Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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22 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Song remains the same., 25 Mar 2008
There was an inevitability that London Records would milk the current media frenzy surrounding all things Joy Division. This release is a manifestation of that. And it will be of no surprize that similar releases will appear in the future. But lets get it straight from the start, Why else would have London bought the rights in the first place? Joy Division re-releases are no different from re-releases by the Clash, Boyzone, Led Zepplin or Britney for that matter. Thats the way the business works. The packaging may be different, but the song remains the same.
So what are we to make of this latest compilation? It is feasible to own all these tracks already or at least have the MP3 files. The tracks selected have included many of the quintessential Joy Division songs, but that not difficult considering the band only recorded two studio albums.
Digital represents an early example of the meshing of Hooks and Morris's style that was to concrete the Joy Division sound. Pulsating bass and off-beat drumming: the Joy Division trademark. Disorder Unknown Pleasure's opener, a song which caught my attention instantly when hearing it many years ago is a welcome track, Albrecht-Sumner's shearing guitar creates the mood of the sound resulting in the hypnotic-trance sound dynamics allowing that "Dance" to mature.
Both Shadowplay and New Dawn Fades have both been covered by The Killers and Moby respectively. Both these tracks will be perpetually associated with UP and that period of the bands development. New Dawn Fades in my view, still remains the greatest Joy Division song, so any record without this song would be futile. The track is beautiful in it dimensions-one should appreciate Hannett's remarkable contribution to the song-It starts with an descending A-bass scale tinged with the glassy sounding picking of the strings by Barney. Curtis's baritone vocals are quietly introduced into the song steadily building up in intensity, reaching a climax then coming full cycle to the opening scale riff. It is easy to feel we have been on some journey after listening to this song.
Dead Souls the wonderful paradoxically titled song is rather distrubing in its vocal delivery, the theme being of nightmares. Its a reminder that not all is well on planet life. "They keep calling me" Curtis reminds us.
I dont need to say much about Love Will Tear Us Apart because too much has already been said about this song. And the danger here is that Joy Division may be seen as a "one trick pony" but its totally understandable why it have been included. Unless you have been living on Mars, you will know the song.
Shes Lost Control an other hightlight of UP was given further credence by the performance of the song live on the BBCs Something Else. This recording can be found on disc 2. No one can fail to recognise the authenticity of both the song and the performance: Rock Art at it very best. SLC allows the bass to become lead and the lead to become rhythm, having the bass so high in the mix at the time was something of a rarity unless you were the Gang of Four. Grace Jones of all people went on to cover this song for any buffs out there!
Atmosphere is a song that has grown on me over the years, maybe not as dynamic as many of the other tracks, but one must stop and pause for breath. The strange thing about atmosphere is its simplicity yet ability to create such a lasting impression on the listener. The miminalist design of the song is countered by eerie teardrop-like keyboards ( My that sounds like a Hannettism!) The listener is asked not "to walk away in silence" as life is rebuilding. This song might be considered to contain, along with Love will tear us apart, Ian Curtis's most biographical lyrics.
Transmission was always a victim of its own success and brilliance. Far too clever to get the airplay it merited and deserved.A brilliant pop record in its own right, commercial radio didnt understand it or didnt have the bottle to give it airplay. The same people many years later were trying to claim credit for breaking Joy Division! Thanks to Tony (thats Wilson not Blackburn!)for keeping the faith.
My guess is that only collectors and original fans will venture into the marketplace to get this "latest" release. I will buy it because it should fit quite nicely with my car cd collection. And any morning I feel the need for some existential/introspective reflection, I have the material available. I remember when we were young!
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The peel sessions make it great, 22 April 2008
If your new to Joy Division then this is a good intro, and with the peel sessions (alone cost double this 2cd comp) chucked in its good value for anyone who hasnt got them already. Thats why I got it!
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12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A wasted opportunity...., 6 May 2008
OK - let's get something out of the way. Joy Division where thee greatest post-punk bands ever. They released two of the best albums ever released by any band. The quality of their music is not under any doubt.
What is under some doubt is the format/point/track listing of this album. London Records have missed a trick here (or they just being cynical?). If it's a "Best of" then that is exactly what it should be. Not an excuse to flog us the Peel sessions (no matter how fine they are). But it isn't a "Best of". How can "Decades" not be included while the likes of "Incubation" is? Where are "The Eternal" and "Heart and Soul"? If fact there's just two tracks from the greatest album of all time?!!?? Less contentious, and more personal opinion, is the lack of much in the way of Still material, such as the very fine "The Only Mistake".
So we still haven't had a definitive "Best of Joy Division". I'm not going to lose any sleep over it, but London Records, shame on you, you have really missed an opportunity here.
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See all 13 tracks on this disc
