Closer

Certain Songs #824: Joy Division – “Twenty Four Hours”

March 20, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: Closer
Year: 1980

This is all about the contrasts. Light and dark, fast and slow, floating and driving. The way that Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris fall apart during the slow parts and come together during the fast parts.

I’m sure that to some of you, the words are important. But I’ll be honest here, I’ve listened to “Twenty Four Hours” countless times in the last 35-plus years and I couldn’t quote you a single line.

Certain Songs #343: The Dream Syndicate – “Closer (KCRW 12-09-1987)”

October 16, 2015 by Jim Connelly

Album: It’s Too Late Too Stop Now
Year: 1987

I wish I knew where I found It’s Too Late To Stop Now. Was it at Ragin’? Or Amoeba in Berkeley? Or some record store in L.A.? All I know for sure was that it’s this weird compilation of demos, outtakes, radio performances and guys with tape recorders recording shows.

So a bootleg. Except that I seem to remember reading that it was a fan club record, or some other nudge nudge wink wink “hey, this is kinda legit.” I do know this: it’s probably the best Dream Syndicate album that isn’t The Days of Wine and Roses.