Closer

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

Carino, energico ma non 100% il mio.

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

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

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

Meh. Het is wel goed, maar het is ook duidelijk dat het niet voor mij gemaakt is

I do not think that I want to dance to joy division and celebrate the irony

lowkey i dont get the hype. its cool tho, i just need to sit with it more, theres some great songs on here

I did not use a private session for Spotify. Love the complicated drums, didn't love the keyboards, the voice I have mixed feelings about. This album is another fine example of a 70s band embracing the keyboard heavy 80s.

Inte min typ av musik. Klickar inte alls. Svårt att sätta fingret på. Tycker det är "ljud" utan finess. Det är inte dåligt dock. Men har svårt att känna "najs" på en enda låt. Först 30 sek på första låten är bäst.

More raw and less melodic - if that’s possible - than the first album. Quite a difficult listen but not a terrible album.

Ok. Not loving it. Now of the opinion that Interpol shamlessly stole their sound from them.

Yeah pretty good Sad and mopey in all the right ways. Reminds me of early Cure. Good, very good

Good and dark but I found it to monothematic, lyrically as well as musically.

I’ve rated Unknown Pleasures (5/5) some time ago and was expecting more of that today, but I liked this album quite a bit less unfortunately. It did grow on me as it went on, but I was missing the stripped punky sound of their debut here, this was a bit too artsy. 3/5

#531. I should really go back and count how many one hit wonder's wrong albums are on this list. This strategy is confounding to me. 3/5: fine.

This album was decent, but kind of sad knowing the story after the album was made.

Not the most uplifting album

Okay, I can recognize what they're trying to do here with the stripped down, bare sound reflecting the message of their lyrics. That doesn't mean I enjoy it cause the dude's voice is icky and it's not a very pleasant listen. However I can appreciate it to some degree, hence the 3.

80's brit synth rock, overly synth, techno sound is not my thing. tracks ramble & dither on. kind of blend together. overall boring-however, compared to yesterday's horrific album (looking at you octagon) I'm feeling very generous. 2.5 stars

It is cool, but just not for me as much as I wish it was.

Dark, brooding, spooky. The first few tracks bored me but it got better as time moved on. Incredibly repetitive in melody but I guess it works? Its okay.

Sounds like punk for people afraid to get their hands dirty or their jeans ripped.

Day425 - i don’t really love the music, but I think they’re cool. i hope this is the year that joy division/ new order get into the rock ‘n’ roll hall of fame

Some good stuff on this one, but the some tracks that just didn’t connect with me or at least my mood at the time I listened to it.

It's been about twenty albums since I was given a landmark, challenging one. Glad to finally have another. I actually listened to half of Closer ~5 years ago, though I don't remember a lick of it. I've somewhat avoided it in the time since then. I find it pretty offputting how a lot of people in the music community romanticise and obsess over death. I want to try and "get" this album, but after listening to it twice I'm not sure whether I do. I like the heavy production, but those vocal performances push me away - they're all thoroughly unmoving. It was very difficult to make out the lyrics on the album, though I didn't care much for what I was able to discern. "The Eternal" is my favourite song on here. I thought it was pretty alright on the whole. However, the song that succeeds it, "Decades", is awful. I was hoping that there would be grand climax to this album that made the listening experience worth it, but I came away with pretty sour feelings overall. Hello! Me after two *complete* listens here. It's good! I thought the first half in particular was strong, which managed to be gothic and macabre in some pretty unique ways. The synth is an unusual addition to an album of this tone and nature, but I thought it was used to great effect, especially on "Isolation". The sudden epiphany I'm having is not enough to save this album from the three-star slot after having one-and-a-half listens of not getting it, but I am more than open to giving this one another go in the future. I'm glad I could have this breakthrough. Just as an aside, I've always liked how ominous the title for this album is. "Closer" as in the final part of Joy Division's discography, but "closer" as in something getting nearer. The album cover is great too. Definitely iconic and I like how the lighting of the photograph elevates the dramatic tension of an otherwise barebones cover.

nelabai ką pamenu, tik kad porą patiko, bijau būti įprasta

I didn’t realise they made so little music before Ian Curtis died. It’s super moody gloomy music I think it went on a bit after the first couple of songs but then picked up again at Twenty Four Hours Therapy? did a cover song of Isolation but also had some lyrics from the first song too - I had no idea it was cover until today 🤣 Favourite song: Twenty Four Hours

I thought I knew all 80's music but I had never heard this and it was quite a pleasant surprise.

It was ok 3/5

It's just dark. But still enjoyed it

Really never listened to these guys. May heard a song in passing but really never listened to them. Very interesting. Very goth, industrial.

Не очень понравилось.

New Order was a phoenix.

Sounds pretty gloomy, but other than that it sounds pretty alright.

This is clearly well done. It's got a dark vibe and an aura that carries it well. Totally makes sense to be on the list and with more attention I could see this having a chance to fight to a 4.

Geez, this is dark. It's fine at what it does. I'm just at a place in life that this isn't for me. I find it a bit dull. A well constructed album.

I like the darker vibes of the album (I'm the one of us who likes Depeche Mode), but I'm not really getting thing out of the lyrics, and the sounds are dissonant without my really getting much out of it. Compared to, say, sisters of mercy or Siouxsie and the Banshees, which are goth, but feel like there is intentionality behind it. It feels like the post punk era people know they have a new genre on their hands, but haven't quite figured out what to do with the sound. That said, I could see myself coming around on this if I listen more. But that seems unlikely.

If you had told me this was early LCD Soundsystem I would’ve believed you. This album inspires me that anyone can be the frontman of a band, they don’t even have to know how to sing. Favorite track: “Decades”

It's fine

Atmospheric and some spine tingling tracks

6/10 I know, I know, I get it. It’s a very well made album that does exactly what it wants to. Musically excellent, very very good production. It establishes a vibe and keeps it running. Clearly influential right up to the current day. But that vibe was misery. Nothing against it, but it was intense and not for me. Didn’t love the lyrics & delivery of them either. Best: Decades

Meh.

5.5/10

A meh album from an overrated band.

Pretty good. I liked it.

I like Joy Division a lot but I listen to their albums and don’t really know why.

Never listened to this album in its entirety. Certainly stylistic, very obviously joy division. Overall this album is ok

19/12/24 This album wasn't for me. I couldn't really work it out.

5/10

It's like a type of grunge rock that drones a bit. Honestly it sounded like an edgy B52s a few times. But it was good

Post-punk. After death of lead singer. 80s pop. Synths. New wave. Very tragic lead singer story. Dark. Some dark and gothy tunes I really like.

Some post-punk records just feel thin. Expansive and enough to create a home in but not enough for me to return to rn. Probably would rate this higher after listening to Unknown Pleasures. I'm also tempted to start thinking about UK music as an empire. Why do w care so much about chaps that churn out like 2 albums. Or are called brilliant after like an EP. Is this music making or culture making?

Closer started interesting, but I couldn't get over the lead singer's voice. As the album went on, however, I feel like Joy Division really nailed an interesting new sound that must have been revolutionary for 1980. Best Songs: Heart and Soul, Decades Worst Songs: Atrocity Exhibition

The problem with unique sounding bands is all the songs can end up sounding the same. I really like a few JD songs, but none of them are on this album.

Eccoli tornati noiosetti

Is eerlijk gezegd een beetje als een waas aan mij voorbij gegaan tijdens het luisteren Ik hoorde wel dingen die ik vet vond maar moet het echt nog een keer luisteren om een duidelijker beeld te hebben In principe ben ik nooit into Joy Division geraakt, op een paar nummers/hitjes na. Ik geef het een 3 omdat ik er wél potentie in zie en wat goeie dingen hoorde, maar geen 4 omdat het eigenlijk ook niet helemaal aanslaat in eerste instantie

My second Joy Division album. This one I actually enjoyed a bit more. The songs had deep, goth rock undertones but the presentation was varied- sometimes more synth-i fluenced, sometimes more rock elements. Overall- a solid album.

A 'seminal release of the post-punk era', which didn't particularly move me all that much, but I respect it for what it is.

Dated but there's enough good tracks to keep this thing going. Very influential which helps its cause as well. Ian Curtis is a downer and his voice is a bit grating.

One of the better post-punk projects I’ve heard but I might just not like post-punk that much :/

I enjoyed it more than I have previous listens.

Man this is a slog to get through. Therapy? did Isolation better in my opinion.

Spooky

The musicality is great. This album would be so much better with a vocalist worthy of a microphone. So hard to enjoy with his voice moaning over everything else.

Definitely need to relisten. Really liked a couple of tracks but not sure how I feel about Joy Division quite yet

I love a lot of things that take inspiration from Joy Division, but I can't seem to completely fall in love with this. I can compare it to my feelings of much classic literature — there is something there that I want to explore, but my aesthetic reflex does not allow me to sink as deeply into it as I want to.

I like this one slightly more than Unknown Pleasure!

Great music that I don't necessarily want to listen to

I love depressing music. Way more than I probably should. But I didn't get get Division. I've tried a bunch. But I just don't get this.

dull, nothing stands out

What a vibe. Now I want to commit arson, but in a sad way.

I'm a bit sad about this one, since I didn't like it as much as I thought it would. Unknown Pleasures grabbed me right away, but I don't feel like there's as much for me to latch onto here. It's not bad by any means, it just suffers by comparison. However, I could also see this being the type of album that starts to grow on me after a few listenings 3/5

Käsitteellinen suuruus taivaasta. ///// Suomalainen, ruotsalainen ja norjalainen kilpailivat kuka on pisimpään kummitustalossa. Norjalainen meni sisään ja oli siellä 10s. kun kuului: Punaiset silmät, punaiset silmät. Norjalainen juoksi ulos. Sama kohtalo oli ruotsalaisella. Suomalainen meni sisään ja oli siellä 20s. kuului: Punaiset silmät, punaiset silmät. Suomalainen sanoi: Turpakii tai on sulla kohta mustat silmät! Kummitus juoksi ulos. heh... klasikko. Suomalainen, Amerikkalainen ja Turkkilainen istuivat junassa. He kiistelivät siitä,kenen maa on rikkain. Amerikkalainen heitti rahaa ikkunasta ja huusi: Näitä meillä riittää! Turkkilainen heitti kebabeläimen ikkunasta ja huusi: Näitä meillä riittää! Suomalainen heitti Turkkilaisen ikkunasta ja huusi: Näitä meillä riittää! atrocity exhibition

Memories of college. This music represents a moment in time. I still like it but never go back to it.

first listen i find zero joy in the music of this band. i strongly disliked having to listen to another album from this band.

I can enjoy this as art from an analytic perspective, but for my own enjoyment, it doesn't do much.

Prog rock - it's fine. Nothing stands out to me again until Twenty Four Hours.

I like their story, but man the music is such a downer

Until today I had known Joy Division only by name. I love the music (⭐⭐⭐⭐) especially the drum and bass work. But as soon the vocals start I don´t like it that much any more. Favourite: "Passover", "A Means to an End", "Twenty Four Hours"

muy oscuro musicalmente y por el contexto de su release, y por ello pesado y melancólico

Dios que difícil terminar de escuchar, en un punto se volvió muy repetitivo para mí pero bueno ta bien I guess, un poco inquietante

Classic JD sound, but no real bangers to hook me in. Needs to be listened to by a teenager who has to save to buy it on vinyl and then only has that album to listen to while they save up for another album.

I’ve heard a lot about Joy Division, but this is my first deliberate listen. Gotta say, I hate the B-52esque voice at first… but the band makes it fit and you get used to it. Other than that, the overall sound of the music is great! I’m guessing pioneers for the REM and Tragically Hip crowd. For that I can give this a High 3

3.7. Decent

Gritty and tough 80s sound. Some of the only 80s I really can dig, and of course this was at the beginning of the decade. Great rock sound.

Enjoyed this one. I didn't realize how much they sounded like old Cure, which I wouldn't have known but for the Seventeen Seconds album assigned to our group a few weeks ago. Good times.

I liked it. It was kinda boring. Don’t love his voice but I liked the songs. Reminds me kind of of the smiths

There is not too much to say about Joy Division that has not been said yet. I liked this album, even though I prefer "Unknown Pleasures." I'm unsure if they deserve this second spot on the list, but okay, 1001 of anything is a lot of things.

Nothing that rocked my world but solidly enjoyable. 3.5

Also fine...but didn't hold my attention.

Just what I expected from Joy Division. Not exactly my groove but fine enough in small doses.

This was fine but this style isn’t really my cup of tea. Can’t foresee myself going out of my way to throw this back on but appreciate it fwiw

My second favorite Joy Division album. 6/10

I like joy division, but feel that closer is nowhere close to unknown pleasures. Ok listen but not great

I'd never heard Joy Division before this, so it was a novel experience for me. All in all not terrible.

To be honest the vocals weren't my favorite and the rest of this album was quite boring.

Very reminiscent of the Doors, but without the charismatic lead singer

Never had a huge love for JD despite enjoying the hits. This hasn't changed much, but i did enjoy it

Nothing wrong with this one, but just too much of a downer for me to want to listen to again. You can hear the influence on so many later bands, so it definitely has relevance (see Interpol, The National, et al). Really sad to read about the lead singer as well.

Pretty ok

Although not my favourite album this is so influential on later artists

I liked this the more the longer it went on. I didn't like the more industrial songs. My favorites were Twenty Four Hours and The Eternal (which was quite beautiful. I only listened on my phone speakers while shooting a house, so not much of an in depth review or listen. Album Cover: A-

Didn't love it

Not for me. Super repetitive and just a generic 80s sound that gets old fast.

Solid goth album.

This really didn't do anything for me. It's not a bad album by any stretch. There's just nothing here that grabbed me. It's strange because I've quite liked some of their contemporaries. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood Idk.

I don't know really. I suppose it's different which I like. It's the mix of genres I greatly enjoy. But it gets boring for me. The careful use of instruments doesn't work for me.

has really interesting ideas that glimmer trough on parts of the album, but is also incredibly wonky, with a mediocre singer and a cluttered instrumental. the first half of the album also seems really repetitive, however the album gets much clearer and more listenable on the second half.

This one didn't really leave an impression, I'm sure it was good, just not very memorable.

Good album. Never heard it before. I listened to their first album too. I think I liked that one a little more.

Bad running music - good album though

I love so many Joy Division songs. But I was a little let down by this one. Nothing really hooked me. And the first song I thought was kinda bad. There’s still a couple of standouts. But this is something I’ll have to return to and see if it rises in my estimation. 3.5/5

The songs on their other album are better. Production of this one is better. I like the other album better. Favorite song: Passover

This was reminiscent of the sound of this era

Maybe a 4, need a relisten.

I know Joy Division is HUGELY influential, and I wanted to like it, I just couldn't really connect to it. I gave it a second listen, and I liked it significantly better. I'm not sure I love the singers voice, I'm not big into goth, and those are the vibes his voice gives me, even if the music isn't particularly goth. Overall, I can't say it's a bad album, so 3 stars it is.

I don't think that I'm a fan of Joy Division, but i know they're not bad, they have cool songs in this album.

I really liked this album until Ian Curtis started singing. I’m not really in a position to talk, but the goofy nerds who sung for these alternative bands of the 80s really don’t do it for me.

Almost a four. Obviously depressing but also enjoyable to listen.

"Let's put on some Joy Division to cheer us up", said nobody ever. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating album: hypnotic, unsettling and oddly compelling with echoes of Velvet Underground, Kraftwerk and "Low"-era Bowie. It wasn't to last.

Previously rated: Unknown Pleasures (2/5) ****************************** Despite the vocals being what they are, there was some decent stuff going on musically. But again, those vocals are so depressing. Can’t give it any more than a 3/5. Best track: Twenty four hours.

A more striped down album, it seems he hasn't found his voice yet but I really enjoy the long painful droning songs with whiny guitar and jangly synth

44/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

It was an okay album, but the songs could get monotonous.

good album

Undoubtedly a masterpiece of its time. As much as I love the bass (especially) and a lot of the guitar work, I’m afraid I just don’t like Ian Curtis’s vocal. I know it creates the overall mood but the music does that enough for me. ‘Heart and Soul’ and ‘Twenty Four Hours’ are absolutely brilliant, and shine so much more than the rest of the album.

This didn't do much for me at first but grew on me when I listened a second time. I don't know how often I'd come back to it, but I would listen to this again.

Sound mixing bothered me lol

that one goth that lowkey doesnt fw joy division. i wish his voice was nicer idk and this was very slow paced compared to unknown pleasures. 3/5

Another colossal album out of Manchester. First of all, I truly dislike brutal, angular, cold industrial type music, yet immediately I didn’t not Atrocity Exhibition, thanks to one of my favorite bands, The Tea Party ripping off the chorus. First time through, I aggressively hated Side A and absolutely love Side B. The raw, cleaner Twenty Four Hours with its driving bass and guitar is without a doubt the standout, the haunting synthy Eternal and Decades. With the hindsight of Curtis’ death, these songs are as dark as it gets. Closer gets warmer and better as it goes. 7.5/10

I wish I liked the voice. In such atmospheric music, the voice really matters, its an instrument that needs to fit in the mix. I just don't think it does.

Listening to it with the context that the lead singer committed suicide between recording and release made me give it more of a chance than I normally would. I already encountered the first album and really didn't care for it. In this album, I still can't stand the vocals but I do find the grooves to be more energetic and found myself bobbing along. Still too 80s sadness for me, but a step up from the previous showing.

I will never listen to again

I have never listened to Joy Division and am only aware of them because of their iconic album artwork that seems to be ubiquitous now. Obviously I know they were a precursor to New Order and Peter Hook and the Light, but it's never really been my area. This album was fine, time and a place and so forth.

mi gasa devo dire, comunque molto piu' experimental della roba che si sente in giro di sti tempi (tipo biennale venezia e simili) devo dire e meno sgradevole soprattutto

more melancholic than new wave

Good but not great, I give it 3 stars

All the songs sounded the same. Had it on in the background. Wasn’t pulled into to this one as much.

Decent, don’t see any strong reason to revisit though

I probably should have focused on listening to the lyrics, but it was ok.

I think I like their other albums better, but still enjoyed this a lot

Very despondent album. I appreciate the melancholic post punk instrumentals as well as the lyrics. However, I think the vocals and choruses sound at times more annoying than raw. Sounds like the album would take place in a haunted house. 3.5/5

3/5

A little disappointed, I expected better

My previous exposure to Joy Division was "Love Will Tear Us Apart". I've always thought that was a terrible song mostly due to lead singer Ian Curtis' inability to carry a tune. With that out of the way, this album was a pleasant surprise and better than I expected. I can definitely see how Joy Division became New Order.

Ian Curtis' vocals are just not for me at this stage in my life. Expressive and melancholic, sure, but they've never sat well in my mind. My opinion here will no doubt change as I explore more of this punk and post-punk era. It's a good album, but not quite there for me, yet.

Interesting. Still have to check it out at a better time.

Mellow, kinda spacey rock

Overrated

Ikke helt min musikksmak, men nærmere enn de 2 forrige!

It was alright. For some reason I was expecting more.

This album and Joy Division as a band are always noted for their influence on what was to come for industrial, new wave, and electronica. I never really got it. His vocals are flat and atonal. The innovation is the electronic beat and ambient sounds from guitar. They have a few songs that are great. But this album, like much of their music, is kind of shit.

Not one of my favourites. Not keen on the depressing singing voice and I like a bit of post punk groove but couldn't get into this one

I like elements of this album: the haunting atmosphere, the isolationism and anxiety in the lyrics, the noisiness of the production, and the power of the drums. But I always struggle to get past Ian Curtis’s voice—like someone straining to sing lower to do their best Jim Morrison impression. It’s not that he’s a bad singer, but their’s an uncertainty to his tuning and a vagueness to his melodies that I have trouble accepting. Nonetheless, I recognize that there is something special here and the album feels voyeuristic in a way that is morbidly appealing. And while I like some songs by Joy Division, they are mostly in their non-album singles, rather than off this record.

The band developed a unique sound which caught the zeitgeist of late 1970s northern England and this album reflects those dark times. Four decades later, those who were there at the time can look back and wallow in the dank, bleak atmosphere that they grew up in, remembering the reality that JD invoked. For younger folk, born in the optimism of the 90s or beyond, this album will be an archeological mystery of tuneless clattering, banging and misery.

Nothing offensive, but also pretty forgettable. For people who did like this, from my high school memories the other album is better.

Good but not great/monumental like Unknown Pleasures. Still a cool listen

I'm surprised that I didn't vibe with this album as much as I thought I would. I really enjoy the driving bass and atmospheric tones, but I guess I was just hoping for more energy or something.

This was fine, also not what I was expecting. I don't know why they chose this album and not the Mountain Wave one that everyone loves.

I really like Joy Division, but not necessarily this album.

I've Tried to listen to this album like 5 times and can't seem to get through it. So I must not like it too much. But I do like the sound.

Wanted to like this more then I did but guess I’m never that into post punk

Dark, mesmerising and industrial. Joy Divison’s sound is unique and the death of Ian Curtis hangs over it all.

ik vind dit echt een heel erg sad bois album zeg. De muziek, de tekstent, alles is heel erg naargeestig en tragisch. Ik vibe dit niet heel erg moet ik zeggen. Waarom is zoveel muziek zo erg depri? Had hier van tevoren juist heel veel zin in, want ik zag New Order al een beetje voor me. Maar dit is veel tragischer en downer enzo. Goede nieuws is dat ik blijkbaar momenteel positiever ben dan Joy Division van je vraagt!

Meer synths meeer vage stemmen! Ik ging over van OMD naar dit en had niet eens door dat het een ander album was haha Iets meer gitaren hier, en net wat meer tempo, minder melancholie. En dat bevalt me eigenlijk wel prima! Helaas pakt het tijdens mijn werk niet enorm mijn aandacht, dus ik kan het niet meer dan een prima geven Favorieten: Isolation, Decades

Passover Nice basslines, all a single one hour song but it is a good one

Didn’t give it my full attention, but then again, it didn’t grab my attention.

Heretical opinion time: Joy Division were just a band (apologies to Scroobius Pip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWrMGXwhFLk&t=6s), and a barely competent band at that. But the way they channel the Velvet Underground through a Krautrock filter helped define what post-punk could be, and the tragic tale of Ian Curtis is now canonical rock and roll lore. Much credit to Martin Hannett for the production that presents the shortcomings of the band (noisy, minimal, basic, intense) as features, creating an austere and claustrophobic setting for their weird charisma. As any self-respecting alternative music fan would, I own a bunch of Joy Division records. But I never, ever listen to them. Truth be told, I just find them too bleak. I admire the achievement, the atmosphere, the influence. But I can't shake the feeling that they are over-rated, that the actual records are over-shadowed by the legend of Ian Curtis and the band, which are, now, 40 years later, inextricably linked by too many magazine articles, books, movies, and a million t-shirts. It's hard to listen to the record without the freight of all that baggage. If I squint hard and try to listen afresh, it's a pretty good album, focused and powerful, and unremittingly dour. Not a fun day at the beach, though. I'm thinking 3.5 stars, which I am rounding down because I own the record but never listen to it.

Don't remember which album was on here earlier, but this one is a little better.

This was great in the 80s, but doesn't hold up to the test of time for me at all.

Not my bag, but still an enjoyable listen. I'm probably not going to come back to this one, but if it showed up at my door I'd invite it in for a spin.

Album 139 of 1001 Joy Division - Closer Rating : 3 / 5 Favorite Track : Isolation Post Punk English Band. Didn't really resonate with me. I've enjoyed some post-punk, along the way, but this just didn't hit the mark. Didn't suck but just never went anywhere.

Pretty interesting, but not my favorite sound.

Honestly always found Joy Division overrated. Tried and failed quite a few time to get into them. They're ok, just don't get how they're held in such acclaim. Closer is pretty average. First half definitely the weaker side. Just can't do Ian's voice most of the time. Latter half saves it. Very atmospheric, almost cure-like

I think the production really let's this one down which is a real shame as most of the sharm of Joy Division comes from their ability to pull of their melancholic sound while still being a song you can dance to - it's like the musical version of the sad clown.

Haunting album when you have the context behind it. Not going to be something I listen to on repeat but not bad.

Is Joy Division overrated? Yes and No Of their own admission, they didn't try too hard to make this album. They're talented musicians that shot the shit and got darker and darker until they would hit record and improvise jams and lyrics into a tape recorder. Bernard Sumner's suicide certainly helped propel the band a bit more into notoriety especially with these posthumous releases. All of that being said, Joy Division is one of if not THE seminal band in Post-Punk. Their style was certainly their own and has influenced a great many people. Some take it deep to heart and some just wear the T-shirt for clout. Joy Division is a cultural and musical icon, no matter how you look at the quality of their music or artistry. Even if it's not for you, it's important to appreciate the steps of musical history.

I think I get it but I'm still not sure if these guys are for me. I might get in big trouble for this but it kinda reminds me of goth REM

Lyrics sind ganz fine, aber weder die Musik noch der Gesang ist sonderlich gut finde ich.

I’ve never REALLY gotten into Joy Division and I have to say, this also did not do the trick. Sometimes you need someone really passionate about a band to guide you through a discography, but for right now, they’ll remain a bit lost in antiquity for me. This lacked in variation and interesting melodies for it to be great for me. I will give it another go, but let’s see…

This is a darker album than unknown pleasures. You could get a sense of where new wave got a lot of their style from off this album as it contained a bit of a more 80s synthesizer into it. Overall this isn’t as good as unknown pleasures but it’s still decent. Having Curtis kept the band in check with a cooler less poppy style. 7.3/10

Moeilijke om een rating te geven. Er staan 2 types nummers op deze plaat: die met opvallende synths, en die zonder. Ik vond die zonder iets beter

-very excited to finally listen to joy division --favorites: a means to an end, twenty four hours -has a very cool sound -the darker sound makes sense for that genre at that time -i don’t hate it but i don’t Love it -i have a feeling joy divisons other album is better

I enjoyed this.

When I consider this album at the time of its release, it's got some interesting approaches that I don't think were widely prevalent at the time. They are very skilled musicians and performers.

3,5

Very timely - saw Peter Hook & The Light playing Unknown Pleasures and Closer just last week! Musically more sophisticated, intricate and occasionally heavier than Unknown Pleasures. More synths, which I like, but I don’t think quite as entertaining as the debut. 3 out of 5.

Pretty good. Nothing crazy considering I don’t even remember it from the last list eh ben u pissed?

“Weary inside, now our heart's lost forever; can't replace the fear, or the thrill of the chase.” …just some of the closing lyrics on Joy Division’s second and final album, one of the most infamous posthumous releases in music history. If you’re reading this, you’ll likely already know that “Closer” has always been held up by listeners as a window into Ian Curtis’s final days before his suicide, capturing his fragile and tormented state of mind. It’s soaked in a no-way-out kind of despair which makes it difficult just to comprehend, let alone sit and write a few hundred words assessing its value or importance. Anything I say about “Closer”, particularly within days of first hearing it, is going to be reductive by nature, and it doesn’t help that it hasn’t completely struck me as something to revisit. Nonetheless, let’s have a look at the songs… Bleak as it is, “Closer” brings Joy Division more in line with New Order’s sonic palette than I’d realised before. Songs like “Isolation” and “Heart and Soul” seem to bridge the gap between Joy Division’s early guitar-based post-punk and the electronic, synth-friendly approach perfected by New Order. The production is great here, too: crisp, clear drums, crunchy and fuzzy guitars twisted into abrasive soundscapes, Peter Hook’s basslines in the foreground. The wonderful “A Means to an End” exemplifies it all. Elsewhere, there’s “Twenty Four Hours” laying bare the template for The Cure to take and run with for years afterwards, foreshadowing “Disintegration” by nine years… and the slow crawling dread of “The Eternal” and “Decades”. But most astounding of all is the opener, “Atrocity Exhibition”. The drumming pattern (allegedly an attempt to evoke Pink Floyd’s “A Saucerful of Secrets”) is engrossing, as is the abrasive guitar squalling left right and centre. Curtis fills the void by alluding to insecurities around his epilepsy, describing his own body twisting and writhing while an adoring public gawp on. It seems to hint at his deep discomfort with being romanticised, fetishised, trapped in a warped narrative by fans and the press. Forty-five years on, the background of “Closer” has sustained that narrative even more, immortalising the album as a source of morbid fascination. Uncomfortable, confrontational, unsettling… this is a hard album to stomach and not a personal preference, but it’s inarguably vital listening.

Relentless and bleak. Hard to describe this any other way.

classic JD's joye de vivre