Review Summary: "I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through, I'm ashamed of the person I am."
Depression is a major problem that affects far too many people in the world. One of the major issues that leads one into this crippling disease is the belief that no one understands them. Ian Curtis definitely understands however, all to well actually. It became too much to handle, and Curtis committed suicide at age 23 just days before the band was to go on their first American tour after making a huge splash in their home country. A tragic story indeed, but how does that relate to the actual album? Well for starters at the risk of sounding extremely cold, Curtis taking his own life truly cemented his artistic integrity. It was never about writing dark depressing lyrics to match the music or profit on a new style of music, Ian Curtis ***ing meant every word he said. The amount of pure emotion and passion packed into these nine tracks is almost overbearing. Ironically Curtis sings in a very monotone almost emotionless voice, but it seems he is so full of depression and despair that the melancholy singing is all that he can muster, which happens to be darkly fitting for the subject matter. The greatest irony of all of course is Curtis, a very reserved person, was reaching out to everyone in a great cry for help very thinly masked behind some great music, and yet no one saw the signs right under their noses until the troubled front man was hanging in his kitchen.
"I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through, I'm ashamed of the person I am."The former line is from the second track "Isolation", and although this certainly isn't the most poetic or subtle line on the album, it is a great summary of the feel of this album and the feelings Curtis is putting on display.Given that this is obviously such a dark and gloomy album lyrically (brilliantly contradicted by some almost bouncy synthesizers and rhythms like on the aforementioned track), how could one possibly derive enjoyment from this mess? Well the ancient Greeks have been revered for their gory tragedies, which depicted terrible things happening to lead characters for the sake of katharsis. "Katharsis" is Greek for, um, catharsis, and is basically a sort of cleaning of emotions in the brain. Pity and fear of death are the main focus of catharsis. Human beings are logical creatures, and hard wired to not feel so much pity for other people since logically that does not affect our own well being. Some people however are highly sensitive individuals who fear everything and feel pity for almost anyone, especially themselves. Ian Curtis is a prime example of this person. Curtis understands anyone going through pain and suffering, and as the listeners we can reach catharsis by feeling his sadness with him, and feeling pity for such a troubled young man.
The entire album is a journey through Ian Curtis's very dark and disturbed mind, guided by some ghostly guitars/synthesizers and a very precise rhythm section. The music is quite varied, as said earlier it is almost bouncy in the track "Isolation" as well as the fifth one "Means To An End." However like the lyrics, the music can be quite depressing as well such as in the track "The Eternal". Some tracks are hard rocking songs like "Colony", "Twenty Four Hours" and the opening track ""Atrocity Exhibition". The closing track is very orchestral, and fittingly gives the feeling of a soul flying away accompanied by the chilling lyrics "where have they been?" Regardless of how the music may sound though, the lyrics are unrelenting in their despair. However if one is willing to feel on the same level as Ian Curtis and still make it out alive, they may reach a level of catharsis that is unattainable with any other record in this reviewer's humble opinion.
