Violator

Genres: Synth-pop, alternative rock, dance, gothic rock Formed: Basildon, England in 1980. Run time: 9 songs, 46 min, 55 sec “Violator” is the seventh studio album by the group. As far as value for money goes, nine tracks and 46 minutes play time is a bit poor. Four tracks were released as singles, successfully charting in the U.K., U.S. and elsewhere. The voice of Dave Gahan is unmistakable, as is the synth-pop sound of the group. The songs are well written and cover various aspects of life, love and desire with an unapologetic inclination towards the dark and seedier side. It is a great album. I loved a couple of tracks *Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy the Silence”, but, it’s not my usual taste. Listen Again?: No but I will listen to “The Best of…”. My Rating: ****

Top to bottom, a great album and my personal favorite. Aside from classic songs like Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, I really enjoy songs like Halo and Policy of Truth.

DNF for me…..got to song 5 and I just know this is an album I’ll never go back to. Just not my style.

The hits are severely overplayed (I can't fucking stand Personal Jesus at this point), but I've never heard the other songs and damn they are great. It has like one weak track but idc, this deserves a 5

it was all right, some decent songs but mostly boring droning

Absolutely brilliant album. Definitely similar to Soda Stereo output of the area which I adore so this was right up my alley. Every song was cinematic, lush, downright dark, and overall a complete experience. Not a track on here that I didn’t love, they were all the absolutely pinnacle of what the genre has to offer. Absolutely masterful songwriting and production. Easily five stars, essential listening.

Goth fuggin music hell yeah

pretty decent. elecronic music with vocals from 1990

Meh, it felt like it took itself very seriously. It gave me the same feeling that emo music gives me, but without the awesome instrumentals.

1st June 2023 Listened throughout the day while having another lazy sun day in the hotel. Crazy meal in the evening for Frankie and Gordon’s 50th wedding anniversary. Grungy and romantic synth pioneers. Enjoyed this. 3.5 if I could.

I thought I wrote out something for this but I guess it didn’t save. Really fun album!

Yes yes yes. I said on our last Depeche Mode album that I'd want one more, with hits. This one has the big three, and all you need as far as I'm concerned. "Personal Jesus" will always do it for me, such a cool track. It's kind of funny how low energy a lot of the other tracks seem compared to that, "Policy of Truth" and "Enjoy the Silence." Highs so high that maybe it was too hard for them to reach for it consistently. Anyway, can't be less than great with those hits. Favorite tracks: Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth, Clean. Album art: Pretty boring if you ask me, a flower on a black background. Looks almost exactly like that Steely Dan album cover for Aja. Not doing much for me, very unassuming. 4/5

TRACKS: World In My Eyes [4] Sweetest Perfection [4] Personal Jesus [4] Halo [5] Waiting for the Night [3] Enjoy the Silence [5] Policy of Truth [5] Blue Dress [5] Clean [4.5] RATING: 5

TRACKS : world in my eyes [4] the sweetest perfections [5] personal jesus [5] halo [5] waiting for the night [4] enjoy the silence [5] policy of truth [4.5] blue dress [5] clean [4] RATING : 5

Очень интересно оказаться в моменте, когда альбом выпускался. Мне кажется тогда это был разъеб лютый Алкоальбом: мартини

Ну вот все три песни Depeche Mode, которые все когда-либо слышали, вот они тут есть. Мне под такую музыку хочется на машине ехать ночью по трассе: спокойно, наедине со своими мыслями, никого не трогая. Ну как бы, Enjoy The Silence прямо намекает на такое времяпрепровождение. По мне так звучит очень стильно. Да, может показаться однообразно, такая вот она ваша - дэнс-готика. Я правда был уверен, что этой музыке чуть побольше лет, но разница в 5-10 лет уже не так существенна, когда альбому 33...

крепково

Mixed bag, but cool old school techno

beeps and boops. some beeps better than others but not bad.

Close to a five star for me. Some very high highs, but ultimately the album is a bit too long. 4.5/5

I wasn’t a big fan when this would have been released but have learned to like Depeche Mode over time. This is another band where I’ve probably been spoiled by greatest hits compilations.

Massa, nao sabia que eu curtia essa banda

It’s only been fairly recently that I’ve given a Depeche Mode a real listen. My partner has Sounds Of The Universe on vinyl which is great, and their new album Memento Mori is also really good. So let’s listen to Violator today! Songs I already knew: Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence Favourites: Enjoy The Silence, Blue Dress There is a lot to like about this. I really like how the sound of Depeche Mode hasn’t changed too much over time - there has certainly been some evolution, but there is no denying that this album and their newest have the same feel. I love a good synth, and this uses it aplenty. For me, it doesn’t get too much, but I imagine that if you don’t like that synthy sound then there might not be much here to enjoy. For me though, a very good album which I’ll certainly be going back to over time.

dude I loved the part when they said I'm going depeche mode and depeched everywhere. best tracks: world in my eyes, enjoy the silence, personal jesus

Electrónica

A nice listen all together.

Some decent tracks

It Is OK but not my Favourite DP Album I prefer the first Album.

Solid album. Great production and vocals. Never would've thought this was released in the 90's. Favorites would be Sweetest Perfection, Waiting for the Night, and Clean. 8/10

Ég er ekki, eins og áður hefur komið fram, Depeche Mode maður. En að því sögðu þá er þessi plata barasta drullugóð. Ekki eitthvað sem ég set á mér til skemmtunar, en flott engu að síður.

Synth-pop. It was a good listen.

I’ve always liked this album.

Pretty good

I've been wanting to listen to it for a while. It's a very pleasant new wave/electronic/alternative rock album, but I feel like I really have to listen to some of the songs a few more times to truly appreciate them.

Depeche Mode! Yes. This is one of my favorite New Wave Albums of all time. It has some of my favorite New Wave songs of all time and and just simply has a tone that the genre has yet to properly replicate before and since.

DNF

Not very bassy. Might be Spotify. Some good hits, some nice grooves, and some off kilter stuff

Love the instrumentals; not so sure about the vocals

It's interesting hearing the change in albums as I reviewed the previous album a week ago. They've definitely evolved into a more deeper, complex act with this album. Still rocking the 80s synths, but with a much darker tone. Very cool vibes throughout

So boring has aged badly

Pretty solid record of 80s pop/rock filled to the brim with synthesizers, with the smash hit 'enjoy the silence'.

Own on Vinyl

Pretty good not my favorite, liked a couple songs. Liked the synths

I've been on a journey with New Wave, from not really understanding it beyond liking Talking Heads, to learning that most groups in that umbrella are actually the "80s synth music" I'd hear from radio play & not very much like talking heads... to listening to a *bunch*, *way too many* on the generator and realizing that Depeche Mode is maybe the only one of that crowd that actually had chops beyond the radio hits. Pretty good stuff! shame about their peers

An almost perfect album cover, ruined by the bands title in an ugly ass grey rectangle. Almost perfect. The music itself though is perfect, or pretty goddamn close.

Was delighted when this album appeared for me this morning. No question that it would be 5 stars, and a wonderful excuse to listen to it again. Stripped back and slinky, this surprised many on release and it still sounds fresh 33 years later.

interesting, I thought that Depeche Mode had been international stars years earlier, in the mid 80s. The hit singles, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth are all great songs. The rest was kinda meh... 3 star for those good songs but it really deserves a 2.5

Overall a great album and really a pinnacle of 80's pop/rock. I remember when the 2006 releases came out, I was in a Sam Goody and saw the album - I had heard of Depeche Mode but never given them a listen. I was struck by the album artwork and listened to a few tracks on the demo station. I don't think I ended up buying the album, and it's probably for the best. I don't think I would have appreciated it at that point. But now, in my mid-30s I really enjoy that sound and vibe. While I prefer New Order, there are some really great tracks on this album and its definitely worth the listen.

Not as good as I remembered

À la fois électro et pop, dans la lourdeur et la densité. Même si je n'écoute pas souvent Depeche Mode, force est d'admettre que leurs hits sont efficaces. Le refrain d'Enjoy the Silence m'émeut chaque fois.

Dark and horny.

4 stars. Not really my bag but extremely well done.

dark and atmospheric. topics of alienation, interpersonal relationships, addiction. reminiscent of early nine inch nails with lyrics a little less bleak. this album is a masterpiece. highlights: “halo”, “waiting for the night”, “enjoy the silence”, “clean”.

Super long album that we were interrupted listening to, but great album, honestly.

I knew a few of the songs and I like them well enough. Rest of the album was ok. I liked the last song Clean.

It was alright. Just reminds me of why Depeche Mode is my least favorite of the trinity

This album sure did have a few hits on. The songs that weren't hits were usually kind of nothing though. It was okay. Some good and some not notable. I might like one of their other albums more than this one. My favourite songs were Personal Jesus and Policy of Truth.

9.5/10

Vabbè è un classico

Had its ups had its downs

Moody synth-pop goes brrrrrr. Good album to make your whole personality for a few weeks.

Never gets old.

Overall, did not enjoy this album. Riffs and melodies were repetitive. I did like Clean because it felt authentically moody and brooding.

4,5

heh,. meikä poika sanoo nyt sen heh….. Violator on brittilegendojen pitkän uran kiistaton kohokohta. Alternative-musiikki teki varmaa nousua 1990-luvun alussa, kun Depeche Modekin löysi kovimman hittivaihteensa. Hämyisät industrial-kokeilut, syntikkapop ja rehevä dance-rock jatkuivat, mutta kokonaisuus voimistui jylhien sovitusten ja isompaan rooliin nousseen kitaran myötä. Monumentaaliset Personal Jesus ja Enjoy The Silence ovat vain pintaraapaisu menestysalbumista. tai siis oikeestaan parhaat biisthön tossa mutta siis meikäläinen tarkotti albumi toimii albumina vaikka nuo onkin parhaat biisut jotka näpsähtää heh.,.sitä meikäpoika yritti sanoa,, vaikkei ehkä toi personal jesus lemppari.. sopii albumiin kuin nenä nenän paikalle, hyvä!

Just great selection of songs

Surprisingly good, never really got into these guys at the time but this album holds up fairly well. It starts strong although it got a bit non descript after the first few tracks

Great album! Loved the sound and the vocals.

Nice change pace. Well produced, a couple classic songs.

Knew a surprising amount of these songs

a nice and relaxing album

love it

It's dark, but not really kind of gothic atmosphere at all - It flirts with you sensually to move your body while unnecessarily in the mood for dance mode. And this LP boasts some of the most killer rhythmic shaking I've known, like \"World in My Eyes\" & \"Policy of Truth\" (sexiest dance rhythm ever!) Fav track: Waiting for the Night

Very good

One of my favorite albums of all time. What a great time to generate this record as well, with "Memento Mori" releasing in 2 days. The formula to make a good album is actually very simple - a lot of funny noises that make me go ha ha. This album has a lot of funny noises. I especially like when "Policy of Truth" goes BEEP BOOP BABABAPWOOP. Or when "Personal Jesus" goes BUM BABA BUMBUM. Thank you for reading my deep analysis of this album.

Not typically my style of music, but it was nice to hear electronic music composed artfully. Still falls into the "background noise" trap that most electronic music does for me, but I quite enjoyed this more than most other similar albums. Favorite track: Kaleid

very good my fave song is enjoy the silence

fun! dark techno! felt like i was in the dramatic end sequence of a 90s season finalr

More "techno" than alternative, but still a very good album. For me this is a more mature, sometimes darker, album. Certainly it's more introspective than previous albums. And you have to love a line like, "reach out and touch faith".

Some great tracks, very atmospheric. Might be a 4-star album upon further listening.

I enjoyed this one. A bit more focused on the electronic side than I expected, but a nice album nonetheless.

Always liked Depeche Mode, but I wasn't familiar with any of the songs on this album. Not bad, but not great.

4.5

Enjoyed it way more than I thought I would, I’ve only ever really heard the hits, but every track is pretty decent! Really digging the production.

Lots of singles I recognize and like, but overall this album is too sad boy goth for my tastes.

Some songs could have been longer and some shorter, but overall a very strong project.

Awesome album, just great songs, great sounds and an alltime banger.

A classic through and through!

Essential for the singles and the first track. Totally unique sound.

Great, but assumed this was older. 4

Didn't enjoy the start. Some tunes later on though

Very cool

Honestly didn't really grasp me that much. recognised some from radio,but won't come back to it.

not mine

I enjoy some Depeche Mode, but for the most part it just doesn't appeal to me. Some good songs, but ultimately I don't really care for the album.

Snippet of birdsong almost burst my eardrums. Then Personal Jesus came on and everything was alright. Good album, it grew on me

Great production, consistent vibe, catchy music

Mixed opinions for me. The songs I really liked, I liked. The songs I didn’t like, I didn’t care for. Stand outs were Personal Jesus, Halo, Enjoy the Silence.

It was pretty good

I like it man

Album starts strong. Crescendo's at Enjoy the Silence. Blue Dress was the only song I disliked.

Just ok.

Can see why this was their breakout album. Very moody but upbeat at the same time. Reminds me a lot of their contemporaries, but also having a sound and style unique to them.

I understand the greatness and the pioneering role of this album. I just simply don't like it. 4 because Personal Jesus kicks ass

Depeche mode ist ein Feeling. Und ich hab's gfühlt

so fette Sounds und interessante produktionen aber ich kann mit dem gesang einfach nix anfangen das scheißt für mich komplett rein

Depeche mode ist für mich irgendwie ziemlich weit weg, auch wenn die sehr revolutionär waren. Trotzdem muss man credit geben für gute Songs

Paar classics, aber auch viel filler. Musst schon zugedröhnt in den 90ern sein um es vollends zu appreciaten achso halt bin ich doch

"Personal Jesus," "Enjoy the Silence," and "Policy of Truth" all on the same album? Yes, please. The rest of the tracks aren't as good, but that's a high bar to clear, so I won't hold it against them.

This CD lives permanently in my car, and it's the album I've most listened to over the last 15 years. The first time I saw the Enjoy the Silence video, I was stunned & amazed. I was 14 going on 15 spending time at nerd summer camp when the video comes on in the lounge area of our school. I stopped in my tracks as it started & I couldn't walk away -WHAT IS THIS?! My eyes must've been as big as saucers as I let the song drench me in dark disco synth. There I was, nerdy & weird, instantly in love with Depeche Mode. The album cover still seduces me & I plan on getting that wilted rose tattooed (eventually). Halo, Blue Dress, and Clean are non-radio favorites & I just scored tickets to see them this year on my bday. I'm actually seeing them twice in 2023. It will be undoubtedly different without Fletch, but I AM STOKED. This band is me...14 year old me, 20 something me, 30 & 40 something me, forever me.

Depeche Mode has such a distinct sound, and the way the vocals are produced are so cool. Not a single song sounded similar, and I also really liked most lyrics. Good album cover as well. Fav track(s): Personal Jesus, Halo, Enjoy the Silence

A band I adore for their elite list of synth-pop singles moving into their “serious” period to mixed results. I should like this record a lot more, but it actually marks the point where I check out of Depeche Mode’s discography. Besides the singles, which are again top notch, the deep cuts are very samey both sonically and melodically. The production definitely ties another feather to the band’s bow, but it just didn’t resonate with me at all. It’s simultaneously dense and sparse and to my ear just falls a bit flat and, dare I say, dated. Obviously their earlier stuff is incredibly dated in this regard but it’s still ultimately fun. Here, the brooding introspection just never lets up and it seaps into every element of this record. It’s a pretty dark listen but not all that engaging across the full album. Nevertheless, I’m glad it’s on this list. Albeit with a bit of confusion I’ll admit.

Gisteren had ik hier niet echt zin in. Vandaag ook niet merk ik. Maar ik vind het desondanks wel een goed album. "Blue Dress" had op de snijtafel achter mogen blijven van me, maar verder goede nummers met als uitschieters toch wel de hits.

Quite surprised by this. Heard little bits of Depeche Mode before but nothing much so I was keen to give this a whirl. The opening few tracks were about as bad as I’ve heard on this list, and on a whole the album just sounded a bit dull and boring, and bordering on the self indulgent at times. Definitely saved by the singles, and I’m certain they have better albums than this. Was expecting more

Really good, knew the singles but thought the rest of the album stood up too. Mad how heavy a synth band can sound, a lot of these songs reminded me of nine inch nails. Hopefully another album or two in the list.

The hits are great, as are a few of the album tracks. Hypnotic.

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Had not heard much of Depeche Mode but liked their moody/synth sound. Some of the songs go on too long, especially "Enjoy the Silence" which could have been cut in half. Highlights were: World In My Eyes Personal Jesus

Never listened to a Depeche mode album before but Kinda thought I knew what to expect.... and it lived up to it.... Generally not a fan of that synthy sound from the late 80s. Never liked personal Jesus. Enjoy the silence is better though. Didn't really do anything for me. Forgettable.

Depeche Mode just doesn't really do much for me. I definitely like this album more than 'Music for the Masses' but really only because of two tracks "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence". These two songs are great and one's that I'd definitely come back to but aside from them I was pretty underwhelmed by this album. I went back and checked my other Depeche Mode review and still feel like this general sentiment resonates for me with this album (aside for the two songs mentioned above): The production choices on this type of synth-pop make it feel shallow. It's not that it isn't decent music, just not what I would ever choose to listen to as I have trouble connecting to the artists at all. Standout Tracks: Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Blue Dress

they can do atmosphere but they’re weak on tunes and the tone is just too faux-grave for me

Love DM. Personal Jesus.

A lot of people must be influenced by their nostalgia when rating this. Very boring except a couple of songs.

Dark, slick, moody - loved this album. I listened to the 2006 remaster which included two bonus tracks, on other albums I may skip these, on this I didn't. The two songs that played after this album was complete was LCD Soundsystem "Oh Baby" and "Disorder" by Joy Division, both songs I love so we are in good company. Also is Depeche Mode a top 5 band name?

The usage of the harsh 80s synth percussion was used in several songs, which I didn't care for but the rest of it was much better than i was expecting. Dark and very polished. This album as a whole was very good.

Great album with some iconic songs. I don't listen to them enough. I really liked Mephisto.

THE Greatest album of all time

Incredibly well mixed. Really liked the outro on the album version of Personal Jesus. let down by some weaker songs in my humble opinion.

Love DM

This is probably one of the most perfectly realized albums of the synth pop era. Interestingly, this album didn't show up until 1990, when the genre was petering out into a different sound for the 90s. What works for Depeche Mode here is the darkness that was inherently always a part of their work - that vaguely unsettling and menacing undertone, the elegantly ominous synth arrangements, the complex lyricism that dealt with darker themes. This made the band thrive in ways that their more bubbly peers could not. Then there's Gahan and Gore, the alternatingly commanding and gently emotive vocal core of the group. DM didn't really have any true equals at this point in their career, and this album demonstrates why. It's just about the best thing they ever made. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Personal Jesus, World in My Eyes, Policy of Truth, Halo, Enjoy the Silence, Waiting for the Night, Sweetest Perfection, Blue Dress, Clean

Banger. There's like 3 utter classics on here, and the rest is super good too. 4.5 rounded up because it's basically the progenitor of all of the chilly synth pop that I love.

Nice

A masterpiece and a benchmark of the genre. Essential listening. Would give 6 stars. Perfection.

It's hard for me to remember to cultural context of this record as I was too young There are a few truly great tracks here (Enjoy The Silence, Policy Of Truth). It's def bold and experimental, and they mostly pull it off.

Great album, defining for its genre

I remember being invited by a girl named Elise in her parents' house in the middle of the woods one night, along with a bunch of other teenage friends. Her parents were away, and the only tangible memory I have of that evening was that we played that record many, many times. The night outside was pitch-dark. Some of our friends stayed in the living room with us. Others disappeared God knows where. I was young, and this was the first time I was listening to Depeche Mode's *Violator* from start to end. But it certainly wasn't the last... No review of mine can properly describe how downright incredible this album is for me. Martin Gore's inspired chord successions, always surprising you at a pitch-perfect moment... Dave Gahan's haunting vocal performance infusing much needed soul into the synthpop proceedings... Fletcher and Wilder's intricate clockwork-like arrangements, filled with rich, evocative soundscapes, almost cinematic in their scope... So many details to fall in love with. This here is the apex of Depeche Mode's discography--pop music to dwarf all other *serious* attempts at it (either then or now), with a dark, twisted undercurrent to make this album a perfect gem. A gem made out of obsidian, as some other review seems to imply here... 'Obsidian'. What an apt word for this record, really. *Violator* proves that under the right set of circumstances, darkness can shine as bright as sunrays through clear glass. So many catchy and illuminating melodies indeed roam throughout this LP. But those melodies are nothing like the usual synthpop routinely spewed forth by other small fry in this overall genre. Because, as catchy as they are, some of those melodies are also heavy with a muted sense of danger. And others subtly suggest a deep, melancholic mood that can leave you speechless. The band also had such a large palette to play with. Blues, r'n'b and rock undertones here clash with glacial timbres and digital sounds that are both as cold as steel--a contrast that brings dynamics rarely explored within the realm of popular music. Of course, here, in this list of songs, are also some of the most famous hits Depeche Mode will always be remembered for (the romantic-yet-lively "Enjoy The Silence" or the quintessentially bluesy "Personal Jesus"...). And the fact that those hits also display lyrics that are iconic all by themselves is just cream on the cake at this point. To be fair, most of the other tracks in *Violator* would have deserved being hit singles in their own right as well, giving a "best of" feel to this LP. As for the couple of cuts that weren't exactly single material ("Halo" and "Blue Dress"), they still have something meaningful to add to the rest of those stellar songs--either because of their nightly mood or the way they echo with the other tracks. Speaking of echoes, I'm currently listening to "Waiting For The Night". A few years ago, I wrote the blueprint of an imaginary sci-fi TV series about young telepaths living in the future. In my mind, this song here was the soundtrack played during the closing titles of that series' first 'season finale', right after a suspenseful cliffhanger. There is indeed both mysterious and breathtaking about this song. Just as there's something equally mysterious and breathtaking about the whole album. In that sense, it makes sense that such music could be used for dark adventures involving youngsters. Waiting for a TV series that would bring this sort of idea to fruition now... I'll probably never write the complete version of that story I had in mind. But the song is still available for me if I want to daydream about it. And all the other cuts from this amazing record can suggest similar visions for me. Visions of a house lost in the woods. Visions of grey mountains and black oceans. Visions of a dancefloor populated by misfits and other drug-addled freaks. Visions of neon signs flickering in the rain. Visions of life and death. I'll never get tired of those visions. And since "words are very unneccessary" to embrace them or fully convey my love for them, I'm going to stop talking now. 5 stars, nothing else. Good luck for the next album that pops up through this app. Number of albums left to review: 662 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 165 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 79 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 93

A classic and righly so

These guys know how to do it

A wonderful album, but Depeche Mode never really was my vibe. Definitely respect the album even though I couldn’t get into it. 4/5

Oscuro, con sonidos que actualmente te llevan a otra década pero que en mí caso, siendo mí papá fan, lo tengo bastante incorporado y me gusta escuchar

I have never previously streamed Depeche Mode! I'm sure fans love this album. It's just not my thing.

While I quite enjoy this album, I always thought that it needed some kind of pick me up to cheer up the atmosphere a little bit. It's dark and quite cold for a synthpop album.Nevertheless the material here is excellent and classic. Enjoy the Silence is a timeless song that aged like fine wine and Personal Jesus and Policy of Truth are also pure synthpop masterpieces. Dark, cold, but also very much enjoyable. 8,5/10

overall ok with a couple good songs. very listenable though!!

4/5, pretty close to 4.5

best synthpop album ever

Classic. Last of the 80s alt.

Love me some Depeche Mode! Knew the singles from this album, and realistically that's all I'll revisit. They're terrific though, and the instrumentals included in the remastered 2006 remaster are good listens too.

Quite a lot of hits I recognized and somewhat enjoyed, but I think this album went on for about a half hour too long.

Some bangers, some must-skip-songs

Not my favorite Depeche Mode

4.75

Surprised to enjoy as much as I did

clean af. somehow i’m getting cure vibes- had no idea what to expect with this one but it’s good

Album goes very hard, a few skips but most of it is great

Hemskt trevligt. Och blinkningen till Pink Floyd i ”Clean” var charmig.

Kvalitetsleverans! Kul att höra dem precis här i skarven mellan åttiotal och nittiotal, jävla bra. Kanske är jag syntare ändå.

It’s the holidays so I had time to listen to the songs 2+times. The hits Pers Jesus, Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth are quite good. As for the rest, the darker songs like Halo were harder to listen to the second time through. The three hits are good so, for a second, I considered rounding up - but only for a second.

By 1990 I had lost interest in this type of music. I was introduced to “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy the Silence” when I heard remixes a decade letter and by the time I heard the originals, they sounded like they needed a little more punch. That said, “Enjoy the Silence” is a great song, and “World in My Eyes” and “Policy of Truth”. Dave Gahan’s voice isn’t that strong (normal for a synth pop band I guess) but it really brings down the slower tarcks. I like the Pink Floyd-ish bits in “Clean”. Between a 2 and 3 for me.

Although this is their 7th album I still don’t think they have mastered putting the “feelz” into their synth pop. For example Kraftwerk is arguably more robotic and mechanical sounding but they’re able to imbue more soul and humanism into their music. Depeche Mode OTOH sound so soulless and hollow to me. Enjoy the silence is a fine song, probably one of their best actually, but the rest of the album is meh to me.

Damn, I forgot how great this album is.

Loved it then and it still sounds minimal, electronic, serious, but cheeky and very danceable. Plugged the gap between New Order albums. Awesome.

Un 4 por el Personal Jesus.

Puf, qué rollo. Menos la canción conocida.

It was fine, I gave it 4 stars for including Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence & Policy of Truth.

wow, fantastic sound

This wasn't for me. It was based around the synth way too much and did not have enough non-synth instruments to balance it out well.

Not into this kind of music at all

It's ok for a long drive, otherwise, I would not listen.

Reach out and touch faith!

Nah

Yep. Bangers aside, the whole thing was great

Not very interesting to me. A few songs that I recognize but overall not a striking album. 2 stars

Hey - it’s Depeche Mode! And they rule

Wow! Who would have thunk that Depeche Mode would put out an album this good over a decade into their career? Very synth-wave and 80s, but in a way that is more mature, developed, and new. You can hear how the genre is evolving into a new decade. If not for Grunge, Hip Hop, and the other major 90s movements superseding this sound, one can imagine many more 90s albums having a sound like this. A happy little discovery, and this is coming from someone who would not consider themselves a DM fan.

Too slow

Enjoy the Silence their best song ever, for the rest of album their darkness does not grip me as e.g. Cure/Sisters Of Mercy does. Seems fake to me. Like their early poppy work etter.

This album is pretty good. Some songs are better than others, but overall the songs are good. I honestly don't have many opinions about this album. Favorite song: Halo Worst song: Blue Dress

7,5 / 10

Not my thing

Always loved the singles from this album but found some a new favourite in blue dress

me gustó bastante eh cuidado! 7.5

Too depressing for me

4.4/5

Take away the four huge singles, and it's still a pretty good album. Probably comes closest to breaking the Mode album pattern of astonishing singles and ok album tracks. So four stars.

Awesome just awesome 5/5.

that one song and a couple others are decent

Bello, "Enjoy the silence" bellissima. Come anche "Personal Jesus" In generale mi piace molto.

Very good.

Consistently great album, love Depeche Mode. Loved all of the tracks on these. Stand outs: World In My Eyes, Sweetest Perfection, Personal Jesus, Halo, Enjoy the Silence, Clean

Already listened, masterpiece in synthpop. 5/5

Hard hitting synth. Mostly great, just a little monotonous and low energy.

Synth Pop comes of age! I loved Depeche Mode at the beginning, and I think they just got better with maturity. This album may have slightly gone on too long. However, the classic songs are just so good they win out every time. I’m still singing Personal Jesus a day later. Johnny Cash’s version is also bloody amazing.

Essential New Wave listen, a track-for-track opus from the band

I don't know if I've run out of ways to describe my daily album a mere 70 days into this project, or if I just don't have much to say about Violator at all. Some songs like Sweetest Perfection, Halo, Enjoy the Silence (of course) and Policy of Truth were moody, atmospheric, and enjoyable enough to put you in a trance, but the other tracks were meh.

Im just not sure how i felt about this one. I started out not liking it but it grew on me. Im not sure if i would say it is one of the 1001 albums you MUST hear before you die... definitely some good songs. just not really my thing i guess.

Depeche Nope

Not a big new-wave fan; however, I was fond of some of the earlier tracks on the album. The combination of electronic sounds and traditional orchestration gave it a distinct feel. I might come back to this after I become more seasoned with the new-wave genre, however right now, I'm not terribly fond of it. Sort of underwhelming. Favorite Track: Memphisto.

It might be very disrespectful, even though Depeche Mode is a great and legendary band, but they are in my opinion a one-album band. They have a long and eventful discography, but never before or after they hit it so right as in "Violator". It is extremly reductionistic on my part, but as an average fan of the genres - which in this case range from electronic rock/pop, to even resemblances of gothic rock, only this album sticks out and I'm happy to revisit anytime. The main part of every Depeche Mode's song, or album is Dave Gahan's vocal. His deep voice and certain way he is singing, almost talking, through a song is a big highlight and the most recognizable feature of the band. His persona creates a terrific atmosphere on the album, easily turning every riff or melody into a bit darker and ambient versions of themselves. In term of instrumental side, the riffs are very simple, but catchy, which very often is the case. Seven or eight notes, rather slower tempo, electronic background and that's it, we have a recipe for success, like the best (or second best) single from "Violator" - "Personal Jesus". Even though two most known songs really pushed their way to the top of pop-culture at some point, the rest of the album isn't that far behind. "Sweetest Perfection", "Waiting for the Night" and "World In My Eyes" are really good songs, staying in the general atmospheric surrounding of the album. A session with Violator is a really well spent time and it's important to know it, because there is plenty of covers there, so the connection will be much easier.

Hooky but trite and overrated. “Enjoy the Silence” and “Policy of Truth” are not bad, but there's a silliness factor that one struggles to look past – just hard to take them seriously, despite (or because of) their becoming unaccountably huge. "Personal Jesus" is as annoying as an earworm can be.

I was expecting this to sound really dated and was very surprised that it didn't. However, I was never a fan, and this listen didn't change that.

Meh

This is not an objective review as I really like Depeche Mode

World in My Eyes is very good and Enjoy the Silence is a masterpiece, but I gotta say that I didn't really care about that album outside of that. I respect them and all, but I don't really enjoy listening to them that much. Maybe the older albums will be more in line with my taste.

Not a big fan of Depeche Mode, but I got to admit that all the big hits are there!

Rollercoaster album - it means up an down. Like the overall genre and where they try to go, but not as good as average fan pretend

This album contains very strong moments and others rather average, even that I do not like at all. I think I'd be the kind of person to appreciate a Depeche Mode "Greatest Hits" compilation, but not an album.

Didn’t really enjoy this type of electronic, moody music

Totally forgot about Personal Jesus & Enjoy the Silence, surprisingly Policy of Truth was my fav Vibes: kinda wanna get frosted tips, throw some shades on, and walk down a leaf-covered street in the fall

Between a 3 and a 4, closer to a 4 imo.

Much goth, very industrial. Like how “the Cure” this sounds. REACH OUT AND TOUCH ME

This was enjoyable. Kind of a shame Personal Jesus is in whatever commercial it’s in. Definitely a few hits on this album though…i’m going 3.7.

Dark and groovy. Pretty great.

I truly don’t get why people like deseche mode. Not the worst thing I’ve heard and It had a cool spooky atmosphere , but I don’t really see the appeal 5/10

7/10. I liked Music for the Masses better as an album, but Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence are always great

Got bored during a lot of the songs. 5/10

Very, very good album. Dark, but in all the right places. Loved it

The album on the whole breathes well and is full of interesting soundbytes. "Policy of Truth" was a standout. Haven't really listened to Depeche Mode before, but enjoyed this. 4/5

Good solid and gloomy at times

Happy Friday to me! Looks like I get to celebrate with some Depeche Mode. I'm maybe partial to Some Great Reward, but perfectly happy with Violator. One of my favorite voices to listen to, sooths my brain. This album evokes a very singular mood; a dark palace built out of synths with catchy irresistible hooks pulling you from room to room. World In My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence, Policy Of Truth. Such great songs.

This is the definition of the 80s.

It was good! I don’t think Depeche Mode is as much my thing, but still a solid album.

Really interesting! That's a good precursor to dark disco / dark wave

вообще я не любитель депешей но ооооочень редко могу их послушать, и они мне зайдут вот сегодня тот самый вечер, когда я получила удовольстве от их музыки и инопланетно-космических мотивов)

Ik veer toch op bij de hitjes en dommel een beetje in bij de rest...

Ik had hier veel zin in, maar het viel me wat tegen eigenlijk.

Eerste draaibeurt vond ik het wat tegenvallen, maar omdat ik er toch vertouwen in had dat er meer te halen was heb ik 'm nog een keer geluisterd. En inderdaad, tweede keer was al stukken beter!

Fijne, compacte plaat.

Fine album just not my jam.

Not very familiar with Depeche mode, only knew them by name. But I was pleasantly surprised. The album got beter the second time I listened to it. I like their style and will try more of their albums. Favourite songs: - Personal Jesus - Halo - Enjoy the silence

Three stars for Personal Jesus alone. I was more of a Some Great Reward fan, but this was a big improvement over Music for the Masses, it felt like a return to form.

So I will assume if Violator made this list, which I enjoy, (mainly for Personal Jesus and World in My Eyes), but surely that means Black Celebration is on this list as well?

I love this album! I want to listen to it a few more times as I was a bit distracted and couldn't fully focus. Super relaxing and great vibes, also includes some absolute all time bangerz.

As much as I love quintessential 80s music I did find this a bit grating at times, particularly to begin with and then I grew into it more. The ones I liked I already knew I liked... so perhaps that says something

I did enjoy this quite a look, got some bangers

Some bangers on this piece

Depeche Mode’s best is a synth laden other world that is darker pop. At its worst, it is thrown cheese that missed its target and splatted on the floor in front of the goth kid. The first two tracks demonstrate it well. The rest of the album is a war between the two.

Highly enjoyable, nice beat to it and good vocals.

Enjoyed this.

surprised me, just never really listened to techno music before though

I didn't like this as much as I thought I would. I'll give it another listen for sure but nothing really stuck out.

Pop-rock con toques electrónicos en algunos cortes. Algunas canciones muy buenas, con excelentes ritmos.

- Für elektronische Musik bestimmt ein Meilenstein, finde es aber eher langweilig.

All I ever wanted, all I ever needed is here.

bu albumu kaydederken kullandiklari uyusturucu miktarini merak ediyorum cok

This was a really great album with a few notable songs in "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", and "Policy of Truth". Electronica done right, unlike much of the bullshit electronic music that I've listened to on this 1001 list. 8/10.

Awesome album

I’m not sure what to rate this because I didn’t enjoy at all and wanted to give it a 2 the first listen, but on the second listen I liked it more. I don’t think I liked it enough to give it a 4 though, because there were some songs I didn’t care for.

The production and synth work is amazing on this record. Great mixes and some really great sounds. I wasn't a huge fan of the drum sounds however, also not a huge fan of the lead singers voice. The influence of this record is hard to ignore, just based on some of the NIN and Marilyn Manson records that come after this. I'll probably listen again for production inspiration but I didn't really find myself enjoying these tracks too much.

Highlight? Personal Jesus. Overall, this is good, but not great.

The most overplayed Depeche Mode album. Still good, though.

10/10 glad i’ve been getting more new-wave recently I can never get enough of this genre

It's so much something I should love. Indie pop mixed with dark electronica, and yet I only ever like it. It took Johnny Cash's cover to get me to love Personal Jesus. I do love Enjoy the Silence and World. There are some lovely stretches. I think the problem is that religion and drugs are boring topics. When it gets off the 'edgy' topics it's much better, cos some work actually gets put in. Still great. Just not perfection.

3.5+

Iexpected Personal Jesus to be the only real standout here, but Waiting for the Night and Enjoy the Silence also really grabbed me. The rest was solid!

First-listen favorites: Sweetest Perfection, Personal Jesus, Clean, Kaleid

i don't think this is quite my thing but there were some interesting aspects here

Depeche Mode's Violator draws you into their moody, hypnotic, synthed out world, full of mystery and deception. With sleek electronics, coupled by synth bass and just a little bit of funk, has an ambient music feel to it, but you know a live show would absolutely go off. Best: Enjoy the Silence; Clean Worst: Blue Dress

not bad honestly, it's got some good songs but also some boring and repetitive ones. personal jesus is my personal favorite, and yes, it's because of gta: san andreas. 6.5/10

Interesting new sounds but not something I’d go back to

this shit sucks

I was going to give this 4 stars at first but after reflecting, there really are no flaws and it's a very compelling record. I love the juxtaposition of poppy dance beats with dark, megalomaniac lyrics. An absolutely standout record.

I used to hate this stuff. Now I appreciate it some but it kind of brings me down.

Depeche Mode's masterpiece and synth-pop"s exquisite dying breaths. A more democratic approach to songwriting and recording redefined their sound. Dark hooks abound within a rich, textured atmosphere. I consider this a perfect album.

This might be the first Depeche Mode album I finally jived with. In general I wanna like Depeche Mode but it never lands fully and is too 80s in the worst way, but this one has some of the bigger hits, especially Personal Jesus. That one is a bop.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. Best track: Policy of Truth

Has electronica aged so poorly? What was considered fresh and novel when it came out seems stale today. A few songs from the album still manage to excite, but overall it doesn’t move me.

the very best

Pop sounding synths with a dark undertone that takes it to a new level.

Only song I knew was Personal Jesus Lush goth electro synth, sounding ahead and of its time all at once. A bridge between the 80s and 90s

Very fun album to listen to and experience.

The overall aesthetic is not for me, but I can appreciate a lot of the sound design. Some of the outros are a bit too long. Second half is way stronger than the first half. Favs: Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth, Blue Dress

Haven’t listened to them much before but I was surprised by how many songs I already knew on this album. It gets a little same-y at times but there are a few gems.

Was a bit poppy and generally underwhelming tbh, but I did like a few tracks and will maybe give it another try at some point. Policy of Truth my favourite track.

I thought it was ok. Definitely interesting and forward thinking for 1990. If this came out today, I'm not sure I would be impressed. I never really found much melody, so I probably won't return to it.

Having heard tonnes of Depeche Mode tunes over the years, this is the first time I'd ever listened to an album of theirs in full. No idea why I waited so long.

The talking heads just not as good

Cool techno but not really techno. 1990 Would listen again

Nae bad

Classic. Good to listen to it again with a more attentive ear.

Decent album, a couple of songs I've heard before

Un grande

Parte un po’ così, poi si riprende Si sente che è un album degli anni ‘90 Alcune canzoni un po’ soporifere

It was ok. I like Dépêche Mode.

Brilliant, really enjoyed it. Contains some classics such as Personal Jesus

I'm not super familiar with Depeche Mode, but this music feels a bit dated. The 80's synths, the goth / emo kid aesthetic. The instrumentation and arrangements are beautiful. Not really sure if I'm feeling the lyrics though. Still, fun to listen to. Might have to give it another shot. Stand out tracks: Personal Jesus, Halo, Policy of Truth

While an album I cannot deny as influential with its sound and design, and some of the songs are indeed classics to stand the test of time, but the album as a whole is obviously meant to be listened to as an album, never on it's own. Many songs lead directly into the next dong, which is fine for those with lyrics, but the instrumental songs that are three in a row feel strange, like they're supposed to be an intermission, but it comes at the end, just making it feel like a movie soundtrack. Iconic, but not that fun of a listen.

Ahead of their time. A lot of good grooves on this album.

never heard of it without recommendation, not like it much, not my type.

Personal Jesus/enjoy the silence—absolute classic synth—policy of truth is also sneaky good

This grew on me

4/5

Personal Jesus and enjoy the silence are obvious absolute bangers, the rest has some great dark grimy vibes, I may like more on repeat listens but for a summer day not the right vibe

Synth-pop, 1990. The greatest synth-pop record of all time with songs like "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", "Policy of Truth". It has a perfect tracklist, amazing music and very good lyrics too. It's definitely a 90s masterpiece.

I like this album a lot. There's the obvious 2 bona-fide classics but the non-singles are great too. I thought about giving it a 5 but I'm just not sure I can go there. It's really close though. Just excellent.

The sounds on this album are really pretty amazing. The breadth and depth of the synths, the vocal tones, even the synthetic drums, it's well produced for sure. I was never taken by the band's material, and on this album, while I found myself enjoying the ride more than I thought I might, I do not connect with the songs or the emotional pitch of Depeche Mode, which is why I've never really paid them much attention. Glad I listened, I appreciate the craft, but not an album or a band I'll dig deeper into.

This is another band I didn't care for when they were active. I've come to appreciate them more than like them, though they certainly have great songs that get stuck in my head for days. I admire how sneakily avant-garde they are, taking catchy melodies and dance beats and throwing all sorts of crazy sounds and discordant chords under it. Anyway, this was the first time I listened to an entire album by them, and I dug it. My one complaint was some of the songs tended to overstay their welcome, but I dug the darkness of this album. "Personal Jesus" is still just OK in my book, but the rest of it was all in all pretty great. I'm gonna give it a 3 even though I can see this one growing on me. But at the end of the day, there's something about their sound and their lead singer that will never fully connect with me. But I'm glad I heard it and Sweetest Perfection as a great new find for me.

When the late 80s/90s electric music was hitting I had trouble keeping up with all the bands---Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys, Dead or Alive, Simple Minds, Depeche Mode, et al. As my aural skills have evolved with age, I definitely understand and appreciate the nuances across these bands and these sounds. I LOVE THIS MUSIC. I clearly remember dancing to some of these tunes at college parties (Personal Jesus!). Still, hippy early 90s Marianne thought all this electronic music lacked the true musicianship and poetry of the balladeers---Dylan, Joni, The Beatles. Silly girl. This stuff is brilliant. And for the girl who fell in love with a drummer, it's probably scandalous to say...but I do love me a good drum machine. I also appreciate that all these songs strung together took me on a journey to appreciate this as an album (vs great individual songs). The transition from Waiting for the Night into Enjoy the Silence are sonic trips that really hit home the art of the long-form album format.

Good as I recalled

Boring as at the time

I remember really liking "Personal Jesus" when it was getting a good amount of airplay, and hearing another track or two from this record, but I'm had not heard most of the rest of the album. Although it's more in the electronica/synth-pop style that I am not always drawn to, I like it. They have such a strong sense of melody, their vocal performances are compelling, and the rhythms and harmonies are very well-constructed. At first listen, one might miss how layered and dark (not in a negative sense, but in a rich sense) these songs are.

Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, and Policy if Truth, classic tracks off of Violator. Early 90s electronic music.