Pitchfork

We won't lie: the avalanche of recent and forthcoming Joy Division-related releases leaves us as overwhelmed and confused as anyone. How exactly did Ian Curtis become the next Biggie/Tupac/Ray?

What we do know is that there are currently two films devoted to the band, an eponymous documentary and Control, a Curtis biopic. Both films will be released this fall, and Control has a soundtrack that will see commercial release via Rhino Records on October 30.

The soundtrack features Joy Division songs alongside tunes by Iggy Pop, David Bowie, the Velvet Underground, Roxy Music, and the Buzzcocks, as well as a previously unreleased cover of Joy Division's "Shadowplay" by the Killers, and previously unreleased music by New Order from the film's score.

Rhino also has a ton of non-Control Joy Division music coming out, starting with the release of a vinyl box set last week. Included in the set are reissues of the band's two full-lengths, 1979's Unknown Pleasures and 1980's Closer, and the 1981 rarities compilation Still.

Individual editions of these vinyl reissues will follow today, September 18, followed by double-disc CD versions on October 30. The first disc of each CD features the remastered original record, and the second disc features an assortment of previously unreleased live rarities.

Hmm, does all that sound familiar? It's probably because we reported about the UK versions of the reissues a few weeks ago. The tracklists for all that stuff can be found in the last story-- they're the same on the U.S. versions.

Finally, to complete the transformation of Ian Curtis into a posthumous rap superstar, Rhino will also release ringtone versions of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "Transmission" on October 30.

Control soundtrack:

01 New Order: "Film Score, Part 1" [previously unreleased]
02 The Velvet Underground: "What Goes On"
03 The Killers: "Shadowplay" [previously unreleased]
04 The Buzzcocks: "Boredom" (Live)
05 Joy Division: "Dead Souls"
06 Supersister: "She Was Naked"
07 Iggy Pop: "Sister Midnight"
08 Joy Division: "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
09 New Order: "Film Score, Part 2" [previously unreleased]
10 David Bowie: "Drive in Saturday"
11 John Cooper Clarke: "Evidently Chicken Town"
12 Roxy Music: "2 H.B."
13 Cast Band: "Transmission" [previously unreleased]
14 Kraftwerk: "Autobahn"
15 Joy Division: "Atmosphere"
16 New Order: "Film Score, Part 3" [previously unreleased]
17 David Bowie: "Warszawa"