Reviews (page 8 of 14)
Nazwa znana, ale raczej nie slyszalem nic z ich dorobku przed tym listowym pickiem, a bylo to dosc unikalne doswiadczenie, jedno z najprosciej zagranych rokowan post punkownia nowej fali jaki ta lista obrodzila, oczywiscie po stronie brytyjskiej, pierwotna nazwa bandy to warszawka zainspirowana warszawka bowiego z lowa ktory juz byl na liscie wymieniony, a skad ta unikatowosc wsrod brytyjskiej punkowosci, glownie z tego ze ze wszystkich stron zamiast buntu zlosci, walki z czyms wylewa sie depresyjna apatia w ktora sluchacz jest zanuzany, za sprawa wyeksponowanego basa i wrecz sterylnego druma, pomaga tutaj rowniez maniera wokalna ktora posiada Curtisa, ktory poza spiewem byl glownym tworca tekstow, ktore opieraly sie na jego wierszydlowaniu, co dosc wyraznie slychac, nie ma typowej budowy i podzialu zwrotkowo refrenowej, dopiero po przesluchaniu dowiedzialem sie, ze dlugiej kariery nie mial, bo zakonczyl ja na sznurze od prania i sluchajac na slepo tej plyty da sie to wyczuc, to nie sa smithy i ich depresja wieku mlodzienczego, tylko cos bardziej na ksztalt pogodzenia sie z nia i apatyczne wspolzycie z nia, zagadka tak surowego brzmienia moze tkwic rowniez w tym, ze banda w swoich 3 latach dzialalnosci zprogresowala od calkowitego zera muzycznego do tworzenia czegos czego jeszcze nikt nie gral, bo historia poznania sie bandy na koncercie sex pistolsow juz sama w sobie brzmi jak bajka punkowych kopciuszkow, kazdy moze grac skoro sex pistolsy moga, tak tez zrobili i zaczeli bandowanie, ale nie same granie czy spiewanie czyni plyte, bo produkcja rowniez stoi na wysokim poziomie, wykorzystujac proste granie stworzyc odpowiedni mu klimat przez odpowiednia ekspozycje, zwlaszcza jesli chodzi o bas, to bedzie jeden z tych albumikow ktory trzeba przesluchac w calosci, ale na plejke wrzuce trzy traki ktore najbardziej do mnie trafily, otwierajacy disorder, candidate i shadowplay
Classic overall album and sound but wouldn't say the songs are that strong individually
I really liked this album. The vocals sometimes turned me off, but I got a Doors vibe with some of the spoken lyrics. The music took it over the top for me. Pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this. Made me feel like an angsty teen. Great shirt.
Pretty dark, but definitely interesting
Hmmm
A fitting companion piece to one of the best-selling t-shirts of all time.
4.3 * great album, too short
So ahead of its time. Can be forgettable in some parts, but when it’s going, it’s doing wonderful
I can't listen to Ian Curtis' voice without replaying images from the film 'Control' in my head.. I felt a bit heartbroken all the way through
Yuss, great album, even better cover art. This was hugely influential on post-punk, gothic, and darkwave, and probably a bunch of other genres too. Fave track - I dunno, "New Dawn Fades"? "Shadowplay"? "Disorder" is a cracking tune. Or for campy melodrama, "She's Lost Control"!
one of my favorite bands, and one of their best albums. From the instrumental compositions, to the sometimes gut-wrenching lyrics, it's fucking tragic that someone so young, and had so much talent, took his life. i could listen to this band all day,
It’s weird that the songs themselves didn’t make me eargasm but it was so cohesive and unpretentious that I found myself immeasurably drawn to it.
classico porém não é meu estilo
Cmon.
Love the driving guitar and heavy bass. Some interesting songs.
I really like the soun although, it's very very dark, almost like a soundtrack to a futuristic sci fi movie. Prefer side 2 to side 1, especially tracks like shadowplay, she's lost control and interzone. Not an album I'd just throw on to listen to music, and perhaps slightly monotone but no denying it's brilliance.
Very good, nice and unique
Joy division. Enough said
Meh.
Dark, and rolling. I felt like I should be sitting on a tie-dye couch smoking a fat one with some guy under a funky light. Reminded me a bit of the Smiths.
nice
Not usually my cup of tea, but this is really solid.
Really quite nice. I should have known I would enjoy this.
first song is decent, rest was mid
Strange
Love the bass and the space in the drums. The flat vocals are less my thing.
This godforsaken visual. Okay. Okay. Ignore the visual. Listen in earnest. Okay actually I don’t want to ignore the visual bc i didn’t actually know what it was and now it’s cool again. Take that t shirt over saturation! But also comedy that the intro on Wikipedia is like 90% about the image. Which fits with the fact I’ve never heard a single song from this album but can see the cover behind my eyelids. Okay I’m being too flippant about this in light of how devastatingly short Joy Division’s life was before Ian Curtis died (vague memories of Control, must rewatch). This would probably hit better if it wasn’t stuck amidst 500 albums of similar genres and he sounds genuinely groany. I see some of them were initially annoyed by how mellowed out this was produced relative to how it’s performed live, so maybe you had to be there. HA Lo reminded me we literally just listened to this album while on the peninsula (“remember ‘weeeeee’”) but i “talked through it” and im not sure if that means i was just rogue or uninterested. In rare form, ive gotten much more invested in the album as its progressed.
Nice. Not as gloomy as I feared it would be.
Dark and brooding, Joy Division answers the question "What if Depeche Mode were even MORE depressing?" That said, I enjoyed this album and wish I'd gotten more into them earlier in life.
Interzone and I remember nothing - decent tracks. The hits as good as ever. Solid album
Now here’s a lot of exploratory mediocrity saved by a couple of cracking songs.. Overall it’s not an enjoyable listen to my ears, whereas its cult status brings a pressure to pretend to like it due to a promise which I feel ir fails to deliver upon. Not an album I’d choose to listen to again.
Certainly accomplishes what it is going for, just left me wanting more.
It's good. But the vocals start to grate after a while.
I love post-punk, and I dream of one day dancing to Joy Division somewhere in a basement club with other people who feel it the way I do. But when it comes to Joy Division, the beauty lies more in the overall vibe than in any particular song. 6/10
Some albums/groups that I've never heard of hold so much aura before I listen to them. This is one of them. Was so excited to finally listen to Joy Division, but I finished the album thinking "this is what everyone was raving about???" It was fine but only fine, nothing remarkable to me
Occasionally brilliant. Loses it here and there. And probably could do with lightening up. But never uninventive. And lyrically adventurous at all times. Lots of songs saved by powerful anthemic chorus or crescendo. Bit too much big musical infill. But a real achievement!
Perfectly fine, but samey and lacking a bit of punch to turn it into a great album.
Just felt like one long 40 minute song
Haunting lyrics and vocals given greater prescience because of the demise of the singer. There are a few good songs on this album and that lifts it above the mediocre but it's not album to return to
Fine, not amazing but good.
I have been curious about band being a fan of such bands as New order,etc. I listened to it on headphones and it was bvery enjoyable. Somewhat dronish and somber at times.
Not their best album but still always good
Sounds decent but doesn’t do anything for me personally
I was expecting to like this more. 2.5
Perfectly fine! Had some tracks I really enjoyed! Also it’s one of my f/o’s favorite albums so bonus points for that.
trop punk
Favorite Track: Shadowplay
Es macht mich weder besonders an, noch finde ich es schlecht oder besonders langweilig. Müsste ich mich wohl mehr mit beschäftigen, um die kulturelle Relevanz der vielen Shirts mit dem Albumcover zu verstehen.
Eh, helt ok. Sista låten bäst
i listened to it. i know i did. but for the life of me i cant really remember what it sounded like. maybe will revise the 3
I definitely like New Order better
Not really my style, but it was fine. Seems like this album might be more notable for the cover artwork.
I got nicely immersed in it. It's got a couple of good songs, and a couole of songs I've heard covered well. But I get why it's not for everyone.
Dreary and dark.
I know I’m supposed to hold this album on some pedestal and I’m a post-punk fan and it’s got early signs of that. But I’m just not a fan of these type of vocals. I know Joy Division are iconic and this album itself is as much a modern fashion piece, but it just doesn’t quite click with me. It’s obviously not a bad album, so my 3 comes from personal taste over objective scoring.
I can hear the influences on music I love, but this isn’t quite there for me. The song that has lasers definitely got my attention (although I couldn’t figure out if it made me like it more or less), but then when they went back to the lasers in the outro it didn’t work…you can’t go to the laser well more than once…
Oh neat, someone made an album based on that shirt! This is one of those albums I'm not sure I've properly heard, but I'm treating it like I have in my record-keeping for the year. It's always had a Bauhaus vibe to me, both in overall mood and in their most famous (and arguably best) song being annoyingly just a single. That makes me feel like I MUST have heard it. Or maybe not, because this is definitely not particularly sunny music, but it does have a lot more pep and production than my “memory” suggests it should. Even so, this is the early goth sound writ large. It's still kinda wild that these guys ended up being New Order later on, but I guess it's like Early Cure to Disintegration pipeline. Even if you didn't know, hearing this would probably clue you in that lots of music was deeply influenced by this. It's not truly my thing… I tend to simply know it when I hear it if I dig something in this vein… but it's definitely a worthwhile listen. Unexpectedly I feel like it picked up a bit in the back half, which is rare. Certainly the big bassy plod of I Remember Nothing was a highlight but there's also something about the groove on Shadowplay, Wilderness, Interzone… or maybe it just means I was getting more accustomed to the album by then. Who knows. I think we're looking at a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ for me, but i also think it's worth taking some more time with this
Sombre and haunting- a bit of Iggy there.
i like it but sort of feels like vampires hahahahaha
old but sounds new. cool album
It was alright. Didn’t really grab me
Fine but not really a Joy Division fan
Yeah solid
alright
Ok
Fine not for me
im unfamiliar with post punk, but joy division does bring lots of dread to the table. clean production, scratchy vocal. hmmmmm. again, not my cup of tea. i think its definitely more emotional than the stuff i usually listen to, and so its rather difficult to immerse myself
Confession time: Until I got this album I always thought Joy Division was a 90s alternative/indie band and not a late 70s post punk band. There was always something about the album cover that gave me 90s vibes. That being said I thought this album was just ok. I understand that this album is very influential for the post punk genre but it didn't do much for me. Not bad, just not great either. Maybe I don't like post punk, or just havent found the post punk album that clicks for me? Props to the band for having an album cover that has been parodied maybe only second to Abbey Road. 3/5
Joy Division has always been one of those bands you are supposed to like but I admittedly have never gotten it. All respect to the musicianship - just have never connected with it.
Found this album generally rather dreary. Not especially offensive but also not that interesting.
yes have listened before
A groundbreaking album that was highly influential to the 1980s music scene. Well written, well mixed, and definitively unique.
Pretty good, I liked New Dawn Fades best
It's a classic and not just for the art
Good album, nothing to say
Ah, I’ve never sat down and listened to Joy Division, but I’m realizing now who Interpol took a lot of notes from. This is decent (not as good as Interpol though), though I wish they’d mix up tempos a bit. Yeah, this is decent, but no better than that. 7/10
I feel that Unknown Pleasures as a whole is lauded more because of its cultural impact, and to an extent its marketing, than strictly the quality of the music. Plus, Curtis's abrupt death in 1980 making him a sort of "musical martyr". The music is good but not "worldwide dance-punk phenomenon" good. Curtis's singing is pretty poor, though compared to the rest of the punk world it probably sits just above the average. Disorder is instantly recognisable. That fast, punky bassline, simplistic ultra-compressed drumming (is it a drum machine?), completely deadpan vocal delivery... Yeah, that's my Joy Division. That outro outshines the rest of the song. Smiths-esque in its approach to melody: hammering the same couple of notes over and over again until you can't get them out of your head. Not until you've participated in some kind of sociopolitical revolution. Sophomore track Day of the Lords has some decent moments, but my favourite is the almost forlorn wailing of the title. An argument could be made that this song is bad – everything is played kind of unskilfully – but it gets a thumbs up from me. Candidate and Insight, though... bleh. Just bland, unskilled, uneventful. There's extremely little to enjoy here. To those of you giving this 4 or 5 stars (and there are many), tell me, how can you justify a high rating when Joy Division consented to including hogwash tracks like these? New Dawn Fades, though? Now this I can get behind. A vocal performance brimming with pain and emotion, some interesting countermelodies happening between guitar and bass, and the whole thing just feels... alive. It makes me want more. She's Lost Control is excellent: danceable, a really strange combination of textures I haven't heard before, and a guitar melody the Arctic Monkeys clearly took inspiration from several decades later. Shadowplay is similar. Again reminds me of the Smiths but with more dynamic melody and a vocalist who sounds depressed rather than narcissistic. Wilderness and Interzone are both just a little too short to really develop, but they're still enjoyable, especially Interzone with its warm, full, classic-rock-esque bass part. It also kind of sounds like Disorder Part 2, which I guess is a good thing. The final track, I Remember Nothing, acts as a harrowing examination of Curtis's psyche. At least sonically. (I tend not to listen to lyrics unless they're horrendously bad.) 3/5 Key tracks: Disorder, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay
Alright
I'm not sure about this, I enjoyed the moody instrumentation and overall atmosphere but found it dull and repetitive. I do see how it is a good album but just not for me.
Meh, boring. I can appreciate the attitude and the vibes but I don't get the hype. High 2/low 3
Very strange, surprised I didn't give it a 2 but there were a couple... ok i guess songs on here.
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.
A good album. I like Joy Division but I just give this record a 3. Like it, but not love it.
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
It's pretty rare that an album can offer a look into a genre being created in real time. Unknown Pleasures is among those elite few, with the first track "Disorder" transforming punk into post-punk before the listener's very eyes (ears?) After that, this is pretty lugubrious release, with Stephen Morris' drumming usually being the only thing giving these songs a sense of structure. Actually, the instrumental part of this album is nothing short of top-notch, with everyone finding their exact pocket and forging distinct styles right out of the gate. It's apparent in Peter Hook's high-up basslines and on Sumners' grinding guitars as well. Throughout this album, they imitate heavy equipment on an abattoir floor. Sometimes they're barely able to contain themselves from exploding into clouds of noise. Once you get past "Disorder," Unknown Pleasures alternates between a horse drawn carriage plodding through a moonless night and the soaked streets of the band's hometown of Salford (Peter Hook once quipped "I'm not scared of the Devil, I'm for Salford!") With all that praise for the instrumental, this album's one glaring weakness is Ian Curtis. One of the principal purveyors of the tortured artist trope in rock, Curtis sounds completely unsure of himself, as though singing his lyrics was a consolation prize he didn't want to accept. In his lower mid-range, he does a serviceable Jim Morrison interpretation, but his lack of pitch and phrasing is apparent the higher up he moves across his registers. It's a major detractor for me, and I'm of the opinion that the album would have been much more presentable if a Peter Murphy type was given these songs. As it is though, this album was a revelation in the advancement of darker, moodier rock music, and that's something that can never be taken away from it. Key Tracks: Disorder, Candidate, She's Lost Control
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.
6/10
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.
good
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.
3.5
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
meh
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
Good
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
2.5
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
3/5
*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).
Good
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.