Reviews (page 9 of 15)
Loved it, moody but propulsive, good lyrics and guitar. I can see if this is monotonous to some, very specific sound, but its a genre definer.
This was great, not stuff I'd usually listen to but very meaningful. And iconic. Just a shame the guy died before he learned how to produce music properly, as this album is almost tragically unlistenable.
Peak cover.
pulsar go pew
Without a doubt one of the most beautiful yet devastating albums ever made.
Fantastic post-punk / new wave album, maybe the best. The magnum opus of Joy Division is diverse, dark and lyrically and musically (close to) perfect.
Lekker donker. De hoes is misschien bekender dan het album zelf, maar dat is onverdiend, want wat een topalbum! 4.7
Perfect :)
I get the appeal, maar niet voor mij gemaakt
classic
Not Bad, not into the lyrics too much. It is definitely very heavy on the psychedelic side. It does make you tap your foot a lot,catchy. Interzone and shes lost control were the favorites.
Day346 - i believe joy division/new order is an influential band and they have some pretty good songs but they might even be to depressing for me
I'm sure at the right moment in life this album hits like a train.
Nothing on this album jumped, 3 stars
I did not use a private session for Spotify. I have listened to Joy Division songs, but never sat through an album. I liked this album, but I didn't find anything in this that would keep me coming back.
Very gloomy vibe to this. Kind of reminds me of the early "The Cure" album that came up earlier on this list. I don't really care for it tbh
Ну штош. Несомненно прекрасный альбом. Как неадекватная фанатка смитс, готовая с фанатизмом проводить аналогии между творчеством своих любимчиков и чего угодно, могу сказать, что мне зашло из-за сходства в звучании. Тем не менее, если у смитс настроение песен неочевидно, пропитано иронией, насмешкой, такое "ЕХХПХРХАХАХ Я ХОЧУ УМЕРЕТЬ", то джой дивижн более последовательны, понятны.
я не ожидала что альбом будет таким мрачным,к концу челленджа я наверно реально впаду в депрессию но я не против потому что музыка красивая уникальный экспириенс сразу после этого слушать new order, например substance (омг отсылко на субстанцию?!)
классный альбом, я прям почувствовал себя мамкиным инцелом, но не могу сказать что полностью зацепило, даю балл за легендарность
One of the greatest album covers of all time.
Punk skulle jag väl inte kalla det. Trist synth med inslag av pop. Trodde jag skulle gilla det men det gjorde jag inte.
Det är ok rock. Lite seg bitvis. Som shadowplay. Känns som det finns en annan låt däri någonstans. Aja, hört talas om barnet men aldrig lyssnat. Nu är det gjort!
Mörkt, industriellt, brittiskt och tunga basgångar - what’s not to like?
One of my favorite albums ever... Dark, sad and painful. Ian Curtis voice is captivating.
Incredibly influential. The oppressive and claustrophobic atmosphere is palpable. Ian Curtis' not-always-quite-in-tune vocal delivery has been emulated countless times. The guitars were probably the first music critics described as "angular" (whatever that means). Truly iconic. Key tracks: Disorder Day of the Lords New Dawn Fades She's Lost Control Shadowplay
Truly never heard any of their stuff, that I am aware of. I do have an idea of the type of music they deliver. So excited to check this out. Very gothy. Very interesting. Not really my style but I get it.
Got bored halfway through
The name ‘Joy Division’ has rolled around for years and I never listened. I agree, especially the last song has a Downie/Hip sound. It’s amazing to me that these guys have 3m monthly Spotifiers and The Hip only 1m, when the Hip are so much more interesting and melodic. I do like the album cover, as it reminds me of another band I’d should take more time to listen to instead, Vulfpeck.
Went into this with no expectations but was pleasantly surprised. His voice sounds a lot like Gord Downie to me and there was a darker Hip sound there at times. I always have to be in the right mood for Joy Division but when the mood hits I’ll definitely reach for this album.
A Classic. Pure. Raw. Dark. Beautiful. Poetic. Moving.
Classic. What could have been if Ian Curtis had continued?
The Good: Joy… is good… The Bad: It seems to be divided… The Ugly: trying to figure out by what… I love me a nice rabbit hole to go down on Spotify, and this album was part of one of them there journeys a while back. At the time I did not like it… and today I kinda felt the same. You like a depressed voice telling you their viewpoint about stuff, then this is your thing… Myself, I prefer something less straight razor to your inner thigh… 2*
ooh this sure makes me feel GOTHIC. Not really my thing, but its interesting to see where this music goes from here as a genre.
Never listened to Joy Division before and enjoyed this album quite a bit! Gloomy!
Saved Prior: Disorder, She's Lost Control Off Rip: Day of the Lords, Candidate, Insight Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Turns out I'm Closer depressed and not Unknown Pleasures depressed. She's Lost Control speaks to me though #theneedlewasmoved
pulsar waves!!!!
I hated their other album in this project. I hated this one a little less. Too often, they don't care to stay in key with each other, and I hate it.
I like the dark tones and the pace of the album. The call and response work is fun too. Every now and then the vocals venture out of the avant garde and into just kind of sucking. It’s a fine line I guess. I didn’t really grab onto any of the tracks and likely won’t be revisiting it any time soon. But it’s not bad.
Good
This is not what I expected from joy division. This was guitars and bass and drums. Didn’t hear a ton of poppy synths. Maybe that comes later with them. Dark, kind of whiny. It’s fine, don’t hate.
Get the edition with live tracks and hear the eerie difference Martin Hannet made - two untimely deaths with this record.
Sucks ass
Very cool, like sabbath's debut you can see the influences but at the same time they are creating something new. Voice, band, and production are all real cohesive in creating music that sounds liek the cover looks.
ok
It was fine.
Miserable and morbid but I’ve heard worse albums. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard joy division and I hope it’s a while before I listen to them again. Respect to anyone who can listen to them regularly and will sit through an album of theirs through choice. It started off okay but after a couple of tracks I just wanted it to end, which is what I imagine a lot of their listeners are thinking but not necessarily about the album or song. The best thing I can say about this album is that it was quite short, thankfully. I guess I’ll never know the pleasures of liking this band
This all but confirms that anybody who has ever worn the joy division t shirt has simply never listened to the album. Why does the whole thing sound like the band recorded their instruments in the recording studio, whilst the lead singer tried to sing his from next door? The vocals are so quiet, which is probably for the best, as he sings like he’s dipped his balls into an ice bath. Vocals very much let down what could be a really nice album, the music was pretty good at times. I didn’t really do much lyrical analysis, but based on the kind of people who wear the Joy Division T-shirt, I can only imagine they would have been sad and pretentious. Just googled the lead singer, Ian Curtis, two first names strikes again.
Thoroughly enjoyed the music throughout this album. The guitar riffs, powerful kick drums and just out and out cool gothic rock, in terms of the instrumentals, was great to listen to. I appreciate though, as far as this sort of music goes, the music and the vocals come as a package deal. You can't enjoy Roller Coasters and complain about the heights.. or bang Katie Price and then complain about the syphilis that inevitably comes with it. But that's exactly what I'm going to do, I want my cake and I want to eat it too.. and I want to eat it without having to listen to the bleak, ethereal tones of Ian Curtis. It's not even that bad necessarily, it's just a style of music that has never resonated with me. I do get that having these slower vocals juxtaposed against the heavier rock is part of the charm.. but to me, I can't help but hear a Scooby Doo type ghoul or swamp monster, talking in a wobbly, spooky voice to me, whilst I just try and listen to a nice bit of rock music.. I find it boring and interfering (It always turns out to be the janitor anyway). 3 stars, could have been 4 or 5.. and they'd have gotten away with that rating too, if it hadn't been for that meddling vocalist.
Musically I thought it was really impressive. Lead singers voice is often drowned out by the music though. Perhaps for the best as he sounds like Frankenstein's monster just moaning all over the gaff. Not particularly for me, but there was one song that I really really liked. It even got the wheel up. 'She's Lost Control' is fucking sick. Sounds like it's from a movie soundtrack, the guitar in it is particularly what gets me bricked up. That song alone takes this from a measly 2 stars up to a 3, I enjoyed it so much it felt necessary to have it bump the score up. Count yourself lucky, Joy Division... As the rest is very 'meh'
Ian Curtis's love of Bowie, Iggy, Velvet Underground, spliced with his own sardonic view of the world, the band's association with British punk bands of the day, and a mad hatter for a producer, made for some doomladen, unhinged, and truly original music. The gothic-office clerk smudge they left on Manchester, earnt them many famous fans and a dedicated army of sulking indie kids. The album sounds bleak and industrial, which of course was the whole point. I love it all, the high notes of Peter Hook's bass playing, accompanied by Ian Curtis’s crooning, drums with bags of echo and other percussive tricks, raw and at times primitive guitar riffs. My favourite example of their moodiness and distinct sound, is She's Lost Control. The lyrics are superb, I'm sure it's half about a girl Ian Curtis saw having a fit, but then it's expanded out into talking about a woman grabbing on to people in the street. It's great. Grace Jones did a pretty cool cover of it. Shadowplay is another highlight. If a few of the songs were replaced with say, Transmission, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Dead Souls and Digital, it'd get 5 stars from me. As it stands, it's a 4, as it's not quite all killer, no filler. If nothing else, Unknown Pleasures can now often be seen adorning the chests of women in the UK who like to wear iconic album covers on t-shirts in the hope they will attract a more sensitive and artistic class of men. But be careful ladies, one too many “can you put the bins out?”, and we all know how Ian reacted. Pff, men!
Mmmmmm nore of a New Order guy. Did like the piece of the write up that talked about how this was an album one would listen to right before committing suicide! Dark.
I know I said I had to blindly give this album a positive rating but it’s just so….British and so……lame.plus division was my hardest subject in school. Ok. Something positive. Let’s see….the bassist’s name is Peter Hook. Hook was a good movie when I was a kid. That’s all I got. This shit sucks.
This album is so highly regarded by so many people as the album that made alternative or indie music... I didn't hate it, but it wasn't particularly engaging or enjoyable. It's a cool sound for the late 70's, but overall meh.
It’s raw and stark, but maybe too much so. The vocals sound buried, like trying to reach you from underwater. Feels like Velvet Underground, but missing the warmth. There’s an unease that lingers, but it never quite resolves. It leaves a lot of space, but maybe too much emptiness.
I too was once a grumpy angsty teen who needed something to cry to. I still do.
It has great instrumental's, the vocals didn’t match in my opinion. Quite relaxing though good if you want a kip.
Was ok. A bit boring for me
My god this has aged well. Could sit right up there with any alternative rock album today.
Perfect ???
Favorite of mine, oc. Kinda ahead of its time. after years of listening to it I seemed to hear a similarity in the voice of Ian Curtis and that of Jim Morrison, am I going crazy? Disorder - 5/5 strong start Day of the lords - 5/5 (personal fav) Candidate - 4.8/5 Insight - 4.8/5 New dawn fades - 5/5 She's lost control - 4.2/5 Shadowplay - 5/5 Wilderness - 4.7 Interzone - 4.9/5 I remember nothing - 4.6/5 4.7/5
Reminds me of PF, would get on vinyl, good atmosphere
It’s a brilliant, atmospheric album. Obviously iconic and for a good few years I found it dull and wondered what the fuss was all about bit in recent years I’ve spent a lot of time with this album and it really resonates now
Excellent producing but too dark for me
thrilling and addictive darkness. perhaps not as refined as Closer, it is still an appreciated album to get
iconic genius
I’ve always considered this album a tad overrated and more about the Cover Art than the actual music at this point in culture . However this is an album you gotta listen to on headphones and let the rhythm section take you places, hear the simple yet effective guitar and really take in Ian Curtis’s Vocals and Lyrics. Besides opening track “Disorder” (the most fast punk rocker) the album immediately descends into Darker territory musically. This is a really good album and deserves a few listens. Obviously being down and out helps 4/5 The only thing to be said is the follow up “Closer” is even Better and will be getting a 5/5 (MASTERPIECE) In some ways it’s sad what happened with Ian Curtis, as we got no more Joy Division albums. On the flip side the lyrics were so depressing and hopeless that there was no where for them to go. Until the went on and became New Order
I only started listening to this album about a decade ago. I didn't understand what the fuss was about and it took a few listens before I started to get it. This isn't an album I would've liked when I was younger. But know I think it's in the super badass category. I hear a lot of influence on things I've listened to over the years. Peter Hook has some killer basslines. 5 stars all day.
i wish it was more headbanging
Okiedokie
This record opened many doors for me. I had never heard anything so raw and cold and incandescent at the same time. It was and is a fascinating thing to feel, late in the night, in the city or in the country. It's winter music, a soundtrack for an uncanny world, still here not far under the surface of the one I live in now. A brutal beauty in the air.
Not a bad album, just not really my thing.
Pensavo peggio, ma gli manca l'ultima scintilla per le 5 stelle.
I enjoy this now more than i used to. Still not top of my list though
"Disorder" is one of my favourite songs of all time. That makes this album a hit. "New Dawn Fades" and "Interzone" are good songs as well. It's a shame that the rest of "Unknown Pleasures" wasn't as great as "Disorder". Would've been an all time classic for sure. Looks like I'll have to give "Unknown Pleasures" a 3 star rating.
Amazing album. I never tire of this dark musical journey.
shocking: this album is really good
No strong opinion on this one.
Spooky
9.5/10
Good beat. Reminds me a little of New Order
This is another classic album. It's not for everyone, but there are some tracks here that are staples for the band.
I have been aware of this album as a cultural artifact for as long as I can remember, but have never listened to it. Man the 80s are rough. Couple decent songs, but this vibe is not for me.
would give it 2.5 if i could do half stars but im going to round up
Meh
Maybe great, but this mostly played in the background so I can't feel all that strongly about it
får nog säga att det är överskattat, det är inte längre jag som inte fattar
Shadowplay is okay but really this album just sucks.
Idk man, Joy Division just isn't that great of a band. They aren't bad, they just aren't great. It's just not impressive. Frankly, the album cover is better than the music.
Some tracks are good
Esperaba demasiado del disco. 2,5/5
Embarrassing confession: I had never listened to this album before. So far, probably the most famous album from this list I had never heard. God damn was I missing out. This album is such a perfect bridge of punk, post punk, new wave, and moody 80s alt. That’s like exactly one of my musical personalities. It’s just brilliant and was way ahead of its time. And not only was the record simply fantastic, it was exactly the right record for the headspace I was in when I played it. You can’t really ask for more than that. One of my favorite new-to-me (ashamedly) records on this list so far. 5/5
Very dark post-punk proto New Wave stuff. Occasionally one can recognize that this is the predecessor of New Order. I might have liked it back then, but now it is a bit too gloomy for me.
Starts strong, gets boring.
Yet another of those albums that I knew HAD to be on this list for me take the list seriously but holy good god what a day to drop it in my ears (2024 US presidential election). A bonus five stars for unnerving timing.
4.1 4x while cleaning garage and start of work
++: She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Interzone +: Disorder, Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, Wilderness +-: Candidate, Insight, I Remember Nothing 6,9/10
This Joy Division record connected with me more than the last one I got on this list ('Closer' from 1980) - something about the seemingly haunting/desolate sound just struck me. Ian's vox were giving me Interpol vibes which I rather enjoyed. Also, that last track opening with WEEEEEEEEE will never not be funny (look up 'Ian Curtis rides a rollercoaster' on YT)
80% Best: Disorder; New Dawn Fades; Shadowplay; Interzone Must-Hear? I think this record is solid, but not much more than that. So I would say no.
Mitico
- Das erste von gerade einmal zwei Alben, die Joy Division jemals herausgebracht haben, bevor Ian Curtis sich das Leben nahm und der Rest der Truppe New Order gründete - Es ist auch das Bessere der beiden Alben und definitiv eines der großen Alben allerzeiten. Und das, obwohl der besten Joy Division Song nicht auf dem Album ist. - Ich finde das Album hat einen sehr markanten und eigenen Charakter. Am besten könnte ich es beschreiben, als hätten The Doors ein Post-Punk/Dark-Wave Album rausgebracht. - Es ist dieser einzigartige düstere Sound, diese bizarr hallige bariton Stimme von Holmes, die minimalistischen, sehr vom Bass abhängigen Arrangements - Tolles Artwork - Höre ich immer wieder gerne rein Rating: 4,25/5
- teils joyful (wie ich es bei deren Name erwartet hätte), teils irgendwie depressing - insgesamt in Ordnung, aber nichts, was ich wieder anmachen würde, oder mir was weggespeichert hätte
Atmospheric Post Punk that was almost accidentally created by producer, Martin Hannett. Multiple members of Joy Division went on to say they weren’t happy with the sound of this record. They felt it should be a lot more energetic and driving like their live shows. I think I would love to hear these songs in a live, more energetic setting, but I also love the way this record sounds. It’s dark, bleak and mysterious. Unknown Pleasures is iconic for so many reasons. One being the cover art, but it is also influential to Post-Punk and New Wave which directly inspired so much of the music I grew up loving. Some of the record gets a little repetitive for me, but I also can’t stop playing it. After hearing of Ian Curtis’ tragic story, it makes some of these lyrics hit way harder. It makes the dark aesthetic so much darker. I knew I’d love this, but put off listening to it for so many years. I finally got it on 1001, and now I can’t wait to hear Closer. A loaded gun won’t set you free, so you say.
Listened while reading Murakami's 1Q84. It matched the vibe perfectly. But I wouldn't listen on a daily basis. I'm not cool enough.
I prefer Closer but this is a pretty good album. Couple of tracks I'm not mad about. 3.5
joy division is sick. i love this one. 8/10
This was better that’s the first Joy division album I listened to, but not by much. I’m just not much of a fan and don’t know why they had more than one album on the list.
This is a great album to me, but I wonder what it'd be like going in blind... Oh well. A review isn't about what others think.
Foundational record for gen-X brits. It's all brilliant but side 2, especially, is a run of absolute masterpieces.
It is a good album and notable historically, but I don't think the songs are strong enough front to back for me to really get into it. I much prefer the follow up album, which to me is one of the best of the 80's.
The best album debut in the history of music. Simply fantastic. Of course I had heard of Joy Division before, kind of like hearing of a leyend or a myth, but I had not gotten to listen to any of their songs. I went into this album with no expectations, and to my surprise I discovered a whole new world. From the first line of Disorder, I knew that was it, I instantly got carried away into a new dimension. Reviewers here say this is gloomy, moody and depressing, I personally feel this is uplifting instead. There's a beauty in the somberness of its verses and musical composition that it doesn't weigh down on the listener, it rather transcends the thoughtful sadness and transforms it into something beautiful and soul touching.
A JOY to listen to!
Ok if in the right mood. Mostly instrumental
Boring
buns
Some friends tried to turn me on to this album a few years ago and I didn’t think much of it. But after a relisten it was clear why so many people love this band.
I know nothing about this album except for its cover. This started ok but tracks were hit or miss (insight's vocals were meh). It's wild that this is from the 70s, many tracks sounds like NIN or the 90s. This led to some cool ambient stuff, so that was neat. 3*
This is fantastic, should listen to them more
Great album. Ian Curtis was amazing. Love Peter Hook’s playing.
Listening to this list has helped me appreciate the post punk movement, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I love it.
This has to be punk at it’s absolute gloomiest. The reverb of the guitars, the depressed nature of the lyrics, the agony of it all, beautifully expressed by Ian Curtis. Imagine a very depressed Misfits. That’s this album. I won’t consider this a masterpiece. The gloom can get a little too off-putting at times. And it is an acquired taste for punk, lacking the high-energy in favor of dredge. But I really do jive with this darkness. It feels ahead of its time, influencing the likes of industrial and gothic rock, which I’m admittly a sucker for. It takes a bit of effort for any form of media to disturb me. This is one of the few that managed to do so. Favorite track: She’s Lost Control Other hits: New Dawn Fades, Insight, Disorder, Shadowplay, Wilderness
Never listened to this album before. I like a lot of this. It certainly reminds me of a certain type of 80s music that seems to be forgotten compared to the pop sensibilities that most people associate with the 80s. This album coming in 1979 was influential in so much of the music of the following decade. Considering how "early" the album is, it sounds more polished and more consistent than I might expect. I'm going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars; but ultimately the great "sound" of the album and enough songs climbing out of the doldrums push me to give it 4 stars.
Yeah, nah. Disappointed overall. Once. I would have loved it. The mood of my decade in my 20s. Definately once, but not now. Best thing is the album graphic now. 2 stars being generous.
Alternative music. Weird.
I really liked parts of this album, but the out of key bass parts weren’t fun
geðveik
Sometimes you just know something will be good straight away. The drum and bass intro to Disorder did it for me. Uptempo stuff when the guitars and vocals come in. Second track Day of the Lords is much slower, measured, moody building stuff with the bass and guitars interweaving. There's so many great basslines but New Dawn Fades stands out with its rumbling low end and emotional guitars. Brilliant track. She's Lost Control and Shadowplay are of the same quality, what a 3 track run. My only criticism: the drums sound a bit clicky to me. I can forgive it.
Bass was sexually arousing. Vocals were nice, but slightly lacking at time (not very much but still noticeable). In general, very nice.
This album changed music forever. Some of the most genius basslines ever written. Amazing. Incredible. 5 Stars.
Familiar sound, I know the band name, but an album I've never listened to before. Ian Curtis' vocals are the only hurdle I had to enjoying this record, he's flat and boring and sounds like a someone trying to be a singer who isn't a singer. Bands live and die by the frontman, it's a fact. Apparently "post punk" was slow and plodding. This album is dark and sludgy, a far cry from the New Order sound they would soon develop. The percussion is dreadful & robotic. I love old Cure songs from the same time, but they have amazing musicianship to back up the gloom and doom and there's a ray of hope in the vocals, light at the end of the tunnel if you will, not so much here. Outside of "Shadowplay" (someone finally realized there was a guitar in the room!), I didn't truly enjoy a single song, though I didn't hate them either. Would never listen to this record again, but I can say I gave it a go!
So fucking good at so fucking young.
Joy Division proving joy is optional.
I’ve always seen this shirts. cool shirts. Terrible album.
Better than a lot of other albums on this list but not good enough for me to add to my collection.
Did not enjoy this
I never understood why this group was so popular. This was pretty bad all around — some OK songs, mopey/dumb lyrics, didn’t like the vocals.
I would like to like this album more. Then I could justify wearing the t shirt or owning the record, with some of the coolest artwork ever. But I just think it’s good, not great.
A somewhat enjoyable, if somewhat generic listen
Este es un disco invernal. La lluvia golpea la ventana afuera, el cielo es gris y miserable, no puedes salir, no hay nadie con quién juntarse, no hay internet ni redes sociales. Podrías estar leyendo, dibujando, practicando la guitarra o alguna otra cosa, pero no, prefieres escuchar este monumento a la depresión.
Pretty good, I like the instrumentals but the vocals get old after a while. I didn’t realize this album was from the 70s!
Certainly one of the best post punk albums, a genre I'm not keen on, but they make it work. Their is something of The Doors about this that I can't quite place why...4*
Be still my heart It's just as I remember and I love it
peak
This album felt like I should be going to the theater to watch a stage play or musical, which would have made this so much better if I had. Yet listening to this on its own just relaxing and eating breakfast, I didn’t really enjoy it much. It wasn’t unlistenable thankfully, but still nothing I ever want to revisit again.
Nothing I can say. Just great
Love New Order but never gave Joy Division a big listen before. Liking that it's more rock-adjacent. Wow, they only did 2 albums? Ian Curtis died at only 23??? I like the bass playing in a lot of this.
It's alright. Very emo/goth sounding to my ears, which isn't a bad thing. It's just not my listening mood right at this moment.
Very moody album. Not sure if I like the singing. But the guitar and sound definitely works. 3/5
I see where the moodiness of our generation comes from
5/5
It kinda sounded like the smiths, or maybe some other band thats similar to that. Singing was bad lol i dont know if i can look past that
What this list is for. Iconic cover, of course, so much so I'm embarrassed I haven't already taken the time to look up and listen to the actual album; I always meant to. Moody, interesting, but some glaring weaknesses in places, especially vocally. I'm finding Unknown Pleasures doesn't speak to me as strongly as the best Cure does. Still, absolutely deserves a spot on this list for historical import and cultural impact. I've got to go full marks for this one.
already heard but i might as well run it back since i didn’t really get it first time
It was meh.
Perfection. Amazing record.
Too depressing
Didn’t really stand out to me. I kind of liked it’s discordance.
I heard New Order before I heard Joy Division. I preferred New Order and had a tough time understanding the appeal of Joy Division until very recently. It took a video from Henry Rollins on his vinyl collection talking about Unknown Pleasures for me to give it another chance. I guess I've changed in musical tastes because I'm starting to get it now. The album was competing with Off The Wall, The Wall, London Calliing, and Breakfast in America. Easy for me to draw the line from this album to what would become alt.
7.5/10! This album was solid except for the lead vocals. For me, the weak off key singing just doesn't really hit. Maybe it was his voice. But the music itself wasn’t bad, it’s great for background listening but I found it difficult to actively listen to the album
Joy Division feels like a rite of passage for many. You have childhood, adolescence, and then your “Joy Division phase.” Let’s be honest, most of us went through it! Either that, or Joy Division became more of a fashion statement in recent decades. Regardless, they were a band that I enjoyed during my early 20s. The darkness in their music, mixed with that raw, punk aesthetic, really struck a chord. The use of synths to create a cold, empty atmosphere was one of my favorite elements. I might not listen to them anymore, because I got my fill 20 years ago, but their influence is undeniable. They left a massive mark on post punk during the late ’70s and early ‘80s, and they made a comeback in the early 2000s, especially with indie bands like Interpol and even mainstream acts like The Killers. It’s also fascinating how New Order emerged from the ashes of Joy Division, transitioning into a much brighter, uplifting sound, another band that has stayed one of my all time favorites.
Such a haunting record. Ian Curtis broods over every track like a man possesed.
Liked this album when released and bought it. Loved the atmospheric depressive nature and general feeling of despair in the music. I do still occasionally listen when I’m in the mood and derive great enjoyment when doing so. I sometimes like to wallow in my own misery and this is a great record to accompany that mood. A really great record which I consider to be a return to serious sounding music after the three chord punk period. Never saw them live but in my memory I can recollect Ian Curtis’s trademark dancing on She’s Lost Control Again or was it Shadowplay? Must look on YouTube to remind myself. It’s a sight to behold. My one gripe with Joy Division is their single Love Will Tear Us apart Again, the tune of which is used by opposing supporters to take the piss out of Leeds United (something about falling apart again) As that song does not appear on this or any other Joy Division it this is the one and only time I can vent my anger at that and wished that they had somehow put another syllable into the title to prevent its use in such a juvenile way especially when it is such a great song. 4/5 29/9/24
So-so music and the singing not that great. Weird music comes to mind.
I didn't know what to think... It was ok? I guess It's not really music for me.
Good working music
Not great, not bad. 3/5.
Grupo y disco fundamental. Poco hay que añadir, escucharlo y dejarse llevar. Ian Curtis - voces Bernard Sumner - guitarra, teclados Peter Hook - bajo Stephen Morris - batería Producción : Martin Hannett. Diseño: Peter Saville No incluye «Transmission». Otros discos de 1979, el año del "Disco sucks" y también de maravillas como: The Police-Reggatta De Blanc, THE CLASH - London calling, VAN MORRISON - Into the music, NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE - Rust never sleeps y Live Rust, AC/DC - Highway to hell, PAUL COLLINS BEAT - The Beat, THE CURE - Three imaginary boys, The Undertones- The Undertones, THE B-52'S - The B-52's, GRAHAM PARKER - Squeezing out sparks, THE KNACK - Get the knack, The wall de Pink Floyd, Armed Forces de Elvis Costello & The Attractions, We Are Family de Sister Sledge, Look Sharp! de Joe Jackson, Spirits Having Flown de Bee Gees, Breakfast in America de Supertramp, Y de The Pop Group, Voulez-Vous de ABBA , Bad Girls de Donna Summer, Lodger de David Bowie, Discovery Electric Light Orchestra, Exposed y Platinum de Mike Oldfield, Fear of Music Talking Heads, Off the Wall de Michael Jackson, Quadrophenia deThe Who, Reggatta de Blanc de The Police, Prince de Prince, Damn the Torpedoes de Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers , One Step Beyond... de Madness, The Specials de The Specials, Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants\" de Stevie Wonder, Metal Box de Public Image Ltd., Risque de Chic, Real to Real Cacophony y Life in a day de Simple Minds
Cool start out with the bassline. Truly I don't mind it so far, good balance of sound production.
Fun listen
The defacto hipster T-shirt! The worst parts of Radiohead combined with the worst parts of Interpol. Fav Track: Disorder
Classic post-punk/early New Wave. Good but wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it. 7/10
immer noch aktuell obwohl das Album schon so alt ist - zeitloser Rock - genial
Very grandiose and experimental sounding. I can see why people put this album near or at the top of their lists for best album of all time. I can hear some punk influences and how later bands and artists pick up and expanded on the influences it provides. I can see myself putting a song or two in my repeat rotation. 8/10
Much too depressing for me
This is what 80s “alternative rock” sounded like. If you like 80s alternative rock, you can listen to this. Or the Cure. Or the Smiths. Or Echo & the Bunnymen. Or maybe even the Pixies.
First two and last two songs were the best here, but the album was just okay. Terrible name for the sound.
The Joy Division brought me very little joy. The music was alright, but I did not like the singer.
3/5
i didn’t like it that much
Pre-listening thoughts: I feel like I’ve heard of Joy Division but I could not tell you anything about them or any of their songs. I feel like they’re associated with bands like The Cure in terms of genre? Could be wrong Post/during listening thoughts: something about the vocal production on track 1 is kinda wonky. But it’s a good song nonetheless. There was a review of this album that said something along the lines of “I should have liked this a lot but I didn’t” and that’s how I’m feeling right now. It’s post punk and I love a lot of post punk but man this is just not hitting the right points for me. Sometimes it sounds like he’s singing into a tin can and I don’t enjoy that. It’s just kind of boring post punk. Lacking the necessary energy and variety for me 4.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: day of the lords, interzone Least fav tracks: disorder and insight but only cause of the vocal production, I Remember Nothing
I've seen several films about Joy Division, but all of them included live performances of the band, which were far more energetic and loud. Strangely, I never listened to this album before, assuming it would be similar, but it's clearly a very different beast. This sounds like a darker Fall, also a little like early Bauhaus. There's more goth than punk/ new wave, which immediately hit the right buttons for me. After my first listen I felt like a need for a second listen, having found some tracks clicked first time, but there was too much to take in from a single listen. This reinforced my feeling that this is a definite 5 star album. The production stands out here, as there's a sense of some sort of architectural construction in each track that invokes a feeling of depth. Just as the album cover shows how a two dimensional image can give the effect of being in three dimensions, the production makes you feel like you could place each instrument in a three dimensional space. Strangely, there's also something very "danceable" about this album, even with the bleak vocal delivery and subject matter. If I had heard this album back when it first came out, I would probably have been a devoted fan. In some ways I'm actually glad I only stumbled across this album in 2024, as it's so good, it might have had a blinkering effect on me. Okay, fifth time through, this is incredible! This is something special, one of the best albums I've ever heard. This is obsessive stuff; I need to stop listening to this, it's too good.
The Ian Curtis biopic, Control, is one of my all-time favourite music-related films. In the context of that movie, Joy Division's music really works for me. Flawlessly. Outside that context, though, I appreciate how they broke new ground, and I appreciate the odd song. But overall, their debut is just a constant gloomy droning sound, claustrophobically produced, that prevails.
Much less intense than anticipated. All in all, a bit like listening to people politely learning how to play their instruments. Makes a lot of 90s band seem less interesting than first thought....
Felt generally kind of dull at first, but kept growing on me the more I listened to it.
So many of these songs had musicality and intros that a really dug, but the vibes were just a little too off for me. As others have pointed out the vocals are a big turn off. I liked a few of the songs, but there was nothing that really hooked me on this record. Reading the lyrics, it sounded like there were some interesting ideas there, but they just didn't connect with my ear. Feels like sacrilege because I know how iconic this album is, but I'm met with a little bit of a shrug.
Iconic cover art. Music does the job well. I’m sent into a darker place at 10AM on a Thursday, wondering about the purpose of my existence and what mistakes, regrets, and hesitations led us all into this numbed normalcy, a purgatory plagued by corporate greed. Clearly I cannot listen to this on the daily. I never could fully get into Joy Division but I think this album has some enchanting lyricism and clever beats. I enjoyed it!
Well that's a name to conjure with. Was it unknown? Well it was by me. Was it a pleasure? No, can't really say it was. Oh, don't get me wrong, it wasn't crap, but it wasn't for me either. But it was worth a 2.
A solid 3. Great bass obviously.
One of the most influential albums ever made, and one of my top 50 of all time. Every generation has its Joy Division inspired bands, from The Cure, Interpol, to The Murder Capital. Ironically, the band initially disliked Martin Hannet's production, (I believe the drums were recorded in a toilet for the acoustics) - it was quite visionary for its time, but they eventually did come to appreciate it. Sumner's glorious guitar playing, Hook's melodic bass, and of course Curtis's introspective lyrics and distinctive vocals created a dark and brooding atmosphere. There isn't a bad track. TmFrom the sad minor key of 'Day of the Lords' to the punkier 'Shadowplay'. My personal favourite is 'New Dawn Fades'. the last time I played this album was on a flight to Venice, and I ended up with that track as an ear worm for 5 solid days. It nearly drove me mad.... Its one the best albums by one of the best bands ever. 100% 5 star job
Makes nice background working music. Big fan of the guitar notes. You don’t wonder to yourself “when will it end” The vocals aren’t it for me, so that costs some points. Can see how Nirvana might have been inspired by this, but took it up a notch. <<< Disorder, I remember nothing
Much more interesting than some would lead you to suggest. Better than most of its imitators. 4/5
About as bleak as music can get. Have seen other reviews that admire the bare, industrial sound of the album but personally it's not for me. I really disliked the sparse nature of the production, the vocals and incessant sound effects. Day of the Lords and Interzone the pick of the tracks. I found Candidate, She's Lost Control, Wilderness and I remember nothing almost unlistenable. I definitely preferred the slightly 'riff-ier' stuff. Really disliked the album, completely not to my taste. Nothing even slightly memorable and won't be revisiting. 3/10.
perfect for this autumn weather :3
Wow. I've heard of this group and album before and I thought I'd heard good things, but this was just kinda... bad. The signing on Insight but actually super bad and amateurish. Some parts of the melody were painfully flat and just bad, bad, bad. The rest of the album was alright, but nothing really noteworthy, just kinda meh synthpop. One star.
Хотя музыка и приятная, но альбом совсем не запомнился. New wave в современном виде напоминает слабо, хотя это даже и нравится (как будто экспериментальный альбом слушаешь).
Fhú, ez nekem mélységesen nem jött be. :D Bizonyos szempontból van azon a szinten, mint az EWaF: soha többet hallani se akarom :D
nem éppen a songs of my people ( :D ) , és továbbra se fogom hallgatni csak úgy magamtól, de kifogástalan zene ez attól még, és egy percet nem unatkoztam közben.
Finally got around to listening to this record. It's known as one of the quintessential albums of the genre and likely the beginning of the new wave sound. I thought it was interesting and I can appreciate the production, but for the most part I wasn't too into the music. I can see how this was such a revolutionary record though.
A bleak album with some interesting production. I do like this and I appreciate its legacy, but I don’t love it. I’m just not super into the sound of a lot of post-punk in general
Life changing album, seeing this so lowly rated here is pretty disgusting
Very good album Favourite tracks She’s Lost Control Day Of The Lords Shadowplay Least favourite All great tracks but if I had to choose probably I Remember Nothing
Bit too doomer for me. I only knew shadowplay going into this album because of the Killers cover.
Disorder - yeah it's a song Day of the Lords - no Candidate - no Insight - no New dawn fades - hmmm She's lost control - no Shadowplay - hmmm Wilderness - I don't remember listening to this Interzone - hmmm I remember nothing - no I did not enjoy this album. Sorry
Not as depressing as I thought it was going to be. Still not really my thing overall.
Sé que Joy Division es una banda reconocida y este álbum es famoso como uno de los más influyentes, pero para mi no es un estilo que me diga nada, entiendo que la fuerza estará en la letra, parte que no puedo disfrutar tanto, pero a nivel musical si bien es un estilo punk que parece ser afín a mucha de la música de este estilo, no acabo de ver diferencias entre canciones a nivel musical, parece lo mismo pero con ligeras diferencias
Damn. What an album. I've heard plenty of good things about Unknown Pleasures in the time leading up to me finally listening to this album, and I've gotta say that it did not disappoint. This album is absolutely fascinating. There's a lot that I could say about it. The sound is great. It's bleak, but not entirely unpleasant to listen to. Ian Curtis's vocals are a bit haunting, especially when you take his lyrics and his life story in to account. Speaking of which, the writing is great. It's very deep and personal, and I love it. There's some great songs on here. The opener "Disorder" is pretty good. The back-to-back string of "New Dawn Fades" and "She's Lost Control" is amazing. Even the weaker songs like "Wilderness" are still pretty good. The pacing is perfect. I also really like the album cover. It's neat. I really like this album. It's not my favorite, but I could see it growing on me over time. Still, I can absolutely see why so many people consider this to be a masterpiece. Light 5/5.
I am supposed to like this more than I do. But all I wanted to do was go to the mall to buy Doc Martin's.
I didn’t like a single song. If I could do 0 Stars I would.
augljóslega mjög gott, full eintóna. 4,5.
Didn't do anything for me at all. Not musically interesting, and the singing didn't appeal to me
I really wanted to say that I liked it but I would be lying. Look, it's not bad but it's not good either, it's like a 5/10
One of my top albums of all time. Love it. 5/5
This is the kind of thing I should like, but I just don't. Maybe I needed to listen first as a teenager? Can't get over the complete lack of control with the vocals. Painfully out of tune, like pretty much all of the time, without any character that can excuse that. Interzone was ok, but you had to wait until the end of the album to get there.
One of the vibiest albums ever. Brings me back to college
2 out of 5. I don't mind slow music but this album isn't floating my boat.
Good album. With how much post-punk I've started to enjoy the last several years, I feel like I haven't spent nearly enough time with Joy Division. Closer is a decent album too, but I think I like this one a bit more.
Good album, but I don't love it like I'm supposed to. I enjoy it and I think I do like it a bit more on each listen. Still, it's not something I find myself coming back to often. 3.25/5
I’ll always slightly prefer Closer, the uglier younger sibling, but this is an amazing debut, and sounds as biting as ever. A-
Gloomy, but more interesting than The Who
Chad.
Significantly better than their other album. 3.5
Really good instrumental, bad vocal audio quality.
After reading about Ian Curtis’s tragic life and death, it’s hard to listen to this album without hearing it as something between a half-hearted cry for help and a long-form suicide note of sorts. Clearly the lyrics of someone tortured by powerful demons. But that’s the way it goes sometimes - art and depression going hand in hand, the one influencing the other for better and for worse. But there’s a lot to love here. And the sad story behind the band’s frontman adds depth and significance to the album. I read a description of Joy Division on their Spotify bio that I think sums it up perfectly, “a quiet storm of musical restraint and emotive power.” 4/5 Highlights: Disorder Day of the Lords Shadowplay Interzone
Brilliant throughout, loved it one of the best albums I've listened to, shadow play probably my favourite track on the album.
4 - cool sound but not my thing Cool album art - actually how nasa discovered neutron stars I think
Joy Division: Important but shit. New Order: Less important, but less shit. I don't know this is heavy going isn't it? It's dour, bleak, tuneless, played by trained chimps apparently. It has a layer of pathos and intrigue due to Ian Curtis' struggles and suicide and his very original persona is everywhere but... I'd rather listen to some talented musicians playing some good songs on a pleasingly produced recording.
Perfectly simple, deliciously complex, and far more heartfelt than anyone ever gives them credit for. I feel I could listen on repeat for days and never tire of a single song.
Classic sound. Jamie XX owes a lot to Ian Curtis
I always lowkey thought this album was overrated. Yes it has a t shirt worthy album cover but past that and a select couple of tracks like disorder I was never super engaged by this album like other people. I get that it’s very influential and important in certain ways but that doesn’t help the fact that I get bored listening to this.
The music is not bad however a few songs are a little repetitive at times. Liked tracks: Disorder, Shadowplay
Sounds a bit like a mix of Talking Heads and the Doors. 3 stars or C+ for me but that might improve some on a second listen.
I was a bit disappointed with this one. You really have to be in a mood to get something out of it. Not even a bad mood or depressed mood, just something different than a feeling of just existing I guess. This is the 3rd album I’ve listened to and maybe it’s me but I really feel the blues in this one. I wouldn’t suggest a first time listener to listen to this album though. Choice cut: New Dawn Fades
Yeah, it's pretty good, but Blue Monday has the whole album covered
A haunting piece of art. 3.5/5
sad british boys clock in! eerie vocals / guitar really evokes being sad numb and hopeless! finally glad to know the album from the t shirt 🙏
I do not like Joy Division
Can't believe I've never heard this before. Liked the production, isolated and distant.
As much as I want it to be overrated, it's just not. Great stuff.
did not like - makes me wonder why everyone wears that t-shirt??
Cool vibe, felt like proto-Talking Heads almost?
Never been a fan but it wasn't terrible
classic album that is really easy to listen to but also incredibly innovative and creative considering the time that it was made. It's easy to see the influence on a lot punk, indie, pop, and garage music going forward.
Reminds me of a mix of the Doors and Velvet Underground. Some of the songs drone on a bit, but most were solid.
This is #day9 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... how many times must I have died listening to this record? Joy Division happened to me in 2008, when I was 18. I guess it was tied with that Control movie by Anton Corbijn, The Killers' cover of Shadowplay, which I didn't first know was a cover (I still cherish that Sawdust compilation, btw), and also my then infatuation with Interpol (how come Turn On The Bright Lights isn't on this list?!) Funny how I didn't quite like what I heard when I first turned on Unknown Pleasures. "A 50-year-old tired man struggling to get through the stark darkness of minimal post-punk", my first impression was. But, time went by, and I kept coming back to Unknown Pleasures... Now, have I discovered those pleasures? I'm not sure (actually, I prefer questioning things to finding answers to them, so I don't mind keeping it unknown; isn't that what pleasure is about?) But as I'm writing these words and listening to this album for not even a tenth time in my life, I must admit it has become an essential part of me and my taste in music, rooted in the '80s indie and alternative. I don't get to listen to this album that often, but when I do, it's always a "special moment in time". I think, however, I'll stay in a camp of those (how many of you are out there?) enjoying more of an "in-the-flat-field" type of Joy Division, like "Day Of The Lords," "Candidate," "New Dawn Fades," and "I Remember Nothing." This is a "me-in-my-own-world" music. A solid 5 this time. Looking forward to #day10.
cool but not much diverse
Really liked how stripped back this is. Good mix of styles as well. No real standout songs to me, all were pretty solid. 4.5/5 still not sure if I’ll rate up or down yet.
Classic album for sure but not my jam
Shame, shame, shame on me. I thought Joy Division started making music in the 2010s. Oopsie. 3/5
Intresting, impressive that it came out in 1979. Enjoyed it instrumentally but the vocals and/or lyrics were a miss for me.
doomy and decent
Own this, good reason to dig out the vinyl. Underplayed.
I feel like I have to like this album. it is a OK album, nothing that puts me way over the top.
Dark and punky and cool. Maybe I'm just a hipster at heart.
Dark and brooding. Love it
Depressive as expected but not too bad
There's so much to be said about this album. It is perhaps the most important album in the post punk and goth scenes. The influence runs incredibly deep. It was the only Joy Division album released during Ian Curtis's short lifetime, though he wouldn't see their later success. Interestingly, 'Unknown Pleasures' has none of the songs that Joy Division would become famous for. For those, you'll want to listen to the excellent singles collection, 'Substance', which is arguably a better introduction to the band. But 'Unknown Pleasures' also represents the purest document of Joy Division, the bleak soundscapes and depression-fueled lyrics by Curtis. The band members famously attended a small Sex Pistols concert in Manchester before they formed and the punk sound was strongly felt in their early pre-album releases and live shows. But also present here is the influence of Bowie's Berlin Era albums. It would take Martin Hannett and his unusual (particularly for punk bands) production techniques to really create the album's sound. Equally, this is Hannett's most famous work, as he had completely freedom to record whatever sounds he felt could compliment the songs. In truth, the band and Hannett needed one another, and both needed Factory Records to keep it altogether. The label's anarchist-tinged philosophy protected them all from the kind of interference that a major label might have insisted upon. It all came together to create the perfect storm for a few short years. Later, the world lost Curtis and the newly formed New Order would embrace Italian dance music to become one of the biggest bands of the 1980s. Many others would take Joy Division's style and run with it. But 'Unknown Pleasures' remains a unique document in music history.
I have never been able to get into Joy Division and I don't think I ever will sORRRRYY
I’ve never truly known the pleasures of this album myself….
Joy Division has never clicked with me in any meaningful way. Enjoyed this listening the most that I ever have. which is not a lot.
I am at a point in my life where I can enjoy things devoid of irony and expectation... this is like the biggest meme album ever and obviously its the t-shirt of the century... but I can say with certainly devoid of influence that this album is just okay! lol. I am a way bigger new order fan and always found joy division to be pretty underwhelming
Love it
Joy Division is a kind of precursor to Nirvana in that they got their fame and accolades as a result of their lead singer removing himself from the gene pool. And just like Nirvana, Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures is a mediocre output that was popularized for reasons other than 'good music'. 3/5.
Very important. Five stars
Overall an album about depression and epilepsy and how alienated one feels when experiencing this reality. New Dawn Fades sounds amazing, instant favorite She's lost control is very sad Shadowplay is another great one Wilderness is also great. The album certainly picked up with NDF. Interzone is also great. Ian's voice was certainly something to behold Great closer! 7/10
Прикольный альбом, необычное звучание, чуть меланхоличный для лета
Sludge. And lots of it. You can see how prominent of a step Joy Division was in the ladder new wave made between punk and grunge.
I generally like Joy Division but I guess I don’t love Joy Division. The couple of albums I’ve listened to because of this project have only been pretty good rather than great. 3.5/5
I feel like most of the albums that are on this list are of the same genre and have the same sound- this album is no different. I am not a fan.
Bit on the dreary side. Not much happening 3 songs in. Quite liking Shadow play.
Did Jim Morrison come back to life for a day just to channel a bootleg Smiths premonition in his garage? I found neither joy nor pleasures on this ruthlessly depressing album.
One of the post punk/goth great albums of all time!
I almost went as low as a 1 for this record but decided against it. The vocalist is obnoxious and somehow makes every single track less enjoyable. The instrumentation is the only saving grace for this one.
Excellent!
Highly enjoyed
Rarely has the phrase "genre-defining" been so applicable to an album. It's just that so many gothic, post-punk groups have drawn from this one singular album. Despite the incredibly upbeat sound of the intro 'Disorder', there is nothing gleeful about this album. It's all so metallic, industrial, atmospheric, and hazy, and it's all fronted by a very troubled lead vocalist in Ian Curtis - a man who puts all his feelings, or lack thereof, into each one of these songs, unveiling all the suffering and agony found in this world. At the same time, there's a level of monotony here, almost like clocking into your dead-end job 20 years into your career and realizing what's been wasted - this sudden sense of panic followed by immediate dread. A song like 'Day of the Lords' slowly trudges on as Curtis' vocals sound like a lost soul howling from the bottom of a well - begging for some sort of relief. Peter Hook's basslines here defy what it means to be a bassist - they're impossibly catchy, sticky, and, more than anything, present. On a song like 'She's Lost Control', he's guiding this song with his high-pitched melodic picking style which paints the spine-chilling infrastructure that this song builds upon. Lyrically, it's not hard to grasp the vivid imagery related to suffering, fear, and distress Ian portrays in this song as he describes his confused state while witnessing the epileptic episode of a woman. One thing I love about this song is the subtle and muffled cries in the background (I think they're there at least - or maybe this song makes me hear things). The reverb sound of Joy Division is so perfectly captured in this one song - it's one of the greatest songs of all time. Another highlight here is the cinematic 'New Dawn Fades', which has some of Ian's more direct lyrics relating to his deteriorating mental state, painting it as "running through fire" and "not being able to take much more". I also love how emotive his vocals are in the latter part of the song. 'Shadowplay' might be the most fiery punk track here, with Sumner's soaring guitar solos driving this song. "Shadowplay acting out your own death" is also such a kickass line. I love 'Interzone' - as it's almost a throw-back style for Joy Division - harkening back to their debut EP. When I first heard this album it was way back in my music journey, in fact, I'd say it's one of the first punk albums I've ever heard (I heard their incredible follow-up 'Closer' before this though). So I didn't really "get it" fully, but I knew from the very start that this was special. Years and years later, revisiting this, after all the music I've heard, there is still LITERALLY nothing that sounds like this to me. 'Unknown Pleasures', to this day, managed to pioneer a genre all while still sounding so unique and instantly recognizable.
Pretty kewl
I enjoyed it. I feel i’ve tried to listen to it 3 or 4 times before but I felt a new feeling listening to it tonight. but is some part of me listening to it as if it’s feminist ironic punk?
Il y a des jours, dans ce projet un peu fou des "1001 albums", où l'on tombe sur un disque qu'on connaît par coeur et qu'on a usé jusqu'à la corde. Et puis, il y a des jours où l'on tombe sur "Unknown Pleasures". Et là, ce n'est plus tout à fait la même chose. On ne se contente pas de l'écouter. On se recueille. Parler de ce disque, c'est comme essayer de décrire le vide de l'espace en ne regardant qu'une seule étoile. C'est une tâche vouée à l'échec, mais bordel, il faut bien essayer. Commençons par le commencement, par ce qui est devenu une icône pop, un putain de t-shirt que des ados portent sans même savoir ce que c'est : la pochette. Ce graphique blanc sur fond noir, oeuvre de Peter Saville, représentant les ondes d'un pulsar. Jamais une image n'a aussi parfaitement incarné le son qu'elle contenait. C'est froid, clinique, mathématique, et pourtant ça hurle une angoisse cosmique. C'est un électrocardiogramme de l'âme à l'instant précis où elle décide de tout lâcher. Rien que pour ça, on sait qu'on ne va pas écouter un disque pour faire la vaisselle. En 1979, le punk a déjà balancé son glaviot à la face du monde et commence à se regarder le nombril. L'Angleterre de Thatcher pointe le bout de son nez, grise, industrielle et sans espoir. Et du côté de Manchester, ce trou du cul du monde ravagé par la crise, quatre types vont ériger une cathédrale de béton et de verre brisé. La première mandale, c'est le son. Oubliez tout ce que vous savez sur le rock. Martin Hannett, le producteur, n'a pas enregistré un groupe, il a sculpté un espace sonore. Chaque instrument est isolé, baigné dans une réverbération glaciale, comme s'ils jouaient chacun dans une pièce différente d'un hangar désaffecté. La batterie de Stephen Morris n'est pas un battement de coeur, c'est une horloge implacable, le tic-tac d'une bombe à retardement. La guitare de Bernard Sumner, ce ne sont pas des riffs, ce sont des éclats de verre, des lames de rasoir qui déchirent le silence. Et puis, il y a cette basse. La basse de Peter Hook. Mon Dieu, cette basse. Elle ne soutient pas, elle mène la danse macabre. Haut perchée, mélodique, obsédante. C'est elle, la véritable voix du désespoir, le chant funèbre qui court tout le long de l'album. C'est la première chose que l'on entend, et la dernière que l'on oublie. Par-dessus tout ça, il y a Ian Curtis. On ne peut pas parler de Joy Division sans parler de lui. Sa voix, ce n'est pas du chant, c'est une incantation. Un baryton d'outre-tombe qui ne cherche pas à séduire, mais à témoigner. Il y a une distance, une froideur clinique dans sa façon de poser les mots, comme s'il était déjà ailleurs, un observateur de sa propre déchéance. Les textes sont à l'avenant : l'aliénation, la maladie, la mort, l'impossibilité de communiquer. "I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand". On sait très bien de quel guide il parle, et ça vous glace le sang. Cet album est une autopsie à coeur ouvert. Il n'y a pas de single évident, pas de refrain pour chanter en choeur dans un stade. "Disorder", "She's Lost Control", "Shadowplay"... Chaque titre est un clou de plus sur le cercueil. C'est une musique qui ne vous prend pas par la main, elle vous pousse dans le dos au bord du précipice et vous regarde tomber. C'est lent, lourd, et pourtant ça vous donne une envie irrépressible de bouger, de danser comme un épileptique sous stroboscope, ce qui, connaissant l'histoire de Curtis, prend une dimension terriblement prophétique. Le mythe, bien sûr, a été scellé par la tragédie. C'est le seul et unique album sorti de son vivant. Un an plus tard, il se pendait dans sa cuisine. À partir de cet instant, "Unknown Pleasures" n'était plus un disque, c'était un testament. Une chronique annoncée de sa propre mort. Et ça, ça change tout. Chaque écoute devient une quête d'indices, chaque parole une clé pour comprendre l'incompréhensible. Cet album est passé de mains en mains et des générations de jeunes se l'ont procuré. D'abord les goths des années 80, pour qui c'était la bible. Puis les fans de cold wave, puis les indie kids des années 90 qui découvraient que Nirvana n'avait rien inventé. Presque 50 après, "Unknown Pleasures" n'a pas vieilli. Et d'ailleurs, il ne le pourrait pas car il est né vieux, hors du temps, comme un bloc de granit. Il n'a rien à voir avec son époque, et c'est pour ça qu'il parle à toutes les époques. Il ne cherche pas à plaire, il EST. Ce n'est pas un disque qu'on "aime". C'est un disque qu'on subit, qu'on endure, et qui, au final, vous marque au fer rouge. C'est une expérience nécessaire. Un chef-d'oeuvre absolu, froid et intransigeant. Le genre de disque qui vous fait dire que, décidément, la musique peut aller bien plus loin que le simple divertissement. Un 5/5 et cela semble presque insuffisant. On devrait d'ailleurs inventer une note spéciale pour ce genre de monument. Son successeur posthume, "Closer", est également dans la liste. Une autre messe noire nous attend. J'ai hâte, et en même temps, j'appréhende. C'est ça, la force de Joy Division.
Another band that I know of, but don’t really know, it’s not bad. I had it playing at work and nothing really stood out, but I can see how it was influential at the time.
I think I’d need listen to this one a few more times to get it. Pre goth, super mopey - not a go to album for me. Not bad, some great riffs and snippets.
Meh, not sure what all the fuss is about -- I wasn't all that intrigued by the album
This was probably ground zero for Goth Rock. One of the most disconcerting albums in rock history. But still a timeless classic!
So weird, so dark. Love it.
Not my kind of music, im sure other people enjoy it tho!
It could be a five I think it just needs a few more listens
I mean come on
It grew on me over the course of the album. Warrants a second listen.
Nerds! <3
One of the greatest albums ever made. Hannett’s production and Curtis’ lyrics and amazing and capture the edgy, raw feelings of a city on the cusp of decline and rebirth.
this album epitomises the emergence of post-punk, made unique with its instantly recognisable basslines of peter hook and the melancholic baritone vocals of ian curtis. curtis’s lyrics are one of the biggest contributing factors to my rating of the album, and are profound and poetic, and allow the listener to glimpse into his psyche. some of my favourite tracks included disorder, new dawn fades, interzone and shadowplay, for their ingenious riffs, bass lines and lyrics. for me, there were some slower areas, such as day of the lords, which pushed this album down from a 5. the influence and impact of this album must also be considered, and the fact that it is so well renowned corroborates my rating. even today, 45 years after its release, the album is still influential, notably i thought in the band fontaines dc, who have magpied those strong basslines and bleak lyricism.
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background So sparse. Album as a whole really steps it up a notch starting with New Dawn Fades (the clear favorite of mine on here).
Pity that the two albums was all we got from them. Great band and I love how dark this is.
Kind of strange. I kind of liked some of it.
This album is a vibe and it is good. I really enjoyed this and it holds up pretty well for an album that's almost 50 years old. Moody, awesome bass grooves, and fun to listen to. The songs are mostly similar, but it works foe this album. Day of the Lords is my favorite, but it's all good.
Not a fan, especially of the live tracks.
Random. A little strange.
Has a brooding but cool vibe
These songs kinda sneak up on you. Not gonna lie, kinda surprised, because I listened to this album years ago and found no enjoyment in it.
I don't any other album like this
Doing this in 1979 is really impressive, and it really nails post-punk vibes, but I just can't bring myself to like it all that much. I respect it for being an incredible debut record and for ushering in the 80s, and it's got an incredible concept that it sticks to through the whole runtime. I just don't vibe with it.
This one sets a mood and sticks with it throughout. Very good stuff. Favorites were Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, She’s Lost Control, and Shadowplay.