Closer

INPUT = {"artist": "Joy Division", "album": "Closer"} LINEUP = {"men": 4, "women": 0} FEATURED_ARTISTS = {"men": 0, "women": 0} TOTAL_MEN = 4 TOTAL_WOMEN = 0 WOMEN_PERCENTAGE = 0 OUTPUT = "Maximum score awarded. 5/5"

Distinct voice. Meditative beats.

Always loved this album.

Well, that was depressing. Yeah, I kinda knew that Joy Division's final album, Closer, was going to be on the darker and sadder side of albums on this list, but yeah it really is kind of haunting at times... and I love it. There is a part of me that feels a little bad for enjoying this as much as I did knowing the context regarding this album and Ian Curtis's death and the end of Joy Division as a band, but sad music appeals to me when it's done well, and Closer is a very well-made album. Dare I say, it's quite fantastic. Honestly, I'm not even sure whether it or Unknown Pleasures is better! It's genuinely a close enough call for me to say that it's a close call. Unknown Pleasures is probably better, but Closer is still excellent in many of the same ways. The somber writing, the brooding atmosphere of the instrumentals, and the audible depression of Ian Curtis's voice make for an unforgettable experience. I will say that this album really picks things up in the second half. The first half has some great songs, don't get me wrong. "Atrocity Exhibition" makes for an opening that immediately distinguishes itself from Unknown Pleasures with its unique drum groove and "Isolation" is probably the closest that you can get to a sound reminiscent of Joy Division's followup band New Order on any of the 2 Joy Division albums. But it's with the latter half where this album goes from pretty good to outstanding. "Heart and Soul" onward is just a perfect 4-song string. "Twenty Four Hours" is probably my favorite song on the album. I like the more intense atmosphere on that one. The guitars are a bit louder and dronier and I like that. And the album's closer, "Decades"? That one's not far behind. I don't know what else to say. I am really tired right now, so maybe that has something to do with it. But yeah, Closer is just amazing. Even without knowing the context surrounding the album and its release, Closer captured my attention with its bleak lyrics and emotive sound. It's a masterpiece. 5/5.

just too good <3 rip ian curtis

Here is where I confess that while I love immersive, percussive music with gloomy vocals, I never bought either Joy Division record back in the day. Which from my current perspective makes no sense; I suppose if I ever go back in a time machine, I will give 1980-me marching orders. This is especially dark considering Ian Curtis' sad demise shortly before its release. And of course as always the one song you'd want to hear most from this period is "Love Will Tear Us Apart," but it was a post-album single. But still, as I said above: music combined with vocals like this always works for me, so I really enjoyed this, especially the opening track "Atrocity Exhibition." I pondered 4 stars since this was my first listen, and I need to get into it more. However, I'm sure I'll want to listen to it again, so I'm giving it 5 stars, if nothing else than to encourage 1980-me to run out and buy a copy.

Whenever I listen to this album, I finish a song and say “wow, THAT is the best song on the album” and then I listen to the next song and the cycle repeats

Joy Division are always good. The bass guitar just drives every track on this album with a visceral energy.

This album gets "closer" to you than you might normally expect. It's truly dark, and it's truly brilliant. Not an album for everyone, but an album you should know.

I think I finally understand the hype of this band. after listening to all the garbage post-punk bands on here, this really does the best of the genre. It feels special. Probably won't listen to it much but It's definitely an album that needs to be on this list.

Fantastic album. Really pleased this made the cut. Amazing muscianship throughout. Many highlights and in paricular, 'exhibition atrocity' and 'heart and soul'. Berlin era Bowie influences throughout. Superb.

Great music wrapped in an excellent cover designed by Peter Saville and Martyn Atkins. Front layout is well considered with a fine border and some delicate type. The reverse and inner bag have been laid out with care. Factory records allowed the band's name to appear on the reverse and just the album title on the front. Very intelligent and mature attitude towards design from the record company, whilst not towing the major record company folklore about a record not selling unless the band's name was big and at the top of the sleeve. The photograph of the Appiani family tomb in Genoa's Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno was taken by Bernard Pierre Wolff in 1978. The tomb is a large work created & sculpted by Demetrio Paernio in 1910. Various versions printed on different card grades could have been on purpose, but more likely the printer's lack of consistency. Still, the overall package is lovely and enjoying the sleeve is part of enjoying the music.

Isolation & Heart and Soul big standouts Ian Curtis' voice is crazy for making this at ~22 sounds so much older and like he has such a clear sense of himself as an artist Weird how fun so many of the songs are despite also being depressing & sad

Overall: 10/10 I was surprised by how much I like this. I already knew I liked Unknown Pleasures so I knew I'd be down with this too, but I didn't expect to like it more than that one. Honestly, its the bass. The bass lines on this album are all timers. I have a 4 year old who wants to learn how to play bass and I might start by getting him to learn this album. Fav Song: Atrocity Exhibition

Closer to the end and closer to the beginning

i cannot express how much both this and unknown pleasures mean to me. this album is very haunting in a way, when it comes to tracks like isolation and the eternal i feel like you can hear how truly troubled ian was. and i think decades is absolutely brilliant, it has such a hopeless tone to it. i love the synths here and i do really wonder what they could have done if they had the chance to make a third album.

crucial album to jess.. i think i might prefer unknown pleasures but damn what an achievement of an album

Love this one. Would have been fascinating to see where they went from here. It is just an incredible album . Beautiful atmosphere.

I mean .... 6

I'm not going to attempt an actual review of Joy Division. This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

isolation 5/5 heart and soul 5/5 twenty four hours 5/5 the eternal 5/5 underrated

Excellent

When this album started, I wasn't really connecting to it again, like what had happened with their debut. But thankfully the albums got better as time went on and I ended up loving it by the time it finished. Ian Curtis is haunting here

Spectacular album.

Atrocity Exhibition Isolation Colony A Means to an End Twenty Four Hours

The greatest album. A vision into Ian Curtis’s heart of darkness. A masterpiece

Enjoyed it

4.5/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/joy-division/closer/ Influential for so much I listen to and just amazing throughout. Overshadowed by Unknown Pleasures a bit, but should listen to this more as it might be the better album.

Monday and a cold ass 21 degrees out. This album fits the scenario. I've had a pulled muscle in my back all weekend, but my dog loves this type of weather so I'm out in the elements trying to get over myself. The bass playing of Peter Hook is standout for me. Too bad they didn't have more albums. I think they had a pretty unique thing going at the time.

Let’s go

I was slightly familiar with these guys - having really liked Love Will Tear Us Apart and 3 of the songs on their first album Unknown Pleasures - but for some reason I never listened to this particular album. I can definitely hear their influence on bands I like - such as The Cure, Interpol, and She Wants Revenge and somewhat U2 and Radiohead. I really like the music on all of these - it does a great job of setting a mood. For example, the drums on the first song (Atrocity Exhibition) and many other songs are really cool. Also love the way they combine the guitars and synthesizers on many of the songs, and their use of the swirling and chiming guitars for ambient mood setting. Also they use the bass to drive melodies and mood in a cool way. I ended up liking all of the songs - just because the music is so good. Biggest issue for me is the singing - on some songs I find his voice very annoying but on others it's less so. I do think it sorta grows on you though, but I can't help but thinking how much better these guys would be with a better singer or if they did some as instrumentals. Maybe I need to take a closer look at New Order. Liked songs on Spotify: 9/9 (Perfect Album) Rating: 5/5 I have to give it 5 because I ended up liking all of the songs - but the voice still turns me off somewhat - so I'll have to listen to this when in the right mood.

Not an easy listen, but one that is rewarded by some patience and time. I'll admit that it took me awhile to get used to Ian's voice, but now I couldn't imagine these songs with any other singer. Exceptional.

What a strange and haunting record.

"the planes of his face did not seem to intersect correctly."

It's a dark and poignant album, with Ian Curtis's real-life pain apparent on every track. The songs are powerful and the recording is excellent, with Martin Hannett's production emphasising the starkness of the songs. It's not something I want to listen to all that often, but it's a landmark album all the same.

This is #day510 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… let's take a ride out, see what we can find, aka what a record to end the year with. Each song on Closer feels different from the next, almost as if they're uneasy being placed side by side; yet, together, they form a captivating narrative. Dark, lunatic, anxious, desperate, pensive... Musically and atmosphere-wise, this album is unlike anything else from its era: experimental, eerie, and unsettling. Lyrically, it might be the most poetic and emotionally exposed post-punk there is. I can't single out highlights, but "Twenty Four Hours," "Heart and Soul," and "Decades" will always remain special to me. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day511.

Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Sehr geiles Album.

Bon, on arrête de rigoler deux minutes. On range les disques de pop acidulée, on éteint la lumière, et on regarde le monstre dans les yeux. On parle de "Closer". C'est marrant, parce qu'en bossant chez le disquaire dans les années 90, je voyais toujours deux types de personnes acheter ce disque. Il y avait le corbeau gothique qui voulait parfaire sa panoplie "je suis mystérieux", et puis il y avait le type normal, souvent un peu fatigué, qui savait exactement ce qu'il tenait entre les mains : une boîte de Pandore. Une fois ouverte, tu ne refermes plus jamais le couvercle. 5 sur 5 ? Évidemment et ce n'est même pas une note, c'est un constat de décès. Mettre moins, ce serait comme dire que la gravité est "une option intéressante". Oubliez le punk, oubliez l'énergie de "Unknown Pleasures", leur premier album qui était la crise d'angoisse dans la rue. "Closer", c'est le moment où tu as arrêté de courir, où tu t'es assis au fond du trou, et où tu as commencé à décorer les murs. Ce qui me fascine toujours, plus de quarante ans après, c'est à quel point ce disque sonne comme s'il avait été enregistré dans une crypte réfrigérée. Martin Hannett (ce producteur génial et totalement cinglé) a réussi l'impossible : capturer le son du vide. Écoutez cette batterie sur "Atrocity Exhibition". Ce n'est pas une batterie, bordel ! C'est le bruit d'une machine industrielle qui broie des os au ralenti. Stephen Morris est un cyborg, c'est pas possible autrement. Et puis Ian Curtis arrive. "This is the way, step inside...". Merci pour l'invitation, Ian, mais ça pue la mort ton histoire. Et c'est bien ça qui est le plus terrifiant, car il ne joue pas, il ne fait pas du "théâtre rock". Il est en train de nous lire son testament, calmement, méthodiquement. Quand on sait qu'il s'est pendu deux mois avant la sortie, chaque phrase prend une lourdeur insupportable. C'est du voyeurisme auditif. On écoute un fantôme. Moi qui aime le Post-Rock et les trucs qui t'écrasent la tronche, je sais que la "lourdeur" n'est pas une question de décibels. C'est une question d'atmosphère. Prends "Isolation", le titre est une arnaque totale. Ça commence avec un petit beat synthétique presque guilleret, on dirait presque de la New Wave naissante, et puis Curtis te balance : "Mother I tried please believe me...". Le contraste est violent, c'est comme danser sur des cendres encore chaudes. Mais le vrai cœur du réacteur, là où ça fait mal, c'est la seconde face. C'est là que le disque bascule dans le sublime absolu. "Heart and Soul", "The Eternal", "Decades". Sur "The Eternal", il n'y a plus de rock, il n'y a plus de structure couplet-refrain. Il y a juste cette plainte, ce piano qui semble jouer sous l'eau, et ces bruits de fond... Ce "fchhhhhtt" permanent qui ressemble au vent qui souffle dans un cimetière abandonné. C'est d'une beauté à pleurer, mais c'est une beauté toxique. Et "Decades"... Putain, "Decades". C'est la fin du monde enregistrée sur bande magnétique. Ces nappes de synthés qui ne finissent jamais, qui s'étirent comme l'horizon, et cette voix d'outre-tombe : "Here are the young men, the weight on their shoulders". On sent le poids, on le sent physiquement sur nos propres épaules. C'est l'apothéose du désespoir, c'est magistral. Ce disque a inventé le Post-Punk, la Cold Wave, le Goth, et a pavé la voie à tout ce qui est sombre et intelligent depuis 1980. Mais le problème, c'est que personne n'a jamais réussi à refaire "Closer". Pourquoi ? Parce que les autres "jouent" à être tristes. Joy Division ne jouait pas. Les groupes actuels qui mettent de la réverb sur la voix et s'habillent en noir pour faire "style", ils me font marrer. "Closer", c'est du marbre, c'est froid, c'est dur, c'est éternel. C'est un disque qui te demande de l'attention. Tu ne mets pas ça en fond sonore pendant que tu fais la vaisselle (ou alors tu finis par te noyer dans l'évier). C'est une expérience religieuse, mais une religion sans dieu, où le seul dogme est la néantisation de soi. Alors oui, 5/5 parce que c'est la perfection formelle. La pochette de Peter Saville, le son de Hannett, la basse de Hooky qui chante la mélodie pendant que la guitare fait du bruitisme, et la poésie macabre de Curtis. Tout est aligné. C'est un monolithe noir posé au milieu de l'histoire de la musique. On ne critique pas "Closer". On se tait, on écoute, et on remercie le ciel d'être encore en vie quand la face B se termine, parce que Ian, lui, est resté de l'autre côté.

Discazo.

This is an era defining band. An amazing sound that was so new in the post punk era and was highly influential for so many indie bands.All tracks are quality.

I'd never given this album the attention it deserves. Ian Curtis transformed his suffering into something hauntingly beautiful. It's a real shame we only got two albums from him.

Starts off with a pretty cool track in Atrocity Exhibition. Isolation is a pretty cool track as well. I swear I'd listened to this album before, but then again it doesn't sound super familiar. Passover is a great track as well, and at this point it's starting to sound like this might be a great album rather than just a couple of good tracks. 5/5

Bleak and perfect.

Astonishingly brilliant. Ian Curtis was simply an enormous loss and Peter Hook did some simply incredible work on the bass here.

Whilst I much prefer Unknown Pleasures - this is still a good listen albeit much darker and less immediate. It's cold and pissing down today and this feels like the right record for the weather.

Quite simply one of the greatest post punk albums of all time. Probably one of the best in any genre in fact. It’s also why people tend to think they were a moody, depressed band.

Ooo, fuck yeah! Unknown Pleasures sm miljonkrat, Closer samo parkrat. Fak, ker dobr začetek ("Atrocity Exhibition"). Manj 'tinny' bobni k na UP. (O moj bog, zj k še enkrat poslušam, koji kurac un misli, da so povsod isti bobni?! V prvem so tok unique napram pol. Niti enga komada ni poslušal, grem stavit.) Všeč mi je, k se sliš, da je isti band k na UP, ampak se jim je mal stil začel spreminjat že kle. (Bas je kul throughout.) "Heart and Soul" je kul. Sm nardila to napako in šla brat reviewe drugih uporabnikov & je en napisal, da so bobni skoz isti?! Tko da, sm extra pozorna na bobne & let me tell you - niti slučajno niso cel cajt isti. Moram ne brat te reviewe, k me sam razpizdijo. Dejanko je solidno razgiban album (ugh, to me na en drug ali celo isti review spomne, k trdi, da so si vsi komadi podobni). "The Eternal" je čist samosvoj do zdej. "Decades" mi je tud zanimiv & se mi je zdel, k da je neko čudno glasbilo vmes - wiki pravi melodica! V glavnem, ne brat shitty mnenj drugih, ustvarite si svoje. Js grem pa koj še enkrat tole poslušat.

5/5

Unknown Pleasures is a personal favorite of mine. I’ve listened to it a lot and it was one of the first albums I ever bought on vinyl. For some reason I just never got into Closer as much and haven’t listened to it nearly as much. I really don’t know why because relistening to it now, I realized it really is great and a worthy follow up to Unknown Pleasures. I guess this is another good reason to do this project, not just to discover new music but to give a second chance to stuff that I didn’t connect with as strongly before

Even better than Unknown Pleasures, I think, though it's really close. This is excellent stuff.

WELL DUH. This is the way... step inside!

Timeless and essential.

Awesome

Mother, I tried, please believe me I'm doing the best that I can I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through I'm ashamed of the person I am Isolation, isolation, isolation But if you could just see the beauty These things I could never describe These pleasure's a wayward distraction This is my one lucky prize while I will never ever choose to put on joy division when I’m looking for something to jam to, there’s such a gift with this song and album. It’s easy to look back and mystify the lyrics of Ian Curtis, but isolation is just so human.

109/1001 :: Joy Division - Closer Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 9 Listen before you die: Yes Fav Songs: Twenty Four Hours, A Means to an End, Decades Do you like torture? Because when I listen to this album all I hear is pain. The most beautiful, darkest, wonderful pain… Ian Curtis was not well and it comes through here. There’s also just not much like this. The production is haunting, while the rhythm section is just laying it down and the eerie guitar crashes over the top. When I reach for Joy Division I usually go for Unknown Pleasures but after many listens today I think I maybe be neglecting this album. Actually I know I am. I’ve always thought this album was really good but it’s great.

The desperation of a band trying catch more lightening in a bottle, whilst falling apart between eachother and within themselves. The result is something moody, heartbreaking, eye opening… it’s Joy Division and I’m an emo, it’s a. 5. 5.0/5.0. Best Song: A Means To An End

What is there to say really? One of the most influential albums of the era, they really set the tone for British music for the next couple of decades. It’s so powerful and haunting, everything sounds so sparse like it’s played in a big empty warehouse. Best tracks: Colony or Decades

Nonii nyt päästiin taas näihin kesäisiin saundeihin ja romanttisiin iltoihin kesämökin laiturilla. Tai no nii, kyl tää sittenkin taitaa olla se marraskuinen Kouvolan betonihelvetti tai hylätty paperitehdas Jämsässä. Oon taas tän suhteen vähän huijariasemassa kun on tullut kuunnellut aiemminkin nautintodivaria, mutta ohan tää tunnelmallinen teos. Varmaan ekaa kertaa kuunneltuna esim. töiden ohessa voi jäädä hyvinkin kolkko fiilis ja pohdinta, että saatana mitä kolinaa. Mutta audioKUVAhan tässä on mitä upein ja musiikille harvinainen immersiivisyys on läsnä. Tossa yks tän ryhmän kuulijoista sanoi, että mänsesteri oli helvetin ruma mesta kun siellä kesällä vieraili. No tää pumppu on sieltä kotosin ja varmaan kyllä kuulostaa siltä miltä kyseinen paikka näytti seisarikasarin vaihteessa. Mut joo, tän pändin kahdesta levystä tää on aina ollut itelle enempi mieleen. Ei siis muuta kun lisää paskaa housuun ja hyvät pisteet kehään.

A stunning record. Haunting and beautiful, JD’s growth just from their debut the year prior to this is still shocking. It’s spooky, atmospheric, and ultimately a devastating look into the doomed psyche of Ian Curtis. In my all time top 20 and 80s top 10.

Here's a quick recipe for how I made this album a 5-star experience. 1 - Create a playlist and add the 9 songs from the album Closer, plus "Transmission" at the top of the playlist and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" at the end, for a total of 11 songs. 2 - Change the playlist name to "Songs to Hang Yourself With a Clothesline" 3 - Enjoy

So incredibly intense

Spoopy masterpiece 🖤

Have been listening to so much Joy Division lately but have tried to avoid songs from this album as I knew it would be coming up. I'm glad I didn't have to wait long! Incredibly consistent all the way through.

RIP Ian

Fantastic album. Less depressing than I remember. I always forget the song The Eternal. Anyway, I only listened to this one once, because I am trying to pull myself OUT of a pit of despair, but I loved it. Great production, great songs. Highly influential.

As much as I like New Order, one of my great "what-ifs" involves either Ian singing New Order material or Bernard singing Joy Division. It's still an incredible album, though.

The best

Classic

This was great, and definitely a five star album, but I did prefer Unknown Pleasures. I actually found myself wanting to listen to their debut album quite often on my three play throughs their final album. I feel there's less variation here, and the second half is way stronger than the first. It's still exemplary, but not quite perfection.

A masterpiece of the post punk era, it sounds still such an unique album 45 years after. The percussions, the synth, the bass and guitar are all great. Lyrics and the haunting singing of Ian Curtis are brilliant. It's harder, more challenging and more complex than Unknown Pleasures. Both are stellar records worthyy of five stars.

Joy Division is a band like no other... fantastic music especially in its context. When I hear these driving songs (love the rhythm section) I can't help think of the state of the UK back then, of course Ian Curtis' suicide, and Anton Corbijn's fantastic photos of the band. I was almost going to give it a 4 because I like Unknown Pleasures even more, but can't bring myself to it. It's a landmark album for me.

Rating: 10/10 One of the greatest albums of all time, so haunting yet there is a beauty in it. Literally Ian Curtis' suicide note, this album makes me feel emotions I have never quite felt before.

Closer is dark, moody, and full of restrained anger—and I really like it. The album pulses with raw emotion, creating a sound that’s both haunting and hypnotic. It’s impossible to separate the music from the tragedy surrounding it. Released just months after Ian Curtis’s death, Closer feels like a parting message—a final, vulnerable glimpse into his state of mind. The lyrics and atmosphere carry a deep emotional weight, making the album feel deeply personal and intense. Musically, it’s exceptional. Peter Hook’s basslines are unforgettable, carving out grooves that are both cold and captivating. The tracks are layered with dark melodies and sparse, eerie production that adds to the album’s bleak beauty. Favourite Track: Isolation is one of Joy Division’s finest—urgent, emotionally charged, and perfectly constructed. Least Favourite Track: Honestly, there isn’t a weak moment on this album. Album Artwork: A stark and iconic cover that reflects the music’s sense of finality and distance.

July 31, 2025 Album #698: Closer by Joy Division Genre: Post-punk, New Wave, Gothic Rock Joy Division, to me, has been a blind spot in music that I’ve wanted to fill for a long time. I finally had the opportunity to listen to an album of theirs, and good god was I missing out. Knowing the circumstances behind this album and Ian Curtis really makes this a very dark listen. The intro track Atrocity Exhibition is an amazing showcase of what to expect, with Curtis’ dark vocals and songwriting. This album is an emotional rollercoaster of depression, hopelessness, and despair. And those themes are only made ever more potent by Curtis’ poetic and dark lyricism. The lyricism and its contents are also elevated even more by the manic and dark atmosphere of the entire album. The slow and gloomy The Eternal showcases this atmosphere at its peak, and Twenty Four Hours shows just how manic this album can feel, and they both work so well. The foreboding instrumentation of the album only adds to these atmospheres that work so well. Everything adds up into a dark force of an album, which I’m not sure if I’ll come across anything like it again. It’s so effective for me that it feels like a cry for help from Ian Curtis. This album is a stone cold classic of post-punk and music in general. I highly recommend giving this a listen, it really struck a chord with me. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, Decent to Strong 9 Favorite Tracks: Atrocity Exhibition, Passover, Colony, A Means to an End, Heart and Soul, Twenty Four Hours, The Eternal, Decades ”Existence, well, what does it matter? I exist on the best terms I can The past is now part of my future The present is well out of hand” — Ian Curtis on Heart and Soul

Cualquier cosa que hayan publicado Joy Division es imprescindible, ya sea su excepcional debut, esta imaculada continuación o los recopilatorios Still o Substance. Con una apertura de miras hacia los sonidos sintetizados (Bowie, Kraftwerk...), con un tono aún más grave (Morrison), y una banda en estado de gracia (obviamente no en lo personal). Destaca la percusión (influencia de Banshees), pero Hook y Bernard están a un nivel excelso. Passover es una joya. Decades anticipa lo que llegarán a ser Depeche Mode en unos cuantos discos. 24 hours es una mezcla de The Cure y punk. Yo prefiero su debut o esos sencillos al margen de sus discos, pero este está a igual altura. Fue precoz hasta para morirse sin esperar a los 27.

One of the best post-punk albums I've ever listened to. No filler songs from my end, just somber feelings and echoes.

Magic.

Definitely the better of the two Joy Division records. “Twenty Four Hours” is especially my jam.

So dark, discordant, bleak and in the end, brilliant.

An album that is as great as it is sad. Isolation is wonderful and the instrumental in the middle of A Means to an End is something that I can never just listen to once.

great

esse eh absurdíssimo, gosto muito da capa! acho ele mais potente e empolgante que o unknown pleasures viu. tem alguma coisa sobre "última coisa que o mano escreveu antes de suicidar" que me pega demais. acho fortíssimo. iam ser 4 estrelas aí veio a sequência das 3 músicas finais, só PEDRADA vsfff

Moat synth please

A one-of-a-kind work of pure dark aura, Decades is a magical song, and The Eternal sounds like the House theme, so take that

I love Unknown Pleasures and have listened to it countless times. A bit surprised I have never visited this album. I feel like in general this taps a similar vein of gothic post-punk, but with songs that feel less drawn out and ominous. I love both albums and while I have a stronger gravity towards Unknown Pleasures this is a great album that I could lose myself in over and over again without growing tired. Easy 5 / 5. As with Unknown Pleasures, I love the mixing throughout that often pushes the vocals into a somewhat distant sounding echo chamber, puts emphasis on the punchy snares, and gives space for the guitars to wander. Its such a satisfying mix. Favorites of the listen were Isolation (love the synths), Passover, Heart and Soul, and Twenty Four Hours. Isolation is wonderful -- love the synth tones. Passover is an early favorite of mine.

Not sure why I’d listened to Unknown Pleasures but never checked out the second album before starting this list, but wow, what a great followup to an already great album. Certainly a lot less composed than the first (in a good and bad way), ithe first half has its low points and takes a bit to really wind up, but once it does it's phenomenal. I generally really appreciate that this is a little more out there and has a lot more unexpected moments or odd stuff, though Unknown Pleasures is certainly more consistent. A lot more lyrically interesting and emotionally honest compared to the coldness of UP, and I think that's a good thing. I think the second half of this album is easily much better than the first.

TFW Unknown Pleasures isn't bleak enough.

Mørkt, dystert og post-punktete.

Listened to it several time yesterday

I think this album is just as strong as Unknown Pleasures and just as much a masterpiece. Atrocity Exhibition is a phenomenal opener and Decades a magnificent closer... Along the way you are treated to the best post punk had to offer. Dark and jagged.

A genuinely terrifying spiral into darkness and depression. Both of Joy Division's albums are peak post-punk and goth music to me, nobody else could match the atmosphere they created. The last 4 tracks on this album are from another planet. 'Decades' is one hell of a way to close out your band's tragically short-lived career.

It feels cringey to say “epic” but that’s kind of what I’m feeling. This is decades ahead of its time. I can’t imagine hearing this in 1980.

What an album. I'd listened to Unknown Pleasures, which is great, but I love this on a deeper level. Those drums on the opening track pulled me in and I was in a trance from then on. The textures are almost tangible in a way, like they reach out and grab you through the speakers. Closer gives me the feeling of being alone in some chilly caverns where everything echoes; speak your thoughts aloud, and they will bounce right back to you. I hope Ian Curtis is at peace out there.

An absolute masterpiece. Probably in the top 5 albums of all time.

I've heard this album exactly once, and never returned to it. Not because it's bad, but because it's genuinely one of the most depressing things I've ever heard. Joy Division isn't exactly a joyful project in the first place and with the added context of Ian Curtis's suicide this album becomes a tough listen. I'll give it another listen now, but I'm expecting to be quite affected by it. Atrocity Exhibition Great title, really captures the mood the album is trying to set. The instrumental feels really mechanical and radiates a sort of disturbing energy. Great work on the bassline. The distorted guitars add a layer of dissonance to the track adding depth to the darkness. The lyrics paint a picture or horror and tragedy. The noisy is gorgeous, and the drumming is really unique. Fantastic. 5/5 Isolation Great bassline yet again. The synths are pretty decent, ans I love how sharp the drums are. The lyrics are haunting and depressing. "Mother please believe me, I'm doing the best that I can" Sticks out. Curtis's flat and hollow delivery somehow makes it hit harder. Ends perfectly. Fantastic. 5/5 Passover That instrumental is just so cool. The distant distorted guitar is such a good addition. The vocal's sound tired and jaded. Depressing as all hell. Great. 4.5/5 Colony Love the drum pattern on this one. Has a great bassline as well. Animated vocal performance, really shows a different type of delivery from other songs from the album. His unique voice really shines here. Has a dystopian vibe to it. Extremely well crafted lyrics, puts you right in this horrible word he has created. Fantastic. 5/5 A Means to an End The instrumental feels almost confrontational. Love the guitar riff. Really infectious all around, as "post-punk" as it gets. Curtis really sounds lost on this track. Can hear the struggle. Great. 4.5/5 Heart and Soul Really moody and atmospheric. Great drum pattern once again. Has a more familiar structure which makes it feel a bit less chaotic than many of the previous songs. The reverb on the vocals are a great addition. Love the subtle synths. The instrumental passage which closes out the track is beautiful. Great. 4.5/5 Twenty Four Hours Great tempo and energy in the instrumental. Really effective bassline. The depressing themes in the lyrics are laid out in a pretty straight forward manner, and delivered very directly. Feels really blunt and decoded in comparisson to other tracks on the album. It's just so miserable and soul destroying, genuinely some of the saddest songs I've heard. The ending of the lyrics are really haunting in the context of his suicide. Harrowing. 5/5 The Eternal Another great instrumental. Really vivid. This track is really hard to handle. It's great, but I'm struggling to put into words as to why. I think my favourite parts might be the background piano as well as the slow tempo of the track. The lyrics are tough. 5/5 Decades Starts a bit rough, but evolves into a great atmospheric track with a bunch of intrestingly put together instrumental parts. Composed really well. Great keys especially. The ending to the track is excellent. Feels really large and is perfect for an album closer. The chorus does a lot to ground the track. Asking the simple question of "Where have they been?" over the epic instrumental makes the buildup feel more down to earth. Great. 4.5/5 Warning: Do not open - Existential crisis material inside. Extremely hard to get through, but great all the same. Just a masterclass in songwriting. Has some of the most impactful lyrics I've ever heard backed by some of the greatest basslines ever performed. Just be warned, this is 44 minutes of purely condensed misery. There's not a single second of any hope or joy in this album. It's unrelenting in it's bleakness and leaves you drained by the end of it. I think this one is going back on the shelf for a while, and will only be taken down again on the rainiest of days. Perfect if you want to feel like shit for a few hours. 5/5 Fave track. Twenty Four Hours Least fave track. N/A

quite possibly one of the earliest examples of "gothic" alternative punk music. it's always really interesting listening to album from a historical lens, you can just feel the turning point in sound as the record plays. this album is satisfying, at times a little unsettling to listen to. it makes sense, their final album being a swan song before the band's corpse gets buried into the ground. the lead singer of the group, ian curtis took his own life shortly before the album released. there's a longing emotional energy to all of the tracks. it has a sound unlike any other, it's definitely not for everyone.

Album Rating: 90% Category: 🖼️ Masterpiece 3x ❤️ tracks, 3x ⭐ tracks, 3x ⚡ tracks, and 0x 💩 tracks You can't write about Closer without confronting what happened 61 days before its release. Peter Hook's guilt—"Fucking hell, how did I miss this?"—still lands hard, but it's a burden he shouldn't carry alone. Curtis was a deeply troubled individual, and there's no certainty that therapy, destigmatization, or modern crisis intervention would've changed the outcome. The 1980s simply lacked language for what he was experiencing, but that was a symptom, not the disease. What is glaring to me is that Hook and the remaining members made an album that, in hindsight, reads like a man screaming in code, and they likely didn't really hear it until it was too late. I admit Closer as a whole didn't grab me immediately. It lacks the immediacy and catchiness of "Disorder" and "Shadowplay," the raw punch of "Love Will Tear Us Apart." For large stretches, Curtis's delivery feels remote, almost clinical. But it doesn't take much scratching beneath the surface to see that he'd evolved as a vocalist even since Unknown Pleasures. Take the album's opening track, "Atrocity Exhibition": tribal drums, genuine groove, Curtis actually emoting, revealing range in that baritone croon I wasn't expecting. "Isolation" juxtaposes bright synths against lyrics with glaring red flags. "Heart and Soul" suspends Curtis like a ghost transmission, with Stephen Morris's drums driving forward. "Twenty Four Hours" breathes. Propulsive then lull, every word landing. The album builds through repetition and restraint, elements added methodically for impact. This is a band at its creative peak, discovering what they could become. New Order hinted at the future trajectory; Joy Division feels like an unfinished sentence. That's the real sting, not what's here, but what got cut short.

Something drew me to this right from the start. That bass and the overall mournful vibe. I got this feeling that this was going to be for me. And I was right. Charismatic and atmospheric. Why have I never listened to this before?

So fucking bleak, but compelling. A portrait of absolute darkness, in a way a pure state. Rating: 5.0

As noted and acclaimed as their debut is (and it is a great record), Closer is the ultimate Joy Division album for me. The band takes a step forward as players and writers and I’ll be damned if this isn’t one of the most spectacular forays of lyricism ever put to tape. Especially when considering the extenuating circumstances.

Such a great record!

Первый альбом в 1001 для меня был Unknown Pleasures. Я поставил ему 4 просто потому что это не самый любимый в моей жизни альбом. Оказалось, за 400 с лишним пройденных в этом списке альбомов, что просто охуенный альбом с великой обложкой и абсолютными бэнгерами - это МИНИМУМ пять. Closer сильно интереснее Unknown Pleasures в песнях, хотя и гораздо менее доступный что ли? Здесь нет таких хитяр; песни длиннее, и чаще вдаются в такой колдвэйв. Это вообще сложно назвать (пост) ПАНКОМ. Беспощадный - хорошее слово. Лучшая песня - Decades.

I had only heard Unknown Pleasures and Love Will Tear Us Apart before this. On first listen, these were my thoughts: "It's good, and I can see the influence it had on bands in the future, but it doesn't quite recapture the magic of Unknown Pleasures for me." On second listen, I was wrong. I think I meant that some of the individual parts didn't stick out to me as much as Disorder or She's Lost Control, for example. But this album is more than the sum of its parts, best experienced as a whole. The sound design, from the synthesizers chosen for leading roles to the little details that sit back in the ensemble, plays a huge role in staging the atmosphere and creating a shared experience to bring the listener into the same melancholic headspace as the artist, if only for 45 minutes.

it's joy division, what can I say

Perfect. In a class of their own musically. Very influential band with their own uniquely distinctive sound.

There isn't anything I can write that hasn't already been written about Joy Division's Closer and the death of Ian Curtis. It’s tempting to frame the record solely through this lens, to hear tragedy into every note, but even without the surrounding mythos and cultural presence, this record is undeniably great. Austere but never empty. Joy Division, the band, is seemingly in control of their own unraveling again and again. Cold and distant, yet crushingly intimate. This record feels inevitable. Closer isn’t just a collection of songs, it’s a gravitational force.

What could I possibly add?

Closer is the second and final studio album from Joy Division. The album was released two month after the suicide of the lead singer, Ian Curtis, which brought about the end of the band. The album has come to be regarded as one of the first post-punk masterpieces. The band formed around the punk scene of mid-70s London, and added synthesizers to the sparse, bass-driven sound of early punk. Curtis' lyrics are moody and dark, far from the anger expressed in most punk. The interesting, innovative mix found in the band's music has influenced generations and genres.

Incredibile!

Unknown Pleasures, Joy Division's more well-known debut LP, is legendary for the coldness of its production and the bleakness of its songs. Closer doubles down on all of that, and introduces synthesizers into the band's palette of sounds. the gothic undertones of Unknown Pleasures become overtones this time around. frigid guitar layers, thumping, nervous basslines, haunting, distant drums. Ian Curtis' lyrics are absolutely not for the faint of heart; if you've listened to the Danny Brown album which he named after record's opening track, you'll notice the parallels very quickly. in a lot of ways, Curtis is crying, begging for help. these songs also stretch out for much longer than they did on Unknown Pleasures, which really makes them feel like the best kind of trudge. I like Closer more than Unknown Pleasures, but I can't listen to it very often. it has the potential to really screw up my whole day, given how downright depressing it is. there's not many other albums that haunt me the way this does. decent 9/10.

All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind.

A descent into darkness, a corridor lined with echoes, each track a new step deeper into the abyss. Closer is less an album and more a confession, a whispered cry from a soul teetering on the edge. The opening, "Atrocity Exhibition," doesn’t welcome—it confronts. It is ugly, abrasive, and hauntingly human. There’s bravery in that choice, in starting with chaos and daring you to follow. This is not music that soothes. It writhes, it mourns, it disorients. The basslines pull like an undertow; the guitars claw at the edges of sanity. Martin Hannett’s production wraps the sound in a spectral fog, machines humming like ghosts beneath every melody. It is alien and yet painfully intimate, the dissonance of feeling too much and not enough. By "Heart and Soul," the transition becomes clearer—the rawness of Unknown Pleasures is still here, but now it’s surrounded by the cold light of synthesis. The human touch remains, but it fights through the circuitry, making the pain all the more palpable. Every lyric, every note, feels like a confrontation with mortality, with futility. When "Decades" arrives, it’s as though the record itself is taking its last breath. Some hear war, others hear life reflected from the grave. Both are right. It’s a culmination, a fragile beauty that fractures under its own weight. This isn’t just an album; it’s a testament, a warning. It’s goth before goth, post-punk as the shadow of something even darker. Closer doesn’t ask you to understand. It doesn’t even ask for your empathy. It simply is—unforgiving, relentless, stunning in its despair. Two months later, Ian Curtis was gone. What remains is this jagged monument, a tombstone etched in sound. You wonder if it could have saved him, but salvation never lived here. It is rain that follows the sun, a shroud over brighter days. Yet, in its hopelessness, it finds a way to dance. You can feel its influence in bands that followed, in sounds that dared to scrape at the edges of light. And somehow, from this, New Order rose.

Absolute classic from Joy Division. The whole album is 🔥 🔥. Haunting vocals, amazing bass and guitar work. Everyone must listen to this before they die, especially if they claim they love New Wave 80s music. 5/5

Since I consider Unknown Pleasures as the greatest album ever released you might be suprised to learn I hold this album very highly too. Many would disagree on it's power and it's true this album is disjointed in places with earlier discordant pieces settling with the ethereal beauty that was Ian's vision. I'm happy there are many out there to disagree with me but there are also some kindred souls.

The sound of mania Tremendously driven bass and drums Haunting atmosphere Doom laden vocal delivery It’s a hell of a listen

Isolation is a banger

So, so bleak. Incredible sounds - every instrument sounds ice cold. Absolutely love all of it, especially the 2nd side. Great cover art.

This really surprised me, I do not like Unknown Pleasures that much yet this effort feels much more dynamic and powerful. I want to listen many more times

Redolent of those times, relevant today.

I prefer Unknown Pleasures, but this is still a great album. Easy 5

Long-time favorite which I prefer to Unknown Pleasures, but only just a bit.

I prefer unknown pleasures but closer is pretty perfect and actually quite experimental. Atrocity exhibition and isolation are a good 1,2 punch showing off the sounds of closer very well. Passover feels more familiar for joy division, I could imagine this on unknown pleasures. Colony is like 1% weaker than the rest but I love the whole god and his wisdom bit. A means to an end is honestly my personal favourite I just love the vocal approach on this song… and the lyrics. Heart and soul is a bit strange but I like it.Twenty four hours is another very unknown pleasures type song, love the riff. The eternal and decades make up for a great closing 12 minutes I remember them both being together feeling laggy on past listen’s but it works. Something I’ve always thought about joy division is that when you think back to the tracks you believe they’re more aggressive because of how powerful they are. Strangely my best comparison with that aspect of the band is the boxer by Simon and Garfunkel but across a discography. Emotion will always come through if it’s genuine. 5/5

## In-Depth Review of *Closer* by Joy Division *Closer*, released in July 1980, is the second and final studio album by the iconic post-punk band Joy Division. Following the tragic suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis just two months prior to its release, the album is often viewed through the lens of his untimely death, infusing its music and lyrics with a profound sense of melancholy and existential despair. This review will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while also evaluating its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrics of *Closer* are a poignant reflection of Curtis's inner turmoil and struggles. They explore themes of isolation, despair, and the human condition with an unflinching honesty that resonates deeply with listeners. - **Existential Themes**: The opening track, "Atrocity Exhibition," sets a harrowing tone with its vivid imagery depicting emotional and physical entrapment. Lines like "This is the way, step inside" invite listeners into a world fraught with chaos and suffering. - **Isolation and Despair**: In "Isolation," Curtis juxtaposes upbeat synth-pop elements with dark, introspective lyrics. The line "I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through" encapsulates his feelings of alienation and regret, resonating powerfully in light of his personal struggles. - **Mortality and Acceptance**: Tracks like "The Eternal" and "Decades" grapple with mortality, time, and acceptance. "The Eternal" serves as a dirge-like meditation on death, while "Decades" captures the burdens of youth with lines that evoke a sense of longing and melancholy. Curtis's ability to articulate complex emotions through stark yet poetic language has cemented his status as one of rock's most significant lyricists. His work on *Closer* is often regarded as some of his most profound. ### Music Musically, *Closer* marks a significant evolution from Joy Division's debut album, *Unknown Pleasures*. The band experiments with soundscapes that are both haunting and expansive. - **Innovative Sound**: The production by Martin Hannett plays a crucial role in shaping the album's sound. He creates an atmosphere that feels both spacious and claustrophobic, utilizing reverb and echo to enhance the emotional weight of the music. This is particularly evident in tracks like "Heart and Soul," where the instrumentation mirrors Curtis's lyrical themes. - **Diverse Instrumentation**: The album showcases a blend of post-punk elements with electronic influences. Songs like "Isolation" feature driving basslines from Peter Hook alongside synthesizers that hint at the band's future direction as New Order. This fusion creates a unique sound that is both danceable and deeply introspective. - **Cohesive Flow**: The sequencing of tracks on *Closer* contributes to its overall impact. Each song flows seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive listening experience that feels like a journey through Curtis's psyche. ### Production Martin Hannett's production on *Closer* is often lauded as groundbreaking. He was instrumental in crafting the band's signature sound. - **Atmospheric Techniques**: Hannett employed innovative techniques to create a sense of space within the music. The use of silence, echoed vocals, and layered instrumentation results in an ethereal quality that enhances the emotional depth of the album. - **Artistic Vision**: His vision allowed Joy Division to transcend traditional punk rock boundaries. By infusing elements of ambient music and minimalism into their sound, he helped shape what would become known as post-punk. - **Legacy**: The production techniques used on *Closer* have influenced countless artists across genres. The album's sonic landscape has been cited as an inspiration for bands ranging from Radiohead to contemporary post-punk acts. ### Themes The overarching themes present in *Closer* reflect Curtis's struggles with mental health, existential dread, and human connection. - **Isolation**: A pervasive theme throughout the album is isolation—both physical and emotional. Tracks like "Isolation" explicitly address feelings of being disconnected from oneself and others. - **Mortality**: The specter of death looms large over *Closer*. Curtis’s lyrics often contemplate mortality, reflecting his own struggles with epilepsy and depression. This theme culminates in songs like "The Eternal," which confronts death head-on. - **Existentialism**: The album delves into existential questions about purpose and meaning in life. It echoes sentiments found in literature by authors such as J.G. Ballard, whose influence can be felt in Curtis’s introspective lyrics. ### Influence *Closer* has had a lasting impact on music since its release. Its influence can be seen across multiple genres: - **Post-Punk Evolution**: Joy Division is often credited with helping to define post-punk music. Their innovative sound paved the way for bands like Interpol, The Cure, and even later electronic acts that draw from their aesthetic. - **Gothic Rock**: While not strictly a gothic band, Joy Division’s dark themes and atmospheric sound have heavily influenced gothic rock artists. Their visual aesthetic—particularly the iconic cover art by Peter Saville—has become emblematic of the genre. - **Cultural Legacy**: The enduring legacy of *Closer* is evident in its continued relevance within popular culture. It has been referenced in films, literature, and art, solidifying its status as a cultural touchstone for discussions around mental health and artistic expression. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Emotional Depth**: The album’s exploration of complex emotions resonates deeply with listeners. - **Innovative Sound**: Martin Hannett’s production techniques create a unique sonic landscape that has influenced countless artists. - **Cohesion**: The seamless flow between tracks enhances the listening experience, making it feel like a singular artistic statement. - **Lyrical Mastery**: Ian Curtis’s poignant lyrics capture universal themes of despair and isolation with remarkable clarity. #### Cons - **Bleakness**: The pervasive themes of despair may be overwhelming for some listeners. - **Accessibility**: The experimental nature of some tracks may alienate fans expecting more traditional rock sounds. - **Contextual Weight**: Knowing Curtis’s tragic fate can overshadow the music for some listeners, making it difficult to separate art from artist. ### Conclusion *Closer* stands as one of the most significant albums in music history. Its intricate blend of haunting lyrics, innovative production, and profound themes creates an experience that transcends time. Despite its darkness, it offers insights into the human condition that continue to resonate today. Joy Division's legacy endures not only through this album but also through its lasting influence on generations of musicians who have followed in their footsteps.

Quintessential in het genre imo. De teksten kunnen haast niet killer maar tegelijkertijd zijn ze nog steeds poëtisch. Instrumentatie is eveneens ruw, maar goed uitgedacht en atmosferisch. Op een subtiele manier nog uitzichtlozer dan Dirt van Alice In Chains, wat een prestatie is, lol.

I was really hoping a Joy Division album would make it on here. This band really paved the way for a lot of bands and basically the whole post-punk/post-hardcore movement in the '80s. Very good album.

Such a dark and gloomy album, but in my opinion no where near as good as Unknown Pleasures. Still a very good album, I just feel like the production is a step down on this one. You can really start to hear them moving towards the New Order sound here with some catchy songs like Isolation. I also love the bass line on Twenty Four Hours. Low 5.

The was the start of something amazing.

5/5

Heavy but beautiful atmosphere!

oh my!

Top tier

phenomenal. unique and haunting. what a classic.

One of my favourite albums of all time along with Unknown Pleasures. I told this story before when I reviewed Unknown Pleasures but I will it again: I was 14 year's old and what you would describe as a weird kid. I never fit it, I still don't, well no really. I had no musical identity or interests beyond what my siblings listened too and I was well aware of this. So one Saturday morning I was doing my usual rounds of the newsagents, book exchange and local Vinnies op shop to hunt for comics. When I got to the Vinnies there was a big box of records there, I didn't recognise any of them but I gravitated to Closer by Joy Division. At that stage I had no idea what to expect. I'd never heard of them before but the cover art drew me in. So for the exorbitant sum of $2 (this was 1987) I bought the record. I took it home and played it on the stereo in our lounge room, glad no one else was home. With each song my mind opened the desolation, the distress somehow mixing with music felt more vibrant and real that anything I had listened to. I still feel that same way 37 years on. I went back to the op shop a few days later and picked up Unknown Pleasures. Time travel would be fun so I could see what else was in that box

Classic

Moody synths <3

Listening to Closer it’s no surprise the remaining members of Joy Division would go on to form New Order. It resembles dance music much more than the debut whole never letting go of the dark substances in which Ian Curtis seemed to thrive musically. A haunting and beautiful epitaph from one of the most important post-punk bands.

Atrocity Exhibition Isolation Heart and Soul Decades

94/100

own

An album where everything fits together perfect- the music, lyrics and art. Even looking at the cover fills me with such a weird feeling with how well it fits with Ian’s death. I feel sorry for people that never “get” this album but it is pretty transcendent to me. This would be a 5 star for its influence in post punk/gothic rock alone, not even considering the devastating context to this album. RIP Ian who was somehow able to write from the afterlife before going there. Rating: 5.0

5/5. Hard to describe the feeling of listening to it, since this is the first time, but kind of feels like the Doors and Talking Heads mixed with a drum track. I know there is no drum track here but it feels upbeat and constant while also being told about how life isn't worth it. It's mesmerizing and inspirational musically. There are two entities here, the loud and progressing sounds of the band, and the other is the depressing and poetic lyrics, creating a weird dichotomy but an interesting feeling. The exact feeling one gets while coping with the existential dread of life with an unhealthy substance keeping their mood lifted but brain damaged. It's a good album. Best Song: Isolation, Colony, Decades

I'm a sucker for post punk. I could listen to this all day which probably says something about me. There's just so many layers and it goes down so smooth. I have had too many people impacted by suicide which usually poisons me against artists that have killed themselves but I think the art transcends the artist in this case.

One of the greatest albums of all time by one of the greatest bands of all time

Har hørt det her nogen gange før, men det klikkede lige for mig på en måde det ikke har gjort før! Shit det er mørkt. Fantastisk plade.

This was really good. The songs were his voice got pushed back in prominence to being an additional instrument it elevated it all. A Means to an End and Decades both stand outs.

This band helped paved the way for so many who followed. It's a damn shame we lost Ian at such an early age. Can't wait to see Peter Hook again this year - he always plays Joy Division.

Man, what could have been. Joy Division will be one of those bands that I will never tire of listening to.

Good music to watch the end of the world to

A masterpiece from one of the greatest bands of all time.

Dor e sofrimento

Wonderful

Conceptual greatness from the heavens

Classic 6 stars

Dark and depressing. Legendary and highly influential. Ian and company paved the way for goth and post-punk with their two releases. This one is even gloomier.

I first listened to this record when I was about 15, because someone told me "The Eternal" was the most depressing song ever written. By now I've been listening to "Closer" for 20 years and there's so much to say about it. It's been a while since I last heard it and it's interesting what stands out now vs. ~15 years ago. The biggest stand out to me was the drumming, it's methodical and unwaivering while the instruments around it spin chaotically. The album itself takes a dive from the first few songs into darker and darker territory. "The Eternal" truly is a devastating song; its placement near the end of the album feels like a funeral, which is unintentionally fitting considering Ian Curtis's fate. Overall this is an incredible record that feels as vital as ever.

Rating: 10/10

One of the best discoveries since going on this listening journey. Evocative and deeply personal lyrics/vocals complimented by a drummer that really grooves and plays unexpected drum patterns. The bass and the guitar playing is also excellent and together they create an enveloping (at times cinematic) atmosphere. It all comes together to make a band that sounds ahead of it's time, and different. Can absolutely hear how bands that I love have been influenced by them.

I have never listened to this a lot because it is really too much.

Interesting drumming on the somewhat unsettling, noisy Atrocity Exhibition. Isolation then opens with an actual bass riff and bright synths. As the album unfolds, the sparse arrangements and monotone vocals only serve to highlight the drums and fuzzy guitars. It's dark, but there's an energy I find compelling. At times mechanical sounding, often dystopian, especially the keyboards. A Means to an End has a catchy riff though, and Decades is startlingly melodic as it builds to a cathartic release. Stunning.

What an album. Virtually flawless

one of my all-time fav bands, so insta-5 star for me. unreal voice, unreal lyricism, unreal musicianship. love these boyz

I don't need to listen to this as it is in my top 10 albums of all time. My words while I'm on holiday will not do it the justice it deserves.. One of the most desolate, depressing albums ever made. Well, the vocalist Ian Curtis did top himself a few months after this was completed. He obviously lived the pain in his voice. The jagged opener 'Atrocity Exhibition' Bernard Albrecht's (or was it Dicken or Sumner at the time?) Is a masterclass of how to make a guitar sound like a piece of construction equipment and also howl in strange ways, with it's repetative primal beats and like all JD and New Order songs, held together with the melody played on Peter Hook's bass. Probably the most 'uplifting' tune is 'A Means to an End' where Curtis is just complaining about trust issues. I love this album so much it hurts, and probably hurt the makers too. It is a 100% perfect record from beginning to end. The final 2 songs are so gloomy and sad with the use of minor notes, it's enough to cheer anyone out of their own depression with the knowledge that there is/was someone worse off than you. (It's my go to album when I'm depressed and it works for me!). The highest 5. 100% perfect.

Imagining the delight that after the torture of a Maxwell album this shows up! This is my world, Joy Division and the more cheerful New Order after Ian died. An album with Isolation, Heart and Soul, and 24 hour (go and watch the film 24 hr party film!) is 5 stars. Period.

made me feel like I was in an 80s era John Hughes film!

I thought I didn’t like it as much as Unknown Pleasure but now I found out that I was wrong. This is perfect.

A stunning album. The world of music lost Ian Curtis all too soon, but this album and Unknown Pleasures are a befitting legacy for greatness.

Oh, I just adore this. The whole feel is epic. Moody, dark, throbbing, powerful guitar and bass drive everything. And THAT vocal. Overwhelming. And fucking brilliant. I was too young (just) to be into Joy Division back in the day, and it took me a while but I have the oven gloves and all now. Talk to the hands; talk to the hands An easy 5.

Love it

The basis for a lot of music I love and cherish today 5

Where to even begin with this masterpiece. This is one of the most emotional albums I have ever heard in my life, which is only amplified by the fact that I recently watched the film "Control" which tells the story of Ian Curtis and Joy Division. Knowing the story in that much detail makes you listen to this band in a whole new light, and you realise how tragic Ian Curtis' life truly was. I forget exactly who said it, but I have always loved the saying "a tortured artist makes better art", which as sad as that is, it's so true and this album is clear evidence of that. Start to finish this album is perfect. Every instrument does what it does amazingly, and of course Ian's voice is amazing. The way synths are used in very subtle way adds so much to this album, especially considering how well they were used for the time period. Songs like "Isolation" and "Heart and Soul" show this off especially well. "Decades" features what might be Ian's best vocals of his career, in terms of just how well he performs that song and how he sings with enough emotion to bring me to tears sometimes. This is truly one of the greatest albums of all time, and without a doubt my favourite album of the 1980s. I feel like a 5/5 is almost meaningless because this album deserves so much more, but unfortunately that's the most I can give it.

This was the first time I've listened to to Closer. I've listened to Unknown Pleasures a million time but I just never cared enough about Joy Division to want to hear more of their music than UP. I am sad to have done this for so long. This album is drenched in atmosphere. So much more so than UP ever was. I think the polish that UP has diminished the raw spooky sound that makes JD such a unique band.

Conjuring, stirring, powerful and at the same time completely resigned to despair. This is so damn deep that I have trouble putting it into words.

"Closer" by Joy Division, released in 1980, is a haunting and atmospheric post-punk masterpiece. This album, tragically released after Ian Curtis' death, delves into darker realms both musically and thematically. The dissonant yet melodic soundscapes, exemplified in tracks like "Heart and Soul" and "Isolation," showcase the band's innovative approach. Curtis' introspective and emotionally charged lyrics add a profound layer to the music. While the album can be emotionally intense and somber, its artistic depth and influential impact on post-punk and alternative music are undeniable. "Closer" is a timeless classic, earning a resounding 5/5 for its emotional potency and lasting legacy.

Den här plattan är fan bättre än den första.

Yea this was an awesome album. I had only ever heard "Love Will Tear Us Apart", but the reputation of Joy Division has ways been great, I just never got around to listening to them. This album has a great vibe and sounds so good for being 40+ years old.

dokar kao i uvijek

Seriously good

Прикиньте, я столько раз слушал первый альбом Joy Division, и НИКОГДА не слушал второй... кринж или база? Во-первых, этот альбом не хочет тебя прям удушить с самых первых нот. Здесь как будто подубавили мрачняка, оставив сколько нужно. Тебя в этом не топят, это больше похоже на питчинг какой-то субкультуры: смотри, мол, чувак, как у нас прикольно, приходи с нами танцевать вокруг... чего-нибудь, банки пива. Возможно это связано с ударкой, которая здесь записана или наживую сразу целиком вместе, или же просто намного лучше склеена. Во-вторых, это что, танцевальная музыка? Почему она так звучит? Это что такое?))) В-третьих, хоба-на, Isolation - это что, краутрок? Прям даже и по ритму подходит как будто. + сюда же Decades, даже флешбекнуло в NEU!, пошёл их послушал. Флэшбеком с первого альбома здесь остаётся Heart and Soul: она как будто даже плохо вписывается в один список с остальными композициями. Возможно, как раз-таки из-за ударных... Anyway, конечно, две пластинки звучат совсем по-разному. И эта - как будто реально прогресс. Когда что надо поправили - и запустили в массы. И не так сильно себя убить хочется. Мне как-то неожиданно понравилось даже... пластиночку хочется.

Good album.

This is arguably Joy Division's masterpiece, despite being less well known than 'Unknown Pleasures'. The music and lyrics are darker and more claustrophobic, reflecting the mental health challenges of Ian Curtis shortly before his death. But it's also much tighter and freer than their debut. 'Closer' is possibly the most important post-punk album ever released, as well as template for early goth bands.

I need to listen to this again because I've listened to Unknown Pleasures so much more

Has a very consistent vibe with a lot of substance going toward the feeling of the album

Bleak as fuck, amazing.

All time classic.

Fucking. Classic.

This is Gothic in the truest, most original sense of the word; it sounds like the musical equivalent of Notre-Dame, a huge gaping Gothic soundscape that drags you into its world of paranoia and isolation and doesn’t let you go until the full 44 heartbreaking minutes are over. I am conflicted with this album. Not because I don’t love it. This is arguably one of my favourite pieces of music ever written. It’s ability to move, considering it was recorded by only four people and mixed by another with a wildly different view of how it should sound, is unprecedented. I am instead unsure whether I should insist on it being listened to as a full album, or whether it can be listened to piecemeal. All of the songs are fantastic on their own. I’m an especially big fan of the second side, and Isolation is a weird but still inspired choice for a single. But there is something about experiencing Closer as a complete, artistic statement. The terror grips you. The hands of Ian Curtis rise to suffocate you in an embrace of desperation and depression that envelops you until the organ of Decades finally fades away, but which doesn’t leave you, not really, not ever. I haven’t listened to this album in years. I came to the realisation on my second listen through of the day, that I am older than Ian Curtis. As a precocious teenage consumer of Punk and Post-Punk, he always seemed this great elder statesman of the genre. And yet, now I am not just his contemporary. I am older than he ever was, than he ever will be. Curtis is said to have worried that Joy Division had reached an artistic peak with Closer. And while New Order never reached the heights they did with Curtis in the band, it’s hard to judge how much that is to do with his influence over the group’s music. How could the artists behind two of the most perfect albums ever recorded not record a third, or a fourth? I’m not naive enough to think they could have gone on forever. But surely there must have been more than just the two in them?

Stripped down and noisy, but not raw. Largely built on the rhythm section with the guitar serving a largely textural role. And of course the whole thing revolves around Ian Curtis' distinctive voice. Probably more accessible than Unknown Pleasures for most listeners, but they didn't sacrifice anything for that.

5.0 + A devastating dive into the tortured mind of Ian Curtis. Insanely beautiful!

were never my favourite but when I do listen I just get lost in it it's so well done

Classic

Just talked about this album with a friend last night. For him it's the best Joy Division studio album out of the two classic LPs they released, because he prefers the overall sound, aesthetics and *mood* of this one, even though his favorite songs are in *Unknown Pleasures*. And for me it's the exact opposite! Funny how those things go... That's it. I manage to write the word "funny" in a review about a Joy Division album. Needless to say, *both* albums by them are 5-stars ones for me and my friend. For me *Closer* offers a "peaks-and-valleys" experience, but the peaks ("Isolation", "A Means To An End" "Heart And Soul", "Twenty Four Hours"...) are so frigging high and the valleys none too deep, so it's still the equal of that iconic debut. I also noticed that many of the very best moments of *Closer* are on the second side (it was rather the opposite in *Unknown Pleasures*). So it has a different dynamic, one that uses build-up and slow-burn. I've always had a tender spot for LPs that manage to work this way... Not that opener "Atrocity Exhibition" isn't effective, mind you. Like its title implies, it is psychologically and sonically atrocious, and yet that's where its deranged beauty lies. The way Ian Curtis invites the listener into the terrors of his suffering mind always makes me shudder. "This is the way, step inside!". I've always been curious to hear how Peter originally envisioned his experimental guitar noise in the background before producer Martin Hannett tampered with it through delay effects. I have a feeling the album opener would have been even greater--event though I'm aware Hannett also often had great ideas for the band's sound. As for closer "Decades", it is a perfect gem whose synth-laden harmonies, just like the ones of 'Isolation", foretell the "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and then the whole New Order era following Curtis' tragic death. A poignant capper for the album (and for the band itself, sadly). To sum things up, the cover says it all. *Closer* is not a mere album. It's a tomb and an epitaph. That's where its sad and timeless beauty lies. Number of albums left to review: 480 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 246 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 117 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 155

The singing isnt great, the music itself is samey, it all sounds very depressing, but for some reason it just resonates in me. Good stuff.

Joy Division holds the theme of time not too closely on Closer. There's a curious relationship to memory, with melodies half certainly known. And here the band is influential, less subtle, more distinct all at once. Back to time: Music's relationship to it makes evaluating two albums on equal terms impossible. Closer presses in on the brain heavier for now.

Iconic, essential, desperate, sometimes difficult to listen to. Prob the greatest post punk album. Easy 5

OK, this is an album that is well loved by me, and one that I bought in vinyl back in high school. I might like Unknown Pleasures better, but generally I think one cannot argue the importance of Joy Division. The mood, the precise drumming, the overall sense of dread... Basically they created an entire genre of goth rock all on their own, with some help from Black Sabbath (ancestor) and Bauhaus (descendant). Definitely an album everyone should listen to once before they die, and also a great album.

Timeless classic. Still vital, still relevant

I didn’t pay much attention to this album the first time I listened to it, so I’m glad I gave it a second chance here. This is a depressing album; sometimes I don’t like Ian Curtis’ vocals, but they seem very genuine. All the instruments are good, with lyrics to match. It’s sad what happened to the singer, and it wouldn’t have hit as hard was this not released posthumously.

Seminal sad boy music capturing, in ways both gorgeous and ghastly, a man’s final circlings down the drain.

Pépite

PREFS : TOUT MOINS PREF : RIEN

Felt like a complete album with attitude and confidence. Would listen again.

this will be good. genres on wiki they are listed as post-punk and gothic rock it was a good album i enjoyed it, I love rock and post punk so it was very good 5/5 good album love the vibes

Musical perfection

Dark, moody perfection, all the more so in the light of history

I had never listened to Joy Division before and I really liked this. I learned after listening that this album is basically Ian Curtis' suicide note. I feel a bit weird gushing about this album considering that fact. I listened to this album straight through twice and feel like it's a perfect album. Not sure how often I'd realistically listen to this in the future, but it deserves a perfect score.

It’s an Ian Curtis guided trip into the gothic mausoleum of Joy Division.

fantastic

About 14 years ago or so, I learned about the 1001 Albums book. I found a list of all the albums somewhere online, and decided to try and start branching out and listening to some of them. One of the first albums I decided to check out was Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures. I was instantly hooked. I loved the broody sound, the drums, the keyboards, and Ian Curtis's deep vocals and dark lyrics. Shortly afterwards, I checked out Closer, and I loved it as well. This was my first time listening to this album in several years, and I'm so glad I had an excuse to re-listen to it. I still love everything about it: the dark mood, the way the instrumentals manage to sound massive yet lonely, Ian Curtis's vocals, and the dark lyrics. This was my first time to really spend some time looking into the lyrics, and I love all the imagery in them: religion, family strife, failed relationships. Knowing how Ian Curtis's life ended adds another deep layer of sadness to all of these songs, and it just makes me wonder if suicide had been something he had obsessed over for the greater part of his life. I think this album is fantastic, and without it, some of my favorite albums of the eighties and onward probably wouldn't exist. I hate that Joy Division was only around for a short time, but I do love that New Order came about from Joy Division's end, building on the sound that they had established.

Nobody could ever mistake Joy Division for another band. They have a very unique, distinctive sound. There is a pulsating, hypnotic quality to the music so it almost feels like you’re being pulled into a whirlpool. This album is infused with a poetic pain and musical melancholy, a harbinger of imminent demise. It is full of smokey sweaty clubs, and grey English streets. I can hear each instrument so distinctly from the other, and yet it combines in a kind of witches’ cauldron to produce melodic magic. Ian Curtis’s lyrics drip with suffering and the repetition just enhances that anguish. Weirdly enough, I just found this quote from Bernard Sumner: “While we were working on Closer, Ian said to me that doing this album felt very strange, because he felt that all his words were writing themselves. He also said that he had this terrible claustrophobic feeling that he was in a whirlpool and being pulled down, drowning." So obviously I am really tuning in to what Ian Curtis was feeling. Never mind the fact that this came out when I was almost a teenager and the nostalgia is overwhelming. This is a perfect storm of emotion, memory, poetry and damn fine tunes. Sen-bloody-sational.

Fine album

The album is a masterpiece.. Ian is brilliant.. Perfection

The iconic Manchester quartet's second and final album before the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis, the latter's specter naturally looms large over almost all appraisals of this densely atmospheric work. The album would, however, be considered a classic under any circumstances and Curtis' lyrics, pregnant with poetic imagery and historical symbolism, set him apart as one of the best frontmen in contemporary music, irrespective of his untimely demise. The foreboding existential anguish of 'Passover', along with the Kafka-inspired proto-death rock of 'Colony' are two particular highlights of the A side before the album's triumphant denouement with tracks like 'Twenty-Four Hours' and 'The Eternal'. Martin Hannet's production expertly captures the ephemeral brilliance of one of the most enigmatic groups in history on Closer - an unparalleled parting shot.

Considering that this is one of my favorite bands, and one of my favorite albums, I have a bias. I love this album, no notes.

One of the greatest albums ever made

Closer is an excellent album and I feel that it's overshadowed by Unknown Pleasures. If you've only listened to their first album please give this one a listen. Closer is on the same level. Very dark and gloomy with a similar sound like the band Bauhaus.

What is there to say? This is the peak of Post Punk, the precursor for new wave and a brilliant album top to bottom. I adore the songwriting and the instrumentals. Ian Curtis is untouchable as a frontman. Just an excellent piece.

Great album, great ambience and rhythm. Played it multiple times, gets better and better. No weak songs, colony stands out for me at this moment.

Classic album

Great album with a very haunting sound, and the drumming in particular is quite interesting. Heart and Soul and Twenty Four Hours are my favourite tracks on this.

Close enough.

and yet farther away than ever

If I’m giving Pornography and The Downward Spiral 5 stars, then you bet your ass I’m giving this one 5 stars, too. It has all of the exhausted nihilistic rage you’d expect a goth masterpiece to have, but it’s also catchy dance music. What a cool magic trick. Bonus: Love Will Tear Us Apart wasn’t even good enough for the original album.

Closer is possibly the most important post punk album of all time. Released a couple months after the death of Ian Curtis, Closer marks the end of one of the most influential bands of all time. Ian Curtis’s voice evokes a sort of gothic Jim Morrison when lends gravitas and charisma to his lyrics. The music itself is driving and very spacious. Each part feels larger than life giving the listener the sense that they are hearing something important.

Oh yeah, this is exactly my jam! Apparently I've habitually ignored this album in favor of "Unknown Pleasures" as this felt like discovering it for the first time. Considering how influential Joy Division were on post-punk and gothic rock, this still sounds remarkably fresh. One of my all time fave albums, "Deathconsciousness" by Have A Nice Life, is evidently patterned on it, too... Fave track - "Atrocity Exhibition" is one hell of an opener, and "Decades" is one hell of a closer - both amazing tracks. Also fun to discover "Isolation" - I love the Therapy? version and didn't know it was a cover!

Both Joy Division albums are amazing. This one is a little slower and darker then the first one but still excellent.

I agree that both Joy Division albums are amazing. Unknown Pleasures is better, but this one is also excellent. Curtis voice and lyrics are dark, and sound almost like his suicide note. It’s a challenging record, for sure, but it doesn’t make it any less brilliant.

Still haunting after so many listens. A chilling work of art for the ages. Can I give this one six stars?

Drums on this are so clean and so good. Classic post punk album. Standout songs Isolation and Twenty Four Hours. The start of Twenty Four Hours actually made me think of Deftones-White Pony. Never put much time into Joy Division but I’ll definitely return to this album.

I love this album. Much preferred to Unknown Pleasures. This sounds much darker and more sombre because it lacks the heavy metal flourishes of the first album. The light amplifies the shade here. It feels more exploratory and inventive, whilst maintaining the mood throughout. For obvious reasons much closer to the broader influences and less rock-influenced stylings of New Order. Again, unlike it’s predecessor, not a duff track on here. It’s always a thrill to hear those haunting opening bass notes of Heart And Soul. A unique masterpiece which - to these ears - hasn’t dated.

Hauntingly beautiful. It's incredibly dark and gothic, it kind of made me really depressed but in a way that only music can. I completely understand why this record is considered one of the best of its era, it really does define a huge chunk of the post-punk era. The vocals are haunting and the lyrics are powerful. Simply put it was something else. The song writing is well crafted and very polished, it's sad to see Joy Division looked back upon as incel music. Favorite Track: Twenty Four Hours Least Favorite Track: The Eternal

This may sound crazy, but I prefer this to Unknown Pleasures. Don’t get me wrong, Unknown Pleasures is a classic but there’s something about the dark edge of this album that appeals to me more. It’s haunting yet hypnotic at the same time. I heard this album long before I knew the story about Ian Curtis’ suicide and without connecting it with this album, I could feel the darkness that just permeates every track. I mean just listen to that guitar on “Heart and Soul” and tell me this album isn’t haunted. It’s tough to say whether or not I would give this album 4 or 5 stars. I love this album, but I can’t listen to it all the time. When I am in the mood for it I’ll usually listen to it more than once. I think that warrants a 5 also because this album has influenced so many others.

The music is intensely cool, the lyrics dark. I read a lot about singer Ian Curtis and his suicide just before this album was released. The album hits a lot harder when you know what was going on at the time. I felt the album started only ok. I didn't like the noisy guitar in the background for Atrocity Exhibition and felt it went on too long without change. I felt Isolation had a good sound but was kind of the same thing over and over, a criticism that could be aimed at most of the songs on this album. However, starting with Passover through The Eternal the album was just one incredibly cool sounding song after another. You could also hear the influence they had on so many bands in the 80s (and even beyond). It ended just ok on Decades - a good track but not as good as the previous - it would have been better if they ended with The Eternal. So, basically 2/3 of the album is absolutely perfect and 1/3 is good. Favorite tracks: While I really like all the songs from Passover to The Eternal, my favorites were Colony (cool, hard edge), Heart and Soul (dark, brooding, and mysterious), Twenty Four Hours (cool bass line throughout), and The Eternal (like a beautiful funeral dirge. Really like the piano in this song).

Just such an immense album from my youth.

Absolute classic! ❤️

Amazing.

My favorite Joy Division album. The soundtrack to my teenage years. I still put it on when I’m feeling particularly depressed or moody. It was strange to listen to when I was in a good mood.

Such a good album. One where it really pays to use the earphones. Just brilliant. Dark, thrilling, mesmerizing, grungy; even more so when you know the background. There's a great documentary of the same name, well worth watching. Overall one of my favourite albums, even though I only discovered Joy Division v late!

So great

Decades might be the saddest song of all-time. Of course I'm giving it a 5.

Not as incredible as their first album, but still quite amazing. I'll never get enough of Joy Division.

I would listen to this album over & over again. It's a shame I still didnt have it in vinyl.

Dos discos, dues obres mestres. Difícil triar una per sobre de l'altra. Diferents de la resta, immortals, obscures però embriagadores

Tengo este disco en vinilo. Es de los discos que más veces he escuchado y además lo he oído una y otra vez sin parar. Por un hecho personal me resulta especialmente triste oírlo, pero es lo que hay. Canciones con más ritmo en las primeras canciones como "Atrocity Exhibition", "Isolation", "Passover", "Colony", "A Means to an End" y cerrando ese parte "Heart and Soul" que puede que sea la mejor de este disco con un nivel muy alto para mi gusto. Luego vienen las más "etéreas" "Twenty Four Hours", "The Eternal" y "Decades".

Um belo álbum, especialmente quando tomado escutando um vinho. 9/10

F ian curtis, teria adorado o batman do robert pattinson

The first time listening to this album, I’m a big fan of unknown pleasures. Not sure why Iv not listened to this before now… This is another masterpiece so haunting still over 40 years later, it sounds as if it could of been released in 2022. The drums and Peter Hook’s bass line just send shivers down your spine, add in Ian’s vocals and lyrics and you have a tragic 5 star masterpiece.

Ok, maybe I didn’t get it before, but this is an excellent album by a great band. More Joy Division moving forward.

Love this album

Однозначно шедевр. Начиная с обложки. Одна из групп, которая довольно сильно повлияла на меня. Другой альбом - Unknown Pleasures тоже обязан быть в этом списке. Один из тех альбомов, которыми бы я смог описать жанр пост-панк.

Epic!

This is a fave

good

First album I get to review from listening on vinyl! Don't even really recall how I first came across this, because I don't know if I've even listened to Unknown Pleasures in full, but I do remember Closer hitting immediately. A really cold, suffocating album that entraps me like very few can (with the exception of like Disintegration ((oh boy I cannot wait for that))). Feels weird to listen to in July - this is an album you listen to in midwinter where it feels like nothing is ever going to get better Already Saved: Atrocity Exhibition; Passover; Colony; A Means to an End; Twenty Four Hours; The Eternal Saved After Listening: Isolation, Decades*

Saved Prior: None Not Saved: 9. Colony Off Rip: 8. Twenty Four Hours 7. Passover 6. Atrocity Exhibition 5. A Means To An End 4. The Eternal 3. Decades 2. Heart and Soul 1. Isolation Overall Notes: I go into this album as a big New Order fan who has heard a lot about Joy Division's place in rock history without feeling too compelled to check their stuff out beyond "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (adore) and "Distortion" (adore) because of my general distaste for post-punk. I read some global reviews that seem to be mostly split between people really getting it and people being bored out of their minds. After listening, I can see both sides but I side firmly with the former. There were still the discordant elements of post-punk that I typically abhor, but something about the way it mixes with Ian Curtis' lyrics and voice works for me. It's hard to put into words why this album worked so well for me where other similar albums failed. Maybe it's the mythos of Joy Division, maybe I'm more inclined to like this because of my love for New Order, maybe, regrettably, it's the tragedy of Ian Curtis' suicide that sells it. Whatever it is, I'm so so so glad I finally gave this album a go.

One of the two albums of post-punk band Joy Division on this list. You can feel the tragedy and desolation of Ian Curtis and it hits so hard.

Superb album.

Footballer = Zlatan

Manc miserablist masterpiece.

One of the all-time great albums. So much dark angst.

Really cool sound. I think Joy Division still has a sound that no other band could come close. Not accesible at all, but that somehow makes it special.

Este es mi disco favorito de la vida.

I love Joy Division so much and this is one of their finest hours. It's bleak, industrial, and emotional. Perfect!

10/10

The best

Considerado la joya de la corona del post-punk

Not as much of a banger as Unknown Pleasures, but still a kickass album

Aukko omassa sivistyksessäni, joka tuli nyt täytettyä kunnolla. Aiemmin olin tutustunut käytännössä ainoastaan Love Will Tear Us Apartiin ja bändin jäsenten myöhempiin projekteihin, mutta hienoa että tämän listan ansioista sain syyn tutustua bändin muuhunkin tuotantoon. Kuuntelin levyn läpi varmaan lähes kymmeneen kertaaan, ja jokaisella kuuntelulla levy kuulosti entistä paremmalta. Ian Curtisin ääni on varmasti monelle vähän liian "vaikea", mutta mielestäni se sopii hyvin maalailevan synkkään äänimaailmaan. Mitään yksittäistä biisiä ei noussut toisten ylitse, mutta laatu pysyi tasaisen kovana alusta loppuun. Erittäin positiivinen yllätys joka keikkuu nelosen ja vitosen välimaastossa.

This album slaps, especially the guitar tracks.

This is really good. Wow, this is really good. It reminds me of Molchat Doma (who are heavily influenced by this band, I believe).

Tying up loose ends before there was an appropriate enough time to do so feels like an accurate description of Closer. A premature posthumous obituary, one of Manchester's brightest lights was shattered with the end of the bat and Joy Division was now encased in amber. That didn't mean that they didn't leave something substantial, though, as icky as it may feel. Closer became a launching pad for many other bands that came in their wake and it leaves the listener with the belief that Joy Division would have refined it and gotten stronger alongside the material had things not ended the way it did. But alas...

Really liked this. Can see how they were so influential to so many artists. Not a fan of the vocals though. Sucks what he went through but I didn’t think he added anything special to this. Liked the album in spite of his voice, not because of it.

Never really listened to Joy Division when they came out, but I really enjoyed this album a lot!

this is objectively the weaker of their two albums which is to be expected after ian curtis i suppose :( but the overall score is bumped up by how excellent twenty four hours is

You can hear this album in so many newer bands that followed. Interpol is the first that jumps out to me. I really enjoyed it.

This album makes me sad that we didn't get more Ian Curtis. In the same vein as Bauhaus, She Wants Revenge, it is gothic dance music. A truly fun album front to back.

A classic of new wave.

Excellent album, brought back some great memories, couple of tracks I’d not heard before too, what could’ve been later?

Overall feels like a dark labyrinth.

This also has some of the best post-punk music ever made. This record played a pivotal part in shaping my music taste, when i first started to obsess over joy division, when i was around 17. I kinda feel sad for people who can't stand people singing off-tune, they're really missing out on some of the rawest emotions in popular music. I think unknown pleasures is a better record altogether. This is way more depressing. I think decades and Heart and Soul are some of their best, this has to be only a strong 4 compared to my fives.

Funny how randomness works, I got Unknown Pleasures last week. Unknown Pleasures is a seminal album. For some reason I never listened to closer. I expected Atmosphere to be on the album, as well as Transmission. Apparently both songs never were released on an album. Closer was everything you expect. Dark, prominent bass, machinelike drumming. It is terrific record, but it lacked the lasting impact that Unknown Pleasures had. Now I’ve got to watch Control and 24 Hour Party People again

I was not looking forward to this album because honestly Ian Curtis' voice gets on my nerves. I mean, when they are good they absolutely kick ass ("Love Will Tear Us Apart", "Interzone"), but I found it difficult to overcome his singing. It has no melody, and no coherence to the actual music. Surprisingly, I enjoyed this album despite his voice. It just rips. Best songs are "Twenty Four Hours" and "Isolation", though the whole album just has a brooding darkness that I am drawn to (though there are plenty of moments where Curtis' voice still gets on my nerves). Very good album.

acho que é necessário estar sob efeito de drogas pesadas para apreciar este album por inteiro

The beginning is tough, and not because of the lyrics and music, but for me it was non-existent. But after “A Means to an End” it’s just… beautifully sorrowful.

The kind of album that probably improves on each listen. Dark and moody but still keeps a little groove here and there. Favourites: Atrocity Exhibition Heart and Soul Twenty Four Hours

Early alt

It’s a good sounding album and flew by but it never really grabbed me

WAY ahead of its time with pretty fantastic bass and drum work throughout. Obviously also a huge tragedy; many of the lyrics are remarkably sad given the lead singer's tortured life. Tons of power and energy.

Enjoyed their sophomore (and sadly final) album better than their debut. So many tragic backstories on this list.

Dark lyrics were thoughtful at the same time predicting the future of the band. Traces are also of the future sound of New Order.

Ihr bestes Album imho.

good and gloomy, as anticipated

4.5

Depressing af

I knew “Closer” by Joy Division as an important album marking the transition from post-punk to gothic rock. I hadn’t listened to the album yet, but it sounds exactly as you’d expect: dark, emotional, with a slight new wave influence, and a bit monotonous. In the right mood, it’s certainly brilliant; on a sunny spring morning (like today), it feels more like a surreal dream. Even today, however, the lyricist’s struggle with himself is evident, and it feels like a dark prophecy of the events that unfolded between the recording and the release. Thus, “Closer” became, quite unintentionally, a memorial to Ian Curtis. The cover apparently sparked controversy at the time; personally, however, I find it all the more fitting.

I really like Joy Division but although the album is awesome to me because I heard it a billion time, I now feel they were a bit overrated and pushed through with the help of Ian's suicide. My kids didnt like it at all and they said it was all the same song. So seeing a different perspective from kids I now feel they are right. Dark album for sure but they were so young. I feel the new order era was better in terms of music more mature and also reaching critical and commercial success. Feel their best was in 1986 for Broterhood album. Still really good dark album that really was a stepping foundation for the post punk era music genre.

I can totally see how those who got to experience this record when it was brand new found it to be revolutionary. Joy Division is, without question, a heavy influence on so many. While I enjoy music from this period a great deal, this record in particular is a bit dark for me, so I don't fully resonate with it... I can still recognize genius when I hear it.

I've only really heard Love Will Tear Us Apart by them I guess. This album was nice, I liked the sounds. Vocal style is a bit strange, but ya.

Classic.

3.5/5

Krasses Album