Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division

Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division

3.48
Rating
28660
Votes
1
5%
2
16%
3
30%
4
27%
5
23%
Distribution

Reviews (page 8 of 14)

Meh, boring. I can appreciate the attitude and the vibes but I don't get the hype. High 2/low 3

I really wish I had enjoyed this album more, but I didn't. This album is not bad, but it's not that good either. I think this album has no particular bad songs (with the exception of "Candidate"), but still, I think this album could've done much more than what it did, because after listening to it, I felt like something was missing. I thought some songs were going to be really good but I felt like most of them didn't go anywhere. The only song that did something was "Shadowplay" Overall, I think this album is meh, I'm probably going to listen to this again but not anytime soon.

it was alright but a little too emo. i did like the drums alot though.

This album was really nice to listen to, but the vocals didn't really stand out to me that much. Instrumentation was amazing, and I really liked how the guitar sounded. But it wasn't a favorite honestly. I might recommend this to punk fans because it sounds kind of "punky" to my ears.

I kind of like this album, the lyrics are pretty dark but I like how the bass was played for the last song. I would give this album 3 stars.

Better than Closer for sure. Still had a couple of poor tracks though

A really interesting mix of post punk, indie, proto grunge, goth rock. I thought for sure that Love Will Tear Us Apart was on this album tho.

Rather samey, though I enjoyed a couple of tracks

Iconic sound, though only a few songs stand out to me.

It felt like I was missing something. I don't understand why this album is so highly rated. It's perfectly fine, but doesn't do anything above that.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee were strangers Fave track: Day of the Lords

Yeah I just don’t really get it. 3/5

No sabía que ese tipo de música era joy division, pero definitivamente los había escuchado antes. Un par de temas están buenos, pero es bastante repetitivo y por ahí se hacen cansadores, más que nada por la voz monótona del cantante. Musicalmente, es interesante. Me llevo new dawn fades. 7/10 son los puntos.

Very tantalizing, but I can't quite get into it. I do enjoy shoegaze but I think there's not quite enough for me to hook into here.

I like this but not as much as some peers of theirs. In the goth rock sphere there are just more energetic and interesting bands out there. Not that this record is devoid of anything worthwhile. There are some cool sections. One song opens woth an incredible cymbal section. But once thays over I loose a decent bit of intrest. I was certain this would be a 4 but after some time thinking on it im just not that into it. Maybe in a different day I get it better but today its just OK.

My enduring image of Joy Division is a kid from my high school who was so obsessed with them that I can't separate the two. It makes me really happy to think about Robbie because he was such a wonderful teenager. It's not my kind of music, but it does make me really happy.

Mostly meh with some Not meh sprinkled in

Parti trop tôt rip

like the artwork more than the album

I'm listening to this on a day when my daughter broke up with her boyfriend, it's foggy and overcast. I have another child home sick and I have a headache. It is perfect music to slash your wrists to. This is a pretty dark and moody album, which has left me feeling non plussed, not for me I think. I'm going to listen to the Wiggles instead.

I feel like a should enjoy this more than I do. I don't dislike it, I don't mind the dark gloomy tone just not something I think is go out of my way to listen too again. 3*

Love how this album blends and has such rich bass n vocals a cool ambient listen

DARK & BROODING: the album

Love the music. Vocalist is a little monotonous. Still worth listening to. Like a more pissed off version of The Cure.

NOT MY MOOVE

A fledgling band crossed with an unchained producer create something dark and haunting. Lots of echo as if it were recorded in an empty warehouse. Early synths and drum machine abound, joined by Peter Hook's unmistakable staccato upper-octave bass melodies and Bernard Sumner's crude rhythm guitar. Random noises creep in regularly. Ian Curtis sounds like a morose monk chanting and lamenting. Side one is mostly dirges, but it picks up steam briefly on side two with She's Lost Control and Shadowplay. All the components are here for the evolution to New Order - synths and drum machines, Stephen Morris' frantic yet robotically precise drumming, Hook's unique bass style, Sumner's naive guitar work - but it started as something more experimental. While this may sound like old news today, it was completely revolutionary back in 1979 where disco, punk, and rock were still dominating music and it influenced and inspired a slew of goth and alternative music. The singles collection Substance shows more range and is a bit more accessible - there's no Love Will Tear Us Apart here, this is more of a cohesive and unrelenting proclamation of gloom, dread, disaffection, and despair.

Didn't know about the tragic story of the singer. Nonetheless this is a band that I had heard about but never listened to. Overall decent but I think the story of the band gives it more credit than it deserves.

Vibey but ultimately just did not hit for me. Really liked the bass though

I liked it, but nothing really made it stand out from other New Wave artists.

I can’t decide if it’s a 2 or a 4 so I’m just sticking it in the middle. I think I ultimately just like the one Joy Division song that’s not on this album but didn’t hate this

skate 3

I'm known among my friends as a Joi Division hater. Which I think it's not fair, I just don't crazy love them. This record is... Fine. Is good, consistent, unique. But nothing more than that.

Very repetitive sounding music. Not bad though

Haunting, dark, brooding, and really interesting musically. Not the feel good album of the summer, but worthy of attention. Like others, I lean more toward New Order, but if you can take the gloom, you have all the elements of great music and potential on parade. Peter Hook's bass is off the chain, to boot!

Progressive and kinda cool. Bet it was super rad at the time. Not something I'd choose to listen to these days.

This didn’t really connect with me. I enjoyed Closer and gave it a weak 4 but this just didn’t feel as good. Not sure if I just wasn’t in the mood today or what it was. “Disorder” is a great track. Also I enjoyed “She’s lost control”, the rest gets a meh. Weak 3 from me.

I think I prefer New Order. This was a little too moody for me. Still understand why it is so influential.

I used to think this album was iconic when i was 16/17 and I can still appreciate it, but I fear its not hitting the same as it used to. Im not that emo anymore 😔

Overall: 3.4 (rounded to 3) Consistency: 3.6 Originality: 4 Enjoyment: 3.5 Virtuosity: 2.5 1. Disorder - 4 2. Day of the Lords - 5 3. Candidate - 3 4. Insight - 2 5. New Dawn Fades - 3 6. She's Lost Control - 5 7. Shadowplay - 5 8. Wilderness - 4 9. Interzone - 3 10. I Remember Nothing - 2

I wasn't moved right away by the album on first listen. Needs another one just for the benefit of the doubt as this should be an album that I'd normally gravitate towards.

It’s ok

Спи спокойно, старина

It’s fine. You can hear the early catches of mope rock and the direction of the punk adjacent movement for the next 20 years or so taking root here. That said, it’s a slog to get through and its angst and malaise don’t really hold up all that well some 50 years on.

Quite honestly, at the risk of being "blasphemous", I cannot for the life of me figure out why people think this band is so "important". They're a fairly typical early Brit-pop/new wave sounding band. I don't care for his nasally voice and spoken-more-than-sung vocals. There are a couple of good punky heavier songs ear the end that I really like, but overall, I'm not in a hurry to revisit this just to re-affirm that I don't care for it.

i’ve always thought to myself that Joy Division would be a great band if Ian Curtis wasn’t singing. coincidentally, i do really enjoy New Order

It was pretty good. The last song was good, but everything else wasn’t great. I wasn’t big on his voice, and that ruined a lot of the songs for me. Overall, I would give this album a 3.6/5!

Decente pero no mi estilo

ist natürlich sehr bekannt, finde es aber ziemlich langweilig und jedes lied hört sich gleich an. natürlich cooles gothic feel und gut im hintergrund i guess aber alleine underwhelming

Pretty good

Pretty low energy but chill..

Ta bien, sin mas. Sape

Põnev instrumentaal, kohutav vokaal, mis alati ujub õigetesse kohta. Mingil hetkel ei saa enam seda ebatäpsust vabandada tolle ajastu stiiliga, see lihtsalt ei kõla hästi. Aga selle albumi cover art on legendaarne ning inspireerinud nii mõnegi kontseptsiooni andmeteaduses ning tegelikult on pillimäng siin ülimalt hea ja huvitav. Kuulatav kraam, isegi kui vokalist seda pole. 3.2/5

I didn't notice this was from the 70s at first, and thought 'this is just less impactful interpol', 2/5, but flipping it around these guys deserve some credit; some tracks remind a lot of ultravox

solid and fun

Reminds me of the talking heads. I like this it's very north east us campus movie. Big fan of this vibe walking around in fall. This is super interesting I don't know that I've heard many things like this. This is perfect for that melancholy feeling that's not sad but just introspective, walking on an overcast day with this playing would be crazy. This does feel kinda repetitive tho. Oh wait hold on this one's doing something different. Very timely. Ok let's hear it. Me when she's lost control. Just a little boring. Favourite: New Dawn Fades Least favourite: Shadowplay

1 - Disorder (and here we witness the birth of all post-punk. Cavernous and black as night, the guitars sound like alien transmissions, and the whole thing has an oddly outer-space feel. I would argue this is one of Curtis' best performances considering he was never much of a singer. I love how it builds and builds in the final verse before essentially collapsing in a flood of noise, or like a massive star (the album cover is a graphed image of the first observed neutron star; go figure.) A titan of post-punk that arrived at the very start of the genre) 5/5 2 - Day of the Lords (much more grounded than the opener, Sumner's massive chords and Hook's relentless bassline lead a solemn marching quality to this song. Curtis sounds so much like Jim Morrison on this song. Though it pulls the same "flood of noise" trick at the end I found this song plodding and a little overlong; it sort of grinds all of Disorder's momentum to a halt) 3/5 3 - Candidate (this one is empty and hollow, with only some loose drumming keeping any semblance of structure. The guitars grind and whine like they're stalking an industrial abattoir's ground floor. Some incredibly vivid industrial imagery help put this album back on the right track) 4/5 4 - Insight (a kind of ordinary instrumentation backs Curtis here, and all it really does it show how glaringly weak his voice was when it wasn't covered by loads of instrumentation. The electronic flourishes are a nice replacement for a guitar solo on a song as restrained and near silent as this one. They return towards the end and, honestly, they're the only real highlight of this song for me) 3/5 5 - New Dawn Fades (Sumner returns in full form with the rockiest riff on the album. This song can be considered the origin point of so, so much gothic rock. The sparser sections are forgiven as Curtis gives another actually good performance as the song builds up for a big climax at the 3-minute mark. It all simmers back down to end the first half on a high note; I was starting to get worried) 3.5/5 6 - She's Lost Control (one of their best-known songs, which I forgot starts with some strange percussion and an instrument that plays a vaguely Arabic-sounding melody with its chromatic, minor-key riffing. The bass finally sounds as gravelly and ominous as Hook always wanted it to be as it lends a sinister edge to this one. Honestly I forgot how much this song modulates from minor to major between verse and "chorus" (there's no real hook on this song.) A very strong addition to this album and a sure highlight) 4/5 7 - Shadowplay (after about 45 seconds of sizzling hi-hats, this song turns into a rather conventional post-punk song; easy to say now as pretty much all post-punk aped this, but it's interesting that there's a real guitar solo on this, especially for an album that's avoided them almost entirely to this point. Stephen Morris gets to shine on this song as his drums carry this song where he was previously snugly in the pocket. Another solid trakc for this album that has been pretty inconsistent if you ask me) 3.5/5 8 - Wilderness (there's an actual groove to start this song! Up until now it's been like the entire band has fought each other instrumentally. That aside it just sort of meanders for its 2:40 runtime, so there isn't much else to say that hasn't been said about several other songs on this. Curtis' performance is above average too though the higher his voice goes the less and less he understands what key the band is in) 3.5/5 9 - Interzone (the shortest track on the album and the closest they ever got to an actual punk song. It has a raw, sneering attitude, which is subverted once you hear Curtis singing from 3 rooms over. It's actually pretty convincing as a punk song and a nice change of pace from the morose atmosphere of the other songs, but it's still not any less gloomy itself) 3.5/5 10 - I Remember Nothing (while the opening with a stomping bass and kick drum is promising enough, Curtis' inability to find the actual key detracts a little at this point - I wonder if I'm being too harsh on his vocal performance sometimes. Regardless, the song has an incredibly sinister atmosphere and sounds like the wheels turning on a horse-drawn carriage slowly plodding through a forest on a moonless night. A fitting enough way to end this album) 3.5/5 OVERALL - 7.4/10

6 maybe?

Joy Division får mig altid til at tænke: meh Jeg har endnu ikke set lyset. Om ikke andet er det sjovt at gå fra New Order i går til Joy Division i dag - sikke et tilfælde. Det er et meget lille udsnit (af især New Orders diskografi), men sammenligningen er næsten umulig at undgå, og jeg gav New Order 4 stjerner. Og jeg syntes, at New Order var federe. Det gør ikke, at dagens album ikke også kan være et glimrende album - jeg forstod bare gårsdagens album bedre, tror jeg. 3.4

Don't think I've ever been much for new wave or post-punk like JD. As much as I want to like it, it's a bit grating after awhile. Especially Curtis's vocals. Up until the last track though, where he reminds me a little of D. Boon from the Minutemen. So that left me a bit uplifted, for whatever that's worth. In the moment, I could probably have named more stand out tracks, but listening to it back to point out my faves, they all blend together. Overall, I liked it I think, but I don't know if it's really something I'd need to listen to more than once in my life. Glad to have experienced it after having written it off for so long because of the fanbase surrounding it. (Regardless of how warrented I think its 'overrated' label is) I go back and forth between wanting to say this is a 2 or 3 for me. Fave Tracks: New Dawn Fades, I Remember Nothing

Good, I like it

6/10 Medio soso, no me llamo nada la atencion, pero tampoco estuvo feo. No descarto tenerlo de fondo

bass is good, but the guitar is just not that great

Torn with this one. Obviously its an iconic album but the artwork more so than the track list. In my opinion Substance is a much better album..... there I said it.

This wasn't bad but not amazing.

me encantaron las guitarras eléctricas y bajos. no amé que todas las canciones sonaran igual, pero estaban buenas. guarde 1

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this album. I liked the deep, moody vocals of Ian Curtis, and the bass lines and the driving drums were enjoyable, but overall the album was a little boring, like a punk album on antidepressants. It had a few positive moments, with Disorder probably the standout track, but this definitely feels like an album that some people will find amazing, and others just don't really care for. I liked parts of it, but overall it was just fine.

Kinda good

obviously I have to give this props (it is THE gothic rock/post punk album, after all). HOWEVER it’s just okay. The moody, echoey atmosphere is unsurprisingly great and I can hear a lot of this album in later favorites of mine, but there’s a few too many empty stretches of repetitive basslines and extremely simple drum patterns to warrant listening to this full album again. one of the many albums I respect more than I actually like.

instrumentals are awesome but man that shaky new wave voice only works for me sometimes. i would be getting really into it until he started singing lmaooo. really liked shadowplay.

More dark and brooding, no signature riffs Disorder She's lost control Shadowplay

average rock? 2,8

Unknown Pleasures is an important album. It may even be a great one. But importance isn’t the same thing as connection. I tried it in 1979 as a 12 year old and revisited it today as an adult, and both times it left me unmoved. Sometimes the most honest response to a classic is simply to admit it isn’t for you.

Confession time: I didn't actually know what JD was about until today. I had seen a ton of people wear this album art on a t-shirt and I know a lot of people who are really into them, but I've just never sat down and listened to them (except for maybe one song off this album that had somehow been saved before). Ultimately my take is that it's fine. Maybe I was just expecting something else from the hype, but it didn't really wow me in any meaningful way. A lot of the songs felt to me like they were just missing a little oomph that I needed to make it more interesting.

Not bad

fine. not really my vibe but it's ok in the background

Album was OK. Gave it multiple listens and didn't find that there were any stand-out or memorable songs for me. Wouldn't turn it off if they came on the radio, but not really my thing.

Well it was nice touch of classic post punk music, which I usually enjoy to listen for its easily recognisable style. However, this album sounds a bit too raw for me. Few tracks deserve your attention, about 30-40% of material is not that great.

Listening again really brought home how this was an evolution of punk, keeping the raw and ragged qualities but exchanging the anger and boisterousness for melancholy and navel gazing. Not really my bag, but can see how it would be for some.

This feels like Metallica for people who don’t get Metallica. Ultimately the tshirt is far superior to the music. Extra star for goth elder status.

Best Song: She's Lost Control I hate to say it, but for me, the best thing about this album is the album's art. Maybe because I am listening to this for the first time almost 50 years after its release, but I don't really hear any new ground here. I saw a few "critics" compare it to Velvet Underground which I, honestly, don't hear. I'm not going to rate it too low since I don't find it offensive and I know some people who are really into this, it just doesn't do anything for me. 3/5.

Fair play to JD. Not my normal the kind of thing I'm into but I don't mind it.

This is solid, pioneer of the genre. The album in a vacuum is fine

Joy division did not bring me much joy.

This was a moody and gloomy album just like rainy days in Manchester, the prduction is good and wxperimental at the time, butI feel people did better with their influence in the 00s. It is an ok album, I think it deserves the place on the list for its impact, but it is not for everyone and it definitely takes some listens and ssome mood to get into the sound. 3/5

Ikkje revolusjonerande, men heilt fint å høyre på.

Jeg har hørt noe gjennom et par ganger, og jeg synes det er kult. Samtidig kan det være litt slitsomt, og det er ingenting som helt fester seg.

this was good of course, but i do like new order better 🤓☝🏻

This was nice. I could listen again

2.75. I’m normally all for sad and depressing music, but this might be too depressing even for me.

Sí me gustó la vibra del álbum, pero no sentí una conexión que me permitiera disfrutarlo. Algunas canciones me gustaron, y en general el sonido del álbum es de mi gusto, pero no llegué a conectar con ninguna canción en específico.

God, it's so serious, isn't it? Inhabits the early 80s John Peel space perfectly.

Eh album

Μου άρεσαν πολλά ριφάκια απο κάποια τραγούδια έχω να πω. Επιπλέον, τα εκρηκτικά 16α γεμίσματα απο τα ντραμς ήταν τοπ. Ένιωθα όμως πως η φωνή του τραγουδιστή ήταν ελαφρώς παράφωνη, δεν ξέρω πως να το εξηγήσω αλλιώς. Σαν να προσπαθήσα εγώ να τραγουδήσω Day of the Lords

I more appreciate everything this album unlocked rather than loving it outright. Ian Curtis’ voice is a little tough for me by the end, but I love Disorder

Me gustan mucho los instrumentos, sobre todo. Pero las letras son super acotadas y el cantante meh. Las únicas que me gustaron son Disorder (3.5⭐️ porque el efecto de sonido que le ponen atrás es horrible y al final hace cualquier cosa el cantante) e Interzone (3⭐️) pero el álbum no es muy mi estilo.

Ni fu ni fa Obvio se que este fue un bum en su momento y de seguro fue un gran exponente en su momento pero no me cautivó. En melodías sentía que se repetía en todo el álbum. Las letras sonaban buenas

I dont really know what to do with my thoughts on this album. Its a classic but not amazing to me? But I do like it? The cover has been ubiquitous enough that I'm pretty sure even Disney used it for a marketing campaign? Ian Curtis sounds like Jim Morrison? Its cool and sometimes distracting that Peter Hook basically functions as a lead bassist? Some cool sounds that really make them the godfathers of shoegaze...but I cant listen to it every day? Idk....3.5. Like, not love. "Shadowplay" and "She's Lost Control" are highlights

Like the lyrics but don't feel it's age'd that well

first three tracks were good rest was slop

This feels to me like one of those heralded albums that requires some context to really appreciate. While I do think some of the tunes stand well enough on their own, for the most part, I feel the album stands out best when you consider the era it was released, and how much it contrasts the music of the time. You had arena rock, disco, and new wave all going on at this time, all of which had a lot more freewheeling sunshine to them than the gloomy post-punk on this record. Punk was around, too, and while I see a lot more kinship between that stuff and Joy Division (I mean, it's called post-punk for a reason), that music was brash and agitated, while this stuff is more moody and isolated. It has a lot more rhythm, too. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I didn't exactly love this album, but I did like it, and I really appreciate how it zigged while all the others zagged. I get it.

Didn't move me or keep me interested as much as I was hoping.

There's like 1568435168864 reviews about this one that all say the exact same thing. Teenagers jammed. Such a cool band from before color was invented. Shadowplay is my fav.

6.5/10

Some flames burn out too soon. Lead singer Ian Curtis didn't get to the magical age of 27 before his unfortunate death, he might be more famous. I think this album is here because of the stage of musical history it represents. I would rather listen to their second album but this was interesting. Let's dance to Joy Division.

3jer vcade da yvelaze zone out da sxva ramis chartva mominda

The album everyone has the shirt of! Gloomy punk at its best.

Wow, way more gothic than I expected. Early on in the genre for sure but I think Sisters of Mercy were closer to the mark. There are sexy goths and sad goths, I think Joy Division are the sad goths. Neat bass playing, having only heard "Love Will Tear Us Apart" I was a bit taken aback at the industrial drums and sort of melancholy of it all. I thought this was okay, maybe a few more listens are needed to fully appreciate it. This is one of those albums I should love but it's not hitting for me.

alright

life is weirddd... coincidentally watched 500 days of summer within days of this assignment and noticed the 2 Joy Division album references, Joseph Gordon Levitt wore tshirts with this album and Love Will Tear Us Apart, crazyyy Album was fine tho, i liked Disorder best but it set my hopes higher for the rest of the album. Shadowplay and Interzone were okay, but I liked and recognized more from the overall discography rather than this album alone. Sounds like it could be from this decade tho, so it's cool to know it's from 79

Very interesting. “Post” punk, gave early Radiohead and even some grunge vibes. Definitely seemed ahead of their time. Overall the album was decent but didn’t blow me away Fave song: Disorder

Alright

was aight notthing crazy

Grim but good

mostly fine, kinda boring

Me apetecía que me gustase mucho, pero no. Normal

My first reaction to this album is that it sounds amazing (2019 Remaster). It's not musically complicated, just clear and well executed production. Real instruments augmented with just enough synth to give the vibes. My second reaction was that it is satisfyingly British. The vocals are a bit theatrical but it's delivered without a hint of self consciousness which I can't help but admire. The style gives it a slightly camp vibe which is juxtaposed with the music that is actually quite heavy. If you you took "Day of the Lords" and added some distortion, you'd have a metal track. Generally quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this. Am I a Joy Division fan?? Not quite but I can definitely see the appeal.

I love Joy Division and this didn't connect with me thaaaaaat much. This sound in 1979 is so crazy though, spawned so much Indie music

God it's so much sadness. Feels like I'm listening to The Smiths. 3/5

Not really familiar with Joy Division. Never explored them at all. It’s kind of a harder rock sometimes punk, guess they call this post punk. Some of it has a bit of that distorted sound on the guitar with a heavy drum and bass. Overall this has a solid sound, but also is pretty dark and dreary at times. Some of these songs are just depressing. Some have a bit of a Doors vibe randomly but mostly a garage rock sound. I liked the opening track, New Dawn Fades and Shadowplay. Some of the darker sound I don’t really enjoy. It’s just not fun. But a few of these songs are really good. Can hear the influence of this on some later bands that would emerge in the 90s. I’m debating between a 2 and 3, but think the better stuff gives it an edge to a 3. It’s got some great guitars. I wouldn’t mind throwing some of this on a playlist. There is a slowed down distorted vibe on a handful of songs that doesn’t click at all for me, but like enough of it.

disorder- cool bass, fast upbeat, cool drum fills, nice lead guitar, like this song 7/10. Day of the Lords - moody same kind of bass 5\10 candidate-basic drums, moody again, very lost boys, 5\10 insight-vocal recording is worse on this track than the others, dont know how i feel about the vocals in genral and the lazer sounds dont fit its ment to be punk not techno idk what happened with this one the backing track had so much potential at the strat the whole song feels like an into and never really went anywhere 4\10 new dawn fades-moody again stopped lisingingn the whole thing is depressing and im not in the right mood

Enjoyably dark. I do prefer a lot of their singles but there's still some great stuff on here.

Liked: Disorder, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Interzone Added: Disorder, She's Lost Control

I've always known that based on my taste in music, I should love this album, but...I just don't. It's the singing. Feels like there's a lack of anything to hold on to.

Découverte. Hormis Disorder et 2-3 autres musiques, pas envoûté par cet album qui est pourtant reconnu comme un classique du post-punk.

Sympa dans l’ensemble mais je m’attendais à quelque chose de plus impactant. Il mange son 3.

Maybe I haven't given them enough listens, but Joy Division has never really clicked for me, though I can hear the influence.

The singer's voice is so deep and so is the sounds of the music. I think it is cool but I feel like a whole album of songs that are so deep and gloomy was not it for me, not on a beautiful spring day like today. This is something that I will have to revisit on a cold and rainy winter day when I am in that mindset.

They’ve got some good guitar riffs, but still I am yet to get the hype around Joy Division

A distinct sound recognized it from their main song instantly. I liked it, needs a better listen v rock

Iconic. Sounds very modern, aged really well. Liked this album a lot in high school. It just doesn't hit at hard anymore for some reason.

Great record, real vibey and that razor thin production of the era. My one comment would be that I wish that they studio metronome had more than one speed on it

Joy Division paved the way for many others to follow.

Not really for me but good

Iconic cover. Decent album, but didn't blow me away.

While not outstanding, Joy Division manages to put a nice spin on the concept of an depressed Englishman yelling into a mic. By utilizing faster and more energetic progressions, the music sounds enjoyable enough. Best songs are Disorder and Interzone. 7/10, more please.

Sees someone wearing this shirt: OMG THEY LISTEN TO JOY DIVISION???

Meio depressivo demais. Mas tem uma bela capa

A difficult album to review as liked quite a lot about it. The gloomy brooding atmosphere, harsh angular sounds and driving rhythms. Sadly though I failed to connect with it the way others seem to, though I did very much enjoy “New Dawn Fades” and “Shadowplay” Could definitely be one that grows on me in the future though.

STANDOUTS: Disorder, Day of the Lords, Shadowplay For a band called Joy Division, this album is depressing as hell!! Jokes aside, this album is great, albeit I think it is a bit weaker compared to the works from other post-punk bands like The Cure, Talking Heads, and even Siouxsie and the Banshees. Even then, it's impossible to deny this album's influence and greatness. 7.5/10

Acho que eu só gostei realmente de interzone

Not really my thing... yet. I can definitely see this growing on me.

Not too bad. +1 star for album cover. Music wise nothing stands out. Very simple and easy 4/4 songs.

Maybe I’m not cool enough to fully ‘get’ Joy Division, maybe this album has been overhyped by one of the most recognizable album covers of all time. I thought this one was pretty solid, but nothing really stood out. I’m going middle of the road but I’m curious if giving this another try over the weekend would change my rating.

it was fine

Way too moody and brooding for me. The bass is excellent though.

A few genuinely brilliant songs on this. Highlights are Disorder, Day of the Lords and New Dawn Fades. My only beef is so many of the songs on this sound exactly the same. Actually had to keep checking the name of the song to make sure it was a new one. Iconic album cover too, so many middle aged blokes with this t-shirt. RIP Ian Curtis.

i get more pleasure from the later album and i know why

When i’m in an overrated album competition and my opponent is Unknown Pleasures 🫥. Nah but for real, fine album that just never clicked for me and still hasn’t, though its impact on punk and alt-rock can’t be understated, because i can hear a lot of elements from my favourite bands in here. Shadowplay rocks though.

3 / 5 stars

Moody, eccentric, unpolished yet refined. One of those albums I always meant to listen to but always forgot. It’s like the soundtrack to getting lost on hallucinogens while vibing oit at a rock show.

7/10 Best songs: New Dawn Fades Somewhere between rock and punk (leaning more rock). Pretty good album, I just think the vocals let it down a bit.

I’m going to forget this album exists as soon as it finishes

I expected more from an album on so many tshirts

Plz stop reccomended rock

I didn’t pay attention

Why are people so obsessed with this band? They are fine I guess. The singer isn't very melodic, but not in an interesting way. He sounds like a less flamboyant version of the guy from the B52s.

i prefer new order

This was okay. Really sounded like the B-52s were super depressed though.

I'm really drawn to Ian Curtis' voice. What a tragedy he didn't have more time. Having said that it, I didn't connect with the songs. 3

An okay album, I liked Shadowplay the most.

Joy Division was never my favorite early post punk band, some good tunes but never could hold up in a full album. This record is a vibe... but it's only a vibe and only one vibe. Any particular moment is great, but it's the same moment the whole time, and other bands would take this sound to further and greater heights.

I had already heard the album during my goth phase, and its a good album! Though sometimes I feel like I’m forcing myself to like some of the songs :^( taste is subjective i suppose Favorite: Disorder (crucify me)

nice cover; didn't expect this... need to hear again at some point

Really solid album.

It's cool, it's very one tone in all their songs in this project, it's not too bad, something I wouldn't mind that's background but doesn't fully draw my attention.

Joy division nunca ha sido santo de mi devoción, está bien para un rato y reconozco su valor historico pero no me encanta 3.8

Что это было....музыка напоминает российский рок того периода, звучит довольно хорошо, но лично меня вокал оттолкнул

Kind of slow, good for slow mornings idk if it counts as goth but same vibes

I've got a lot of respect for this album, but it's not really my thing.

The sound/vibe is somber and reminds me of The Cure, or even of later stuff like The Crow Soundtrack. The songs are OK.

This started out great and then it kinda faded for me? I love Ian Curtis's voice throughout though but ended a little samey.

Disorder is really great and thought I was onto a new favourite but shit me the rest is bleak. Fav tracks: Disorder RYM: Y (#48) Saved a song: N

Definitely a unique sound for its time

I can tell it’s a good album. The atmosphere is strong, the sound is distinctive, but I’m not fully connecting with it. Parts of it pull me in, while other moments just feel too dark and gloomy. I don’t hate it at all; it just doesn’t feel like something I’d reach for often. For me, it works best as a one-time listen rather than a favorite.

Right after I get done saying I enjoy the gloomy gothy sounds of Depeche Mode, I get this album. It's clear that this was an influence for so many cool bands to follow, but this album doesn't really do it for me. It feels very middle of the road.

I like Joy Division and a lot of songs on this album, but the album as a whole was a tough listen honestly

eh alright

We're hitting a common theme here lately, I don't know anything of this band either. I actually enjoyed the album though.

This album put you in a trance... Sure for my taste it feels unique and quite good. I like the atmosphere it creates 3/4

*listened before the project* I never liked this album (except the cover)

can totally appreciate them being one of the foundational influences for post-punk/goth rock, which are some of my fav genres. really liked some songs but others not so much

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

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

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

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

Truelly, ok

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

Not bad. Not great.

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

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

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

wel nice maar ik voel r weinig bij

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

This album was neither inspiring or uninspiring!

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

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

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

Where will it end?

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

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

Pas désagréable à écouter mais toujours pareil

Good. Pretty mellow

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

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

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

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

A depressing classic.

Will listen later doh

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

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

6 - AVERAGE

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

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

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

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

Nope. Not for me.

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

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

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

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

Eh, just not my vibe

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

Enjoyed it

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

Ganz okayer 70s Rock. Ikonisches Album Cover

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

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

6/10 - good 80s UK pop rock

Finally giving this a listen. Pretty cool.

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

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

This was better than I anticipated but just ok.

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

Best Track - "Disorder"

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

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

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

Enjoyed. More downbeat than I expected but deliberately so.

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

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

Not a fan of them. I think they are overated

Nicht meine Musik, aber sicher nicht unbedeutend

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

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

I have always loved this album.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can hear how they were influential to other bands

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

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

Album started off strong and fizzled out

The t-shirt that launched a thousand ships.

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

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

It was alright, not my cup of tea

Forgot what it was. Was kinda weird

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

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

That’s that me depresso

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Alles was es beeinflusst hat gefällt mir besser

Favorit: New Dawn Fades

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

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.

*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 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.