The Skeptical Lutheran

Black Celebration
Depeche Mode

Most people will probably remember Depeche Mode for their dance music played at clubs throughout the western world in the late eighties and early nineties. It’s hard to plug their work neatly into one genre. I’ve heard it called New Wave, Alternative, Techno-Industrial, and Synth-Pop. Some insist that Depeche Mode is in a genre of its own. Their hardcore fans are a peculiar bunch. Today I think they would straddle the line between the prep and goth cliques, if you can imagine such a thing.

“Black Celebration” is the definitive Depeche Mode album. It was the first album in their watershed moment, which included the two subsequent EPs: “Music for the Masses” and “Violator”. Prior to this album Depeche Mode wrote music to be played in the background at dance clubs. After “Violator” they got too introspective, and, I think, intimidated by the ferocity of the grunge movement. Since then their work has been in decline, although unwilling to die. Pre-Nirvanna greats R.E.M. and U2 have undergone similar tribulations. I chose “Black Celebration” as representative of this larger collection because it is my personal favorite. Musically and lyrically the entire album has a theme and is best listened to in one sitting without interruption. In short, it is better than the collection of songs comprising it.

This album is as dark as the title suggests. There are no boring songs about puppy love here. When Depeche Mode sings about love it’s always either unrequited or superficial. Relationships are greedy pursuits by both parties, founded on a mutually agreed upon and unenforceable sexual contract. They are little more than any material commodity, which, by the way, are over abundant and thus greatly reduced in worth, and just as liquid. Both are to be callously traded at market prices in an effort to increase one’s net worth. Best to grab all that you can in the short time you have before it all evaporates in death’s inescapable and indifferent grasp. In this universe religion is replaced with nihilism. As “thou shalt not steal” is an obstacle to obtaining material wealth, “thou shalt not commit adultery” is an obstacle to emotional wealth. To strictly adhere to either is to deprive oneself of the pain-killing narcotics that make this brief interval between unconscious states bearable. There is no “Parental Advisory” sticker on the album, probably since its release predates such things, but dwelling too long on these themes will take you to a dark place. Listen with care, and, if you can, concentrate on the rhythmic dance club instrumentation instead of the dismal commentary.

If I listened to pop metal and hair bands in high school out of some sort of early adolescent reaction to heavy-handed parenting, then I listened to bands like Depeche Mode in college to differentiate myself from the ignorant hillbillies in my home town. The preferred recreational activity in that town was driving in circles around the town square. The only recognized parties were held in the woods out of the back of pickup trucks where participants would dance around a fire and crush beer cans on their heads. The ecumenical soundtrack for both activities had to feature an electric guitar. Ergo, in the mind of this eighteen year-old, electric guitars were one of the leading causes of stupidity. Thus I adopted a band that were essentially keyboard programmers.

Whereas albums like “Hysteria” bring back memories of forced celebacy, “Black Celebration” carries far less frustrating emotional baggage. For one thing, this is my college album. You know what college is like. Also, my girlfriend was way into Depeche Mode, too. DM came to Urbana in 1993 and, like good fans, we were there in the appropriate attire. We foolishly took pictures of ourselves which, regrettably, survive to this day. If you know enough about me, you can probably find one of those pictures online, although, if you’re a friend, you won’t.

I may have listened to this album a little too much. For a while I was known among those I lived near as the guy who likes Depeche Mode. I remember once in the dorms I put this cassette on one evening when everyone was doing homework. It was loud enough to carry at least a few doors down. It didn’t play for more than 2 minutes before one of my neighbors barged into my room and, without saying a word, stopped the tape and put in a different tape.

I still listen to this album today, as well as other DM albums from the same era, although not nearly as much as I used to. It reminds me of when I was first out on my own and trying to find my own identity. I reminisce of the one I selected, usually just nostalgically, but every now and then to reflect on the house that identity constructed for my present identity. I think in a weird way my life is built on this album. Take that as an endorsement if you want.

Favorite Track: Fly on the Windscreen
Notable Contenders: Depeche Mode: “Violator” and “Music for the Masses”; New Order: “Substance”, “Technique”, and “Republic”

This is the first part in an overview of the rock albums that I have listened to most. This is not necessarily a list of what are presently my favorite albums, but a list of albums that have been my favorite albums in the past. Actually, it’s not just that I have liked a few songs from the album, but the whole album. And the album is more than just good, but has been in some way influential for me, or epitomized my emotional behavior in a significant way.

Starting off the list is the ultimate in 80s glam, hair, bubble gum, pop metal: Def Leppard’s consumate album “Hysteria”. Sure it’s cheesy. These days you only appreciate it as fine music if you sport a mullet and drive a 1985 Camero when it’s not up on blocks. Serious fans will get a second mortgage on their double-wide just to get lawn seats at one of Def Leppard’s depressing “remember when this was cool” concerts. But I assure you that back before Reagan was (supposedly) suffering from dementia, my entire high school was hysterical over this album (get it?). “Love Bites” was a favorite at dances. Horny high schoolers loved making out to it. Not me, of course, although not for lack of trying. At our ten year reunion someone brought the cassette tape so the DJ could play “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, which he did to great applause. I was just impressed that he had a cassette player.

This the first album in my list because this was the first rock album I ever owned. And by owned I mean copied to cassette from one of my friend’s cassettes. To understand why that is significant you have to put yourself in the role of the recently home-schooled dweeb just released to the public high school by his rock-is-from-the-devil fundamentalist parents. My parents are baby-boomers, but not the cool baby-boomers that made The Beatles popular. No, they were the other boomers that wore sweater vests and ties and, if they sang songs, sang the praises of The Establishment. In my dad’s opinion society sank into the abyss sometime around 1969.

Now, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t attend high school in 1988 wearing sweater vests and thick plastic glasses and listening to The Beach Boys, although it took me about a semester to figure this out. I remember listening to this album through headphones in my bedroom with the door shut, terrified that if I was discovered I would be sent back to home school. I actually constructed a somewhat elaborate ruse to conceal my vice. At home I would play pop music (think Debbie Gibson) or pre-1969 music like The Monkees. I would also dress in their preppy polyester clothes before leaving. At school I would change into a t-shirt and jeans, and, of course, air guitar to Def Leppard.

Gradually, over my sophomore and junior years, the ruse became unnecessary for reasons I still don’t completely understand. I think my mom was sympathetic toward me and was an advocate for me with my dad. They probably also just came to realize that disappointment is a staple of parenthood. They may have also seen just how trivial the whole matter was and decided it wasn’t worth an extended conflict.

I just bought the Deluxe Edition of Hysteria at Best Buy. In addition to the remastered original 12 tracks, it boasts numerous b-sides, remixes, and live versions. I reluctantly admit to still loving this album. Now when I listen to it I can’t help but recall those days when no problem that we would ever face in life would be more serious than what was going on right then in high school.

Favorite Track: Hysteria
Notable Contenders: Aerosmith’s “Permanent Vacation”, Motley Crue’s “Dr. Feelgood”, Bon Jovi’s “Slippery When Wet”

I think if god does exist he must be an enormous asshole. Don’t agree? Then explain this to me. And don’t give me that crap about him knowing better than us.