r/JoyDivision • u/AzureNoiz • 2d ago
Unknown Pleasures -> New Order Substance?
Not a fan of JD or NO currently, but plan to be in about an hour or so LOL. I have both of these albums on vinyl in my “need to listen” section, and I recently learned the history that connects these two bands together (I.e. they’re composed of mostly the same people). Would listening to these both for the first time as a double header, without listening to either band previously, be a good/bad idea to get first exposure to both bands?
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u/_JediJon 2d ago
Not at all. Unknown Pleasures is a masterpiece. Substance is a beautiful transition and probably an easier entry point than Movement.
If you enjoy what you hear on Substance, give Power Corruption and Lies a listen, then Movement, or vice-versa. It depends on what you gravitate towards more in Joy Division’s sound I would think.
If you enjoy the gritty, tense, industrial dysphoria of Unknown Pleasures, go with Movement. If you enjoy the rhythm, vibe, and emergence of Substance, go with Power Corruption and Lies.
Just my opinion, of course. Enjoy 🖤
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u/Fabulous_Operation_9 2d ago edited 2d ago
You should of got their second album Closer then their Substance album. Fully immerse yourself in Joy Division because New Order is so different than Joy Division with their own myth and style.
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u/fluxus2000 2d ago
Substance is a legendary record, even though it is a compilation, as it gives a great sense of the band's early years. But I would suggest listening to their Power Corruption and Lies album afterwards.
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u/oatbergen 2d ago
It’s how I did it. Went to tower records to get Substance because NO had a big hit in the mid 80’s. Saw Substance by JD in the shelf next to NO. Thought is was weird two bands would have the same name for an album so I picked it up. Best happy accident I ever made. Listened to JD in the car ride home and by the time I got home I became a fan. Still prefer JD to NO (no shade just my taste).
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u/mchammy 2d ago
I’m of the opinion that New Order’s Movement album is the essential transition between Joy Division and New Order and ideally should not be missed.
Unknown pleasures being the first Joy Division album. Then Closer.
Power Corruption and Lies is the first true New Order album.
I guess if you were starting off the compilation route as an introduction, both Joy Division and New Order have a “Substance” album compilation.
But really, it’s all good however you approach it. I knew New Order before Joy Division.
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u/mournblade1066 1d ago
What? Power, Corruption, and Lies is New Order's second album. Movement is their first.
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u/mchammy 1d ago
Technically, yes. Movement is first NO release. I should have put “true” in quotations.
Because what I’m trying to say is that Power Corruption and Lies is the first album that truly represents New Order as a new band.
Movement was more like JD album minus Ian. They had not figured out their new direction yet. They didn’t have that new musical voice that was free and clear of Ian’s influence.
Movement is still one of my favorite albums to date. But it’s a bit of an orphan. Not really JD and not really NO. A temporary transition.
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u/PalladianPorches 1d ago
i’d recommend NO first if you dont have a predisposition to either band. JD contains a lot of progress tracks that show how they grew from punks to musicians and then artists, whereas NO substance shows the peak production and songwriting capability.
tldr: JD: raw, NO: saccarine.
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u/Smartaleci 2d ago
That’s so exciting! Enjoy. Also, like someone else mentioned, definitely listen to CLOSER as well. Joy Division is amazing and New Order is great. 🫶
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u/Content-Barnacle7986 1d ago
Las dos obras son excelentes y suenan geniales.
It's great that you've read up on the history of those creations.
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u/kgunnar 2d ago
Substance is basically a greatest hits albums and Unknown Pleasures is one of just 2 albums they released, so you’re going to get a pretty good idea of what they’re about.