I wasn't sure what to expect from this album before buying it - 2001's Exciter was a huge disappointment with it's more subtle rhythms and overall quieter sound not bearing repeat listenings. I am however pleased to say that Playing the Angel is for the most part a strong album and is probably the most consistent Depeche Mode album since Violator.
The album starts strongly with the semi-industrial sounding single A Pain That I'm Used To and in fact the first 5 tracks are almost flawless, with a decent variation in pace too. Given their strength it's not surprising that 4 of these first 5 songs were released as singles, although if I had to make any criticism it would be that Precious (the first single, released before the album came out) sounds a little bit "Depeche Mode by numbers" to me.
This is the first time Dave Gahan has contributed to the songwriting on a DM album and his 3 songs are amongst the best on the disc (Suffer Well, Nothing's Impossible and I Want it All). By contrast I found the 2 tracks featuring Martin Gore on lead vocals a huge disappointment, on both Macro and Damaged People he sounds like he is simply trying too hard.
The disappointment with the 2 Gore vocal songs is part of the reason that the second half of the album is nowhere near as memorable as the first. It still has it's moments and both Lilian and the aforementioned Nothing's Impossible are great dark pop moments. The remaining tracks (Introspectre and The Darkest Star) are simply, for me in any case, just not very memorable.
Overall though I'd say it's three quarters of an excellent album and as a result clearly their best for a long time. I give it 4 stars, 1 star is lost for the slightly weak second half.
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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: Familar Depeche stylings, good production, respectable DVD extras Disadvantages: Not breaking new ground, some songs over familiar and borderline good
Mar 20th, 2009
(Apr 22nd, 2009)
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