Joy Division-Closer Re-master

[BloodSword]

Picked this up the other day and whoa!!. Not for everyone I'm sure,but you can't ignore the importance of this band's music. Paved the way for bands such as: Interpol and Radiohead. If your at the edge of the abyss, you might not want to listen. If you like it or not, you just can't escape it's "masterpiece" status. Discuss;

 

[panzerfaust666]

dont know much joy division. My dads band did a cover of "Love will Tears us Apart".thats as far as my JD knowledge goes.

 

[The Ozzman]

What is Joy Division like? I've heard a lot about this band.

 

[ohiogrinder]

its good stuff, sorta trancey post-punk stuff, hard to explain.

 

[CAIRATH]

Great band. I prefer Unknown Pleasures myself but Closer is a great album as well.

Too bad the rest of the band went down in mediocrity with New Order after Curtis' suicide. I never understood how that band garnered so much recognition as it has. They've released a few good singles but none of their albums do anything for me at all (and I dislike singles).

 

[derek]

Joy Division, I posit, are one of the most important bands ever.

Closer is special but Unknown Pleasures is something else. It's such a complex record. Everything JD done was ostensibly simple and honest, but under that veneer all hell was breaking loose.

When Love Will Tear Us Apart truly dawns on you it feels like the world has fallen apart and simultaneously built itself back up.

As for New order, I agree with Cairath. I saw them a few years back and they covered LWTUA and just near the end of the break down Peter Hook said "here we fuckin' go" in that classic Mancunian drawl and that pretty much wrecked it.

 

[BloodSword]

Joy Division, to my knowledge, only recorded 2 album-propers. "Unknown Pleasures" and "Closer." I don't know which one's best, suffice to say there both incredible pieces of music. Some I know can't get enough of these albums, and some can't get thru either one. I can only speak for Closer and this thing is fucking unbelievable. The fat bass lines, the brilliant triplet drumming and the angular, jagged guitar work is something to behold. Curtis's vocals, while not the best in tone and clarity, are perfect for the dark and foreboding atmosphere conveyed. I realize this band is not for everyone, but Closer should be listened to at least once by everyone, as well, as Unknown Pleasures. The re-master also includes a "live" gig from February, 1980 performed at London University. For me, this demonstrates the JD were a juggernaut live. Curtis's vocals on the live disc, imo are too low in the mix. But, this is a worthy addition. The piano work on "Eternal" is achingly beautiful. As said, this is a dark album, but the beauty once discovered is amazing.

 

[CAIRATH]

There's another good Joy Division live album recorded in Paris that is well worth listening to as well (and that's coming from someone who generally dislikes live albums). It's called "Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979".

 

[panzerfaust666]

yeah it really is a bummer the Lead Singer died. I dont know much about them, but what they did was indeed incredible.

 

[Alter]

its good stuff, sorta trancey post-punk stuff, hard to explain.

Not really trancey but super depressing for sure.

Picked this up the other day and whoa!!. Not for everyone I'm sure,but you can't ignore the importance of this band's music. Paved the way for bands such as: Interpol and Radiohead. If your at the edge of the abyss, you might not want to listen. If you like it or not, you just can't escape it's "masterpiece" status. Discuss;

Paved they way for Interpol bit did not influence them like I said. The importance of Joy Division is a large one and can be overlooked. Bands like Radiohead owe a ton to them, and that is saying a lot.

 

[BloodSword]

There's another good Joy Division live album recorded in Paris that is well worth listening to as well (and that's coming from someone who generally dislikes live albums). It's called "Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979".

From what I've heard, the live album you mention is considered their best. Also, it's a hard one to find. The live included in the re-master is not all that good to be honest. I guess one of those "had to be there to appreciate" Not a big fan of "live" albums either, but this does have it's moments.