Reviews (page 10 of 15)
Easy 4 stars Pros: Outstanding musicianship throughout the entire album, which is used to come up with both some killer guitar lines and some of the most unsettling atmospheres you’ll here in music, which is further accentuated by some outstanding production, the album gets much more intense and enjoyable around the mid portion of it, Ian Curtis’ voice perfectly fits the vibe they are going for Cons: I tend to dislike albums that are this nihilistic, and while it doesn’t bug me quite as much here as elsewhere, it’s still a bit weird in spots, and I don’t think their lyricism is anywhere near the level of their musical ability Fav Track: New Dawn Fades
4.5/5
anyone who hasnt heard this before definitely needs to. 5/5
I’d like to say thanks to this generator for putting this album so soon after The Adverts album. This came out a year after Crossing the Red Sea and it’s infinitely better. More creative and interesting despite both albums being from the same genre “umbrella” from the same time period. You can really tell that Robert Dimery is British based on how many British rock bands show up on this list. I haven’t been doing this generator for long and Brit rock has been the most present by far out of everything. I’d say a good half of these aforementioned British rock albums shouldn’t be on the list too. Regardless, this album was pretty good. I usually hate music like this too- a white guy who isn’t even good at singing, moaning into a microphone out of tune, singing really angsty lyrics despite being fully at the top of the societal food chain. I honestly can’t fully pinpoint why I did actually like this one though. My hunch is that I liked the instrumentalists. The sound was very interesting and well put together.
Rating: 9.5/10 Amazing album, one of the best debuts of all time. The atmosphere on this album is very unique, simultaneously haunting and melodic. It is impressive how dark this is lyrically (and at times instrumentally) while still being so catchy. The bass takes the lead on almost the whole album and the bass lines are incredible. The drums and guitar perfectly match the mood for the entire album, bringing the whole thing together. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Candidate.
Not as good as closer
Really good album
Love Will Tear Us Apart = 5 still doesn't save this album from being a 1 (sorry)
Album sounds like the start of something great!
Сейчас будет тут сочинение. Сложно разобрать, откуда и в какой момент я узнала про жой девижен, ведь именно эта группа в большей степени повлияла на моё дальнейшее изучение музыки, в частности поц панка. Данный альбом я знаю наизусть, до каждой строчки спетой Кёртисом, до каждой струны или ноты, зажатой Бернардом Самнером. Абсолют 5/5.
The songs I like, I love.
Sad noise.
It was strong i especially liked the last song
hmmm okej det lilla jag hört av joy division sen innan har jag gillat, men det här albumet var kanske inte superintressant. De har ju verkligen ett distinkt burkigt ljud som jag tyvärr nästan kände att jag behövde vänja mig vid här. Men vid andra genomlyssningen tycker jag ändå det var fint Bästa låt: disorder 😍
Lite vibe men fastnade inte för det. Zacka sa att det lät som att nån spelar trummor o sjunger i en tunnel och det är så sant. Disorder och New dawn fades var bra låtar🫶
Så besviken, sjukt tråkiga låtar tycker jag, fanns en bra låt Bästa låt: New dawn fades
Good rock album, this could be a four after further listening but a 3 right now. I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics but the guitar was really good
Понравилось с первого аккорда.
Dark, moody, indie, layered, really amazing Listened on a Saturday morning on the couch with the sun coming in
Better hits than "Closer", but less consistent. A post-punk classic regardless of the fact that some songs on here just straight up aren't very good, because tracks like "Disorder" or "New Dawn Fades" can balance out even 30 minutes of non-stop fart sound effects. "Directionless, so plain to see. A loaded gun won't set you free". Jesus fucking Christ man.
love most songs on the album, but some songs i found harder to get into. found a few new songs on the album that i like, perfer the ones i already know and love and there's nothing wrong with that i guess :) reminds me of depche mode a bit, so id have to be in the correct mindset or vibe to listen really, but still love and can vibe with
In the right mood (miserable, depressed, angry, hopeless) Unknown Pleasures is the perfect cocktail of innovative post-punk bleakness. Much of this album piddles forth in somber despair. And then there are standout tracks like She’s Lost Control, Shadowplay, and album opener Disorder, the second strongest song Joy Division ever made behind Love Will Tear Us Apart. It’s an undeniably groundbreaking album, but also one I hardly ever want to listen to in its entirety. Maybe I should consider myself lucky for that.
What is there to say. One of the best albums ever.
Dark, sparse album but has a thread to it that makes it compelling. A long way from Joy.
żałuję że nie poznałem tego wcześniej
"Unknown Pleasures" might not be the first gothic album, but it definitely hit the right spot. Ian Curtis, his persona and voice tone, and the somber rhythm section are one of a kind. I am saying this knowing that many imitators have plagued the post-punk scene since - some of them worth listening to, others not so much. When the cover of your album is pressed below the epidermis of thousands of fans, you know that you made history. This album is a masterpiece. It delivers a sad yet delightful experience, like an avant-garde movie, let's say Eraserhead.
bangers
I’m really not convinced people like Joy Division, I think most people are just terrified to look uncool. The first song was kind of okay? But come on. I am glad so many other musicians I enjoy were influenced by Joy Division, but please don’t make me listen to them.
I do not like Joy Division. I know they are foundational, but so, so many other bands who were influenced by them I have more affinity for. They just sound the same every song, like one big drone.
emo repetitive best song: ‘candidate’
Emo album starter kit
I don’t know if I like it because I’m supposed to or if I really just like it.
Rockier than one remembers and less synthy, too. Still pretty droney and insistently, grindingly dark, which makes it hard to love, save for specific moods and contexts (e.g., depressive, fugue states). But its depth and power is undeniable. Its influence, too, of course. What a voice Curtis had and how effectively he used it.
Honestly, this album was an underwhelming bore. For an album that is so talked about and a cover that is so recognizable, I was truly expecting more. 2/5
This is one of the truly great post-punk albums. The songwriting is excellent and the production by Martin Hannett exceptional (though the band weren't so keen). I love every track on this album.
Way better than i remember it being
First joy division album i heard
I'm really just not a fan of this guy's singing
Oh boy I always wanted to like this band but I just cant
Dark, brooding, droning, depressing. Felt like I just kept waiting for the song to make me like the album that never came. I've heard some Joy Devision and New Order that I like, this album wasn't it. The air of Ian's depression just made it kind of spooky.
ehhh its old
oh i had no idea that this bougie shirt i got at h&m was actually a design of album cover of this album! wowie! i love the waves!! it was alright, its significant, but it failed to really resonate with me, too many drawbacks to the record. i like some of the singles tho YNN over the last two weeks i listened to the king crimson album from two weeks ago off my list like 5 times its actually quite good, some parts are total bangers, but the second half of moonchild is complete dogshit also, minus points for not splitting tracks into actual tracks, instead of having 10 minute long abominations. just split the tracks, what if i dont wanna wait or skip through 6 minutes of the previous thing? YNN
Good
The industrial sound, the Gothic rock music and the eerie vocals, really make this album special. Dark lyrics and heavy bass create a sense of tension while making you dance to the beat. It's an eccentric mix, but it sounds great!
Not a big fan of this sound at all - never really liked it
This one didn’t do it for me. Seemed very generic.
Bit difficult to listen to. Not a fan of the vocal style but still a well produced album
Dull :(
That was great. Left us too soon.
1979 was a strange time in Britain. The energy of punk had evaporated and no one yet knew what to expect from the 80s. This album captured a particular zeitgeist with icily precise production and the immense bass line of Peter Hook. I was never really a fan of Ian Curtis’s gloomy, monotone vocals but this really was something quite unique. A shoutout for one of the most iconic album covers of all time, showing the radio pulses from a neutron star.
Oh yeah, this is a great album. Fun fact is my better half offered it to me mostly because of the cover (it's adapted from the very first detection of a pulsar, in '67, by Jocelyn Bell Burnell -- yeah, we're nerds). I vaguely knew them, and felt in love with their cold and yet dancing music. I love how overwhelming the bass sound is. Songs as New Dawn Fades are close to perfection.
A forever favorite.
Amazing
Maybe just not for me. I can’t get there with gothy stuff. Fuckin bass tone tho
I wasn't a fan. It was pretty melancholy or dour! I have since learned what the group's name refers to, so I guess that makes sense.
Ian Curtis was preventing us from getting New Order. Dreary, sludgy bullshit that certain people think you have to like because it's Joy Division. Fucking shit.
Brilliant album through and through. Sets a high water mark for a tone of punk that only had been tangentially explored.
Kind of a one note album. Almost every song was the same. Wasn’t necessarily bad, just not very interesting. 3/5 Probably won’t listen again
The t-shirt is much better than the album.
Old alt
it feels like driving down a serene, foggy road at midnight on a motorcycle, cool aesthetic but nothing that stands out too much
This has been one of my favorite albums of all time for years. Completely changed my music taste in 2019. Disorder, day of the lords, insight, new dawn fades, she's lost control, shadowplay, and interzone are my favorites on here. A highly innovate, influential, impeccable sounding, dark, masterfully written work of art.
Let’s dance to joy division! Great album, great band
Have heard this before. I love Disorder. The rest of the album is a bit of a slog. It's a 3 I think.
I never noticed how similar Joy Division sounds to The Doors - but they bring in something that is darker, rawer, hailing a new side of music that would dwell in the shadows of the poppier 1980s. I think they could've been bigger. Instead, we got New Order. Nevertheless, it is a good, brazen album that could've worked with fewer tracks for a proper listening experience.
1. Good for testing bass dynamics 2. Good for testing guitar tonality 3. Good for testing separation of instruments 4. A chill and slow burn rock album 5. Listening to the album was great but nothing standout to me.
I should like Joy Division, but this record did not resonate with me.
One of those albums where the cover is more iconic than any of the songs contained within. While it deserves praise for being a trailblazer, it's just not an album that has ever appealed to me.
Good
pretty good
This is one of those albums that I feel need to be listened to several times to get everything to click. I was not a fan of this album on first listen, but something stuck around with me that made me want to come back and keep listening. And I'm very glad I did, because there is an emotional intensity that really came through once I wrapped my head around the stylistic choices this album makes. Highly entertaining, if a little uneven overall
It was mentally exhausting to listen to this album. It wasn’t particularly musical— the bass parts stood out as the most jarring and unnatural. If you like groves and good song writing then this album isn’t for you. If you like brooding beats with no chord progressions and spoken word then give it a spin.
Some good ol' manc goth music. Not terrible, but definitely wouldn't seek out again.
Basically every track is either boring or unlistenable. The guitar riffs are almost cool enough to award 2 stars. Almost. The monotone, off key singing is just unbearable to me. Also, I don't appreciate starting a song with 30 seconds of silence.
Crazy how modern this still sounds
1. Disorder 9/10 2. Day of the Lords 7/10 3. Candidate 7/10 4. Insight 8/10 5. New Dawn Fades 7/10 6. She Lost Control 10/10 7. Shadowplay 10/10 8. Wilderness 8/10 9. Interzone 8/10 10. I Remember Nothing 9/10 Overall Rating: 83/100
I had the same reaction as when I first heard this in the late '80s: Is this a joke?
1979 Goth Rock. Monotone echo-type lead vocals. I tried.
My least favorite band name of all time. Just puts a rotten taste in my mouth.
My discovery of Joy Division was a coincidence that came by way of two different bands, and came way too late in my life. There's a song I used to hear on the local alt station when I was young called "Let's Dance to Joy Division" by The Wombats. I liked it but never stopped to ask "what the fuck's a Joy Division?" About a decade later in 2020, Third Eye Blind, who I discovered on the same radio station, released a song called "Disorder", and I LOVED it. I put it on all the playlists I made that year. I kid you not, I listened to that song for a whole year without knowing it was a cover. Then one Monday in 2021, I booted up Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist and heard a familiar bassline. "There's a WHOLE BAND with more music like this?" "This band is what the Wombats have been talking about??" I listened to this album and loved every melancholic minute of it.
Wonderful and influential post-punk album. Melodic, memorable, but simple bass lines help drive the sound while Ian Curtis does his depressed, almost monotone singing type thing over it all - which makes it all the more exciting when he really gets into it. Guitar sound is often grinding and grating and serves an interesting counter to the melodic basslines. Touches on sounds that resemble gothic and industrial rock. Brooding sound. Iconic album cover.
I have a special relationship with Joy Division. I never am able to place it exactly. But of all the bands and music and styles I love and like and listen to, few particular bands or musicians affect me quite the same as Joy Division. I feel the music more than groove with it. There are only a small handful of bands that affect me like this: where I have to kind of stop what I am doing and just feel the vibe. It is like reading a good book or poem or viewing special art, and for a moment the world kind of stops and you just exist with this connection with the artist(s). There are individual songs that do this, but rarely a band, or album that does. But here it is.
Classic. Makes me want to get day-drunk in a hipster bar.
Dunno why all those hipsters wear t-shirts of this album. The Substance comp was always way superior -- it even has a way better version of 'She's Lost Control' on it. 3/5
I'm not sure the circumstance one is supposed to listen to this. If I heard it playing from someone's open car window I'd stay clear of them. But it was an enjoyable listen while doing yard work on a cloudy day. Definitely a grower.
I have no idea why I hate this album, because I love gothic punk, but this is so downtrodden and glum, it just ends up sounding like a boring snoozefest to me. It has a moment or two, and starts very strong, but everything else is a drag. Each track that follows the opener drags me down and actively works against the opener’s energy. By the end, my ears are so numbed with sonic novocain that I can’t even remember it enough to know if it actually came close to clicking for me. And this has been my feeling about this record for the last 20 years. Much like Loveless, I’m over trying to force myself to love this record. I don’t like it. End of story.
Grate post punk album, summing up the dourness of late 1970s Britain
7/10
I really wanted to like this one, as this is the second time I've listened to this with the first one being a while back in 2020. Sadly, it just does not click. The opening track is good but it does not go anywhere other than that and it is just dull for the most part.
I feel like I’m missing something honestly. I need to give this especially another listen. I want to love this the same way all the critics do. I wanna understand why this is the new t-shirt album.
Like the last couple of goth rock albums we've gotten, I imagine I'd be into it way more if I was a goth girl. Since I'm just a regular girl, though, it's... Fine, y'know. I'll admit, there's some stuff here that made me like this album a bit more than some of the other goth albums we've gotten—I mean, that one guitar lick that sounds like it came from a surf rock song? I dig that all the way! On the whole, though, it just had a hard time keeping my attention for too long.
A haunting slice of post-punk that people only know for the shirt, which is a damn shame.
I’m at a 3. Really, the biggest thing I can knock this album for are the vocals; the monotone feel works on about half the tracks, but on the other half, they either just don’t fit, or he’s trying way too hard to make them fit. I Remember Nothing, in particular, has a really captivating and haunting moody soundscape that just gets dragged down so hard by his vocals that it almost killed the song for me. Regardless, it’s a solid album. There’s good tracks, there’s not really any bad tracks (ok, I fucking hated Candidate though), but there’s not that many captivating and memorable tracks. A lot of it blended together for me, and part of it is from some of the songs just having slightly dull and repetitive soundscapes. The drums are super hit and miss on this album to me; when they’re hot, they are red hot and add a great energy. When they’re missing, it’s basically just because it’s a remarkably basic pattern that sort of drains the energy from the guitar. The guitar usually doesn’t miss though. I dunno, that’s a lot of words to say “it’s fine, it could have been better, the instrumentation was bland at times, and the vocals are the weakest part”. It’s a solid 3, and I’m sure other people will “get it” more deeply than I did.
I like Joy Division but not really this particular record. Just nothing stood out.
3.7
I enjoyed this album but honestly I forgot it was on
Post-punk. Un tanto repetitivo. Ni fu ni fa.
I know it's supposed to be one of the greats but I just don't get the hype
Ei jäänyt levystä mitään käteen. En muista yhtään kappaletta. Tosi junnaavaa ja matelevaa mitähän pre punkkia onkaan. Laulustakaan ei saanut selvää
The best band making one of the best albums
Pretty darn good.
"Unknown Pleasures" is the debut studio album by the renown English rock band Joy Division. Not many people are dancing to this album. Gloomy and depressing, it is curious how the album failed to chart but somehow also receive critical acclaim. The best part of this album was discovering that this album had "Shadowplay," which is better known for the cover version.
Amazing and succinct masterpiece
Drone
Iconic.
Dour and brooding, influenced so many musicians
I tried with this album… I really, really tried. I feel like I “should” like Joy Division but I just found it boring and slow. I’m sorry, I didn’t get it. Listens: 2 Fave Track: Day of the Lords Rating: 2
Undeniably an inspirational album but not my favourite piece of music in the world ever. Still, some very strong sounds on here.
I don't know where the hype comes from around some groups, but here it's really over the top, the whole album is nothing more than average.
3.5
meh
legal, mas parece que a primeira música carrega o resto do álbum
i wish i had liked it more. the mixing on the vocals bothered me and it dragged a bit. a shame! i knew some songs off it already and it turned out those were the best ones, didn't get anything new out of finally listening to the full album imo, but it was still fun.
Good goth. New order better doe
J'ai essayé à plusieurs reprises d'écouter cet album adulé par la communauté. À chaque tentative, j'espère retrouver un album meilleurs que dans mes souvenirs, en vain. Le cover est si iconique et brillamment exécuté, pourquoi le contenu est si mollasse, lourd et péniblement geignard? Tout le monde bande sur cet album-là, il dois forcément quelque chose qui m'échappe. Puis ça m'a frappé. «Le monde qui adule Joy Division doivent être les mêmes qui défendent corps et âme que Radiohead est un bon groupe» me dis-je, en me tapant les cuisses et en gloussant d'angoisse devant cette douce et si amère réalisation.
Closer is Better
Mediocre
It's okay. I'm not a huge fan of Joy Division but I wouldn't skip if one of these songs came across my playlist.
This probably requires multiple listens to truly appreciate it.
Quiet and nice, but also melodic
A masterpiece from one of the greatest bands of all time.
"Unknown Pleasues" is the debut studio album by English rock band Joy Division. Post-punk, gothic rock and new wave. Yes and some defining songs in those genres. The album was recorded in three successive weekends at Stockport's Strawberry Studios. It was produced by Martin Hannett who contributed a number of unconventional recording techniques including digital delays, tape echo and bounce and various random sounds (i.e. glass breaking). The album received wide-spread critical acclaim with many naming it one of the best debut albums of all time. The tom-tom drums and melodic bass open "Disorder." That guitar enters and we're rockin.' Ian Curtis' deep voice is perfect as he sings about: Someone trapped? Epilepsy (Curtis has)? Suicide? The song ramps up to the end. Just brilliant. "New Dawn Fades" is slower with the drums pounding. Peter Hook's descending bass line. Bernard Sumner guitar sound has a Black Sabbath edge to it. It's about a break-up and something bad after that. "She's Lost Control" begins the second side with a banging cowbell or some percussion. An echoing PiL-esque guitar and various noises overlayed. Curtis sounds like he's describing an epileptic seizure. The deep bass and rockin' guitar highlight "Shadowplay." Alienation and helplessness. This is very goth. The album closes with "I Remember Nothing." It's stark. There's bottles breaking. A crawling, eerie guitar and bass. Now, we're very post-punk. It appropriately ends with a swirling noise and something falling. This is dark and atmospheric. Ian Curtis' deep voice is commanding as he describes hopelessness, epileptic seizures, break-ups, suicide and giving up. The production is great with the weird noises adding to the atmosphere. The guitar, bass and drums are all crucial and heard clearly. An iconic album vover. As mentioned earlier, defining songs in goth and post-punk. This is a fantastic album and still sounds great today.
Legendary album in the genre of post-punk/gothic, like nothing that came before it really. The opener 'Disorder' might be one of my favourite songs of all time, the way that bass line moves along with the twangy guitar riff, it's perfect. Then you've got ones like 'New Dawn Fades' and 'Day of the Lords' that are just so eerie and haunting. There's just a consistently dark atmosphere around this album that makes it feel like a full experience. 5/5 classic every day of the year.
Heel depressief album? Super moody, met ontzettend trage instrumentals en een zanger die de lyrics er uit huilt als het ware. Niet helemaal de vibe waar ik op dit moment voor ging eerlijk gezegd. Wel een ontzettend bekend album, dus dat is altijd interessant om te checken. De vocals worden een soort van weggedraaid, waardoor de focus meer op de muziek ligt. Best wel bijzonder hoe ze dat hebben gedaan! Vind wel dat alles heel erg hetzelfde klinkt en ondanks de korte runtime het album gewoon best wel een beetje saai word. Heb dit album ook iets van 4 keer gestart, omdat ik telkens toch echt liever iets anders deed. Ik snap dat dit een super belangrijk en invloedrijk album is, het is gewoon alleen echt niet mijn smaak. FAVO: Division, Shadowplay
I listen to a lot of post-punk and new wave, and it's impossible to do so without respecting the king. This album is just so hugely influential, but also incredible just as an album. Plus the cover is simply iconic.
Have never listened to Joy Division before this list but was very aware of them and that iconic album cover. Enjoyed listening to this album quite a bit but for some reason once I stopped I was struggling to recall things that jumped out at me, so had to listen to the whole thing about 3-4 times to really try get it to stick. The highlights for me are "Shadowplay", "Disorder", "New Dawn Fades" and "Interzone". Pretty cool album.
Disorder 4 Day of the Lords 4.3 Candidate 3.4 Insight 3.2 New Dawn Fades 4.4 She's Lost Control 4 Shadowplay 4.5 Wilderness 3.7 Interzone 3.7 I Remember Nothing 4 Score: 3.92
One of my favorite albums. Easy 5/5 for me.
I really liked this album. Moody, deep, and a general depth of uneasiness. I liked quite a few songs on the album, and I can see why it’s iconic.
Excellent. Best tracks She’s Lost Control and Shadowplay 4/5
often find myself forgetting just how good this record is. truly a phenomenal achievement in music. when i was younger i had an unknown pleasures t shirt but to ensure everyone knew i was cooler than them i got one with the colours inverted. once got into a heated discussion with a housemate when it transpired at pres that we were both planning on wearing our unknown pleasures t shirts for a night out. one of us had to change, and in the end i relented. anyway, perfect album, 5/5, favourite songs: day of the lords, interzone.
The dark and gothic sound can be really cool if used effectively, but the slower, monotonous pace just doesn't quite do it for me. Not bad, not great
Dark
None of the songs really stood out to me
It's cool to know it's an album that helped change and morph genre(s).
ye
This album is mind-blowing, the sounds they imagined into reality out of the ethers, at that specific moment in history, nothing ever sounded like this before. And I love it. It's so harsh and soul barren... Everyone knows the story... 5 stars.
I've never been as big of a fan of this album as I am "supposed" to be, but this listen felt a little different. I enjoyed this more than I remember, and I thank them for their part in influencing probably every band that came after them that I like.
Perfect. And it's true, Love will tear us apart. Ian Curtis was not the greatest singer but he was his own deal. I always wonder what if..
Not my taste but some songs were good. 5/10
I didn't really enjoy this album the first time I listened to it, but having listened to it twice more now, I really enjoy the atmosphere of this album, which definitely improves the overall repetitive style. Gets better and better every listen.
Can say this sounds better on vinyl. I find there sound to be subdued yet solid and electrifying. The aesthetic feels authentically dark but as I have said the riffs and grooves carry an energy.
I've listened to this album a whole lot of times and I love it. In terms of precursors to music I love, I think it holds up well on its own. I may quibble with the length and pace of some of the tracks, but that drops it to a 4.5 which just gets rounded back up.
A 3 because it has very high peaks and is the bedrock of a lot of stuff I like, but I don’t particularly enjoy listening to it as a full album
I liked the weird atmospheric vibe that most of this album had while still being rock. I can't really pinpoint much of what I liked or didn't like about this album, but it was pretty enjoyable.
If I don't give this five stars a goth in Demonia platform boots will show up at my house and take all of my black clothes and I will have to wear the joggers I accidentally dyed Pink instead of vampire wine red and my lime green novelty UFO Museum t-shirt
nothing i adored but nothing I didn’t like either
satmne nogle jams på den her
En af mine all time favorites!
Jeg har stadig ikke fanget alt det her post-punk, men coveret kender jeg! Det må næsten være mere kendt end Dark Side of the Moon? Anyways, kedeligt musik...
one of the most influential albums on goth culture as a modern stance,it’s prevalent among new wave 80s gothic music fans as a statement and stepping stone into the genre that is gothic culture and music,undoubtedly inspired many people and many artists on a branch of music
One of those landmark albums that doesn't sound so great anymore. Bleak for bleakness sake perhaps. I was about to write the whole album off, but Shadow play, Interzone and Wilderness all still sound great.
This transported me back to being 13 and depressed in my bedroom BUT unreal album, I will always luv joy division New dawn fades is SO GOOD She’s lost control is in my top songs ever The bass in shadow play should be in a museum or something
3.5/5 - was nice to have on in the background while I worked. I can also appreciate just how important this album and sound is to a lot of the music I love. standout track: - Shadowplay 5/5 - I fell in love with this one
Whinging Poms. Actually that’s a bit harsh. I do prefer new order but hook et Al are a good band. That Ian Curtis needed more help than he could get is a recurring theme in the history of pop music. I find this stuff maudlin and dull but recognise that it has a significant following. And yes probably an album you should hear.
Iconic cover. I pretty much ignored this band until I saw the film Control (2007) recently. Very cool stylish and atmospheric. And yet tragic which overlays a bit of gloom over this potentially very cool stylish and moody album. At times it can sound bleak but perhaps I. A cinematic way. Not a band which I would have wanted to listen to heaps as a teen, but it has its moments and. I confess I am a very late comer in appreciating the artistry, as I am an 80s child and their posters and t-shirts were everywhere and well know by my music buying comrades at school who knew what cool was (better than I) but hey, they didn't have streaming and this was getting much airplay in the pop charts. I am going to give it a 5 as it was important and influential and marked a time so well. It's an album that means a lot to people and a time and for people who wore a lot black and I can't deny the polished and to me ears anyway, unique and beautifully ominous atmospheric sound. There are detractors - and usually is be with them when it comes to depressing British music and their ability to remind us of rain and fog and bad food, but this, well, it's different enough to out in the pile of 'yeah this is really special to listen to'.... But you DO have to be in the right mood for it not to tear your heart out and suck the dopamine from your meninges.....( But bleak *can* be entertaining - and propulsive bottom beats of the drum kit works well as a cool accompaniment to pensive / hard work in a rainy day today). Putting this on the "yes" pile.
I missed this in 1979 when it was released. I fell in love with their big single, Love Will Tear Us Apart in 1980 & in 1981 a mate, Tony Gain, gave me this album for my 31st birthday. I played it once, couldn’t stand it & filed it. I still have it. Gone back to it every now & then but have never been able to understand what all the fuss is about. It is definitely related at some level to the sound of Velvet Underground, but I’d rather listen to them.
Really, there isn't much difference between Unknown Pleasures and Closer, so I am going basically re-run my review of Closer. Heretical opinion time: Joy Division were just a band (apologies to Scroobius Pip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWrMGXwhFLk&t=6s), and a barely competent band at that. But the way they channel the Velvet Underground through a Krautrock filter helped define what post-punk could be, and the tragic tale of Ian Curtis is now canonical rock and roll lore. Much credit to Martin Hannett for the production that presents the shortcomings of the band (noisy, minimal, basic, intense, ham-fisted) as features, creating an austere and claustrophobic setting for their weird charisma. As any self-respecting alternative music fan would, I own a bunch of Joy Division records. But I never, ever listen to them. Truth be told, I just find them too bleak. I admire the achievement, the atmosphere, the influence. But I can't shake the feeling that they are over-rated, that the actual records are over-shadowed by the legend of Ian Curtis and the band, which are, now 40 years later, inextricably linked by too many magazine articles, books, movies, and a million t-shirts. It's hard to listen to the record without the freight of all the baggage of the legend. If I squint hard and try to listen afresh, it's a not a bad album, focused and powerful, and unremittingly dour. Ian Curtis has a tendency to sing out of tune, which is annoying. Full disclosure, though: I might not listen to the records much, but I do wear the t-shirt. It's one of the great cover images of all time.
Meh
Classic minimalistic post punk.
Bei mir hat es nicht gezündet. Langweiliger elektronischer Musikstil ohne spritzige Ideen. Schade
Album 391 of 1001 Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures Rating : 3.85 / 5 For some reason, I was prepared to dislike this album but have been pleasantly surprised. My main thought after listening is that I should listen again. Certainly not the most uplifting album but there is something there and I'm going to find it.
My college roommate, a noise music enthusiast, electric guitarist and hardcore vegan use to listen to this album. I appreciated that at that age he knew it wasn't everybody's cup of tea. He never pushed it on me. However I use to listen to Control and New Dawn Fades. The intro to those songs still capture my ears years later. It is now at a much older age and having learned to play guitar that I think I understand why he was such a big fan. It's a sonic landscape that he escaped onto.
Favorite track: Disorder
Riktigt bra med en cool vibe. Lyssna nu i fel tillfälle men har lyssnat förut och sparat hela. Nice mörk goth känsla.
I've never been a fan of Joy Division, even though in theory they should be right up my alley. They are just so bland and boring I'm sorry.
Bass slabs yes, Ian Curtis maybe.
All seemed really one note and just blah.
This is supposed to be a really cool album. I know because I've seen this cover on a lot of t-shirts. Is this some of that 80's goth stuff? It's OK. Shadowplay is a cool song but I like The Killers version better (Sawdust - 2007). Cool to hear the original. A few other fav's: She's Lost Control & Interzone. I Remember Nothing sounds like something from Sonic Youth's Confusion is Sex (1983). And alot of this music sounds similar to Bauhaus who release their first album a year after this one (1980) so I can definitely hear how Joy Division may have influenced alot of other bands.
This style of broody music doesn’t do a lot for me. It wasn’t bad, just felt kinda flat footed and meh.
A darker, moodier version of the Cars. Fair listen but unmemorable. I was surprised at the release date. I thought it was an early 80s release.
This is one of the rare examples of an album where the first time I listened listened to it I was blown away. Every song has so much atmosphere. This is also one of my favorite albums production wise as well. It is crazy this came out in 1979, everything on this holds up so well. The bass is great and is the backbone holding this album together. The drums have this really unique sound, especially when it mixes in the electronic drums. The guitar has a some really great tones, but it is also very minimal and let's everything breath. Ian Curtis does have an acquired voice (personally I think it fits the album) bit he writes really great depressing moody lyrics. I love this album, I remember nothing is easy my favorite song, I love how dark it is. I recommend anyone who likes this album to buy the vinyl, it is a really good pressing. Almost forget to mention that this is one of the greatest album covers of all time
This an over rated album. Don't know if it is because of the lead singers tragic passing or the pink floyd effect, where the album cover got more iconic than the album itself. Expected more....
I'm POSITIVE this resonates with someone, but I am not that person. This kind of goes with my luke warm attitude for sad or emo stuff, similar to The Cure. I appreciate the effort and sound, but this would probably be a 2.5 for me. Giving it a bump to 3 since if I found it at 14 years old it would've been gold.
Good album that I didn't know at all. Parts of it reminded of The Doors.
Never heard of or listened to this band before. Oooooooooooooooooooh.... so "Joy Division" is an ironic/sarcastic name... I get it. It's interesting, I'll give it that. I can certainly hear some parallels with The Cure which should be a compliment. Shadowplay was a good track. I don't know enough to call it a hidden gem. There were a few tracks I kind of wanted to skip (Wilderness, I Remember Nothing).
I was just ok on this one. I've listened to later joy division albums that I've really dug, but this one just felt too drone-y to me to LOVE
Most overrated album of all time. Disorder is good.
I want to like this album more but after the first 2 songs there’s very little else that’s good IMO. Hot take but Closer is the better Joy Division album. Disorder absolutely rips in Skate 3
Disorder & New Dawn Fades $ She’s Lost Control slapped. Other than that nothing to write home about. 1 star for each song i enjoyed
Even though it was depressive, it was better than I expected. I liked the moody rock music that occasionally picks up. Stand-out: New Dawn Fades
ian curtis forever <3
I had this album in High School love it then and still love it now.
banger
My housemate at uni loved Joy Division and I wouldn't let him play it on my hifi. I was in two minds about listening to this and wondered whether I would realise I had been missing out on something for the last 35 years. I wasn't; this album is as bad as I thought it was back in the 80s. I've no idea why Joy Division are held in such high regard, maybe it is a live band thing. I'll try listening to this in 35 years time to see if I've changed my mind but sincerely doubt it.
Not a huge fan of this one. Felt very depressing overall and a bit of a slog to get through. I know Joy Division is renowned, but I couldn’t help feeling like the goth kids from South Park listening to this album.
Musically, I see how it started and influenced and entire genre. But DAMNED his voice is annoying. It's like being in a KTV in Taipei.
Beautiful album
This album is rad! I don't know that I ever would have listened to it on my own but I did really like it
Maaaan, I know people love this album with religious fervor, but I just cannot get into it. 😤
A joy division album with no hits? Meh.
I liked their other albums more. This is like sad B52s
God these guys are awful
I'm giving it a 3 because of the inspiration it must have garnered for the genre moving forward. However the album for me was a 2. I found myself not enjoying it a majority of the time. However, I did really enjoy 2 tracks in specific: New Dawn Fades and Shadowplay.
Dark matter. I guess you have to be in a bad place in the wee hours of the morning to really get it.
This is rightly in the vanguard of the emerging post-punk scene - I really don't see the elements of punk itself except for maybe the intensity, but it just so clearly is the signpost of things to come in the 80s, particularly of goth. It's got an awful lot of space for punk. The rage evolving to angst. The Cure, Siouxie, Tears for Fears. Peter Hook's unique bass playing are present from the get-go. Shadowplay, Insight, She's Lost Control, and Interzone are my favorites.
A certain poignancy is added due to Ian Curtis' untimely demise which takes it to a 4
It's a shame Love Will Tear Us Apart isn't on either album, because I reckon that is a perfect song. I kind of enjoyed this, but it wasn't quite there for me. 3.5.
After all the times I have seen the album art on t-shirts, I thought that it would be better.
I just have never really liked them, some songs were okay.
Guess I never realized how minimalist Joy Division were, kinda like if Wire & Sabbath got together. Very new & dark for 1979. And genuinely sad in comparison to a lot of EMO-to-follow, particularly given Ian Curtis's tragic history. Affective.
Disappointed that I didn't get more into this one, it left me feeling kind of empty.
I find myself questioning why I signed up for this list of albums. This was another disappointing one. Whiny, drab, monotonous.
One of the greatest and most iconic of post punk albums, Unknown Pleasures is timeless, a pleasure known well in the music world.
Bit monotone for my liking. However this was only the beginning of greater progress unfortunately Curtis could not make that journey..
I have to admit that this is the first full listen to this record. I'm sure that in my youth I did hear these songs, as my friends and I would spend time in punk and goth clubs. This is exactly the type of music that I listened to in the early and mid-eighties. I love the dark and moody atmosphere with the hypnotic rhythms and chanting vocals. That being said there are a few tracks on this record that I don't really like and can be somewhat repetitive, but they will deserve another listen. It is a shame this band was so short-lived. This is another example of a record that this list has brought my attention to.
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.
When will THIS end
Pretty good album. I know the band and now re-listen to the album reminds me some first old Italian rock band named Litfiba that I grew up to.... that's where they got inspired from. Anyway 3.5/5
iconic. amazing album front to back 10/10
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.
I liked the first song best I think but all of em were pretty good, overall very solid imo 8.5/10
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
4/10 - The songs were kinda slow his voice was pretty annoying. I had to listen to this album twice since the first time I was 100% locked into fifa and I wish I did not listen to it again.
Didn't find it that interesting to listen to. Was fine though
We’re really on a hell of a run right now. Another fantastic album (with another fantastic cover), just sounds so cool with the bass and the weirdly distant vocals 10/10
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...
I just did not enjoy this album as much as their follow-up Closer. It's cutting edge and all - listen to the Replacements or Sonic Youth or REM or the Jesus and Mary Chain and you hear Joy Division in what they do. But disappointingly part of it's cutting edge is their producer Martin Hannett's tricks in the editing room. And then there's Ian Curtis' vocals - they feel so front and center and they're so one-dimensional and depressing. Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris can play - I particularly enjoyed Disorder, New Dawn Fades, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Interzone. I want to rate this lower than Closer and so a 3 is what it should get even though it's closer to 3.5. But when Curtis isn't heard, it's just so commendable. It's vintage, it was one of a kind, it's iconic. They get a bump.
it's my boys again! forgot how industrial this one is compared to 'closer'. anyway five stars
Pretty decent
Idk it’s just boring, samey. Like this over Graduation?
Am starting to think the author(s) of this list is British
This reminded me of The Doors. I don’t care for The Doors. And I didn’t care for this.
I am convinced the people who wear the shirts don’t listen to this band because I hate to say this but it was so bad.
I feel like I've heard this same album before, but it's like a crap version of Depeche Mode.
Meh
awe shit 2 back to back 5 star albums!!! Something so dark and gothic about this album that is so hypnotic. 5 Stars
Dark and moody. Doesn’t hold up well. Coincidence that I just listened to New Order like two days ago??
boring
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.
Very good, but reckon it needed a Love Will Tear Us Apart or equivalent to hit 5 stars. Simpsons: Yes
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.
An ex of mine really liked this album, she was not a nice person. That being said I really enjoyed this. This whole album was just a mood and I was here for it. Definitely one to listen to in the dark with a good bit of bottom end - definitely need to stop listening to these albums in the car, my car speakers have no bottom end and I lose so much of the tracks. No idea why this album was so enjoyable but it was. Every track felt individual enough but they all followed a theme. That's what I want from my albums. Lasers on Insight was cool, I liked that. Definitely get a spacy vibe from this album. Opening of Shadowplay gave me I Wanna Be Adored vibes which I'm always happy with.
Peter Hook's bass is amazing. This album is wonderful, in all its misery.
Songs are great, production is awful. Favorite song: new dawn fades
Erm
I think i like it
I own this album. Hell, I own a couch pillow based on the design of the iconic album cover. I really enjoy this album and Joy Division as a band. The lyrics are intense, the music was completely innovative for its time and still sounds great today. They're a seminal band in post-punk and goth history. And I slightly prefer this album over Closer, which I know is a hot take. As a songwriter, Ian Curtis was amazing. As a person, his story was incredibly tragic — a super young man slowly destroyed by depression largely brought on by struggling to live with the debilitating effects of epilepsy. His pain is everywhere in the lyrics. However — and I know this is blasphemous — as a singer and performer (granted I never saw them live and haven't watched many performances, so going by albums only), Ian's voice kind of drags the band down a bit for me. I want to like him. I really do. And his voice has grown on me a bit over time. But Ian Curtis will forever sound to me like a bored history teacher reciting off a page in the majority of JD songs. It gets a bit better on Closer, but on this album, he just sounds really flat most of the time (and verging on off key a lot). There are exceptions — Disorder being one — where you can hear the emotion in his voice; but they are exceptions. And yet, for some reason, so many post-punk and goth vocalists seem to emulate his voice, which just drives me nuts. I feel like Ian Curtis has been deified in much the same way as Kurt Cobain was after his suicide. And for everything they both did for their respective genres, I have to wonder if they'd be seen in the same light if they hadn't both died so young and so tragically. Given that the surviving members of JD went on to form New Order, we do get some sense of what impact Ian had on the sound of the band. I really enjoy New Order, and I find a lot of their electronic/synth stuff more enjoyable for a *casual* listen than a lot of Joy Division songs. And while Bernard Sumner isn't winning any singing awards, I much prefer his voice to Ian's most of the time. But it's definitely true that Ian's lyrics elevated the group and that New Order has had much less of an impact on music (though that's not to say they're not also hugely influential). I just really, really wish Ian had a better voice. That's what keeps this from being a 5 for me. 4/5
Großartiger Klassiker.
Un album emblématique dont on ne se lasse pas
I feel sad.
The album cover is really cool, but the music wasn't hitting me at all.
It is impossible to quantify the value of this record. You could go song by song, listing dozens of bands that had their entire catalogs inspired just by that one song. “Where will it end?”, indeed. The older I get, the more I appreciate this one.
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.
Mf classic
..(.
Not joyous, but still fantastic.
Possibly an unpopular opinion but I definitely prefer New Order to Joy Division. That is not to say that I think it’s better off after the death of Ian Curtis, if anything I think the rest of the band continued in his footsteps and their sound evolved naturally into a new era. It’s insane that he was only 23 when he passed. His voice is tremendous on this album, like a punkier Jim Morrison. I think that if he had continued living, the band probably would’ve continued to trend more in the direction of New Order’s style, but possibly with darker overtones to complement Curtis’ voice. More than the songwriting though, the production on Unknown Pleasures is incredible. There’s an interesting technique like Phil Spector’s wall-of-sound which is unlike anything from the late 70s/early 80s, and predates the similar shoegaze sound by 10 years. While I think that many of Joy Division’s best songs were released as non-album singles, Unknown Pleasures contains a lot more interesting material than Closer. “Disorder” and “She’s Lost Control” in particular are my favorites and hint at what’s to come from New Order.
I've tried and tried so many times over with this album, and I just can't stand it. I've stated before my displeasure (heh) with Joy Division, and as much as I hoped that would change after my (easily) 5th listen, I'm convinced the only reason this album is popular is because of the t-shirts.
I simply cannot imagine a world where these beautifully bleak pleasures are unknown to me.
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.
Wonderful energy. Also love the dark spaces left in the notes.
It's a really solid album - especially the back half - but I genuinely don't get why it's such a cultural touchstone.
I love this album because I too, am waiting for a guy to come and take me by the hand, make me feel the pleasures of another man
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
Arguably the best album ever.
Deze was al wel known, maar blijft een pleasure.
Its crazy that with how much I love New Order I feel the opposite way for Joy Division.
Can’t believe I’d never heard this until about five years ago
Joy Division is one of those bands who I've heard so much about, but have never done a deep dive into their music. Before today, I only knew "Love Will Tear Us Apart" from the radio and "Disorder" from my friends, both bangers. Thanks to my parents, I'm much more familiar with New Order, the band that Joy Division became after the lead singer died. My ignorance is a bit criminal because Joy Division is the quintessential post-punk band and I listen to a good amount of modern post-punk. Though honestly, I can tell that post-punk has evolved hugely since Joy Division, making this album sound a bit rudimentary and meandering in comparison. I can imagine it hit a lot harder back in the day. Though I have to admire the unmistakeable dark atmosphere throughout this album, I imagine that was pretty revolutionary for the time. Sick album art too of course. I should circle back to Joy Division sometime but I don't see them surpassing New Order in my mind.
This album was way ahead of its time, I loved all of the background sfx and ambience, they added a great vibe throughout. The album is very thematic as a whole, it would be great to see the whole thing live. It sounds like a stage performance rather than a studio production in the best way, it's very complete and My one critique is that, for me, none of the songs were terribly memorable, rather just certain parts. That might actually be a compliment to the whole album but I thought it was juuuust a tiny bit boring.
Now this is more like it. The guitars absolutely rip, deep and grungy, I can imagine screaming along live in true "no one understands me" fashion. I've actually never listened to this album before, and honestly shocked to find out it was from the 70s, and British? The guitars and bass really have the perfect tone, I feel them deep in my bones. Top songs: Disorder, day of the lords**, insight, new dawn fades, she's lost control, shadowplay, interzone
Not my usual cup of tea, but a cup I enjoyed nonetheless. Seems like an awesome album to put on while hanging with a small/medium group a friends on a Saturday afternoon.
Often imitated, but rarely replicated, Joy Division captured lightning in a bottle in their brief musical stint. For any other act, this raw sound might come across as amateurish, but on Unknown Pleasures Joy Division employs it deftly and to great emotive effect. Curtis’s haunting voice, booming bass lines, guitar riffs shrieking with reverb, and drum beats whose snare hits cut through the songs like the crack of a whip, all serve as the perfect vehicle to deliver the emotions of the album. It is gloomy, dark, and atmospheric, but does not overstay its welcome with a runtime of just 39 minutes. I understand why it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for me, Unknown Pleasures just works. 5 Fav Songs: Disorder, She’s Lost Control, Shadowplay, Interzone
Bleachers and Arctic Monkeys were def inspired by these guys. I enjoyed the listen. Best album cover so far. 4/5
liked a few songs but it was tough to get through for some reason.
I don’t think I ever listened to this album all the way through before, but it feels so cohesive. All of the songs sound like they live in the same world. I really like that. Love the bass part on wilderness. 4.5
Haunting, urgent and totally unique. One of the best punk/post-punk debuts ever.
Couple of good songs. Not worth the whole album though for me
Atrocious... Will never listen to again. I want to scrub this boring depressing repetitive nonsense from my memory banks... I would give it fewer than 1 star if I could.
I can't believe they used that Hot Topic t-shirt graphic on their album cover!
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.
I do Not like
A classic. No wonder the cover has become a staple on T-shirts and other merchandise. Simple, understated punk-inspired riffs and basslines, with Curtis's droning and dissonant vocals layered over the top. Unfortunately this was not the first time I've heard this album, so I didn't have the enviable experience of hearing it for the first time. Fantastic from start to finish.
Look, it's just a 5 isn't it? Fire this up and transport yourself back to your / my tormented teenage angst years. Now, excuse me whilst I go and sit in the dark in my bedroom with some Southern Comfort and New Dawn Fades on repeat.
Great album Two criticisms Bass plays alot of out of tune notes that don't sound good You need to be in the right mood for it
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.
Catchy/jammy drums. Cool guy caricature cool vocals. Quirky bass lines. Noisy synths. My jam.
Meh. Its okay... another album from the list that I dont see myself going back to listen to
Dark and atmospheric, amazing soundscapes with some great bass especially. While there are some great lyrics that paint a bleak picture that works so well, Ian Curtis is very hit or miss as a vocalist. A super impressive album that is only just held back by being off pitch. After 10 years or so, I finally like this thing.
Joy Division are a funny band, aren't they? They seem to have a weird fan base (i.e. phoney baloney posers). I'm willing to bet that more people own a Joy Division t-shirt than any of their albums. I remember downloading both of them on Napster while at university, and being really confused that "Love Will Tear Us Apart" wasn't on either. Joy Division have featured on mix CDs ever since. This album is fucking brilliant. As soon as the bass line hits in "Disorder", you know you're in for a treat. Not every song is perfect, but they all sound great. Amazing rock. "Dead Souls" was on the re-released version of "Unknown Pleasures" that I listened to. It's a top notch banger; what a tune! In fact, the NIN cover that featured on "The Crow" soundtrack (what a compilation!) is what originally got me into Joy Division. I don't own a Joy Division CD or t-shirt, but I might invest in both. 👍👍
This album is a vibe. And it’s a bad vibe. But it a good way! It’s a brilliant sad album made by a brilliant sad artist with a great band. The bass work on Disorder is outstanding. A great song that probably influenced thousands of songs after it. Day of the Lords is DARK. On Insight, Curtis sings “Guess your dreams always end, they don’t rise up, just descend. I don’t care anymore, I’ve lost the will to want more.” That’s just about as depressing a lyric as you can think of, and it’s obvious Ian meant these tragic words.
I don’t get it unfortunately. Can’t get past the vocals which don’t really do so for me. They’re not emotive for me. I don’t know what Is really being communicated lyrically because I’m turned off by the music. Some production is cool or vibey but not really lol. The last track had an interesting horror thing going w the sound effects that I was kind of into by the end.
Honestly a tough listen at times but in the best way. They managed to create such a dark, depressing, moody atmosphere and it is incredible. I actually feel haunted after listening to it and I can't tell if that's good or bad. Also, probs one of the best covers of all time. Fav songs: - Disorder - Insight - New Dawn Fades - Shadowplay
Tragic story
Really enjoyed it
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.
I go back and forth on how much I actually enjoy this album, but there are always some moments when I hear it, where it just clicks why this was so groundbreaking and why people still love it today.
The music is very strong, but the singing divides the hell outta my joy.
I for one do not find the production an achievement, but who am I to differ to everyone else. I totally like the album tho.
Post-Punk masterpiece! 9/10
Personally, I think this is possibly the best that the post-punk genre has to offer. I don’t want to make it sound like it isn’t offering much, this is really a fantastic album. The production is certainly incredibly pleasing. The instrumentation is on par and the writing is original and unique. I don’t enjoy the vocals as much as some people probably do. Also, the album will get repetitive before it’s over. However, I enjoy it whenever I listen. That opening is just killer. 4/5