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Book Review
Jul. 6th, 2012 09:48 pmUnknown Pleasures
by Chris Ott
This is a book in a series called 33 1/2, put out by continuum. Each of these brief books is a kind of extended essay about the album named in the title. Ott's book discusses the history and musical development of Joy Division, using their first full-length album, Unknown Pleasures, as a focal point. I love Joy Division, so I found this book quite fascinating, and a wonderfully up-close look at the band and their music.
Ott is at his best when discussing Joy Division's progression from a punk rock sound to something darker, deeper, and more atmospheric. He deftly covers the band's development, Ian Curtis' maturation as a lyricist, and the somewhat contentious but ultimately groundbreaking effect of producer Martin Hannett on their sound. His descriptions of the songs on Unknown Pleasures are very good and made me want to go back and listen to them closely, over and over again. to understand and experience what Ott described.
Ott also does a great job of chronicling the troubled life and ultimately tragic fate of singer Ian Curtis. It would be too easy to set Curtis up as a tragic martyr figure, but Ott avoids this with his clear-sighted and balanced perspective on Curtis and his problems. Ott obviously has great admiration and compassion for Curtis, but that never blinds him to the ways in which Curtis' troubles made him difficult.
If you are Joy Division fan, this is highly recommended reading.
by Chris Ott
This is a book in a series called 33 1/2, put out by continuum. Each of these brief books is a kind of extended essay about the album named in the title. Ott's book discusses the history and musical development of Joy Division, using their first full-length album, Unknown Pleasures, as a focal point. I love Joy Division, so I found this book quite fascinating, and a wonderfully up-close look at the band and their music.
Ott is at his best when discussing Joy Division's progression from a punk rock sound to something darker, deeper, and more atmospheric. He deftly covers the band's development, Ian Curtis' maturation as a lyricist, and the somewhat contentious but ultimately groundbreaking effect of producer Martin Hannett on their sound. His descriptions of the songs on Unknown Pleasures are very good and made me want to go back and listen to them closely, over and over again. to understand and experience what Ott described.
Ott also does a great job of chronicling the troubled life and ultimately tragic fate of singer Ian Curtis. It would be too easy to set Curtis up as a tragic martyr figure, but Ott avoids this with his clear-sighted and balanced perspective on Curtis and his problems. Ott obviously has great admiration and compassion for Curtis, but that never blinds him to the ways in which Curtis' troubles made him difficult.
If you are Joy Division fan, this is highly recommended reading.
