The Joy Division Post

I just watched 24 Party People for the 10th time (I like Steve Coogan, Happy Mondays and Joy Division, give me a break) and I realized that the anniversary of Ian Curtis' death was coming up (May 18) and I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to post a little something about perennial fan-favorites; Joy Division.

I'm not going to do a history of the band or Ian Curtis because it is very easy to look that stuff up and many people have done a much better job than I ever could. I like to focus on some of the Joy Division fallout and put a Canadian perspective on it. I think it is a massive understatement to say that Joy Division still has an influence on a lot of modern bands. Toronto band Uncut took some serious crib notes from Joy Division for the band's fantastic debut album Those Who Were Hung Hang Here (2004, Paper Bag) but that is not the most direct Canadian connection. A few bands that you wouldn't expect to be influenced by Joy Division have recorded some interesting covers.

Hawksley Workman did a cover of Joy Division's big hit Love Will Tear Us Apart as a B-side of his Anger is Beauty single (2003). Although LWTUA is the most covered Joy Division song (here is a bad version by the Arcade Fire with Bono trying to throw down) Hawksley puts his own unique spin on the whole love-gone-stale anthem. Hawksley Workman's rescheduled London appearance is on May 14 at the Aeolian Hall. Now you have a request to yell.

Hawksley Workman - Love Will Tear Us Apart From Anger is Beauty 7" (I think this may be unavailable to purchase now)

Vancouver's the Black Halos better known for their punk-influenced love songs, did a cover of Warsaw on their 2001 SubPop release The Violent Years . I love this cover for three reasons 1) Warsaw is my favorite Joy Division song, 2) the Black Halos are one of my favorite Canadian bands and 3) they really rip through on this version, both snotty and angry at the same time. 3-1-G!

Black Halos - Warsaw From The Violent Years (buy at Amazon)

Stephen McBean's Pink Mountaintops did a cover of Atmosphere on their self-titled debut album (2004, Jagjaguar). I think this is would be one of the harder songs to cover because the lyrics make no sense and the song has a very Nico-era Velvet Underground vibe to it. This version is synth-less and includes a rather prominent tambourine. I know what you are thinking "Joy Division weren't about tambourines, man" but maybe they really liked tambourines and just didn't think of it.

Pink Mountaintops - Atmosphere From Pink Mountaintops (buy at Amazon)

Now the disclaimer: these mp3s are for evaluation purposes, if you like it please buy the album and go to the shows. Support Canadian artists.

some links

Joy Division on Wikipedia
Ian Curtis on Wikipedia
Pink Mountaintops/ Black Mountain/ Jerk Wih a Bomb
Black Halos
Hawksley Workman
Sub Pop Records
Jagjaguwar