets up a special dark atmosphere with Ian Curtis' hypnotic voice. Great sounding production. However a little too post-punky and theatrical for my current taste.

Interesting album, and more enjoyable than I feared. First time I ever heard of this, thank you!

To be honest the whole time I was listening to this all I could think of was The Smiths but not as good. I know it's probably unfair to them but man is the style of singing so similar. One of my favorite songs was Shadowplay but it sounded off. Then I realized it was covered by The Killers and I much prefer that version. 6/10

Solid album but nothing crazy high 6

Cool, not entirely my thing, but can tell how highly influential this band was.

I think New Order is better. Not sure where all the hype comes from around the album. It was pretty good but not amazing.

Meh. Not my flavor of sad music but it’s objectively pretty good.

Interpol seems to take a ton of influence from Joy Division. Not a big fan. Cool to hear the progression of punk though, I suppose. Not sure why this album gets so much praise. Might need to listen through another time to understand better.

Okay

Pretty good!

Quality jam but not really my speed, wouldn't likely listen again or think back to it.

Ganz nette Sounds. Erinnert mich einwenig an die "Doors". Interresanter E-Sound ähnlich "Yes"

I do love music around that 144 bpm tempo, but production-wise, the whole album has a lot a gaps in the spectrum of audible frequencies - noticably not much low-end. I wasn't there (by which, I mean I never knew anyone who caught this buzz) and suspect those gaps are filled with nostalgia or substances for those who love this. I'm more into influenced bands like She Wants Revenge. Not for me, but there's definitely some artistic expression going on.

Haven't talked about The Eels yesterday and how you need to be in a certain (miserable) mood for it but I love it, it seems odd that I wouldn't like this. I am aware of Joy Division of course and they've always been around in references and, I don't know, "the ether" for want of a better phrase but they've never felt like "my music". It's stark and cold and that's good in it's place and I understand how they sound distinctive and can even appreciate the sound, but it's not an album I would choose to stick on. I think it's just the "Whigfield effect" where music I grew up with is more important to me than that I didn't. On the other hand, they've always sounded "real" to me, unlike some of the other stuff on this list which doesn't move me it all. Anyway, I've listened to it now. I kind of got into it more toward the end and I think if I put the effort in, I could probably grow to like it. Not sure I will though. 3 1/2 stars, for now. Might revisit.

I enjoyed this. I'm a sucker for guitar and repetition motifs.

this sounds like the smiths but a bit more punky and it's also kinda intricate and he talks about some vague experiences...... i think this album is best known for the cover rather than the music

Sounds like 80s music…which I suppose is groundbreaking since it came out in 1979. If you like that kinda thing, I guess you’ll like this. It’s a classic album cover though so I’ll add a star to my rating for that but I really wish it had better music to go with it

I like it, but I'm not sure why it gets so much love. I believe the emperor has new clothes.

New Order has always spoken to me a bit more, but I certainly liked this more than I like most sorta gothy new wave. Second half of this had some sick songs I’m not too familiar with, but overall I think there’s a bit too much fillery sounding stuff for a classic album.

The album art is more iconic than the music. The music is fine. It just doesn't really stand out to me

Love the first song but then they all started to sound the same

Love Disorder and She's lost control. I just never really liked Ian CUrtis' voice. Ironically, New Order is my favorite 80s band (Joy division post-Ian Curtis).

Music was good, lyrics ruined it

Kind of neutral, to be honest. It was nice but I wouldn't say that it was absolutely the best. This sounds like something they would play on Absolute Classic Rock Radio, which is great.

If this isn’t the soundtrack of every melancholy teenager I don’t know what is. What’s endearing and accessible is the fragility of the vocals.

Um, what?

Feels like I can’t fully rate this on one listen. While it’s not typically my thing I appreciate the singular vision of the sound that they went for. Very bleak and reverby. Standout track: Wilderness

Great album. Smooth pleasing sound

Pretty chill and easy to listen to. It was nice to finally listen to an album so familiar.

maybe im not depressed enough but this was just okay.

A decent album. Not much variety in the songs. No real good songs to hook you in. 3 stars only

I've never been fully on board with Joy Division. This is alright I guess

Meh, it's fine. I can clearly hear the influence it drove and why it was so influential, but as an album to actually listen to, droning with annoying vocals, musicianship is mediocre at best. Glad I've now heard Joy Division, but don't expect to be listening to them again in the near future.

Eh

like other reviewers, i wanted to like this more than i did. the moody and drab gothic rock feel just did not hit for me. everything's musically either a little too loose or too rigid and it all just comes off as amateurish and off-putting. eh favorites: disorder, day of the lords, shadowplay

I have heard of Joy Division for many years, but I’m not so sure that I’ve ever heard Joy Division. Not at all what I expected. I really liked parts of it and really hated other parts. That’s how averages work.

Best Songs: Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, Dead Souls Listen Again: Yes

I didn't realize Joy Division could sound like Bore Division! Joking aside, I didn't realize they could sound like Leonard Cohen. Just that sort of night time driving music that doesn't really hit me one way or another. It's not a bad album, I just wasn't moved by it. I will say, for a debut and it being 1979, this would have felt super fresh back in the day. Had I just listened first, I'd have guessed much more recent.

meeeeh, I feel like i'm supposed to like this but i'm not sure. maybe i was not in the mood for it. I feel like some dudebro is judging me.

I really want to like this album more than I do, especially given how iconic it is. The music is pretty great - I like a lot of what they put in here, and I can tell it's a thoughtful group of musicians. The vocals just...remove any enjoyment you would derive from listening. If this was instrumental, I would love it. The mumbling/droning just doesn't do it for me. Fav tracks: New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay

Not the biggest new wave fan but this album could maybe change that.

1st Album of 1001. 1st Album listened to on new Surround system. Haunting, smoky bar vibes. Vocalist is a bit shit tho.

Not really my thing. I liked the bass driven sound, but something just doesn't work for me. Maybe the disinterested sounding vocals.

Was pretty cool!

Pretty good. Still can’t get into JD as much as I would like to, unfortunately :(

Het album begint met een vijfsterren waardige baslijn, maar blijkt helaas verder vrij saai en eentonige gitaarmuziek te zijn, waar de stem van de zanger net niet lekker bij past.

forgettable rock

Not something I couldn't listen to but not something if ever choose myself

Favorite Tracks: Disorder Shadowplay

Moody and a bit dark.

Unknown Pleasures has never captured my ears in the way I wish it would. I've listened to it a handful of times over the years, and each time I come away without much desire to return. Thats not to say there aren't some standout moments on the album, or to underplay its significance as a post-punk landmark, I just don't seem to connect very deeply with it, outside of a few personal highlights like Day of the Lords and Shadowplay. Its an album worth listening to, but for me at least, not one I find myself coming back to.

That bass line slaps so hard. You know which one I'm talking about. I wish they'd enjoy themselves a bit more. Sad sacks the entire time.

The album starts to get monotonous after a while, not saying it’s bad in any measure but it’s hard for me to listen to it straight through, vs having a couple songs I really enjoy on occasion. 3.4

2.9/5 Best Track: Interzone

No comment

Stand bei jedem Zweiten in der Plattensammlung. Früher cool, heute reißt die Platte nicht mehr vom Hocker.

Very influential album. I think this is some artist's ground zero. I liked it a lot! Fun in a sloppy, strange, disorienting way. I kind of love that the playing is so loose. Something unsettling about the lead singer. Makes you feel a little off balance. A great-time-had 3/5, definitely worth listening, I may get into it more with more listens.

i thought this was going to be something special. and i kept waiting for it to become that. and it never did. not bad by any means but i thought this was a classic and i didn’t get that sense while listening.

Guess I gotta think about this album in context. I don’t think I’ll re listen to it any time soon.

I'm not very far into this list, but I am already growing pretty numb to this style of music. The English post-punk music here is nothing I would ever call bad, but man was I wholly unimpressed. Spotify's play-count seems to reflect that this is a pretty popular album in the genre too, but maybe it's a style that never really will click with me.

It’s ok

While I intensely love the Peter Saville cover art and "Disorder", Joy Division's reputation rests on 4-6 songs and the fact that the remaining members became New Order. "She's lost control" and "New Dawn Fades" are ok and could be part of those 4-6 songs or not depending on one's subjective judgment of the band. That said, their two albums are dour, robotic and rough. Factory issue indeed.

Worst album I’ve literally ever heard

It was ok

Sounds like a lot of the music that was available in 1979, Devo etc. It has it's place and it isn't disco.

Ook Joy Division levert geen kandidaat voor beste 'zanger'. Zeker bij de verlengde lettergrepen houdt de zanger het niet. Doe dat dan gewoon minder. Joy Division weet soms op de een of andere manier wel muziek naast die zang te zetten, waarmee het ineens toch wel aardig klopt.

Favourite song - New Dawn Fades Didn't enjoy the album that much, but quite like the sound of dark post-punk.

This Album feels like you are alone drunk in a dark shady nighclub, with the band playing songs that sound familiar yet so different. It is sad and depressing. I appreciate it for what it is but i don't get all the hype.

Very much doesn’t sound like a 70s album. Dark broody stuff, very on brand for me but not spiky enough.

I didn’t enjoy this album as much as I have in the past. Not sure I was listening on the correct format or in the right mood. Anyway, gotta rate it based on current listen - 3.4

Oh, that 80’s melancholy. I can’t not see the goth kids from South Park shuffling back and forth to this.

Decent interesting album I hadn’t heard before

already heard this its a vibe but incredibly overrated

Mellow "post-punk". Echoey percussion with droning vocals and guitar

groot fan van het eerste nummer, eerst ging ik wel lekker op dat de rest een beetje duister is en zwartgallig. Het gehele album is best eentonig.

I've honestly never really got this album. Maybe I'm missing the context of the gloomy twilight zone atmosphere of Manchester in the 80s or something. Sick movie about Ian Curtis that's worth watching though.

“Unknown Pleasures” was much better than anticipated. Was it going to have too much obnoxious synth? Were the vocals going to drive me nuts? It turns out no, and mostly no. Joy Division’s debut was refreshingly guitar and bass driven, and created a much appreciated dark and gothic vibe that the synth-heavy bands always overshoot. And I wasn’t annoyed by Ian Curtis’ voice until the third song. Sometimes it’s just too silly and over the top, but sometimes it does work well. I liked “Unknown Pleasures” more than “Closer,” but it would still take Curtis reining in his excesses to win me over.

6/10

eh

Honestly, don't love it. I quite enjoy a lot of Joy Division / New Order's music but I'm not obsessed with this record. A good amount of it falls flat with me. A great job but not entirely my vibe. My first three star.

I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of this one. There are some fantastic songs (Shadowplay, Disorder, Interzone), but there is a lot of dud/fillers.

非我菜但是好听

Not loving it.

The drums are clean. The lyrics are very 70s with repeating words. The album builds its drive in the first few songs.

Good but not great to me. I'd recommend to someone who enjoys this sound but personally I won't download it or listen to it again. 3/5

если я захочу послушать альбом в одной тональности, я включу Брюса Спрингстина! (нет)

I am personally disappointed by this record. I had never heard anything from this band, but I have seen a lot of people wearing merchandising by them. I received good opinions about them also. So in one way or another, I had set very high expectations on this album. Maybe they were unjustifiedly high or maybe they are overhyped in general. Do not get me wrong, though. The record is not bad at all, and I really appreciate the sound they establish in this album. At some point the tones are too low for my personal taste, but that's just me again. Good and interesting listen.

Em va agradar més la samarreta. Una mica repetitiu, les cançons estan bé però no són res de l'altre món.

Slow and dark sounding with druggy references TODO: become homeless and listen again

The quicker tempo pieces are what Like although I do really like the closer which may be the slowest song on the album. The sound when good is definitely unique and striking, other times I just find the depressing element too strong for me to want to hear those songs even all the way through that makes it hard for me to give it a 4.

3.5

Interesting but too simple.

Love will tear us apart and disorder still stick out for me. An album that I’ve always wanted to love, but I never have been able to - except for disorder, a phenomenal and catchy song. It’s a little too dark for me and it can be challenging to understand the context that really makes this a revolutionary album.

I liked the sound, no songs really hit tho

it was a division of joy

the voice and the intense longing for someone to pwease listen to his emotions do NOT match

Unique band release a unique album at a unique time. I know, I was there.

Instrumentals were solid but didn't love the vocals. Could see it being an album that gets better the more you listen to it tho.

English precursor of Sigur Roz

I hate that I keep giving 3's but nothing has really impressed me so far. Another album that was just okay, but wouldn't listen to it again.

Not as big of a fan of this album than I thought i would be. Really enjoyed the title track but the album in general is really conceptual. Not a bad thing! Just not my cup of tea.

It sounded good and I enjoyed it but didn't have much of a specific impression tbh and wasn't paying that much attention

Disorder is a classic. A few of the other songs tend to drag on. Definitely see how this band inspired a lot of punk sound in the 80's and onward. Listened to on a walk in October, definitely set the mood for spooky season. Overall more misses than hits.

First half I enjoyed much more than the second.

Not that enjoyable to listen

It quite melancholy and slow. It feels a bit like a shorter Swans album. The drumming has its highlights but no song really jumped out at me. 3.5/5

I don't really get Joy Division, feel like I'm missing something everyone else hears. Guess this is a bit like when Jack listens to the Talking Heads? They aren't bad, kind of thrown together 80s sad indie. Ian Curtis does sound pretty troubled and I think people probably have a deeper connection with it due to that. Nothing grabs me though. Don't understand where the mythical status comes from at all.

Thought this was okay but it's a bit too dreary for my liking. Has a bit of that New Wave sound to it which I dislike. The guitar work is the best thing about this album and I enjoyed it a lot more than Talking Heads. Highlights: Disorder Interzone

Spooky and quite nihilistic. It's decent. Day of the Lords is a banger. Not all of the songs hit which makes for some lost momentum which makes me tune out. But it's definitely influential and one wonders what would have happened if Ian Curtis didn't take his own life. New Order may not have existed or would have come about in the 90s.

Growing up in Midwest, this wasn’t around much. Very much needed but not as widely known.

It was like the moody punk rock of the 80s. There were a couple of good guitar riffs sprinkled in there.

Wasn't really my vibe, but I didn't hate it.

This album would easily be a 4/5 if not for the awful vocal style. The music itself is fantastic and I really liked it. This is the second or third album of theirs that I have gotten and this is by far my favorite. So close joy division.

Dark, schwer

my body likes moving to this. mum recommends more meditative music.

I guess I am going to add this to the list of "acclaimed records that everyone seems to love that I really do not get" the songs were fine, albeit a bit boring. you can see how influential this album really is, because so much music after it lifts sounds and feel from this album. the singer's voice i did not find compelling and at times it felt like a bad jim morrison impression. i see people find his vocal delivery to be meaningful and i do not want to detract from that, but it just felt off in a bad way for me. sorry! not for me. i want to give this album another listen sometime because it is just so acclaimed that there has to be something i am missing. for now, i just sort of shrug, hoping it will click in the future.

Really enjoyed Disorder and Day of the Lords. Got a bit bored during Candidate. The rest of the album become a blur other than She's Lost Control. Wild to think this came out in 79. My buddy said he'd prefer the album if it were instrumental and now I can't stop imagining that.

7/10 disorder, shadowplay, and she’s lost control stay groovy but day of the lords rlly dragged for me - very cohesive sound but maybe a bit too cohesive at some points

Good bass Cool guitar lines Don't like the singing much

Brooding, occasionally driving, occasionally dirgey.

Prima album heb lekker schoongemaakt met dit aan, vrij intens soms maar over het algemeen ook wel casual te luisteren

Unknown Pleasures indeed! Prior to this I didn't know this group existed and I have to say I liked it. I can see the linkage between this group and how it influenced future musicians.

AJ: pleasantly surprised. Maybe. I didn’t listen. Just a hunch.

Found it pretty bland on the whole, disorder and shadow play are great though

ok

This is an album that has never personally clicked with me. If you’re someone interested in punk music this is considered a touch point, so I’ve listened to it many times before, but as always I’m just not terribly moved by it. However, I almost have to give it a good rating because of how important it is. It really sets out and defines a mood that would become so influential it’s impossible to ignore. I feel a bit plebeian saying it but other than a couple songs, I really don’t enjoy listening to this album.

The prototype of industrial! A great representation of the genre, though not my favorite thing to listen to. Musically they are in a groove that they do very well

Meh... Besides a couple of tracks (Disorder, Day of the Lord) the rest is a bit forgettable. The distortion is great though :D

Great opportunity to hear the whole album. I don’t quite get the appeal or the importance of this band but I’m glad the music exists.

I was intrigued by this band name because I'm in a band called the Joy Collective. And yes, I had heard of them before but didn't know a single one of their songs, or had the slightest idea what they sounded like. Now that I've listened to this album, well... much to my disappointment, their music isn't very joyful. In fact, it's kind of depressing. Not to say there weren't a few songs I really liked and even related to. "She's Lost Control" even made me cry, because the lyrics were such that I was able to attribute intensely personal meaning to them that was probably as far from the writer's intended meaning as you could possibly get. Favourite tracks: She's Lost Control, Insight, New Dawn Fades

Całkiem spoko, fajny basik, trochę zwykły wokal, ale nie wsłuchałem się w tekst.

A bit boring, don't like the singer's voice

Very atmospheric and emotionally heavy. Really impressed by the production job, I’ve heard some Joy Division before but had no idea their live style was much closer to “normal” punk. A great example of how production can wildly change your sound. It’s quite a downer and none of the songs really hit for me, so I probably won’t come back, but it’s a fascinating and well-constructed album. Best song: She’s Lost Control

Second listen (actually listened to this for the first time very recently), although I really don’t have anything to say about it.

OK

i don't get this one... it's nice and i see why people like it but for me it just doesn't enthrall me at all. listened to this a bit before as well, had the same feelings. good performances all around, just isn't for me.

It's an alright album. It wasn't bad but not great. I didn't skip any songs. I will round up.

I liked it better on a second listen but still nothing really hooked me.

My first listen through this album was a bit of a slog. I made it. The next day, I tried again and it wasn't so rough. Because it was so short, I even got a third round in. It didn't improve any over the second listen. So, it amounted to a little less rough than a bit of a slog for me... When I returned to try to pinpoint a favorite track...so this would be a 4th time in fewer than 24 hours, I hardly recognized most of it.

Really love the way this album starts. Great energy. Didn't keep me engaged as much as it went along. I'd revisit if in a particular mood.

I don't really even know what to feel here. Maybe it was something on my end, but I left this album feeling empty. It felt like some songs would go on forever, despite only being a few minutes long, like time wasn't moving properly. I just had a weird feeling the whole time I was listening. I feel like the album didn't click for me. I mean, I understand why it would be cool for the time and why people would like it, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. That sucks, because I do want to like it. I assume I'll listen to it again when I'm older and finally understand it. My favourite song was Disorder.

it was fine.

The album from the T shirt meme!! We did it folks. It's softer and more melancholy than I remembered but I guess that's post-punk - I get more predecessor to Thom Yorke than I do contemporary of the Sex Pistols. Personally doesn't resonate much with me, I can't honestly call it a truly enjoyable listen but I get why it would be included here.

Definitely darker that a lot of punk I've heard. It still has the simplicity of punk in terms of instruments but the sound is darker and more complicated than I'm used to. I mostly liked it

Dark and somewhat depressing. I like the New Order version of this band better.

Gave it two listens and couldn't connect with it. Music is ok as background music, vocals made it hard to engage with the lyrics. Might revisit at a later date, but a 3 for now.

Top 3 Songs: 1 - Interzone (9) 2 - Disorder (1) 3 - She's Lost Control (6)

-already i like this joy division album better than the last one i listened to -i’ve heard disorder before -favorites: disorder, wilderness -idk this stuff is moody but not in a tickle my brain way -im trying so hard to like joy division i really am -idk. like this music is a little dull to me -i do like it better than the other one tho DEFINITELY

Está bueno, tiene sus cosas, pero es muuuy igual todo el disco. Termina cansando.

classico e tals mas nao curti muito, som meio monótono

It's okay; not one of my favorites. I liked it a little better than Bob Dylan though

I've heard to so many albums and adjacent to this through this project that I was honestly surprised I hadn't actually listened to this one yet. I feel like I've read about the short life and unhappy end of Ian Curtis half a dozen times while following Wikipedia articles around on prior albums and artists. As well, I've been seeing this album's iconic graphic since my tweens. So with all this build up... as with a lot of this genre, I'm kind of underwhelmed. Certainly it is foundational and ahead of its time, but foundational of what? A whole lot of British mopecore, with that vocal thing... Maybe the real gold is in the lyrics, I didn't listen to this with absolute attention. But at the end of the day I think it's just not my thing.

Unknown pleasures - Joy Division: disorder - 4/5 day of the lords - 3/5 candidate - 2.5/5 insight - 3/5 new dawn fades - 4/5 she's lost control - 3.5/5 shadowplay - 3.5/5 wilderness - 3/5 interzone - 3.5/5 I remember nothing - 2.5/5 favs: disorder new dawn fades she's lost control interzone

Good in places, mediocre in others.

Pretty cool album. His voice kinda sounds like Jim Morrison’s but without the ability to do the scream vocal

A cross between Nick Cave and Jim Morrison, not too sure how I feel about this as yet, interested to save most of the album into a post punk playlist, I guess good enough that I made a playlist so it has that going for it. I'll have to listen to it some more and might change my mind later.

I lowkey forget this album because I listened to it a while ago, but it was pretty good. kind of overrated tho.

overrated oops

This album makes Closer seem even more haunting. Even the tone in Ian Curtis' voice is noticeably brighter throughout this album, and the lyrics aren't even close to being as self-tortured. That being said, a lot of the music didn't grip me as much as I'd have liked. It was definitely good, but not one of my favorites. Favorite track: Day of the Lords

Less musical and more of a dirge than their best albums

first listen meh

Kept liking it less as it went. Started as cool mix between interpol and depeche mode, ended as a bit of a chore. Why does everyone wear this shirt?

Need to listen again

felt like regular 70s rock at first with monotone vocals but got better as the album went on. unexpectedly proggy and experimental?? comes out pretty good overall, prob not one i'd come back to often tho. 6/10

I liked the most popular song Disorder. The album was kind of drony. I usually like that sound but here it was just generic to me. Overall in a style I enjoy but nothing remarkable to me. I imagine this album influenced a lot of stuff I like but it's simply too old.

A couple of nice Joy Division stereotypical songs start the record, then comes the hard-to-hear vocals on top of some decent dirge... then a few more pretty good songs. I'll add the first few cuts to my library but won't add the record.

Seems like the parent of the Sonic Youth album I rated a few days ago but slightly easier to take.

not really my vibe, but I've seen this album cover on t shirts my whole life without really knowing what the music sounded like. I'm glad I know now! very broody teen.

I really wanted to like this album more, but I found to be a little too dark for me. I like the guys voice and I like a few songs. I mean you can feel his energy when he sings, but just didn't quite get there for me. Really enjoyed first 2 songs, Disorder and Day of the Lords, but then it took until Shadowplay before I found another I enjoyed. I think this is an album you would enjoy when you are shrooming....maybe.....and maybe not, due the darkness of this album. I was surprised this was from the late 70's and happy to listen, but not much I would download although Day of the Lords was catchy to me. I'll rate a 3. I was expecting a little more..... 3

Unknown Pleasures is like the "Requiem for a Dream" of music in that it's great and groundbreaking but I don't like to experience it often. The sorrow and the dreary sounds make me feel like I'm listening to an iceberg turned into music. This album differs from Closer in that there are moments that almost maybe sound hopeful whereas Closer has no hope. No positivity left to give. 3.5

Alrighty. So I must admit that although I do enjoy Joy Division's music generally, I have more love for the punk music scene of the 70's than the 80's melancholic post-punk movement. Frankly I just find it to be a bit dull. Unknown Pleasures is Joy Division's debut album, and I can honestly say that I certainly find it innovative. It clearly showcases the band's unique sound, but ultimately, in my opinion, it falls short of its potential. The album is a dark and brooding exploration of depression, anxiety, and isolation, which is conveyed through Ian Curtis' haunting vocals and the band's driving, post-punk instrumentals. However, some tracks lack the necessary energy and diversity to keep the listener engaged throughout. Overall, while I wouldn't consider Unknown Pleasures to be a masterpiece, it's still worth a listen for fans of the genre or those interested in exploring the roots of alternative music. Or for those who bought the t-shirt and actually want to be able to tell people that they've listened to the album - though it doesn't seem to be a prerequisite nowadays.

Not the happiest album out there.

I listened to this one twice, and I'm glad I did. Probably the most recognised and celebrated album cover for a group of seldom celebrated songs. I appreciated this the second time through. Some great production and some heartfelt content. On the cusp of post punk and ready to shape something new, Joy Division we're finding a place and have etched a spot in music history. I'll never really love this, but others who lived it the first time were there for something special. The tapestry of music-time is wonderful.

Pretty good

Not really been a fan of his vocals, but I like the music.

Album sympa mais mal enregistré, l'ingénieur son n'arrive pas a séparer les instruments et parfois c'est un peu un cafarnaum

Post-punk. Un tanto repetitivo. Ni fu ni fa.

It's alright, but not really my cup of tea. I sort of feel like this is the type of music Jim Morrison would have been making if he had been around in 1979. 3 stars.

The first time I've listened to Joy Division besides that track in Donnie Darko. There's much more distortion than I expected and that's a good thing. For me, a lot of this album functionally does the same thing as bands like early Queens of the Stone Age or CAN--gives me solid droning rock but it's a bit less radio friendly. Favorite tracks: She's Lost Control, Shadowplay Least favorite tracks: Candidate, Insight

Slower pace with large amounts of bass guitar. Not a huge fan of the vocalist, but overall decent

i’ve always found this overrated, bias confirmed

Low 3

The darkness that Curtis expresses in his lyrics and vocal performance of said lyrics is underscored perfectly by the gothic/industrial instrumentation. It's hard to explain exactly how I like this and don't like it all at the same time. I appreciate the artistry and the raw expression, I dig the music. But I just don't want to spend a lot of time with such a depressing act. I don't want to get sucked into Curtis's melancholic and despairing vortex. I do respect it though.

Helt okej men jag gillar andra plattan mycket mer.

Not as good as CLOSER

It’s good. Important. Not blown away.

I don't really get it, but it's not terrible.

This seems much darker than I remember Joy Division being.

Not much to say about this one, it's ok I guess, but also nothing really caught my ear on first listen...

Cool sound and vocals, but the lack of songwriting diversity leaves you feeling kind of underwhelmed.

Overall decent. A little too melancholy for my vibes.

I can appreciate what joy division did musically for the industry. Simple repetitive single note guitar lines, writing melody over drone notes etc. but not what I’d choose to listen to.

This album was a little bit too grungy for me. Two dark and foreboding. I realize that that is probably the point of this entire project, but I probably wasn't in the right mood to listen to something so brooding

Some real gems here, but not a front to back listen for me

A couple of good songs, some just not what I am into

Feels a little cold and emotionless somehow

A couple of good tunes, but not may favorite genre

Semi chill

Dark music, for listening in dark times…

3/5. A fairly good album but the singer can be annoying at times. Dig the cool instrumentation though.

My oldest brother loves Joy Division, so I have an inherent bias towards wanting to like them as well. But, I find their music quite same-y, and I've always found it odd that the singer's vocals are so understated. To me, Love Will Tear Us Apart is THE Joy Division song, all the songs on this album were just worse versions of that song.

classic joie de vivre

2/10, 20%

Good moody album

I was pleased to see this album crop up, as Joy Division is one of those bands that, every time someone mentions them, I think "I really need to check them out." But then I never get around to it, and the cycle begins again. I was *really* hoping to have my noggin blown by this album, but it just wasn't. It appears I'm not too into Ian Curtis' vocals, which sound a bit flat to my ears. None of the songs really jumped out at me, with the possible exception of "New Dawn Fades" and "Interzone," the latter of which features vocals by bassist Peter Hook instead of Curtis. In fact, the only thing that truly caught my attention was Hook's bass playing, which I found intriguingly unpredictable. (Oh, and the album cover, which is a classic.) I don't know. Maybe I'll appreciate it more if I give the album another listen or two, but I'm not in a rush to do so.

yuh yuh sounds the same but bangin

Cool cover. Sounds like smiths + current joys with lots of reverb. Kinda got less interesting as it went on.

I've just never clicked with this album. Not sure why as I feel like I should like it, and I enjoy Closer a lot more, I just find a good chunk of the middle of the record to be quite tedious

Chill album, not any parts that stuck out as great, but it wasn't bad

needs multiple listens not the indie rick i expected going in much more gloomy, slow, atmospheric did not hugely enjoy on first listen but i think it is music i would really like

I'm a huge fan of New Order, so should love JD too. However, everything I listen to Unknown Pleasures I feel slightly disappointed. It's powerful and dark and heavy, but I'd rather listen to the JD singles collection, Substance 1977-1980. Awesome LP cover.

I didn't really feel this album. Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood for the songs to hit, but it just seemed a bit too slow and moody for me in most cases. I certainly didn't hate this though, and I may revisit it someday. Favourite: She's Lost Control

Nice. Sounds more modern than 1979!

I always dig the Joy Division basslines, and the artwork is iconic! As much as I know some of my mates adore this album, I tend to get bored halfway through each track.

Hmmm I dunno, I'm not going to listen to music that will make me miserable. And if I feel miserable I want something that says "that's OK, feel better." This definitely has real moments but it's also quite dark

Easier to get on with than the other joy division I got.

I enjoyed this. They’ve got a big, cavernous sound that feels designed for live shows. It sounds great on record but the songs must have really come alive in concert. This would be a perfect example to play for someone curious what “post-punk” sounds like. The label can be pretty broad but I tend to think this sound is the core of the style. Moody, dramatic, spacious, big emotions. I’m not sure I’ll ever completely love Joy Division. Right now I respect and admire the music (they’ve obviously had a major influence on a million bands) but I don’t connect deeply to them. I wonder if I just need a certain time in my life when nothing but this sound will do. 🤷🏻‍♂️ In the meantime, I dig the energy.

Not my favorite

I get why people love Joy Division, especially for the time that Unknown Pleasures was released, it's just not really my cup of tea--it was hard to listen to the whole album in one setting, it was a little boring to me. I like the raw sound of the vocals and guitar, reminds me a lot of The Doors

no spoko, mroczne takie depresyjne, ale dupy nie urywa

An album that I can imagine listening to in some phase for sure. Opens pretty nicely. Is pretty coherent, although I don't remember the second part at all. I can imagine it being influential in the time of the release. Overally, not bad at all, and might return to it. I'd put it at like 7-8/10.

Tough one. I think its better than a 3 but not quite a 4.

liked the last three-four songs more than the rest of the album tbh

Very atmospheric and sonically interesting album. Like the opener more - bit of a nervous angsty energy over the darker more somber parts of the album.

Interesting, but not stand out.

Really leans into that classic 80s thing I hate where the super deep vocals have this weird distorted echo effect layered overtop.

Some classic industrial rock from the 1970s. Shadowplay is great! Fun fact, my brother saw them live last week and they played this album in full! Not enough for a 4. 3.5 rounded

Fairly unmemorable, but not unpleasant.

Dawn faded

Oh hey, it's that album I see on shirts all the time. I feel like I should be more familiar with Joy Division, I just always thought they were the same as New Order and it turns out they don't really sound very much alike. Although most of the album is kinda boring the middle run of New Dawn Fades, She's Lost Control and Shadowplay was pretty good. The guitar on New Dawn Fades seems super familiar, I get how this is so hugely influential. Overall I'd rather listen to the music that seems heavily inspired by it like Turn on the Bright Lights. 59/100 gecs

Middle of the road for me. None of the tracks really stuck out. Sounded familiar but not in a way that made me excited or wanting to hear more.

This album checks so many boxes for me, but somehow I just couldn’t get into it.

It sounds really, really good but there's like ZERO contrast so it gets old quickly. Shadowplay is differentiated a little bit. I would put any two songs on a nice long playlist for getting a ton of work done, but no more than two--otherwise I'd be distracted by thinking it's repeating itself.

for a specific mood

Dark, moody, cool, atmospheric, strong bass-line. Favourite song - New Dawn Fades. Least favourite - I Remember Nothing.

Nyer.

I thought this would be better. Some good beats and riffs but couldn't get past the singing. Think their other album was better.

controversial perhaps, but I think this album is hugely over-rated; it sounds like nothing else and has an essential influence on modern studio techniques but doesn't really have many tunes. Joy Division were a great singles band!

Great album. Don’t know it as much as I should. What i have heard is excellent. 3.5/5

I wonder if Interpol have ever heard of these guys....? Spooky. The album sounds like you can vividly picture them playing in a dank grey dimly-lit-by-singular-flickering-flourescent-bulb concrete basement room - but way way in the back of the room, and we're all on the opposite side just feeling cold. This is not a critique. I've grown to like this kind of post-punk gloom and doom rock. Ian Curtis' voice is *definitely* tough to take at times but I almost find that i have to dial myself in to that mood. Things that I don't like are jusssst a little of the low-fi aesthetic in here (which i hate) and some frankly sloppy playing at times (e.g. "New Dawn Fades") but it's not enough to make it terribly distracting. Personal favourite: "Shadowplay" Will never be my favourite kind of music but I was glad to have finally been exposed to this a few years back and it's occasionally the perfect record to put on when that mood strikes. Important record to hear for how much these guys clearly influenced so many bands not just in the immediate aftermath but for decades... 7/10 3 stars.

i hate to say it but i think this album is overrated

It's Joy Division so of course it's a solid album. That said, I don't enjoy the style enough to listen and re-listen...but there were some strong tracks here. Fave track: "She's Lost Control"

3.5/5

Enjoyed some of the songs. You could hear the future New Order in the sound!

First of all, that album cover. It was on quite a few of my classmates' dorm room walls during college, even though the album was several years old by then, and despite its ubiquity (at least for a few years), I still love it visually. You can read about how it came about in the Wikipedia article. Musically, I hadn't remembered any of the songs or, quite frankly, even a vague sense of how the album might sound, so I honestly have no idea if I'd listened to it before. I used to think it had been released in the late 80s when I was in college, but now I know it was nearly a decade old, so maybe that's why I didn't hear it much. Not sure. I gave the album a listen and it has some good tracks. I like the post-punk styling, melodies, and rhythms. Feels quite familiar to me in that respect. Talented composers and performers -- some juicy bass lines, real nice guitar and drum work in there -- so it's overall enjoyable. I am not likely to run back to this one for a re-listen anytime soon, but it's a fine album.

This was mixed. Some really good songs in there, mixed in with some slightly tedious dirge. I much prefer their other album. This one just sneaks a 3.

Je suis beaucoup moins dythirambique que mon camarade d'écoute robpanière sur cet album, le trouvant plus ou moins convenable. Je tiens néammoins à le reprendre sur l'expérience réalisée à l'aide d'Audacity. J'ai moi même tenté l'expérience, lançant l'album de Joy Division, et demandant au logiciel de supprimer les bruits parasites. Rien ne se passa. En revanche, quelques minutes plus tard, l'intégralité des chansons d'Elvis Costello avait disparu de mon interface Spotify.

4/11/22

Interesting soundscapes and moods, can definitely see the influence on later Manchester bands and post punk genres. Not all of it is actually that much fun to listen to, but the creativity is admirable.

This album is really ahead of it's time. I can hear so many 90-00 indie/Alternative bands that are influenced by this album. I can se why this is an icon and important album. For me personally i didn't feel i got into it otherwise this would have been a 4 or 5.

3.5/5 already got it, okeyish.

decent

Well, at least now I know what the t-shirts are referring to.

A few great songs and the others seem pretty good too. 3/5

I can appreciate the significance of Joy Division, but this album wasn't for me. It blended together and didn't really have anything that stood out for me.