Unknown Pleasures review

Despite their career only lasting 4 years, Joy Division are regarded as one of the 70s most influential bands. The post-punk rock band only did 2 studio albums, Unknown Pleasures being the first. Here are my thoughts.

Tracks:

1. Disorder: 7/10 while it's downbeat and has an odd restrained feel to it, it's doesn't really sound like anything else you've heard before and it's catchy in a different sort of way.

2. Day of the Lords: 8/10 another offputtingly depressing track which is lifted up by Ian Curtis' strong vocals and a more energetic tune that that of Disorder, particularly in the chorus.

3. Candidate: 6/10 more of the same. Impressive lyrics and a haunting tune but it just makes you feel depressed. It's like having to re-watch 12 Years a Slave.

4. Insight: 5/10 this song has a good baseline. If it had changed at all throughout the song except for at the end that would have been appreciated. As a result, despite the good lyrics the song descends into monotony.

5. New Dawn Fades: 710 it's still a distant and cold tune but its lyrics are interesting and its rise in intensity throughout allows you to distinguish it from the other tracks on the album.

6. She's Lost Control: 7/10 it's got more energy than some of the others and it's an interesting one to interpret, making it one of the album's highlights.

7. Shadowplay: 8/10 a stronger one here, with its deft instrumental and powerful imagery this is one of the louder songs on the album and works well overall.

8. Wilderness: 6/10 one of the least memorable songs on the album but with its thankfully short length, well written lyrics and enjoyable outro it's not too bad.

9. Interzone: 6/10 a fast paced and well played instrumental is brought down by meaningless lyrics which go by far too quickly.

10. I Remember Nothing: 6/10 a musically accomplished but forgettable album closer. A couple of hours after listening to this, I remember nothing.

Best song: Day of the Lords
Worst song: Insight

Summary: Having listened to this album twice, it's official: I just don't like it. It's good in many ways with its haunting sounds, deep lyrics and unique instrumentals and it's different from most other artists, but unfortunately it seems to be drowning in its own gloominess. The songs sound the same, they're not particularly enjoyable to listen to and they always feel restrained and downbeat. Technically accomplished yet self indulgent and cold, this album just doesn't do it for me. It's still important and worth a listen though, and many others like it much more than I do.

Final rating: 6/10