Brilliant Legacy

Rating: Null/10 (27 April 2010)

***I posted this review also as a posting on a general thread.***
Though I was somewhat aware of their music and of the band as a whole, Joy Division, always existed somewhere at the periphery of my consciousness.
Then, a few weeks ago I walked into a record store (yeah I still enjoy buying CD's/albums) my eyes fell on "The Best Of Joy Division", and that was that. Ever since I bought it, I cannot stop playing it. I can't describe the music, the one word that comes to mind is amazing. The sound is so mesmerizing and engaging, the instrumental arrangements, the lyrics, Ian Curtis's voice, the rhythm, beats,the talent of each band member, Stephen Morris, Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner etc. etc. etc.
Joy Division is like a drug, and the more you taste the more you want to taste, thereby creating an insatiable appetite that cannot ever be satisfied!
Though Joy Division was active only for a short time, (1976-1980) and their body of work is quite brief and not as voluminous as other bands that came together during those years, the influence and impact of Joy Division on music is in my opinion groundbreaking, monumental and unique.
I think that even during those days their sound was so complex and ahead of its time, that most people did not know what to do with it. People were unsure of the music of Joy Division, could not peg it to a style or classify it! Even now their sound is far ahead by leaps and bounds, and the sheer complexity of the music will assign a timeless and immortal quality to it, which will in turn ensure an always vibrant continuity to their musical legacy.
The influence of Joy Division is so deep and far reaching, that it is sometimes hard to quantify and qualify. It extends from Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode and The Cure (as well as virtually every band which comprised the post-punk New Wave movement) to U2, Coldplay, Keane and The Killers who also incidentally contributed their version of Joy Division's "Shadowplay" on the movie's soundtrack and their own compilation "Sawdust". These are but a few of the bands and musicians that can attribute their inspiration to Joy Division. At least Bono and U2 are graceful enough to acknowledge how much they owe to Joy Division (read the group's biography "U2" by U2).
Honestly, looking at some of today's musicians and bands (I shall not name any out of respect for Joy Division), they should be ashamed to call themselves that, they should kiss the ground the walk on a give thanks to the heavens each and every day for their existence, because when compared with Joy Division they are nothing but a bunch of talentless hacks!!!!
I wish Joy Division had more time to evolve, grow and reach the full potential that the band could have. Still even with the bits and pieces of their creativity out there, the brilliance of what hey achieved is unmistakable.