Joy Division is one of those unique bands that are unable to classify but also unable to distinguish whether they’re a cult- like legendary band or a precious indie secret. Considering that minimalist and epic are two words that come to mind when reviewing some of Joy Division’s work I would say they’re both. Most importantly, they were a band that breathed air into the musical spectrum for a divine short three years yet amazing do not get enough credit on how much of an impact they have made on alternative rock in particular. There may have only been two CDs (Unknown Pleasures followed by Closer) before their singer Ian Curtis infamously noosed himself yet still it proved a tough job picking only ten songs.
Honorable Mentions: Novelty, No Love Lost, Wilderness, Heart and Soul, Ceremony, Decades, Isolation.
10.Twenty-Four Hours – As close to being an ecstasy without actually being on ecstasy. Ian Curtis wasn’t afraid to bare his soul in his writing that was obvious although he may have liked the idea of people seeing himself as a martyr. Even “Control” (Joy Division Biopic) recognized the genius in this particular lyrical piece when they had Ian narrating the song’s words: “So this is permanence, Love’s shattered pride, What once was innocence turned on its side”. The song still resonates deep in the soul even without the heart-like rhythm pounding.
9. Disorder – There really is no other drummer like Stephen Morris who kicks this song off with a bang and combined with Bernard’s melodic guitar work and Hook’s always affective catchy bass riff can equal nothing but gold. The unique quality about this song is that it is in its subtle way the only uplifting Joy Division song to name with the chorus “I’ve got the spirit, losing feeling.”
8. Dead Souls – After an extended opening that echos the adjective “bitchin” Ian Curtis beckons “Someone take these dreams away, that lead me towards another day”. It appears Ian knew how easier the alternative to the harshness of his life would be. In that line he blatantly chooses death over life yet the people around him were still shocked over his suicide. The lyrics are amazing and reflect the theme of mental illness. This time it appears schizophrenia is the topic when Ian sticks to his punk roots screaming “They keep calling me”. The song was also later used in the movie The Crow in a cover by Industrial giants Nine Inch Nails
7. She’s lost control – Hooky shines with the bass beat in this number as usual. Joy Division one of the only bass driven bands. I can’t think of much other ones besides New Order (Post-Ian Joy Division). It also showcases their roots which lie in simplistic punk rock (a genre they mastered before Ian changed his singing style). She cried out kicking on her side and said I’ve lost control again” Ian tackles another illness with epilepsy turning himself into a prophetic writer as soon after writing this song, he too would be diagnosed with the illness which contributed to his decline.
6. The Eternal – In the midst of this song is where a manic depressive is really at serenity. Apparently, this song is about a young boy with down-syndrome that Ian once knew but what this song always reminds me of is two things. The haunting sound at the beginning followed by Morris’ again always spot on drum beat. Before Curtis’ comforting voice approaching during the first minute of this epic piece, I’ve always thought of that sound as mental self injury and then solace if perhaps only through personal experience or if that was the intension. The second thing that sticks out to me in this song is the somehow poetic line “Just watching the trees and leavesas they fall” which again bring back memories of madness so whenever I think I’m losing my mind I come to this song then I destroy myself with New Dawn Fades.
5. Shadowplay – The main ingredient that makes this band so devastating is the atmosphere and Shadowplay is one of those songs where it comes across the best. It’s a mood song and like The Killers reminded us with their cover, it also rocks some Kong ass. I have no idea what a Shadowplay is but it does not sound like a nice place to visit. I also like this song because I part of me likes to think that Ian really meant the lyric that he sung “I did everything I wanted to” of course displacing the after lyrics.
4. Transmission – “Radio Live Transmission” calls out our Ian Curtis as if dignifying his bands stance on the rock medium. Like Shadowplay, Transmission comes across almost as a chaotic pop attempt. One that possibly blew up as Ian screamed into the microphone Dance! The live version of this song proves that Ian really does put his entire heart and soul (nice pun eh?) into his music even if his baritone voice may prove otherwise. “We would go on as though nothing was wrong…” I’ve always thought Transmission was just that – Ian’s plea to someone to listen while possibly envying how that person could just pass by and dance although that is of course only my interpretation. As with any art, take out of it what you will. “Touching From a Distance, Farther all the Time.
3. Atmosphere – Atmosphere has always felt out of place to me and in a different way then The Eternal or Decades because it’s not as haunting. It really just beautiful, church-like and seemingly Ian’s swan song. Possibly I could just write beauty a dozen times in a row and that would show what this song means. The chimes or whatever that may be stick with you. The lyrics call out for somebody not to walk away in silence, words that brought new depth in a noose on May 18th 1980.
2. New Dawn Fades - Never before has melancholy been captured any better musically before then in the metaphor “I’ve walked on water, danced through fire, can’t seem to feel it anymore”. The arraignment of New Dawn Fades is one of the best and unique enough that in a just world it would guarantee its place in history. This is another one of Joy Division epics and honestly anything I could come up to describe what is possibly the perfect song would sound like a over exaggeration such as if Mozart was walking around CBGB’s circa late 1970s this is similar to something he would of produced.
1. Love will tear us apart – It’s number one because it has to be number one. There is no chorus that sounds like the melody to Love will tear us apart it is distinctive to all hell. The title is a hard fact that pop songs shy away from but Ian lived and died through the fact that Love tears people the hell apart. This song should go down in history as being so good that it murdered its creator. It showcases what Joy Division’s bootleg live CDs already showed which was their experimentation in what would later become New Wave/Syth/Techno/Ect. This was the first song I heard by them on rotation on late night TV and I didn’t know what the hell I was seeing. I knew it was different that’s for sure but I recall thinking Ian was doing nothing but talking and occasionally plucking a guitar. Ignorance is the word, but it was enough incentive for me to listen to Unknown Pleasures and that’s what has lead me to writing this. This is what all bands should take note from on what a 3 minute pop song should be. Although I guess by that logic it would be exactly what it should not be. Love will tear us apart is beautifully abrasive and the template of the heart of soul of Joy Division
