Joy Division - Ideal for Living [EP]

All Music Guide

Joy Division's first release showcases clearly the group's punk roots. "Warsaw" is classic rushed hardcore complete with shouted vocals, while "Failures" simply slows the tempo a bit to become a punk-influenced hard-rock number. "No Love Lost" is almost an instrumental selection, with very late-entering vocals that seem like an afterthought. Most indicative of the group's later releases is the slower-tempo "Leaders of Men," which allows Ian Curtis' bleak lyrics to come to the fore. Sound quality and production values on this release are extremely primitive. This is a mildly interesting, if not great EP; with the re-release of tracks one and three on the rarities album Substance, the need for diehard Joy Division fans to obtain this platter has notably decreased.

- David Cleary, All Music Guide