* in stock
CD: 3984 28222-2
RELEASE DATE: 1985/1992
LABEL: London
01. Exercise One
02. Ice Age
03. The Sound of Music
04. Glass
05. The Only Mistake
06. Walked in Line
07. The Kill
08. Something Must Break
09. Dead Souls
10. Sister Ray
11. Ceremony
12. Shadowplay
13. Means to an End
14. Passover
15. New Dawn Fades
16. Transmission
17. Disorder
18. Isolation
19. Decades
20. Digital
Just as Impressionists altered the conventional wisdom of how art can be expressed on canvas, Joy Division introduced unconventional yet surpassing artistic arrangements in the musical medium that spawned a comparable revolution in the music industry. Their sound of the late 1970's, well represented on this long compilation of outtakes and live performances (nearly 80 minutes in length), was the perfect transition from the charged punk and Madchester scenes to the more sophisticated and inspiring sounds of new wave. This transition is perceptible with the progression of each track: starting from the experimental "Exercise One" and the aggressive (as well as danceable) "Ice Age," to their influential classics "Transmission" and "Isolation." You will also notice that many of the songs embellish dark themes, impeccably demonstrating the downward emotional spiral of lead singer Ian Curtis. You can almost hear him crying out for help, desperately struggling with his depression; it was a battle he would eventually succumb to, a tragic fate that only serves to intensify one's wonder of the musical possibilities he would have reached had his life not come to an untimely end. Admittedly, this compilation is more for the seasoned Joy Division and New Order fans. A better introduction for the new listener would be their studio album "Closer," or their definitive single "Love Will Tear Us Apart." My personal favorites from "Still" are "The Sound of Music," "Walked in Line," and "Ceremony" (even with its poor technical quality). As I've said before, you will not get lavish or crisp sounds typical of radio friendly bands with huge studio production budgets, but you will get an outpouring of honest, raw emotion and rich musical textures, which is what Joy Division was all about. It's an experience not to be missed.
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