Customer Reviews

Substance

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Joy Division are one of those bands that will always stay with me. Even though I was rather young when they were actually playing together, I discovered them quite early on in my New Order obsession. That helped me to define both bands, their musical catalogs, as well as their place in my cd collection.

I am reviewing (and recommending) this record because if someone out there wants and introduction to Joy Division, they would be hard-pressed to get a better deal than the well-priced Substance LP. Sure, if you've got the dough go ahead and pony up for the beautifully realized box set (designed by Factory Records mainstay, Peter Saville).

Substance has all the singles that any American has probably heard on any good jukebox. Atmosphere, Love Will Tear Us Apart and She's Lost Control are all here and sound great for a 1988 release. You'll get a better recording on the box set versions, but that's your 60 bucks compared to your 11 bucks. The main draw of substance is, like the box set, the nice mix of tunes from the band's brief and brilliant time together. A task not as easliy done as one might think. Some of the best bits, are earlier, yet rougher tracks like, Warsaw. The band were finding their sound and making new incredible music all at the same time. Later songs, like Love Will Tear Us Apart, are far more polished, and a bit more accessible to the masses, but none-the-less, great. All in all, this is a great addition to any post-punk, brit-punk, alternative, indie music fans' collection. I give it my highest praise, and I think you might too.

I won't say a single word about the emotional weight of Joy Division's music or the impossible burden of Ian Curtis' words; other reviewers do that sort of thing far more justice than I could ever hope. Instead, I want to make some important points for those considering the purchase of Substance:

1.) Substance was not assembled at random. Its logic is actually quite praiseworthy: theoretically this disc is supposed to collect ALL the non-album tracks - songs given to compilations, A-sides, B-sides, and EP tracks - into one place, to function as a companion to Unknown Pleasures and Closer. To that end, NONE of the songs present on this compilation are available on their two regular albums, though two songs are duplicated from the posthumous outtakes album Still ("Glass" and "Dead Souls" - the former is only ho-hum for Joy Division, the latter is a key track, but their inclusion is more justifiable here than it is on that set since both were officially released within the band's working life). People who see "She's Lost Control" on the tracklisting here need to realize that this is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT version than the one on Unknown Pleasures (the boxed set calls it the `12" version'), and it's arguably far superior.

2.) Frustratingly, Substance nevertheless fails at its stated purpose. Now I'm not a pedant - I don't really begrudge the absence of minor tracks like the instrumental "As You Said" or the flexidisc toss-off "Sound Of Music" - but one omission in particular is agonizing: the spectacular, glowing alternate version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" that shared the B-side of the more famous single version of that song with "These Days." It's a gorgeous, poignantly haunting recording (I waver on whether it's superior to the well-known version presented here), and it was even inexcusably excluded from the boxed set (which at the very least ought to have collected all of their officially released work before including outtakes). The only place to find it on CD is the otherwise worthless compilation Permanent.

3.) The sound quality on this CD is really beginning to show its age. My introduction to Joy Division was with the sparkling remastered sound of the Heart And Soul boxed set, and when I happened to hear a friend's version of this disc I was stunned to find out how desiccated and distant the individual CDs sound. I want to make it clear that I'm not a person with impossibly fussy ears, and that I have thousands of CD's worth of experience with remastering before-and-after comparisons, when I say that the difference between the cleaned up version of the Joy Division catalogue available on the boxed set and the versions available on these individual CDs is one of the more pronounced ones still on the market.

4.) As for the contents of album itself, is this where you should begin with Joy Division? I'm not sure. It's ONE possible place, but heaven help you if you begin here and fail to continue onward to Unknown Pleasures and Closer, none of whose songs are found here. I sometimes like to argue that Joy Division's best moments came on their singles and compilation tracks, and that Substance really represents their peak. Given the evidence of formidable tracks like "Digital" and "From Safety To Where...?," the incredible singles "Transmission," "Atmosphere," and "Love Will Tear Us Apart," and their equally impressive B-sides ("Novelty," "Dead Souls," "These Days"), that still seems like a good assessment. But this is only 1/3 of the story, and the real problem is that if you're at all intrigued by this group, you're going to eventually want to buy the "complete studio works" boxed set Heart And Soul. I was lucky enough to have begun there - I took a leap of faith that paid off - but if you buy this CD and are transfixed by it, I would recommend that you do NOT go buy Unknown Pleasures and Closer next (both of which sound equally flakey in their current unremastered CD form) but rather invest in the boxed set and save yourself money that you'd otherwise end up spending anyway.

Pop Kulcher Review: What is amazing about this collection of singles and b-sides is not that it is great, but that it is as good as the band's two official albums (Unknown Pleasures and Closer). Sure, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" has come to be recognized as one of the finest singles of the 1980's, and "Atmosphere" has finally received its due as well. But most of the critical praise lavished on this band is focused on their albums, the breathtakingly intense Unknown Pleasures and the looser, more sprawling follow-up Closer. So it's remarkable that the band's non-album work comes together to form such a solid, cohesive album. You can hear the band move from its ragged, nihilistic punk roots (an early 4-song EP is included here in its entirety, highlighted by the driving "Warsaw" and the catchy but disturbing "No Love Lost") to the almost-ready-for-radio brooding pop exemplified by the afore-mentioned "Love" and "Atmosphere." Along the way we get all sorts of choice nuggets, essential for any fan of the band. So while you should still begin your Joy Division experience with the monumental Unknown Pleasures, Substance is an integral part of the Joy Division body of work. (Only after picking up those two albums and Closer will you want to move on towards the live/studio collection Still, a harsher listen. The "greatest hits" collection Permanent is really unnecessary; Joy Division's dark, moody sound turns off some listeners, so if you like them enough to want to own their work, you won't be satisfied with Permanent's cursory view of the band).

Anything Joy Division gets at least the 4 star rating, in my book. This early retrospective was released shortly after Curtis's legendary suicide- it pulled tracks from all over the place. You get some earlier Warsaw material (No Love Lost, possibly their best early track), some Unknown Pleasures stuff, some Closer stuff, some singles (yes that one hit that everyone knows and loves...) So- If you're pressed for cash but want to delve into the visceral music of Joy Division... this is probably the best starting point, much better than 'Still,' which is recommended only for hard-core purists who want the live stuff on CD.

I'd much, much, much, much, much, MUCH rather you pick up the 4 CD Heart and Soul box set (and some glue to keep it together) and just dive in (you will not regret it!), but I understand if you ain't got the almost 60 $s just lyin around, especially in the ice-age economic climate our generation has inherited.

But this is good. Over fifteen songs for 11 bucks. Some not-so-great stuff on here- Glass and Novelty are as much duds as Curtis and Co. ever got... and some of my personal faves are ommitted- most notably Day of the Lords, Shadowplay (heresy! it was a show staple, great song, lyrically stark- maybe their definitive tune!) and Disorder (my first JD song), but then, in such cases you can't have everything... Take a chance!

When I was a little girl, my Dad would always listen to Joy Division. At the time I was kind of freaked out and I really did not enjoy the music. As I grew older I appreciated the music more and more. The best music evokes memories, be it painful or wonderful. Whenever I hear "She's Lost Control" I am always reminded of one of my close friends and her problems. However the creme de la creme of my Joy Division experience will always be "Love Will Tear Us Apart." As a small child I had no idea how love could tear someone apart and as I grew older, and experienced love for the first time, I finally understood what Ian Curtis was trying to say. What I love about the song was that it could be sung by a man or a woman and have the same emotional power. As a writer I find it interesting how different writing styles between the sexes is so apparent. However the song is so raw and heartfelt I can never listen to it without crying. This review is very biased towards my childhood but I would highly recommend this CD to people who are looking for raw emotion and powerful lyrics.

Substance was the first Joy Division CD I ever bought (around 1990, I believe). What an experience it was. I wanted to have Love will tear us apart on CD off course, like anybody, but I discovered much more (Dead Souls, Atmosphere, She's lost control...). Also the rock songs were appealing, so I went on and discovered their early works (Warsaw, Unknown Pleasures, Closer). Great stuff.

Yes, indeed, there are actually three JD albums that any record collection should have, because you just can't pin the band's music down and get the full retrospective of the group just by purchasing "Closer", "Unknown Pleasures" or "Substance". The first one might is arguably their gloomiest album, and it's also their most consistent work while "Unknown Pleasures" is a not quite so desperate and perhaps a little more accessible. Understandably this album is the least consistent of the three, mainly due to it's collection album format. But what it lacks in consistence it makes up in songs, being the most accessible and versatile of the three. Even though the songs are not in a chronological order you can hear the band's musical evolution from a slightly eccentric punk band into the genius it has become to be known as. Besides the ovbious treats like their singature track "Love Will Tear Us Apart" it offers many less known masterpieces. Highly recommendede, just don't think this gives you the full perspective, since this is just a one side of the cubicle. Or something...

As stated in my title, Substance is indeed a worthy companion piece to Joy Division's two classic, timeless masterpieces: Closer and Unknown Pleasures, and that is about the highest compliment that I can pay this singles collection.

If you're familiar with their two albums (and if you're not, you oughta be!), you may be surprised to find how un-Joy Divisionian this sounds. The sound is still dark and minimalist, but most of these songs (especially the earliest ones) are surprisingly up-tempo and punky. Substance serves as a reminder that yes, Joy Division really did form after seeing the Sex Pistols play, and yes, this is definitely a singles collection. It, of course, doesn't pack the emotional wallop of Closer (as if anything can) or the masterful cohesiveness of Unknown Pleasures, but hey, singles collections aren't supposed to be breathtaking albums. For what it is, Substance is nothing short of top-notch.

The first ten tracks are what truly justify your purchase of Substance. From the stark punk of "Warsaw" and "Digital," to the gorgeous and appropriately titled "Atmosphere," to the classics "Transmission" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart," to the ferociously bleak "Autosuggestion," the main section of Substance covers all of the band's various sounds and styles beautifully. Not enough can ever be said about these songs and their individual significance. Especially notable is that these are, for the most part, songs that were supposed to appeal to the masses, appease radio stations, and "move units" per se. The fact that Joy Division could manage all three while creating true art is only one of the many facets of the band's genius.

The appendix of Substance is mostly made up of more of their earliest, punk-influenced singles. Though mostly fine takes on punk, the songs on the appendix simply can't compare to the first ten. "Failures," a mediocre Damned rip-off, perfectly represents the stale, uninspired side of Joy Division that rarely reared its ugly head, but did so enough.

Don't let some of the filler turn you off to this, though. Substance is absolutely essential for all fans of Joy Division and any form of alternative music (punk, post-punk, indie, etc.), but if you're new to JD, certainly pick up the two albums first.

This collection is the perfect introduction to Joy Division. I might argue that you don't need more than this recording because Joy Division wasn't around long enough to make that much music and this retrospective gathers most of the most memorable and accessible songs from their short career.

Unknown Pleasures and Closer are the ones that always seem to end up of the best albums list but this one seems a better single album to me than either of those. First of all, this one has more music than the others. Secondly, it concentrates on their singles which were the most accessible and most instantly likeable of their recordings. A pretty good dance record too in an alterno goth sort of way. Highlights for me are Warsaw (a wonderfully typical slice of 70s British punk), Digital (a great primitive mosh pit kind of number), She's Lost Control (a gloomy disco classic), the tortured Dead Souls, and the beautiful Atmosphere. All this and Love Will Tear Us Apart, too! This is a must have and you'll love this album even more with time.

This popular retrospective of Joy Division still sounds great even 20 years after the band's tragic ending. Along with Wire, Gang of Four, Throbbing Gristle, Cab Voltaire, PIL and others, Joy Division helped forge the noir underbelly of punk. Many bands still capture their sound today, even after the genre became cliche in the late eighties. Even after scores of lifetime listens, the songs 'Digital', 'She Lost Control, 'Leaders of Men', and 'Love will Tear Us Apart' still get my heart racing. Once I heard their big hit 'Love will Tear Us Apart' in a taxicab in Mexico City. Did it sound out of context in the gritty, carbon-hazed capital? If you've heard this; you know the answer.