An Ideal for Living cover

An Ideal for Living

Released

Before they became avatars of gloomy proto-Goth postpunk, Joy Division were a punk band trading in jagged guitars and aggressive beats. But even on their four-track debut EP, you can hear the germ of their future direction. The tempos are brisk, but the horrific imagery on “No Love Lost” and the political pessimism of “Leaders of Men” are natural precursors to the songs on the band’s two studio albums. That said, both “Warsaw” and “Failures (of the Modern Man)” are bracing blasts of fury, fast and raw enough to count as straight-up first generation punk rock.

Rick Anderson

Recommended by

Suggestions
The Punishment Of Luxury cover

The Punishment Of Luxury

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
TV Eyes cover

TV Eyes

TV Eyes
A Company Sleeve cover

A Company Sleeve

The Pretty Flowers
Flip Your Wig cover

Flip Your Wig

Hüsker Dü
In the Studio cover

In the Studio

The Special AKA
I Used To Be Pretty cover

I Used To Be Pretty

the Flesh Eaters