Closer

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

Melancholy post-punk that sounds so familiar, but dates early. You can hear 80s alternative music of several kinds here. It could have gone either way for me. But it started strong, gained my respect early, and remained solid throughout. I would return to it for sure.

Is it wrong to call Joy Division mature punk. This is a great album that has all the signs of defiance and anti-establishment rebellion but tempers the delivery and creates a really interesting sound. The 80s might not have the best reputation as a musical decade, but the early 80s has some real gems! This is one of them.

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

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

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

Factually accurate. Simplified as its a short answer.

Good

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

Nope. I remember these years well. Post Punk wasteland filled with dopey new-wave bands flooding the airwaves with simplistic notes and atonal vocals. This crushed the punk movement, but was certainly a welcome arrival for all the dance-crazed white teen twits too terrorized by the Ramones and Sex Pistols and Dead Kennedys. Another band immortalized by tragedy. Makes it a classic, but still not good.

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

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

Nope

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

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

When I was in college, (and I’m Gen Z, so recently) I knew a classic incel guy who listened to exclusively punk music. I always thought it sounded like the B52s and made fun of him for it. “Haha this punk song sounds like Rock Lobster.” But then I learned that the B52s were a post-punk band. And Joy Division is a post-punk band. And Joy Division sounds like the B52s. And I still don’t like it.

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

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

Great album...

Interesting

i love this album solely because you can hear new order popping out

Id like to appreciate this record for all that it is, however that comes with criticism as well. It passes the accomplishment test, but falls short in the entertainment department

1. atrocity - 1 2. izolation - 1 3. pazz - 1.5 4. colony - 1.5 5. end - 1.5 6. zoul - 1.5 7. tuuenty - 2 8. eternal - 1.5 9. decadez - 1.5

An album of promises of greatness after the fact. Such a sad ending of a great talent waylaid by mental illness.

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

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.

Tyckte först inte den var lika bra som Unknown pleasures, men den växte verkligen med flera lyssningar. Framförallt den andra halvan är riktigt stark med Twenty four hours och Eternal som två favoriter (älskar New order-soundet på den sistnämnda).

Such a great record!

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

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

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

Not my favourite post-punk, but notable for its influence

I feel like I’m supposed to like this, but I didn’t. I found it to be a slog. Sorry Ian.

Brilliant. Greta album. Also contains Twenty Four Hours which might be one of my faves.

A very bleak album, maybe the bleakest. There’s an existential feeling while listening to it.

#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.

I never liked joy division because of a not-friend who was obsessed. Don’t think this album moved the dial much

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

Closer is a hard sell for me but my opinions did switch in the latter half of the record where songs have more much dynamism and feel more engaging. Discussing Joy Division is always a challenge due to its mythology and the tragic death of Ian Curtis which puts the album in a different spotlight. Yet, I think Closer isn't that great and it was hard to connect with it. The first few tracks have very static drums which never quite change which makes it pretty monotonous and even if it was the intention to create a sparse musical landscape, I don't think that they entirely succeeded with those tracks. They just meander on while Curtis babbles over it. Peter Hooks bass drives a lot of this tracks and make them somewhat more engaging. Once the fifth track "A Means to an End" starts, the album seems to improve dramatically because the drums are actually less static and we different grooves. I'll revisit this for sure in the future but I am not a big fan of it and vastly prefer Unknown Pleasures.

Fab

Not my jam. Mix of toe tapping and dragging music is a challenge.

Started well... but no.

and after a solid run we are back to the English Rock bands that all sounds exactly the same. Even the songs on the album all seem to just run together. No more British Rock! No More British Rock!

Definitely not as immediately gripping as unknown pleasures but taking the time to get immersed in this one (I liked the later tracks more maybe because of this) its definitely a worthwhile, if not a bit depressing experience. 4/5

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.

Gloomy but groovy!

it's joy division, what can I say

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

2,5

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

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

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

I didn’t really enjoy the previous album I got as a pick on this list, and this album was WAY worse. I couldn’t even finish this one. It was downright atrocious to sit through. No thanks

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.

Seeing all the biz people rating this 10/10, five stars and I'm just left wondering what am I not hearing. I heard a 44 minutes of a horrible vocal track over synth pop crap. Then I was advised the dude unalived/ offed himself shortly after this was released and all the ratings made more sense in a don't speak bad of the dead kinda way. I'll be honest, this is pure unenjoyable cut yourself in the bathroom emo 13 year old kid garbage.

Context: I listened to this with a monumental hangover driving back from Stamford to Salford over the moors in driving rain. So, basically the perfect context for Joy Division. I would say that, for me, it doesn't quite hit the same highs as Unknown Pleasures, but it's still absolutely heart-breaking and astounding all at once. I've given it the top possible four star mark, because I do think it isn't quite them at their best, and I was monumentally glad when it was over, but that was only because I'd got home and could crawl into bed.

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

Dark, intense, powerful.

„Closer“ ist Joy Divisions zweites und leider letztes Studioalbum, das wenige Monate nach dem tragischen Tod des Leadsängers Ian Curtis veröiwurde. Das Album nimmt den Hörer mit auf eine düstere und emotionale Reise, die von introspektiven Texten und der melancholischen, aber zugleich kraftvollen Musik begleitet. Das Album überzeugt durch seine musikalische Vielfalt und Tiefgründigkeit. Die Kombination aus düsteren Synthesizern, dynamischen Basslines und schneidenden Gitarrenriffs verleiht „Closer“ eine einzigartige Klanglandschaft. Besonders hervorzuheben sind Tracks wie „Isolation“ und „Heart and Soul“, die eine hypnotische Atmosphäre schaffen und die Intensität von Curtis' Gesang unterstreichen. **Texte und Emotionen:** Ian Curtis' Texte sind tiefgründig und emotional aufwühlend. Sie spiegeln seine inneren Kämpfe wider und bieten einen bewegenden Einblick in seine Psyche. Stücke wie „Twenty Four Hours“ und „The Eternal“ sind besonders eindringlich und lassen den Hörer die Verzweiflung und Isolation spüren, die Curtis empfand. Es ist ein monumentales Werk, das die dunklen Tiefen der menschlichen Erfahrung erforscht. Mit seiner emotionalen Intensität und musikalischen Raffinesse ist es ein Meilenstein der Musikgeschichte.

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

What could I possibly add?

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

Hauntingly dark. More groovy than a lot of tracks on Unknown Pleasures, more of the post punk than new wave. Struggled with some of the vocal performances but lyrically top notch

Pretty interesting I’ll definitely listen to again

It was ok 3/5

just can't get it

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.

Sorry, I just can't

A classic but I preferred NO

Не очень понравилось.

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

One of those albums which are hard to listen more than once in a day. It's one of the saddest pieces of music I've heard in my life. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that Ian Curtis was just 23 when he wrote those heart wrenching lyrics. The overall tone is so depressing but beautiful at the same time. One of my all time favorites, but only in small doses.

Excellent album. Not as good as Unknown Pleasures, but excellent nonetheless.

New Order was a phoenix.

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

Incredibile!

Not a lot of Joy to be found in this. It's so mundane. Whatever you do, skip the live version.

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’m not a huge fan of this sound. The drums aren’t my cup of tea. It seems to teeter between a few genres I can’t put my finger on. I feel like a band like show me the body took a lot from this sound, but this album felt like a building block that could be expanded upon.

The influence of Joy Division on more modern music is incredible. I don't pick them up often because I think some of the bands they influenced down the line are more interesting, but I always enjoy diving back in. How good is 24 Hours? 4/5

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.

I'm sure this album is for someone. Just not for me.

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”

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

As someone who deals with depression, I’m curious: do people who enjoy this and are unaffected by depression listen to music like this as a way to “see how the other half lives”, so to speak? Because, I listen to music to escape, I don’t want spend anymore time in the pit of despair than I have to and I try to go out of my way to avoid putting on something that is going to land me back in there. Not that I’m sitting at home listening to Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine” on repeat, but like, I try to avoid things I know are going to make me feel like shit. No offense intended, I am genuinely curious. With that out of the way, this is another band that, on paper, I should probably like. The krautrock influence is readily apparent here and I love that type of music, but with Joy Division, it comes off a bit like a photocopy of a photocopy: a sort of faded and blurry replication, devoid of the energy and spirit of the original. Somehow, there is a world of difference between the repetition of Can or Neu! and the repetition of Joy Division and I’m not really able to articulate what makes the former so much more interesting than the latter. Maybe it’s the lyrical content or the production. I don’t know. It’s just not very engaging to me. It’s just kind of there. Actually, you know what I think it is? They’re taking music that was meant to be otherworldly and are bringing it down to Earth. Krautrock was meant to be an escape, a way to move forward from the horrors of Germany’s then-recent past. It’s why they called it Kosmische (Cosmic) music, it was about moving forward and transcending. Joy Division, as harsh as this might sound, seemed content to wallow.

This just have sounded like the future in 1980.

Vet album. Eerste nummer deed me denken aan de baslijn van U2's vertigo, geinig.

meh

Really interesting album. I liked a lot of the songs. I liked that there wasn’t an obvious hit that stood out from the rest. All the songs feel like an intentional part of a larger work. Really fun to think of all the bands that were influenced by this.

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

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

Atrocity Exhibition // Decades 2.5/5

I think one of their less popular albums, I listened whilst shopping and it was good background music. I didn't feel like I loved anything particularly.

It's fine

A lot of interesting sonic ideas, especially in the rhythm section. The drummer was earning his paycheck on the first song. The songs are carefully composed but don't strike me as labored. The different guitar tones are great at setting the mood. Curtis' voice isn't for everyone, but I like that it's unique. He sounds conversational, earnest, and desperate. It's a dark album but I didn't find it to be a dour listen. ("The Eternal" is pretty bleak though.) I'd like to spend more time with it. Highlights: Isolation, A Means to an End, Twenty Four Hours

Eh. Not very good in my opinion. The instruments were boring and the singing was honestly terrible in my opinion. If I had to pick a standout it would probably be the eternals but that’s about it. 1 star

*sigh*... This feels like another 'influential' album, which I'm sure was impactful at the time of its release, but to me 45 years later, I'm mostly bored. I did find myself getting into Twenty Four Hours during the intro, until Ian Curtis piped up and I switched off again. Not for me.

Very dark, depressing and bleak. Hard to find anything deeper than that. Some tracks have decent instrumentation/feel, but for me mostly comes through a bit flat and dated. Feel Ian Curtis's delivery was too abrasive for me, although that may be the point. Best Tracks: - A Means To An End - The Eternal Worst Tracks: - Decades - Isolation Rating: 3/10

Sorry, I much prefer New Order.

No thank you

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

fine

It turns out I just don't like Joy Division. Rating: 2

Atmospheric and some spine tingling tracks

It was okay

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

No

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

joy division is for me the perfect embodiment of post punk. Dark melancholic music that i like to take on a walk. sad that they didnt got to aim more to the "love will tear us apart" direction which is for me a huge what if...

Meh.

5.5/10

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

Isolation is a banger

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.

I do not get it. I feel like I was listening to what the color black would sound like in an album, but not in a cool way. Wish I liked it more. 1/5

Too electronic to get an authentic emo feel. Too emo to get a good electronic dance groove. Near miss.

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🖤📸⚰️ Production (2007 Remaster): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 💔🌑🪢 Rating: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

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.

This record could have been so much better. Take a track like 'Twenty Four Hours' which calls to mind the gloomy moody music of contemporaries such as the Cure combined with the repetitive rhythmic Motorik influence of German groups like Neu! The band cooks up a cool sounding song, but then Ian Curtis comes into the picture and really ruins it with his low-toned, low-mixed and often off-key mumbling. This happens on every single track, sadly.

if you’re gonna make your songs this repetitive they have to at least be interesting. The Eternal was cool but the rest was very dull

Again I did not know what to expect but I had hoped for something a bit more listenable. Challenging but not in a good way.

5/10

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

I don't enjoy this at all.

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

A snoozefest of an album, which makes the listener struggle just to hear. Favorite Track: "Twenty Four Hours".

I liked the music but not this guys voice.

I liked it more than I thought I would. I didn’t recognise any of the songs and would revisit it

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.

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

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?

Redolent of those times, relevant today.

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

Makes me depressed listening to it

I feel like, if they are the division in charge of spreading joy, they are doing a bad job. Nothing in that album soaked joy.

A very "live in the studio"-sounding album. The name of the record is fitting, as the band members sound like they are no further than arm's length from each other. The constant reverb effect puts the listener at a distance from them. The result is both claustrophobic and alienating. Ian Curtis' untimely death is certainly a tragedy, but also served to seal the legacy of their limited catalog. I would have liked more Joy Division, as I'm not a big New Order fan. Kind of like wishing that Kurt Cobain hadn't killed himself so we wouldn't have to reckon with Foo Fighters.

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.

unsurprisingly i loved this but man does it hurt to know how it all ended

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

Eccoli tornati noiosetti

This made me sad because so many of my friends love this band and I thought it sounded like a bag of cats in the rain.

hä da isch gar nöd so joyful. joy division isch meider chli es t shirt worde sit es paar johr. mega dark bis jetz s erste lied. isch halt angsty post punk mit dem chani nöd immer öpis afange. isolation isch mit funny synths und so und coole drums wieder. uf passover tönter wie 63i wie isch de 23i gsi?? colony no cool mit fuzz bass und so. aber s isch scho seeeeehr depri hey. und isch etz nöd gad es hookfest. a means to an end au heavy wemmer sin suizid bedenkt. er cha nöd würkli singe aber er mueses au nöd chöne. de track tönt jetz reeeecht geil mit de drums wo wiit weg töned de bass wo au recht roh isch irgendwie. wird glaub langsam warm mit dene trurige buebe. twenty four hours isch au nöd soo spannend. fuck git das es zwei?? decades isch uuultra gaggi sorry. z langsam z langwilig z monoton z lethargisch git e heeerts 2.

uhhh enl ich kenn glaub nur love will tear us apart han atrocity jz na spannend gfunde, glichzitig ischs jz nüt gsi wo ich in nächster ziit nomal s krasse bedürfnis han, z lose isolation het echli weirde synthi oder so? he us irgeme grund bin ich meistens würkli nöd mega en post punk guy? villes würkt uf mich eifach schnell chli pretentious passover gfalltmer bis jz am beste glaub? ja kei ahnig di gliche drums für 4 min + gitarre wo au nöd vill passiert macht mit mier eifach wenig aso au colony findi easy aber rifach nöd meh dito für alles nachane 24 hours isch na cool gsi? hmm the eternal het e cooli atmosphäre ja huere schöns klavier!!

Just not a vibe for me. Sounded similar to Depeche Mode. Sadly a 2.8.

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

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

Idk man. I should like these guys more than I do. All my favorite bands site them as influences. Hell one of my favorite bands growing up was Interpol whose singer took Curtis’ whole style. But it does nothing for me. I missed the window in my youth to find a way in and the few songs I do like were all from Unknown Pleasures. I think this means more to people who know Ian’s story and where he was at this point in his life with this record and were invested enough to figure out what he’s saying through the awful mix. To me it’s just incredibly repetitive and Ian sings like he’s sedated. The only songs that stood out were

i love ian curtis

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

Good album.

Ken de band alleen van Love Will Tear Us Apart. Maar damn dat was chill. Ga ik zeker vaker opzetten. Twenty Four Hours vond ik vooral mega nice. Vier sterren voor nu.

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

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.

Is Joy Division a good band outside of Love Will Tear Us Apart? I don’t think so. I’ll take early New Order instead.

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

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

If you’re listening to Joy Division, it should be any song from Unknown Pleasures. Closer is a bit dull for my taste

I never paid that much attention to Joy Division, but I didn't need to either. It's just an ok album

4/10 I really didnt enjoy this album very much. Lacking in both variety and vocal enjoyment Favourite Song=Decades Least Favourite Song=Atrocity Exhibition

Uno de los primeros álbumes góticos de la historia, siendo antecedido únicamente por "Unkwown Pleasures". Trabajos como este inspiraron a artistas como Siouxsie and The Banshees y The Cure, por lo que está de más afirmar que la atmósfera que construye "Closer" es perfecta. Ninguna canción sobra en este trabajo, pero si tuviera que bajarle una estrella por algo, sería por la falta de algún single bailable como algunas de sus otras obras (Disorder, She's Lost Control, Transmission, etc). Debes escucharlo.

Much more agreeable than their other stuff! Had to listen to it twice to get into it. Maybe I just always need a joy division warm up! 3.6

It was good Music not just something for me - i found it kind of blant

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.

I'll never understand the appear of some of these British singers. It's such an unnerving way to sing. There's some catchy elements to this album but will always be marred by the vocals. 4.5/10 (2.25/5)

What song was I suppose to enjoy here?

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.

Awful. I will never understand how "post-punk" and "post-punk revival" are supposed to be similar, considering some of my favorite music ever is described as 00s post-punk revival and I've never heard any post-punk that I've liked. It's like this guy literally doesn't WANT to sing on key. But not in a snotty "fuck the rules" way, like punk, but rather like in a "I want to croon like Sinatra and I don't care if you like it" kind of way.

The was the start of something amazing.

Solid album. No real jump out tracks but a good liten.

Not as attention grabbing as Unknown Pleasures but still good in a darker sort of way.

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.

I just love the instrumentals and the feel of the bum, but the monotone goth vocals just take so much away from it as a whole. 2.5/5

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

Spooky

A band I want to love but just don’t really enjoy

Very Dark…and not very musical. This might be art but it doesn’t feel like music. It takes all kinds. this one is just not for me.

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.

Always liked this. Gloomy.

This sounds so far ahead of its time I struggle to imagine it existing in 1980. More melancholic than depressing. I like this more than Joy Divisions first album but I'm just not a fan of Ian Curtis, his singing was really bad. Influential and unique. 8/10

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

I try to find one song per album that I’d listen to again, couldn’t find one from this album. Ian Curtis might be tone deaf. Mixing wasn’t very good either, could barely hear the lyrics.

Nope. 2

Generic, repetative and monotone. First wave goth stuff is also very hit or miss with me. This is very much a miss. But, as a crtical listener I understand the ground this band broke and the influence of this album had.

5/5

why did I think I hated Joy Division???? this is insane

Heavy but beautiful atmosphere!

I just had this on in the background and it is just great, no need to list the stand out tracks its all killer no filler.

This was fine. Never really got the appeal of this band, but felt like it could grow on me. Some of the tracks had a similar sound to the Cure, which I liked.

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.

One of the bleakest albums in history, with or without the context surrounding it. The dark atmosphere and emotionally tortured songwriting make this a staple of Joy Division (obviously because it’s one of their two albums), as well as post punk as a whole

oh my!

Two of these dorks met at a Sex Pistols concert and one of them thought the Sex Pistols "destroyed the myth of being a pop star, of a musician being some kind of god that you had to worship" and borrowed £35 from his mother to buy a bass guitar the next day. That is exactly the type of origin story I would expect for this droning, tuneless, boring, sad teenage dracula music. Going to see a fake manufactured sham of an alt boy band and thinking they were changing music forever and borrowing money from your mom to copy them. It couldn’t have been that hard, the Sex Pistols couldn’t play their instruments either, because manufactured boy bands never can. Also, I've got a question for this Ian Curtis fellow: https://youtu.be/v9wKiA4sigc?si=jqH-U83I8NOb_7MQ&t=33

Decent. Never heard it before. Certainly no unknown pleasures.

Cool drum patterns in Atrocity Exhibition and Heart and Soul. Some songs have about the same feel as The Cure sometimes has. I enjoy that.

no one does it quite like joy division. i have a lot of time for ian curtis, and i find that he’s a very interesting guy. this is often reflected in his bleak lyricism, which i would argue is possibly even more prominent on this album than unknown pleasures. closer is often overlooked when considering joy division, simply due to the fact that unknown pleasures is one of those timeless classics. despite that, this album is just as good, if not better.

Its very bleak. Obviously. It's very very bleak. It's also very good. Beautiful in places, terrifying in others.

Top tier

If I could give a zero I would

More like Misery Multiplication

Similar to Unknown Pleasures, I feel about the same. Definitely a whole vibe. The songs are all pretty captivating, without really jumping out and begging to be added to a playlist. But that's not the point. The synths here mean there's definitely a Kraftwerk feel to some of the tracks. I like the observation that they had already started to sound like early New Order at this point. Finishes really strong with the last three songs.

I think Joy Division could quite possibly be the most overrated band of all time. I don't just think they're overrated, I straight up think they suck. Save for a few good songs (none of which are on this album), they really have nothing to cling onto. I feel I can find their sound in a thousand other places, and those places all have much more to like.

Not a post punk fan

Honestly like a loooot stronger than Unknown Pleasures in my opinion. I actually knew a hell of a lot more pleasures listening to this one. Right from that very first track, Atrocity Exhbition, which honestly hooked me. CLOSER to a 3.5 but I’ll give it the 4!

I like this one slightly more than Unknown Pleasure!

Really great stuff, honestly its pretty heavy at points and it makes ya wonder how these guys got so popular... they seem very anti-mainstream!

Not as good as their first album, just doesn't hit in the same way.

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

Want to like it, but fave of my shitty ex

phenomenal. unique and haunting. what a classic.

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

I like new order, but joy division not so much. I think they had the hype because of the unfortunate passing of Ian Curtis. This album had moments but that's it.

this is definitely a depressing album for sure. it really encapsulates the feeling of isolation and loneliness to a ttttt. one thing i noticed is the space between the singing segments of each song, they;re just long enough to add to the empty atmosphere of this album. i think the lyrics were concise yet effective, with an array of interlinking topics covered as well. 8/10

Classic

Possibly as low as you can get on the scale of 'party banger' music. And maybe too dark for its own good

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.

Masterpiece of Electronic from the 80's.

I've tried, lord knows I've tried to appreciate Joy Division. I want to like Joy Division, but at my core, I just don't. This album solidified that notion.

dull, nothing stands out

I like to think of myself as a Joy Division fan (of their first album), but come on, you can't expect your fans to genuinely love this. Half of these tracks sound very amateurish, both in composition and in instrumental skill. Atrocity Exhibition, Passover, Heart and Soul, and Decades are all blurry and forgettable tracks that are the very definition of filler. The remaining five tracks are stronger, though they teeter towards the same flaws. Paying attention to the drumming, which is prominent in the mix, I noticed that there was pretty much only one fill used dozens of times – and once I noticed this, it was difficult to ignore. The singing is also more distractingly bad than on Unknown Pleasures. It wasn't entirely bad, though. The atmosphere created in The Eternal is great – slow and impending-doom-esque. Isolation is a solid pop track that's reminiscent of their previous album. The lyrics are good, roughly akin to the Smiths' lyrics, and the themes of depression, loneliness, and mortality hit pretty darn hard considering the events surrounding this album's release. 2/5 Key tracks: Isolation, A Means to an End, The Eternal

Never heard of them. Pre-Rap? Talking to music is NOT singing. Drums okay but other "noise" sounds like electrical interference. Abrasive.

I’ve always thought Unknown Pleasures was a bit overrated, but Closer is a different beast entirely. An unwaveringly bleak album supported by Hook’s pounding basslines, while Curtis yelps like a man possessed

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

On remarque au premier chef la singularité de la voix, puis les lignes rythmiques soutenues. L'ensemble a un caractère hypnotique.

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

I knew of Joy Division through the single Love Will Tear Us Apart which is a banger, So I bought this album thinking it would be more of the same and it wasn't when I first heard it as a teenager I didn't like it but over the years occasional listening has made this album grow on me which has made me enjoy it more. I prefer this to Unknown Pleasures, it's really good and Isolation is a great track.

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

Moody synths <3

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

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

Good. The live tracks, man.

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

Atrocity Exhibition Isolation Heart and Soul Decades

Slow and messy. Does not speak to me

I know being stripped bare is the Joy Division aesthetic ... but I'm not sure I like it. It's just all very serious. I can picture a hall full of very serious men, very intently getting lost in the intensity. I would not be there.

The guy just cannot sing. He is monotone and sounds like he’s in a hallway. The rhythm is good but invariant. If I remove the vocals it might be a good backing track. There are a few creative moments but the whole thing is very simplistic and quite limited. They sound like a bad Talking Heads imitation. Reading the article it seems the band blamed the producer for a bad job. Sounds like he did what he could but there’s only so much lipstick you can put on a pig.

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

Bit dull

94/100

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

Joy Division makes music for lottery sweepstakes winners.

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.

Didn't tbink much of it at all

Nope…. …yeah, nope. I mean I can say a little more but my opinion is kinda summed up there. This sucked. Obtuse for the sake of it. The singer sounded like he was across the room and if that’s an artistic choice, I mean ok fine, but it makes for a poor listening experience. He also sounded like a Muppet at times. This just was a lot I didn’t like about British 80’s rock. Sad, dreary, sounding like everybody wanted to die, echoey, songs that overstayed their welcome, and trying a little too hard to be interesting. And boring. I’ve long heard about Joy Division. But I’d never heard them. What little hype there was wasn’t met here. They only have two studio albums. Please don’t let the other one be on this list. Please. Two stars. Standout Tracks: Heart and Soul, Twenty Four Hours

own

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

Not for me

This is a good, but extremely dark, album. Worth a listen. 4/5

There’s only so much off-key monotonous Ian Curtis I can take.

What?

3.7. Decent

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

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.

For some reason, this album felt like a warm hug after feeling like one doesn't belong in this world.

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

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

Some good drum/guitar sections but weird echoing in the lyrics sung didn't really fit well, unlike Creedence Clearwater Revival, for instance.

Too dark for me.

Meh

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

Lasted one track- not for me.

Interesting background music, consistent vibe, but not to my taste. The vocalist really detracts from the music instead of adding to it

The hell is this? No redeeming qualities.

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

- the first song is so fucking busy like so much drumming going at once and the guy was like a mix of singing and talking - nah this guy is literally just talking - i really don't like this, his talking voice is not even ear pleasing - did not like 1/10

Mere dyster end den sidste Joy Division vi havde

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

good album, enjoyed the sound. I can see why it is well regarded.

Hm. Ich weiß nicht. Die Synthesizer sind nervig. Mag ich nicht.

Good music to watch the end of the world to

Good beat, unmotivated vocals. The last song "Decades" is better because the vocals are less prominent.