Closer

Bleak and strangely minimal album. Not sure this is for me, but it certainly created a mood.

Very 80s. But boring 80s. Not really worth listening to 80s. At least not the kind I like of the 80s.

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

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

“Joy” division ??? Strange name … this music is totally lacking in any thing close to Joy…. I was sad to read about what happened to the singer : ( … so far proto- punk, post- punk, punk… any style that has “punk” in it … seems to be code for “the guys in the band didn’t bother to learn how to play their instruments”

nicht meins.

Eröffnet seine Qualität erst beim zweiten Versuch. Aber viele Songs zeigen wohin es gehen wird.

So incredibly intense

Definitely a grower, the b side is so amazing. it's weird as hell but there's so much pain coming from this album. hurts to listen to in a good way. rip.

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.

A rock album which has every element to be a great album, lovely synths and cool vocals, but underwhelms me in every way

This list has taught me that Post-Punk is my least favourite genre. This album proves that, being so bland, bleak, boring and a tad soulless. Do only depressed people like Joy Division, because I have no idea why anyone would listen to this otherwise. It lacks any sustenance that makes music, music.

Spoopy masterpiece 🖤

Fair.

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.

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

A bit talking heads, a bit dull.

Never heard these guys before but they're pretty good. Mixing punk with new wave and it works.

RIP Ian

I get that I am suppose to love this, but I don’t. I do think they are talented

like Dad always said, “listening to Joy Division is like driving through molasses.” this album is great, but way too sad for my moods lately!! AND IM EMO AF!!

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.

I can remember the very moment I fell in love with this band. A random best of compilation found at CD exchange one day called “Permanent”. The first time hearing Ian Curtis’s lyrics was life changing to say the least…. Perhaps knowing their backstory ahead of time influenced how I approached their music, but it didn’t prepare me for how visceral of a response I would have to hearing it for the first time. Spine tingling joy, pain, pleasure, and terror poured out of every song. And they literally had to, because the band only survived to make 2 albums before being forced to morph into New Order. Listening to “Closer” at the age of 40, there are certainly things I hear now I could point fault at: the slightly amateurish (though influential) recording and production, the out of tune vocals, the choppy song structure… but it still doesn’t take away from the purity of the songs and the depth of the lyrics. This could definitely be viewed as a depressing listen, but true art and poetry are not always easy to consume. That being said, it will never be as depressing as listening to the record that almost killed Rock n Roll, KISS’s abominable 1998 trash fire “Psycho Circus”.

Vocals - just nope / hate him. And I am still trying to figure out the cover art. the actual music arrangements of guitar and percussion were OK. Listened before? N Saved tracks? N Favorite tracks? N/A ⭐️⭐️ For effort

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

meh

Some of the bass lines on this album are so wicked. Colony especially got my attention. Nothing complex but just so effective. I think I'm in the minority when I say I don't really care for Ian Curtis' voice. But holy crap, is this good music and so clearly influenced so much of what we have been listening to for much of our lives.

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.

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.

When I played this album, I audibly said “What the heck is this??” I just finished this album and I still don’t know what to say. It’s just a 1 for me. No other comments necessary.

I hadn't realised the circumstances of the album when I listened. Read up afterwards. The album made more sense then. But whilst it might have increased its value it didn't increase the enjoyment for me.

Did not like, tbh. But I do hear why it was influential.

H: all the songs sounded the same, not my cup of tea 2/10 H fav song: Colony Z: maybe that post-punk sound just isn’t for me. Lyricism seems deep and rich, but as a total package it didn’t hold my attention well. Not a huge fan of the lead singer’s tone— maybe that’s why? 5/10 Z fav song: Isolation

Vibes but not what I would characterize as an album I would listen to any time. For the mood it fits, it hits.

Dark and reflective. Like and subscribe

I’m one of I suspect many who only know Joy Division for “Love Will tear is apart”. A bit disappointed to see it’s not in this album. I can’t say I enjoyed it but it’s got something that could hook you in. Heart and Soul came closest for me. Dare I say I don’t early like Ian Curtis’ voice much?

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

This is what I'd imagine the Doors would sound like if they were around in 1980

There is a very good chance that if you look up the definition of New Wave that this album is shown as the definition. While it doesn’t contain their biggest hit, and was just before they disbanded and formed New Order, it’s a good listen start to finish.

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

I was hoping to hear Joy Division as part of this project, only to discover they aren't much like New Order. In some respects, I like that the two bands are not the same. I understand Closer to be a seminal piece of post-punk, and I heard a lot of that here. But the new wave aspect sounded too much like Elvis Costello to be enjoyable. I know I'm not giving Joy Division a fair shot, but I can't be unbiased, try as I might. At least there were no racial slurs, which puts Joy Division eons ahead of Costello.

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

The name is more famous to me than the actual art and after reading the backstory on the album and the tragedy that followed it, I can see why it may be a well regarded album. Lyrically provoking but the music doesn’t do it for me. Devoid of melody. Drum and bass dominates the mix. Post-punk deconstructed all the good things about its predecessor.

Just didn’t really feel it. I’d give it another chance.

It was better back by then but I find it very depressing now

Not bad tbh. Nvm, relistened, most of it is bad, it's the last three songs that were decent

Nonsense.

Eh sounds like the beginning of indie music.

I want a bit more beauty with my sadness, to make it hit all the harder.

As someone who is big a fan of a genre that people often don’t understand and shoo away as boring, I hate to say the same thing of another genre, but yikes what is there here? I probably will just never understand British man speaking in a dull droning voice along to nearly as dull music.

The frantic drums and chunky repetitive guitar add a sense of urgency and progression. But the monotonous singing and over all eerie atmosphere made this album unlistenable. I did get through it thou!

Both Joy Division albums have had immeasurable influence on the indie music scene, which was especially felt in the 00's. This record is the colder and more depressive of the two, and that's saying something as the other one was also incredibly cold and depressive. Obviously, it is impossible to listen to it without the knowledge that frontman Ian Curtis took his own life just before its release, and that event looms over strong over these songs. In the wake of this tragedy, the rest of the band, like a phoenix, went on to morph into New Order, arguably the better band. Key tracks: Atrocity Exhibition Isolation A Means to an End

bad

Very good album Suffocating. Emotionally overwhelming.

1,001 post-punk albums to hear before you die

Overall, a bad listening experience. Most of the tracks sound similar; if you skip through them, you often hear no difference. The drooling, drowning, monotonous singing makes it even worse.

7/10

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

I generally love music for this time, specially the post-punks, emos, and goths, but I never really listened to much Joy Division, That's probably because their popular songs didn't do much for me. But, now thanks to listening to this I can honestly say. I hate Joy Division! Actually, I hate Ian Curtis. Sorry he died. Yes, it's sad. But he CANNOT sing at all! People say his songwriting is deep and this was a suicide note. Maybe, but I can't stand to listen him do this robo radio announcer voice talk-singing. When he does try to actually sing sing, his voice quavers and he's off pitch. Crap! It's actually unfair to the band that he's so bad. When the album starts, there are some good drums. Good vibe. Then the bass does some cool, fiddly bits. I think, Hey! Maybe I've missed out. Maybe JD is good. And then that wanker comes in and flushes the whole thing. I keep listening because that's the game here. There are some cool guitar noises. Sometimes sounding like a chainsaw. Interesting choices. While it's sometimes noise-y, it's on purpose and it's different. I'm in. And then that wanker comes in and flushes the whole thing. I keep listening. 3rd and 4th song, while I don't appreciate the way they've squashed the drums to be tinny, it sounds like some decent music. And then guess what happens? Wanker! I can't finish this album. It's annoying. I'd listen to the instrumental versions for sure. Or them with a different singer... sure, I'd try it. And I know the rest went on and were New Order, but they didn't play this style of music - less guitars and way more keyboards. It is Ok, but not for me. But that's for a whole different review. I will not be listening to this album ever again and I will break things in order to be sure of that. I'm going to give it a 2, but that's for the band. (I'd love to give them a 3 or event 4, but he's so bad, he ruins even their better qualities.) This album is practically unlistenable. Ian Curtis get's a -5. Wanker!

I listened to the deluxe version of this album, and, to be honest, I enjoyed the live set much more than the studio-recorded material. However, in every case, live or studio, as gifted as he may have been as a lyricist, Ian Curtis was no singer. I found the music on this album quite engaging, but just couldn't get past curtis' flat, off-key vocals, so I would struggle to assign it even three stars. Therefore, I guess it will have to be just two.

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.

No prior experience with this band. Initially sounds... dorky. Drumming is basic and repetitive, and I'm not a fan of the vocals. Apparently, this is related to the punk era, but I don't hear any punk influence whatsoever. On the other hand, there are a few tracks that exude a haunting quality that I dig. Some of the extended riffs and instrumentals (e.g., A Means to an End) are pretty groovy. Twenty Four Hours started giving some punk energy: I'd listen to that one again. Almost felt like a precursor to Paint It, Black. Overall, I enjoyed the back half of the track list more than the front.

love a bitta joy division

Like, I’m done with this shit. Better than unknown pleasures just so pain stakingly boring

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

The best

Classic

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

3/5

80s techno. I hated the singer. Quite boring.

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

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.

Aside from the first track, which sounded like a construction site or something, the music was good. I did not like the vocals at all. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): N/A

This is not to my liking. Synth stuff generally is not. Add in a droning vocal and I'm out.

It's not monotone, but it's not not monotone. Didn't vibe with me at all

Repeat listen

Just really not my jam. Not the worst I've heard here, but I feel like I've heard better gothic/depressing rock than this so far on this list. I also think The Cure does it better.

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.

This was decidedly not my thing. I didn't enjoy the music. I didn't enjoy the vocals. I didn't enjoy the lyrical content. I can see however the influence it likely had on later music.

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.

Not for me.

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

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.

Not my taste

Boring and depressing.

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 understand the lead singer committed suicide shortly after this album and it honestly sounds like it. Every song is depressing and droning.

Pretty good rock album. Took a couple listens to get, but they definitely understand what rock is about.

It’s droning, it’s oppressive. The whole thing sounds like it’s being played in a cold church. The drums sit in a TERRIBLE place in the mix. Overall, it’s like New Order before they discovered joy… or melodies. Not for me. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - Isolation - Twenty Four Hours

I didn’t see the appeal

Just ok for me.

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.

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.

I appreciate this for how different it was from the prevailing sound of popular music at the time. That being said this is not necessarily to my taste.

s'alright

I'm fine with it being on this list but it's not for me. Didn't strike me as particularly memorable, but not bad

Sorry a couple of tracks aside, listening to the whole album just becomes a dirge.

This darkness of this album, I would imagine, reflected Ian Curtis’s state of mind during its recording. I found it an uncomfortable listen; very “moody”, for want of a better word, and very dark and despairing. I didn’t enjoy it, at all, but giving it only 1* feels harsh, for some reason.

It was fine, just really not my thing. I found myself wishing the one Joy Division song I knew was on this album. Tempted to give it a bonus star because I ended up with "Let's Dance to Joy Division" by The Wombats stuck in my head for most of the day, but I'm going to stick to the spirit of marking and say: 2/5

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.

Ehh

another terrible Joy Division album

While the subject matter is very heavy, and the context around the album's release time changes things - I still just don't like his singing style / voice

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

Old school punk

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

made it through six tracks, then listened to tw, bone machine...

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

I was an 80s kid and I ignored these guys because goth kidz were into them and even though I lived in a small town and us weirdos had to stick together - some of my best friends were Goths, I swear! Indeed, once I could drive and hang with weirdos in other towns I joined every weirdo band I could find, including an epically named goth band, Lesbian Sinecure. On my own time, The Cure was about as Goth as I could go and still respect myself, and that was mainly because my girlfriend was into them. Ever since the dust settled on my adolescence, I've circling back on my (very long) list of possibly worthy shit I deemed myself too cool for back in the day. I've steadily worked my way through accepting REM, Tina Turner, late period Talking Heads, Bob Dylan, Mozart, The Smiths, everyone named Marsalis, to name but a few. Lately I've been working on Joy Division. In fact I've been trying to get into these guys for a few years now, and they defy me at a every turn. I know that Closer is supposed to be a classic but I find it boring and all it makes me think about is how much more boring it would be if not for Martin Hannett's unusual production style. Its not nice to speak ill of the dead but Ian Curtis's monotonous tone wears me out and the music behind him is not interesting. Would this album be remembered if Mr Curtis hadn't pulled the ultimate, if one time, act of rock n roll record promotion? But I will keep trying. Not ready to give up yet. I am still willing to believe it's me, not them. Maybe I don't do the right drugs. Maybe I read the wrong screeds. I dunno but the search to make room in my heart for Joy Division continues...

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.

There's a bunch of music which, when it came out, I opted not to get involved with because it all seemed overwhelming. Joy Division, New Order, all the post-punk indy stuff from England seemed to blend into one broody swirl which I decided not to try and get my head around. Aren't the Sex Pistols enough? But I listened to this album this morning, and I love it. This is one of those album which you feel in your bones--you're not going to sing along or dance--you're just going to listen and admire the vision, the execution, the sound. The closest I can get to describing it is saying this is what I wished Echo and the Bunnymen had sounded like when I first listened to them: less romantic, more stripped down.

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

not very memorable

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.

The sad story didn't make me enjoy it anymore, liked the 2nd half a little better, but yeah

Half way through and I can say this is fucking terrible. I hate it. Maybe became little more bearable but still hated this.

This was miles better than their debut album, understand the joy division hype a lot more now. The Eternal in particular was class, felt very ahead of its time for 1980. Think they benefitted from slightly better production but it still felt raw and genuine enough. Not quite a 5 yet, not enough stand outs at this point, but definitely could be! 4.5

Much better than Unknown Pleasures. Really miserable and grandiose, subject matter not exactly a stroll down a country lane. Really enjoyed Heart and Soul, and 24 Hours. Feels streets ahead of its time. Shame what happened. I don't mind New Order, saw them live in Portsmouth years ago.

I could copy and paste what I wrote about joy division last time but I cba. I like it, but I want to like it more than I do.... Doesn't quite grab me like I feel it should. I think earthly pleasures is better than this, or maybe it has the better individual tracks on. This perhaps works better as an album. Still 4

Dies of boredom

This is one of the most sullen and depressing albums I've heard. The synths are kinda cool but the singer sounds like a priest stumbling his way through some invocation. Not my thing.

Forgotten how it sounded so it was a Nice throwback

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

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.

Minusta tämä on upeeta helvetin porteilla koputtelua.

Bändin anti-romanttinen musiikki ylläpitää mielenkiintoa ilman kertosäkeitä, mikä myös jossain määrin rajoittaa sen kiinnostavuutta.

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

Closer – Joy Division (1980) | Post-Punk / Gothic Rock | Avg: 4.63 | Favorite Song: “Twenty Four Hours” Closer is often treated as a towering monument in post-punk, but for me, it fell flat. The atmosphere is undeniably thick—bleak, industrial, and heavy with despair—but the songwriting just didn’t pull me in. “Isolation” stood out slightly, mostly for its sharper production and sense of momentum, but the rest of the album blurred together in a grey, static wash. I respect what they were going for, but as a listening experience, it left me cold in all the wrong ways. The biggest issue for me was the emotional monotony. There’s a narrow emotional register here that might work for listeners drawn to mood above melody, but from track to track, the lack of variety became a drag. Ian Curtis’ presence is ghostly and evocative, but when the instrumentation never really shifts, the impact gets diluted fast. I get why this album resonates for others—but from a reviewer’s standpoint, it felt more like a mood piece than a fully realized album.

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 was so close to liking this. The instrumentation on the first track was phenomenal and never really got worse. Even the vocals were out there, but not bad, and I've learned to love some weird vocals in my life. But then the actual lyrics... I swear the chorus of half these songs was just repeating the same line a dozen times until I felt borderline claustrophobic. Took me completely out of this. Sorry Joy Division.

The album is undeniably a classic, though it took its time getting going for me. The B-side, however, was some absolutely rock-solid post-punk, perfectly exemplifying the cold and anxious sound that made Joy Division stand the test of time. RIP Ian Curtis

Some really interesting musical things happening which were unfortunately ruined by the singer’s voice (RIP tho)

It started off weak with the first two tracks, but everything that follows is absolute GAS. The instrumental side is so fire that I don't even mind some grating vocal performances (due apologies to the late Ian Curtis). Standouts: Passover • Colony • A Means to an End • Heart and Soul • Decades

Man, I just don't think Joy Division is that good. Two albums and this is not the better one. You can literally just put on Substance instead and enjoy that, because New Order took every good idea that Joy Division had and improved upon it. The endless doom and gloom just doesn't do it for me.

Barely listenable.

Haunting and incredibly immersive, I think Ian Curtis is the only person who could have delivered his lyrics the way he did on this album, hopeless yet powerful. Speaking of the lyrics it’s clear what kind of state of mind he was in when he wrote them acting as a kind of suicide note (although I guess it’s subjective). Musically, the bass and the synths (the latter mostly in the second half) completely made the atmosphere of the album and made it sound as dark as it did with the drums making it feel mechanical, especially with the way they recorded the cymbal and kick drum separately for instance and used reverb for some if the drums, just the way they used drum machines was really cool to be honest. The whole sound of the album definitely sounds unique as-well which is made from a culmination if those cool techniques they used to made this (and Ian’s voice). Favourites: isolation, passover, a means to an end, heart and soul, twenty four hours and the eternal. Overall, 8/10 (maybe 9 though).

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.

*Yikes, I thought I liked joy division, but this was mostly rough. *First song was 6 minutes of good vocals with obnoxious background noise. *Improved after that, but will not be revisiting. RATING - 4/10

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.

I’ve always enjoyed Joy Division, but need to be in the right mood for it. I love the instrumentation, but the dark and gloomy lyrics and singing can be a bit much at times.

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.

Het is allemaal niet zo rauw en het is zeker niet zo digitaal, maar vooral de zang van Joy Division doet mij toch denken aan Iggy Pop of Praga Khan. Het is een zang waar ik mij aan zou kunnen ergeren, maar die op de een of andere manier past bij de muziek. In dit geval werkt het geheel zelfs rustgevend. Ze hoeven niet altijd de meeste sterren te krijgen, maar die platen waarbij je jezelf afvraagt, waarom ze toch wel goed bij je vallen, blijven de leukste in de lijst. 3.5 ster

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.

From the first note to the last, this album brings back so memories of my youth and my earliest days of alternative music listening.

rather moody and monotonous

Nope

I absolutely love the post-punk bass/drums/guitar sound and austere production. Lyrically, Joy Division go to to weird and dark places. Intimate but ambiguous. Ian Curtis sometimes struggles with his voice, and that’s the only thing that brings this down a little. Still, a post punk magnum opus from a band that could have done so much more. Dark.

I didn't enjoy this. I like sad, bleak music but this was kind of on another level bc it was sad, bleak music that wasn't nice to listen to

This album carries immense emotional weight. Each track delivering a sense of unease; heartbreaking lyrics paired with intentional instrumentation that sinks under your skin. The despair is pretty palpable, almost suffocating, yet there’s a haunting beauty in its sorrow and the sound is just so perfect. Raw and unforgettable, Closer feels like a devastating and timeless farewell.

Joy Division has been showing throughout my life since I was about 12. From the first time I saw the cool goth/punk kid at my junior high wearing the iconic shirt with pulsar CP 1919 on it, to my best friend putting "Isolation" on a mixtape for me a few years later, to learning how to play "Shadowplay" on the guitar well into my 40s. In all that time, Unknown Pleasures has always been my favorite Joy Division album. It has a rawness and an edge that I utterly connect with. Closer, by contrast, comes across as a much more polished and aesthetically sophisticated collection of songs demonstrating a development and growth that would serve as a model to inspire hundreds of other bands to follow. From "Passover," laying down a mood of morose desolation, to the cold, complex angularity of "Colony", the production and musical quality of the whole record created a template that countless imitators would use as their defining aesthetic. The structures, rhythms, and melodic figures also foreshadow what would come with New Order, especially the way some of the note clusters on "A Means To An End" show up in "Ceremony" later on. This is a haunted record, not just because it was their last. It is at once a journal of the psychological fractures and despair evidenced in the words Curtis sings, and a eulogy to the potential these four boys from Manchester could have reached in the future had Curtis survived his self-destruction. Each note the band plays here carves out a gloomy and morose epitaph in cold marble. It's a great listen, but also a very hard one, once we know the whole story. What else could we expect, however, from a band that named themselves after the title given to a group of concentration camp women that were routinely raped by soldiers of the Third Reich?

A bit lack lustre, wouldn't listen twice

Magic.

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.

2 stars. It's not cool and artsy to suck at singing.

Liked Unknown Pleasures more.

NOT my style of music, as much as I try to enjoy everything out there, this album was a solid "okay, I'm just gonna get through this album in case there are any good tracks I haven't given a chance", and it never delivered for me.

got better later down the album, but lowkey wasnt great. songs were repetitive, and i didnt like the reverb on the vocals in almost all the songs. could barely make out the lyrics.

This is exactly the 80’s synth sound that I don’t like.

Hated this. Boring, mopey, sad boy music that felt repetitive and cannot get past the vocals. Kept looking at how long I had left to listen to this and wishing it would end sooner. I don’t get the hype at all, and there was very little redeeming about this - absolutely skippable.

Uh man, this is so fucking dour. It's such a slog.

gothic

So dreary.

great

Ok I like new order better

Not my cup of tea. Boring and droning. Makes me depressed. Is that the point?

This is ok. At times, I really like it. The music is good. The vocals are not my favorite. The situation surrounding this album is sad and makes the songs more poignant. Not something I would listen to regularly.

I thought a couple songs were good Twenty Fours Hours was my fav. But overall I didn't really care for it.

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

Too much talk singing throughout.

Let’s not dance to Joy Division

… did not like. Am I joyless?

I don't think it's for me. It's a little bit too boring? I don't know. I probably would have liked it if it hit me at the right time in my teens, but the mono-tone nature of his voice and the rest of the music really doesn't unlock any feelings in me.

When the song Bella Legosi’s Dead came out it was hailed as the beginning of goth rock. Gloomy and dark the song did not impress. Threads of the song are weaved throughout Closer creating for me a bleak drone.

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

Droning durge, vocals unappealling and boring

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

I didn't get past the third song. This album genuinely felt unlistenable. The vocalist cannot sing, and the other instrumentalists are not much better. Generally I try to see why others may enjoy something, but with the first track especially, this was beyond my powers of reasoning.

Mong out music. I wonder if it's a case of the emperor's new clothes going on here. People online have said it is like whiskey and the more you try it the more you realise why people like it. But I'm wondering if they have deluded themselves or not.

I didn't connect with this. I enjoyed the final two tracks though.

Nah. This just ain't for me. It wasn't bad, I guess, but I didn't personally enjoy it. 2.4

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.

A solid album from them. No bangers, but still a great time.

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

1,3/5

Mee...

Sounds like working in a factory (positive). It’s as if he’s singing over machines from the far end of a high ceilinged warehouse. The soundtrack to a Lowry. You can hear the Manchester rain. Funkier than expected. Intense.

Rock, 1980 -> 2

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.

Not a fan of the repetitive bass lines, hard to listen to that voice.

8.5/10

7.5

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

This could have been 100x better than it is. It's supposed to have this depressing, haunting, dark atmosphere to it, but the repetitiveness of the songs just makes this shit sound so goofy man. There's no variation in pace, no variation in the drumming, no variation in anything. Just the same 5 seconds on repeat in each song. I don't mind what they're trying to do with the singing. It would work if the music backing him up wasn't so shite. Take Twenty Four Hours as an example. That's an actual song. He starts singing properly, the bass lines are great, there's variation in the tempo. It's like they actually tried for that song and that song alone. If the rest of the album was like that I'd probably give it a 4 or 5. But it wasn't. Far, far from it

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

Грустно

Not sad enough to like this

didnt know what to expect, was decent

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.

Whatever

Started strong, ended meandering and monotonous.

Closer is a dark, beautiful, and deeply atmospheric album, steeped in themes of loss, isolation, and inner collapse. It's a work where Ian Curtis's desperate vocals and cold, mechanical arrangements merge into an almost frozen form of emotional expression. And yet, amid all the darkness, there’s a surprisingly strong rhythmic drive. The paradox of Closer is that several tracks, like “Isolation” and “Heart and Soul”, feel like they could have been played at a cool 1980s nightclub. The album strikes a delicate balance between deep existential gravity and a tight, almost danceable aesthetic. This isn’t an album that asks for your attention, it demands it. And once you surrender to it, it opens up like an icy yet captivating space. One of those rare albums that manages to be both emotionally devastating and physically compelling. 4/5

Didn’t quite match my mood when I listened to it but did sound like the quintessential “dark” album that conveys its emotions well.

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

Sounds quite modern, but lack of strong melodies makes it hard to love.

not loving this. cannot deal w his voice. he sounds like hes trying too hard. track 1 was not it. track 2 sounded like the same song. they all kinda sound the same. track 6. prob the least worst so far. im just getting through. is this goth? like is post-punk new wave goth? ive listened to post-punk that didnt suck ass but this does. im so bored. track 7 is ok i guess. i feel like this album has so much potential but his voice is just so flat and lame. and the songs are sooo long.

great

After a couple of songs, it just sounds droning.

both too hard and too soft i didn’t like it

Liked the drumming but the rest was sort of anemic, 2.5

Lotta hype surrounding this one. I've listened to it multiple times over the years and even own it on CD. I just can't bring myself to really enjoy it

um álbum que eu nunca dei a devida atenção é bem bonzinho na real

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

Dark doesn’t begin to cover it as it’s essentially Ian Curtis’ eulogy. Raw and a little sloppy, not the polished product New Order became but there are glimpses of what they were to become. “A Means to an End” could be an early NIN song. This is considered part of the holy grail for alternative fans as you get a little bit of everything.

I’m glad they did this with the trimmed down engineering. Liked it, but not listening again anytime soon.

Incredibly bleak, and, yet, somehow dance-y. I tend not to listen to this record that often because of how oppressively dour it is, but to be honest, that's just the first few songs. The mood doesn't necessarily get lighter, but the songs get groovier, and Ian Curtis starts to warm up and get a little more lively. Upon revisiting, there's a lot to like here. I had forgotten the intensity of "Twenty Four Hours", the killer music (and cold vocals) on "Heart and Soul", and the ethereal "The Eternal". Highlights: "Passover", "Colony", "A Means to an End", "Twenty Four Hours"

3.5

i don't get it man. why is this so cool? its really not? "hello i cant write a complex song so i just repeat every note 1 million times"

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

Moat synth please

This album is pure Joy Division and I loved every minute of it. I love their dark new wave sound and Ian’s voice. 10/10 no notes. I am definitely listening to this album again and I would recommend it to others!

Guess you don’t need to be able to sing to be in a band. But of a brutal listen if I’m honest

Muy bueno

I fully acknowledge that this review might be an unfair one. I listened to it while in the car with a friend, and we were chatting and the sitcom was on so the music certainly wasn’t the forefront of the soundscape, and also didn’t have my full attention. I expected something catchy, like Love Will Tear Us Apart, but didn’t find anything like that here. This may well be an album where if I gave it my full attention I would like it more, but also there’s a chance I’d like it less. Post punk is quite hit or miss for me.

What a load of pretentious bullshit that was.

Meh

Is it as good as Unknown Pleasures? No. Is it still a good record? Yes. Favorites: A Means to an End, Twenty Four Hours (the guitar on both songs is tremendous) Would I listen to it again? Yes

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

Enjoyed it alot Standout songs: Atrocity Exhibition Colony Twenty-four hours

A slow burner for sure, found myself getting into it by the end, I like their sound it just takes a little time to get into it. Very sparse sound, very raw, will need a few more listens

Rigtig fedt album. Post-punk som har inspireret kunstnere som the cure, nine inch nails og radiohead. Det har en mørk hypnotisk lyd hvor det har blandet industrial, electronic og gothic sounds. Så det kræver også et vist humør. Joy division fun fact de er opkaldt efter sexslave område i koncentrationslejrene under krigen. lagde grundlag for genrene darkwave, coldwave og gothrock.

Didn’t get this at all. Just droning..

Pretty boring tbh.

3.75

Did not like any of it.

A precious hour of my life I'll never see again

Better than the other joy division album I guess. The vocals are so bad. Reminds me of Jim Morrison in the worst way

Musically maybe a 2 but these might be the worst vocals ive ever heard

I can’t believe people wear their shirt all around my neighborhood. Sounds like the guy from b-52s

Cold, mechanical, dystopian, a sense of finality, like a funeral. RIP Ian.

Ganske bra

Meh

it's fine

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 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 a very joyous album. Felt like I was in a graveyard. High 2

That album was gross. Sounds like he was singing like this 😫 the whole time. Only thing that saved this from a 1 were some of the cool instrumentals on the last few songs that sounded like they could be in Doom 98 levels

Not digging the voice initially, but the music is pretty dope on here. Heart and Soul really reminding me of the Cure in the best way possible. Voice eventually settled in but still not my favorite. REALLY enjoyed the instrumentals on this though. Between a 3-4 but going to bump up because I enjoyed the gothicness of it.

I'm going on holiday today so not really the sort of vibe I was looking for The first thing that stood out to me is that while it's well produced, I wish it had the same cold, melancholic production style that Unknown Pleasures had I like this more when it's more sparse and builds an atmosphere, like The Eternal and Decades. This one isn't really depressing the way Unknown Pleasures is until the end where it pulls you right down. Particularly on the intro of The Eternal, when the piano comes in the songwriting immediately has a heavy, sorrowful tone Isolation is a bit like proto-New Order or Kraftwerky. I'm kind of fond of that one because of that, but it's a bit rough in execution. That one, along with A Means to an End, shows (to me) that Ian Curtis was actually kind of a bad singer. Sometimes his voice can just sound pretty poor, but I find it does suit the music well Highlights: Twenty Four Hours, Decades, The Eternal

No thanks. I don't get it?

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.

Shit

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

Carino, energico ma non 100% il mio.

Still think I prefer Unknown Pleasures, but this has grown on me since hearing it many years ago. The last 3 tracks in specific are incredible. The way the album sort of simmers until it hits its boiling point with Twenty Four Hours is quite brilliant, not to mention the sort of aftermath of The Eternal. Decades finishes it off wonderfully. Gotta love Hook's mournful bass.

Tried to listen to this one my way home from work on a sunny day in June - let me tell you that is not the way. This shit absolutely slaps at 4am in the dark dark world.

TFW Unknown Pleasures isn't bleak enough.

Rotete greier. Nei takk.

Mørkt, dystert og post-punktete.

Nowhere near the album unknown pleasures is, but still a worthy listen. However, as a big Joy Division fan I almost never go back to this one. 4/5

Hmm not sure on this one, other than "the song" which ain't even on this one I don't really get them. Suppose at the time it was all new and edgy but now just sounds a bit primitive. Low 4.

3.7 3x

Has moments, not as good as unknown pleasures for sure Will I listen to again: 50%

Listened to it several time yesterday

I hate embracing sadness. Really, I hate it. This drips of it from the lyrics to the music. I can't deny that this music gets to me though, like it really cuts. It really makes you feel, so for that reason, I'm giving it 4 stars but I'm never listening to this again.

Terrible

Given I got New Order early on in my journey, it was a matter of time before I got the band they were before, Joy Division. Sadly, though, the first of their two albums I got is a rather difficult album to discuss. Closer is the last album from Joy Division, released two months after frontman Ian Curtis took his own life at the way-too-young age of 23. That fact alone looms over this album, from the artwork taken from a photograph of a family tomb, to Ian's lyrics that thematically draw from experiences of isolation, loss, anxiety, dread for what may come, and confrontation with one's religious viewpoints. It's well-apparent that Ian was disturbed at this point, probably due to several factors in his life, such as his epilepsy, the dissolution of his marriage after being caught in an affair, and overall deteriorating health. That he could still pull off a commanding baritone narration throughout these tracks amidst the chaos he went through is remarkable. I don't want to imply Closer is a terrible album; far from it. Between Ian's delivery, Peter Hook's supple basslines, Bernard Sumner's spacious guitar hooks, Stephen Morris's punching drums, and the well-reverbed production, these songs bounce in their melancholic state. Even in some of their stranger experiments, such as the screeching guitars over tribal drums on opener "Atrocity Exhibition" or the atmospheric crawl of "The Eternal", this album can be sonically gorgeous. It's just hard not to feel consumed by how bleak this album can get at times. I will say that Closer is a worthy inclusion on this list, alongside Joy Division's first album, which I will eventually get. I'd recommend going into this album not already depressed, because this album will not make your mood any brighter.

Damn what a boring voice

Another great one from my current collection 4/5 #albumoftheday #musicsky #albumsky

Still pretty dang good. A few great songs on here. This probably sounded revolutionary when it was released. Although to my current ears its charming sparseness is occasionally too thin. To be honest, there’s a live album of theirs that I prefer to their studio albums. It’s from 1979ish concert(s), has blue/black/white rectangles on cover, has Frenchy words in title, sounds like a bootleg but is an official release, is rough around the edges, is more punk than post, and to me has a fascinating energy and urgency the studio albums don’t have.

Most of this I liked a lot. But I will say a little goes a long way. After a while, the drone gets a bit tedious. But I still very much liked it.

Nice. I never really got into Joy Division, but I liked it.

For all the excitement over this band and singer, I found it pretty dull. 2/5

Joy Division's brand of New Wave music struck a joyful chord with many listeners. For me, it's rather about Division, because I just can't seem to get into them. 2.5/5

This is really heavy and dark stuff. Decades is an incredible song. Unknown Pleasures is more immediate, but I can see how this is just as great. Favorites were Passover, A Means To An End, The Eternal, and Decades.

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.

I found this quite boring - I do like Joy Division but here I felt a lot of the songs sounded the same.

I loved Anton Corbijns biopic about Joy Division and Ian Curtis. And I absolutely know why they're on this list. I just find Joy Division incredibly hard to listen to because Ian Curtis wasn't really that great a singer, and the production is a bit too wonky.

Rather funerial, rather dull, not much fun.

Not for me, sorry. I thought I might like it, but I didn't. Quite happy to forget about it.