"Closer" x 2

That is, Joy Division vs Plastikman: more in common than just the title. Both are piercing, and often unsettling glances into the minds of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis and Plastikman, um, "singer" Ritchie Hawtin.

[Let's get this out of the way ... a lot of negative criticism about the Plastikman album was focused specifically on the vocals, while saying very little about the other 70+ minutes of the album on which there are no vocals. To these people, the album's "message" was expressely contained in the lyrics, and hence, interpreting those lyrics was the primary step toward understanding what the album was about. Of course, this meant they had to ignore all of Hawtin's "this album comes closest to finally reproducing the sounds I hear inside my head"-ish comments. To me, the vocals are more of a sound effect than poetry set to music (although that is generally the case with music, not just this album). Hawtin's no great lyricist, but the lyrics here are more than adequate, they're generally quite brief, and it's not like they swamp the album in any shape or form. There aren't enough vocals on the album to drag it down as much as some people have claimed -- if you disagree, then frankly you're not listening to the other 95% of the album too carefully.]

In both cases, the first track is the angriest and most defiant on the entire album. Curtis relates a freakish, grotesque tale (which is told in the third person but he was almost certainly referring to himself -- the line "for entertainment they watch his body twist" gives away the plot) and the disgust in his voice during this song is unmatched in the Joy Division catalogue. On the Plastikman side, Hawtin attacks a former lover with a bitter, caustic mini-rant about their failed relationship. When hearing these albums for the first time, both of these songs might appear to be making a statement of purpose that will become a theme for the remainder of the album.

Except both albums become darker and more introspective, anger gives way to shame, and both close with two devastating epics that give concern for the singer's sanity* and well-being**.

* moreso in the case of Plastikman
** moreso in the case of Joy Division

(if I had to choose between them, I would choose Plastikman and I know I'd be part of a considerable minority with that pick)