Unknown Pleasures

Take a little Jim Morrison, a little Talking Heads, a little Depeche Mode, mix together and add some synthesizer, and you’ve got yourself the sound of Joy Division. (This band predates Depeche Mode). Overall the sound is good, although the tracks are not too memorable. I give them 3.5 stars.

Yahoo! More like known pleasures. What a familiar album cover. What a familiar band. These are those thick-like-a-blanket guitars I don't mind. (Perhaps it is simply... bass. Listen, I'm not a musicologist.) Joy Division are sort of like a David Bowie/A Perfect Circle fusion. Of all the tragic early deaths on this list (and there are many), Ian Curtis has always been one of the most personally upsetting to me. That said, I do prefer New Order (lol).

There's no joy here

I enjoyed this, but not as much as I thought I would. Not really sure what else to say about it really. Pretty good

It sounds more like a rejected Doors demo tape (but without the indulgent spoken word poetry) than New Order in utero.

So dark, moody, angular, minimalistic, and yet it remains danceable. Started a revolution in music. The genius is in Hannett taking the very good punk songs the band had written and then twisting them in to a different shape, thus creating the future (and, tangentially, New Order). 4⭐️

Love th album cover. Nice music to have playing in the background while doing stuff. Would listen again to pay more close attention cause I do like me some old school rock.

First time listening to it and, in perspective, I get its importance. I liked it, but I will have to listen to it once more to really focus on lyrics. Bass lines are really killing

Classic album and one of my favourites all time. Favourite songs: New dawn fades, Shadowplay, She's lost control

Garbage 0 stars

iconic. the base for emo

No notes, life changing music

There’s a lot to say here. Joy Division knew exactly what they were doing, and i don’t mean that in the sense of technical skill or tight musicianship. There’s a reason everyone and their mother covered Disorder in their first band. You know what it is

moody. goth. dark. vibes. chill.

No

Truelly, ok

No thanks

Gothic new wave?!! It’s a very good album I thoroughly enjoyed it. The dark and moody atmosphere built up the by the synths made it feel like I was stranded in an abandoned castle with flickers of light as my salvation. The dark sound amplified my favourites for this album listen as ‘Disorder’, ‘Day of the Lords’, and ‘Wilderness’ were the tracks I was drawn to the most. I’ll definitely explore the rest of their catalogue in due course, but at least understand why this album and its cover are so prevalent in pop culture. - GEMV (13.01.2026)

Escuchando este disco, creo, finalmente confirme que la única canción que me gusta de joy division es love will tear us apart.

2/3. Nothing really leapt out at me, and I have to say much of it passed me by. BUT. The influence of this is so obvious, especially on a band like Tears for Fears (one of my favorites), so I can clearly understand why it's on this list, unlike some others I've come across. I think it would be an album that I'd grow to appreciate more with repeated listens, so I'd give it a strong 3, even if it didn't grab me this time around.

Joy Division isn't bad, depressing, atmospheric, mixed weird yes, but not bad. It's not Oasis elongating so many lyrics I want to smash my head in. So that was nice. I'm in a good mood so some of this was lost on me. It's all very sad and downbeat. You can feel the depression in the music and lyrics. That said if you are thinking of suicide do not listen to this album. A change of speed, a change of style A change of scene, with no regrets A chance to watch, admire the distance Still occupied, though you forget Different colours, different shades Over each mistakes were made I took the blame Directionless so plain to see A loaded gun won't set you free So you say Yeah dude was going though some things when writing this. I was told by a friend of mine he did in fact kill himself. He told me after I read him my review. https://988lifeline.org/

Love this album and missed the group in my youth!

Not bad. Not great.

For some reason, I thought I liked Joy Division, but now I'm not so sure....

I have dreaded of the day this album was gonna show up. I have tried numerous times throughout the years to listen to & get the hype around it. Once again, I still do not know.

Favorite album atm, disorder top 10 song of all time

When I listen to some albums on this list, I don’t understand how they could work for anyone. But while this wasn’t the album for me, I could see it. How others might love this album.

A few good songs but singer is like a lot of albums on the list. Not good.

Tedious

This is goth rock. I’ve listened to so many other goth rock records but never the source so every song I heard sounded like one I had heard from a lesser known band, little did I know this is the original source material

candidate is an odd one but 10/10 background music so far for work cover is so good favorite song: interzone

One of those albums that I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate a few years ago because of the vocals. I can now see how cool and foundational it is though.

wel nice maar ik voel r weinig bij

nice enough, but the songs were a bit similar, overall some great ideas though!!! just underwhelming

I love “Disorder,” but the rest of this album is just kinda boring… then I put it on loud on my headphones and it totally changed. It’s growing on me, may update to 5 with more time. Song added to the playlist: Disorder

Joy Division feels like a rite of passage for many. You have childhood, adolescence, and then your “Joy Division phase.” Let’s be honest, most of us went through it! Either that, or Joy Division became more of a fashion statement in recent decades. Regardless, they were a band that I enjoyed during my early 20s. The darkness in their music, mixed with that raw, punk aesthetic, really struck a chord. The use of synths to create a cold, empty atmosphere was one of my favorite elements. I might not listen to them anymore, because I got my fill 20 years ago, but their influence is undeniable. They left a massive mark on post punk during the late ’70s and early ‘80s, and they made a comeback in the early 2000s, especially with indie bands like Interpol and even mainstream acts like The Killers. It’s also fascinating how New Order emerged from the ashes of Joy Division, transitioning into a much brighter, uplifting sound, another band that has stayed one of my all-time favorites.

never listend before, i liked a lot. was good for background.

I already know and love this album

Baaaaad. Such a slog of an album. Doesn't feature the bands best music. It must be famous for the cover

Good but actually made me sad and a little uncomfortable hes a terrible singer but RIP it was like 3.8

Crazy coincidence, had a relisten today without checking this. Although some songs are defo misses, the vibe/ mood of this album is amazing, so powerfully hopeless. One of the greats. 4.25/5

Se esse álbum tem algum tipo de hype eu não entendo, pq pqp não deu. Não achei horrível, mas me pegou ZERO não consegui curtir nenhuma música, posso falar a que eu mais odiei que foi she’s lost control (tive até que pular)

I loved it so much

not a single song that i liked… sorry

Their songs are what I will consider an evergreen but also a great representation of what music was in the past, if that makes sense.

Uno de mis álbumes favoritos de todos los tiempos. Ese álbum ha tenido un impacto tan fuerte culturalmente que cad canción equivale a un disco por si misma

Can I go ahead and state the unpopular opinion that Ian Curtis was holding this band back? There are obviously some good (great) Joy Division songs here and there, but listening to this in its entirety is a slog.

This album was neither inspiring or uninspiring!

*1979. *I like their sound, but it's just so depressing - can't listen to a lot of Joy Division at once. RATING - 6.5/10

Μου αρεσε το industrial- dark vibe αλλα ειναι αρκετα στιχοκεντρικο και τα κομματια ειναι επαναληψιμα (εκτος απ τo day of the lords που το αγαπω).

love the edgy feel, the sinth not so much

I liked the first track ‘Disorder’, but the rest of the tracks I didn’t particularly enjoy - made me a feel uncomfortable/not relaxed… not really my style I guess

One of the greatest albums of all time. Dark, stark but beautiful

Sounds like a guy doing a decent version of bad, weird karaoke.

1979: Man discovers fire

Good

I like the music much more than the vocal.

Iconic. Classic

Bit depressing mate :| There are better Joy Division albums than this (maybe this one is important?)

Where will it end?

Amazing debut

it’s aight. I think I need something more modern

Not a fan at all. What is with the random laser sound? The songs have a good tune but the way the literal rest of the songs are just aren’t it. The loud, grungy vibe they have just isn’t for me. They also just drag them out for no reason, with pointless repetition of the guitar or guitar and drums, it’s boring and is just dragging it on more and more for no reason. I have no idea what song The Wombats were on about in Let’s Dance To Joy Division, because there is nothing in these songs that are danceable. Okay was hasty in my judgement as I had no yet finished the album, BUT the rest of the songs do sound the same except for the ONE that broke the cycle which was Interzone. Short, actually had a faster beat and good lyrics. Then the last song of the album comes on (I Remember Nothing ) and we go straight back to the same boring, depressing vibe we were in before Interzone. So my opinion and rating of one star still stands. 1 Star 2nd Of January 2026

This is one of those albums you're supposed to like, because it revolutionized a genre. Little problem is that it influenced so many post-punk classics that are so much better and actually timeless, while Unknown Pleasures itself feels very dated. Sorry (?)

I didn't know this t-shirt had an album!

Dull, dull, god it was dull.

This was SO boring. The music drones on so much that I can’t imagine Joy Division had any enjoyment making this album, so their band name must be a misnomer. Unknown Pleasures was so one-note I didn’t even know where songs or even the whole album started or began. Yes, this was very gothic and ushered in moody new wave, but lord.

It's kind of wild to think that Joy Division became such a goth rock monolith with only two studio albums. I remember hearing their second album ("Closer") on this project first and being underwhelmed, hoping that the eventual listen of "Unknown Pleasures" would be better. I'm relieved to say that I enjoyed this album a lot more. While I did really like this album, I was confused about the fact that it wasn't scratching my goth rock itch quite as much as I expected it to. I think this may have something to do with the fact that they released their work at the turn of the decade in 1979 and 1980, Joy Division skews a lot more post-punk than a lot of the goth music that rose in the 1980s. Either way, their work definitely feels like a symbol of the turn of the decade, and it's undeniable that they were part of leading a movement. This album is definitely a 3.5 for me, neither a 3 nor a 4. But I found myself wanting to listen to this album again to take more of it in, so that is worthy of a 4 in my mind.

Pas désagréable à écouter mais toujours pareil

Album rapide et efficace Un classique du post punk

Du rock, pas mauvais mais pas memorable

Good. Pretty mellow

I have heard of the band but I’ve never listened to anything from them. Disorder - idk why but this song sounds very familiar, still a catchy rock song 😛, it reminds me of Dancing with myself by Billy Idol a little bit Day of the lords - a bit slower, lowkey the deep voice sounds a bit like Elvis hey mama, lowkey this one’s a little one note soz not soz Candidate - now he sounds like Fontaine DC a bit, still sounds nice but also a wee bit one Insight - I like the laser sounds, pew pew pew, lowkey this one sounds slightly different more like the Cure, this one is nice 😛 New dawn fades - this one is more grungy in a way #emo, this one also sounds like Billy Idol a smidge, I liked this one 😛😛 She’s lost control - wee bit mysterious, I’m getting gothic vibes even though it’s not goth music at all 🤷‍♀️, still a nice listen Shadowplay - ok drum solo, dang I like the crashes and all the sounds in this one, definitely getting rock from this song, 🎸🎸🤘 Wilderness - lowkey I think wasn’t Interzone - paying attention on what I remember nothing - to write, but they all sound good 😛 OVERALL: a nice classic rock album, I understand why this album is so popular tbh, there were some songs that sounded very similar but as I kept listening I didn’t have that problem as much 🤷‍♀️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

I think this album is great but it’s never been one of my top albums. Shadowplay is a fantastic song and there are a lot of great moments in here, but I’ve never quite connected with it enough for a 5.

A bit too slow for me, but love the instrumentals

This album feels like being the main character in a 70s futuristic movie where everything is neon and you just roam and cruise through the streets while the rain is washing down filths alone without companion till you fucking die

Sound of a band finding their incredible sound. She's lost control is the only real hit here... others are notably absent. Warts and all... plenty of bum notes and wayward beats but they created something amazing. Plus one star for the artwork. What a band... goth punk... outstanding

I think maybe, like New Order after them, they were more effective across a collection of singles or a compilation than a full studio album, but this is still pretty great. Hooky is at his best here, inspiring a million bass players bored with playing root notes. The production is unique too - so sparse and desolate, i cant imagine any other sound working for the material. Probably closer to a 5 when I'm in the right headspace for this (and really, thank god I rarely am) but a 3 would be undervaluing it.

The first band on this list I’ve actually seen live. A couple of standouts and the others are fine.

1. Like the music, not a fan of the speak-singing 2. HATE candidate Not for me at all

this was cool, ppl with this kinda music taste r fucking cool! not exactly my thing but might get into it idk overall 7.8/10

really fitting for a shitty day. feels like industry. deserves to be one of the 1001? with certainty

In the vein of The Cure and Depeche Mode. Dark and brooding, heavy bass and droning vocals.

boring

Kind of boring

A post punk classic. Hugely influential. The sound of Manchester put to wax. I've owned this on every format over the years. 5 stars.

some very interesting moments on it. production got repetitive on certain songs tho. songs liked: 5/10 fav song: disorder

Mad lads from Manchester. Ian Curtis should have had better friends. This record was great. Joy Division was not.

Dnf

I don’t really like it

- I listened to this album a lot during the infamous 2020 lockdown - Kind of timeless, and very definitive of 'post-punk' -Baseline is gas -It definitely takes a few listens to grow on you (if determined enough) -Vocals are quite consistent, and give gothic-Smiths -Theres something really eery/unsettling about this album that I can't quite pin-point...

1991

Many thanks to who or whatever decided that this would be an ideal pre-Christmas drop for the inbox. I held it back until Boxing Day, and now I feel that my presents were a little bit more shit than I remembered yesterday. So it's not a good time to review such a highly regarded album. How do you want your music? Songs like Day Of The Lords and New Dawn Fades are towering, emotional pieces of work and is a massive outpouring that ultimately didn't help Ian Curtis for much longer. You want your music to make you feel something, and this so does, but I'm reaching for a feel good album to listen to now. Happy Christmas readers. A low 4 for Joy Division.

Pov: you're a moody high schooler who doesn't fit in and has no friends and your parents are divorced because your dad is a piece of shit who hates you and your younger brother just got taken by the demogorgon and your mom is falling apart trying to find him and all you can do is lay in your bed and hide in your music and cry ❤️❤️❤️

Listening to it as a whole album I found it sonicaly uninteresting and not engaging.

Another British rock band from the late 70s/early 80s. I feel like there can't be that many left on the list by now and honestly I'm kind of hoping it as well. The singing on this album isn't my vibe at all and the guitar parts I liked was suddenly mixed with laser noise and other things in the later songs. I couldn't get in to the album at all and feel no interest in coming back and trying to figure out the band again in the future.

I wasn't sure what to expect out of this album. It seems to have a dark tone to it. It has some great bass lines. Worth another listen.

Surprisingly naff, boring with poor vocals One or two tracks would have been good with a better voice

Definitivamente un álbum con un estilo rock/punk bien marcado, para nada de mi gusto, netamente por eso la nota, y para mi es mas 1 que 2, un 1,5 le habría quedado de maravilla, pero el 1 se va por no ser de mi gusto. El álbum presenta matices de ideas post 70s, más rockero tirado a lo punk, anarquía, década del 80, de historia conozco poco, pero me imagino que por el año de lanzamiento serán de los primeros en explorar estas matices de punk+rock y un poco de psicodelia me atrevería a decir. Musicalmente siento que le falta demasiado, incluso no sé si será mi idea pero el cantante muchas veces desafina, si bien puede ser un recurso se debe utilizar de buena manera y en esta ocasión sobra. Las guitarras dejan mucho que desear, lo mejor del álbum por supuesto es el bajo que la rompe, se adapta muy bien a todas las canciones que exploran y con la batería van dándole forma a la idea que quisieron exponer, el teclado también es rescatable, pero de nuevo, la producción del álbum la siento desganada, con poco amor, es como grabar desde un teléfono. Líricamente no me atreví a analizarla más a profundidad así que no puedo decir mucho sobre aquello pero de lo poco que me detuve a analizarla, también son liricas comunes en este tipo de género¿?. Creo que la nota podría ser un poco más alta si es que fuese de mi gusto ya que sostengo que explorar en la música nunca está de más, pero cuando se hace a mi parecer, debe hacerse de buena manera y no algo tan simple o desganado. El riesgo que corren se agradece de igual manera. pero el rrrrieeeesgo.

Disco difícil, lo había escuchado antes y probablemente sea el disco más importante del postpunk, personalmente un estilo musical que no me gusta mucho. Lo encuentro un disco denso, pesado, bajos muy rítmicos y distorsionados, baterías con platillos brillantes y haaaarto reverb. Sobre el bajo, yo soy más del estilo de paul mccartney con bajos más melódicos y líneas más interesantes armónicamente, ustedes cachan. Bien interesante en la producción, innovador en algunas cosas, usa elementos nuevos, guitarras al revés, sintetizador, tiene momentos donde hay tensiones y disonancias que si bien son interesantes, no me producen mucho. Si se fijan, sus canciones no tienes estribillos, tienen esa construcción particular. Da la impresión que buscaban eso, algo que no fuera comercial y fuera de lo habitual. Tengo una disyuntiva con este disco, porque se lo importante que es, la revista rolling stones lo pone en el puesto 20 de mejores álbumes de la historia, es un buen disco, pero no mi estilo. Y como la wea es mía y sin intención de faltarle el respeto a este disco tan importante, le pondré un 2 (tal vez sea un 2,5) Canción favorita: she lost control y Interzone Pd: no me gusta mucho la voz de ese vocalista

Amo esse álbum. Já faz anos que o mantenho em um pedestal, como um dos meus discos favoritos. É muito difícil decidir se gosto mais dele ou do outro álbum do Joy Division, Closer. Pra começar, o baixo de Peter Hook! Que delícia. Os vocais de Ian Curtis são tão ternos e cheios de emoção. As canções são estruturadas de maneiras grandiosas, com soundscapes incessantes e vocais tortuosos. Não é um disco dançante, apesar que a faixa inicial, Disorder, possa te enganar nesse aspecto. Acima de tudo, é um álbum muito atmosférico, que leva seu tempo, um slow-burn. Cada seção de cada canção implora por sua atenção. Entendo o instinto de comparar esse disco com o trabalho do New Order, a banda sucessora do Joy Division, mas essa comparação é quase impossível. Apenas o primeiro álbum do New Order segue os passos de Unknown Pleasures, fazendo com que esse disco realmente se destaque na discografia de ambos grupos. Pra ser sincero, acho que só estou enchendo linguiça nessa review. É complicado articular o que penso sobre esse álbum em palavras. Eu o ouço basicamente minha vida inteira, já o associei com diferentes pessoas durante minha vida, ou seja, é um disco carregado de muitas emoções e memórias para mim pessoalmente. Não consigo deslocar tudo isso e ter uma visão mais objetiva do que estou ouvindo. Eu o considero um álbum perfeito. Um que supera as expectativas toda vez que o ouço. Nunca fica velho ou chato. Toda faixa é fantástica e infalível. 5/5

Not my cup of tea

Repetitive lyrics and melodies that repeated for four minutes per song. Maybe the least exciting singing voice I've heard. - Post Punk, gothic rock, new wave, punk rock

5. Behöver inte ens lyssna

Is Goth Rock the same as Gothic Rock? I was thought this was an electronic album. Pretty chill album; I wouldn’t think of this as rock or goth rock.

A depressing classic.

Will listen later doh

This is just dark and dull it feels hard to enjoy but accept there is something to it that makes it better than 1 star.

You can really hear the influence these guys had on a bunch of other bands later on. I've always been reluctant to give Joy Division a try, mainly because their fans are usually totally insufferable and offputting. This was a good listen though.

Lubię Joy Division. Nie bało się być inne, szło własną ścieżką, przetarło szlaki dla współczesnej muzyki. Ale ta płyta jest trochę jak oni sami - nierówna, pozbawiona fokusu. Momentami wybitna. Momentami rozmyta. 8/10

Moody and dark. Very sad what happened with Ian Curtis.

Dark moody Perfect

Within the first few beats of this song, I could see the impact that this band likely had on (or carried through to) my generation's music. Lowkey think I need to read the book now because I'm curious why the author chose this album. I'm on the song "Insight" and it sounds like someone recorded it on a device outside... (not necessarily 'low' quality but poor quality..) There's almost a spooky element to it.

One of my ex lovers loved this album and I feel like I understand them a lot better after hearing it. Not really my thing but I can see the appeal

Very depressing tone, does a great job of portraying certain feelings. Very deep themes and lyrics full of meaning, sometimes too enigmatic for my liking. No standout songs in particular, they all sound very similar to each other apart from the themes and lyrics. 7.2/10, rating carried by its objective quality rather than how much i enjoyed it

6 - AVERAGE

Ah the worst artist

So many of my favorite bands were inspired by Joy Division and I'm always disappointed. I think maybe you had to be there to understand it.

Of course I completely understand how seminal this album is in the pantheon of modern music - but sadly too many decades of water under the bridge for me to be lost in the music of disaffected youth. I’ve always loved Peter Hook’s playing and the overall sound of a band who can’t play particularly well yet play with such commitment I also really love. Can’t give it more than 3 stars though. If I had grown up with it, I’d probably give it 5.

weird,funny business, chaotic , no thank you

A familiar pleasure, but doesn't quite connect with me the way it did when I was young. Still great, of course, and hugely influential

Great, dark, mysterious. Industrial but still melodic.

an absolute classic, banger album no notes

Somewhat boring

I hadn't listened to this album all the way through in YEARS. In the opening track, Disorder, you can immediately appreciate the influence the record has had over the years - straight away it reminded me of Interpol. This is definitely an album to wallow in - especially if you're in your teens as I was when I first heard it. Listening now, I was transported to those years in the late 80s when I was discovering this kind of thing for the first time, and the likes of Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy, The Cure and Bauhaus were on high rotation. It's good to have that connection to these songs because if I heard it for the first time today, much of it, especially the darker, gloomier ones, (so most of them then) just wouldn't resonate in the same way. That said, while it was a trip down memory lane for me (Disorder, New Dawn Fades and She's Lost Control sounding particularly brilliant), I love how the record continues to resonate and influence young musicians today. Who could've imagined this would all lead to that God awful World Cup song.

Tickled me to listen to this on the way to a work Christmas meeting, perfect to get me in the mood... Aside from that it is a long time since I had listened to this whole album and it was great to revisit. While subject matter and sound is pretty stark it has stood the test of time very well. Not much else that sounds like it either.

Couldnt finish this album. WOULD NOT LISTEN AGAIN. HATED THE VOCALS!

Kinda difficult on first listen but I think there’s something there I could get into

Still haven't hit a 5 yet.

Chill and cool somber tone with a cool mix of different instruments and sounds. I dig it.

Disorder Candidate Insight

I really love the production and I think the instrumentation is really smart. I'm not into super dreary music, and unfortunately the whole album is just dark and slow. Also, the singer really can't sing at all. It's a low 3.

Cannot get into Ian Curtis. Overall a boring album. Sounds lazy and low effort.

As far as my personal taste goes, I'd give it a 2. But although I don't particularly like it, I do think it's worth a 3.

Nope. Not for me.

I loved how the album started with "Disorder" so I'm sad the rest of the album wasn't like that. Overall, it was fine.

Started strong but then got a bit dead - sounds kinda like my dad doing karaoke

Great album

Really enjoyed this one. Class first album Disorder, interzone and she’s lost control we’re my favourites

Solid album. Quite heavy at points with a somber sound overall.

The pleasure was indeed unknown

Álbum icônico desde a capa. Sombrio mas dançante. QoA Adonis New.

Decent album. The singers voice was just too blah for me. The whole thing seemed a bit heavy handed, if I am being honest. That said, it had some good qualities to it. Bonus points for Shadowplay. I heard that track on Killers live album and had no idea it was a remake until now.

A lot of the melodies are cool and so are the vocals but I have no idea what he's saying because the music is so much louder than the voice. I really dislike that style so this is a 5/10 for me

have listened before another one that i had listened to so long ago and didn’t fully appreciate. def the blueprint for so much fav - shadowplay

Was okay. As Claire said, I think it is more of an acquired taste.

Goooood

Eh, just not my vibe

I have no conscious memory of hearing this album or band before. I did however come in with strong preconceived notions based entirely on my interpretation of their fans & associated acts. The first 1/3 of the album had me thinking "oh shit I've misjudged, there's def sthg here I'm digging." The next third brought me to "ok already, jesus christ get on with it." As the final third drew to a close I had arrived at "thank fuck that's over. At least it's off the To Do list." +2 stars because a lot of the music is quite intriguing and even homeboy's vocals at points work really well. -3 stars because holy shit bro, I understand the knob goes to 11 but what if we try a 5 or 6

Liked the sound (with the reminder of Type O Negative), but somehow it was missing "that thing."

Great vibe

I know this album came out in 1979, but it's basically the blueprint for 80s music.

Enjoyed it

I found New Order more accessible in high school and largely missed the genius of Ian Curtis in the late 80s. I was familiar with their larger hits (Love Tear Us Apart) and did not much care for his vocal style at that time. In the early 2000s, I fell in love with Interpol and from there tracked back through Joy Division's catalog. Paul Banks and Carlos D became the fruit of seeds planted in me 15 years earlier. This is a dark, brooding, and amazing album, especially the bass lines which hit from the absolute start. Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades and Shadowplay are standouts. 5/5

Didn’t want to listen to more Joy Division because I like to be a different kind of bummed out. But Decades from the last album was one of my most played songs this year, and I think I almost like this? I definitely like Candidate. Insight would be such a great song if it didn’t go crazy laser mode in the middle?? What’s up with that? Also really dig the bass on New Dawn Fades. There are moments on every song that I like, but also found it really hard to get through this whole album. RIP Insight, I almost loved you.

Sounds like mud? I want to like this but I just don’t really. 2 stars I guess because I think I want to like this

Nothing great. Sounded like an early 80s new wave band, but not particularly interesting.

Hard to believe this guy was depressed. What a wholesome, joyful album 6.5 / 10 Best track/s: Disorder, Shadowplay

The dark, goth singing just isn’t for me. Tried to enjoy the music as best I could but the voice just brings the mood down. Might work in some situations for me, but will not go into my normal rotation.

Loved

Interessanter klarer Sound

Gitarrensound zwischendurch nicht so schlecht, aber Rest ist sehr deprimierend. Name ist nicht Programm.

Ganz okayer 70s Rock. Ikonisches Album Cover

I really really liked this! It's like 2:30am as i'm typing this and this is the 3rd album I'm listening to (I'm trying to catch up), so I'm starting to fail on the word end of things, but whatever genre or vibe this is, it's the type of sound I love. All the guitars, moody lyrics, more please! My favorites are probably "Disorder", "She's Lost Control", and "Shadowplay" "Day of the Lords" reminded me very slightly of Wolf Alice's "Visions of a Life". I wonder if the band was a fan. I will say, for the sake of my mental health I probably won't come back to this album as much as I would with similar sounds but a bit more levity in the lyrics. Reading all the genius annotations left me feeling really really sad. 4.5/5

I had to come back to this one a few times, but I’m starting to get it now. I hear the influence over quite a few bands. In the end I like some of the songs but not nearly as much as I’ve found I like The Cure.

89/100. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division is a fantastic post-punk record that immediately sets a dark, atmospheric tone. The album carries an almost ambient quality, making its bleak, moody sound feel immersive. I really enjoy these kinds of gothic rock and post-punk albums, they have a certain chill yet haunting vibe that makes everything feel a little more grey and distant. A classic that perfectly captures its era’s raw emotion and introspection.

iconic!!! such a cool atmosphere and this album as a whole makes me think of my childhood. forever will have a soft spot.

I'm didn't dislike it per say (the lyrics are sharp, the instrumentation is so good) but the singer's voice really didn't do anything for me, to the point where it honestly detracted from the music. I think part of the problem is that I listened to the 2019 remasters first. When I went back to listen to the 2007 remasters they were much better. Wonderfully dark and nihilistic, an album I'll probably return to when I'm in the mood for something like it.

6/10 - good 80s UK pop rock

Finally giving this a listen. Pretty cool.

Moody, dark and broody from post-punks pioneers Joy Division.

7.7/10

An extra star for the epic cover.

I think if I sat with them and this album a bit more then it would warm up to me. However, initial reactions are that it’s just fine.

Horrid vocals

This does a good job of keeping a consistent style without each track sounding the same. However, it definitely feels dated and whatever was intriguing about this then feels overdone and uninspired now.

This album is almost like an anomaly, it's so on its own in terms of sound and style. I'm not aware of anything else at the time of this release that sounds like this. Sure, there was other dark music, but nothing as distinctive as this. I mean, is it depressing? You bet yr fuckin' ass it's depressing! It's like the crown jewel of depressing! C'mon now! But it's so damn good at depressing that it ceases being solely depressing and instead becomes like turn-up music! You bet yr fuckin' ass that I had this shit on bump when I was an adolescent and I still got this shit on bump as an elder! I haven't listened to this album all the way through in years, and it's just as good as ever. I hear and appreciate additional aspects of it now. It's an album that has a lot going on production-wise. There's been much written about Martin Hannett's production on this and rightfully so as there really is a lot of stuff going on under the heavy blanket of utterly dour moodiness. It's actually quite a thick recording. Listening on a good pair of headphones is highly-recommended. I remember listening to this album in the dark when I was laying in bed as a teen, replaying "Disorder" over and over thinking "this is the best song ever." Not a whole lot as changed in terms of that sentiment. We don't even need to go over the absolutely iconic album cover, nor the t-shirt that has to be in the top 5 band shirts of all time. Everyone knows the cover and t-shirt even if they've never heard the album. Shit, kinda makes me want to re-up my Joy Division shirt game. One of the best. Beyond classic.

The logical successor to the Velvet Underground in its ethos of "it's ok to be kinda crap" and then copied by countless others.

Absolute classic

This was better than I anticipated but just ok.

The instrumentation and vocals are all top of the range and an absolute joy. My only issue is that all the songs feel very much the same and that prevents this from being a 5. However, it's still incredible.

So moody

Rather good. Very early rocking album

Love the mood and the vibe of this album. I like the slower, doomier stuff more than the abrasive rock tracks, which means there are really only three great songs on this album for me, but it's still four stars overall.

I don't like this style of singing. It is flat sounding.

Meh.

Pleasure is definitely unknown in this depressing album. Talent is real though. Tracks to Track: Disorder

Love Joy Division

The best of the album for me is the cover artwork. Musically not my jam.

# Playlist Track - Disorder # Notes - A couple of stars for the iconic album art alone. - I didn't quite enjoy it as I thought I would. Maybe it's just me getting older and not being in *that* moment in my life anymore. I appreciate the historical importance and impact of Joy Division, but right now it's not clicking with me.

One of many classic albums I should have listened to by now. While haunting and a good fit with the general vibe and theme of the album, I just can't get behind the cadence in the vocals. Instrumentals are pretty good. Favorite Track: New Dawn Fades Least Favorite Track: Insight/I Remember Nothing

Best Track - "Disorder"

5 stars no notes. ian curtis saved my life at 17 and this album hits just as hard today.

This is like the half-asleep stream of consciousness stuff you'd start to crank out after jamming for three hours straight with your cover band. Nothing particularly interesting, no semblance of a hook, nothing worth replaying. I guess this album captures that.

Still going through but I’m always blown away by the moody versatility of new wave sounds.

Dark, Moody and magnificent to miss quote Norman Stanley Fletcher. Any album that start of with a song as good as Disorder is either gong to disappoint or be amazing - thankfully this is the later . . Goth but with clear indication of the pop synth that would come to the for front in New Order. Ian Curtis sings with feeling and angst . almost desperation. Slows down then into Dau of lords- almost Metal in its doom laden bass- overtones of Sabbath or a slowed down metallica. Curtis sounds like a cross between Morrisey and Johnny Cash. Candidate - slows it down even further - feeling almost like Morphine in places. Depressing and uplifting at the same time. Morrisey wishes he was this miserable. ( well he is now but that's just him being a cunt) Insight follows - starting slowly almost like a Feoutus song with chains . Then the base kicks in and we are upbeat again , but only in terms of BPM. Another moody goth song that is a pop classic if sped up . new Dawn Fades- Aptly titled as as the base hints at brighter content, the great riff then drags the song along - feeling like early Sabbath again. Before Curtis Vocals drags the mood down. Morse in the most brilliant way. Drums as simple with the odd paradiddle that feels almost jaunty. Discordant guitar and drums in She's lost control again - Curtis is sing is eire as its the focal point of the track. Shadowplay starts with Bass and Snares in Harmony. before the guitars kick in - almost feels like a Stiff Record - for a second then Curtis Sings bring the mood squarely back to Manchester in the 80s. Wilderness is another base heavy classic. Repetitive guitars and drums drive the song along while Curtis ask "did we see her " Almost call and response with the riff and drums with the base. An Iconic album where everything from the Cover to the last note are truly brilliant, living up to the "Classic" moniker.

Seminal text. Iconic cover. Five stars.

Joy Division could have been a good band if Ian Curtis hadn't been there. They make interesting, downbeat music. His voice is monotone, dragging, slow, and annoying. I hate it. He ruins this otherwise good band. (It's even worse on their 2nd album as he took more control.) Yes, the band became New Order after he died, but they went in a very different direction. I dig some depressing music. I love the Cure and Bauhaus and others of their ilk from that time. But this is so poorly done, it's annoying. Its a 1 for me.

Was feeling any of it really. The singing is bad.

This shit is only popular because the album cover looks good on a shirt.

Love this album. I own it on vinyl. It's so sad they couldn't continue making music, but at least it gave us New Order.

Surprised I liked them. Post-punk pre-80's pop-rockish. Can hear the influences taken by later acts. Solid.

so this thing happened today. me in physics class when the the other dudes are gossiping with the teacher about other students on other classes and it turned into a discussion about neurodiversity and nobody knows that im autistic: dude, i dont think that everybody want to use "condition" to replace "disorder"... it depends like, for some people, "disorder" is actually not that bad like, it depends... i quite like disorder cause it sound good! this poser guy in my class who feels superior by listening to rock music and discussing politics: did you just said that disorder sounds good? does it mean you like joy division? what a "superior taste"! me: can you just fucking die you stupid poser it will be funny if i just ended the review here and just give it a 5. but this is not a funny album. and since i have a vinyl of this i should write about the whole listening experience when i get home and spin it. so i got home and gave the album a spin, in my room, on a winter night with a radiator that has the temperature turned up too high. the thirty eight minutes of pure lost, pain and struggling began with almost drum machine like drumming, cold, skeletal basslines, reverbed guitar, and of course, one of the best opening lines on a debut record: "I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand/Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man?" yes, ian. i totally feel you. and then i found that no words could describe how i feel about the album and its beauty. trying to break it down song by song like my usual approach leads to a big failure and would make it overlong. so i shall try to generalize it as much as i can. for me, the beauty of unknown pleasures are built upon five things and can be applied to post punk bands generally by changing the musician's names to their corresponding ones in other bands: peter's cold basslines, steve's mechanical drums, bernie's lonesome guitar, and ian's bleak lyrics and how he delivered them. the way the intertwines together to paint this dark and sombre picture of ian's mental world, and possibly the whole of 80s manchester, is absolutely beautiful. i love the atmosphere. i love the lyrics. i love how the song almost all starts and ends cleanly without dragging too long. even the 6 minute long closer "i remember nothing" sound short for me. i guess the only weakness on the album is the relatively sloppy songwriting of "candidate" and "insight" and peter's vocal on interzone. it somehow ruined the atmosphere. his voice suits new order a bit more. time to rate. its, of course, a 5/5

The inevitable consequence of dividing joy is having less than you began with. That is a very apt description of my experience listening to this drudgerous album.

I love the music and was bobbing along in the intro of the first song and then the vocals started and I remembered why I dont listen to joy division.

Joy Division isn't my favorite, but they're important and interesting. The influence on other bands is obvious. Ian Curtis has a super unique voice, and it fits the overall emotional state of this album well. Certainly worth another listen and a spot on this list. For now, it has me wanting to listen to Type O Negative of all things!

Ik merk dat ik niet zo heel veel heb met dit album. Het is allemaal wat onheilspellend en koud maar toch wat vlakjes, zonder de sfeer van bijvoorbeeld The Cure. Daardoor vind ik het een beetje saai. Een tikkeltje theatraal ook met die 80's galm, ondanks dat dit van net vóór de 80's is. Zeker niet slecht, maar het pakt me niet zo. Ik hou het op een wat zuinige drie sterren.

nice

Enjoyed. More downbeat than I expected but deliberately so.

Overall Rating - 2.65/5 (5.30/10). Overall not bad, but nothing really stands out as particularly good either.

Meh

High level dark/gothic rock, but it's too depressing for me: I get sad eheh

Not a fan of them. I think they are overated

Classic

Dark, brooding, hugely influential and at its best some of the greatest songs ever made - but is it a great album? Not sure. Taken in context, having this dark, austere, reverb drenched music come so soon after the dayglo punch in the face of pop music must have been shocking. Disorder and She's Lost Control are great songs, the production is innovative and still to this day sounds like nothing else. At the same time, the performances are ROUGH. In particular, Hooky hits SO MANY duff notes on the bass, especially during faster passages, that it takes me out of the immersion. I've sometimes thought JD are one of those bands who sound better when covered by someone else for just that reason. Still great, still an important listen, bit not perfect. A good 4.

I loved this album so much boom

Nicht meine Musik, aber sicher nicht unbedeutend

I can see how this was an influential album. So many other bands sound like Joy Division. In fact, I had no idea Joy Division came out in the late 70s, not say the mid 80s. And it's a cool sound with a cool vibe, but honestly not one I intend to listen to again.

Great album

One to listen to when you are down, a bit fun to play on the guitar, but not too challenging other than Shadowplay and Day of The Lords, you could probably use this album as a way to train your ears. It did not blow me away, but understand the place it has on UK/Manchester rock history https://ibb.co/album/8Y734G

not as good as the shirt

Ok yeah, but I still wouldn't wear this on a shirt.

I have always loved this album.

I don’t know how to put this but the album was ok but New Dawn Fades and Day of the Lords are probably the best songs I’ve ever listened to THE DARKNESS CONSUMES ME and the other songs are ok

Instantly good, instantly winey. We’re gonna cover the hell out of this. Fucked up band name. FOUR!

3.0

Very good memorable beginning. This is my genre so of course I like it more than the other albums so far. I definitely need to listen to it more, but some songs are already stuck in my head. Atmospheric.

Really fun opener. Bass line is so sick. How were they doing this production without computers. Guitar on days of the lords🔥. Songwriting is really good too. This is a great song. Can’t get over how good the guitar and bass are. Love the slow fade in on candidate. Rest of the song is just Ok. Back on track with insight. Again, how did they make some of these sounds. Good/catchy lyrics. Really good songs, outro was very cool. Guitar once again on new dawn fades is fire. The layers of instruments work so well. Production is insane on the whole album. She’s lost control is so good too. These guys don’t miss. Shadowplay is a great one again, can’t help but bop along to it. The whole album has 70s influence, but you can tell it’s going towards the 80s pop sound/production. Wilderness is pretty good, good guitar and bass again but not as catchy. Interzonenis very interesting. The harmony is cool, never heard 2 songs in 1 like this. Also very catchy. Ahead of its time, sounds like it’d be from the 90s. I remember nothing is dark in the best way. Makes me want to run through a brick wall. Good closing song, but with how it started I thought I was going to get a little more. Overall this is a really good album. Ahead of its time. More people need to listen to this. 3.8 stars.

24/1089 я не понимаю зачем это здесь

вначале прикольно было потом уже надоел этот голос записанный на диктофон. вайб такой же как у этих рок альбомов которые ничем не отличаются, но чуть получше. ожидала большего…

Every time I hear this album I love it more. Just an amazing atmosphere front to back. Favorite track: Day of the Lords

Just okay. Pretty boring and unmemorable. How do some of these albums make the cut?!

(3.5)

If Ian Curtis was even just a slightly better singer I’d be so much more interested. (3.5)

5.0 39:28 (10 tracks, debut album, 1979) Just groundbreaking, as is so often the case Ian (Curtis) was obviously conflicted but a beautiful album and who knows where Joy Division would have went had he battled through? (Not that New Order wasn't an outstanding band as well, just a very different direction for the 3 surviving members.)

Awesome, dark, spooky.

I think I like Closer more, but still a really good album. I feel like there’s a backlash against Joy Division and I’m not sure why.

Olipa yllättävän huono levy ottaen huomioon, että noin puolet ihmisistä omistaa t-paidan, jossa on tän levyn kansi. Ehkä aikaansa edellä sitten ollut, mutta ihan paska nyt. 1,25/5.

They were the first to capture modern life in a digital world.

xD talvez um dos clássicos absolutos e inegáveis mais absolutos e inegáveis que passaram por aqui? esse me coloca num turbilhão de sentimentos mei doidera pq é um dos poucos álbuns que realmente me transportou pra algum lugar sem ser pelas lembranças, mas por musicalmente me colocar num estado bem sombrio kkk oh, to have 17 anos e um milhão de sentimentos ruins impossíveis de serem extravasados

moldou caráter, pro bem ou pro mal. esse eh sempre bom de ouvir. vou nem me alongar aqui não, é pedrada máxima. um ABSURDO esse album existir. e pior eh existir gente que não goste, bizarríssimo fun (mais pra sad) fact: quando uma amiga da escola faleceu, no dia seguinte, chegando na escola, o shuffle do meu nokia tijolão jogou she's lost control e foi um dos piores momentos da vida. todo mundo de preto, chorando enlutado, e o ian curtis esguelando na minha orelha. nunca esqueço e sempre que escuto me dá um arrepio.

Strong start, slightly weaker ending, however overall a pleasant listening experience with a bit of everything in there. 3/5

Very much enjoyed this album, shows its age a bit though

I feel like I’m not cool enough to be into Joy Division

This was my first listen but I’ve been aware of the album in pop culture for a long time, and I think higher expectations brought it down a bit (complete opposite of yesterday with D.O.A. where expectations were very low and I was pleasantly surprised). Still a solid enjoyable listen though

Do danas nisam znala da nešto posebno volim Joy Division. Svaki put kad sam probala slušati dalje od najvećih hitova nekako mi je bilo smarajuće. U tome je ljepota ovog slušanja gomile albuma. Moram se udubiti i istinski čuti da li mi se nešto sviđa ili ne. I dalje nisam najveći ljubitelj ali ovo je još jedan predivno sumoran album koji u pravom trenutku zvuči nevjerovatno dobro. Usput, ako iko nabasa na ovaj moj komentar, želim da preporučim film 24 Hour Party People o njima i još svačemu, ekstra film.

Favourite songs on this album shadowplay and she lost control. Okay album but just not my style bit to gloomy

great vibe

I used to like a song called let’s dance to joy division, but I don’t actually think I could dance to this too well

Not super into gothic rock, but maybe I would have enjoyed this more if it was up BEFORE Halloween.

was great as always

Der Punk ab Mitte der 80er. Clubsound in meiner frühen Stidienzeit.

Mja

Sparse, atmospheric and gloomy post-punk. During the first listen I had mixed feelings, but this album really stuck with me and all I wanted to do the next day was listen again and again. Disorder and Day of the Lords in particular are both fantastic but all of the tracks are great.

Masterpiece start to finish

Never really got on with this, but can appreciate how seminal it was

Incredible debut. Grim and relentless. Very enjoyable. I enjoyed Shadowplay, and She’s Lost Control a lot. Nothing resembling a single here but great vibes.

So perfect. So deeply sad.

121 Le tenía tanta fe a este disco, viendolo en infinitas poleras, pensé "wena por fin voy a entender por qué a tanta gente le gusta" y... estaba ok? Pero no creo que haya sido nada memorable ni que me hiciera pensar en escucharlos de nuevo.

80s English Post-Punk industrial sounding rock. A dark and fun listen. New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay and Wilderness were standout tracks.

If I was to have one criticism it is that one track out of ten is merely good rather than great. It was wonderful to revisit and be reminded just how great an album it is. Memorable riffs, melodies and lyrics and really well produced. One of the things I did love is that the last track would lead perfectly into playing Closer straight after. I will have to try this some time.

Although I’d just tip closer for the better of their two albums, this is so atmospheric, and creates such a claustrophobic vibe that I’d rate it as good. The use of sparse electronics, heavy reverb, and double tracking of the vocals and guitar/bass gives it such a distinctive vibe it’s no wonder many bands have sought to emulate it since. I like the inclusion of the dud notes on ‘disorder’ almost as if trying to capture this lightning in a bottle. ‘She’s lost control’ is possibly the best song that they wrote and is a standout in the genre.

Groundbreaking. Iconic. As stark and barren as my heart.

I thought I would know at least some of the songs given how many times I have seen stickers etc. for this band. Didn’t know anything, and weirdly didn’t really like anything either. Just sort of generic sounding new wave to me

Joy Division is one of those bands that I've tried to like more than I like. Tracks like Love Will Tear Us Apart and Disorder are the reason why I try, but before, when I've listened to their album, it's been a little too depressing. Anyway, I'll give this another try for the sake of the almighty list. The album starts off with a cool track, Disorder, and I like the vibe of the second track, Day of the Lords as well. There some other good tracks here, but much of the album just kind of blends into the background. 3/5

Pretty intense moodiness if you're not prepared for it. Didn't quite "get it" but I could maybe see why others enjoy it.

You can hear how they were influential to other bands

I really like this album, it’s cold, clinical and very dark. Ian Curtis’ voice is an acquired taste but there’s something chilling about it. Joy Division - punk banshees screaming for impending death. It’s just a shame that the cover of this record has become a fashion accessory.

When it comes to these musicians (bar Curtis), I prefer New Order. When it comes to this kind of sound, I prefer early The Cure. Still, this album has some appeal in its hypnotically plodding, rudimentary dourness. At the very least, it directly spawned a lot of more interesting bands.

I love the production, a lot o. The vocal lines feel idiosyncratic and at times closer to spoken word. I don't know if I love this, but combined with the production choices, Guitar parts, and drum sound, it's such a vibe. I love the guitar parts on this album. They're unique, effective, and just cool as shit, especially on "day of the lords".

Quick thoughts here since I need to catch up on a few of these: 1) A unique blend of late 70s punk and on the precipice of 80's synth rock. 2) The heavy, pulsating basslines are the driver behind many of the tracks, and with what I assume is drop-D tuning, giving this album the deep, dark, and droning elements that the listener locked in. 3) Pretty heavy at times, but that's Joy Division for ya Top Tracks: Shadowplay, Insight, Interzone

Album started off strong and fizzled out

This one’s an all-timer for me. Whenever I listen to anything else, this is one of the albums against which all others are measured. Every part could exist on its own and still be incredible. The vocals, the bass, the drums, the guitar could be listened to in isolation and it’d still be a great piece of music. Every British band that have come after these guys have stolen from them whether they know it or not. Just one of my favorite pieces of recorded music in all of history. One of the great tragedies of modern music is Ian Curtis’ suicide. I truly believe Joy Division could’ve been the biggest British band of the 80s (not a diss to New Order). I’d give this 10 stars if I could.

https://youtu.be/sSOK59KEHC0?si=IfuPBPYYZBE9wlUO This is what 1970s manchester was actually like. Dark and foreboding, forward thinking in a way that completely reset the trajectory of British punk music (they called it "post-punk" after this.) Curtis' voice is so unique, no one has ever been able to quite match the quivering deepness he puts on. Listening to She's Lost Control in high school was like getting kicked in the head. The whole album has this oppressive atmosphere, meant for a dingy nightclub - max capacity 30, overstuffed to 250 but everyone there's rail thin and swaying, the biggest thing on them are their Doc Martens. Pulsating rhythms coming atcha from all directions, music to drown in/to. Favorite Tracks: (all of em); Disorder, She's Lost Control, Insight, Interzone,

The t-shirt that launched a thousand ships.

I sat through 40 minutes of soul-sucking tedium and all I got was this lousy T-shirt

Not my cup of tea, some tracks where good but all a bit the same.

It was alright, not my cup of tea

Forgot what it was. Was kinda weird

Great album, some killer tunes. Don’t think I could listen to it multiple times on repeat but really enjoyed it for a couple of play throughs.

I have Joy Division's other album on CD but had never heard most of this. I really liked it. Not always the easiest thing to listen to, but interesting and different.

9.5 / 10

I finally get to listen to the album that has that famous image on it. It sounds a bit like a less upbeat and less dancey version of New Order, which after just learning about the connections between the two today, would make sense. After giving it a listen, Joy Division feels like one of those bands that everyone seems to get but me. This is probably your favourite indie band's favourite indie band. Surprisingly though I didn't outright hate it like I assumed I would. It had a very cool dark and gloomy atmosphere. I liked the production on it. It has a slightly muffled, muted and echoey sound, as if you're listening to it in the room next to you with the door closed. I'm not a huge fan of Ian Curtis on vocals though. Showy yet gothic and annoying spoken word. It fits the music, no doubt, but I don't enjoy his voice that much. It's all about the moody atmosphere created by the instruments for me. The rhythmic drumming, cool sounding guitar work and punchy bass. It's heavy without being heavy metal. I prefer the slower moodier tracks to the more upbeat spritely sounding ones. A surprising three stars, though probably in my head could be a bit of a grower. It all depends on if I can get on with the vocals a bit more and they click with me.

I already knew this iconic album already mainly from Disorder and Shadowplay, its most well-known tracks. The whole record is filled with a sense of dread, gloom, and dissociation. Everything feels cold and detached, yet captivating in a strange way. Makes you feel that you want to die or fall in a depression, it so dark and moody that at times its almost too heavy emotionally, but that atmosphere is very well done. Sonically, it’s pure post punk. the groundwork, lead up, or even the peak of gothic music. I can really appreciate the production on this one, the warm, wide drum sound, the rumbling bass, the processed icy guitars, and those haunting cold synth textures filled with odd rhythms and strange noises, all drenched in reverb. Together, they build an eerie and sorrowful soundscape that captures the unique and distinct sound of Joy Division, something they achieved brilliantly. Favourite Tracks: Disorder, Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay, I Remember Nothing.

A bit like the Cure, love it

I liked this one a lot! The first one I've listened to more than once on the first day. No real stand out tracks, but a good overall listen!

Gonna be honest: I had a shit, dull, and meeting-filled day at work when I listened to this album. I barely retained anything and it didn't improve my mood. So much for the 'Joy Division'.

The opener was pretty good but as it went on, the flat vocal delivery started to bother me. Consistently good was the rolling basslines and the drums.

That’s that me depresso

ugh, the molasses machine strikes again. but goddamn, it’s a good album.

Musically iconic. Possibly the greatest album cover of all time. Joy Division, despite my lack of listening time year after year, still come up from time to time and I never skip them when they do. Though I feel like I just listened to the entire discography, I loved this little excursion and I’m sure it wont be the last time I listen to it. Every song is absolutely essential for this album to really make the impact it has made. Best three song run: New Dawn Fades, She’s Lost Control, Shadowplay..

This album got me through high school. One day, at CD exchange, searching through a dollar bin filled to the BRIM with KISS’s 1998 beer coaster “Psycho Circus”, I stumbled upon a misplaced copy of “Permanent”, a very well put together Joy Division compilation. I had heard about them through the legend of Ian Curtis’ death and was of course intrigued. Turns out it was some of the most raw, visceral, and well written music I had ever heard and I spent hours alone in my room dissecting Curtis’ lyrics and drowning out the world with that Factory Records sound. Joy Division should be considered as great as Bowie/Nick Cave/Leonard Cohen.

So the vocals feel a little Talking Heads/The Smiths i.e. not a lot of melody, for me it just adds ambience? Not sure if that is my favourite use of a voice. However some of the songs have this odd ominous feeling that I really look, almost like a dark punk-y Fontaines DC vibe.

It was ok. Dark and moody, Not the most fun I've had listening to an album.

good album. very influential, especially on the bands i was listening to when i was first getting into white people music like interpol, bloc party

3.75. Really enjoy it but don’t think it’s quite as good as proclaimed. Wonder just how different it would’ve been had it not been Martin Hannett on production.

It’s albums like this that make me glad I’m doing this list. I’ve been forever meaning to check out Joy Division but just never taken the time to do it. I should have sooner, I loved this. I’ll be keeping this one saved. Top Track - Interzone

Fantastic and only not a 5 because I prefer closer on balance

Really interesting record. Moody, brooding, but surprisingly danceable. Ian Curtis adds a unique voice. The core band work is understated, but effective.

Cool aesthetic, voice is flat but intentionally so. Interesting album but not 5 star worthy