Customer Reviews

Means to an End: Music of Joy Division

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Going up against the mythology and spectre of Joy Division is no small feat, and while the results are not necessarily essential to your CD collection there are some noteworthy moments on this disc and some downright excellent versions of JD tracks, like Low's lovely and stately take on "Transmission" which transforms Ian Curtis's dour post-punk delivery into a floating, haunting lullabye duet.

4AD artist Kendra Smith takes "Heart And Soul" to a dark and moody dancefloor, perhaps one where Laurie Anderson might go on Halloween? Virtually unknown band Further opens up the arrangement of "Insight" just a bit, but in a successful way that almost makes me prefer it to the insular track on the peerless Unknown Pleasures. Moby's interpretation of "New Dawn Fades" grasps the claustrophobia of the song while maybe veering a bit close to arena rock, while Tortoise's understated instrumental "As You Said" drifts by, not nearly as insistent or brash as the hard-wired early electronica of the original. Versus manages to capture and highlight the catharsis implied in the original of "Twenty Four Hours" while throwing in a girl-boy harmony to boot. Definitive slow-core band Codeine gives us a rather perfect, icy reading of "Atmosphere" which somehow transports the song from gray, industrial Manchester to the gray, industrial American Midwest.

A few of these tracks (Moby and Low, notably) have been released elsewhere, making this one for completists only, however for all of the flaws and ham-fisted covers of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" found on A Means To An End, its earnestness is not in dispute, and a band more challenging (and worthy!) to pay tribute to would be hard to find.

The cover of "Transmission" by Low is worth the entire CD. Hardcore Joy Division fans might not appreciate the styles on the CD, but heck doesn't that happen with ALL tribute CDs? You should seek out tributes NOT based on who the bands pay homage to, but what bands happen to be on the CD. Fans of the bands Versus, Girls Against Boys, Moby and Face to Face won't be disappointed! I know I wasn't. I find myself listening to this CD all the time, plus it inspired me to learn Low's version of "Transmission" on acoustic guitar. *gasp*

i love joy division (have 8 cds) and i love means to an end. i think any real fan will enjoy hearing these versions. the first reviewer is right, low's version of transmission alone makes this worth having.

very enjoyable-- no major complaints. too bad it's outta print....

Yes, overall this collection is not very good. But I do think the first two tracks are at least interesting covers.

But my big disagreement with the other reviewer here is regarding Moby's cover of New Dawn Fades.I think it's great. Yes, it's different from the original, but it definitely captures the anguish and frustration. It is just as strong and overwhelming as the Joy Division version. I would have assumed that all JD fans liked the Moby track.

Do not buy this album. I like the idea of tributes, but everything on this album is awful(except Tortise performing As You Said--that gets 5 stars).
Girls Against Boys doing She's Lost Control--I like it, but it's so far from the orginal. You'll like it too if you like the sound of Cheesy Alternative-Pop. Give the band a chance for their own work--they really are great.
Honeymoon Stitch with Day Of The Lords--I don't care for the Vocals at all, the bass is way too reserved, the guitar(Dave Navarro) is practically the same as the original. But the Drumming of Chad Smith rips--he steals the show here, but still he doesn't out-shine Stephen Morris.
Moby with New Dawn Fades--Well, picture a plastic replica of the original with boring vocals, a drum machine, an almost non-existent bass, and ...guitar leads all over the place. Keep trying Moby, you blew it with this one.
Face To Face is still the worst band ever, this only further proves their lack of any mentality and musical craft/skill.
The cover of Warsaw is a pathetic joke.
Kendra Smith on Heart and Soul is alright, it passes the time I guess.
And back to Tortise with As You Said--I love that, 5 stars for them.
The rest is really unlistenable and so pointless to even compare with Joy Division...