Doug Gilmour
Intelligentleman
I've gotten into both of these groups lately and have been debating who I prefer more. This is one of the most extraordinary things I've observed before, in terms of music - the major differences between the two, when they are essentially the same group.
Just some background info for those not "in the know" - Joy Division were one of the more popular post-punk groups coming out of the UK in the late 1970s, along with Gang Of Four, Bauhaus, The Fall, et. al. Their music was very dreary, bleak, gloomy, and to many - depressing. Ian Curtis, their vocalist who was responsible for much of the aforementioned qualities, was an epileptic and had other various troubles, eventually he hung himself in 1980, just before their hit album Closer was released and garnered great sales and reviews, and just after the band had released what would eventually become their most popular track and one of the most popular singles ever, in 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.
After Curtis died the band closed up, but re-emerged as New Order later that year. Though early New Order tried to emulate Joy Division (mainly Curtis' qualities) they began to move towards the ever-popular new wave genre, but added dance-like qualities to it. 'Blue Monday' was a hit come 1983 and became the best-selling 12" single, ever. Continually moving towards a sort of electronica/house group through the 1980s, New Order eventually released Technique in 1989, which was a full-fledged dance/house album, but not before releasing other great albums such as Power, Corruption, & Lies, and Low-Life. Technique is among my favourite albums of the 1980s and NO's most successful among critics. Though not quite as active in the 1990s, they did release Republic in 1993, which was also highly successful.
Now, what amazes me most is the transition of the group from gloomy and "depressing" post-punk featured in Closer and Unknown Pleasures to such a lighter, more "enjoyable" group in the mid-1980s, to such an upbeat, catchy, and danceable group featured in the late 1980s. Especially when you consider the band was confronted with Curtis' disastrous situation and eventual death. I'd probably go with New Order as my favourite between the two, but both have really grown on me lately, and so has the entire decade of the 1980s.
Thoughts? I'm interested in hearing what others have to say regarding the two.
-Dan
Just some background info for those not "in the know" - Joy Division were one of the more popular post-punk groups coming out of the UK in the late 1970s, along with Gang Of Four, Bauhaus, The Fall, et. al. Their music was very dreary, bleak, gloomy, and to many - depressing. Ian Curtis, their vocalist who was responsible for much of the aforementioned qualities, was an epileptic and had other various troubles, eventually he hung himself in 1980, just before their hit album Closer was released and garnered great sales and reviews, and just after the band had released what would eventually become their most popular track and one of the most popular singles ever, in 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.
After Curtis died the band closed up, but re-emerged as New Order later that year. Though early New Order tried to emulate Joy Division (mainly Curtis' qualities) they began to move towards the ever-popular new wave genre, but added dance-like qualities to it. 'Blue Monday' was a hit come 1983 and became the best-selling 12" single, ever. Continually moving towards a sort of electronica/house group through the 1980s, New Order eventually released Technique in 1989, which was a full-fledged dance/house album, but not before releasing other great albums such as Power, Corruption, & Lies, and Low-Life. Technique is among my favourite albums of the 1980s and NO's most successful among critics. Though not quite as active in the 1990s, they did release Republic in 1993, which was also highly successful.
Now, what amazes me most is the transition of the group from gloomy and "depressing" post-punk featured in Closer and Unknown Pleasures to such a lighter, more "enjoyable" group in the mid-1980s, to such an upbeat, catchy, and danceable group featured in the late 1980s. Especially when you consider the band was confronted with Curtis' disastrous situation and eventual death. I'd probably go with New Order as my favourite between the two, but both have really grown on me lately, and so has the entire decade of the 1980s.
Thoughts? I'm interested in hearing what others have to say regarding the two.
-Dan
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