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Rating: Many adjectives have been used to describe the music of Joy Division: alienating, hallucinatory, gloomy, distorted, among many others. Yet there is no definition that can truly encapsulate the music of the Manchester quartet. The most sensible thing to do is listen to their two studio albums, and "Still" to realize how fundamental and influential they have been for generations of young and tragic indie bands that followed. That said, here's a rough attempt to review one of my favorite bands, if not the one I absolutely love the most.
This anthology is divided into two parts (and is double in the vinyl version): in the first, we find rarities and assorted tracks like "Ice Age", which I must admit scared me almost like the soundtrack to a horror movie the first time I heard it, and "Dead Souls", with its long instrumental intro dominated by guitar slashes and the metronomic nature of the rhythm section (THAT drum.....! it sounds like it was recorded in an empty warehouse, and I like to think so). Also making a good impression is the lengthy live cover of "Sister Ray" by the Velvet Underground, which leads to the second part of the work: the live part. The multiple facets of Our Guys' volcanic performances are recreated in the rather good quality recording of the last concert before the tragic death of Ian Curtis, on May 2, 1980, at the Grand Hall of the University of Birmingham.
It starts with a frantic "Ceremony", extended to the limit due to issues with the vocal system, and continues with "Shadowplay" and "New Dawn Fades", among others, supported by Peter Hook's bass with surgical precision, culminating in a scream-worthy "Transmission", punctuated by Ian's low and unsettling vocals, which in the final part, explode, as if he had barely held himself back until then. Not to forget "Isolation", where Bernard Sumner appears in the unprecedented role of keyboardist. In short, it's certainly not an album for completists: the Joy Division b-sides had nothing to envy of the other, so to speak, "official" tracks, and indeed, the live recorded part makes it an excellent introduction for those who want to get closer to this stunning post-punk combo.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Exercise One (03:08)
When you're looking at life,
In a strange new room,
Maybe drowning soon,
Is this the start of it all?
Turn on your TV,
Turn down your pulse,
Turn away from it all,
It's all getting too much.
When you're looking at life,
Deciphering scars,
Just who fooled who,
Sit still in their cars,
The lights look bright,
When you reach outside,
Time for one last ride,
Before the end of it all.
02 Ice Age (02:27)
I've seen the real atrocities, buried in the sand
Stockpiled safety for a few, while we stand holding hands
I'm living in the ice age
I'm living in the ice age
Nothing will hold, nothing will fit
Into the cold, it's not an eclipse
Living in the ice age
Living in the ice age
Living in the ice age
Searching for another way, see them hide behind the door
Live in holes and disused shafts, hopes for little more
I'm living in the ice age
I'm living in the ice age
Nothing will hold, nothing will fit
Into the cold, no smile on your lips
Living in the ice age
Living in the ice age
Living in the ice age
04 Glass (03:59)
Hearts fail
Young hearts fail
Anytime -- Prussurised
Overheat -- Overtired
Take it quick -- take it neat
clasp your hands, touch your feet
take it quick, take it neat, take it quick, take it neat
Hearts fail
Young hearts fail
Anytime -- whereabouts
On the Run -- Underground
Put your hand where its safe, lay your hand where its safe
do it again, do it again again again again do it again, again, again, do it again and again!
Anytime thats your right
dont ya wish we do it again?
Overheat -- Overtired
dont ya wish we do it again?
dont ya wish we do it again?
dont ya wish we do it again?
Anytime thats your right
dont ya wish we do it again?
Anytime that your right
dont ya wish we do it again?
dont ya wish we do it again?
Bet ya wish we do it again?
do it agian
do it again
do it again!
05 The Only Mistake (04:18)
Made the fatal mistake,
Like I did once before,
A tendency just to take,
Til the purpose turned sour,
Strain, take the strain, these days we love,
Strain, take the strain, these days we love.
Yeah, the only mistake was that you ran away,
Avenues lined with trees, strangled words for the day,
Yeah, the only mistake, like I made once before,
Yeah, the only mistake, could have made it before.
Strain, take the strain, these days we love,
Strain, take the strain, these days we love.
And the only mistake, led to rumours unfound,
Led to pressures unknown, different feelings and sounds,
Yeah, the only mistake, like I made once before,
Yeah, the only mistake, could have made it before.
06 Walked in Line (02:48)
All dressed in uniforms so fine,
They drank and killed to pass the time,
Wearing the shame of all their crimes,
With measured steps, they walked in line.
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line.
They carried pictures of their wives,
And numbered tags to prove their lives,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line.
Full of a glory never seen,
They made it through the whole machine,
To never question anymore,
Hypnotic trance, they never saw,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
They walked in line,
Walked in line,
Walked in line.
07 The Kill (02:17)
Life can be for you, good things are nice.
Trusting on you, really no threats.
The way to get through, deciphering the scars.
Just a far glow, sit still in their cars.
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill.
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill.
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill.
I can smell through, you're talking's a lie.
They turn out to you, before say "Die!".
Wrapped in your trunk, to reach out the same case.
So I can detect, no longer mistaking.
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill.
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill.
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill.
Dangerous cues, set by distraction.
Deprived of all use, nor in satisfaction.
Total destruction, the worst ever met.
Kept in apartment, sublimely fought you.
Who's gone there backstage, to keep you in rock ?
Who's got the vision, that puts at no odds ?
Loss of all resource, falls up to your head.
Just that it was, whacked into the air.
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill.
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill.
It's another, 'nother, 'nother, 'nother kill.
Kill, huh.
Ha, ha.
08 Something Must Break (02:50)
To waste and choose or raise the dead
With pain behind go straight ahead
Room full of people grouping
as one
I can't break out now
the time just won't come
To waste and choose which way to go
Decide for me please let me know
Looked in the mirror
saw I was wrong
If I could get back to - where I belong
To waste and choose which way to go
I paused for one
whom signs forbode
If we were immortal we would not bear
Washed up on the beat here
Struggle for air
I see you face still in my window
Tormented clouds won't set me free
Something must break now -
this life isn't mine
Something must break now -
wait for the time
09 Dead Souls (04:56)
Someone take these dreams away
That point to me another day
A dual of personalities
That stretch all true reality
And they keep calling me, they keep calling me
Keep on calling me, they keep on calling me
When figures from the past stand tall
And mocking voices ring the hall
Imperialistic house of prayer
Conquistadores who took their share
And keep on calling me, they keep calling me
Keep on calling me, they keep calling me
Calling me - calling me - calling me - calling me
They keep calling me, keep on calling me
They keep calling me, they keep calling me
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Other reviews
By Taxirider
Joy Division was indeed a product of their time, but they had the great merit of opening perceptive slits beyond the space-time dimension.
The laconic 'Thank you, good night,' which Curtis addresses to the audience after the last notes of 'Digital,' is chilling.
