I'm a loyal fan of Joy Division, I consider the band and their post-punk contemporaries to be the music of my youth, though I was born (perhaps 20 years too late) the same year that Ian Curtis died (1980). As a result, I did not discover them until the mid-'90s. In their three years of existence Joy Division created some of the most beautiful and compelling music ever recorded. It is easy to see their lasting influence today. Interpol, anyone? If you check out the early New Order performances, circa 1981-82, it is obvious that the spectre of Ian Curtis was still very influential in the band. I highly recommend looking up "Everything's Gone Green" on Youtube.

Being only 27 years of age, I like to fantasize about how exciting it must have been to discover bands like Joy Division when they were new, particularly in America where disco crap was ruling the airwaves.

I thoroughly enjoyed Michael Winterbottom's "24 Hour Party People" and I anxiously await the opportunity to see "Control." Sadly I doubt it will be playing in Louisville, KY where I currently reside.

For another unique perspective on the film, be sure to check out this article written by Ian's daughter Natalie Curtis:

http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2181041,00.html

bucky fellini wrote:

"Mostly agree with you, although I have to say that Manzarek did at least one good thing--he produced the great X album, Los Angeles. I really can't stand The Doors, though."

My thoughts exactly when I read the comment about the post-Doors Manzarek. I've often wondered if as producer he forced them to cover the song Soul Kitchen on "Los Angeles."

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Joy Division and "nearly all of the music of that era."

So tell us, what do you consider good music?

Clapton is way overrated. I'd rather listen to J.J. Cale any day.

Anonymous says...

"Are you the SVC with the tediously snobbish music blog? Or do you simply share a my-taste-is-better-than-yours attitude toward pop music?"

First off, why not post here under a real user name? Are you afraid I'll look back at your previous posts and find out that you really do listen to shitty music?

To address your first question, no I can't claim to be that particular "Spoilt Victorian Child." However, I did take a cursory look at that blog and it doesn't seem all that bad. They recommend a Kevin Ayers record so they at least have some taste. Oh, and the fact that we both took our moniker from the same song by The Fall also makes a good impression with me.

Before I answer your second question, let me ask, why do you seem so miffed by response to this article? Personally I find Eric Clapton's solo work to be enormously overrated. I honestly can't think of anything of his that I've listened to and enjoyed. Yes, I'd rather listen to J.J. Cale. I much prefer his original versions of "Cocaine" and "After Midnight" to Clapton's covers. I find Clapton to be much more acceptable as part of a band: The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, etc., all of whom I listen to.

I know what kind of music I like and I know what kind of music I don't like. I can't understand why putting Eric Clapton's solo work in the latter category would make me a snob.

I'm heartened to see that Salon has been giving press to new films about some of the greatest musicians of the last half of the 20th Century, first Ian Curtis and now Joe Strummer.

Has anyone else noticed that Bono has appeared in almost every music documentary made in the past few years? The line always seems the same... "if it wasn't for ____________, U2 wouldn't exist." This isn't a criticism, just an observation.

That said I'm very excited about "The Future is Unwritten." Too bad it most likely will not play in Louisville, KY and I'll have to wait for the DVD. I loved Temple's Sex Pistols documentary "The Filth and the Fury" as well as Don Letts' Clash documentary "Westway to the World," filmed only a couple of years before Strummer's premature death at age 50 in December, 2002.

What a sad Christmas that was.

I'm a registered Democrat and I can't stand Hillary Clinton. I'm not going to rehash the reasons why, other posters have already covered it for me (her pro-war stance, corporate coziness, and other Republican-lite positions) . I unenthusiastically voted for Kerry in '04 (hey, he's not as bad as Bush!) but I'm done with that kind of voting. Where has it gotten us?

If Clinton does win the general election that will add up to 24 years, almost a QUARTER CENTURY, of Bush/Clinton rule. I'm under no illusion that we live in a true democracy, but a country that is passed between two families is not even close to being any kind of democracy. What makes Bush/Clinton pattern even more disturbing is the creepy friendship between Bill and George Sr.

I'm really hoping for an Edwards/Obama ticket, that's something I could get behind!