Getting into post-punk? If you’re starting to explore this very broad and somewhat vague genre, you’ve probably stumbled upon Joy Division already. Fronted by Ian Curtis, Joy Division was a pioneering band in British post-punk and is still deeply revered today. From their glittering musicality to Curtis’ arresting and introspective lyrics, Joy Division’s discography is the kind of thing you can listen to over and over again and still find fresh interest in it all. Let’s look at just a couple of essential Joy Division songs!
1. “Disorder”
This track from Joy Division’s iconic 1979 album Unknown Pleasures opens the record up beautifully. “Disorder” is, surprisingly, a very dance-friendly track. That baseline is a delight, and the way Stephen Morris drums on this song is energetic and almost aggressive. Considering the song’s lyrics are about Curtis’ bouts of depression and epilepsy, it’s not exactly surprising that this song is so unrelenting and passionate.
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2. “Twenty Four Hours”
This essential Joy Division song comes from the 1980 album Closer. This is a classic Joy Division track with all the hallmark elements that made the band as legendary as they are today: Depressing lyrics, visceral themes, and bleak guitar riffs.
3. “Atmosphere”
“Atmosphere” shows the band at the very top of their game. It’s also a devastating song in a way, considering it was released weeks before Ian Curtis took his own life in 1980.
The song was played on the radio by John Peel after the announcement of Curtis’ demise, and it’s a painfully apt song for such a heartbreaking occasion. It’s one of Joy Division’s most atmospheric tracks, complete with Bernard Sumner’s glittering synths. “Walk in silence / Don’t walk away, in silence” hits you like a brick.
4. “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
This is probably the most essential Joy Division song out there, considering it’s their (more or less) most well-known song. “Love Will Tear Us Apart” was released after Curtis’ death and has become even bigger than the man and the band themselves. “Love Will Tear Us Apart” is a definitive song of the early 1980s, and it was also the band’s very first charting hit.
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