Unknown Pleasures

This was a tough listen. Several of the songs I actively disliked. But some of them were pretty good. I think my ears just weren’t impressed with their sound or the singer. I’d never listened to Joy Division, but had heard of them and knew they were highly regarded by some. But it just wasn’t for me, apparently.

Unknown Pleasures gets a ton of praise, but it didn’t do much for me. I’ll give “New Dawn Fades” some credit — it had a cool, moody heaviness that almost felt like a nod to Black Sabbath — but that was about it. The rest of the album felt flat and repetitive. I get that Joy Division helped shape post-punk, but influence doesn’t always equal enjoyable. Just wasn’t my vibe.

Confession: I've never really liked Joy Division. Apologies. It's too dark for me. Unknown Pleasures did little to win me over. The songs aren't there. It's just noise.

I had little to no knowledge of Joy Division before listening to this album so i had no real expectations, i had however heard some small snippets of the first song in the album which i did enjoy I don't think this is a bad album, it just doesn't speak to me in the way people are claiming it does for them. I can definitely appreciate the depth of the music, however i think i would enjoy the album more if i was more solemn and melodramatic. not bad, just not for me either.

Ei mitään kappaletta, jota haluaisin kuulla uudelleen, ikinä.

I mean it was eh, nothing great, would probably not listen again. Music just didn't stand out to me. 4.2/10

I grew up seeing this plastered on t-shirts from Hot Topic, H&M, Forever 21, and similar retailers. Yet, I never had any interest in listening to the album, especially after Ethan told me it was overrated. It was different than what I expected it to be. Unknown Pleasures was gritty and raw, with a great collection of drums + guitar + bass + synths. Unfortunately, I do not think this album is my speed. Punk is a genre I don't frequently dabble in because of the vocal style. That being said, the instruments and production made up for my dislike of that aspect. I would not listen to this again but appreciated my time with the album!

I've Got The Spirit, But Lose The Feeling 1001 Albums Generator 34 (05/20/2025) Radio astronomy is not a field of study that is ubiquitous to really any part of everyday life. The study of radio waves from space has perhaps two great claims to fame outside of those few who choose to pursue it professionally. Firstly, it led to the discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background, a seminal piece of evidence for the Big Bang Theory. Secondly, and most importantly, it created some pretty cool shirts. You see, Harold Craft was a radio astronomer who created an image for his dissertation in 1970 that featured a collection of radio waves measured from a pulsar, cleverly organized vertically as opposed to the more traditional horizontal method of visualization. Nearly a decade later, after inverting the colors, Joy Division used the image as the cover of their debut album Unknown Pleasures, and a couple decades after that, Hot Topic made like a gazillion dollars selling the design to moody 17 year-olds. In my review for The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, I mentioned Loveless and Velvet Underground & Nico as my hottest music nerd takes, but I had actually forgotten about Unknown Pleasures, which maybe shows what my thoughts are on this iconic album. Out of every album in the Western music canon that I have heard, this is the one that I would say I understand the least. I hear that it had influence that it had on the music of the 80's, but it just doesn't feel as ahead of its time as other similarly regarded albums such as the This Heat's Deceit or the aforementioned VU&N. I mean, hell, Marquee Moon came out two years previous and did everything this album tries to do but way better. By virtually every measure, I should love this album. There are many post-punk albums that are some of my all time favorites, the 70's are my favorite decade in music history, and I even love The Cure, who have a similar sound to this album. But while I find The Cure's songwriting to be interesting and Robert Smith to be an interesting frontman, Joy Division and their lead Ian Curtis do not resonate with me in the same way. By the way, I know that Ian Curtis had severe mental health issues and that he took his own life. This is a tragedy, but does not affect my enjoyment of the music on display here. REST IN PEACE Ian Curtis. He died at 23. Oh and don't mishear me; I do not hate this album. Opening track Disorder and penultimate track Interzone have great energy and feature my favorite aspects of Joy Division's post-punk, which is at its best when it is danceable, rather than gothic and brooding. I am also happy to report that Day Of The Lords and New Dawn Fades are perfectly moody and show that this more chill side of the band that they are most known for certainly led to some fantastic songs. I would even go as far as to say most songs on this album aren't bad; instead the quality, unlike the energy emitted by dying stars as they rotate in space, is relatively linear. As a whole, this album feels a bit like a formless, mushy substance. Peter Hook's messy bass playing and Stephen Morris' drumming lay interchangeable foundations for all of these songs, while Ian Curtis' sings imperfect, unmemorable vocal melodies in his low register and Bernard Sumner's lightly distorted guitar plays some high register chords. Sure, Insight has some electronic stuff going on, but does that really make that song better or just more annoying? There is no X factor here that made this album click for me in the way that it has for others, even two years after I heard it for the first time. And that makes me sad. Enjoying music is so much more fun than not enjoying it. However, while everything is for someone, nothing is for everyone, and Unknown Pleasures, while never straying far from the path of "just okay", is not for me. 2.5/5, rounded down to a 2/5. Favs: Disorder New Dawn Fades Interzone Least Fav: I Remember Nothing

Prefer watching “24 Hour Party People” than listening to JD. Respect tho.

I wanted to like this album, but found myself skipping through most of the first half of this album and then couldn't finish it. Felt a bit all over the place.

It's funny when we get the same artist in quick succession. This is another very recognizable album cover and then one I associate with Joy Division. I guess I like this one better than Closer, but I really don't care for Joy Division after these two. Very Depeche Mode. I'll give this a higher 2.

I am glad we knocked out Joy Division's only 2 albums in 4 days, because man something about them makes my ears want to run away from my head and brain. I liked this one more than their other album, but that is like saying i'd rather drink pee than eat poop. I understand that everyone has different music tastes so I don't want to say this album sucks because it's all subjective. All I am going to say is that I am personally happy that Joy Division only made 2 albums.

Nfm

Joy Division walked so New Order could fly

Joy Division walked so New Order could run

2.4

Not my style

Want in the mood for it. We’ll produced but didn’t really grab me

Oh boy I did not feel this

I think I like it a little more than their "Closer" album which I recently reviewed, but it's still not for me. I feel like I should like it, but the vocals aren't that great and it's repetitive. Musically it's alright, sometimes I get some The Cure vibes (whom I love), but it's more experimental than that. Will pass.

This album was neither unknown nor a pleasure. Discuss.

It must be hard to be too exuberant when the music you make sounds like you’re trapped in a well.

hard listen

Some good music on here but the writing is crap.

1. Disorder / 5.5 Sounds familiar. I like the opening sounds but the sing does't take you to new hights after that. It becomes nagging/repetitive 2. Day of the Lords / 5 Also sounds familiar. Nothing special though. 3. Candidate / 4.5 Eery. Not a pleasurable listeing experience really 4. Insight / 4.5 Again nothing special really 5. New Dawn Fades / 4.5 Opening sounds cool, but also similar to all the previous songs. Some dark ominous guitar sounds and nothing more. 6. She's Lost Control / 4.5 Don't know what to think of it. I could.t see myself ever puting this on. 7. Shadowplay / 5 The songs dont seem to change. All the same. Cool little guitar solo though 8. Wilderness / 5 Little different, which makes it ok 9. Interzone / 5 Also a bit different. Nothing special really 10. I remember nothing / 5.5 minimal voice makes the mot listenable song for me Feels ahead of their time for 1979. Although i dont really like it it sounds influential for their time. I recognize some Cure and a lot of other bands take inspiration from this

Not my thing

I was so hopeful for this one since it’s such a cult classic and I’ve liked other joy division songs. But this album just seemed so monotonous to me and maybe I didn’t listen closely enough but I just don’t get it.

The album cover is iconic, but the music is forgettable. The album sounds like it was played through a bad stereo inside a cavern, and they put one microphone in the cavern to record the crummy stereo. The production was bad, the songs were boring, and I’m glad to be done listening to this.

It was okay. I think this is what I expected Bowie to sound like. (The Bowie album was better.) Didn't finish listening to it. I like the cover art.

I expected to love this but it just feels really flat. If I'd never listened to them before I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to them again following this.

Album is just overhyped to me based on the review. It was okay but not great and nothing memorable.

His voice got a bit annoying

(sigh). another brit/nuwave band that I just don't get the appeal of.

No matter how many times I’ve listened to this, I just don’t see what’s so great abt it. Maybe it influenced some other bands, but there’s just really nothing that sticks out abt it to me aside from the uniqueness of the singers voice, which can be annoying. 2.2/5 Fav song: Disorder

Another unimpressive Brit-punk band. Hooray

It was alright, maybe I wasn’t a product of the time. His voice is a bit too monotonous for me, not very inspired riffs, I like a bit more colour to the tracks. 2/5 a few tracks were decent,

« Joy Division » bro où est la joie dans ta vie?? ☀︎j’aime pas Day of the Lords, Insight, She’s Lost Control ☀︎j’aime vraiment pas: Candidate

Sounds like it was recorded in the bathroom. I have made better sounding recordings on GarageBand with one mic and zero idea of what I’m doing. But “Shadowplay” is gloriously moody and broody.

Some longer songs with sound effects, some short songs with sound effects. Very British, solid beats

Not much joy but I didn’t hate it

Heb hier m’n leven lang niet in kunnen komen, ik vind er niks aan. Sorry als ik mensen hiermee teleurstel

Genuinely did not like.

2.5 - not bad!

Some of the tunes are alright pity about the SINGING. Why did they let him away with being so off key? Is it supposed to add charm? It does not add charm.

Eh, OK. Too moody. 2/5

Das stelle ich mir unter dad Rock vor, nur das dad Rock normalerweise gut ist

I don't get it...this album is sooo gloomy and depressing. ALSO, please...for the love of God sing in tune...ugh. he's a horrendous vocalist. Not good. The album is not unbearable, but bleh. The bass lines are cool, but this is just bad. Similar to Depeche Mode but wayyyyyyy worse. Play something not slow PLEASE. It has moments tho so I'll be nice and give it a 2. Actual rating....1.5. Liked Songs: "Disorder" , "She's Lost Control" , "Shadowplay" , "Interzone"

I didn’t much care for this, the only stand out to me was “She’s lost Control”, that beat has a hook.

Joy Division and this album are criminally overrated. Fight me. 2.5/5

Please stop giving me whiny British people who think there too cool to make good music

Sounds flat, heavy—but not in a good way— and repetitive. The mixing is not great —“singer” sounds disconnected from the musical backdrop. And, the vocalist is mainly talking through the lyrics. A 2, but on the edge of a 1.

Meh

Iyt wasn't terrible, but neither was it very good. The vocals were pretty awful. I did think it was quite interesting that you could hear the New Order sound in there. I made it all the way through so it gets 2 stars!

So....I believe this album has been hailed as timeless and a genre defining album....I just found it really really boring. I feel like I should like it but honestly I couldn't wait for it to be over.

Didn’t enjoy this.

Certainly influential and basis for many great things, but really dated and improved upon so much by newer indie rock bands, that this pales in comparison.

Ég vann einu sinni með manni sem var forfallinn Joy Division aðdáandi. Á þeim tíma fattaði ég ekki alveg hvað var svona æðislegt við hljómsveitina. Ég fatta það ekki enn. Mér finnst þeir frekar leiðinlegir

This was ok. Nothing special or standout here and honestly, mostly forgettable. It was fine to listen to once. 2.5/5

First half is dreary and unispiring but second half saves it. Too happy to listen to music like this. Would have scored higher in the past. Stand out song - Shadowplay

Not a fan!

I get the importance, and Ian’s voice gets better throughout, but I’m not coming back to this one

IT was OK, but got repetitive.

I liked Joy Division after they became New Order. There are only a couple JD songs I ever liked and this album doesn’t contain them. I don’t understand how this is considered a great album. It’s almost like I’m being gaslighted.

Better T-shirt than album. Yeah, I said it.

Roughly as cool as the dudes wearing the t-shirt

This is what the emo kids in South Part listens to, when they hang around and smoke their cigarettes, «longing» for the sweet mercy of death

there wasn't much about this I enjoyed, largely boring and similar sounding songs. Did not need to listen...

Just meh

This is named appropriately because any kind of pleasure from this album is completely unknown. Seriously, why are there so many British Albums on this list? We haven't cared about anything they do since 1776!

I didn’t love his voice.

Joy Division has always been a major head scratcher to me. They are frequently cited as a hugely influential band and listed among many people's must listens. This isn't my first time diving into Joy Division and I still just don't get it. I keep feeling like I'm missing something because their music just ends up so hollow to me. I can't say it's outright bad in any way, but it does little to nothing to resonate with me. I respect that this is an early example of the post-punk movement, but somebody please educate me as to why they are held in such high regard. Until then, they will remain shelved as a band that I find overrated and mostly skippable. 1.76 stars

it was ok

not for me, though some were nice sections of early punk

i don't get it...

“the singer sounds so depressed and moody” well he did kill himself this album suffers from the thing that plagues old classics. it is so referential that it seems boring. it’s inspired too much and luckily we’ve gotten some of the best music due to their influence. not for me, I much prefer new order. but appreciated the time to sit with this

To quote song 2, Day of the Lords, “when will it end”? Kinda wish they would’ve kept this album to themselves so I didn’t have to listen to people impersonating this singing style for the last 8 years. My hatred of this vocal style is personal and due to people attempting to give homage to Joy Division, so I will refrain on giving it a 1 for that. Giving a 2 because the background music is okay. However, if a restaurant played this I would probably walk out mid-bite.

I see a lot of people describing this music as "dark" or "moody". I think you have to show some sort of emotion to be considered moody. I also understand that there is a whole spectrum of emotional tone to art but I really can't imagine anyone describing this as "dark". It's not chipper and poppy, but it ain't dark. The vibe seems more like the absence of a vibe. It's the loneliness of depression. Numbness. Anyway, it was fairly boring but thankfully pretty short,

Oof. This was not enjoyed.

I remember liking this album alot more, never been a huge fan of the droney singing. crazy Joy division turned into New Order who I love

I have listened to Joy Division songs, but never a whole album. I liked this album, but I didn't really hear anything special that would make me listen again.

It was okay

I really like the funky guitar riffs in Disorder - it feels very emo punk-rock. Day of the Lords was a heavy beat but I rocked w it. Candidate and Insight were not the vibe. Liked the beat of Interzone. I Remember Nothing was depressinggg. Overall, this type of music isn’t something I typically listen to and for good reason, it makes me feel sad and alone :( Fave Song: Interzone Least Have Song: Candidate Rating: 2/5

Not very exciting, so much so that I forgot it was playing as I was working on other things.

This album was just too much for me lol. It was annoying me

Punk skulle jag väl inte kalla det. Trist synth med inslag av pop. Trodde jag skulle gilla det men det gjorde jag inte.

The name ‘Joy Division’ has rolled around for years and I never listened. I agree, especially the last song has a Downie/Hip sound. It’s amazing to me that these guys have 3m monthly Spotifiers and The Hip only 1m, when the Hip are so much more interesting and melodic. I do like the album cover, as it reminds me of another band I’d should take more time to listen to instead, Vulfpeck.

The Good: Joy… is good… The Bad: It seems to be divided… The Ugly: trying to figure out by what… I love me a nice rabbit hole to go down on Spotify, and this album was part of one of them there journeys a while back. At the time I did not like it… and today I kinda felt the same. You like a depressed voice telling you their viewpoint about stuff, then this is your thing… Myself, I prefer something less straight razor to your inner thigh… 2*

I like the dark tones and the pace of the album. The call and response work is fun too. Every now and then the vocals venture out of the avant garde and into just kind of sucking. It’s a fine line I guess. I didn’t really grab onto any of the tracks and likely won’t be revisiting it any time soon. But it’s not bad.

Sucks ass

This all but confirms that anybody who has ever worn the joy division t shirt has simply never listened to the album. Why does the whole thing sound like the band recorded their instruments in the recording studio, whilst the lead singer tried to sing his from next door? The vocals are so quiet, which is probably for the best, as he sings like he’s dipped his balls into an ice bath. Vocals very much let down what could be a really nice album, the music was pretty good at times. I didn’t really do much lyrical analysis, but based on the kind of people who wear the Joy Division T-shirt, I can only imagine they would have been sad and pretentious. Just googled the lead singer, Ian Curtis, two first names strikes again.

Mmmmmm nore of a New Order guy. Did like the piece of the write up that talked about how this was an album one would listen to right before committing suicide! Dark.

I know I said I had to blindly give this album a positive rating but it’s just so….British and so……lame.plus division was my hardest subject in school. Ok. Something positive. Let’s see….the bassist’s name is Peter Hook. Hook was a good movie when I was a kid. That’s all I got. This shit sucks.

It’s raw and stark, but maybe too much so. The vocals sound buried, like trying to reach you from underwater. Feels like Velvet Underground, but missing the warmth. There’s an unease that lingers, but it never quite resolves. It leaves a lot of space, but maybe too much emptiness.

I have been aware of this album as a cultural artifact for as long as I can remember, but have never listened to it. Man the 80s are rough. Couple decent songs, but this vibe is not for me.

Meh

Maybe great, but this mostly played in the background so I can't feel all that strongly about it

Idk man, Joy Division just isn't that great of a band. They aren't bad, they just aren't great. It's just not impressive. Frankly, the album cover is better than the music.

Esperaba demasiado del disco. 2,5/5

- teils joyful (wie ich es bei deren Name erwartet hätte), teils irgendwie depressing - insgesamt in Ordnung, aber nichts, was ich wieder anmachen würde, oder mir was weggespeichert hätte

This was better that’s the first Joy division album I listened to, but not by much. I’m just not much of a fan and don’t know why they had more than one album on the list.

Boring

Yeah, nah. Disappointed overall. Once. I would have loved it. The mood of my decade in my 20s. Definately once, but not now. Best thing is the album graphic now. 2 stars being generous.

Familiar sound, I know the band name, but an album I've never listened to before. Ian Curtis' vocals are the only hurdle I had to enjoying this record, he's flat and boring and sounds like a someone trying to be a singer who isn't a singer. Bands live and die by the frontman, it's a fact. Apparently "post punk" was slow and plodding. This album is dark and sludgy, a far cry from the New Order sound they would soon develop. The percussion is dreadful & robotic. I love old Cure songs from the same time, but they have amazing musicianship to back up the gloom and doom and there's a ray of hope in the vocals, light at the end of the tunnel if you will, not so much here. Outside of "Shadowplay" (someone finally realized there was a guitar in the room!), I didn't truly enjoy a single song, though I didn't hate them either. Would never listen to this record again, but I can say I gave it a go!

Did not enjoy this

I never understood why this group was so popular. This was pretty bad all around — some OK songs, mopey/dumb lyrics, didn’t like the vocals.

This album felt like I should be going to the theater to watch a stage play or musical, which would have made this so much better if I had. Yet listening to this on its own just relaxing and eating breakfast, I didn’t really enjoy it much. It wasn’t unlistenable thankfully, but still nothing I ever want to revisit again.

It kinda sounded like the smiths, or maybe some other band thats similar to that. Singing was bad lol i dont know if i can look past that

So-so music and the singing not that great. Weird music comes to mind.

Cool start out with the bassline. Truly I don't mind it so far, good balance of sound production.

Much too depressing for me

i didn’t like it that much

Pre-listening thoughts: I feel like I’ve heard of Joy Division but I could not tell you anything about them or any of their songs. I feel like they’re associated with bands like The Cure in terms of genre? Could be wrong Post/during listening thoughts: something about the vocal production on track 1 is kinda wonky. But it’s a good song nonetheless. There was a review of this album that said something along the lines of “I should have liked this a lot but I didn’t” and that’s how I’m feeling right now. It’s post punk and I love a lot of post punk but man this is just not hitting the right points for me. Sometimes it sounds like he’s singing into a tin can and I don’t enjoy that. It’s just kind of boring post punk. Lacking the necessary energy and variety for me 4.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: day of the lords, interzone Least fav tracks: disorder and insight but only cause of the vocal production, I Remember Nothing

The Ian Curtis biopic, Control, is one of my all-time favourite music-related films. In the context of that movie, Joy Division's music really works for me. Flawlessly. Outside that context, though, I appreciate how they broke new ground, and I appreciate the odd song. But overall, their debut is just a constant gloomy droning sound, claustrophobically produced, that prevails.

So many of these songs had musicality and intros that a really dug, but the vibes were just a little too off for me. As others have pointed out the vocals are a big turn off. I liked a few of the songs, but there was nothing that really hooked me on this record. Reading the lyrics, it sounded like there were some interesting ideas there, but they just didn't connect with my ear. Feels like sacrilege because I know how iconic this album is, but I'm met with a little bit of a shrug.

Well that's a name to conjure with. Was it unknown? Well it was by me. Was it a pleasure? No, can't really say it was. Oh, don't get me wrong, it wasn't crap, but it wasn't for me either. But it was worth a 2.

Makes nice background working music. Big fan of the guitar notes. You don’t wonder to yourself “when will it end” The vocals aren’t it for me, so that costs some points. Can see how Nirvana might have been inspired by this, but took it up a notch. <<< Disorder, I remember nothing

Bit too doomer for me. I only knew shadowplay going into this album because of the Killers cover.

Sé que Joy Division es una banda reconocida y este álbum es famoso como uno de los más influyentes, pero para mi no es un estilo que me diga nada, entiendo que la fuerza estará en la letra, parte que no puedo disfrutar tanto, pero a nivel musical si bien es un estilo punk que parece ser afín a mucha de la música de este estilo, no acabo de ver diferencias entre canciones a nivel musical, parece lo mismo pero con ligeras diferencias

I really wanted to say that I liked it but I would be lying. Look, it's not bad but it's not good either, it's like a 5/10

This is the kind of thing I should like, but I just don't. Maybe I needed to listen first as a teenager? Can't get over the complete lack of control with the vocals. Painfully out of tune, like pretty much all of the time, without any character that can excuse that. Interzone was ok, but you had to wait until the end of the album to get there.

2 out of 5. I don't mind slow music but this album isn't floating my boat.

Joy Division: Important but shit. New Order: Less important, but less shit. I don't know this is heavy going isn't it? It's dour, bleak, tuneless, played by trained chimps apparently. It has a layer of pathos and intrigue due to Ian Curtis' struggles and suicide and his very original persona is everywhere but... I'd rather listen to some talented musicians playing some good songs on a pleasingly produced recording.

I do not like Joy Division

did not like - makes me wonder why everyone wears that t-shirt??

Never been a fan but it wasn't terrible

I have never been able to get into Joy Division and I don't think I ever will sORRRRYY

I feel like most of the albums that are on this list are of the same genre and have the same sound- this album is no different. I am not a fan.

Bit on the dreary side. Not much happening 3 songs in. Quite liking Shadow play.

Did Jim Morrison come back to life for a day just to channel a bootleg Smiths premonition in his garage? I found neither joy nor pleasures on this ruthlessly depressing album.

I almost went as low as a 1 for this record but decided against it. The vocalist is obnoxious and somehow makes every single track less enjoyable. The instrumentation is the only saving grace for this one.

Meh, not sure what all the fuss is about -- I wasn't all that intrigued by the album

Kind of strange. I kind of liked some of it.

Not a fan, especially of the live tracks.

Random. A little strange.

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🫶

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.

emo repetitive best song: ‘candidate’

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

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

This one didn’t do it for me. Seemed very generic.

Dull :(

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.

The t-shirt is much better than the album.

I should like Joy Division, but this record did not resonate with me.

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.

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.

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

"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.

Drone

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

meh

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.

Mediocre

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

It's cool to know it's an album that helped change and morph genre(s).

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...

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.

Meh

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.

All seemed really one note and just blah.

This style of broody music doesn’t do a lot for me. It wasn’t bad, just felt kinda flat footed and meh.

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....

Most overrated album of all time. Disorder is good.

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.

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

I just have never really liked them, some songs were okay.

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.

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.

Idk it’s just boring, samey. Like this over Graduation?

This reminded me of The Doors. I don’t care for The Doors. And I didn’t care for this.

Meh

Erm

The album cover is really cool, but the music wasn't hitting me at all.

..(.

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.

I do Not like

Meh. Its okay... another album from the list that I dont see myself going back to listen to

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.

A solid album over all. A little boring at first but after a couple of listens it grew on me a little more. Tho it does that vocal style that I really don't care for, with a weird science quality. Like bad Bowie impressions.

slow and boring, can’t tell most of the songs apart, many mistakes by the players, singing off-tune, in conclusion - yikes

Hmm, its difficult to find the appeal of Joy Division's music, except for a few tracks here and then. This album was particularly hard to get through; there's just one or two tracks where it feels like you're not drowning in melancholy. But maybe that's the point... And if that's the point, we'll... definitely not an album for me.

Not for me.

I respected the music-especially the bass lines in the songs, but this was not for me.

Not sure why this was on this list.

It’s joy division. Not bad per se but not my cup of tea. 2 stars

It's a classic, iconic year defining album. It's also desperately dull and depressing.

you can tell the movement from punk to early 80's alt. But still too much punk for my taste

While I appreciate its place in the punk — post-punk progression, I don’t love it. Too ethereal and depressing. But even so, She’s Lost Control is a fan favorite of mine.

I thought this was boring and the lead singer did not have a good voice.

While I appreciated the effort and the artistry, I didn't connect with this album. There is nothing overly dynamic for me. all the vocals sound the same and it sounds a bit as if it were recorded in a cave. If you are a fan, enjoy.

Creative but depressing videos. Don't like the music.

Similar to talking heads

don't understand the hype

I really wanted to like it

While I appreciate what Joy Division did for music, I don't really dig it.

2.5 kinda cool gloomy moods. Overall a little boring. Interzone, I remember nothing, and she’s lost control highlights

Eh. Meh

Nicht mein Fall

I think this is getting a two mostly because it was better than the last few albums.

It was okay. Nothing really stood out to me as memorable though 2.8

I fully understand why this album made the list. Especially from a technical standpoint. That being said, the vocals just aren’t my cup of tea. The band is great but the vocals just don’t add any value imo.

Esperaba mucho más, la verdad. Bastante meh

4/10

Forgot I was listening to it. Awkward.

Kind of dumb. Annoying.

Not bad. Reminds me of The Smiths. "New Dawn Fades" was cool enough for an extra listen or two.

Nothing memorable here for me. If it was on in background at a bar it be ok

Zu gleichförmig

Meh

Het schijnt een iconische hoes te wezen, maar de muziek haalt dat niveau in ieder geval op geen stukken na. Wat is dat toch met de experimentele kliederbandjes uit deze periode? Het klinkt voor geen meter, maar om de een of andere redenen moet je dit volgens het Grote Dikke Boek wel nog tijdens je leven horen. Deze 'Pleziertjes' hadden wat mij betreft 'Onbekend' kunnen blijven...

Eh

Not for me.

Meh, not very good... Pretty boring

Some of 70s rock sounds like it was recorded in a garage somewhere, and this is no exception.

It just didn't do it much for me. Instrumental was good voice got old.

Honestly I found the songs kinda boring, and they just didn't really captivate me in any way.

I thought this was pretty dull

Openinh track is great, rest of the album is rather tiresome

Didn't really get it. I can understand why it's good, but not for me.

Damals sicher eine grosse Inspiration für viele Musiker. Ich persönlich stehe mehr auf Fraktus - und die waren sogar noch früher!

Not terrible, but I think I’d enjoy it more if the songs weren’t so… slow?

Vähän tylsä kokonaisuutena. Yllätyksetön ja synkkä. En kuuntelisi kyllä uudelleen ihan samantien.

Kon me hier niet echt lekker in vinden

Dit doet mij niet zoveel. Zit net tussen in waar ik van geniet. Op het 2e nummer gestrand

Dit was hem niet, was alweer bijna vergeten hoe het klonk ook

11/15/23. First time diving into Joy Division; not a bad album but perhaps not my cup of tea. Songs just aren’t very enjoyable to me, but the last three tracks do go out with a bang. Maybe I need to give this another try.

It has some good sounds. I really liked Disorder, just kind of long and repetitive at times.

Huge band. Huge following. I've heard this album many times as it was played by a sibling a lot. Just never got the taste for it. How do I love the Smiths but hate Joy Division? These are the mysteries of the universe.

I can't get past the voice.

Nebolo to nepočúvateľné, ale strašne mi to brnkanie liezlo na nervy. Mohla by to byť 3, ale dám len 2.

Amazing instrumals, terrible singer ruining the songs

Very moody blah which is the point but not for my purposes

Not their best album

Boring

Boring. But quality.

A bit boring.

When I was a teenager I really tried getting to this album. I thought you either loved it or you stupidly didn't get it, and I was terrified I was the latter. After maybe 40-50 listens over the years, and caring a lot less about what other people think, I can happily say Joy Division are one of the most overrated bands out there. By far the worst album-rating-per-t-shirt sold ratio in the world. Disorders a great opener. And then it's 35 minutes of shite. 1.5*

Disorder is great, Shadowplay is alright, the rest are just.... not good. I want to like Joy Division. But I don't.

got bored

I know it's groundbreaking, but I just couldn't get into it on a full listen.

Like their album cover, the songs just kind of stack and blend together.

Al chile está bien aburrido.

Oh, whatever.

I thought the guitar was quite good in some of them, and the tempo matched, however some had a poor rhythm and I wasn't that keen on his vocals, so a solid 2.5/5

It was just a bit dull. I quite liked Shadowplay but many tracks felt like they never got going. Disappointed.

didn't download any songs, iconic imagery. had an intense hold on tumblr but does not have an intense hold on me!

The first track immediately made me think of Fred Armisen singing in "The History of Punk" skit, which I think speaks to the distinctive sound associated with punk (and SNL's ability to spoof it well.) Heading into track two, a bait and switch reveals itself...  nothing else on this album is punk. The album is interesting to hear as part of the cutting edge of a New Wave of music, but I lost interest somewhere in the middle of the album. By the last few tracks I was hoping it would just end already and let me move on to some Brian Eno or something to clear my ears. I'd probably enjoy it more as an instrumental compilation. Sorry, this is a solid, "meh" to me, but I offer the artists all respect for the road it paved for others.

I'm generally not a fan of what gets classified as "80s music" so this one didn't do it for me. However, it was fun to discover that they did the original version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" I first heard that song as a cover by Nerina Pallot and absolutely loved it; it's worth checking out.

I was kind of into it for the first couple songs, but I didn't hear much after that that made me want to come back.

A bit too melancholic for my taste.

Disappointing, didn't hear anything remotely memorable. Wanted to not resort to the stereotype of characterising JD as dour, miserabilists but evidence is all there

I just can't seem to get into Joy Division. 2/5

Music sounds ahead of it's time for 1979. I liked the upbeat songs more than the one's that droned on a bit. Some fun tracks in there, I liked Shadowplay. A few times, the singer sounds like someone's 60 year old uncle trying kareoke, kinda took me out of it. Interesting recording style, very echoey.

Not love at first listen

I feel like I should like this album but it just fell flat for me.

Ik ben geen fan. Sowieso niet van de stem (inluiding van de jaren 80 lijkt het), maar de rest van de muziek vind ik ook gewoon niet heel boeiend. Gewoon niet mijn ding. 2 sterren.

Never understood the hype.

Entiendo porque esta. Es raro, pero medio hipnótico. No se, me gustó el estilo pero se quedo un poco corto musicalmente. Lo tendría que escuchar de nuevo.

It's good for a few songs, but they start to blend together for me after a while. Sounds like one, long sad song.

Alright, no bangers.

This is the number one album that just doesn’t click for me.

This is an influential yet awful album. I hadn't listened to it in ten years — while I never really loved the album, I definitely don't like it now.

Eh, I remember liking this more than I actually do.

I enjoyed this album more than I expected, but was it enough to make me dig out the Unknown Pleasures T Shirt my auntie unknowingly bought me? Nah. A bit too droney for my taste.

There are parts I love but they don't seem to mesh into something I truly dig. The music is awesome, I like Ian's singing style - I felt Morrison vibes at times, which I like. Perhaps will give it a few more listens.

Cool album art. New Dawn Fades was pretty good, but idk I just don't think I'm a fan of this guy's voice. Ok the next song confirmed, not a fan.

One of those albums that I’m just not sure why it’s on the list. Nothing terrible, but uninspiring.

Not nearly as good as I was led to believe. I see a lot of comments about so and so being a genius, but nothing to back it up.

Det var slet ikke mig.

How boring.

I never cared for these guys. I don't like the vocals or the sensibility. Very depressing stuff.

eihän siinä menny kun pari tuntia että löyty sopiva rima... noh LIIAN KORKEALLA! tiiäkkö miltä tuntuu ku kokelee.. NO PELOTTAA... pelko iskee... pitääisi maa olla heti siinä että hypyllä pääsee ylös.. ei ollut PITI KIIVETÄ.. ei siinä uskalla mitään temppuja tehdä.. ja mutenki jaksa talvella kylmällä. kesällä sitten, kun oon siellä. auta yhtään mihinkään tollanen muutenkaan, pelkkä show trikki semmonen... candidate

Did not like this

I have never heard anything by Joy Division, though I've heard of them. There were a couple of good tracks, but the rest was just kind of depressing to listen to, not really to my taste, mostly because of the vocals. Favorite track: Interzone

Pretty shit. Like 2 good songs

For a long time I hadn’t heard any Joy Division but I suspected they might be a bit depressing. And they totally are. But maybe that’s the point. I couldn’t get excited about any of this though. It almost becomes ok in a couple of tracks but then returns to subdued bleakness.

I get where this album has been influential to other albums and artists I do like. But this album isn’t just sullen. It’s boring.

I gotta be honest, Joy Division got better later on. A bit glum for me.

The meme cover album! Very moody. Headman sounds like Stan Marsh at times. Not a big fan.

Best track(s): She's lost control, I remember nothing Worst track(s): The rest I've listened to the 2019 remaster. This man sounds like he's singing in a can.. He also doesn't quite seem to know about melodies. Terrible listen, will probably never listen again. The saving grace of this album might be the basslines.

I don't know, I had higher expectations

Ekan biisin alku nosti punaiset liput, mutta turhaan. Keskinkertainen ja ajoittain erittäin arsyttävä levy.

Masennuin lievästi tätä kuunnellessa

Meh

I thought these were the guys that did blue Monday, cause why else everyone would be wearing the album art on shirts and stuff? This album sucked, it sounds like karaoke at my local pub but instead of being funny or moving it's just a drunk guy telling the bar how his wife left him at Christmas while "Thats why they call it the blues" plays in the background. 2/5 - made me google and listen to blue Monday hence the 2 star rating

Sounds like if Jim Morrison lived long enough to be on early 1980s college radio. I don’t hate it? Not really my thing though

olidlig sång, basen är rätt otajt emellanåt. får en tvåa för att det trots att detta är ett okej sound ibland.

p432. 1979. 2 stars. Dreary and depressing meh for the most part. Ian Curtis sounds like Jim Morrison on Valium. Bonus star for the bass work.

2/5

Honestly, this is pretty boring for the most part. Who would ever actually dance to Joy Division?