Label: RHINO
Rating:

Just in case seeing Anton Corbijn’s Control, the brilliant film biography of Joy Division’s lead singer, Ian Curtis, inspires you to investigate the band’s catalogue, Rhino has reissued the band’s key albums in deluxe two CD sets. The appeal of the band’s trademark taut, spare sound is immediately apparent on the opening track of Unknown Pleasures, “Disorder.” Effortlessly melding punk, Euro rock, and even electronica, the music provides an exquisite back for Ian Curtis’ haunted vocals to ride on top of. This is even more apparent in the band’s live performances, for each set also includes a complete live show, where you can hear how numbers like “She’s Lost Control” and “Transmission” become raging, whirling dervishes of songs, delivered with an intensity by Curtis that’s quite frightening. It’s this underlying rage that keeps Joy Division from being written off as “doom rock,” ironically, the sense of desperation adds an invigorating energy. Unknown Pleasures and Closer fare better as complete albums, for Still was an odds and ends collection assembled after Curtis’ death. Rhino has released the soundtrack to Control as well, which you might want to pick up if you want the studio version of Joy Division’s best known song, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” again, which isn’t on any of the reissues.