Closer

This album is really weird, because it hits three really problematic notes for me. First, it's dark. And I mean it feels really, really bleak. Second, the lead's voice isn't that great. And third, it's not what I would consider to be something I'd choose to listen to again. Normally, taking into consideration all three of these things, I'd give the album a low rating, but I can't bring myself to do that. Dark, haunting, hopeless, this album is hard to listen to, but it's also beautiful in a lot of ways. It felt like I was listening to poetry at times, not music. Ian Curtis was good with words, even if they were hard to take in. I don't know that this is an album I would want to spin regularly, but I might want to have it in my collection just for its artistry.

This feels like a more solid version of Unknown Pleasures. Again Joy Division music is not very diverse, but most songs felt high quality and had a unique bit or two to them. Isolation and Heart and Soul were the highlights for me, they're also the songs that I've heard the most times.

This is likely a perfect album. Yet it's like a black hole, no light coming out. I'll leave it at 4.

Its a nice album, I don't have much to say

Love. Though a bit like sériel killer meditation music.

Downbeat beautiful

Never listened to a full album before, this is good stuff.

interessante

It might be sacrilegious to say this, but I think I personally preferred this to Unknown Pleasures. Darker and heavier, but in some ways I found it more listenable than its predecessor. It's sad to hear the backstory surrounding this album though, and the theory that this album is a suicide note of sorts really checks out. Favourite: Twenty Four Hours

Conor Lochrie once reviewed the 40th-anniversary version of Closer. Conor had a quote to summarize it all: "A terrible beauty is born." – Easter 1916, by W. B. Yeats.

really good, but not something I'd necessarily listen to all the time

Joy Division is a post-punk Cristiano Ronaldo making-off-from-the-top-of-the-key goal. (7/10) FT: Isolation

One of my favs.

I have never had such a mixed feelings after listening to a new album on this challenge. First of all, of course I have heard about Joy Division, but I've never heard even on their song in my entire life. "Closer" is my first experience, and straight out of gate I was disappointed. Wildly known as a post-punk genre, heavy on disco beats, synthesisers, instantly put me away. Songs were fitting into a wide set of 80s british punk rock music, which were gloomy by lyrics, but frustratingly upbeat by music. I was very close to not finishing this album at halfway, I was so sure I have heard everything that's interesting already. But then I was hit by an extremely positive surprise. Last three songs of the album: "24 hours", "The Eternal" and "Decades" shattered my previous idea of Closer. The trio of charts has changed the mood and musical climate quite suddenly and by quite a lot. Slower, positively repetitive melody, atmospheric tension of the song and sparsely used vocal of Ian Curtis worked perfectly on those songs. In general, I'm not a fan of his style of singing (although he had a great, deep voice). He was a little overexposed on previous records, but with short sentences, almost uttered as in conversation, he fitted perfectly into the shape of the song, adding another dimension to it. I can really see new favourite songs in style that I cherish. In the end I need to give two different notes: Side A - 2 stars, nothing exciting, constant struggle for listener. Side B - 5 stars, atmospheric post punk? Sign me in! Final note will be a generous 4 stars. One good song can easily outweigh two terrible ones.

Stone cold classic.

Good album but Unknown Pleasures is much stronger.

This album shows Joy Division at their full potential: sprawling, chaotic, energetic, neurotic. The band experiments with sound, mixing, melodies, rhythms, and vocals. If it's not better than Unknown Pleasures - and it probably is - it's a step forward and leaves you longing for what the band might have come up with next had they the chance.

Enjoyed my first listen. Will definitely revisit.

J'apprécie toujours un bon album de Joy Division. La voix, le best post-rock, toujours formidable.

Stórgóð plata, þunglyndi og deyfð. Eyrun mín tóku kipp þegar Colony fór í gang. Bassalínan og tromman eru nánast alveg eins og í Ilty Ebni sem kom út tveimur árum seinna.

A classic

Not totally for me in the end but the talent and quality of the band is undeniable. Every instrument is performed at the highest level and so is the structure of the songs and order of them, specifically the transition. Strong 3.5 for me. I'll round up and go 4 stars cause I feel it's closer to a four than a lone 3.

joy division has its own very distinctive sound and eventhough this album lacks a typical 'hit' its still a great album regardless

Pretty good

I guess they recorded this album at two different times and it definitely has two distinct sounds. I liked the more guitar-oriented songs (Atrocity Exhibition, Passover, Colony, A Mean's to an End, Twenty Four Hours) - heavy and scratchy sound, the skill is there, though you can see how shoe-gaze picked up that ball and ran with it in an even weirder way. And on second listen I really, really liked them. The synth-heavy songs (Isolation, Decades) are a bit too over the top for me. I was surprised that Heart and Soul and The Eternal were considered part of the latter songs (maybe the drum tracks?) because they felt real heavy and edgy like the former songs. I quite liked both. Rest his soul but I'm not a big fan of Ian Curtis' vocals. Even more rest his soul, but this album epitomizes the 80's "kill myself" music. The lyrics are quite sharp but man they are dark and gloomy. It's a real solid album despite the things I don't love; found myself unable to focus on anything else while listening. I was at around a 3 after the first couple tracks but moved to a 4 by the time I was two-thirds through the album; real strong from tracks 4 through 8. Almost went to 5 given how much its sound can be heard in various rock styles that came after it.

A profoundly dreary and yet often beautiful final send-off from this short-lived but incredibly influential post-punk act. Ian Curtis's haunting vocals are the star here, giving so many of these songs such an emotional punch.

Not as bleak as I remembered, musically at least (apart from The Eternal, which is pretty bleak in every sense). Atrocity Exhibition is jarring but propelled by a funky drum beat. Isolation is legitimately danceable. Heart and Soul & Twenty Four Hours are ominous as hell but still have an energy and a groove to them - dirges they ain't. I've decided today that this album is a pretty impressive piece of music in its own right, but the tragic context around it only makes it more compelling. Not in the mood for fully immersing myself in the lyrics today but can see how it might be a profoundly unnerving experience. 3.5 / 4

Solid choice for the list. Joy Division sure were influential.

It's tough to describe why I enjoy this album. Listening to it, I realize that it's definitely not going to be for everyone, but it strikes a chord with me, having grown up on emo and screamo. I love the atmosphere, which the sparse instrumentation and Curtis' deep, macabre voice lends to. It's a downward spiral, it's depressing. I can understand where he's coming from, I think. Favorite tracks: "Heart and Soul", "Isolation"

Creates such an evocative atmosphere

I used to think of Joy Division as a subclass of a wider organisation responsible for joy, thus increasing joy. Now I see that they are about dividing joy into smaller parts until far less joy remains. This album is heavy and sad and has a tale to tell. The live tracks at the end of the deluxe edition were a highlight.

I think I ended up liking it better than Unknown Pleasures. I'm not too into the melodies but kind of liking the darker tone. It's beautifully moody. Strong finish to the album.

It’s a slow burn for sure. I thought it was decent on the first listen, but I’m pretty sure after a few more it will grow on me. Looking forward to coming back to this, so I’m giving a preemptive 4 stars. 7/10

Not the Doors

I thought I knew this band, but now I realize I did not. They have, for lack of a better word, a minimalism, that I really admire. I like how the drums are often really prominent in the mix, and there's a lot of space that makes me focus on the words, and what's happening in each individual part of the music. New fan?

Definitely my preferred Joy Division album of the two. I like that they split the sound between guitar based songs and synth based songs. It all blends together quite smoothly since it is so tonally consistent. Certainly a dark and heavy album. I've always appreciated this sort of thing, but as I get older, I find myself much more attracted to this sound and feel a fairly strong "kinship" with it. I don't know what that says about me. It might just be the natural perspective of aging, or it might just be the dumpster fire of the past couple of years in the pandemic, who knows? I loved reading about their process of jamming and rehearsals to build the songs. Especially the bit about how they would "talk about banal subjects until they couldn't talk about banal subjects any longer" and at that point pick up their instruments and play. Interesting psychological state to put yourself in just before a creative exploration. I find Ian Curtis' vocal delivery to be hypnotizing and very "honest." I mean, he's not putting on an act here, it's not an affectation. He lived this.

I haven't ever given Joy Division a serious listen but I'm thinking I've made a big mistake. Atrocity Exhibition kicks off with that distorted guitar and possibly a synth in the background which has a freeform expressiveness that I find myself doing which is abrasive and only works with the other elements in lockstep (drums/bass). But man it works well. Total Krautrock energy. Unfortunately it peaks there for me. Twenty Four Hours is a good vibe but the others don't get there for me, I'm not sure I love the cadence of Ian Curtis. The Eternal sounds like something off Bowie's album Low side 2 but with vocals. Decades is nice with the synth. Maybe the last 3 are better than the first few. Still, I can recognize the greatness here even if it doesn't always tick the boxes for me.

Meh

Bom conhecer mais, curti bastante. Melhores músicas: Isolation, A means to an end e Heart and Soul

Haunting, just haunting, with real depth, beauty and tunefulness within the darkness, which is enveloping. Powerful, too. You can hear the future of so much goth, gloom-pop, etc. to come.

I like this album a lot. It’s a little dark….but the concept of a Joy Division is from the get go. I have a book about them on my dresser I need to get to!!

No major stand out songs, but that's not so much what this album is about, it's dark, electronic, evocative it's like listening through smoke.

Nice but I don’t care too much for this type of flat production, gimme some base!

Lot of bangers! Fun painting music.

Again this project pays off. I've seen the t-shirt. I know Love Will Tear Us Apart. I never checked out more but always meant to. Right off, the cover art is amazing (and poignant once I learned of the tragic circumstances around the release of the album). Atrocity Exhibition starts out strong and dark. Isolation turns a little more 80's, but still super dark. And the next song is great. And the next one. Really the whole album is an astonishing breathtaking heartbreaking haunting work of art. Heart and Soul. One will burn. As a teenager I was 0% goth but many of my friends were and I certainly see the appeal. This is a whole different planet than contemporary music like ABBA and Billy Joel. These guys aren't playing, if you know what I mean. I'm not going to want to listen to this on repeat. Especially not at this point in my life. I do think this was an album I needed to listen to before I die.

Never spent any time with Joy Division before. I liked this pretty well, nothing really jumped out to kick my ass from a single listen, but I also never got bored with it at any point, which puts it above most of the rest of this week.

Good stuff

Very well realized post-punk gloom. Ian Curtis thought the synths were ”gay”, but what does he know?

Feel like i can talk to the bugs man

Jedan od najboljih i najpoznatijih post-punk albuma, i defnitivno superiorni za mrčkicu od Unknown Pleasures - al opet to sve ovisi o mom raspoloženju.

Blizu petici ali closer četvorci hehe [FAINTED LAUGHTER]

Ian Curtis, what a great singer he was, died before this was released, some intense tunes here, I Like "Isolation" "Passover" "A Means To An End" "Twenty Four Hours" are all good, but not an album to listen alone too in a bedsit to be honest!

Have only really listened to Unknown Pleasures before but I enjoyed this. Certainly thanks to 'Rip it Up and Start Again.'

Great stuff lads

Still a disconcerting album - dark lyrics and experimental noises

Ein gitarriger Bass, percussions, die durchaus aufm dancefloor funktionieren, starkes Cover. Alle Einzelheiten stimmen, doch stellt sich mir ihre Summe selten zu einem eindrücklichen Gesamtbild zusammen. „Atrocity Exhibition“ ist ein gutes Beispiel dafür. Klopfe ich die einzelnen Teile ab, hört sich alles solide an; zusammen jedoch leicht unausgegoren, jammig, improvisiert, nicht ganz zu Ende gespielt. Und dennoch (m)ein Liebling auf der Platte. Ausbuchstabierter und somit deutlich stärker als der Rest klingen die letzten 3 Songs und hieven alles mit ner guten Portion „Heart & Soul“ auf 3.5

Deutliche Weiterentwicklung zu Unknown Pleasures. Keyboards auch, tolle Flächen in meinem persönlichen Favourite "Heart and Soul". Trotzdem immer noch super düster (noch düsterer gar?) und bitterkalt. Ich habe Ian Curtis natürlich nie gekannt, aber beim Anhören stellt sich mir schon die Frage, ob das was da so in und zwischen den Zeilen steht auch zwischenmenschlich so deutlich spürbar war - oder ob er diese eine, komplett suiziale, isolierte Persönlichkeit nur um so stärker "auf Platte" ausgelebt hat? Produktion jedenfalls ist top und schon ein Kunstwerk für sich selbst. Die Band selbst war ja angeblich gar nicht so zufrieden damit, weil live viel roher und wilder klingend was hier klinisch, distanziert, vertrocknet und trotzdem fast schon magisch schimmernd klingt. Ich kann nicht anders als das Werk hier auch mit Teilen der Rezeptionsgeschichte zu beurteilen und gebe deshalb 4 Punkte dort, wo es mir aufgrund persönlichen Wohlfühlfaktors vielleicht nur zu 3 gereicht hätte. Aber klar: dieser wahnsinnig kraftvolle Monolith von Album und Werk, und alles was im Anschluss passiert ist: kann ich ja kaum hoch genug schätzen!

8/10

It’s so sad to listen to this album

leuke ontdekking, kende ze bij naam maar nog nooits iets van gehoord

Interesse in heel de discografie

Solid post punk album. Bummer Ian offed himself

Enjoyed the trip down memory lane

Classic in the post-punk goth genre. Tough to listen to given the circumstances around its release but it's so powerful at the same time.

if i could give a 4.5 this would be it.

Great album. Slightly prefer Unknown Pleasures. 7-8/10

I like Joy Division, but I'm not sure if I've heard anything from this album before. All of the music was good enough. It would be easy to put this album on again for another listen.

She's cute but she's no Unknown Pleasures

¿Cuanto punk y post-punk necesitaban meter en esta lista? Pero bueno... Ta bien. Me gustaron Atrocity Exhibition y Twenty Four hours que tiene un sonidito dark. Mood: voz del monstruo de Frankenstein

Sólo conocía "Isolation" de este disco, pero pues lo disfruté. Bastante, a veces la voz de Curtis no me encanta, pero acá todo suena chido. Me gustó sobre todo "Decades", otras de mi top: "Colony" y "Heart and Soul". Pues eso, a veces pienso que si Joy Division siguiera hasta nuestros días, ya no tendría tanto el culto que tienen. 8.5/10

-Great Drums on "Atrocity Exhibition" -Great bass and drums on "Colony" -"Twenty Four Hours" is a jam

Never really listened to Joy Division, but I really enjoyed this album

Love this album, a classic.

Minimalist and cool

very ahead of its time, will be revisiting it

This album is definitely gonna need some more chewing for me. I was kind of taken aback by how much I wasn’t into it at first, given joy divisions legacy. But by the end of the album I was vibing with it. I went back and listened to the earlier tracks and enjoyed them. It will get a 4 for now, subject to change.

Great listen. Some clever and funny lines

Joy Division are really good, who knew?! The rhythm section is so enjoyable to listen to, the drummer never misses a beat, it's wonderful. I think i will be returning to this album, there's so much to like about it. I never really got the Joy Division thing before, mainly because I hadn't explored them. Now I have reason to try.

Serf

Never really knew much about Joy Division until this album popped up. As a Midwestern kid with access to one top-40 radio station AND Mtv (starting in 1981) we took what we could get, and Joy Div wasn’t there. I really liked the album although nothing really hit me as standout track either. Odd that these songs have me feeling nostalgic when I’m hearing them for maybe the first time. That said, JD spawned New Order and influenced bands like The Cure and The Cult which were in regular rotation for me in the mid-late 80s.

Now That's What I Call Goth Rock™️

4.1* really good album but lots of similar sounding songs.

Good psychadelic rock

Dudes voice is def an adjustment if you’re not ready for it. I’m not usually a post-punk fan but this wasn’t avant-garde enough for me to dislike it. As someone unfamiliar with post punk because of the aforementioned, it was interesting how I felt that all the songs were similar sounding but not in a bad/bleed together way. Album has warmed me up to JD more than I thought it would.

Anything Joy Division is a 4 or higher

8/10 FT: The Eternal

Probably my favorite Joy Division album that I've heard thus far.

Very good record.

It’s ok.

It's always interesting for me to listen to a band or album that I know is beloved, but I have no real experience with it. Sometimes it feels like the weight of the renown gets in my way of just listening to a piece on its own, but then again, knowing the context of a piece and how it fit into the world adds to the experience. It was with all of that in mind that I put on my first Joy Division record, and for the most part, it was a fine listen. I heard a few parts that reminded me of DEVO, and a few that felt like Talking Heads. I didn't pay the closest attention to Ian Curtis's lyrics, but knowing his story, his whole vibe really was the centerpiece of the album. Nothing really stood out to me, but I liked it overall. I'd listen again.

Made me sad,in a good way.

Totally brilliant and hypnotic opening track. Overall I really like the sound and most of what the band is doing but while I don’t mind his singing, I just find the actual vocal lines quite samey and hard to engage with and so am unlikely to revisit this much.

Solid Joy Division album

This wasn’t bad but it had a whiny quality that I had a hard time getting into, and it just kind of depressed me. It had enough cool moments to escape Twosville though.

Boff

Repetitive and discordant melodies. Out of tune for most of it. 3/5

I think I like the New Order sound a bit more. Think I need to run this one back though

I'll give Joy Division one thing: both their albums start on the absolute best foot possible. "Disorder" on the debut innovates an entire genre in real time, and "Atrocity Exhibition" is that genre's vampiric cousin, brough to life (back to it?) just a year later. I really thought I was in for something absolutely exceptional, but the album ended up being more hit-or-miss than anything else to my ears. For every clear highlight like the opener or "Colony," there were 2 songs that just did noting. Too moody, too ambient, not enough rhythm to move anything forward. It felt like the B-side took a really weird left turn into synthwave especially on those last 2 songs. There's enough here to make me appreciate individual songs as highlights of post-punk and the gothic sound that emerged out of them, but they feel a little bit hidden in the gloomy, murky mire that is the album they're on. Furthermore, while the rest of the band has improved leaps and bounds from the debut to Closer - it's apparent in the grooves on the more driving songs - Ian Curtis' voice just has not kept up. It's still the same pitchy monotone on basically every song, which really detracted from the incredible potential these songs had. I know that Joy Division sold a lot of people on the strength of that voice, but I honestly find it sounds so... amateurish compared to the instrumentals. Came in with high hopes, left with a mild appreciation. Key Tracks: Atrocity Exhibition, Colony, A Means to an End

Definitely prefer Unknown Pleasures. Lost interest a little of the way through.

I do not know a lot from joy division but from what i know they are iconic. This album creates a really cool dark and mysteriour ambience and i love that. Plus the cover art is also really cool!

Good sound, important album

Ok listen but another I wouldn’t want on regular rotation.

I tried it three times. I still am not getting the influence they had with this album. Did I like some of the songs? Sure. But I didn't find them mind blowing

I...guess Im not into Joy Division as much as I thought I might be. A couple songs hit for me,, but not an album I'm going to revisit any time soon.

6 - AVERAGE

Joy Division is a band which reinvented music at an odd time. Although this isn't my favorite of their works, it's such a great sound.

I appreciate the music to an extent, but I don't know if the total package is really for me. It's just kind of there. I want to like it more I guess but it's just middling. The music is fine, Ian Curtis' vocals aren't really for me. "Isolation" and "Passover" are probably the best songs for me.

Do I prefer the shaky, freaked out punk sound of Unknown Pleasures? Probably, but that doesn't stop me from seeing the beauty here. I do wish that a few of these songs didn't go on and on and on and on as they do, but to pretend like Ian Curtis's half-toneless mumbling isn't poetry would be dishonest. The dense, droney thing this album is going for did melt my icey heart by the end, but the 1st half is a bit repetitive. I wish we could've watched this band grow into something more, but what was laid to tape is worth celebrating.

beautiful

I went back and forth on this. On the one hand I enjoy the dance music vibes of much of this album; on the other the singing didn't do a lot for me. It's a very specific sort of drone that likely inspired groups like Depeche Mode later in the 80s. But whereas I like Depeche Mode's vocalizations a bit more, this didn't hit for me. Ultimately I think this places the album solidly in 3 territory.

Had a sound and aesthetic and went for it. Pretty sad stuff, and makes sense given the context. Respect more than I enjoy,

If I was a teen in the 80s this probably would have been my style.

Krasse backstory viel Emotion aber schaffst für mich nicht über drei sterne

Very 80's. Some talking heads vibes. Hints of the damned. Not my fave. Not the worst.

The Eternal

Joy Division have a very cool sound. The rattling doom of "Atrocity Exhibition" makes for a great, dramatic opener. And "Isolation" is a great, poppier second track. It's still got that brooding, cavernous style, but with a great, high-pitched synth hook too. The rest of the album continues their dark and strange post-punk. I dig it, although it doesn't exactly rev my engines. Some music just hits you, other music you only respect. This is the latter for me. I can't believe lead singer Ian Curtis is 23 years old on this! He sounds much more world-weary than 23 would suggest. And the affectation he's putting on his voice is deep and strange. It's very theatrical.

I never got too far into this band but I definitely can appreciate the cool ~apathetic~ vibe and monotone vocal parts. It's like they set out to come up with a really cohesive and unique sound and visual aesthetic and they execute on it every time. This album was a nice listen, but I will say that submitting my review ~3 days after writing it, I'm not really holding onto any songs or moments from the album. It came and went.

While I appreciate Joy Division and their musical impact (they've influenced some of my favorite artists, like Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins), this album just wasn't hitting for me.

Pas fou

Tried to make it a 4 by listening again but didn’t quite make it. 3.5 rounded down.

a skip for me, really. sounds mysterious but too long. for relaxing nights

I prefer Unknown Pleasures and while some of this is enjoyable, interesting and maybe even foundational, I don't think I'd listen to it again of my own accord.

I remember hearing Love will tear us apart for the first time and thinking; wow that’s amazing! Imagine my disappointment when I heard the rest of their output? They are band that I feel I should like and have tried but I much prefer New Order.

Nice instruments but with how separated the vocals are from them i didn’t enjoy it that much.

Isolation is a great song but the singer is not good

Still not cool enough to say I like JD.

Tenía mucha expectativa por lo que iba a escuchar, tengo que decir que soy fanático de New Order, y la verdad es que no me encantó. Ahí se escucha el grupo en que el que derivará Joy Division y tal vez por eso no puedo ser el más objetivo, como si lo fuese a hacer en todo lo demás (siendo sarcástico, por supuesto), pero me pareció apagado e incluso deprimente. No sé si desde ahí se ve el destino del vocalista.

Not my favorite Joy Division record, but it gets stronger in the second half. Twenty Four Hours and Decades are great.

Makes me want to sit inside and smoke cigarettes Best Song: The Eternal Rating: 5.0/10 Stars: 3

There’s a reason Love Will Tear us Apart is the most famous Joy Division song rather than anything off this album. It definitely leans kind of funeral dirge-y throughout the album. I didn’t dislike it, but it doesn’t show that much range. Musically significant-yes. Highly listenable- not as much

It’s ok but a little too goth for me. I liked the band that many of the members formed after the lose of Ian.

Not bad.

Look, New Order is a better, more complete band. They just are. Apologies to any 80s goth kids out there gnashing their teeth about it. That said, yo, this thing has some incredible dark vibes going. Absolutely a mood piece. It is currently a bright, sunny day in early spring. There are birds and daffodils outside, and this record is the exact opposite of all that. There's a lot to like here, but choose your moments. It's music for a desolate grey November. Skeletal thorny branches clutching the shriveled remains of your heart and all that. It's music to brood by.

Me encantaría poder decir que amé este disco; lamentablemente, estaría mintiendo. Me gustan las letras, me gusta la composición, y me gusta el estilo de Ian Curtis al cantar, pero hay algo en el resultado final que no termina de cerrarme. ↑: Passover, A Means to an End, Twenty Four Hours, Decades ↓: –

Interesting and not much else

Meh. This was not as cool, fun or interesting as the wombats or the t shirt wearers had me believe.

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Decades Very raw, gritty, stripped down music. Grimy is probably the word to use. Joy Division is a band name I've heard thrown around a lot since I started this journey (this is album #381) - usually in a good way, I think - and I guess I can see why. Like Siouxsie and the Banshees, this album sounds like a missing link that bridges the gap between the punk, post-punk and new wave genres. I like the punk and post-punk elements - the exceptionally grinding guitar at the end of Atrocity Exhibition, the speak-singing and barely keeping a tune singing, and just the washed out sound in general. The parts of the album I'm not super thrilled about are the tracks that feature synthesizers. Or maybe I just want to not like the synth sounds. I seem to have a love-hate relationship with the New Wave genre. Sometimes I can't stand it and other times I find myself wanting more and more. I think its related to the fact there's just so much 1980s music on the List. It gets tiresome hearing a new wave album every 5 or so albums.

Emocionante, me gustó relativamente

Pas un fan ni expert de ce style mais j’ai bien aimé ! 3/5

Creates an experience of minimalism through repitition and long timescales

I like Joy Division but wasn’t super wowed by this. It sounded kinda samey to me.

Meh. Not really for me. Neutral.

Though I didn’t personally enjoy this album all the way through, I can certainly appreciate the clear influence their sound would have in the music of the next decades.

My rating 3.4

Iconic maar niet iets wat ik heel vaak hoef te luisteren

OK. Iconic sound.

Meh!

Gotta Find My Destiny, Before It Gets Too Late 1001 Albums Generator 245 (3/11/2026) I do like this album more than Unknown Pleasures, but Joy Division just isn't my thing. 3/5. Favs: Atrocity Exhibition Twenty Four Hours Decades Least Fav: Passover

Lacks a standout song - should have included “love will tear us apart”

Decent album great band First song is atrocious tho

Even more down trotted then other I listened to, not much stood out but busy day. Sold 3

Ian Curtis is like a robot that became conscious and allowed to start a band but everyones mean to him and he's really upset about it twenty four hours was my favourite song

Du rock, mais badant

Sympa cet album

Я люблю перший альбом і досить спокійний до цього. Для мене це десь 3.5. Багато настрою, але пісні мені видаються просто ок

3.5. Я не те щоб фанат джой дівіжн, але звісно ж цей гурт не просто так є культовим і конкретно closer містить декілька сильних пісень, безумовно. Втім, не можу сказати що я справді сильно люблю цю музику.

2.5

It goes

Grim!

Huvitavad mõtted, rütmid ja harmooniad, aga täiesti kohutav vokaal. Ei jäänud midagi kummitama ka. 2.8/3

good but I've never liked it nearly as much as unknown pleasures, which I'm also more or less fine on. cool riffs and sounds and stuff but generally just washes over my brain. plus since i like it less than unknown pleasures it's easier for me to hold ian curtis's legacy of inspiring a generation of the world's worst vocalists against it

this was good, but I'm definitely more of a New Order girl. It was fun to hear what the original band sounded like, and how elements of it would later live on. 6/10

C'était sympa, mais je ne suis pas tombé sous le charme, j'ai eu l'impression d'écouté des champs religieux à des moments

I know Joy Division is a foundational modern alt rock band but these blase vocals just cannot do it for me.

Interesting listen not totally my thing

This album is cool, not really my favorite.But it's all right

однажды надо вернуться к этому

Miserable but classic

Less enticing than anticipated.

Finally something i haven’t listened to HOLY. i’ve listen to unknown pleasures but whatever

The seventies must have really sucked.

Undoubtedly extremely influential and a remarkable achievement, subjectively speaking this is all a bit too slow and gloomy for me. Love the bass and drum sound, and some of the faster tempo numbers were fun, but all in all a bit of a slog.

Love Joy Division and their sound but this album is a lot weaker than their first, not really any standout songs. Still enjoyable overall

much prefer the punky tracks on the second half compared to the synth-heavy tracks with compressed vocals. highlights: heart and soul twenty four hours (apparently written in 1979 before experimenting with synths, assume i’d like their older stuff when they were considered more of a punk band) the eternal

Standouts Atrocity Exhibition Atrocity Exhibition is a solid start. An array of discordant sounds and layered instrumentation which I found immensely enjoyable. The next 3 songs (Isolation, Passover, Colony) didn't particularly stand out to me, they had good endings but fairly bland otherwise. I think it improved from there on out but never managed to reach as high as the first song. I appreciate the variety of sounds and experimentation a lot but I feel like they never managed to create a moment where you could dig into the layers like you could in Atrocity Exhibition I feel like this should be a 4 but I can't really justify it High 3/Low 4

Album No. 0127 on my list. I am somewhat conflicted about Joy Division's "Closer" album. A lot of other reviews praise the album's lyrical quality and how well it represents the feelings of Ian Curtis shortly before his tragic suicide. And on an intellectual level, I certainly get how incredibly dark this album is lyrically, and how well this darkness is represented by the album's lyrics. But at the same time, I have to admit that I still find the album somewhat dull. Maybe the album's mood didn't match mine when I listened to it, but the album's darkness doesn't really stick with me. I mean, it's certainly not a bad thing that I didn't want to kill myself after listening to this (I still have so many albums left), but I would have expected the mood of the album to somewhat reflect in my own. But it doesn't, really. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe I just don't like Ian Curtis' voice and style of singing, maybe it's the music that is somewhat repetitive and lacks some dynamic. I dunno. It's certainly not a bad album on the other hand - you really get why Joy Division was so influential at the time. Look, I guess Joy Division is just one of these bands that you're supposed to like, but I guess it's just not my cup of tea (so far). The album was okay I guess, but so far I don't like the band as much as I should be; especially in comparison to New Order, which I actually like very much. I'll add "Atrocity Exhibition", "Isolation", and "A Means to an End" to my playlist. 3/5 stars.

New order is more fun to listen to, I said it

3.4 stars rounded down.

Always been a JD and NO fan. I wonder if NO, or JD, would have ascended if Curtis did not kill himself. This album certainly hints at the much more polished music that was to come. While the keyboards are noticeable on this, the songs are rather subdued. Ian’s voice sounds almost depressed at times.

Interesting sound, very experimental goth

Hasn't clicked for me yet. I'll try again another time. Favorite track: Atrocity Exhibition 3.5/5

Closer is an album that is kinda in the middle for me. I always thought of Joy Division as a band that i had never heard much of but one that i would enjoy because i like indie rock and i thought their name was pretty cool too. Though, from what i have listened to, it's not something that i have a lot to say about. Most of it sounds kinda like video game music like what you would probably hear in the dungeon of an RPG from the late 90s to early 2000s. It definitely wasn't bad, the album definitely did have it's moments and it is one of those albums where the longer songs shine more but it's just not very special. Its not bad, just not great either. Best Song: The Eternal Worst Song: Isolation

Moody. Have had a lot of these sad-boy 80s records and although there’s some Joy Divisions songs I enjoy, like The Smiths, and early Cure, whole albums sometimes feel like a lot.

I wanted to really love this album but it didn’t really do it for me. I think it would grow on me with multiple listens

Slow and sad

Traust gammel skranglerock. Litt kjedelig å høre på i dag.

2.5

Joy Division is one of those bands that countless of my favorite artists have cited as an influence. Listening to this album I can tell why, it's very interesting and unique, I imagine that was especially true when it came out. At the end of the day, however, it just really isn't my thing, not one I'll be revisiting much. Gets points for originality though! 3.5 -> 3/5

I’ve heard much about the bass lines of Peter Hook. Turns out they’re pretty cool. The vocals do tend to sound monotonous over time, but I like the band.

this had aspects that I really enjoyed but the 80s production continues to tank the rating for music that i would otherwise probably enjoy

I know this album was really influential and before its time, but out of its historical context I think it's just pretty good. Better stuff came later (eg Cure, Depeche Mode). 3.4

Second Album proposé après 'Unknown Pleasures' que j'avais trouvé assez intéressant (noté 3/5). La section rythmique reste originale, surtout la basse, mais un peu moins la batterie (électronique sur certains morceaux). La guitare est intéressante sur certains morceaux. J'ai apprécié aussi l'ambiance, par contre je n'aime toujours pas le chant : les morceaux plus longs avec des plages instrumentales sont bien plus réussis ('Heart and Soul' par exemple). Je l'écouterais probablement de nouveau, mais il ne rejoindra pas ma collection. =>3/5

Pretty good.

Not my style

Favorite Track: Decades

I never realized JD only had two albums before the tragedy. They least quite a mark. I don’t love his droning voice, but the guitar work is cool.

i generally love the monotonous slow meandering instrumentalization of this period. however, this album is just not entertaining enough and it feels like a more boring version of depeche mode

Man we listened to some real gloomy stuff. Great album.

A bit slower than what I'd like, but not bad at all.

crazy story mitwm ian curtis. het sich nach sim tod zu new order gändered

As someone that’s only heard love will tear us apart, excited to dive into this. Hm ok I’ve pieced it together, the vocals are odd and guitar is discordant and that’s the point, the lead isn’t enjoyable but the riffs and the drums are bangers 2.5-3

I liked Joy Division a lot as a teenager, but I found this a little dull listening in 2025. Maybe I'm just happier now?

Still creative, still expressive, just not as good as unknown pleasures

= The Beatles

80s sounding, new wave, lots of reverb everywhere. Vocals are not super melodic and 'gothy' sounding, they sit a little back in the mix so it's a bit hard to understand all the lyrics, you really have to be listening to make them out. It's early electronic music where it sounds like a dude put his poems to the beats and melodies, into song form.

2.5

Not bad but I'll probably never listen to this again. Plus one for cultural relevance.

Recall it being better,,,

A bit depressing in places (obviously!) but that there are a few catchy tracks. The first track is a drag, as are the last two. At least the album doesn’t contain the awful “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. That song is an abomination. “Closer” is a real mixed bag, so a 3/5 seems fair.

I like the minimalism, but I was hoping for more Peter Hook. It's kind of a bleak album. I prefer New Order, but it had to come from somewhere.

I have tended to enjoy New Order more than Joy Division. This album deserves a spot on the list though. I feel like I prefer their debut album though. It's crazy to me that Love Will Tear Us Apart is not on here, as it would be the best song on the album. Unknown Pleasures is the better album in my opinion.

It's an okay album. A little too sad for me, but is a really good version of sad music. On a few songs, it seemed like the lyrics and music didn't match, which was kind of odd. 3/5 Probably won't listen again

I've listened to this a good few times, but it never really stuck with me the way Unknown Pleasures did. I think it's one where credit has to be given for influence on other bands. I can hear a lot of inspiration for the likes of U2 for ex. I really like the drumming and some of the melodies, but find the lyrics a bit inscrutable.

It's interesting that unknown pleasures has the famous album cover when arguably this one has a much nicer one. never been a big post punk guy Fav song: Decades

Decent background music, 80s rock, nothing really stood out, tonality was meh

Este sí, algo más guay.

On a really long streak of mid

This album is dark and the suicide of Ian Curtis makes it more troubling. The live versions on the collectors edition are better.

It kind of dragged on and on for me, cool as those bass lines were.

A pretty good album, I liked Isolation the most.

I enjoy Joy Division in general but most of this album was just okay for me.

Pretty solid

Emo alt

Early new wave

So much better rock music out there

Melankolista ja aika junnaavaa. Aluksi en tykännyt tai alkupään kappaleet ei ollut niin omaan mieleen, mutta aloin ymmärtää levyn viehätyksen loppuun päin mentäessä. Varsinkin The Eternal kappaleen tunnelma oli tosi siisti. Parhaat: The Eternal, Twenty Four Hours

I'm not sure I've listened to this before. In first listen I think I prefer their debut.

I enjoyed some tracks from this record, but the rest I did not really care for. I'm not really into post-punk, but I think this has been one of the better records that I have listened to. Favourite Track(s): Atrocity Exhibition, Twenty Four Hours, Decades Least Favourite Track(s): Passover, The Eternal

Tämä oli hyvin ristiriitainen albumi kuunnella. Tykkäsin erityisen paljon levyn miksauksesta, mutta laulajan äänestä en täysin pitänyt ja yleinen tunnelma oli liian synkkä itselleni. Myöskin levyä kuunnellessa läpi, tämä tunnelma ja synkkyys nappasi välillä otteeseensa ja toimi ihan kohtalaisesti, mutta yleisellä tasolla jäi negatiivinen fiilis. Eri laulajalla voisi toimia itselleni paremmin, ehkä jopa nelosen arvoisesti. Toisaalta, sopisiko eri laulaja tähän synkkään tunnelmaan yhtään sen paremmin. Bändin ja levyn taustoja lukiessa tuli fiilis, että laulajasta pitäisi tykätä enemmän (kevyt mullat hänelle, kun 23-vuotiaana itsemurhaan päätynyt). Lopputulemana irtoaa albumille taas vaihteeksi kolmonen, mutta vahva sellainen. Taas tarvittaisiin puolikkaita tähtiä. Kehityskaarta albumilta löytyi, koska olin ensimmäisten biisien jälkeen antamassa kakkosta. Kuten arvostelustakin huomasi, oli hieman ristiriitaiset fiilikset tästä levystä.

Ehkä tästä saisi enemmän irti, jos kuuntelisi enemmän, mutta kertakuuntelulla jää vähän junnaava ja itseääntoistava fiilis.

Finally listened to a full Joy Division album.. had only heard famous songs before like Shadowplay. Musically I love many of the songs, but vocally Ian Curtis is tough to get into. I also didn't read the lyrics which would probably enhance it. Despite their fame, I didn't think I'd like it due to his voice but pleasantly surprised with some of the songs.

Nothing incredible, nothing all that bad. Fairly bland to my taste, but inoffensive so.

This is a worthy entry, but I wasn't in the right place for it. Its so dark and sad. I love their first album but I dont want to listen to something this bleak.

Fair.

I'm split on JD - I think the music is pretty interesting but I find the lyrics and vocals to generally be lackluster and uninteresting. I think I'll round up because some songs on the second half of the album were pretty good, including Heart and Soul and Decades. 2.7/5 - 3/5

First album was better

This requires me to be in such a specific mood and I'm so drawn toward melody that, on the day that I listened to this, it was hard for me to appreciate it. I know

Bold but not particularly enjoyable. Maybe it's weird to call something so cold and minimal "bold," but this is definitely an artistic statement. And as a lot of artistic statements go, it's not especially pleasant. All of my favorite Joy Division songs are elsewhere (though "Isolation" is solid), so I appreciate this more than I actually like it.

I did not know anything about this band or the sad story! I don’t think I would listen again, but I did enjoy some of the songs and now know the New Order origin story. The last song Decades is very cool. The middle got a bit monotonous. No regrets though!

I like the drums, I like the synth, I like the bass, I like Isolation. I don't like Ian Curtis' vocals, but it's hard to listen to this album and not think about him and the sad story of his life and hear that in the lyrics.

Dark, prefer new order

Listening to the master instead of the 2007 remaster. Sounds interesting. But no five stars yet, I would guess a 3. Perhaps it’s going to grow on me? You can hear how they will become New Order.

not bad but not for me

Joy Division certainly deserves to be on here, but I was hoping I'd dig this album more than I did. It was dark wave-y for sure, but I didn't quite take to it like other dark wave bands that I enjoy. Glad to know that their "Unknown Pleasures" album is on this project too, because I think that's probably more quintessential Joy Division listening than "Closer" and I'm hoping for a redemption arc. I'd give this a weak 3.

It’s a perfectly fine album, don’t think I like this style of music. There was one song I think I enjoyed off of this? But otherwise, not for me. I think three is fair.

I like the beats but I’m not a fan of the vocals. Decent back ground music but not something I’ll put on repeat

Kinda boring and did not move the needle like there their first album

7/10

On second thought, maybe I don't have depression. This sounds like real depression.

Joy Division - still not really my thing and this isn't even their best album.

Influential yes, but almost unbearably drab… a step down from Unknown Pleasures (the one everyone has the t-shirt of)

Good music history, a bit drab.

Liked this better than first joy division for sure but still not rly my cup of tea! Appreciate it for what it is tho.

Nada mal primera escucha de esta banda. Supongo que Unknown es superadora. Nada que destacar: 3.6

3/5

I'm more of a New Order than a Joy Division kind of guy.

Repeat listen

Some of it was really cool. Liked a lot of the bass/drum grooves. But the talk singing got to me after a few songs. I know this band/album inspired a lot of rock and punk though.

I could never get into Joy Division. Still can't. It's okay and yeah I enjoyed my time with it, but I just don't understand all the hype around it.

A slow, dour, and repetitive album that succeeds at crafting a singular atmosphere. Pretty tight band. I enjoyed it despite its flaws. Best song: Decades

I guess this is a genius groundbreaking album. It sounded fine to me. Couldn't get into it.

Kind of brooding music that I'm surprised came out in 1980. It seems like it should have come out much later. I'm guessing this album was an inspiration for later bands because the vibe really permeates into 90's music. It's not a bad album, easy to listen to and different. Probably not something that I would seek out but I don't regret listening to it. Would be nice to mix a few of these tracks into a chill playlist.

I do like some Joy Division, but this album not so much. It's too monotonic.

I hate that South Park was my first introduction to Joy Division. Their impression was so spot on it’s all I can hear. Some of the songs are poppy/ but a lot sounds the same.

s'alright

Glad I got to give Joy Division a go finally. I think I need another listen to really get a good feel

This album is carried by its aesthetics and stylistic choices, even down to the album cover. What I often forget is how existential and dreadful some of the lyrics are! “A Means To An End” might be the most memorable and accessible of the songs for that simple looped guitar/bass melody. But “The Eternal” is my favorite off this record for just how ethereal and ghastly it sounds. Surely this album gets the Halloween boost every autumn. So very forward thinking drum patterns and tiny composition choices, but also forgettable at points. Soft 3/5

I prefer Unknown Pleasures over this. Not terrible, but not really my jam.

This is the definition of “I can appreciate it for what it offers and provides to me as a listener given the background of the album, but it is still not for me” at least for me

Hm. I guess the project's editors must *really* like Joy Division/New Order, given that they included both of Joy Division's albums and then two New Order ones too. So I guess I'm now three-quarters done with that sound, with only Joy Division's debut album ahead. And much like the New Order albums, I don't really find "Closer" a particularly compelling album or sound, although I appreciated the somewhat more raw sound of this album than in New Order (presumably at least in part influenced by Ian Curtis, who didn't survive the band). I'm guessing Cure fans enjoy this album too (likely far more than I did). But pretty cool that they paid homage to J.G. Ballard's "Atrocity Exhibition" with the same-named track, and sad to read about Ian Curtis' precipitous decline and suicide as they finished this album.

Occasionally interesting, mostly not. I like it at parts, but it grows stale pretty quick for me.

From this era and genre, I prefer Devo. They are incredibly similar to my ears.

Désagrément immortalisé. J'aimerais pouvoir me glisser subtilement dans la crowd qui capote ben raide mais mon dieu que c'est pas facile.

Okay, this is one of those weird ones. I feel like I like this a little more than I actually do, if that makes any sense. It's very possible that this'll be a 4 in the future, but for right now it just doesn't quiiite hit enough to make it there.

I've always just assumed that Joy Division would be sort of like difficult to get into. They have a real cult following. but I had never really listened to them. What I heard today I really enjoyed. I'm not sure if they are all like this, but I'll definitely break into their other albums and see what they have to offer.

I can hear how in the early 80's there was a divide in rock music. One side leaned into the newer pop sound of disco, synth and glam, the other back into the edgy, artsy guitar based music it came from. I appreciate that this is a strong step toward the latter and for that I like it. However I found the album to be a bit depressing as a whole and just a bit more abstract than I was ready to embrace.

Beetje saaie jarentachtigmuziek. Een donkere stem op een bedje van drums en keyboards, met nummers die net wat te lang doorduren. Anno 1980 waren ze er misschien vroeg bij met deze sound, maar daarna is het door anderen beter gedaan.

Joy Division heeft maar 2 albums uitgebracht, maar je hoort hier al welke kant de overige artiesten later naartoe zijn gegaan. Wat vage, minimalistische muziek met meer elektronische invloeden. De stem van Ian Curtis was wel een verschil met andere bands uit die tijd en als bands zo'n zanger hebben, vallen ze op een of andere manier al snel op. Ik denk gelijk aan het bekende Editors, of het iets minder bekende Interpol. Ik vermoed niet dat Interpol in deze lijst staat, maar ik kan zeker hun debuutalbum (debuut!!) aanraden: Turn on the Bright Lights. Een modernere (en wat mij betreft) betere variant van Joy Division. Misschien zou ik de film van Anton Corbijn nog een keer moeten kijken om er helemaal in te komen, maar ik vind dit album denk ik wat minder dan het debuut. Prima dat dit er ook in staat hoor, daar zul je mij niet over horen verder. Het is net als de film toch duistere muziek, alles is zwart-wit, zonder kleur. Wat dat betreft is het juist heel erg 80s, kaal, industrieel. Kijk naar de films uit die tijd, en het is altijd een teringzooi op straat. Dat ademt deze muziek ook wel uit. Opgenomen in een smerige steeg met hoeren en drugsgebruikers, of een vervallen industrieel pand. De film Control gaf ik een 7, net als dit album. Het eerste album kreeg van mij een 4, bij dit album hou ik het daarom op een 3.

A bit overrated to be honest.

Meh I don’t know. This did not do much for me, but wasn’t bad either. Twenty Four Hours was a great song tho.

Ok I like new order better

Decent actually but seems a bit simple at times. Not like great musicianship.

This was good music but I’ve heard this album done better before in my humble opinion.

Funny relationship with joy division. They get 10/10 for vibe, influence they’ve had on music and one or two of their songs but a full album always feels like a slog to me.

Dark

Man I am so behind. I'll try to catch up. Haven't heard much Joy Division to be honest. This was okay I think they all kind of sound the same

Let’s not dance to Joy Division

6.5 / 10 - bit too edgy for my tastes, however, I can see how it is one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time. There's something quite soothing about Ian Curtiss' vocals. I did find the tracks a bit hard to follow sometimes and the pacing can be somewhat jarring, but closer still presents some really interesting music and I very much appreictaed a lot of the lyrics

This is a very dark album, appropriately so now that I read about the context. I think that it's mostly good, but there isn't anything that really sticks out to me as exceptional.

I only really knew Joy Division from Love Will Tear Us Apart. I had no idea they could be pretty experimental. Unfortunately it didn’t really hit for me - I can see where someone would like it, just not me

Isn’t this a Nine Inch Nails song? OR will it be an album about being a closing pitcher for the Hartford Yard Goats? That’s a cause we can all get behind. Listen, this isn’t the album where everyone has that t shirt, but I imagine this will be vaguely punk-y new wave. The air is clogged with smoke. The apocalypse or at least the swift conclusion of my known way of life feels to be at its end. Let’s give that a soundtrack. Atrocity Exhibition - What a cool start. The rattling bass is electrifying. The song itself is pretty sweet, but these vocals have something off about them. Not enough passion. Not a bad start though. Very interesting at least. Isolation - Ah. I’ve figured out the critical acclaim. The singer killed himself. Bingo. Death is art to these freaks. Look, the vocals are bad. They are. However, these song itself? Fantastic. The lyrics? Cool. This is shaping up to be a good one, but can we drop the depression fetish as a society? Pretty please? Passover - Again, we have a cool song with these weird vocals. I LIVE for weird vocals, but I like when they have some power or vitriol laced into them. This just feels listless. Colony - Leave it to the English band to write a song called “Colony.” Lyrics are once again very good, but the song finally lags behind here. The bass is almost too loud and these vocals man. What are you people on? Can I have some? A Means to an End - This is so dull. Repetitive and boring. A huge miss, which is surprising considering the lack of swing. Strike 3 taken, right down the middle, he’s gonna want that one back. Heart and Soul - The lyrics continue to impress despite being delivered in a white panel van that is being pushed by the band mates. This is a chilly song that harkens me back to winter. The instruments even imitate the howling wind. Oh, winter? Yeah it was one of these things we used to have called “A season” where the weather would change. In the winter, cold white water flew down from the sky and it felt like your fridge outside. Oh right. Sorry, your Amazon™️ food chiller. Twenty Four Hours - Now, I don’t believe mental illness automatically makes a person interesting. In fact, it’s usually quite the opposite, but when you are able to get glimpses into how one is battling with difficult circumstances beyond their control, it’s a deeply human relation point. This song is all lyrics, but the music fits. The little warbles and breaks in the vocals really add what has been missing so far. The Eternal - Too long. I mean it’s fine, but nothing earth shattering for me. Decades - Kermit the Frog sings about the horrors of being alive. That about sums this album up really. I can’t say I hate that either. This album will either grow way worse or way better with time, but the very fact that I am already thinking about listening to it again, is about as glowing a review I can imagine. There were pockets of boredom, and I wanted more from the vocalist, but what I got wasn’t too shabby and piqued my interest to the point where I am satisfied. To have any sort of interest piqued means it was a good day with the 1001. On to the next. If the world is still here tomorrow. 3 HIGHLIGHTS: Isolation, Twenty Four Hours

This is a solid post-punk record with a dark, goth rock drone. It achieves a lot and obviously has had an impact on contemporaries and followers. However, two things impede my personal opinion of this album: one, it’s frank and depressing lyrics (especially on the over-long opening dirge) linking so directly to Ian Curtis’ struggles and eventual suicide make it a deeply sad listen, and two I simply prefer the efforts of contemporaries like Echo and The Bunnymen, The Cure, and XTC - who kept pop more central, sure.

Enjoyed this much more than the other JD album I got here, which I did not enjoy much at all.

A good listen with a few songs I’ll be returning to

3.5

As always, Joy Division sounds like themselves. A little less homogenous than Unknown Pleasures, which is nice, but not necessarily better.

3.75

I prefer 'Unknown Pleasures' and had never listened to 'Closer' as a collection. Took 3 listens to get into it, a luxury I might not have given a band I wasn't so familiar with. But this is the legendary Joy Division...they who begat New Order. Don't listen if you're depressed. Eerie and gloomy. Obviously. Wavering between a 4 and a 3. Finally swayed by the fact that if I do listen to a complete Joy Division album again then it will be Unknown Pleasures.

Didn't find myself enjoying the music here. The singer's voice was downright bad on some songs (Heart and Soul for example). The instrumentals varied between good and weird. The opening song was one of the weird points of the album, but Heart and Soul and Twenty Four Hours had cool-sounding stuff. The singing just is so dull that I couldn't get past it on most of the songs. My favorite tracks were Passover and 24 Hours. Gonna give this one a low 3, mostly because it's a Friday and I'm feeling generous.

I like it. Great album cover. Niceuuu: *Heart and Soul *Twenty Four Hours