In my opinion, Joy Division is the most gifted band ever. They express how it feels to be robbed of opportunity, both socially and emotionally. Kind of "Love sucks" but for real. Thanks for listening, guys!
This band is really interesting they turned punk inwards and it went from "Fuck You!" To "I'm fucked" kind of vibe, that is why they're one the pioneer bands of post punk.
I dunno. I'd lean more towards giving the Stooges credit for putting that in the water. Velvet Underground too even though they weren't a punk band. I feel like Joy Division more created the sonic space for goth music as much as anything
It was actually Bernard Sumner, the guitarist who became the new order vocalist. Although the bassist Peter hook does sing the first track Dreams Never End on their first album
You are never gonna appreciate this band going into it with a group of mates having a laugh dynamic. You have to find the time to give this a serious listen on your own. You're not going to find instantly accessible pop songs but over time you'll realise how much better they are. And wilderness is one of the best tracks on the album.
It literally sounds like the day of the Lords! Ominous stuff. Being from the same time and area as these guys we all knew about them and have since spent the past 40 years watching the rest of the world catch up.
Completely ground breaking in '79, nothing like it before and it wasn't initially obtainable in high street record stores. Like you acknowledge the style has been copied and covered to death so you had to be around in '79 to appreciate how utterly mind blowing and unique this was. It is a massive album largely thanks to the Producer Martin Hannett. Great reaction.
I had zero problems obtaining it. Then again I only live a few miles from where most of these guys were from (and no Ian was not from Manchester he was from Macclesfield (im not, I'm more Lancashire/Manchester area so that probably helped with distribution). They also played the Warehouse in Preston in one of their last gigs (2nd last i think, but dont quote me, it's also available as a live album) and most memorable gigs. and I once got off the train at Macclesfield on my way back from London in the early 90s just to see his and Debbie's house, small house! Then jumped back on the train to Lancashire. My advice, if you need any hard to find music contact 'action records' in the city of Preston, Lancs, one of the oldest and best independent record stores in the UK. I spent forever in the huge HMV store here last week looking for fad gadget and autechre albums, and anything else half decent, but only found mainstream garbage.. didn't find one interesting record. Went in action records, and 10x less floor space and found all FG classic albums along with about 10 different live albums. And anything you can't find they'll order and call you within 48 hours max. Best record shop in England. Ever since the 70s, since I can remember anyway the best record shop in England. I used vinyl exchange in Manchester a lot as well but I'm not even sure if it's still there now.
This album was a grower for me overall. I'm sure people who instantly loved Ian's vocals exist, but I wasn't one of them. For me, I just got used to his sound and now think it suits their music perfectly. It's not even that I grew to love his vocals. I've accepted them as is and anything different would feel wrong. As you said, this requires multiple listens for it all to soak in and once it does it never leaves.
I grew up around the same time and in the same area as these guys and to me their music sounds exactly like my environment looks. Ian's vocals imo were mixed to sound like any other instrument on their songs. It's only when you dive into the lyrics that you fully appreciate it. Great username btw
Unknown pleasures has to be taken into the context of the time and more importantly the place it was made. And that is not in the US. Northern England was an industrial power house during the Industrial Revolution. It was in decline during the early 70s and factories were closing - hence the atmosphere of the recording. The producer of the LP Martin Hannet was a bit of a genius and was using recording techniques unheard of at the time. He was one of the first people to have access to the AMS digital reverb which was state of the art at the time. It was ultimately used as a sampler. The snare sounds were recorded, tweaked and then stored and then triggered. It also gave the ability to create huge reverb sounds. Finally the individual tracks don’t fit really into the playlist style of tracks. Rather like Pink Floyd the album is best played as a whole and on one’s own for best impact. Cheers
Imo cheary, pretty spoiled modern youth who have tik tok attention spans (although obviously not all of them are like that) and never grew up with outside toilets and urban decay and the hopelessness of the late 70s in the UK will get very little from JD. I'd point them in the direction of Green Day or Motley Cru.
Guys please please do the group reaction to The Cure Pornography ( album title ) lol) or Faith, it'd be logical next reaction as it's regarded as on of the best goth/dark wave albums of the 80s
In the time of New Wave that gave birth to Synth Pop, Trash Metal and Glam Rock there were 4 kids from Manchester that was not afraid to do something completely different and unique even to this day. Joy Divison is for better or worse depression at it's finest. Sadness taken seriously and not in some Emo or Goth kinda way. It's punk music inverted, with poetic lyrics of Ian Curtis on top of it. Unknown Pleasures is one of those classic albums that fundamentally shook the music scene when it came out, like Sgt Peppers or Nevermind The Bollocks or Dark Side Of The Moon or Nirvana's Nevermind or Ok Computer. Oh yeah and the album cover is way too cool :)
The cover is genius. A distant pulsar/star collapsing in on itself is the perfect metaphor for ian's life, in hindsight. I grew up in the same area around the same time and their music to me 'feels' like that environment. Which without meaning to be condescending is going to be lost on a bunch of spoiled (and yes compared to how we had it back then, and especially there, all young ppl these days are spoiled in every sense, in the 'ruined' sense as well) young mates in a cheary mood who have probably never known hardships or anything close to a serious issue in their own lives, other than those things we have all experienced, like losing family members etc, looking for some catchy pop songs. And wilderness is also one of the stand out tracks on the album. The only one I've never really liked is interzone. Just feels like a few minutes of filler to lull you into a false sense of security before the final track. There's just no way you can casually listen to this masterpiece with your mates on a nice sunny morning and get even close to the place this album was born from. I guess it's why the tik tok generation thinks acts like Taylor Swift and (oh do I have to say it!) Sam Smith are popular. They would have made literally zero mark on music in 1979 is all I know. I mean, they do all the right type of vocal things you'd expect from an emotional song yet sound as empty and fake as can be..it as if they're acting the parts and there is no real emotion in their 'work' at all. Today's acts aren't much better than karaoke singers imo. And to overall dismiss an album like this after one casual listen is criminal. Only my guy on (our) top right seemed to get it. But as he said he's had the benefit of a few listens now. In my experience those records we instantly like we also tire of just as quickly. You have to invest in JD. It's a slow burn. But there never has been another band quite like them.
Before I actually heard Joy Division, I imagined them sounding like XTC’s "Complicated Game", and then when I did hear them I was disappointed. They've grown on me, but I still think "Complicated Game" is a better Joy Division song than any actual Joy Division song. So, allow me to suggest a different, quirkier slice of 1979 post-punk for the wheel: XTC-Drums and Wires
As amazing as unknown pleasures is man it's closer that's the masterpiece. Yeah Micheal Gira is a massive fan swans even did two different versions of love will tear us apart. If you haven't checked them out the more raucous side of early post punk check out Nick Cave's original band the Birthday Party it's wild or for more Manchester music madness there is the glory that is Mark E Smith and the Fall
would you guys ever consider reacting to a musical? if so, i recommend the hadestown original broadway cast recording. hadestown is a greek myth folk/gospel concept album turned musical, it’s very good!
In my opinion, Joy Division is the most gifted band ever. They express how it feels to be robbed of opportunity, both socially and emotionally. Kind of "Love sucks" but for real. Thanks for listening, guys!
This band is really interesting they turned punk inwards and it went from "Fuck You!" To "I'm fucked" kind of vibe, that is why they're one the pioneer bands of post punk.
I dunno. I'd lean more towards giving the Stooges credit for putting that in the water. Velvet Underground too even though they weren't a punk band. I feel like Joy Division more created the sonic space for goth music as much as anything
Nice Tony Wilson (rip, despite his super black monolith masonic gravestone, which I've seen with my own eyes) ripped-off comment.
It was actually Bernard Sumner, the guitarist who became the new order vocalist. Although the bassist Peter hook does sing the first track Dreams Never End on their first album
You are never gonna appreciate this band going into it with a group of mates having a laugh dynamic. You have to find the time to give this a serious listen on your own. You're not going to find instantly accessible pop songs but over time you'll realise how much better they are. And wilderness is one of the best tracks on the album.
Day of the lords sounds fuck all like Pink Floyd 🤣
It literally sounds like the day of the Lords! Ominous stuff. Being from the same time and area as these guys we all knew about them and have since spent the past 40 years watching the rest of the world catch up.
Completely ground breaking in '79, nothing like it before and it wasn't initially obtainable in high street record stores. Like you acknowledge the style has been copied and covered to death so you had to be around in '79 to appreciate how utterly mind blowing and unique this was. It is a massive album largely thanks to the Producer Martin Hannett. Great reaction.
I had zero problems obtaining it. Then again I only live a few miles from where most of these guys were from (and no Ian was not from Manchester he was from Macclesfield (im not, I'm more Lancashire/Manchester area so that probably helped with distribution). They also played the Warehouse in Preston in one of their last gigs (2nd last i think, but dont quote me, it's also available as a live album) and most memorable gigs. and I once got off the train at Macclesfield on my way back from London in the early 90s just to see his and Debbie's house, small house! Then jumped back on the train to Lancashire. My advice, if you need any hard to find music contact 'action records' in the city of Preston, Lancs, one of the oldest and best independent record stores in the UK. I spent forever in the huge HMV store here last week looking for fad gadget and autechre albums, and anything else half decent, but only found mainstream garbage.. didn't find one interesting record. Went in action records, and 10x less floor space and found all FG classic albums along with about 10 different live albums. And anything you can't find they'll order and call you within 48 hours max. Best record shop in England. Ever since the 70s, since I can remember anyway the best record shop in England. I used vinyl exchange in Manchester a lot as well but I'm not even sure if it's still there now.
Today, for some reason, actually wearing the tshirt, I would say that it's one of the best albums ever.
This album was a grower for me overall. I'm sure people who instantly loved Ian's vocals exist, but I wasn't one of them. For me, I just got used to his sound and now think it suits their music perfectly. It's not even that I grew to love his vocals. I've accepted them as is and anything different would feel wrong. As you said, this requires multiple listens for it all to soak in and once it does it never leaves.
I grew up around the same time and in the same area as these guys and to me their music sounds exactly like my environment looks. Ian's vocals imo were mixed to sound like any other instrument on their songs. It's only when you dive into the lyrics that you fully appreciate it. Great username btw
Unknown pleasures has to be taken into the context of the time and more importantly the place it was made. And that is not in the US.
Northern England was an industrial power house during the Industrial Revolution. It was in decline during the early 70s and factories were closing - hence the atmosphere of the recording.
The producer of the LP Martin Hannet was a bit of a genius and was using recording techniques unheard of at the time. He was one of the first people to have access to the AMS digital reverb which was state of the art at the time. It was ultimately used as a sampler. The snare sounds were recorded, tweaked and then stored and then triggered. It also gave the ability to create huge reverb sounds.
Finally the individual tracks don’t fit really into the playlist style of tracks.
Rather like Pink Floyd the album is best played as a whole and on one’s own for best impact.
Cheers
Imo cheary, pretty spoiled modern youth who have tik tok attention spans (although obviously not all of them are like that) and never grew up with outside toilets and urban decay and the hopelessness of the late 70s in the UK will get very little from JD. I'd point them in the direction of Green Day or Motley Cru.
Guys please please do the group reaction to The Cure Pornography ( album title ) lol) or Faith, it'd be logical next reaction as it's regarded as on of the best goth/dark wave albums of the 80s
I second that. I'd also would like to you guys cover Slowdive as well.
In the time of New Wave that gave birth to Synth Pop, Trash Metal and Glam Rock there were 4 kids from Manchester that was not afraid to do something completely different and unique even to this day. Joy Divison is for better or worse depression at it's finest. Sadness taken seriously and not in some Emo or Goth kinda way. It's punk music inverted, with poetic lyrics of Ian Curtis on top of it. Unknown Pleasures is one of those classic albums that fundamentally shook the music scene when it came out, like Sgt Peppers or Nevermind The Bollocks or Dark Side Of The Moon or Nirvana's Nevermind or Ok Computer. Oh yeah and the album cover is way too cool :)
That was the most insightful comment ever about JD. Thank you!
The cover is genius. A distant pulsar/star collapsing in on itself is the perfect metaphor for ian's life, in hindsight. I grew up in the same area around the same time and their music to me 'feels' like that environment. Which without meaning to be condescending is going to be lost on a bunch of spoiled (and yes compared to how we had it back then, and especially there, all young ppl these days are spoiled in every sense, in the 'ruined' sense as well) young mates in a cheary mood who have probably never known hardships or anything close to a serious issue in their own lives, other than those things we have all experienced, like losing family members etc, looking for some catchy pop songs. And wilderness is also one of the stand out tracks on the album. The only one I've never really liked is interzone. Just feels like a few minutes of filler to lull you into a false sense of security before the final track. There's just no way you can casually listen to this masterpiece with your mates on a nice sunny morning and get even close to the place this album was born from. I guess it's why the tik tok generation thinks acts like Taylor Swift and (oh do I have to say it!) Sam Smith are popular. They would have made literally zero mark on music in 1979 is all I know. I mean, they do all the right type of vocal things you'd expect from an emotional song yet sound as empty and fake as can be..it as if they're acting the parts and there is no real emotion in their 'work' at all. Today's acts aren't much better than karaoke singers imo. And to overall dismiss an album like this after one casual listen is criminal. Only my guy on (our) top right seemed to get it. But as he said he's had the benefit of a few listens now. In my experience those records we instantly like we also tire of just as quickly. You have to invest in JD. It's a slow burn. But there never has been another band quite like them.
It's been a month don't forget Kick iiii and iiiii after :)
Don't worry, it's coming soon™
Before I actually heard Joy Division, I imagined them sounding like XTC’s "Complicated Game", and then when I did hear them I was disappointed. They've grown on me, but I still think "Complicated Game" is a better Joy Division song than any actual Joy Division song. So, allow me to suggest a different, quirkier slice of 1979 post-punk for the wheel:
XTC-Drums and Wires
OMG ITS JOY DIVISION 2 YEARS LATE OMGGGGG
You guys should react to the album 'Violator' by Depeche Mode! Fucking amazing album!
As amazing as unknown pleasures is man it's closer that's the masterpiece. Yeah Micheal Gira is a massive fan swans even did two different versions of love will tear us apart. If you haven't checked them out the more raucous side of early post punk check out Nick Cave's original band the Birthday Party it's wild or for more Manchester music madness there is the glory that is Mark E Smith and the Fall
My biggest takeaway was that someone actually compared Ian’s vocals to B-52s ?? 😂
😂😂
Hilarious considering Ian Curtis modeled his singing style after Frank Sinatra 😆😆
That was BIG, they said it'd never happen but.........booom.
would you guys ever consider reacting to a musical? if so, i recommend the hadestown original broadway cast recording. hadestown is a greek myth folk/gospel concept album turned musical, it’s very good!
'I liked it more than anything on the wall'... correct
Hard to differentiate? No one sounds like Joy Division!
Looks like Babbys got good taste
Blabbering
Nope, we need to here more of the music and less of you. Imo. I'll move on now
You're the type of dude to say, "you just lost a customer!" and expect people to care, huh?
Found the virgin
Then just listen to the record
You voices are way too loud and the music is way too low
Stop talking over song intros.