Search - Joy Division :: Best of Joy Division

Introduction for the casual (?) Joy Division fan

Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 07/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Music: 5 Stars... Compilation: 3 Stars



On the heels of the DVD releases of the Ian Curtis bio-pic "Control" and the "Joy Division" documentary, the band is going through yet another re-evauation phase, both critically and commercially. (I hadn't listend to my "Heart and Soul" box-set in quite a while, but did so immediately after having seen "Control".) There are a lot of compilations on Joy Division, but none recently, and none that simply aimed to give "the best of" to the casual fan, if there is such one. This compilation is supposed to correct that.



"The Best of Joy Division" (14 tracks, 55 min.) brings a non-chronological overview of the band's best known tracks and other assorted album tracks. There is of course the inescapable (even if in my opinion overplayed and perhaps even overrated) "Love Will Tear Us Apart", as well as "She's Lost Control", "Atmosphere" and "Transmission", those 4 being the band's best known tracks (don't call them greatest hits!). The rest is made up fairly evenly from "Unknown Pleasures" and "Closer" (the band's 2 studio albums), as well as "Substance", a 1988 compilation. The quality of the songs on here is nothing short of fantastic.



That said, my biggest complaint with this "best of" collection is that, at a mere 55 min., there was room for at least 20 min. more music on here. Why is nothing included from "An Ideal for Living" (the band's first EP, from June '78), such as "Leaders of Men", an essential song in their catalog? Where are other must-have tracks like "A Means to an End", "Atrocity Exhibiton" or "Novelty"? Given the way this compilation is put together, it appers to me that this is stricly aimed at the casual Joy Division fan (if there is such a thing.. I've never met one). The music is great, but the compilation is not."

3 Stars ONLY because there are better collections out there.

Robert Alan Bryan | Waldorf, Maryland USA | 07/03/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There are better previous collections than this single disc.

The description refers to the UK edition. There is no bonus disc with the US set sold here.

How can someone sell a Joy Division "best of" and not include the song "Novelty"?

"Glass" and "Atrocity Exhibition" should also be on here.

"Incubation" is a fair instrumental.

If nothing else why not include the 12" mix of "She's Lost Control".?

Joy Division is a great band and I am pleased to see them championed now though I have been a fan since Unknown Pleasures.

I just wish that they were represented by a more superior "best of" than this.

"

BE AWARE: no bonus disc on US version!!!

acumen pro | New York, NY | 05/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The "Product Description" lists this as a Limited 2-CD edition, but that's only for the UK version, which is more $. It's a great collection nonetheless, recommended for anyone who doesn't have anything by this seminal band. Also check the film CONTROL, & the new documentary about them by Grant Gee."