Top 10 Joy Division Covers
Joy Division has been a very influential band, for a lot of artists from different musical horizons. Therefore they have been covered a lot of times by very different artists (from Paul Young to Moonspell!!!!), and as a "fan" of Joy Division I came across a lot of cover versions. So here is my top 10 list, out of some 30 cover versions I know. It has been written to be read from 10 to 1. |
| 1 | Low
Transmission
Low is another "slowcore" band, from Minnesota. Ironically (like Year of no light) they have also slowed a lot the original song (maybe the key to do a good JD covers), and if you know Transmission you know it's a very rythmic song, which makes this one even more interesting. Low turned the song into pure melancholy, changing completely the original feeling. It's really unbelievable to discover that Transmission had this uneard side full of soft, silk, sunny sadness (well there are words that came to my mind listening to it!). |
| 2 | Year of no light
Disorder
Year of no light is a French Post-Metal band. Here they slowed a lot the song and add shoegaze/metal effect. It turns out to be more massive and darker than the Joy Division version. The voice is also interesting. |
| 3 | Bush
In a lonely place
Top 3 now! In a lonely place has also been recorded by New Order but it's Ian Curtis lyrics, so it's pretty much a Joy Division song. You may not know the original, but you don't need it as Bush (english post grunge band) have turned it into a masterpiece. The feeling is not the same at all, here it's warm and calm but still a vague reminiscence of sadness. This song has been used on The Crow soundtrack. |
| 4 | Codeine
Atmosphere
Codeine is a "slowcore" (understand rock played very slow) band from New York. They've chosen an already slow song, and they have slowed it a bit more, but the interesting part here is that they really emphasized the melancholic aspect, it turns out to be very epic and emotional. |
| 5 | Xiu Xiu
Ceremony
Xiu Xiu is an avant garde rock band from California, they covered Ceremony, a song which has never been recorded by Joy Division (New Order did) but they played it live. Here they transform a rather light (though melancholic) feeling into something totally sick and tortured. The way they made it sound dissonant is also interesting. |
| 6 | Moby
New Dawn Fades
If you thought Moby is only about Techno, you're wrong. And if you thought he cannot scream, you're wrong. Some of you may consider this cover the best but I still think it is too close to the original, and I prefer the Joy Division version here again (well it's my favorite JD song anyway)! |
| 7 | Alive she Died
She's lost Control
Alive she Died is a Greek band. Their cover is very different from the original, the use of keyboards get our attention more than the famous bass guitare line. Moreover the voice is totally different but as sincere as Ian Curtis's. The rythm is less obvious, and the overall feeling pretty different also. |
| 8 | Nine Inch Nails
Dead Souls
I assume everybody knows NIN... I think their cover of Dead Souls is pretty good as they modernized the sound into a kind of a Electro/Metal one. But not only I prefer the original, because of the bass, but I think NIN didn't tried to really change anything as far as the feeling, the tempo or the melody is concerned. Still, it's a good song and Reznor's vocals are intense. |
| 9 | Procesion
Insight
This one is on the "Transmitiendo desde america del sur tributo a joy division", a tribute by south american bands. Procesion is a Darkwave/Electro band, it sounds like Cocteau twins (garland times) playing Insight. |
| 10 | Neurosis
Day of the Lord
For those who don't know it, Neurosis is a Metal, even post-Metal band from California. They covered Joy Division at the very beginnig of their career, before recording what made them famous, therefore, even if it's an interesting cover it doesn't feature a lot of creativity, just the original but more metal, I especially like the last "Where will it end" scream. |
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