Reviews (page 6 of 13)
Another classic album
I was a teen in the 80s, and have spent decades defending my right not to like New Order, despite the fact that all my friends like them. What makes it worse is that I've now spent 30 years living in the NW of England, where everything Hook- and Factory-related are Revered with a capital R. (My main problem with New Order has always been the aforementioned Mr Hook, whose tendency to play plinky plonky high notes in the bass is not to my personal taste, and I don't find Bernard S very engaging either.) And so, reversing in time, to Joy Division. I only really ever heard Love Will Tear Us Apart, growing up, and I wasn't keen, just not really "digging" the vocal melody being in unison with the instruments. However in the last few years, thanks to social media, I've been hearing more snippets of Joy Division, including stuff off this album, and liked what I was hearing. And, hooray, this album proved to be more my thing. There were still tracks where I just don't get why anyone would do that with a bass guitar (eg Insight, parts of She's Lost Control.) But I was frequently able to get lost in the bleak darkness. Loved the guitar and synth. Loved the driving rhythms. And, we need to talk about Ian. I've spent time in Macc, where he grew up, and it's impossible not to connect with his voice and his spirit, hearing these songs. Atmospheric and darkly wonderful, most of the time. I'm genuinely sorry that I can't sit through the plinky-plonk bits; I feel it's my loss.
Always knew the name, but don’t think I knew any songs at all. Nice sound, reminds me a lot of that band Interpol - haven’t thought about them in a while. Not a ton of standout tracks - maybe Disorder, New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay -but an album that deserves a complete listen. This has grown on me a ton after a few times through.
Nothing I know of makes you feel better, as an 18 year old man, than exorcising your demons (anxiety, sexual frustration, grieving the death of your own childhood, etc.) by torturing a guitar until it gives up its secrets, as unreasonable and unexpected and unacceptable as some of those sounds can be. And it doesn’t have to be just a guitar. Maybe it’s the drums or bass or your voice. Maybe it’s the idea of music altogether that has to be wrung out, burned in a pile of “I don’t care” and then rebuilt as a lumbering skeleton from the grave. Might not sound beautiful. Might not supposed to.
heard this a few times before, but not in full i don't think, so i'll rate it Disorder - 5/5 (classic) Day of the Lords - 5/5 Candidate - 3/5 Insight - 3/5 New Dawn Fades - 4/5 She's Lost Control - 5/5 Shadowplay - 5/5 Wilderness - 3/5 Interzone - 4/5 I Remember Nothing - 3/5 Average score: 4/5
Dark, brooding, captivating. I love Peter Hook's bass playing and Sumner's crunchy guitar riffs. Ian Curtis sounds gloomy and to me is the least interesting part of the band (I'm more of a New Order fan). But I enjoy this brand of JD much more than the "Love Will Tear Us Apart" version. Obviously this was immensely interesting influential on so much music to come. And rightfully so. Songs like 'Shadowplay' just command a lot of attention.
БУРБЗДУМ, вайб лютейший, 4/5, 10 из 10 только сумеркам
Better than I remember. Like a goth Jim Morrison. I just can't square the circle that this band ended up being new order
It's Joy Division! I appreciate the chance to really listen to this album. I could listen to Disorder on repeat forever. This deserves a 5 because of how striking and impressive and influential it is, but for my personal rating, a 4 feels more fitting.
i used to listen to disorder by these guys a few years ago. i tried this album before but i just didn't like it but that's probably because i would like skip around the song and listen to a few seconds of it and never listened to it full length. but now that i listened to it full length i gotta say i appreciate this album a lot more. i really was vibing with both disorder and shadowland. but anyways this album is not a five out of five but its good don't get me wrong i was fwing with this album.
used to love this one when I was a teen. It's still really good, but the angst just isn't there for me anymore.
Nearly a 5 and may get re-rated over time, depending on how often I find myself revisiting. Candidate is skippable for me, but love the atmosphere and interplay of guitars/bass/vocals.
I listened to this like 4 times while I was working, so it was pretty good work music
liked songs: Day of the Lords, Shadowplay, Wilderness, I Remember Nothing This is such a unique album. In every song, there's a ton of space for all the weird instrumentals and sounds to breathe. While I wouldn't call Ian Curtis's vocals conventionally good, they absolutely fit the strange, dark mood of the album. 3.75
Because of the cultural zeitgeist around this album I have of course avoided listening to it until now. And now I'm absolutely loving hearing how this album so clearly influenced the sounds that I listen to today, from the Oh Sees and the Melvins, who were mavericks of their time and belong on this list (plot twist: they are not on this list), to LCD Soundsystem (who seem to have basically copied their style from this album??). This album inspired so much of the stoner metal stuff I love. And of course all of the 90s post-punk that I dgaf about, but I see the culture
Love
I feel foolish for not knowing how Joy Division-coded Interpol is until listening to this I have to be in a verrryyyy specific kind of mood for this but I do really enjoy it (“Disorder”!!)
Pretty good. Really vibbed with some songs more than other
Höjdare!
3.5.
I love this album and band and think that for context its important to watch this movie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421082/ and then watch this movie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274309/ The order is important, the first movie is awesome, but also obviously quite depressing. The second movie is a blast! Fucking loved it and also went to my first New Order Concert this weekend!
Why haven’t I spent more of my life listening to Joy Division?! This was great
Currently 4/5 but may increase with more listening. I didn’t have time to listen to the whole album properly so I’ll definitely be listening again. Love the goth vibes and can completely see why the post-punk nature of this album was influential for so many artists.
Guitar was nice :)
I like how I played the album multiple times through without being able to discern the beginning, and each time new bits of guitar would jump out at me or melodies would become familiar. felt very stylishly dreary
Post punk goodness.
Заунывно, но по большей части ничего, не понял зачем футболки
Great stuff by Mancunians!
La voix d’Ian Curtis est si singulière qu’on s’y arrête naturellement: le poids de l’angoisse s’y ressent parfaitement. Les partitions de basse participent aussi à la lourdeur, à la viscosité des pièces. On se sent presque isolé dans une chambre d'échos. Vraiment un groupe à part.
Ian Curtis still lives
Great album.
I will give it 4 stars, because although I don't think it is great, it is probably the best post-punk album I will ever listen to. So that counts for something. Plus "Disorder" is a bop that was on Skate 3!
Fav song: Disorder Pretty haunting album. So insane to think it came out before the 80's. I went into it thinking it would be kinda overrated but I think it deserves the praise honestly. I don't really like the sound of the production for the most part, and some of the songs feel like they kinda get a bit lost and don't go anywhere, but the stand outs are really great. Knowing what Ian Curtis did really recontextualises the whole thing too, and I think it's impossible to remove the relation between the artist and the music in this sense, creating an almost emotionally disturbing listen. Pretty good.
Bought this one recently. Somewhat depressing but I like it.
Although it could be more consistent, the atmosphere this album creates is immense and it was massively influential on gothic rock and post-punk to follow.
This is a great gloomy post-punk album & pivotal for the genre
I Remember Nothing of this album. Maybe you’ll have some Insight into this Disorder.
Wonderfully dark. So much influence.
Its Joy Division. Great sound, unique track flow throughout the album. Will definitely listen to again.
First time listening to the whole album. Some really great songs on there
In January i was listening to this album while walking through the rain in London. I like this album a lot. Wish they did some more Love will tear us apart songs in their career. Love the Cover, it looks even better on Vinyl. (4.5/5.0)
★★★★¼
Easy 4, if not real close to a 5. No notes, unknown Pleasures is a treat.
Disorder er virkelig en fed åbner! Og albummet er klart blevet bedre af at få flere flytninger end normalt, plus tiden hen over en weekend. Jeg vil forsøge at vende tilbage igen en dag, og se om lidt afstand har rykket noget.
The vocalist of joy division has a pretty interesting voice which I like. Disorder was my favourite song on the album. I think I thought that the songs on the album sounded a little bit similar but I think it's fine in this case since all the songs sounded good. Overall a really good album
3.5
OOOSH! A banger. Love this one and used to spin it all the time when I was a teenager.
Understandable classic
[this is good]
Cold and almost heartless, but still offers plenty of variety and passion.
low 4
Melancholy? A bit! Tortured? Maybe! Brilliant? Undoubtedly!
Solid album. A good listen with some good tracks. Sounds like the papa to some of the albums I really enjoy now. On the 4 side of a 3.5.
Really liked this. Didn’t like Closer. Seems like a bridge from punk to bands like The Cure and The Smiths.
An old favorite I hadn’t listened to in a long time. Properly brooding.
I was excited when I saw this album was my chosen album for today. I have been wanting to listen to this album for a while. As soon as the drums kicked in on "Disorder", I was immediately reminded of the familiar sound of The Cure. It was also reminiscent of Interpol and Bauhaus. It transports you into this dark and moody atmosphere. As soon as I heard "Candidate" I knew it was my favorite. The melody and vocals are amazing. I played it five more times, it is going onto my playlist for sure. I'm putting this at a 4, Im sure as I listen to it repetitively it will go up in ranking.
Me gustó bastante. Conocí un bajista espectacular y las canciones dan para un análisis más profundo que el que hice en mí primera escucha de este álbum.
Every time I listen to this album, it still surprises me how innovative this was for such young guys who had no idea what they were doing.
Haunting - sublime - joy and pleasure should be known by everyone
It’s like if Talking Heads only wrote very sad music and his suit were too small
The best worst recorded album ever
Sehr markantes Debüt Album aus 1979. Der instrumentale Wave Sound, mit gelungenen elektronischen Passagen überzeugt. Die Songs sind aufeinander abgestimmt und weisen mit „Shadowplay“ ein Highlight aus und mit „Day of The Hidden Lord“ eine hidden Star. Gerne Wiederhören.
This was great, not stuff I'd usually listen to but very meaningful. And iconic. Just a shame the guy died before he learned how to produce music properly, as this album is almost tragically unlistenable.
я не ожидала что альбом будет таким мрачным,к концу челленджа я наверно реально впаду в депрессию но я не против потому что музыка красивая уникальный экспириенс сразу после этого слушать new order, например substance (омг отсылко на субстанцию?!)
классный альбом, я прям почувствовал себя мамкиным инцелом, но не могу сказать что полностью зацепило, даю балл за легендарность
Mörkt, industriellt, brittiskt och tunga basgångar - what’s not to like?
Incredibly influential. The oppressive and claustrophobic atmosphere is palpable. Ian Curtis' not-always-quite-in-tune vocal delivery has been emulated countless times. The guitars were probably the first music critics described as "angular" (whatever that means). Truly iconic. Key tracks: Disorder Day of the Lords New Dawn Fades She's Lost Control Shadowplay
Never listened to Joy Division before and enjoyed this album quite a bit! Gloomy!
Saved Prior: Disorder, She's Lost Control Off Rip: Day of the Lords, Candidate, Insight Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Turns out I'm Closer depressed and not Unknown Pleasures depressed. She's Lost Control speaks to me though #theneedlewasmoved
pulsar waves!!!!
Very cool, like sabbath's debut you can see the influences but at the same time they are creating something new. Voice, band, and production are all real cohesive in creating music that sounds liek the cover looks.
Ian Curtis's love of Bowie, Iggy, Velvet Underground, spliced with his own sardonic view of the world, the band's association with British punk bands of the day, and a mad hatter for a producer, made for some doomladen, unhinged, and truly original music. The gothic-office clerk smudge they left on Manchester, earnt them many famous fans and a dedicated army of sulking indie kids. The album sounds bleak and industrial, which of course was the whole point. I love it all, the high notes of Peter Hook's bass playing, accompanied by Ian Curtis’s crooning, drums with bags of echo and other percussive tricks, raw and at times primitive guitar riffs. My favourite example of their moodiness and distinct sound, is She's Lost Control. The lyrics are superb, I'm sure it's half about a girl Ian Curtis saw having a fit, but then it's expanded out into talking about a woman grabbing on to people in the street. It's great. Grace Jones did a pretty cool cover of it. Shadowplay is another highlight. If a few of the songs were replaced with say, Transmission, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Dead Souls and Digital, it'd get 5 stars from me. As it stands, it's a 4, as it's not quite all killer, no filler. If nothing else, Unknown Pleasures can now often be seen adorning the chests of women in the UK who like to wear iconic album covers on t-shirts in the hope they will attract a more sensitive and artistic class of men. But be careful ladies, one too many “can you put the bins out?”, and we all know how Ian reacted. Pff, men!
My god this has aged well. Could sit right up there with any alternative rock album today.
Reminds me of PF, would get on vinyl, good atmosphere
It’s a brilliant, atmospheric album. Obviously iconic and for a good few years I found it dull and wondered what the fuss was all about bit in recent years I’ve spent a lot of time with this album and it really resonates now
thrilling and addictive darkness. perhaps not as refined as Closer, it is still an appreciated album to get
iconic genius
I’ve always considered this album a tad overrated and more about the Cover Art than the actual music at this point in culture . However this is an album you gotta listen to on headphones and let the rhythm section take you places, hear the simple yet effective guitar and really take in Ian Curtis’s Vocals and Lyrics. Besides opening track “Disorder” (the most fast punk rocker) the album immediately descends into Darker territory musically. This is a really good album and deserves a few listens. Obviously being down and out helps 4/5 The only thing to be said is the follow up “Closer” is even Better and will be getting a 5/5 (MASTERPIECE) In some ways it’s sad what happened with Ian Curtis, as we got no more Joy Division albums. On the flip side the lyrics were so depressing and hopeless that there was no where for them to go. Until the went on and became New Order
i wish it was more headbanging
Okiedokie
Pensavo peggio, ma gli manca l'ultima scintilla per le 5 stelle.
I enjoy this now more than i used to. Still not top of my list though
Spooky
9.5/10
Good beat. Reminds me a little of New Order
This is another classic album. It's not for everyone, but there are some tracks here that are staples for the band.
Starts strong, gets boring.
4.1 4x while cleaning garage and start of work
++: She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Interzone +: Disorder, Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, Wilderness +-: Candidate, Insight, I Remember Nothing 6,9/10
This Joy Division record connected with me more than the last one I got on this list ('Closer' from 1980) - something about the seemingly haunting/desolate sound just struck me. Ian's vox were giving me Interpol vibes which I rather enjoyed. Also, that last track opening with WEEEEEEEEE will never not be funny (look up 'Ian Curtis rides a rollercoaster' on YT)
80% Best: Disorder; New Dawn Fades; Shadowplay; Interzone Must-Hear? I think this record is solid, but not much more than that. So I would say no.
- Das erste von gerade einmal zwei Alben, die Joy Division jemals herausgebracht haben, bevor Ian Curtis sich das Leben nahm und der Rest der Truppe New Order gründete - Es ist auch das Bessere der beiden Alben und definitiv eines der großen Alben allerzeiten. Und das, obwohl der besten Joy Division Song nicht auf dem Album ist. - Ich finde das Album hat einen sehr markanten und eigenen Charakter. Am besten könnte ich es beschreiben, als hätten The Doors ein Post-Punk/Dark-Wave Album rausgebracht. - Es ist dieser einzigartige düstere Sound, diese bizarr hallige bariton Stimme von Holmes, die minimalistischen, sehr vom Bass abhängigen Arrangements - Tolles Artwork - Höre ich immer wieder gerne rein Rating: 4,25/5
joy division is sick. i love this one. 8/10
Great album. Ian Curtis was amazing. Love Peter Hook’s playing.
Listening to this list has helped me appreciate the post punk movement, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I love it.
This has to be punk at it’s absolute gloomiest. The reverb of the guitars, the depressed nature of the lyrics, the agony of it all, beautifully expressed by Ian Curtis. Imagine a very depressed Misfits. That’s this album. I won’t consider this a masterpiece. The gloom can get a little too off-putting at times. And it is an acquired taste for punk, lacking the high-energy in favor of dredge. But I really do jive with this darkness. It feels ahead of its time, influencing the likes of industrial and gothic rock, which I’m admittly a sucker for. It takes a bit of effort for any form of media to disturb me. This is one of the few that managed to do so. Favorite track: She’s Lost Control Other hits: New Dawn Fades, Insight, Disorder, Shadowplay, Wilderness
Never listened to this album before. I like a lot of this. It certainly reminds me of a certain type of 80s music that seems to be forgotten compared to the pop sensibilities that most people associate with the 80s. This album coming in 1979 was influential in so much of the music of the following decade. Considering how "early" the album is, it sounds more polished and more consistent than I might expect. I'm going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars; but ultimately the great "sound" of the album and enough songs climbing out of the doldrums push me to give it 4 stars.
Bass was sexually arousing. Vocals were nice, but slightly lacking at time (not very much but still noticeable). In general, very nice.
Joy Division proving joy is optional.
I would like to like this album more. Then I could justify wearing the t shirt or owning the record, with some of the coolest artwork ever. But I just think it’s good, not great.
A somewhat enjoyable, if somewhat generic listen
Certainly one of the best post punk albums, a genre I'm not keen on, but they make it work. Their is something of The Doors about this that I can't quite place why...4*
Be still my heart It's just as I remember and I love it
peak
Love New Order but never gave Joy Division a big listen before. Liking that it's more rock-adjacent. Wow, they only did 2 albums? Ian Curtis died at only 23??? I like the bass playing in a lot of this.
I see where the moodiness of our generation comes from
I heard New Order before I heard Joy Division. I preferred New Order and had a tough time understanding the appeal of Joy Division until very recently. It took a video from Henry Rollins on his vinyl collection talking about Unknown Pleasures for me to give it another chance. I guess I've changed in musical tastes because I'm starting to get it now. The album was competing with Off The Wall, The Wall, London Calliing, and Breakfast in America. Easy for me to draw the line from this album to what would become alt.
7.5/10! This album was solid except for the lead vocals. For me, the weak off key singing just doesn't really hit. Maybe it was his voice. But the music itself wasn’t bad, it’s great for background listening but I found it difficult to actively listen to the album
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.
Liked this album when released and bought it. Loved the atmospheric depressive nature and general feeling of despair in the music. I do still occasionally listen when I’m in the mood and derive great enjoyment when doing so. I sometimes like to wallow in my own misery and this is a great record to accompany that mood. A really great record which I consider to be a return to serious sounding music after the three chord punk period. Never saw them live but in my memory I can recollect Ian Curtis’s trademark dancing on She’s Lost Control Again or was it Shadowplay? Must look on YouTube to remind myself. It’s a sight to behold. My one gripe with Joy Division is their single Love Will Tear Us apart Again, the tune of which is used by opposing supporters to take the piss out of Leeds United (something about falling apart again) As that song does not appear on this or any other Joy Division it this is the one and only time I can vent my anger at that and wished that they had somehow put another syllable into the title to prevent its use in such a juvenile way especially when it is such a great song. 4/5 29/9/24
Good working music
Fun listen
immer noch aktuell obwohl das Album schon so alt ist - zeitloser Rock - genial
Very grandiose and experimental sounding. I can see why people put this album near or at the top of their lists for best album of all time. I can hear some punk influences and how later bands and artists pick up and expanded on the influences it provides. I can see myself putting a song or two in my repeat rotation. 8/10
Iconic cover art. Music does the job well. I’m sent into a darker place at 10AM on a Thursday, wondering about the purpose of my existence and what mistakes, regrets, and hesitations led us all into this numbed normalcy, a purgatory plagued by corporate greed. Clearly I cannot listen to this on the daily. I never could fully get into Joy Division but I think this album has some enchanting lyricism and clever beats. I enjoyed it!
Much more interesting than some would lead you to suggest. Better than most of its imitators. 4/5
nem éppen a songs of my people ( :D ) , és továbbra se fogom hallgatni csak úgy magamtól, de kifogástalan zene ez attól még, és egy percet nem unatkoztam közben.
Finally got around to listening to this record. It's known as one of the quintessential albums of the genre and likely the beginning of the new wave sound. I thought it was interesting and I can appreciate the production, but for the most part I wasn't too into the music. I can see how this was such a revolutionary record though.
augljóslega mjög gott, full eintóna. 4,5.
One of the vibiest albums ever. Brings me back to college
Good album. With how much post-punk I've started to enjoy the last several years, I feel like I haven't spent nearly enough time with Joy Division. Closer is a decent album too, but I think I like this one a bit more.
Gloomy, but more interesting than The Who
Chad.
After reading about Ian Curtis’s tragic life and death, it’s hard to listen to this album without hearing it as something between a half-hearted cry for help and a long-form suicide note of sorts. Clearly the lyrics of someone tortured by powerful demons. But that’s the way it goes sometimes - art and depression going hand in hand, the one influencing the other for better and for worse. But there’s a lot to love here. And the sad story behind the band’s frontman adds depth and significance to the album. I read a description of Joy Division on their Spotify bio that I think sums it up perfectly, “a quiet storm of musical restraint and emotive power.” 4/5 Highlights: Disorder Day of the Lords Shadowplay Interzone
4 - cool sound but not my thing Cool album art - actually how nasa discovered neutron stars I think
Classic sound. Jamie XX owes a lot to Ian Curtis
A haunting piece of art. 3.5/5
Can't believe I've never heard this before. Liked the production, isolated and distant.
doomy and decent
Dark and punky and cool. Maybe I'm just a hipster at heart.
There's so much to be said about this album. It is perhaps the most important album in the post punk and goth scenes. The influence runs incredibly deep. It was the only Joy Division album released during Ian Curtis's short lifetime, though he wouldn't see their later success. Interestingly, 'Unknown Pleasures' has none of the songs that Joy Division would become famous for. For those, you'll want to listen to the excellent singles collection, 'Substance', which is arguably a better introduction to the band. But 'Unknown Pleasures' also represents the purest document of Joy Division, the bleak soundscapes and depression-fueled lyrics by Curtis. The band members famously attended a small Sex Pistols concert in Manchester before they formed and the punk sound was strongly felt in their early pre-album releases and live shows. But also present here is the influence of Bowie's Berlin Era albums. It would take Martin Hannett and his unusual (particularly for punk bands) production techniques to really create the album's sound. Equally, this is Hannett's most famous work, as he had completely freedom to record whatever sounds he felt could compliment the songs. In truth, the band and Hannett needed one another, and both needed Factory Records to keep it altogether. The label's anarchist-tinged philosophy protected them all from the kind of interference that a major label might have insisted upon. It all came together to create the perfect storm for a few short years. Later, the world lost Curtis and the newly formed New Order would embrace Italian dance music to become one of the biggest bands of the 1980s. Many others would take Joy Division's style and run with it. But 'Unknown Pleasures' remains a unique document in music history.
Overall an album about depression and epilepsy and how alienated one feels when experiencing this reality. New Dawn Fades sounds amazing, instant favorite She's lost control is very sad Shadowplay is another great one Wilderness is also great. The album certainly picked up with NDF. Interzone is also great. Ian's voice was certainly something to behold Great closer! 7/10
Прикольный альбом, необычное звучание, чуть меланхоличный для лета
Highly enjoyed
Pretty kewl
So weird, so dark. Love it.
It could be a five I think it just needs a few more listens
this album epitomises the emergence of post-punk, made unique with its instantly recognisable basslines of peter hook and the melancholic baritone vocals of ian curtis. curtis’s lyrics are one of the biggest contributing factors to my rating of the album, and are profound and poetic, and allow the listener to glimpse into his psyche. some of my favourite tracks included disorder, new dawn fades, interzone and shadowplay, for their ingenious riffs, bass lines and lyrics. for me, there were some slower areas, such as day of the lords, which pushed this album down from a 5. the influence and impact of this album must also be considered, and the fact that it is so well renowned corroborates my rating. even today, 45 years after its release, the album is still influential, notably i thought in the band fontaines dc, who have magpied those strong basslines and bleak lyricism.
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background So sparse. Album as a whole really steps it up a notch starting with New Dawn Fades (the clear favorite of mine on here).
Pity that the two albums was all we got from them. Great band and I love how dark this is.
Has a brooding but cool vibe
This one sets a mood and sticks with it throughout. Very good stuff. Favorites were Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, She’s Lost Control, and Shadowplay.
Easy 4 stars Pros: Outstanding musicianship throughout the entire album, which is used to come up with both some killer guitar lines and some of the most unsettling atmospheres you’ll here in music, which is further accentuated by some outstanding production, the album gets much more intense and enjoyable around the mid portion of it, Ian Curtis’ voice perfectly fits the vibe they are going for Cons: I tend to dislike albums that are this nihilistic, and while it doesn’t bug me quite as much here as elsewhere, it’s still a bit weird in spots, and I don’t think their lyricism is anywhere near the level of their musical ability Fav Track: New Dawn Fades
4.5/5
I’d like to say thanks to this generator for putting this album so soon after The Adverts album. This came out a year after Crossing the Red Sea and it’s infinitely better. More creative and interesting despite both albums being from the same genre “umbrella” from the same time period. You can really tell that Robert Dimery is British based on how many British rock bands show up on this list. I haven’t been doing this generator for long and Brit rock has been the most present by far out of everything. I’d say a good half of these aforementioned British rock albums shouldn’t be on the list too. Regardless, this album was pretty good. I usually hate music like this too- a white guy who isn’t even good at singing, moaning into a microphone out of tune, singing really angsty lyrics despite being fully at the top of the societal food chain. I honestly can’t fully pinpoint why I did actually like this one though. My hunch is that I liked the instrumentalists. The sound was very interesting and well put together.
Album sounds like the start of something great!
Понравилось с первого аккорда.
Better hits than "Closer", but less consistent. A post-punk classic regardless of the fact that some songs on here just straight up aren't very good, because tracks like "Disorder" or "New Dawn Fades" can balance out even 30 minutes of non-stop fart sound effects. "Directionless, so plain to see. A loaded gun won't set you free". Jesus fucking Christ man.
love most songs on the album, but some songs i found harder to get into. found a few new songs on the album that i like, perfer the ones i already know and love and there's nothing wrong with that i guess :) reminds me of depche mode a bit, so id have to be in the correct mindset or vibe to listen really, but still love and can vibe with
bangers
I don’t know if I like it because I’m supposed to or if I really just like it.
Rockier than one remembers and less synthy, too. Still pretty droney and insistently, grindingly dark, which makes it hard to love, save for specific moods and contexts (e.g., depressive, fugue states). But its depth and power is undeniable. Its influence, too, of course. What a voice Curtis had and how effectively he used it.
Way better than i remember it being
That was great. Left us too soon.
it feels like driving down a serene, foggy road at midnight on a motorcycle, cool aesthetic but nothing that stands out too much
Let’s dance to joy division! Great album, great band
This is one of those albums that I feel need to be listened to several times to get everything to click. I was not a fan of this album on first listen, but something stuck around with me that made me want to come back and keep listening. And I'm very glad I did, because there is an emotional intensity that really came through once I wrapped my head around the stylistic choices this album makes. Highly entertaining, if a little uneven overall
Crazy how modern this still sounds
1. Disorder 9/10 2. Day of the Lords 7/10 3. Candidate 7/10 4. Insight 8/10 5. New Dawn Fades 7/10 6. She Lost Control 10/10 7. Shadowplay 10/10 8. Wilderness 8/10 9. Interzone 8/10 10. I Remember Nothing 9/10 Overall Rating: 83/100
7/10
A haunting slice of post-punk that people only know for the shirt, which is a damn shame.
Pretty darn good.
Good goth. New order better doe
This probably requires multiple listens to truly appreciate it.
Quiet and nice, but also melodic
Have never listened to Joy Division before this list but was very aware of them and that iconic album cover. Enjoyed listening to this album quite a bit but for some reason once I stopped I was struggling to recall things that jumped out at me, so had to listen to the whole thing about 3-4 times to really try get it to stick. The highlights for me are "Shadowplay", "Disorder", "New Dawn Fades" and "Interzone". Pretty cool album.
Disorder 4 Day of the Lords 4.3 Candidate 3.4 Insight 3.2 New Dawn Fades 4.4 She's Lost Control 4 Shadowplay 4.5 Wilderness 3.7 Interzone 3.7 I Remember Nothing 4 Score: 3.92
I really liked this album. Moody, deep, and a general depth of uneasiness. I liked quite a few songs on the album, and I can see why it’s iconic.
Excellent. Best tracks She’s Lost Control and Shadowplay 4/5
Dark
ye
I've never been as big of a fan of this album as I am "supposed" to be, but this listen felt a little different. I enjoyed this more than I remember, and I thank them for their part in influencing probably every band that came after them that I like.
I didn't really enjoy this album the first time I listened to it, but having listened to it twice more now, I really enjoy the atmosphere of this album, which definitely improves the overall repetitive style. Gets better and better every listen.
I liked the weird atmospheric vibe that most of this album had while still being rock. I can't really pinpoint much of what I liked or didn't like about this album, but it was pretty enjoyable.
nothing i adored but nothing I didn’t like either
satmne nogle jams på den her
This transported me back to being 13 and depressed in my bedroom BUT unreal album, I will always luv joy division New dawn fades is SO GOOD She’s lost control is in my top songs ever The bass in shadow play should be in a museum or something
Classic minimalistic post punk.
Bass slabs yes, Ian Curtis maybe.
Good album that I didn't know at all. Parts of it reminded of The Doors.
Even though it was depressive, it was better than I expected. I liked the moody rock music that occasionally picks up. Stand-out: New Dawn Fades
ian curtis forever <3
A certain poignancy is added due to Ian Curtis' untimely demise which takes it to a 4
Pretty good album. I know the band and now re-listen to the album reminds me some first old Italian rock band named Litfiba that I grew up to.... that's where they got inspired from. Anyway 3.5/5
I liked the first song best I think but all of em were pretty good, overall very solid imo 8.5/10
I just did not enjoy this album as much as their follow-up Closer. It's cutting edge and all - listen to the Replacements or Sonic Youth or REM or the Jesus and Mary Chain and you hear Joy Division in what they do. But disappointingly part of it's cutting edge is their producer Martin Hannett's tricks in the editing room. And then there's Ian Curtis' vocals - they feel so front and center and they're so one-dimensional and depressing. Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris can play - I particularly enjoyed Disorder, New Dawn Fades, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Interzone. I want to rate this lower than Closer and so a 3 is what it should get even though it's closer to 3.5. But when Curtis isn't heard, it's just so commendable. It's vintage, it was one of a kind, it's iconic. They get a bump.
Pretty decent
Very good, but reckon it needed a Love Will Tear Us Apart or equivalent to hit 5 stars. Simpsons: Yes
Songs are great, production is awful. Favorite song: new dawn fades
I think i like it
I own this album. Hell, I own a couch pillow based on the design of the iconic album cover. I really enjoy this album and Joy Division as a band. The lyrics are intense, the music was completely innovative for its time and still sounds great today. They're a seminal band in post-punk and goth history. And I slightly prefer this album over Closer, which I know is a hot take. As a songwriter, Ian Curtis was amazing. As a person, his story was incredibly tragic — a super young man slowly destroyed by depression largely brought on by struggling to live with the debilitating effects of epilepsy. His pain is everywhere in the lyrics. However — and I know this is blasphemous — as a singer and performer (granted I never saw them live and haven't watched many performances, so going by albums only), Ian's voice kind of drags the band down a bit for me. I want to like him. I really do. And his voice has grown on me a bit over time. But Ian Curtis will forever sound to me like a bored history teacher reciting off a page in the majority of JD songs. It gets a bit better on Closer, but on this album, he just sounds really flat most of the time (and verging on off key a lot). There are exceptions — Disorder being one — where you can hear the emotion in his voice; but they are exceptions. And yet, for some reason, so many post-punk and goth vocalists seem to emulate his voice, which just drives me nuts. I feel like Ian Curtis has been deified in much the same way as Kurt Cobain was after his suicide. And for everything they both did for their respective genres, I have to wonder if they'd be seen in the same light if they hadn't both died so young and so tragically. Given that the surviving members of JD went on to form New Order, we do get some sense of what impact Ian had on the sound of the band. I really enjoy New Order, and I find a lot of their electronic/synth stuff more enjoyable for a *casual* listen than a lot of Joy Division songs. And while Bernard Sumner isn't winning any singing awards, I much prefer his voice to Ian's most of the time. But it's definitely true that Ian's lyrics elevated the group and that New Order has had much less of an impact on music (though that's not to say they're not also hugely influential). I just really, really wish Ian had a better voice. That's what keeps this from being a 5 for me. 4/5
Mf classic
Not joyous, but still fantastic.
Possibly an unpopular opinion but I definitely prefer New Order to Joy Division. That is not to say that I think it’s better off after the death of Ian Curtis, if anything I think the rest of the band continued in his footsteps and their sound evolved naturally into a new era. It’s insane that he was only 23 when he passed. His voice is tremendous on this album, like a punkier Jim Morrison. I think that if he had continued living, the band probably would’ve continued to trend more in the direction of New Order’s style, but possibly with darker overtones to complement Curtis’ voice. More than the songwriting though, the production on Unknown Pleasures is incredible. There’s an interesting technique like Phil Spector’s wall-of-sound which is unlike anything from the late 70s/early 80s, and predates the similar shoegaze sound by 10 years. While I think that many of Joy Division’s best songs were released as non-album singles, Unknown Pleasures contains a lot more interesting material than Closer. “Disorder” and “She’s Lost Control” in particular are my favorites and hint at what’s to come from New Order.
It's a really solid album - especially the back half - but I genuinely don't get why it's such a cultural touchstone.
Can’t believe I’d never heard this until about five years ago
This album was way ahead of its time, I loved all of the background sfx and ambience, they added a great vibe throughout. The album is very thematic as a whole, it would be great to see the whole thing live. It sounds like a stage performance rather than a studio production in the best way, it's very complete and My one critique is that, for me, none of the songs were terribly memorable, rather just certain parts. That might actually be a compliment to the whole album but I thought it was juuuust a tiny bit boring.
Not my usual cup of tea, but a cup I enjoyed nonetheless. Seems like an awesome album to put on while hanging with a small/medium group a friends on a Saturday afternoon.
Bleachers and Arctic Monkeys were def inspired by these guys. I enjoyed the listen. Best album cover so far. 4/5
I don’t think I ever listened to this album all the way through before, but it feels so cohesive. All of the songs sound like they live in the same world. I really like that. Love the bass part on wilderness. 4.5
I can't believe they used that Hot Topic t-shirt graphic on their album cover!
Great album Two criticisms Bass plays alot of out of tune notes that don't sound good You need to be in the right mood for it
Catchy/jammy drums. Cool guy caricature cool vocals. Quirky bass lines. Noisy synths. My jam.
Dark and atmospheric, amazing soundscapes with some great bass especially. While there are some great lyrics that paint a bleak picture that works so well, Ian Curtis is very hit or miss as a vocalist. A super impressive album that is only just held back by being off pitch. After 10 years or so, I finally like this thing.
Honestly a tough listen at times but in the best way. They managed to create such a dark, depressing, moody atmosphere and it is incredible. I actually feel haunted after listening to it and I can't tell if that's good or bad. Also, probs one of the best covers of all time. Fav songs: - Disorder - Insight - New Dawn Fades - Shadowplay
Really enjoyed it
I for one do not find the production an achievement, but who am I to differ to everyone else. I totally like the album tho.
Personally, I think this is possibly the best that the post-punk genre has to offer. I don’t want to make it sound like it isn’t offering much, this is really a fantastic album. The production is certainly incredibly pleasing. The instrumentation is on par and the writing is original and unique. I don’t enjoy the vocals as much as some people probably do. Also, the album will get repetitive before it’s over. However, I enjoy it whenever I listen. That opening is just killer. 4/5
Good sound overall, I like his voice. This is a 4+ for me. The vibe goes into a lot of interesting places. My personal enjoyment of this was a 5.
Wow! Excellent.
Excellent early wave, goth album
Second time this month that I got a perfect album for me, but the teenager me. Joy division is a pearl for the sad young boy with no problems at all. Nowadays, it is good song.
Amazing album. I love it, although it’s probably not my favourite post punk record.
It's hard to overstate the importance of this record, its influence on subsequent artists, and Ian Curtis as cultural totem. Heavily indebted to obvious (The Idiot, Lust for Life) and less obvious (The VU), it makes these materials into its own thing. Inspired by, but never derivative of, Joy Division are because they are.
The classic Heliski album cover
That was a fun album!
Love the vibe!
Favourite song - New Dawn fades
This was a great listen that still sounds unique today. The vocal style however did grow tiresome as the album wore on, but still really enjoyed and glad I've heard it. Strong 3.5/5
Classic for a reason and exactly the kind of album I do this for - a titan that I've mostly overlooked. It's great but for me can't overcome that super reverby vocal treatment that is so distancing for me. Three and a half. Fave track: Candidate
Awesome album. Captures a tone that’s hard to replicate and it feels like this ushered in a new world of music entirely. Has anyone ever put the cover art on a t-shirt before? Might give it a go Four and a half. Fave track: I Remember Nothing
As canonical this album is for any contemporary record collector, in all, it kind of disappointed me. It's not bad, but it didn't knock my socks off, either. I think "Closer" is a better Joy Division album.
Blind album and artist. O ly know them by name and the albums cover. This album definitely grew on me upon listening to it for the first time. No clue how or why but I love it.
Joy Division makes me feel old. I never felt old, like *old* old, until I listened to Joy Division, it was harder music to listen to compared I was listening to before, thematically definitely, it was grown up music... I finally saw what NME, Q, and Melody Maker gushed so profusely about. Finally I was a man. But then I didn't listen to Joy Division for a long time, and then decades later had a chance to see Peter Hook perform the Joy Division albums and being the kind of person I am, I went to experience it. It was an interminable 3 hours standing in a small club venue, my back and legs were killing me, it was way past my bedtime, and those feelings of not being the young man I used to be soured the whole night. Joy Division makes me feel old...
It's cool! It's iconic. Such a great album cover too! Not sure if it's a 5/5 though! But man for 1979... gotta give it a 4. It’s just so important.
Joy division känner man ju igen. Bra musik för långa carvingsvängar i röda backen. 4 / 5
Disorder är en banger Älskar denna genren. Snyggt omslag Han sjunger väldigt speciellt men lite coolt ändå. Vill dansa i något övergivet varuhus
Dark, depressing, hypnotic. Great post punk album. Glad to see Joy Division on this list.
This was a huge album for me as a teen, and directly led to several friendships when I went to University and bonded with people over how much we all loved Joy Division, so there’s obviously a lot of good memories and nostalgia wrapped in an album which is actually quite bleak and distressing. It doesn’t have quite the impact on me that it had then, but the sheer ferocity of the music and the sense of Ian Curtis being on the edge of something horrible is hard to deny.
Good songwriting, some solid basslines, overall a great listen. Set the level for post punk
Interesting to finally listen to albums that have such big influences on bands that I listen to.
Revolutionary and way ahead of its time. A bit droning over the entire album but it’s the deal.
It’s not bad music, but I never really got into Joy Division for some reason.
My first thoughts after being served another Joy Division album was "oh great, another depressing mess", but that's not what I got surprisingly! This album, unlike the first album of theirs that I reviewed, Closer, had a pulse. It felt more alive. While still clinging to that gothic sound that they were known for, this music had a discernable direction. My biggest complaint about Closer was that it was so dark and depressing, and vocal delivery was bored and unenthusiastic. I think a large part of that was because most of the recording was done while Ian Curtis was suicidal, and the album was left unpolished after he killed himself. With this album, they were able to polish it, and really drive home their musical talents. This album reminds me of Morrissey's better stuff, or Bauhaus. Favourite songs: Interzone, Disorder, Shadowplay, New Dawn Fades, Wilderness Least favourite songs: Candidate, I Remember Nothing 4/5
great album from an iconic band...it sets you on a trip to a place that is dark but in some way you came better after going trough that place. cant say the same for Ian Curtis.
Just for the album cover I should give this a 5. It’s very innovative considering the year and I’m sure these sort of arrangements have been a great influence for a great deal of music nowadays. Curious about what would they have done if they would continue with Curtis. But New Order is pretty outstanding in their own.
1970’s Britain perfectly incapsulated in sound.
Obviously a classic, definitely need a couple more listens tho. RIP Ian
Definitely an acquired taste, and I have to be in the mood for this album but I do love it. For me a lot of the credit goes to Hooky's bass lines. It would be stronger were Transmission included, but I can only dream.
Joy Division is the type of band whose music did not make as big of an impact as the music they influenced. Bands are still copying Ian Curtis's goth baritone and the overall post-punk sound of the band. I personally prefer New Order to Joy Division, but that's just me. This is a good album and you can feel the influence all over the record. I still find it odd "Love Will Tear Us Apart" isn't on this album, as that song is probably their most notable "hit" for those who aren't into a deep dive of Joy Division. This album deserves a place in this book, as a lot of the post-punk and rock over the next 45 years find their start here.
Иконик обложка. Супер-влиятельный, популярный альбом, который все еще звучит впечатляюще, но на мой взгляд меркнет перед целой пачкой пост-панк/готик-рок альбомов, старых и новых. Лучшая песня - New Dawn Fades.
Peak depression music
IVE GOT THE SPIRIT , BUT LOSE THE FEELING... FEELING, FEELING, FEELING, FEELING, FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELING
A very atmospheric, powerful and dark album with amazing lead vocals from Ian Curtis. A classic album that I will never tire of listening to, always being made aware of slight nuances and moments of brilliance throughout. The opening track Disorder is my favourite on the album.
As melhores músicas são as mais famosas e as finais com guitarra.
This has a great, bleak atmosphere. I think I prefer Closer slightly though. Still really good.
Moody
Enjoyed the punk vibe
Here it is, the big Joy Division album that people love. I think I've heard it before, but don't remember much. And this is our second from Joy Division, but today I'm really digging it. Morose, emo alt-rock with some strong melodies. The opener is such a fantastic song, easily my favorite. I like that this whole album has a sort of spooky quality to the production. Not entirely sure what it is, but it seems like the bass is pretty clear in the mix amid guitar and drums that are slightly washed out, that plus the overall reverb gives this a unique sound. I can't say I quite find it to be as monumental as many assert, but it's a great album to be sure. I could see this one growing on me more with further listens. Favorite tracks: Disorder, Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay, Interzone. Album art: Of course I love this one, it's undeniably iconic. I described this previously as a bat signal for hipsters, and that holds up. It's a cover that I honestly think I see more on shirts than I do in relation to the actual music, and that's saying something. Very simple, very strong. The mountain pattern is dope. 4/5
Unanswered question of whether this group would have evolved into New Order without Ian Curtis' death?
Good album, I haven’t listened to it in a while but I forgot displacement inspired give yourself a try by the 1975
Having a little more energy than Closer makes this a significantly better listening experience in my opinion. Almost a 5.
The better Joy Division album. Love how it sounds and better writing in my opinion.
I enjoyed it! A mix between Billy Idol and Pink Floyd!
I knew instantly that Kyle must enjoy them.
Mostly claustrophobic but catchy. “Interzone” stands out for rocking. Excellent.
fitting start to the year
Ätherisch, knackig, elektronisch, vorwiegend in Moll. Ein wenig wie The Cure: Live Großes Tennis! New dawn fades
Dark and moody and probs not everyone’s cup of tea. However, still a brilliant little album.
increible
Post-punk 80s Dead Singer (Suicide) Haunting/Melancholy
I felt like I really got this album much more than Closer. Obviously classics on here I already knew and liked. It's such an atmospheric album.
Great stuff. I don't really listen to Joy Divsion much bit this is a great album, no denying it
Always think this album starts really strong with Disorder and then doesn't reach those heights again. Do love it though, and Ian Curtis's voice. She's Lost Control is a great track. And I Remember Nothing always reminds me of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-KvyKNSV7U
Dark and moody. I’d listen again
Eh.
Foundational record for sure
The original alternative rock album.
1st listen Wow alternative rock in 1979
Much better album then its successor, Closer. I like the atmosphere, being darker, more gothic. Guitar and bass melodies were original and interesting, vocalist was doing a lot of work by not doing too much. Definitely not your average post-punk album. Also, the artwork is present on at least 10% of people's arms as a tattoo. I'll give it a 4 for now, but I will be happy to revisit this record soon and maybe I will change my mind.
Disorder- 6/10 Day of the Lords- 7/10 Candidate- 7/10 Insight- 6/10 New Dawn Fades- 10/10 She's Lost Control- 6/10 Shadowplay- 8/10 Wilderness- 7/10 Interzone- 7/10 I Remember Nothing- 7/10 71/100
Listening to this album made me want to dye my hair black, put on a spiked dog collar, goth makeup, black clothes and then retreat alone to my darkened bedroom to stew in a nihilistic funk. This album pulls me in two directions. It's dark and depressing which doesn't really reflect my attitude or a demeanor that I would want to dwell on but at the same time I like the music itself (Dig the forward bass!) and the mood/atmosphere that it sets. I can't give it a 5 and it's more interesting than a 3 so it's a pretty solid 4.
Masterpiece
Good album. But my view is Closer is better.
Onheilspellend, minimalistisch, duister, industrieel, dystopisch, unheimisch, melancholiek, iconisch.
Fantastic! The energy is great.
Very raw, simple and haunting.
great rangy basslines, deep echo mixing. will listen again and try to focus on the lyrics.
One of the moat depressing listens I've ever had. Excellent stuff!
A beautiful and seminal album. The sparse industrial rhythm perfectly match the dark lyrics that evoke the industrial north. A relisten highlights the fact that the vocal and the guitar are duetting throughout.
Pre-the doors for the cure/smiths, alt-emo
A classic but not their best in my opinion - I always found it hard to get into Joy Division despite on paper influencing almost every band I like - and while this starts strong it tapers off quite quickly. But Peter Hooks bass lines - oh yeah - and that record cover - legendary.
ja hit
I've always struggled to fully embrace JD to the level I felt I should. After many tries, I feel Ive finally synced with their vibe as much as I ever will.
Got repetitive, but an interesting unique style.
8/10 odd production choices mar an otherwise excellent album (with an iconic cover) favorite song: She's Lost Control
3.9 Used to love this album a lot more a few years ago, but i've always loved new order more. other than the big ones, the songs tend to get a little samey. Fave songs: Disorder, She's lost control, candidate, shadowplay
I appreciate hearing Unknown Pleasures end-to-end to remind me that some of the most iconic artists of an era could deliver an uneven record. This album is excellent, but not without some warts and wobbly moments that tend to get erased with collections and greatest hits. Sometimes you only get some of the substance with those things and I understand why. This record is near perfect Joy Division.
I'm more of a New Order guy but this is not as grimly depressing as I remember 🥲
Hits you over the head like a jackhammer, full of early 80s paranoia and fear. Sounds like the threat of nuclear war is looming, so what's the damn point of anything. If the aim of art is to impact the emotions of the audience, this is most definitely art. Not a great deal of nuance, but that's not what they were aiming for!
YESSSSS.
3.5/5
I just listened to some New Order and Closer which I’m sure is on here so super excited to get this one. I remember not liking this one the first time so interested to see how I feel now that I really like 80s new wave and gothic sound. After listening again, I respect this one more for how it influences the music after it. Don’t think I like as much as Closer or Power Corruption and Lies. It feels like post punk as a genre just getting its footing, Also has one of the best album covers ever. Rating: 4.2
Pakkend maar niet iets waar ik nou echt blij van word of dat er echt iets word geraakt in mij
can't rate this too low for aeri purposes but also this had a vibe to it
i'm scared to rate this one low
Turn the reverb up to 11. Liked it pretty good.
One of the big things I've learned about myself over the last 470+ albums is that I didn't realize just how much I like punk but especially post-punk. While I am familiar with this album cover (does every Gen X dude own a t-shirt with it on the front?), I'd never listened to it before. I was excited to see it pop up this morning. Anyway, I definitely dig it. I'll be listening to it again.
Another one where I knew a lot of the songs but never listened to the album all the way through. Thia really delivers something
good album, but Ian Curtis' voice is a tad distracting.