Fox Reviews Rock

Battle Of The Bands – R.E.M vs Joy Division

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When we genuinely adore a band, it’s essential to stand by them! In this series, we’ll pit two bands against one another. Use the comments section to champion your favorite and proudly show your allegiance! Engage with others’ opinions, share fascinating facts, and recount your experiences with the bands. Now, put on your war paint and prepare for battle!

R.E.M – Losing My Religion (All Rights Retained By R.E.M)
Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart (All Rights Retained By Joy Division)

Make sure to let us know which of the two bands you prefer in the comments, your opinions matter to us!

We claim no rights over the songs used in this post , and all rights are retained by the relevant band/artist.

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60 responses to “Battle Of The Bands – R.E.M vs Joy Division”

  1. Anthony avatar
    Anthony

    Now if it’s early R.E.M., which is up to losing time and backwards, I call it a dead tie.

    If it’s R.E.M. from Monster forward I give the title to Joy Division.

    If I base it on T-shirts, I have two Joy Division T-shirts. Lol

    In all honesty, I have all the albums from both bands, except again everything from Monster after for R.E.M. I do not like. Leave it to me to break the rules. lol

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Break the rules all you want my friend! 🙂

      I think this one is actually really damn tight , for me R.E.M just wins but by god is it close 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Anthony avatar
        Anthony

        I love R.E.M. my favorite song by them will always be South Central Rain. I also love just about everything off Automatic for the People.

        They’re only messed up like I mentioned earlier later albums and I didn’t really dig Michael Stipe taking a dig at my favorite band The Beatles, calling them, “elevator music”.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Great album 👍🏻

          Yeah I think a fair few people had that issue to be fair

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  2. missparker0106 avatar
    missparker0106

    Another tough one. I can’t claim to be a superfan of either, but I do enjoy the music from each of them. Tracks from each band formed the background noise of my life.

    It might be a bit unfair, too, because REM has had many more years to develop and record than Joy Division. But, if we take into consideration Joy Division being the precursor to the long-lived New Order, then it levels the playing field somewhat.

    That said, I have to lean more towards Joy Division because of their penchant to throw caution to the wind. I love a band who successfully defies formulaic expectations and thrives on just being themselves

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Yeah to be fair you may have a point about the amount of time REM had to develop their sound.

      I do love joy divisions confidence to follow their own lead and not go with the crowd

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Christiana avatar
    Christiana

    Yay! Someone I know! A whole song I know…. the other ones however… hmmm… well, I listened to them… 3 or 4 different songs… R.E.M won hands down…

    But again.. thank you for the education 😅

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Well at least you’re enjoying yourself ! 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. ibarynt avatar
    ibarynt

    Hands down R.E.M.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Favourite song by them ?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. ibarynt avatar
        ibarynt

        Still, Losing my religion and everybody hurts…

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Great selections 😁

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          1. ibarynt avatar
            ibarynt

            Well I am the legend 🤣🤣

            Liked by 2 people

            Reply
            1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
              Fox Reviews Rock

              Agreed 🤣

              Like

              Reply
  5. Radio Faux Show avatar
    Radio Faux Show

    It’s tough because who knows how crappy Joy Division’s music would have become if they had lasted 25 years. I think the first 4 R.E.M. albums are as good as any first four by any band. I’ll ignore everything after that and say R.E.M. If you make me average out their whole career then Joy Division wins, but that is probably unfair to R E.M. It’s hard to stay great if you don’t live hard, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      I do love that explanation 😁 I think this one really does have several layers to peel back

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Sara Allwright avatar
    Sara Allwright

    R.E.M all the way👍. Absolutely love them❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Nice! What’s your favourite album by them ?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Sara Allwright avatar
        Sara Allwright

        🤔 I haven’t got a fav album…my favourite song has to ‘Everybody Hurts’…makes me cry..all the time. Apart from the tears lol. R.E.M. ignites wonderful memories, driving through Barcelona, windows down, music blasting. A real sense of freedom. 😁
        Sorry for my long winded answer 😂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Oh wow! That sounds pretty damn amazing and great that you can remember Barcelona like that 😁

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          1. Sara Allwright avatar
            Sara Allwright

            Some of my best moments…play R.E.M. and I’m right back in Barcelona 😍

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply
            1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
              Fox Reviews Rock

              I’d be doing that on a nightly basis!

              Liked by 1 person

              Reply
              1. Sara Allwright avatar
                Sara Allwright

                I do, I open all the windows in the house, R.E.M plugged in. However, my neighbours aren’t impressed! Not the music, but my awful singing skills 😱🤣🤣

                Liked by 1 person

                Reply
                1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
                  Fox Reviews Rock

                  🤣🤣🤣

                  Liked by 1 person

                  Reply
  7. michael branscáth avatar
    michael branscáth

    I’m torn between the two, but I’ll have to admit that Joy Division has had an outsized influence on my life in comparison to REM, especially the entirety of “Unknown Pleasures”. That album heavily influenced my own approach to music and lyrical poetry (as much or more than early Cure albums, which have a more obvious influence). I learned how to play bass guitar by trying to mimic Hooky’s riffs and Ian’s lyrics were some of the first that got me to thinking outside of the Verse/Chorus patterns in songwriting. “New Dawn Fades” or “Dead Souls” are some of my favorites.

    Early REM also had a big influence in my songwriting once I migrated to more of a folksy sound (pre-“Green” period, especially “Fables of the Reconstruction”). Michael’s early lyrics still resonate with me in that they always seemed to tell a story, one that might evolve after multiple listens, or were just vague enough to allow the space for multiple interpretations. But, in the great scheme of things, I just can’t see that they impacted my life quite as profoundly as Joy Division did, so they are awarded “second place” in my rankings.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      A fair decision and well thought out as usual! 😁 pretty damn cool though that both bands had a big influence on your own playing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. michael branscáth avatar
        michael branscáth

        I was lucky to have been born at a time where I could experience both very different styles of music as they were evolving. 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Yeah I envy those who had that experience 😊

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  8. RasmaSandra avatar
    RasmaSandra

    For me it’s definitely REM

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Think there is a lot of REM fans in here tonight 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. cookie avatar
    cookie

    Joy Division without a doubt

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Favourite song by them?

      Like

      Reply
  10. sambuca22 avatar
    sambuca22

    JOY DIVISION!!! That is one of the reasons why I love Donnie Darko. =) Epic song, epic movie.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      No word of a lie … I’ve been mistaken for jake gyllenhaal at least 10 times in my life

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. sambuca22 avatar
        sambuca22

        No way!! AWESOME. He is so handsome!! I ❤ him! He was great as Donnie and awesome in Roadhouse *drools*

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Day after tomorrow is a particular favourite of mine

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          1. sambuca22 avatar
            sambuca22

            ❤

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply
  11. windupmyskirt avatar
    windupmyskirt

    R.E.M because Losing my religion is one of my favorite songs 🎵

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      And a great one it is at that 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  12. cookie avatar
    cookie

    o, I don’t know, I like Dead Souls, the lyrics touch me

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Awesome! 🤘

      Like

      Reply
  13. C.Sharp avatar
    C.Sharp

    I’d say REM. And my favorite song is The One I Love.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Awesome ! 😊🤘

      Like

      Reply
  14. lyndhurstlaura avatar
    lyndhurstlaura

    REM every time! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Every damn time! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. The Creative Chic avatar
    The Creative Chic

    R.E.M. hands down, every time.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Nice!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. Christopher Marcus avatar
    Christopher Marcus

    R.E.M. But I have a certain affection for JD since I am the biggest New Order fan on the planet (or thereabouts)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      If it was R.E.M vs NO im guessing you would have gone with NO then ?

      Like

      Reply
      1. Christopher Marcus avatar
        Christopher Marcus

        Yeah, but it’s close. I also think it works to NO’s advantage that they are still active and make decent stuff. 13 years are a long time without the other guys…

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Yeah that is true! Also helps that their music is amazing too 😉

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  17. MyGenXerLife avatar
    MyGenXerLife

    Hands down… REM. South Central Rain, Half a World Away and Gardening at Night to name a few…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Do you like any Joy Division songs?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. MyGenXerLife avatar
        MyGenXerLife

        I grew up with New Order. I’ve tried dipping my toe in the water with Joy Division and like a few. I’ll admit, I haven’t listened to them enough. I know I should like and appreciate them more. But REM was a big part of my college music life. It’s seared into my nostalgia.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Got to go with what you remember fondly ! 🙂 Do give JD a chance though under rated id say 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  18. Anjali Roongta avatar
    Anjali Roongta

    Dude, your site looks so cool! Saw that you liked my poems regularly and just wanted to let you know my site has been moved to roongtaanjali.meLooking forward to your continued appreciation of my poems

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Thanks so much that means a lot ! And thank you for letting us (mostly me ) know I am indeed a big fan of your poems 🙂

      Like

      Reply
      1. Anjali Roongta avatar
        Anjali Roongta

        This reply made my day!

        I have a few published poetry books, they’re mostly available on Muses_Saga (www.musessaga.com) for free online reading and as buyable eco-friendly paperbacks and ebooks, if you are interested.

        And of course, the weekly poems on the new blog will be there.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Will happily check both your published books and the new blog 🙂

          Like

          Reply
      2. Anjali Roongta avatar
        Anjali Roongta

        This reply made my day!

        I have a few published poetry books, they’re mostly available on Muses_Saga (www.musessaga.com) for free online reading and as buyable eco-friendly paperbacks and ebooks, if you are interested.

        And of course, the weekly poems on the new blog will be there.

        Like

        Reply

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