If It's Too Loud...

This might seem like a surprising choice, but it's also one that makes perfect sense and worlds wonderfully well. Experimental music legends Bonner Kramer (fka Kramer) and Thurston Moore have released the latest single off their upcoming collaborative album, and it's a cover of Joy Division's "Insight." Based on the instruments involved, it's obviously going to be a reimagining of the song. Gone are the synths of the original, and in its place are more traditional rock instruments. It keeps the quiet and more laid back vibe of Joy Division's classic, just with some extra feedback and noise. That being said, Kramer and Moore's "Insight" is still a laid back version of the song, and is pretty close to Sonic Youth's later, more jammy albums. If you think you're going to enjoy this cover, you definitely will. Bonner Kramer says of the new single: "I clearly remember what I felt when I first heard track four of  Unknown Pleasures . It...

Photo by Dylan Mars Greenberg Halloween tends to bring us an abundance of Joy Division covers. The first we've found is from The FMs, who expand on the usual songs to bring us a version of "A Means to an End." The new version isn't quite as dark as the original. In fact, in comparison it's almost chipper. Almost. The FMs' version is kind of electroclash and very synth heavy. It's an interesting, and more than a little bit of fun, take on a classic. It's a modern take on the original that has us ready to jump on The FMs' bandwagon. Plus, I'm now firing up some Joy Division, and what more do you want from a cover song? Matte Namer says of the band's latest single: “Frankie [Rex, founding member who passed away on May 11, 2022 from a fentanyl overdose] and I were for years tossing around doing a cover song but could never agree on the right one. We’ve always been into Joy Division and actually covered ‘She’s Lost Control’ in our first band. On...

Photo by Holly Faulkner Pedal Steel Noah is sixteen year old Noah Faulkner of Austin, TX. He has gained fame through Instagram videos of himself playing songs from the 80's and 90's on pedal steel guitar, and now has an official EP coming out. His new single is a cover of Joy Division's iconic "Love Will Tear Us Apart." I never would have expected to hear a cover of a Joy Division classic done on pedal steel, but Pedal Steel Noah just crushes it. This could easily have come across as a novelty cover, but this is one of the better covers of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" I've ever heard. It works better on pedal steel than anyone could have imagined, at least in the hands of Pedal Steel Noah. You can listen to Pedal Steel Noah's version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" below. Texas Madness EP is due out April 1 on Lightning Rod Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Pedal Steel Noah, check out the artist's website .

Few songs are as iconic as Joy Division's immortal "Love Will Tear Us Apart." It's just one of those songs that stays with you forever, and all covers I've ever heard are faithful, even if they're more on the emo/pop punk spectrum. Well, New Orleans's Hot 8 Brass Band will change all of that. Of all the "Love Will Tear Us Apart" covers I've heard, I don't believe I've ever heard a brass band rendition. This is a complete and utter reworking of the gothic/post punk classic as a boucy, joyous celebration, so Joy Division purists beware. It's mostly instrumental, and you will definitely recognize the song through just the music. All verses are completely removed from the song, with the only lyrics being the occasional "Love will tear us apart again." It's not what you'd expect, but it's quite fun if you can get into this sort of thing. You can listen to Hot 8 Brass Band's version of "Love Will Tea...