Horribly busy but will catch up on my review reading - promise!
Horribly busy but will catch up on my review reading - promise!
Member since:22.10.2006
Reviews:90
Members who trust:18
Depeche Mode have a small problem in the UK, 99% of the public think they disappeared years ago. To most, they were that teeny boppy happy synth band from the early 80's yet apparantly on the quiet they have matured year on year to become one of the world's biggest bands, able to fill stadiums in most countries and continuing to produce albums and perform 100+ date tours around the world. With 11 studio albums, 44 singles and various best of's and live albums - they must be doing something right.
They went from strength to strength, producing dark brooding albums full of anthemic stadium fillers balanced with slower more thoughtful songs. Their trademark, if any, would be songs wiith a dark underbelly, frustrations, sexuality laced with S&M themes, raw emotions yet with a fragility that can move the listener to tears.
Things came to a head during their epic Devotional tour in the 90's when key figure
and architect of their sound, Alan Wilder left citing an impossible working environment. The fact that other members were drink and drug addicts, suffering breakdowns and in the case of the singer, Dave Gahan, dying only to be reviced by paramedics, indicated how out of control things were. That tour became a legend for its excesses but the loss of Wilder also left fans wondering what would be next for their favourite band.
To everyone's surprise, things lurched on but the next few albums suffered badly from the loss of Wilder's production and arrangment skills and songwriter Martin Gore appeared to be on automatic, often writing almost schoolboy poetry quality lyrics.
After a longer than usual gap, Playing the Angel was finally released and unlike previous albums, has tracks written by both Gore and Gahan and seems to benefit from it. Whilst not every track is a cracker, the album as a whole has shown a return to form almost matching their best work to date in my opinion, Songs of Faith and Devotion.
The vocal duties are also more balanced. Traditionally each album has one track sung by Gore but this time there are two and more prominant backing vocal duties.
The songs provided by Gore have been heavily influenced and informed by his marriage breakdown and indicate a man in turmoil, wracked with guilt, especially regarding the damage being done to his young daughter. This provided the inspiration for the first single, Precious whose lyrics almost inevitably leave me less that dry eyed as he described wanting to take the pain and suffering from the innocent child caught up in the crossfire.
The album starts with 'A pain that I'm used to' which instantly sets the scene and show cases the sound that has come out of their work with a new producer, Ben Hillier (known for his work on Blur's Think Tank, Elbow's debut etc) - rough, edgy and far more grungy and guitar tinged. Mode have actually been using guitars for years now (as well as synths) but on this album they are more prominant.
Other track titles like 'Damaged People', 'I want it all', 'John the revelator' all set the scene. For me, the strongest tracks are 'A Pain that I'm used to', 'Lillian', Precious', Nothings Impossible' and 'Macrovision'.
There are clear influences from Gahan's solo album Paper Monsters both in terms of his song writing style and the overall sound but it still has the special something that makes Depeche Mode one of my favourite bands.
I did feel that there was the odd dodgy line or two in the lyrics and at least one track could have been left out without too much of a loss but then how many albums can sport a full line up of perfect songs?
On balance though, this is a great album that only gets better and better with repeated listenings. For those unfamiliar with their recent work it makes a great introduction. It manages to leave you uplifted and melencholy in turns but by the end, you'll be ready to go back to the start and go through it all over again.
Full Listing: 1.: Pain That I'm Used To 2.: John The Revelator 3.: Suffer Well 4.: Sinner In Me 5.: Precious 6.: Macro 7.: I Want It All 8.: Nothing's Impossible 9.: Introspectre (short instrumental) 10.: Damaged People 11.: Lilian 12.: Darkest Star
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Good review and yes, I guess I am one of the 99% - sorry!
exup35 07.03.2007 13:25
good review. I bought the last depeche mode album for my girlfriend (a Depeche mode fan) but I dont think she listened to it more than once yet.. thats usual though ;-)
Arguably the only credible surviving stars of synthpop, the Mode return with their ... more
eleventh album and follow-up to 2001's 'Exciter'. Recorded with producer Ben Hillier (Doves, Blur) and marking a return to form with a fresh, revitalized update of the b...
Advantages: More memorable songs than any other Depeche Mode album since Violator Disadvantages: Would have been improved by dropping one or two weaker tracks
Advantages: More memorable songs than any other Depeche Mode album since Violator Disadvantages: Would have been improved by dropping one or two weaker tracks
Advantages: Familar Depeche stylings, good production, respectable DVD extras Disadvantages: Not breaking new ground, some songs over familiar and borderline good
Mar 7th, 2007
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