Unknown Pleasures

It’s perfect. Thank you to this project for making me a Joy Division fan

sehr lärmig, nöd interessant, si singed schlecht, alles in allem gar nöd geil

This really captures the feeling of living in the North of England. 5 Stars. Shadowplay is a banger.

A very dark and gloomy atmosphere around this one, makes it kind of slow and boring, but overall not horrible. Standout Songs: Insight Shadowplay Interzone

I tried to like it

Didn't turn me into a Joy division convert. Found it quite depessing. I think Closer is a much better record

Coolio

4.5 - Great

I liked it better than most R&B but I still probably won't listen to it again.

I still remember that rainy autumn night on the train. Nearly 5 hours of motion through darkness, and somewhere along the way, I stumbled upon that album. I was 18, steeped in a heavy, melancholic mood, the kind that makes you ask, “Why not dive deeper?” So I pressed play. And oh, what an experience it was. It consumed me - devastation, raw sadness, and a kind of beautiful darkness that felt almost sacred. That album did not just accompany the journey; it was the journey. An absolute must-listen when the leaves fall and the nights stretch long

This is good. Sounds fresh. Would've changed my whole personality if I was the age for it upon release.

Why is this T-Shirt so popular?!? Boring!

Didn't get to give this a close listen, but it was intriguing and energizing when I could.

It's fascinating listening to Substance and then Unknown Pleasures. The changes they made to their sound are so fully realized right out of the gate that it almost doesn't sound like the same band. The bass lines burrow and the way they space out the different drums in the mix is so intricate. I hadn't spent time with this in awhile and I found myself deeply grooving to every song, and then going right on to Closer and then the New Order albums, staying up WAY too late in the process. Just a remarkable statement, made all the more remarkable knowing that the band wasn't confident that the change in their sound from a more garage rock/punk rock was the right move. I think I'll press play again …

The 70s giving way to the 80s. It's a great soundscape - lots of interesting, well-utilized effects and experiments throughout, and I like the guitar parts. The part I'm less enthusiastic about is the vocals.

Legendary and iconic. The atmosphere this album creates is so undeniable from the first seconds. Makes you feel like you're in an abandoned house in the middle of the winter during the night with snow blasting on the outside. It's dripping with sadness, depression and isolation. The first song is just so iconic and amazing. Amazing bass, the guitars just sound so good and the performance is fire as fuck. The 2nd song has amazing gothic rock influences but delivered with the heaviness of like an early Black Sabbath song. The vocals sound so tortured and give the song so much power. She's Lost Control and Shadowplay are also big highlights, as they do an amazing job of conveying these somber, dark emotions to the listener. I really like the closer too. Peak tension building. My problem with this album is that some songs are kinda there to just fill the atmosphere. They work for that but aren't that strong as standalone songs. Still, the highlights are incredibly strong and the album is very very good.

Dark, depressive, whiny. Retrospectively a non-explainable success - except "Disorder"

I was definitely excited in the morning when I got this as today's album. Knowing how critically acclaimed it is, I went into this with high expectations, which were definitely met. I feel like listening to this album was long overdue for me.

Varmaan brittiläistä, mitälie jenkutusta. Ei herättänyt oikein mitään erityistä fiilistä, ei mikään huonokaan joten kaksi tähtee

1.5 not good but I save my 1 stars for unlistenable albums

****an easy listening album

Groundbreaking for the time; how is this 1979? Short, bummed when it was over. See how it was influential.

An album perfect for a vampiric afternoon. I don't think there was one particular song that stood out to me; however, as a whole it creates a pretty cool atmosphere.

3.5 stars

This is incredible, a classic, I can imagine if you don’t ‘get it’ then it would sound strange but for me the lyrics give the songs the edge and they all somehow feel more energetic than they actually are through pure emotion. The only punk track on here is interzone but I’d say they’re all punk too, guess that’s just post punk but it’s the earliest example of this genre making 100% gold (I think) 5/5

As easy a 5 star rating I’m going to give out. There’s probably not a lot I can say that hasn’t been said before, it’s just a truly great album that belongs of every type of list like this. Everything from the album artwork, to the cavernous production, and the stories of Hannett’s brutal approach to crafting this album, whether the band liked it or not.

A triumph in craftmanship with broody melodies and potent lyrics.

Classic. Dark.

Classic!

Täähän oli jo parempaa joy divisionia, mutta jotain jää nelosesta puuttumaan. Oikein mainio kulku koko levyn ajan mutta jää silti hieman keskinkertaiseksi omaan musahermoon.

1001 levyä, jotka kuunneltuaisi toivot kuolevasi. Edellinen levy oli ahdistavaa paskaa ja samaa paskaa on tämäkin. Pysty edes kuuntelemaan kokonaan. Onko tämän kisailun keksijä joku Joy Divisionin laulaja tms. Olisin ollut onnellisempi, jos en olisi koskaan kuullut tästä kusisesta bändistä. Jos olisi Delorean käytössä, kävisin haistattamassa vitut

Aika masentavaa musiikkia, laulajan äänikin tulee jostain haudan takaa.

Nyt kyllä arvontakone hellii ryhmäläisiä kun saahaan toinen divari kuunteluun näin nopeesti edellisen jälkeen. Muistin, että tää ol se karumpi levy näistä kahesta, mutta täähän olkin ihan poppista ja toi jälkimmäinen sit tylympää. Saundit on toki rajummat, mutta ehkä se on sitten luontasta jalostusta sillä klouserilla. Aika paljon tähän pätee niitä samoja juttuja varmaan kun siihen, että sillain vaikee tarjota nyt lisää mitään upeeta syväluotausta. Kyl mää tänkin levyn fiilareista tykkään ja nyt kun tän aikasemmasta kuuntelusta on ollut vuosia taukoo niin tuntus edelleen potkivan beballe. Ahas asteikko niin sinnehän se solahtaa korkeelle. No, tätä tavaraa ei pitäs enää olla lisää. Tai jos onkin saman porukan tuotoksia niin ainakin nimi on vaihtunut ja laulaja on hautuumaalla.

Nyt on kunnon melankolista ja rohkean minimalistista Joy Divisionia.

Eka biisi kun lähti, niin ajattelin että täähän on tosi jeppis verrattuna siihen aikaisemmin olleeseen Joy Divisioniin. Kakkosbiisi oli sitten semmoista köyhän miehen Danzig kohtaa kuolinkoreissaan köhisevän Jim Morrisonin -meininkiä, niin se kyllä latisti välittömästi tunnelman. Valitettavasti meininki jatkui sitten paljon enemmän kakkosbiisin kaltaisena. Oon nyt kahden levyn verran ihan yrittänyt tykätä tästä, mutta ei vaan lähde. Plussaa levyn kestosta.

Alles was es beeinflusst hat gefällt mir besser

Favorit: New Dawn Fades

Groovie // Entspannt // Western

Nicht ganz meine Musikrichtung, aber für das was es sein will wirklich gut. Mir fehlen allerdings die Highlights. Schön Facettenreich

7/10. Mir gefällt "Closer" deutlich besser. Vom Einfluss her natürlich ne 10/10.

Erwartungen waren hoch. War in Ordnung, aber etwas zu eintönig für mich. Kein Song hat mich umgehauen, aber im Allgemeinen nicht unangenehm. Klingt so gar nicht nach Siebzigern, hat mich überrascht, wann es rausgekommen ist.

Great listen. New dawn fades and shadow play were standouts for me. 4.5

*I respect that this was iconic at the time it came out and that its the only Joy Division sound with Curtis' vocals- but I just find him brooding without a true feeling of moody or mellow vibes. *This is not bad to listen to, it just doesn't make me feel as amazing as I feel it should based on the popularity of the album and its cover artwork. My punk preference is 80's and 90's punk, and not much post-vibes. *Glad I can say I've actually listened to this to maintain my "just ok" thoughts about it.

Dark and moody. Some songs I really enjoyed, others were alright, and one, "Insight", was so bad it was humorous. Faves: "Day Of The Lords", "She's Lost Control"

I have heard of Joy Division many times, but I have never listened to them. First thoughts, is there is not a lot of Joy with this band. I am a 50 year old male, this late in life, I am looking for more new music to my ears that bring me joy. Today this moody depressive shit is not for me, maybe my younger self would have enjoyed it, maybe I dont know. Its funny how the main Wikipedia article focuses on the creation of the album cover and not the music itself, so maybe it doesn't belong on this list, well then again its shrouded by a musicians death and this list tends to like that subject, whether the music is good or not.

With the start of the first track on this album, I thought Unknown Pleasures was a winner. The sound was stripped back and minimal, energetic without the overt anger and distortion of punk, and cohered into an awesome atmosphere that you just wouldn't have heard at the time the record was released. The instrumentation was repetitive, nearly hypnotic, and it felt like a pattern that could suck me in for hours. And yet, this sound - the same, exact sound - continued to such an extent throughout the rest of the album that by the end, I found it had gone stale for me. A cohesive sound is a characteristic that distinguishes great albums from a compilation of songs, and there's no doubt that Joy Division introduced a sound that came to be incredibly influential in the following decade. The sound and atmosphere really makes this album what it is. But it's also important to strike a balance between this cohesive sound and some level of variety in the track list, and this is where this album comes up short for me. Too many songs stay in the same lane of sparse drum and guitar arrangements, with melody driven by the bass and Ian Curtis's emotional but monotonous vocals. This is an arrangement that sounds great for a few songs (Disorder, New Dawn Fades, and She's Lost Control are highlights), but it wasn't enough to carry a full album. Curtis's limitations as a vocalist also became more evident as the album progressed. His distinctive, haunting vocal style hangs over the music like a disembodied voice, fitting the sound the band is going for wonderfully, and at moments he compares to Jim Morrison's deep, booming voice. But too often the songs became stuck with 3-note vocal melodies, and his wavering when holding higher or more powerful notes makes me question whether the band would be able to expand their range. I found Curtis's contributions much more valuable as a lyricist. I look forward to spending more time with the messages in the songs, but on a first listen the themes approached in some of the songs are alarming and touching, especially in light of his death the year following this album's release. Several songs, including Disorder, New Dawn Fades, and I Remember Nothing, paint a picture of someone isolated and pushed to the brink, while others take a more explicitly political bent. The influence of the sound Joy Division established in this album on the post-punk scene can't be overstated. However, like first iterations of so many innovations, there are issues to be improved upon. With the benefit of 45 years having passed, I can find a lot of what I like in this album in more polished form from other bands like the Cure. Despite the downsides, though, there is a lot to like here. Just based on atmosphere and lyrics alone I plan to return to it.

I want to like it more than I do.

A shoegazing foundation album. Sonic reverb, simple rhythmic beats, melancholy lyrics and vocals, all signatures of the genre that was to become popular years after this recording. Some good stuff in here, perfect listening on a reflective day.

Power!!!!

Not bad but not my taste

Cool Album. I really like the drums bass and guitar throughout the whole album. The guitar solos were solid. Simple, yet it didn't leave me wanting more. At some moments the vocals weren't adding too much to the songs, but then other times it fit perfectly. I like the album as a whole and added about half of the songs. This is a real ride your bike home from a high school party in some British countryside kind of album.

The second one is a little better, but oddly a joy to listen to them working out their sound: from the wall of sound New Dawn Fades to almost pop sound of She's Lost Control (okay, Ian Curtis' voice means they could never be pop:)

Brilliant sleeve and 'mood', and some brilliant tracks (espcially New Dawn Fades'), but it isn't a patch on their second album.

This was good though not my favorite thing I’ve heard. It got boring for a little bit in the middle but started and ended very strongly

I just don’t get the hype

Classic

Just stop before I kill myself

Not really my speed. Didn't know they were as old as they were, it's kinda post punk 80s sound new wave.

Oh my god, this sucks. I've said it before and I'll say it again, New Wave music sucks. This is unbearable. This is like a William Shatner album with this guy just talking over Cure music expect people took this seriously. Interzone is the best song on the album.

Interesting

There are obvious highs (Disorder) but overall this album tends to be a drag for me and despite being a big Post-Punk / New Wave fan I have never reached for this album much over the years despite it being in my record collection since I was a teenager.

I really wanted to enjoy this album, but at the end of the day I couldn't. Nothing really clicked, and I won't probably ever listen to it again. There are some light redeeming qualities, but not enough to justify higher than a 2/5.

This is one of the most influencial Factory records,an emblematic post-punk record that it's unique nature stays forever in this music universe.A true historical moment in music and its evolution.A really fantastic punk material married with astonishing production techniques,a genius cover about pulsar transmitting waves and Ian Curtis dark lyricism that results to a masterpiece. This record is a favourite as a whole but i will try to name my most favourites. Disorder-A very tight song,the guitar and the drums are magical,Curtis's voice is very direct and solid like a friend telling you his secrets,not a dull moment in this as you constantly hear through ''gaps'' amazing effects,fantastic, New Dawn Fades is an another moody,melancholic song with amazing soaring guitars, hypnotic and beautiful,very melodic, Shadowplay is powerful yet desperate,with the haunting line ''to the center of the city waiting for you'', Interzone is a real treat,very dense and very creative with the voicings gives you no room to think, I Remember Nothing is their ''blackest'' distillment with their signature dark tones atmosphere that creeps you out at times but still in a way you still like it. You have to understand that all these New Wave/punk groups back then were heavily influenced by the German's synth experimentalism and i don't mean Kraftwerk only, -that was the obvious- but names like Claus Schultze that was more into the ''dark side of the moon''(excuse the pun) but you get the idea if you are in the know of that influences. Overall all tracks were not that good but as a result is a great album for it's imperfections that created something unique and ahead of it's time and influenced so many artists till to this very day. 5/5

Pretty good alternative rock album. Reminded me of another band that I couldn’t remember and it’s driving me nuts.

Man, I hate having to do this review. Joy Division is just one of the bands you’re *supposed* to like. But I don’t. Like the album from KOL the other day, the vocalist (too lazy to google him) is uhhh not great! The the guitarist (too lazy to google him too) sounds like he learned to play a week before they recorded the album. What is that riff on Shadowplay? Really? Anyway. It’s not offensive, but it doesn’t have much staying power for me. So sorry everyone, and a special apology to all the 90s kids who wore Joy Division t-shirts in high school who I thought had some real street cred for doing so.

sounds way ahead of its time and i loved the first half. kinda lost me in the second half

What a weird album. With most other albums I like a little variety, but something about the vibe of each song plodding along really appealed to me here. I feel like this would be great montage music for a crime drama or something.

This fucking rips. A near perfect album. So many rich and diverse soundscapes throughout it never gets boring. Mason was fucking jamming to it, too.

Not sure this is the best work from this lineup. I’m a much bigger fan of New Order and the sound they developed in the 80s.

I'm generally more inclined to listen to New Order than Joy Division but still goddamn, dude. Unknown Pleasures is so so so so so so so so so so fundamentally important and influential on so much of what I love that came after. Disorder is in contention for best "album 1, side 1, track 1" of all time IMO. Love the production. Martin Hannett was a genius but also a monster. Things like spraying an aerosol can in time with the beat to create a "mechanical" sound on She's Lost Control, which in turn presumably caused Trent Reznor to spontaneously come into existence.

I love a lot of the artists that were inspired by Joy Division. But that doesn't mean I love these fellas -- I only like parts of Joy Division's sound. I guess that how musical influences go, where another artist absorbs pieces that resonate with them. Love the hazy, droning sound of "I Remember Nothing" and the driving, reverb-drenched guitar and big snares on "Wilderness". The raw, tortured vocals and sounds don't quite click for me.

As a way to kick off your debut album, Disorder is pretty fucking epic. Maybe not quite in the league of Blue Suede Shoes, but it’s a great way to define your sound. After that it all gets a bit dark and moody. As it should do. And I love it. This isn’t an album I own or one I’ve listened to on repeat for years. But it’s really good. Really good.

Great album

Absolute banger! 5/5

One of the most iconic and influential albums of all time and for good reason. Depressing for sure but a perfectly realised album with an almost unmatched bleak atmosphere. Fantastic basslines and rhythm section, Ian Curtis' idiosyncratic vocals suit the band to a tee. Disorder, Day of the Lords, Shadowplay, She's Lost Control, just classic after classic.

it's my first time listening to this album... i definitely know how iconic it is, and it's not just the fact that i see the album cover on graphic tees and hoodies all the time. it's super spacey, and doesn't go crazy with how each song presents itself. just a humble little band, performing in the void... it sounds empty. alien. objectively, this album is good. it's great, and i can certainly see how this paved the way for the kinds of alternative rock music that the 80s would give us... i think this is just another case of a sound i'm either not used to or don't care for as much. oh well.

Nice background I guess.

ah die mache dmusig ha denkt afoch t shirts. disorder no nice! ha unglaublich deprimusig erwartet. das isch scho fast groovy new wave. land of the lords etz sehr doomy. drums huere chlii da gfallt mer. nocher mega lang still? isch das kunst? candidate sehr gloomy au. sehr en mood au. insight het wieder de 50er beat aber er isch i dem kontext null happy. ich weiss nonig öbis so mega cool oder gar nöd so speziell find das ganze. new dawn fades het cooli giti arpeggios. shadowplay isch chli hässiger und mir gfallt langsam sini stimm. wilderness findi chli langwilig? interzone wieder chli hektischer. no cool. i remember nothing wird mir glaub au nöd blibe HAHA. aber nai actually no cool s athmosphärische intro.

min lieblings streetwear brand! disorder hani echt na cool gfunde, joy division isch ja bis jz nöd gad min fall gsi insight isch richtig apathisch und macht leider wenig mit mier wiso tönt de ahfang vo new dawn fades wie s einte solo vo warpigs hahaha aber actually seehr es cools lied, het au mal die düster atmosphäre wo mega passt und die zwei gitarre ergänzet sich gueet she's lost control isch sicher mal unik, au wennsmer jz nöd unglaublich gfallt okaaay ich glaub ich wirds album nomal müsse lose, doch ich hans reecht cool gfunde. sini sonori (?) stimm ischmer mengisch chli too much gsi aber het scho au zude atmosphäre passt. NOMAL LOSE (das resultiert eig immer zude bessere bewertig) joo also keis lied sticht so megaaa fürre (ussert new dawn fades) aber es gfalltmer ebe scho. s het chli öppis chalts woni idem fall gern han

Enjoyed the random spoken word

Conversely (compared to the Super Furry I enjoyed this a lot more then I expected. Yes it was dark but it hit home. A low 4 but a definite 4.

This is brilliant. The lyrics, the parts, the energy, the unnerving sound seems to reflect everything they were trying to put out. I think the only criticism is that I find the snare sound to be pretty isolated in the mix, I can see how it works and probably adds to the atmosphere of the sound, but I guess I would have done things slightly differently. Easy 5/5 though.

Very weird. Not what I expected at all

Would not buy.

preciso prestar atenção nas letras

Moody but that's about it

listened to this album quite a long while ago now, and I thought that the instrumental was definitely strong but I was let down by the way that most songs seemed to sound the same to me. This could just be a problem of my memory, but until i listen to it again, 3/5.

Ça ne vient rien révolutionner dans mon cœur.

I found this to be less abrasive and existential when I listened to it this time as opposed to when I first heard it back in the 80s. Maybe I'm growing as a listener? Or maybe I'm just getting more existential.

3.5

twas ok

Classic post punk.

Probably the single most T-shirt-able album cover ever, equally as simple and iconic as The Dark Side of the Moon but a lot better-looking in my opinion. As for the music, it's pretty good. Sure sounds a hell of a lot like it's cover. There's something about the instrumentals that always sounds a little too empty to me, but they do use that emptiness well in some parts of the album. The singer's voice is really satisfying to listen to and fits perfectly with the instrumentals. Definitely flawed, but the album plays into its flaws enough for it to not really be an issue.

01) Disorder - 8,0 02) Day of the Lords - 7,5 03) Candidate - 7,5 04) Insight - 7,5 05) New Dawn Fades - 8,5 06) She's Lost Control - 8,0 07) Shadowplay - 7,5 08) Wilderness - 7,5 09) Interzone - 7,5 10) I Remember Nothing - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,70 (77/100) Current ranking: 256/689

Lo que más me gustó del álbum fue esa guitarra distorsionada que está siempre de fondo. La voz de Mr. Division no me encanta though, en muchos casos me descuadraba. Nunca lo había escuchado y me esperaba otra cosa, tenía mas expectativas por la época emo que estoy pasando con la música. Pero es muy buena música, no voy a negarlo Favs: Insight, Shadowplay, Interzone

El álbum más camiseteado de la historia. ¡¿Es de 1979?! Entonces estos bros son unos visionarios, ponedles en más camisetas. Se nota que son la referencia de un millón de grupos que vinieron después. Resulta que una canción que me encanta, Mirrors de Nightbus, usa Shadowplay a modo de "sample", normal, es la mejor del album. "To the centre of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you", cuatro estrellas directas. Favs: Shadowplay, Disorder, Interzone

Posiblemente uno de los debuts más celebres de todos los tiempos, no? Pura atmósfera, con ese bajo hipnótico y la voz del front man flotando sobre él. Cada canción respira oscuridad sin caer en el drama barato. Álbum muy virtuoso y coherente, la banda ya tenía claro que quería decir. Es verdad que podría sentirse algo hermético el sonido si no vas preparado (no es cálido ni variado), pero si conectas con la frecuencia es una pasada. Shoutout a mi amigo Pablo que tres de cada cuatro días lleva puesta la camiseta de este álbum Favs: Disorder, Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades

Es muy raro que un grupo tenga su identidad tan descubierta a la hora de publicar su debut, pero Joy Division tiene las cosas bien claras. Comienza a sonar la batería en Disorder y, con ella, un sonido tan característico e icónico que no se te olvida en la vida. Las vocals, aunque al principio puedan descolocar, acompañan y elevan perfectamente al resto de instrumentos, contribuyendo a la creación de la atmósfera tan pesada pero a la vez tan adictiva que no se esfuma hasta que se termina el disco (habéis escuchado el bajo? brutal). Un clásico imprescindible. A la playlist: Disorder (uno de los mejores openers de todos los tiempos), Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Wilderness, Interzone.

its fine

Fantastic mood music! 4.5/5

Yeah, it's a gloomy masterpiece. Ahead of its time. Influential. Tragic. And if I were in that mood, I might've given it another star.

No wonder GenX were so predisposed to apathy.

3.5

Goth vibes aber an sich ein banger nicht 100% meine Musik aber iconic eigentlich Feier die vocals nicht so die Musik an sich aber sehr cool Special Mention: She’s Lost Control Best song: Disorder Rating: 3,5

The band's unfortunate story is more interesting than their music.

I always felt like this band was not for me. Probably because I don’t like Love Will Tear Us Apart Again. I discovered this album a few years ago and finally got into it. Standouts are Day Of The Lords, Candidate, She’s Lost Control, Shadowplay, and I Remember Nothing. It also bears mentioning that this is one of the best album covers ever.

I finally know where the shirts are from. English Molchat Doma

It's dark and methodical. It's not my favorite Joy Division work, but as a debut album it's a pretty solid leap into the dark world of post-punk goth rock to come.

This is like if The Cure sucked. Honestly, this could have been a pretty good instrumental album. This guy's vocal style is miserable. Notably, the Wikipedia article says "they advertised for a singer. Curtis, whom Sumner and Hook already knew, applied and, without having to audition, was taken on." No shit, right? There's no other way he could have been a singer otherwise. For me, the vocals ruin what I think was pretty solid music. I definitely can hear sounds on this album that show up later in the grunge/alternative scene from the 90s, which I can appreciate. I think I'm going to go listen to The Cure or Depeche Mode now 3 feels high, but...

5 star cover

I'm wary when I see albums on here with loads of 5 star reviews - and I was right again with this one It was incredibly overhyped. Were there good songs? Yes. But also a lot of shite The good songs would have given this album a 4. Wasn't 5 star worthy but I enjoyed them. But there was a load of bland songs in the middle which I really can't rate too highly I guess there's a reason why the album cover seems more popular than the actual contents of the album 3 ⭐️

I get the appeal of this type of music, but it's a bit too dark and depressing for me.

I’ve tried several times to get into this album. It just doesn’t do it for me.

Got better as I went along, vocals not very strong

Easy 5 stars instantly without much thinking. Not going to get too much into details as to why, but I think this is a super influential album, one of my favourites, a big part of my adolescence and a post-punk masterpiece. P.S. Now I maybe regret a bit for giving 5 instead of 4 stars yesterday to DM's "Music for the Masses" but it's all good

Goeeed

not my kind of music, sort of boring

Fastest 5 stars in the West. One of the first albums that found me in the early days of music explorarion on my own. Too many memories. Thrilling.

I can relate to that age in music. It was the time in which I grew up as a teenager so it sounds familiar. But it is not the music style that really appeals to me. It doesn't bring me to a certain state of mind, it doesn't evoke emotions apart from sounding familiar. Listening to the music I find it dull. It fails to keep me on my toes and wanting more. Hence 3 stars

This album is obviously a classic... but I've found I'm more of a New Order guy than Joy Division... I suppose the transition to more of a new wave vibe appeals to me.

This was a good album. I like their songs and lyrics.

A la mierda... mítico grupo para gente sin demasiado oído y menos gusto. Mola decir que te gustan, pero no conozco a nadie que de verdad los haya escuchado y menos disfrutado. Son producto del snobismo y las ganas de llamar la atención. Cualquier adolescente no muy listo podría llegar a tocar todos los instrumentos de este disco ensayando un fin de semana. En cuanto al cantante, no quiero hacer comentarios de humor negro, pero digamos que no perdimos un talento.

Amazing album, not a bad track. Dark, powerful, hypnotic post punk. 4.5 rounded up Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes 16/1001, 16/59 (27%) Will I get? Have several versions

Eh, decent vibe at times, other times lackluster.

Like it so far. Starts with a 4. Ends as a 3.

[joke about the jokes about the album cover t-shirts]

ufff, a favorite

Joy Division was one of those bands I heard about in the ‘80s but never heard on the radio. Now having listened to them I get why (1) I never heard them on the radio and (2) why people were talking about them. I feel like they took over where the Doors left off seven years prior. Their music for the time was dark, progressive yet still retained the psychedelia “space rock” feel. You can hear the influence they left in bands like The Cure, Depeche Mode, Echo& the Bunnymen, OMD and even BRMC. Key songs for me included Day of the Lords and She’s Lost Control. This is definitely heavy and have to be in a specific mood to listen to. Luckily, it’s the perfect season to be in that mood.

Random thoughts: * I’ve listened to this one before based on the love expressed for Joy Division. And on second listen, it’s still not a must listen to me. * This music is just okay and I find it too dark of a mood for my liking. * I’m sure there is something groundbreaking about this but it just doesn’t quite hold up over time. * I doubt I’ll personally be going back to this again.

Kinda background. Don't notice when it finished and started showing other artists in

Not super into it, but it's not terrible. I think what puts me off is the singer's voice, more so than anything else. I generally don't have a big attraction to more traditional rock music, so it's probably not the album's fault. 6/10 okay/10

Quite mid

Banger. Listened to it in high school and didn't really get it but I've seen the light. New Dawn Fades is incredible.

Enjoyed this album. Never listened to Joy Division, but this will go in my favorites.

Fav: Shadowplay Least Fav: Candidate Absolutely iconic album cover, really fits the album’s vibe

not for me

iconic post-punk album with dark vocals and moody guitars. such a shame we only got two albums. i think this is one of those albums that need a few listens to really enjoy and start to understand. key standouts for me were 'disorder' and 'new dawn fades'. ian's vocals are like a blend of morrissey and david byrne. i thought the drums on this album were the best part - they sound phenomenal.

Absolute classic. Before re-listening today I was under the impression that I didn't like the album that much. I had 1 song in my playlist and the others I found boring. I really didn't get the appeal. I now do. It's such an important album but it is also such a gorgeous one. Equal parts melancholic and impressive. I want to listen to it again and again. I don't think it is perfect, but I don't know what to change or improve to make it that. It is still 5/5. If it doesn't work the first time, wait and try again. It is worth it

Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division was an unique album when it came out and even with all the groups/music it influenced it remains as unique to a modern audience as it did in the seventies. Truly one of music's most innovative bands, Joy Division's short life is dreadfully sad. Though I cannot really see anyone else make this music except for a completely depressed Ian Curtis.

Top track: Shadowplay

I liked the dark vibe and hard sounds that actually sound soft and not noisy. Also loved the punkish sounds of Interzone

Nothing bad about the album. Just not my cup of tea

Late night vibes

Post-punk I can get behind. A gloomy classic.

There’s some highs and lows on this but I love it

Love this, only minor complain is that there's a bit of a lull mid album. But on the whole, great stuff.

Classic, incredible album, so influential, I love it to death. Also Peter Gabriel's So is really great but I never got the chance to review it here.

Great album, first of I suppose the new wave, that I liked, but that is personal as other than the Cure it was a genre which I enjoyed particularly. Reflects a time when I got back to the 50s and 60s with R&R, blues and proper R&B. But back to the album - heavy and dark, probably a new wave Black Sabbath - probably why I liked it so much. Favourite track -

Yikes, that one was tough. Perhaps if your formative years were in the late 70s early 80s it sounds a little better to your ear. Kind of cool to hear those 80s drums sort of early cars type sound but not my favorite.

Classic

It's the South Park goth kids in all the best ways. Post-punk, new wave. Arrangements feel simple and layered swimming in plate reverb. Melodies that stick to you like peanut butter on the roof of your mouth. Makes me want to get facial piercings, dye my hair black, and goth dance in the parking lot behind the gym.

this album makes me lose control

Boring as fuck except for disorder because it was in skate 3 and is also the only good song on this album

A tremendous and distinct debut. The bass lines are creative and driving, the vocals clear and haunting. Yes Candidate and I remember are slow burns, but the energy of the rest outweighs any criticism. Side 2 with the exception of the last song is just outstanding.

Eh not my favorite, I like the instrumental grunge feel in ze background. BUT, all the songs kinda blend together and there’s no bangers. Like zero bangers?? I need at least one banger. And I got zero! Good background listening music tho. A+ for the album art animation on Spotify when listening it.

Man, this album was not for me. I think I’m especially disappointed because I absolutely loved the opening track and was hoping for a similar vibe for the rest of the album. Disorder is upbeat, fun and catchy. The rest of the album is gloomy, repetitive and boring?? The whole time I was just waiting for something to happen. I’m also just not a fan of the bummer mumble/purposely sometimes off-key lead singer. I looked them up and am genuinely shocked these guys are the same guys from New Order???? HUH???

life is too short to let music be this boring yikes the kind of late 70s jam-band adjacent sound that makes me want to throw myself down the stairs just to feel something again

An open tuned snare, lyrics more spoken than sung, bass lines that are almost punk, and atmospheric guitar make for an exceptional 80s listening experience. I lost control of my body listening to this and turned every device I had to a different John Hughes movie, drank Pepsi tab and used up all the hairspray in the house. I spent this album missing the young Nick who felt limitless, was less aware of how the world worked and knew his siblings better, was less guarded and jaded but full of big feelings he didn't know what to do with yet. Id love to keep talking but i challenged the town bully to a ski race down the k12 rated mountain side for a chance to save my community and get the girl of my dreams.

No standouts, not for me

It's just a classic, benchmark album for post punk innit? One of those albums so ubiquitous that it's hard to really provide a unique slant on it, but the quality is unrelentingly good with this one. Cavernous and murky, yet relatable and within arm's reach at the same time, Joy Division captured something truly special here which would define a movement.

The vocals were kind of mid, but I enjoyed the instrumentals so much that the album gets 5 stars.

I was already familiar with this album from when I was an overwrought teen. (Thanks Sethers) I haven’t listened to it for a long time, so it was nice to hear it as an adult. It’s not exactly a banger in the way I think of albums that are exciting, but I did enjoy it.

Joy Division’s other album is still the only album I’ve given 1 star to so I had very low hopes going into this. This was marginally better but still such a slog. Whiny sadboi music that was unrelenting in how boring it was. A solid 1.5 stars for me.

From the blast of angst that was Punk music came a more honest, emotional sound that still held to the core anger, hopelessness and desperation of its predecessor whilst offering a far deeper sound. And that came to the fore most notably and with the most skill via Ian Curtis & Co., in the form of Joy Division and Unknown Pleasures. There seems to be a largely unique sound on this and its companion Closer, often retried but never properly replicated, even by themselves as New Order. There’s eerie Sumner riffs accompanied by masterful Hook basslines and Morris percussion, but above all of course is the commanding, frantic lyrics and passionate vocals from the ill-fated and forever-remembered Ian Curtis. This is no more pronounced than on the end of the first (out)side, the immortal New Dawn Fades, where all four bandmates convene in supernatural fashion, engineering what is undoubtedly the defining piece of Post-Punk, and one of the most supreme tracks in music history. Most people will know Unknown Pleasures from the album art, which has somewhat superseded the music. However it still continues to seep through into most every corner of rock music that has followed it, and continues to serve as a beacon of the ‘album era’, and a touchstone for all that is downtrodden and melancholy in popular music today.

3.7

A classic album. A must listen

I agree with another listener--it just doesn't hit for me. Too moody.

I really wish I liked this album more. But it’s depressing without also being beautiful.

No ha sido mi rollo, pero el bajo me ha gustado mucho.

Unlike The Smiths who are a melange of Morrissey's cynicism and Marr's jangles, Joy Division is despair matched by more despair. At no point are Curtis's arhythmic confessionals backed by instrumentation any less stuck in the shit. I'm not moved to call them sincere, but they're certainly for real and yield not a shred of irony: 'I've seen the nights filled w/ bloodsport and pain / And the bodies obtained, the bodies obtained'; 'I did everything, everything I wanted to / I let them use you for their own ends.' Descriptors like heavy, gutsy, passionate, and convulsive come to mind, but they don't clarify the sustainability of the relentless darkness. Perhaps it's ineffable. Fair enuf. But perhaps it's their improbable, almost beatific creativity.

interesting stuff!! sounds like a sadder pink floyd

Wouldn’t usually be my thing, but this album is excellent. Supremely well crafted, oozing character and depth. “Shadowplay” was my highlight.

This is powerful stuff. Love the understated, rigid guitar work and the baritone crooning of Ian Curtis - these are the key contributors in what ends up being a beautifully compelling brutalist art project. I'm convinced!

Incoming edgelord review. I was fortunate to grow up with a happy childhood. I can’t remember why exactly I became interested in Joy Division, but I bought a copy of Unknown Pleasures at the same time as most who own a copy. What struck me about the music was the overwhelming sadness in Ian Curtis’ performance. Not sad as in ‘oh woe is me, my life is so hard’ (You know, the Morrissey kind). The sadness of someone who is convinced they’re the problem and wants to disappear from the world. The kind that precedes the end for troubled souls like Curtis. I’ve never really been able to relate to these songs on a personal level, but I’ve always appreciated the execution. The writing, the playing, and the production all throughout this album and Closer are excellent. The drums are cold and oppressive. The bass brings that heavy, rolling post-punk energy. There’s just something totally captivating about damn near everything here. Picking this up again years later, I’m mostly struck by just how complete a package Unknown Pleasures is. Each piece is arranged with immaculate attention to detail. My favourite track, New Dawn Fades, still hits hard. This one’s an absolute classic. An essential listen, and very much worthy of a place on a list like this. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

lives up to its reputation... and then some.

The pleasures were indeed unknown, at least by me.

Atmospheric sound

not for me

Already knew this one.

Wow. Das ist dunkel! Und sehr gut.

I've heard "Love Will Tear Us Apart" a million times. I've seen this album cover a million times more. So in that regard I know who Joy Division is. At least I thought I did. Today I learned I didn't know shit about Joy Division. Because... I. Love. This. Album. If the Ramones were putting surf rock through an electric chair, Joy Division was laying it on a bed of nails. The gut punching bass lines counter the jangling guitar and mixed with Ian Curtis' crooning create a haunting but deeply relatable sound. I had to listen to this album while reading the lyrics because the writing is such a vital part of the whole package. It's such a beautiful and real exploration of self loathing and despair which would fit right in with today's songwriting. But this album was released in 1979! So far this adventure has led me to plenty of music from the 70s and 80s and none of them touch on this subjects. I used to think that Joy Division was a late 80s, early 90s band but they were in the throughs of the punk movement of the late 70s. Truly a shame that their fame came too late. RIP Ian Curtis. But they sure created magic with the time they had. I know understand why so many people have a T-shirt with this album cover on it. Think I might have to get myself one. This listen was truly a joy..... division. Okay I'll see myself out.

Original. New generational. Innovative sounds. Love it!

Well, I know this one. JD don't fascinate me as much as they do some people, but I do love their iciness and the way the instruments sound out-of-tune and yet aren't. Good dynamics and drama. An accidental masterpiece.

The album somehow sounded like 1983 or 1984 even in 1979. And, yes, that’s a good thing! “Disorder” is a helluva song.

Disorder She's Lost Control New Dawn Fades Shadowplay

4.5

This was ok, 3/5

Bleak but I love it

68/1001 Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ The combination of post-punk, industrial soundscapes and the tortured lyrics all form to create such a seminal album. It's got a rawness and edge that's needed. It's an album I love, but not one I listen to nearly enough, as it requires a very specific mood.

Disorder

Classic, achievement in goth rock, not particularly pleasant to listen to however.

relisten

I want to like it so bad. It should be an album I adore. Ill come back to it one day. It's just a little boring right now. Sometimes it gets me excited then falls flat. Maybe I'm not sad enough to like it.

What a moody album, I love it

Dark and brooding and damn those bass lines are sick

Minimalist pioneers, with so much space between notes it’s almost uncomfortable. An amazing collection of music that reaches to the soul

This album should be as well known as Nevermind the Bollocks.

Generally good, I don't have much to say about it though.

Never really did like them, this jsut confrims it.

This album will never cheer you up, by what a bunch of tunes it is.

I understand the hype

Superior a Closer a mi parecer. Muy adelantado a la época. No es mucho mi sabor pero vamos con... 4.0

So good for every reason. A perfect album.

Bra album och jag fattar att det var viktigt men har alltid tyckt att joy division lever mer på omständigheterna runt om dem än deras musik. Bra såklart och kanske borde ge högre betyg men hann inte lyssna så mycket tyvärr Helle

Not for me

Not a fan.

Great start with Disorder, but for me nothing else really stood out from the album

Truly lives up to the t-shirt.

Best track is the first one, the rest are alright

Knall åpning på albummet, ser for meg at resten er en slow burn, men etter en gjennomhøring er jeg ikke helt bitt av basillen.

4 stars Spending my teen years in the early 2000s, I was familiar with music that was deeply inspired by Joy Division before ever hearing the band (Interpol, The Killers). My first exposure was “Love Will Tear Us Apart” in Donnie Darko, which is a top track. Unknown Pleasure is not like that song, which was more of an indication of the direction New Order would go in with a more poppy, new wave sound. This album is a vibe album, and that vibe is gloomy. But the production takes you on a journey. I’ll admit that I have been listening to this album for many years and I don’t remember the names of most of the songs. But as a unit, it’s memorable, the influence is clear, and the stand out tracks are memorable. I can acknowledge this album isn’t for everyone, and I do believe it is a bit overhyped (not quite the greatest of all time). I don’t return to it too often. But I’m never disappointed when I do.

Very influential, probably ahead of its time, pretty decent overall. But it never really stuck with me for some reason.

I know this is a "classic" but I just don't like it very much.

Not keen on his voice but I'm sure I'm alone in that ;) thx!

Great album overall.

Seminal band…

Sounds like 3 different records at times -the paranoid tunes are the most striking. Innovative for the time, but hasn't held up well. The live shows must have been rather grim...

también sin más

C30, Stuttgart - Karlsruhe, Deutschland. Fantastisches Album!

4.5/5

i really wanted to like this but it’s jsut not my thing unfortunately

This sound of this album is amazing, and if it's something you're in the mood for, there's nothing better. Personally, I don't get there often, but I still think it's masterful.

3- Somewhat overrated I think. Doesn't hold a candle to anything the smiths have put out

Nice that I got both Joy Division albums within days of each other, what are the odds? Both first listens (yeah I'm just getting on my music listening journey cut me some slack), but I found this one to be substantially better. Less self-loathing and catchier perhaps? Still not gonna give it above a 3, but I could see this one growing on me with repeated listens.

I really like the instrumental but the singing gets me. It visually reminds me of a signer whose head is bent and glued to the mic. While I am impressed by the passion, it just isn’t my vibe for singing

Great album, weird middle

Repetitive, dreary.

Didn't care for it

This must have sounded like it was from outer space in 1979

pretty mediocre. Nothing stood out to me nor bothered me. I don’t get the hype, why is this album cover on T-shirts?

This is a good listenable album.

Classic post-punk album. Love the dark atmosphere, so many bangers here, just an amazing album all around

Bit underwhelmed. The cultural importance and iconography of this album outweighs the music IMO.

Forgot to rate this! It is a piece of crap! Fuck this album it is garbage I like nothing about it

Still don’t get this album… sorry music nerds everywhere! It sounds like it was recorded on a microwave and nothing about it compels me rip.

This is a great, upsetting listen, which is my favorite kind of upsetting listen. Curtis' vocals would haunt your dreams even if you didn't know what happened to him. The gloom-punk collision is often imitated and never quite emulated. Really loved it.

I've listened to this album before and not been impressed. I'll give it another spin and see. I struggle with the post-punk introducing Joy Division that was inspired by Iggy Pop/Bowie with the only song I knew growing up, the edgy alt-synth hit Love Will Tear Us Apart. Pitchfork: 10.0 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #211 Best Songs Disorder Day of the Lords New Dawn Fades She's Lost Control Shadowplay

This is undeniably influential. Its sound shaped the direction of post-punk and alternative music for decades. But as an album, it doesn’t quite live up to the weight of its legacy.

Headphones album.

Скучный рок, но понятно, откуда взялось звучание многих известных групп

No l’havia escoltat mai, em dona vibes de depeche mode. Increible que aquesta musica es fes als 70, molt moderna

Sounds like a band which might have a one-hit wonder at some point but really shouldn't be famous for anything else. Maybe it was good at the time but now, nah I'd rather not listen to this. New order is awesome though so I guess things can evolve

Très bonne Découverte! Du vieux rock des annes 70-80, comme m’en faisait découvrir mon père 🥰

-Love the warm yet distant vibe -Funky sounds all around -Surprising vibes for the time it came out -I enjoyed almost all of the songs in this -The lead singers voice is so perfect for this genre

Didn’t do much for me. I did enjoy some of the guitar licks. My favorite was “New Dawn Fades.”

I can’t explain why, but I’ve avoided listening to Joy Division for the most part. I love much post-punk music. I love New Order. I’m a sucker for depressing music in general. And yet… I am not at all surprised at how much I love this album. The vocals are so cool in how they were recorded, giving them almost alien feel. And now I really know where Robert Smith got so much of the early Cure sound from. A definite 5.

What a three days this has been. Unknown Pleasures is another album that often gets cited in the GOAT conversation, and you can absolutely see why. It's so weighty, both in its subject matter and production, and the atmosphere it manages to create is really impressive. It has that 'faster but slower' effect that Martin Hammett demanded, with the drums taking the lead and Curtis' voice as another instrument in the mix. Let's also add some points in for one of the best album covers ever made.

Dump

Goth Rock Supreme!

I came into contact with Joy Division very late in life. I only stumbled across them in my late gothic phase towards the end of the 90s. That's when I heard the album for the first time. I didn't think it was that old. In the meantime, I've left gothic behind me. And so, as I've now realized, the music doesn't mean much to me anymore. It's interesting what you learn about yourself in the course of this project. 3/5

Joy Division influenced music massively in just a short span of about two years. They only released two studio albums, yet both became iconic and shaped the sound of post-punk. Unknown Pleasures was their debut, and it set a new standard with its dark, atmospheric production, minimalist arrangements, and Ian Curtis’s haunting vocals. Every track has its own unique touch, from the cold pulse of ‘Disorder’ to the hypnotic drive of ‘She’s Lost Control.’ It’s a record that feels both stark and emotional, capturing alienation and intensity in a way that still resonates today. Even decades later, Unknown Pleasures remains one of the most important and influential albums in alternative music.

Always a good time for this one

Pretty Decent

You can hear the echos of this work for decades. It sometimes feels like every dark\emo\mod\goth\postpunk\punk and metal band cribbed notes from Unknown Pleasures. You can hear it strongly pulsing from the edge of the 70's and into the 90's, with ripples and waves lapping into music today. So influential, so amazing dark and moody.

Oh we are so back ! I am a big fan of dark lyrics put to moderately upbeat music (The Smiths being my ultimate fave example of this). Unknown Pleasures is in my opinion, one of the most influential albums to come out of the 70's. After listening fully, which I haven't done since I was a teenager, I'm seeing the album in a very different light, Unknown Pleasures represents the rage, the anger and the frustration. It's Ian's fighting against his feelings, not quite wanting to let go, but not really having any strength to keep going. In my opinion it's a bit colder and more isolated than Closer, Its minimalistic stripped back nature is creating such a bleak feeling. The production is incredibly seductive and attractive in a strange way. With a lot of reverb on the whole mix, the dynamics between Stephen Morris' stellar echoey drums and Peter Hook's addictive bass lines are leading the mix, while the disoriented eerie guitar riffs are surrounding it and creating its isolated cold atmosphere with plenty of feedback. Lyrically the album is immensely tortured , with Ian going head first into themes of loneliness, religion, death & depression (my favourite cocktail). I really enjoyed relistening, although it has set my weekend off in quite a strange way. 3/5 (A full point lost because I hate listening to men complain on my Friday morning) - HF xo Joy Division is one of those bands I heard people talk about but never listened to myself so I'm going into this with an open mind. Opening track has everything of the 70s Brit Pop/Rock formula, opening with a memorable bassline, monotone lead vocals and high tone distorted and almost haunted guitar, iconic for it's time but leaves me little bored. Lyrically dark and with a tone that leaves each track eerily tortured and with an air of doom about it. I can see why folk enjoy this band and I enjoy aspects of it however it leaves me a little underwhelmed overall , don't think I'll give this another listen tbh 2.4/5 MTW Think it’s fair to say that this album fucks, it fucks hard. I haven’t listened to this from back to front in like 5/6 years probably and I actually think I like it more then I did when I first heard it. The bass tones on this album from start to finish are just delicious, great atmosphere throughout, it’s a dark dingy album and it just goes full force into that. Lyrically I think it’s fine, but maybe too much complaining from Ian, have a gaviscon and run a bath dude you’ll be fine by Monday. Standout album of its time and will definitely re visit next time I want a wear a black trench coat and walk menacingly through winter weather. 3.6/5 FTW

Ahh yes, the Joy Division album that everyone has the shirt from because it's "cool". Well, I'm a huge Joy Division fan, and by that standing, a New Order fan as well. Unknown Pleasures is brilliant. Everyone needs to hear it before they die. 5/5

Music to top yourself to.

First impression pre listen: I've heard this album maybe a hundred times. It's great! Very few works of art are able to capture such a specific bleak atmosphere. It is however something I have to be in a specific mood for, if not it's simply just depressing. Individual track notes: Disorder Where do you even begin with this one. From the instantly recognizable drum intro to the unforgetable bassline and the somber vocals. Even the guitar sounds disturbed. Really appreciate the honest and personal lyrics too. The background effects build a lot of the song's atmosphere. Fantastic. 5/5 Day of the Lords Kind of an underrated track. Love how big it sounds. The guitar feels like it has much more space than in other tracks. The slower tempo makes it feel desolate and abandoned. Sounds apocalyptic and bleak. Fantastic. 5/5 Candidate The fade in is a decent way to get the attention if the listener after the explosive ending of the previous track. The instrumental is a lot less involved, focusing more on atmosphere and ambience. The almost horror-like effects create a lot of tension alongside the almost frustrated sounding vocals. The bassline is simple, but very distinct. Great. 4.5/5 Insight Takes its time with the buildup, gives the paniced instrumental a lot more impact. Interesting effects. Love how almost abyssaly dark the instrumental breaks sound. Harrowing lyrics in context. Great. 4.5/5 New Dawn Fades Glorious opening, love the interplay between the crushing bassline and the melodic guitar. Claustrophobic and overwhelming. Love how the vocals allow themselves a lot more time on each note compared to previous songs. Fantastic. 5/5 She's Lost Control Love the rhythm of this track. The bass line is really distinct and catchy, love the haunting quality of the thin sound. Love the echoey vocals. Really like how bleak and robotic the drums sound. The storytelling in the lyrics is quite good. Fantastic. 5/5 Shadowplay Amazing intro. The bass and the snares just create this amazing buildup for the guitar to explode into. Glorious bassline. The impersonal and cold guitar solo fits perfectly. Gothic and claustrophobic atmosphere. Fantastic. 5/5 Wilderness Love the drums on this track. The instrumental has a lot of weight behind it. Love the cryptic lyrics. Good. 4/5 Interzone Awesome tempo switch. The song feels more punk than post punk. Fun vocal effect. The more riff oriented guitar playing is a nice change of pace from the rest of the album. Great. 4.5/5 I Remember Nothing Slow, meandering and atmospheric. Love when the instrumental effects match up with the lyrics. Mysterious sounding. Solid lyrics, framed very poetically. Great. 4.5/5 Final review: An innovative masterclass in atmosphere and stylistic consistency. With what's in all honesty quite a limited setup, with Unknown Pleasures they've created an album where every single moment is distinct and memorable. Ian Curtis is a somber, dour poet in a landscape that's cold and mechanical, while the atmosphere of bleak and overwhelming reality swallows him whole. The lyrics are personal but abstract, using storytelling and cryptic language to convey complex emotions. And on top of the absurd chemistry of the band behind him its presented in a crushing, yet still entrancing way. The interplay between Brian Sumner and Peter Hook on the guitar and bass is beyond impressive, complimenting each others' style perfectly. And without the impact and the largeness of Stephen Morris's percussion the world created by the album wouldn't feel so overwhelming and oppressive. The songwriting and atmosphere on here is truly special, taking the listener on both an emotional and sonic journey at the same time. One of the greatest of all time. 5/5

One of the best album arts of all time, but not a huge fan of his voice NGL

I do know very well this album's importance, and I appreciate the dark mood of it, but this album mostly did nothing for me. Few great tracks grabbed me, but mostly this passed me by

7/10

I like some Joy Division but I can't say that I love all of it.

Always a pleasure to return to one of the essential records in my ever-expanding collection (14,000 albums and counting). When this masterpiece was released, I was just five years old, but during my rebellious teenage punk phase, while exploring the anarcho- and Oi! movements of the late seventies, I was completely captivated by Joy Division's intensely somber, bleak, and haunting sound. A perfect riot teenager nightmare. Favourite songs: Disorder, She's lost control 5/5

Nul

2/5

After getting through the emotionally heavier sophomore release Closer, I figured Joy Division's debut Unknown Pleasures would be an easier listen for me. Not only did that statement end up being true, but I feel this album growing on me. Once again, the instrumentation of Joy Division took spotlight, with the spacious guitar hooks, punchy yet distant drumming, the supple basslines, and the reverbed production. All these elements coalesce behind Ian Curtis's haunting vocal delivery, as he delivered insight to his depressing state, as he felt he could not easily connect with others around him. These words lend themselves to an overall dark feel for the record without being as suffocating as Closer would be, which ended up pairing better with the post-punk sensibilities of the backing band. Not only did this translate to me enjoying the hard-hitting numbers such as opener "Disorder", "She's Lost Control" and "Interzone", but even the more atmospheric cuts like "Candidate" and "New Dawn Fades" resonated. Plus, it was a delight to hear "Shadowplay" after I previously heard The Killers cover that song. With that, I have no qualms calling Unknown Pleasures a top notch record, one that has transcended the unfortunately short life of the group and its frontman.

I'm sure I've listened to this before but hadn't gone back to it. I don't really get why this is so hyped - it's good but not all super memorable imo

BRITISH POST PUNK FORMULA: 1 good song to ride off of, and a discography of nearly unlistenable slop + a talentless singer who kills himself within a couple of years of the bands success + almost no instrumentals, just lo-fi synths + have the above mentioned talentless singer ramble on about how he's sad or some shit constantly, but make sure it's not interesting to listen to in the slightest + pay an artist to do his best copyright-free imitation of Dark Side of The Moon for the album cover = become revered in history as one of the greatest post punk bands ever It's a shame I'm not judging this thing off its phenomenal album cover. Despite my joke above it's genuinely a 10/10 cover. It's a shame the music held within in this beautiful cover just fucking sucks man. This album is like a concept album of how much their singer can take the piss to get progressively worse and worse in each song until I decide to turn this off. Disorder and Candidate are such dogshit songs. Ian Curtis could never sing, and just rambles on in his weird British accent. The "Feeling! Feeling! Feeling!" part is especially jading. The only highlight on Disorder is the bassist, Candidate unfortunately has no redeeming qualities. I genuinely can't even really write a review for anything else on here. With the exception of Shadowplay, It's just an intro of an electric guitar, then some synths and a bassist (who is admittedly good) with our boy Ian rambling about some shit nobody cares about in his horrible voice; at least he's trying! Every song feels almost exactly the same. Joy Division were an overrated horrible band running off one good song (Love Will Tear Us Apart) until their lead singer cheated on his missus and did something unsavoury to himself resulting in his departure from the mortal plane - and I think the rest of the band knew how shit they were as well considering how quick they moved on without him. This is literally just The Smiths for people who love watching paint dry. This is an unbiased review because also hate The Smiths, but I do love sniffing paint.

Finally had the pleasure to listen to the poser t-shirt album art band! And what a pleasure it was, definitely a lot more on the slower and moodier side. I do feel like I am not seeing some of what others are here though, This felt pretty par for the course when it comes to british crywank material in terms of lyricism. Even the instrumental tone is not as overbearing as some have described, the slower tempo lends to a more understated feel. Perhaps listening to too much NIN where the angst funneled through industrial noise can feel like an angle grinder against your ear. Incredibly consistent album that felt like it was just getting better the further I went. Being short too was a boon, very easy to listen to once again.

Ian Curtis' greatest contribution to music was an unrelated act that caused New Order to form. The tracks are way ahead of their time but for the most part I cannot stand this cunts vocals.

I've lost count of how many times I've listened to this, never really got it until this time around. Enjoyed it significantly more than previously visits. Maybe its cause i usually have some grand expectation for what this album is or should be and this time I didnt care and just let it play and listened. 8/10

This is, at one point, every wanker’s favourite shirt (myself included). When I think of post-punk, Joy Division is the first thing I think of. My only complaint about this album is that is isn't Closer. Iconic album art, Ian Curtis' distinct voice, Peter Hook's magnificent bass. I love everything about this, on the same side the songs can go from danceable to dramatic and dour. Beyond the musical merit of the album this kickstarted a whole musical and cultural movement. The fact that we lose people like Ian Curtis, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley while Oasis are performing reunion tours that God not only has a sense of humour, but is a miserable bastard. Highlights: Disorder, Day of the Lords, Insight, New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay, Wilderness, I Remember Nothing

There's no need to say a lot about this album. Just listen to the first 30 seconds of opener 'Disorder' and you know you are listening to a classic. It's haunting in every way. It can be quite something to listen to if you're not in perfect mental shape... The star of the album to me is Peter Hook. His bass playing is unlike anything done before. Together with guitar player Bernard Sumner with his arpeggiated chords he lays the foundation that lets Ian Curtis shine - shine in a very dark way, unfortunately. Absolutely fantastic album.

Absolutely brilliant album, created the Blueprint for 80s and 90s alternative, not a wasted minute anywhere. Ian Curtis was a great vocalist and the band is incredible. One of the best ever

CV classic

fucking genre defining classic

Okay album. The vocals don't do anything for me. Most of the songs are okay though.

dark and gloomy, perfect for a rainy day which definitely made my listening experience better

His voice is so haunting, in a good way

Such a great sound that influenced the 80’s.

This is one of my all time favorite albums, sets the stage for all the New Order, Cure, The Church, and Pet Shop Boys to come. Pre-new-wave but post-punk, this album is new life crawling out of the musical primordial ooze.

Great club music.

Not my style

Although I wish all the songs were written like the opener, its pretty good post punk. Early alternative, goth and new wave composite album. Im glad I finally got the chance to listen to it. Bonus points for having Skate 3 soundtrack song. Spent many nights up late in adolescence building skate parks and practicing tre flips to Disorder.

It was decent. Not anything I'd listen to on the regular, but pretty good. I think this is considered New Wave? Apple Music has it listed as "Goth Rock" which is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. There's definitely a punk undercurrent, but the singer isn't a nasally, whiny little shit, and I think the rest of the band actually know how to play their instruments. It's said to be a masterpiece, and while I wouldn't go that far, I can understand why it could be seen as such if it was released in 1979. I'm sure it completely blew the minds of lots of teenager when it was released.

Great sound

I wish I liked this album more. Very consistent feel but it’s not for me. The first track is excellent though, and sweet cover art.

I'm a big sucker for arty, angular, punky guitar music so this album is definitely for me . Also my first time listening to the whole album. And really enjoyed the live tracks on the version I listened to.

Aright. On the underside of good. it all sounded the same, focal point of the song was the stinger who didn;t really have a gripping listenable sound. Guitars and bass had some good moments, just not enough.

One of the twenty best albums ever made maybe?

Dark, moody and introspective. Just like Ian Curtis .

No where near as good as Closer. Very much a garage band at this stage and better things to come.

No known pleasure here It didn't speak to me in any way

This just really doesn’t speak to me. I really do want to like it but every time I hear it I just think “meh”

Hopefully closer is in the list as well. Thats the real masterpiece.

Was a bit young for Joy Division but the ground running with New Order. Took a long time to discover this album. Damn good. Hooks bass lines oh my

No doubting the influence this album has had. There are fine tracks on here but a bit of filler too. Martin Hannett's production is dark, dense and doomy.

Got to be in the mood but a classic.

Un poco de mal rollo con el cantante. El album en si me ha gustado, aunque es así oscuro

A great for a reason. Not that I particularly enjoy listening to it any more. Drums go hard.