Hondoboot2
QUAESTOR PULCHRITUDINIS
Today, May 18th, I will play the Joy Division albums, "Unknown Pleasures", "Closer", "Still", and numerous live albums, as I have tried to do every May 18th, as my little tribute to my favorite band. For on May 18, 1980 this band ceased to exist. It was on this day that lead singer and songwriter, Ian Curtis tragically decided to end his life. The remaining band members would regroup as New Order and conquer the world.
Joy Division changed my life like no other band. There are people who say their music is too dark and depressing, and warn not to listen to their music if you are depressed, or you might commit suicide, I am not one of them. I find the music dark, but strangely beautiful. To me, their music is a search for beauty in an otherwise cruel and cold world. There is a reason I placed their final album "Closer" number one on my top 20 favorite albums list that I posted back in February . Not only do I rate this album as number one in my book for artistic reasons, but it also is number one to me for personal reasons.
Back when I was in my early twenties I went through a period of depression. My girlfriend at the time, who suffered from epilepsy, had a fatal seizure one night. We had been on a date that night, and I drove her home, kissed her goodnight, and told her I would pick her up in the morning to go swimming. I returned the next day to find out she had died just a few hours after I dropped her off. I went through a period of depression, even had thoughts of suicide. Well, a few weeks later I received a call from the record store where I had ordered a copy of "Closer". I had to order it because it was an import. That album soothed my pain. I know it sounds stupid, but it did, and to this day it is my absolute favorite album. If I could only take one album to the proverbial " Island" this is the one I would take.
I had ordered "Closer" because I just loved their first album. I knew Ian had committed suicide just before the release of "Closer", but I just had to have a copy. I was hooked the very first time I placed the needle on side 1 of "Unknown Pleasures", and the first cords of "Disorder" started to play. I knew instantly I had stumbled onto something special. Sure, there are other bands that featured technically better musicians, but very few bands had the passion, the heart and soul, like this band did.
The music was real, heartfelt, soulful, with real passion in every song. I have everything they recorded, even numerous live bootlegs, and I can honestly state, there is not a bad song to be found. The only band close for me is the Doors. I literally have thousands of albums, from various genres, and my Joy Division collection is my most treasured collection. If I had to, I would part with everything except the Joy Division albums. This is no joke, if my house was on fire, I saving them. I have heard every song hundreds of times, and I still get excited to hear them again, I never get tired of them.
Well I know this is a long winded post, but since I love music so much, and I am sure there are other members who also share a great love for music, I just wanted to share my feelings about the great band Joy Division., on this day, May 18. A day I will always remember.
RIP Ian Curtis. Someday I will make the trip overseas and pay my proper respects to his resting place in Macclesfield Cemetery. It is at the top of my bucket list.
Joy Division changed my life like no other band. There are people who say their music is too dark and depressing, and warn not to listen to their music if you are depressed, or you might commit suicide, I am not one of them. I find the music dark, but strangely beautiful. To me, their music is a search for beauty in an otherwise cruel and cold world. There is a reason I placed their final album "Closer" number one on my top 20 favorite albums list that I posted back in February . Not only do I rate this album as number one in my book for artistic reasons, but it also is number one to me for personal reasons.
Back when I was in my early twenties I went through a period of depression. My girlfriend at the time, who suffered from epilepsy, had a fatal seizure one night. We had been on a date that night, and I drove her home, kissed her goodnight, and told her I would pick her up in the morning to go swimming. I returned the next day to find out she had died just a few hours after I dropped her off. I went through a period of depression, even had thoughts of suicide. Well, a few weeks later I received a call from the record store where I had ordered a copy of "Closer". I had to order it because it was an import. That album soothed my pain. I know it sounds stupid, but it did, and to this day it is my absolute favorite album. If I could only take one album to the proverbial " Island" this is the one I would take.
I had ordered "Closer" because I just loved their first album. I knew Ian had committed suicide just before the release of "Closer", but I just had to have a copy. I was hooked the very first time I placed the needle on side 1 of "Unknown Pleasures", and the first cords of "Disorder" started to play. I knew instantly I had stumbled onto something special. Sure, there are other bands that featured technically better musicians, but very few bands had the passion, the heart and soul, like this band did.
The music was real, heartfelt, soulful, with real passion in every song. I have everything they recorded, even numerous live bootlegs, and I can honestly state, there is not a bad song to be found. The only band close for me is the Doors. I literally have thousands of albums, from various genres, and my Joy Division collection is my most treasured collection. If I had to, I would part with everything except the Joy Division albums. This is no joke, if my house was on fire, I saving them. I have heard every song hundreds of times, and I still get excited to hear them again, I never get tired of them.
Well I know this is a long winded post, but since I love music so much, and I am sure there are other members who also share a great love for music, I just wanted to share my feelings about the great band Joy Division., on this day, May 18. A day I will always remember.
RIP Ian Curtis. Someday I will make the trip overseas and pay my proper respects to his resting place in Macclesfield Cemetery. It is at the top of my bucket list.
)
