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THE REVIEW
It's 1977, and punk, with its parade of colored mohawks and studs, has now invaded the world. The Sex Pistols are icons like the Madonna, and many young people, even without the slightest musical preparation, start a band and begin to spit out the disgust that they have inside.
It's in this scenario of "pure" revolution that Joy Division (initially known as Warsaw) make their debut on the music scene. Their sound initially is aligned with the "three chords three" style of bands like the Buzzcocks, but it will soon undergo a radical change, laying the foundations for what will later become the dark movement: obsessive and primitive rhythms, haunting chords, and Ian Curtis's frightening lyrics seasoning it all. They release their first album in 1979, "Unknown Pleasures," earning good public and critical acclaim. They start a tour around Europe, but Ian Curtis increasingly falls victim to severe epileptic seizures and often collapses on stage. "The great evil" (as Curtis describes his epilepsy), compounded by the stress of success, intensifies, exhausting him physically and mentally. So Ian retreats more into himself and writes the lyrics for the new album. But shortly before its release, he hangs himself at the age of 23, tired of that evil that had tormented him since childhood.
The album in question is "Closer": an absolute masterpiece of dark. It contains gems such as "Atrocity Exhibition", "Heart And Soul", and "Decades"... but it is limiting to mention just a few titles. The album must be evaluated as a whole, as a document of Ian Curtis's inner torment, and of an entire generation of "young men with a burden on their shoulders", as the opening of the concluding "Decades" states. A burden that forces them to walk with their heads down, like dejected puppets...
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Summary by Bot
In the late 1970s punk era, Joy Division emerged with a revolutionary sound that evolved into the foundation of dark post-punk. 'Closer,' their second album, embodies the inner torment of frontman Ian Curtis and marks a poignant document of a generation's emotional burden. The album is praised as a masterpiece, featuring iconic tracks like 'Atrocity Exhibition' and 'Decades.' It reflects both Curtis's personal pain and the cultural moment of its time.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English post-punk band formed in the late 1970s (Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris). They released two studio albums, Unknown Pleasures (1979) and Closer (1980). After the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis in May 1980 the remaining members later formed New Order.43 Reviews
Other reviews
By TenshiSell
Ian Curtis was about to become a living legend. He lucidly chose to limit himself to being a legend.
You collapse to the ground, a scream frees you from a burden.
By Mr.Moustache
It is 1980. Punk is dying and with it the little good music ... when suddenly, in less than a year, an album is about to change the course of contemporary music forever.
The glacial beauty of the album is indisputable due to the ruthless sincerity it suggests.
By andrea biacca
"Closer" is a journey made of nightmares, sadness, physical and mental stimulations; the musical transposition of the agony of the most charismatic leader rock has ever had: Ian Curtis.
All we have left is to listen to this musical masterpiece and appreciate its excellent craftsmanship, both in terms of lyrics and harmonies.
By COX
Closer is the testament in which Curtis invites us to explore the roots of his illness and his apathy towards life.
Joy Division has the power to tear you apart, to gradually consume you with their melody that backs you against the wall and forces you to face reality for what it is.
By darkfall
‘Closer’ is a truly difficult album to classify, but probably not to understand... I personally prefer to classify it as dark, just dark and nothing more.
‘The Eternal’ is a funeral march, accompanying Ian Curtis on his last journey... the heart is now definitively burned but the soul is still here.
