Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Brilliant. No notes really, it’s a sleek, black arrow to the heart.
Maybe the most "Rock" album of Depeche Mode, definitely one of their best, even though I prefer the 80s period with Music for the Masses and Black Celebration.
A lot of unconventional sounds throughout, but they were interesting!
This is so very good and so very impressive but it can be so very long as well. I don't know that I am complaining about song length here though. In the same way I love listening to Josh Homme play a C chord for a minute and a half straight, the repeating instrumentals on this album are hypnotic and engaging if you're in the right headspace. I was formatting a presentation on livestream data for my boss while listening to this and there was a little like hacker in the mainframe vibe going. The hits are incredible, the rest is great, Memphisto is my standout non-hit. Sounds like Hollow Bastion/the organization 13 themes in Kingdom Hearts II. I'm sitting underneath a 5 and I think it really is right there, it's close but something within me is saying nah.
I think it was how much Richard Blade played Depeche Mode singles that made me not want to listen to this record, but once again Mr. Blade is right, Depeche Mode kinda rules. I saved about half of these songs and would listen to this record straight through again with no complaints... Now can I have some pet shop boys please! Solid 4/5
Never listened to the whole thing. (40 known/85 new)
sehr cooles Album. Sweetest Perfection überraschend mein Lieblingslied aus dem Album. Personal Jesus und Enjoy the Silence auch top.
I knew all the singles but hadn't heard the full album. It was fab, albeit not the right vibe for a sunny summer day lol. 4.5
Going in I knew Deprche Modes singles. I really enjoyed this album not an album I would of ever listened to without the challenge
Great stuff. DM > Cure
I think if this album came out today people would be pretty behind it. Having only ever heard the hits before, I quite enjoyed it. An album to be listened to with good headphones, as the dynamics and sound mixing is really excellent.
All time, great songs, danceable beats, time capsule. I’d listen to this annually, and share
A classic. Some tracks miss, but bangers for the most part.
Vintage Depeche!
World in My Eyes...good tone setter Sweetest Perfection...not the most accessible pop song but I like how dirty it feels Personal Jesus...yes. everything about this. yes. Halo...interesting sounds but nothing special Waiting for the Night...see above Enjoy the Silence...this is the shit Policy of Truth...dark and dirty. fuck ya Blue Dress...Weird. I think I would like it with a few more listens Clean...forgettable
Always an enjoyable listen.
What an awesome album will definitely listen to it again!
not my cup of tea, but an obvious display of practiced and thought out creativity in full form, 3 songs that still get radio play to this day, its a beast of a record for 1990. starting track is great, Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence are not songs i prefer, (even though they carry most of the energy of the album) but Policy of Truth is a solid single. the album is def about the build up more than the end point. lots of tension from start to end. its packed with content for sure. i like Blue Dress, Clean, and most of the end of the album. on a technical level, this is far and away a huge step forward for the new wave/80's dark/goth electronic driven genre, as well as pop music as a whole. there is so much going on that it becomes more symphonic than it appears on the surface. 4/5 and only cuz i don't personally care for this band, but if i did, this is a near perfect album.
Enjoyable album. More up my street.
This is a really strong record from Depeche Mode. This was the first time listening to the album as a whole and I really enjoyed it.
This Deoeche Mode album was solid!
Surprisingly not bad. First track was a great way to start the album. It then went a bit up and down but on the whole much better than I expected. Im tempted out of sheer devilment to give it a 4. Yeah think i will. 4
Very nice album. The vocals are very soulful and songwriting is high quality.
A fantastic album that really showcases Depeche Mode at their best. "Personal Jesus" is a true classic that never gets old, and the overall vibe of the album is just captivating.
jahas. olin jo karvasta pettymystä syöttämässä tähän boksiin mutta jumas lautas toinen puolisko tästä albumista on kerrassaan loistava! TEMPAA mukaansa ja ei päästä irti kunnes viimeinen biisi on vihdoin ohi.. absoluuttista vaibailua ja jokseenkin myös chillailua! pikku copypastse tähän: 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. en paremmin voisi sanoa. neljä on täsmällisyyttä waiting for the night
Vibes
Love this album. I wore it out in my 30’s.
I enjoyed this album a lot. Cool vibes, kind of dark sounding but still easy to enjoy. It felt a little dated, but in the sense that it embodied the genre/era in a time-capsule-ish way. Some really good songs on here, with nothing I considered bad. I think it was just an interesting album and it kept your attention the whole way through. I liked the musical compositions and the vocal additions. I thought they worked well together. I also thought it all sounded good as a whole, and it didn't become bland even though it stayed in the same style. Not sure it reaches the level of great, but it was really good. Overall: 3.75/5
Good album 👌
Great choice, one few can dispute. This release brought their sound to it's pinnacle and ushered in a new vibe for synth pop that had a darker side and a deeper beat. This album was all over the radio and dance clubs in 1990-91. Huge hits with "World In My Eyes" (60 M listens), "Personal Jesus" (covered by everyone, 90M listens), "Enjoy The Silence" (112M listens) & my favorite on the disc, "Policy Of Truth" (142M listens). Flush with big songs and radio favorites you still hear today, this one earns its spot on the T1001. Even the glue tracks have tons of listens, so this one has stood the test of time. Solid choice. 4+ stars
A deep dark synthetic world of distorted reflections bouncing off shimmering glossy black surfaces. A band I wish I liked more than I actually do. Love the cold metallic vibe and funkless disco rhythms but get a bit bored, the tempos are all too similar and even though there's slow build up and intensification, there's not enough tension in the composition. Favorites: policy of truth, enjoy the silence, world in your eyes
Een heerlijk darkwave album, dat eigenlijk alleen tegen zich heeft dat het voor een album uit 1990, voor mijn gevoel dan, net iets teveel de 80s synthproduction aanhoudt, die me bij sommige nummers soms lichtelijk gaat tegenstaan. Desalniettemin vind ik alle 9 nummers memorabel genoeg dat ik het album zo weer in zijn geheel kan luisteren, voor mij een van de belangrijkste factoren als ik een album een rating zou geven. Enjoy the Silence blijft ook wel echt een alltimer.
3.5
I don't understand why it took me so long to listen to this. So good, wow. Excellent production, great voice, the hit songs don't stand out so much as everything is of high quality. Again, bit of a dip towards the end, but it does end gorgeously. Amazing album.
Überascht wie Depeche Mode ned viel falsch mache chan mit ihrere Musig. Für vieli moods guet geignet, au für e schwirige mäntig. dadefür 4 überaschigseier mit lässige spielzüüg dinne
Never heard this before. The two singles are great. Half the album tracks are okay and half are good. I know two of them from somewhere - one I don’t know how, the other is from the Goldfrapp remix which is awesome.
Knew the hits from before but the rest was enjoyable as well. Very stylised. Enjoyed.
Great album and inspired so many different artists and genres. Amazing
Great album but desperately needed some radio edits. Know when to end a song! FS: Personal Jesus, obviously, but enjoyed the whole run through to Blue Dress
Awesome! definitely way ahead of its time Blue dress >>>
Those spotty Essex oiks I saw on Top Of The Pops in the early 80s came a long way in a few years. Dark, musical, produced to within an inch of its life, splendid record.
A really greay ambiance to this album- the mood and vibes are on point. Some big hits too. Overall- very solid
DM is always cool. the whole album just flows.
Certified classic. Enjoy the Silence might be the best song ever made.
I really enjoyed this album, although listening to the playlist in order has made all the songs kind of merge into 1. Adding some songs into a shuffled playlist would work V nice. Fav song World in my eyes
Not a genre I'm very familiar with, but I feel it's done well, and I enjoy the music
While I'm not exactly a synth-pop fan, I have to admit this one's really good. You've got some upbeat bangers like "Personal Jesus" and the more brooding/introspective songs that fill it out nicely, all with a pretty compelling sound behind them. Depeche Mode might "make me a believer" yet.
Words are very unnecessary. Melodic, introspective, mellow vocalist, wonderful 80s electronic sound
More hits on this album than I expected. Really enjoyed it.
Kjente dette litt frå før, likte det
Dark, cool, and stylish. This album sounds like a neon-soaked 80's sci-fi movie filled with brands that have since gone extinct. Favorite tracks: "Enjoy the Silence," "Policy of Truth"
Fantastic
Leuk album en goed om te luisteren. Ik houd zelf iets meer van up-tempo muziek, maar dit is lekker tijdens werkuren. ****
Some of these songs are just iconic bangers even though Depeche Mode is generally not exactly my cup of tea.
Enjoyed more than expected. Never really a band I've been into or known much of, other than their big hits.
Has the iconic Enjoy the Silence song. Some other bangers. I'll give a solid 4
This falls ever so slightly behind the great New Order albums of the era, for me, but it's very close. It does contain one of the 10 or so best songs ever written in Enjoy the Silence, the kind of pop perfection that makes an artist immortal. Personal Jesus, while not my personal brand of synthpop, is also an undeniable masterpiece. I thought Policy of Truth was a deep cut, but it has the most plays on Spotify of anything here? Perfect song. Blue Dress is the true deep cut, then, making more explicit than elsewhere on the record the deep sense of regret that permeates the whole thing. What an album.
I liked it - I think it picked up for me in the second half, but I honestly think it has a more modern sound in the second half and I can hear the influence on modern Synthpop and even like Chillwave/Psychedelia which is the electronic stuff I prefer over, it feels more consistent with the first half having several different experiments with electro, blues Rock, adult Contemporary etc most of which I honestly didn't like. I can see it growing on a second listen!! 1. World in My Eyes (4:26) - 6/10 I really like the sweeping melody that comes in halfway through, but I've never been that big on this kinda buzzy electro sound in a song and it devalues it for me, it sounds like it's from even earlier than 1990 - that being said, it is extremely catchy and can see it growing on me. 2. Sweetest Perfection (4:43) - 6/10 Really like the futuristic bass sounds and the rhythm from the drums and to be honest the vocal melodies are lovely as well! Worried now that I might have a bit of a mental block with this sound as it just doesn't come to the sum of its parts (my nitpick is that I don't love the little break with the strings that halfway through, it's a bit awkward and they don't sound great when they come back later either). 3. Personal Jesus (4:55) - 5/10 Not really my favourite, it's all bluesy and has a stomp rock feel and that's just not what I love unfortunately. 4. Halo (4:30) - 5/10 A bit forgettable. 5. Waiting for the Night (6:07) - 6/10 Liked this one - a bit of a ballad. 6. Enjoy the Silence (6:12) - 8/10 Undeniable chorus and horns (?) are also so catchy. 7. Policy of Truth (4:55) - 7/10 I like how this one builds - there's a lot of different melodies/textures and they all sound great together on the song - sweeping synths/strings, funky sounds. 8. Blue Dress (5:38) - 8/10 Sounds like it could've been an influence on George Clanton with the seagull-esque sharp synths and the melodies, the vocals are fantastic and it all comes together really nicely (interlude at the end is a bit weird though) 9. Clean (5:33) - 7/10 The atmosphere is nice here and it has an interesting vibe to it, again it has a really interesting synth melody and all the parts come together nicely.
Never heard Beautiful dark and danceable
Absolutely loved this album and learning about it. The music was superb and lyrics interesting as well. Will continue to revisit
There are some albums here that I can't imagine anyone not liking. This isn't one of them, but I lap this stuff up. There's some nice experimentation, but what stands out (amid the posturing) is some old-fashioned hooks.
Not everything hit for me, but what did hit was very good. Driving drums and synth arrangements, haunting baritone, this has it all. Clean was the one that gave me goosebumps.
I was digging this. 3.7.
I almost saw Depeche Mode in concert, if it wasn't for a venomous spider bite on my companion's behind. Anyway, very solid album. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Schlüssiges Album. Auch wenn die Songs etwas lang sind, die Stimmung hält sich. Enjoy the Silence ist einfach ein Banger.
Mostly giving this a 4 because of "Policy of Truth" and "Personal Jesus."
Started out really good. I can hear how similar PHM is to it. Pretty good all together. Just all kind of sounded the same.
Classic album. Not my thing though
I assumed I would hate this. First off, I always confuse Depeche Mode with Duran Duran. Depeche Mode is significantly better, but they definitely occupy a similar space. There are a slew of bangers on this album, all of which already live on my Death Scene Music playlist. There are definitely some clunkers, but it’s a pretty cohesive vision with some all time classics. Violator - good album!
Four absolute bangers out of the 9 tracks. The rest is good to forgettable but I love the mood of this album. This project has me becoming a Depeche Mode fan.
Had only heard the singles off of this album and I have always enjoyed those, but the other songs on this album are equally good.
Can’t say anything negative of the album that birthed Enjoy the Silence. Absolutely GOATed.
Simple but effective. Personal Jesus got better when Johnny Cash covered it. I didn't say Personal Jesus by Johnny Cash IS better, what u said is the DM version got better after hearing the Cash version.
in the policy of truth, tududu tududududu
Should relisten, nice and groovy. Possibly too many lyrics, more relaxed
Of course, I love "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence" as much as anyone else, and the rest of the album isn't really a slouch either. But I still can't help but miss the less polished feeling of their earlier work like Some Great Reward. This one's not quite an all-time classic for me, but I feel like there's for to be something in their discography that is.
I wish the album hit for me better but once again the production on this thing just does it for me. I'm gonna keep coming back to this album and maybe it'll hit better in the future, but for now it feels like I'm still surface level. Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus are so good. They would be good songs on another album but here they've been pushed to where they need to be fully. Personal Jesus is such a strong electronic song that it's shocking that it's built around an acoustic guitar riff. You'd think the reverb and echo on the album would get old but it suits it so damn well. Highlight: Personal Jesus (I know that's the lame choice but I liked it before and now I find myself going for the song often)
I actually really liked this!
I like. More listens pls.
I obviously love Depeche Mode, but only really as a singles act, as none of their albums do it for me especially. This is the closest I get to loving one of them, but the gulf between the singles and album tacks is still huge. It's very enjoyable though, and it contains some of my favourite ever songs ('Enjoy the Silence' in particular) so I can't really complain too much.
Loved it,
I know Depeche Mode but truly never sat to listen to an album or more than the one or two tracks I am familiar with. These guys are legendary and now hall of famers. This is a great album.
Tight as hell
Jamie xx shiii makes me wanna rave
Enjoyable; didn't LOVE it
Вроде неплохо, но в душу не западает
Lots of great songs
This was really solid. I know a little of Depeche Mode and this certainly was what I was expecting it to be. Moody, synthy and just plain good!
looking for a vampire club that plays Depeche Mode
Buen álbum, malo que le flipe a la Ayuso. Policy of Truth es temeiken
I've listened to this album before, but I always enjoy listening to it. Solid through and through.
Truly magnificent .
As I have noted, electronica is not really my thing, but there's something about DM. I think the songwriting they start with is solid and this album was their huge breakout (whether they wanted it or not)--probably MTVs fault as I remember Enjoy the Silence ALWAYS ON. Three stone cold classics on this album and the rest is pretty listenable. I was leaning 3.5 until Policy of Truth hit and have to go:
Fav: Policy Of Truth Least Fav: World In My Eyes Yeah I can def see how Pet Shop Boys were inspired by this
This was great. Strong tracks throughout. Rating: 4
Such a well-made album. The pinnacle of 80s synth rock.
Multiple bangers. Solid 50% are begging to be done in drag. Really good, if a bit corny.
dark & classy
3.5
8/10
This is great. If you like Depeche Mode, this might be the best of the albums. Although Black Celebration and Music for the Masses are also insanely good
Bon synth-rock des annees 90
Enjoy
HERMOSO DISCO
Jagged sequencers, pulsing bass, impeccably cold production and soaring songs - this sounds like the score to a Bond film where he doesn't win. Favourite tracks: Sweetest Perfection, Personal Jesus (stone cold classic na klar), Waiting For The Night, Enjoy The Silence, Clean
fuck you you fucking fuckers
Really up my alley, because I love a lot of 80s british indie but didn't know any Depeche Mode songs aside from Enjoy the Silence. Very atmospheric synths which I loved.
pretty good. a lot of bops on this record (wow fantano???!?!) anyways, i dislike how i cant give albums 4.5 stars. its either pretty good, or basically perfect. this def would get a 9/10. its fun. its very 80's, and doesnt really miss imo. some songs are better than others, inherently, but still a great listen nonetheless. :) you are now... DEPECHE! MODE! skibidi
Not too crazy about their sound, but some of the songs are great.
Good consistent album with some great hits.
Classic. The good songs are great. The not good songs are a drag.
If your not too familiar with Depeche Mode, than this is a great starting point. If you start with this album, I’d recommend going backwards and listen to all of their old albums before you go forward.
Buen álbum, equilibrado en su oferta
Can't fault it really. Though I tend to listen to Black Celebration rather than this album for some reason. Personal Jesus and Enjoy The Silence are perfect slices of goth pop perfection
Nice discovery for me, recognised the singles but I’d never heard the album. Very different from what was around at the time, if sounding a little dated with its synth heavy leaning.
"World In My Eyes", "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy The Silence" and "Policy Of Truth" - what is more to say! The other songs on the album can't match the quality of these four banger. 3,5
Love it. I can't get enough of the dark, kind of depressing 80s/early 90s synth pop. The vocals are haunting at times.
Way better than I expected
Very unique production. When I eventually get my doctorate in music I am gonna write my dissertation on the weird snare drum sound they used in “World In My Eyes”. I usually associate 1990 with a crappy year in music before Nirvana and co. revolutionized things but this is a nice reminder that there are still gems out there to find. Standouts: “World In My Eyes”, “Personal Jesus”, “Policy of Truth” Stinkers: “Sweetest Perfection”, “Blue Dress”
Damn this was way more exciting than I expected. I’ve always dug “Personal Jesus”, but I think “Halo” might be my new favorite DM song. So many tracks are catchy, dark, and just so coooool. “Enjoy the Silence” and “Policy of Truth” are also big standouts. Side note, I loved later Smashing Pumpkins (Adore/Machina and associated b-sides) in my younger days. I see now they were really just Billy C’s Depeche Mode era.
Was this as sexy as electronic music could get in 1990?
I’m generally not a big fan of synthesizer based bands but this was pretty good. I liked the drums a lot. The production I thought was great.
Been a while since I’d heard this. Like it a lot more now.
a gothic synthpop offering from Depeche Mode that reflects the shift in composition for the band where pre-production was limited, demos were incomplete, and the creativity was highlighted. Tracks changed, and ultimately created a comprehensive body that showcased the bands creativity in a complex and powerful way.
Your own personal Jesus is a classic. This was from when the band was at the top of their game.
1. world in my eyes: great production, nice calm vocals, good beat, good build, nice harmonized vocals, long outro 2. sweetest perfection: fade in drum beat, nice vocals, cool sound effects, great middle interlude, nice switchups, solid song 3. personal jesus: heard this before, nice bass riff, singalong vocals, massive drums, trippy outro 4. halo: funky bass, chiller, nice chorus, great harmonies, cool song 5. waiting for the night: nice calm intro, nice harmonized vocals, feels like looking at the stars, great string outro, cool song 6. enjoy the silence: already like this song, cool hidden track at the end 7. policy of truth: general electronic beat, good chorus, some sort of sax sound during bridge, long repetitive outro 8. blue dress: cool intro, soft vocals, shallow lyrics, kinda boring, cool hidden track at end 9. clean: chill bass intro, great sound effects, kinda repetitive, vibing outro overall: solid album, great production, cool sound effects, some fun songs, some chill songs, kinda boring and repetitive at parts rating: 7.5/10
++: World in My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Halo, Waiting for the Night, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth +: Sweetest Perfection, Clean +-: Blue Dress 9,4/10
This is the exact sound I expect from Depeche Mode. They always feel, to me, like a one trick pony, with really one style and sound. But it’s good.
I dig this, drums and bass sounds good throughout this whole album, synth is kind of all over the place- laser sounds, swells, stuff I don't even know how to describe. This feels like a much more electronic The Cure, or maybe if Daft Punk weren't french robots but sad Brits
This album has 'Personal Jesus', 'Enjoy the Silence', AND 'Policy of Truth'??? Holy buckets. Love the synths, love the drums....a few of the slower songs seem to be building but never hit a big payoff.....maybe I'm just spoiled because I listened to some LCD Soundsystem the other day. Solid 4.5...would definitely throw this in the rotation.
More new wave. This list should be titled "900 new wave 80s albums to listen to before you die, plus 101 bonus tracks that aren't new wave." Anyway, despite being sick of new wave, I liked this album better than I thought I would. I always seemed to think of Depeche Mode as one of the main villains of 80s synth rock. These guys are a lot darker than I envisioned they were. I may listen to this again in the futrue.
A sonic and emotional adventure.
Overall a solid album with several top hits. They make the electronic sound enjoyable.
normally synth/electric/pop/dance is not my thing, but this was an enjoyable listen. broody without taking themselves too seriously, enjoyed the variety of sounds & tempos. World in My Eyes is great opener
Not their best album, but definitely one of their best.
Good album, masters of their craft (which is an ok craft). I'd give it a 3 but the hits are too good.
4/5. The driving bass line and excellent riffs from the synth keep each song engaging and danceable but like sad dancing. There was not a bad song on here, each one had great instrumentation and the vocals are quietly aggressive, like warning or a threat. Great aesthetic, even if it does sound like many other emo electronic new wave artists. There are some forgettable songs on here, just because it can blend in the sound, but no bad songs, an overall fun listen. Best Song: Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus, World In My Eyes
The singles are all-timers and "Policy of Truth" is among my fav songs, low-key.
7 Moody, broody synthpop fun. Best track: "Policy of Truth"
Its a good album with good hits. It took me several listen to make my decision. 3.5
Depeche Mode is such an interesting group. It's the darkest dance music I've ever heard. Violator in particular is entrancing. Such a unique sound.
I really want to give this a 5/5 rating, but I just can't justify it. The four singles are all stellar, and maybe by contrast, the remaining songs seem almost filler-like.
Super interesting Good vibes, great singles, but the album tracks are great. Greater opener
Very close to a five! So many bangers on this album. More great songs than ok songs. All in all a very enjoyable album!
I remember hearing Personal Jesus for the first time when I was like 5 and playing GTA San Andreas. Good times, and I really like this album.
A fun entry! Doesn't feel extraordinary, but it knows what it wants to achieve, comes in, achieves that, comes out. Dark, mysterious, dancey. I feel a hint of Sisters of Mercy in there. It's either a 4 or a 5 for me. No weak points, although some song are not memorable. It's SOLID, but I can't really feel exact brilliance in it. Risky 4.
Excellent album, extremely well done music, vocals & composition.
Classic synth-pop-rock-goth album for a band who no one expected to become as massive as they did. People obviously weren't hearing the massive hooks and tunes - but they caught up on this album. Rightfully on the list. Best Tracks: Personal Jesus; Enjoy the Silence; Blue Dress
Tää oli parempi kuin odotin, en oo Depeche Modesta hittejä lukuunottamatta välittänyt. Ja tällä levyllähän ne parhaat hitit oli. Tummempi fiilis kuin aikaisemmilla bändin, josta pidän. Parhaat: Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus, Waiting for the Night
Dang, this is pretty good. A very pleasant surprise. Strong overall with a couple five star songs. I was only familiar with the big singles and it was nice to finally hear the rest of the album. It makes sense why they got huge.
I quite liked this, I only really knew the hits, but it was all pretty great. Some of the gothy new wave synthy stuff can get a little cheesy or boring but this was entertaining throughout
7/10
88% Best: World In My Eyes; Halo; Enjoy the Silence; Policy of Truth Must-Hear? Sure. Especially “Enjoy the Silence”, one of my favorite songs ever.
Very nice
Not perfect, but really good! Sounds like a mix of Joy Division and Kraftwerk. Personal Jesus is on the soundtrack of GTA San Andreas, so I listened to it a lot since I was a kid. Gonna give 4 stars today.
Solid listen. It came off a bit samey throughout, but was still pretty enjoyable despite that. 'Enjoy the Silence' was my fave from this album.
Depeche Mode'un gayet sevdiğim ve zaten tek bildiğim şarkıları Personal Jesus ve Enjoy the Silence idi. İkisinin aynı albümde olduğunu bile bilmiyordum. Bu albümü dinlemeye başlamadan önce de niyeyse diğer parçaların bu ikisi kadar iyi olamayacağını varsaymıştım. Belki de elektronik müzik pek dinlemediğimden sahip olduğum bir önyargıdan ötürüydü bu. Ancak yanılmışım. Albümün karanlık ama pop ambiyansına kendimi kaptırdım ve bir ikisi hariç her şarkıyı oldukça sevdim. Beklenmedik bir banger.
January 25, 2025 HL: “World in My Eyes”, “Personal Jesus”, “Waiting for the Night” “Enjoy the Silence”, “Blue Dress” Familiar with some of the singles, first time hearing this in full. Surprised by the quality of the slower tracks “Waiting” and “Blue Dress”, as my favourite Depeche Mode tracks usually have a driving beat, like “Personal Jesus”, “People Are People” or “Never Let Me Down Again” Helps me further appreciate Music For the Masses, as a lot of the creepy stuff they had in that album is here in a glossier, more subdued form
Great stuff.
Listened to this in full a few years back. I remember Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence and Policy of Truth the most, all of them are great. Revisiting today for the challenge. Favorite track(s): World in my eyes, personal Jesus, enjoy the silence, policy of truth Will I revisit?: high priority/already knew this album Current rating: 8.5/10
Depeche Mode is always a joy!
Thoughts before listening: People go crazy for Depeche Mode (and especially this album), but it has never really appealed to me. The synth pop sound just isn't one I gravitate to, but I admittedly probably haven't heard this outside of the singles. Review: While this is still not necessarily a sound I would typically gravitate towards, I understand the appeal of this album. The hits on here including "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", and "Policy of Truth" rank amongst the best songs from the 80s. This is a dark album with hard hitting synth driven beats that really shouldn't be my cup of tea, but it all works really well. 4-stars
Really good album. Personal Jesus and Enjoy The Silence are clear standouts, but the rest is great as well.
Personal Jesus and Enjoy The Silence (my god what a tune) are the obvious hits but the whole album is strong and balanced and darker than their previous work. Waiting for the night was a particular stand out too
this is a great album i have nothing else to say x
Not a massive fan of Depeche Mode but this is not a bad album - the obvious highlight is "Personal Jesus" but some tracks were really not up to the standard.
Sounds like temptation
classic shit
Deserves four stars for Enjoy The Silence along. The rest of the record is great too.
Tan bueno como arrullador
A transformational album taking them from electropop to rock
Fantastic album
Bra album. Allt är inte bangers dock
Violator has no weak spots, and it holds up really well after so many years, now in its fourth decade. If there were a Mt. Rushmore of synth-pop, this album would be strong candidate for inclusion. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-violator-by-depeche?r=4ztyq&selection=75a8c68a-000c-498b-8bbd-651b2091f79e&utm_campaign=post-share-selection&utm_medium=web&aspectRatio=instagram&textColor=%23ffffff
Iconic music from the era.
Listened to this before. It's pretty nice, but not something I gravitate towards.
Phenomenally dark & moody 80s pop. The entire album is a fun ride.
An iconic electronica/synthpop album by pionders of that genre DM. Some claim its their best, and it really is good. Personally I have 2-3 other DM albums that I might rate higher, although for sure Violator is in my top 3-4.
This is a really awesome record. Compared to the album from yesterday, this much fuller and varied. The synths are all time on this one. Really really cool synths and beats. I also really love the kind of blues element that this record has. Its subtle and overwhelming at the same time. Its just untraditional, they're bending synths and noises in a similar way that you might bend a harmonica or guitar. Its like krautrock, new wave, gothic blues. Each song really locks you in. It does feel very 80s, but its not cheesy 80s. Its kind of a nod at the decade and leans into but forms its own path. Each song really is varied and layered in interesting ways. This isn't a knock, but maybe the only thing that doesn't transcend the time when this came out are the lyrics. Lyrically, its pretty creepy. Kind of feels a little incel-ish, but such was the entire 90s. Its very Gen X. That being said.. I kind of feel that style of songwriter is making a come back with younger bands.
Really cool sound scales and some good songwriting. 4.5 stars
4.5
Policy of Truth is a banger. I liked this - somewhat repetitive but seemingly on purpose and not as much as other Depeche Mode we’ve heard on the list.
good one
Pretty incredible. Out of the ~200 albumsd generated so far it might be my second favorite new-listen (after Outkast’s Stankonia). Almost thought about giving it 5 stars but the tailend is a weaker for me (including Enjoy The Silence, though the start of that song reminds me of New Order’s Vanishing Point, which is one of my favorites), Policy of Truth notwithstanding.
Unexpectedly kick-ass songs. Very nice enjoyment but “Waiting for the Night” should not have been on this album.
Sleepytime Depeche Mode. Still excellent, but I prefer Black Celebration, Construction Time Again, and Music for the Masses.
Definitely the most Depeche Mode sounding Depeche Mode album
The first half was fine but the latter half was great. I loved Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth. Pretty good album overall
What a great album. Multiple songs I recognized and sang along too. And I discovered a few more I enjoyed. Soild from start to finish
Really liked this one and will prolly go back and listen. Space-age with great instrumentals. Best track - Personal Jesus
Un real clásico de la música gótica moderna. Con un ambiente oscuro que vive esencialmente en el Pop, los legendarios británicos nos muestran su Mágnum Opus con clásicos como "Enjoy The Silence" y "Policy of Truth". Si bien podemos afirmar que "Violator" construye su sonido basado en diferentes actos industriales experimentales que le precedieron, su mérito es haber acercado ese sonido al mainstream, dándole espacio a bandas como Nine Inch Nails e incluso a Marilyn Manson. Un real indispensable de la música occidental, escúchelo, por favor.
4.5
If only the non-single tracks were better. The hits hit hard though.
Not sure about all the songs, but there are some bangers
idk, ive heard personal jesus I think but not the others, but I might just not want to listen to this today. Actually, i eat my hat. This has a bunch of 80s bangers. 4 stars.
This itches the brain very nicely.
SYNTHS!!!!
Classic pop with so many gems and a bunch of other decent songs
Fett fucking bra!!!
As a nine inch nails fan I was excited for my first foray into Depeche Mode and to listen to one of Trent’s influences. Definitely see the influence, especially on pretty hate machine even if this album came out after PHM did. Personal Jesus, enjoy the silence, are two cool catchy songs with a nice groove
A great album!
Fun, very “futuristic”’of the time.
This album broke in 1990 for these legends, and houses their most listened-to track, "Enjoy the Silence." Violator drives home their sound and introduces us to tracks like Personal Jesus, Halo, and Policy Of Truth... In a trying (?) album order. Such forays into existing strengths make the concept of favorites such a challenging and reductive thing to ever feel strongly about. Violator is my favorite album in the Depeche Mode catalog. I have many memories to this music; bias or not, I knew it was getting the maximum rating upon seeing the album art. I'm pretty sure it's widely recognized as - or, is at least among - their best work. I own it on CD and would gladly send it into space to outlive humanity.
Found the album really easy to listen to for the first time, pop songs with a sinister raw vibe
These muthafuckas don’t miss.
I enjoyed listening to this album. I’ve always been a Music for the Masses fan and only really knew the popular songs from this album. In a listen from beginning to end, it really is a very good album. I think this music impacted numerous bands that came after it. Coldplay, Keane….among others.
This is strong
OK, this is a strange album. The first song starts and I swear it made me think of Cyndi Lauper, it sounded so anachronistically 80s. The 80s sound was also heavy in the next song, but that song still had me tapping my toes. Then comes Personal Jesus. Fucking. Banger. Nothing 80s about that song, it's completely self-contained, only of itself, and timeless. What a song! Then you got Halo and Waiting for the Night, which, whatever. Halo is pretty OK, a bit of a filler song, and Waiting for the Night is slightly better. Then back-to-back you have Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth which - holy shit, that's a genius ten minutes of music! So, I've got an album that has some songs that sound really dated, and some songs that sound completely unique and amazing.
Nice smooth sounds, i like the overall vibe of Depeche mode. Songs i could listen again: Personal Jesus Enjoy the silence Policy of truth
It's a struggle to produce music that is mostly electronic based and not sound dated particularly decades later, but Depeche Mode have avoided that and this still holds up really well. 4*
Haven’t heard some of those tunes for years… classic DM :-)
Such a good album took me right back to high school.
Unique sound, which I can only describe as “definitely sounds like Depeche Mode”. Really strong album. Hits, hardly any weak moments, not too long. The rest is a matter of taste.
The strongest songs on here (Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, a few others) are good enough to lift the album into 4 territory. Some of the other tracks are good but not at the same level. But overall an enjoyable listen.
Really solid album. I would appreciate it being a bit more straight forward but it's still good. Don't tell me the intro to \"Clean\" isn't \"One of These Days\" by Pink Floyd.
In my youth I never actively listened to Depeche Mode, but I remember hearing them a lot on the radio or seeing them on MTV and it never clicking. So when I went into this album, I was sure I was going to be meh on it. Hearing this album now, not only do I recognize a bunch of the songs, I appreciate their music more. I came out of this album really enjoying it, and will definitely give it a relisten.
Almost a 5. Last 2 songs were comparatively weak
Great album. Love the synth work. Will definitely be exploring more of their stuff as they’re another group I had only ever heard the hits. Sometimes I was wishing that parts had no vocals so the music could breathe a bit more. I can definitely hear their influence in a lot of modern electronic artists I listen to.
4 really good goth
Incredible album, vibes off the chain.
top three depeche mode albums. i <3 world in my eyes
I've never been a big fan of Depeche Mode, I'll admit, even though they're (to me) probably one of the most complete and talented members of the 80s New Wave synth sound. That said, I can't say how often "Personal Jesus" runs through my head, and I'm very glad to see that this album has that song, as it's one of my favorites (for reasons I can't really explain). There are also quite a number of impressively interesting videos accompanying the tracks on this album (especially "Halo", but also "Enjoy the silence" and the Pink-Floyd-inspired "Clean"), although the video for "Personal Jesus" makes me think that perhaps it's not as insightful a song than I always imagined it to be.... Judging alone by how many tracks made the radio rounds, this is a very solid album, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.
It’s my first full time through this album although I’ve heard Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth a million times. Really like this vibe and will revisit this album in the future. 4⭐️
it was not the god of all synthpop destined to free the genre of 80s electronic pop hits from the shackles of man's judgment but apart from that it was pretty good
Really enjoyed this - it was great for the time but it still holds up.
Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence coupled with solid sound throughout gives this a 4
Wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did.
7.7
I don't know much Depeche Mode, but what I do know is on this album.
很少有不难听的new wave了
Great synth and many standout tracks such as: Personal Jesus, World In My Eyes and Policy Of Truth.
The radio hits are not the only good songs on this album.
In general, I'm not really into synthesizer music, but this is a lot better than the majority of the genre. Several just plain good songs, regardless of instrumentation. 3.5* and I think I need to round up to 4, though 3.5 is really where I'd place this.
Dark and moody. Stripped down electronics/industrial. Can hear how it may have influenced NIN, Daft Punk, etc.
A classic banger
Not a bad song on the album. Quintessential Euro-pop with an edge. Favorite tracks- Sweetest perfection. Personal Jesus
What an amazing record!
pretty good British synth sound, had listened to this before back in the day.
mid 4
Good album with some great tracks on it.
Deserves more listens, stripped back, dark - 3.75/5
This really surprised me and was right up my wheelhouse. Came close to giving it a 5/5. Waiting for the night, personal Jesus and enjoy the silence are absolute bangers
I loved this album! What a vibe!
Good stuff, lotta hits
Fun with more Depeche mode! Mostly heard their hit songs, so exciting to hear the rest of their repertoire. This one contains some of their most successful hits with 'Personal Jesus' and 'Enjoy the Silence', which are real killer songs. I'm happy to say that that's not all the album delivers, however. Despite Depeche Mode perhaps not being my exact taste, I find the rest of the songs pretty decent, such as 'Policy of Truth' and 'Blue Dress'. What I find lacking is a bit more uptempo songs, as most feel more tuned down and ballad like. This really lets Dave Gahan shine with his stellar singing, but a record with a majority of ballads is not what I'm looking for in synth music. Weak 4. I think overall this deserves a weak 4.
Really enjoyed this one. They have such a dark, cool and menacing sound! Together with "The Human League" they really had a good electronic sound going. There are quite a few hit songs that I really like. "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence" and "Policy of Truth" really are a step above the rest. Honestly those songs by them selves warrants a 4 star. The rest is also good too and it is well worth listening to the whole album. Whole album just breathes 80s cool!
enjoy the silence i personal jesus są super, ale cały album nie trzyma tak dobrego poziomu
I know personal Jesus from this. That’s all. These other songs are really good. This is a great album. I need to listen again to study the production.
This was a pretty solid synth time!
With Violator, Depeche Mode now breathed rarefied air. Years of struggle owing to misconception, vilification, outgrowth and creative reinvention brought them to this point. The world was now theirs for the taking and they were doing to make it dark. Running the gamut from deitification to sexual pleasure to the early experiments of Pink Floyd, Violator showcases Depeche Mode at their most motivated, their most outgoing and most inventive. This is the bedrock that galvanizes the curious listener to the fold. Favorites: World in My Eyes, Sweetest Perfection, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth.
a few great songs but instrumentals full as dirt
I think this is the first time I’ve ever knowingly listened to Depeche Mode. It’s not what I expected. I expected more industrial noises and metallic clanks (I suspect other DM albums might deliver on that or maybe my notions of DM are just off). I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s very subdued without being boring. I really dig it. Will definitely be revisiting this one. 4/5 Highlights: Sweetest Perfection Waiting for the Night Policy of Truth
Good riffs, weird lyrics.
Lots of quality here. Some filler too
Sounds great still today
Jumping back into this challenge. First track is starting off funky, so I like it! 1990 is crazy though. I keep finding myself thinking “this sounds just like Depeche Mode” which is funny but also proves their sound is so singular. Ok Personal Jesus!! And Enjoy the Silence!! I don’t like Clean but I am happy for him.
one of my preferred from dm
First venture into Depeche Mode For some reason this is a band that I feel gets made fun of. I don’t really have any real examples to site, but that’s the vibe I’ve always gotten. I can kind of see why, as their sound does feel very stereotypically 80’s. But know that they’re an 80’s group, and understanding what to expect based on that, this was pretty good. Lots of depth in their sound, with well developed spaces for it to exist in. It felt very intentional, created to evoke feeling and meaning. I’ve definitely learned to appreciate that 80’s sound a little more through this project (thanks to a-ha and the Human League for that, among others). Overall this was cool. Four stars. Standout Tracks: World in My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Waiting for the Night
3.75
Very good. Some of Depeche Modes best work is on this album.
You need to be in the right head space for this, but, if you are, it's excellent.
Many hits
Familiar album from junior high
Yeah, wow. Lots of good and great numbers on there. I loved hearing many of these during a concert in Germany in 2023. It's great that Dave and Martin are still in form after all these years, even if Fletch is now gone (RIP).
Wow...multiple great songs on this album. Depeche Mode doesn't get the respect they deserve.
I would give this three stars on the strength of "Clean" alone. And yet! You've got plenty of other bangers on here.
Fantastic give me 14 more
Similar in sound to groups I like including ABC and Spandau Ballet. All from the same genre. Good album overall.
A couple of all time bangers. The rest is a mixed bag, but it doesnt matter.
Violator has this weird vibe to it. I wouldn't say its malicious but the beats have this slightly devious tone to them if that makes sense, like they're trying to keep you on your toes. I like the first half over the second half and while the musicians voice is nice to listen to, the album as a whole is more like I'm just listening to the music instead of the lyrics. It's pretty good.
7/10. Very good overall but not really my style. The hits are the hits for a reason from my POV. Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth all made the 5 star playlist.
Great right from the start. I haven't heard this in years, but it still holds up. The first side is a little weaker, but the second side is packed with consistently solid songs. Liked songs added: - World In My Eyes - Enjoy The Silence - Policy Of Truth - Blue Dress
8/10
This was great, not sure why I've struggled to get into it previously
Amazing album
Is there something called dark pop? I feel like that should be a name.
Bra album. Enjoy The Silence är på min top 30 låtar. Denna skiva har flera andra riktigt bra låtar. Policy of truth är bra. Bra album. Coolt och cleant omslag. Bra album. Andra halvan blir kanske lite tråkig så det blir 4/5, bra album. Depeche Mode är bra.
Would love to give this 3.5 - so close to a 4... An album I missed at the time (there was a bit going on in 93...), but enjoyed the chance to visit it now. Oh heck, factor in 101 and its a 4.
7.5/10
Didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did. Best song - Personal Jesus
Actually better than I expected. Lots of childhood favorites from the radio
Плотная четверочка, меня аж прям так и обволакивало холодными и запоминающимися синтами
Good band man yeah idk.
A very good album that captures a mood
Eins lítið og ég er fyrir raftónlist þá fíla ég Depeche Mode alveg og get alveg ímyndað mér að setja það aftur á fóninn. Reyndar finnst mér vanalega einhver cover af lögunum þeirra góð en þá má maður alveg líka leyfa sér að hlusta á upprunalegu útgáfuna líka þótt hún sé raftónlist
Really enjoyed it. Didn't even realized that I'd finished it. Pretty goof album.
wat een album, nooit helemaal geluisterd, kende alleen Personal Jesus en Enjoy the Silence natuurlijk Policy of Truth ook nice Veelzijdig album man, veel instrumentale nummers, een ook verdrietige piano liedjes zoals Sibeling
Amazing, especially ending songs
One of the tracks on this album is titled Clean, which is the first word that comes to mind for me… clean. This is a tight, well-composed album. I love the feel, the vibe. Obviously Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence are ever-present hits, but there are some other gems in here as well.
It’s a brilliant album. A proper joy to listen to these dark songs.
Considering the sheer number of remixes and edits there are for Personal Jesus, it's interesting to hear the original version in the context of the album it was released on. Depeche Mode create a rather unique sound, one that's hard to mimic while maintaining quality, so it's easy to see how the Violator album brought them the fame and accolades it generated on release.
Utterly great. Really enjoyed the unique sounds and songwriting.
It was very good at the atmosphere it made - it felt less pop than I expected. It was a bit meandering, but kept me interested and I enjoyed it. :)
This isn't typically my kind of music, but I really dig this--well, most of it. Some songs would be ones I'd skip if I listen again, but there's some really good stuff on here. 4/5
Interesting style, great to hear rest of songs that accompanied Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus Highlights: -Personal Jesus -Enjoy the Silence -Policy of Truth
the album is so good?!?!
I knew of course the hits of this album, but the other songs are pretty good too. It's dark and catchy, sufficently diversed to not be boring. It's a good 4.5 stars for me
I already knew quite a few songs. I don't fully dig it but I liked it nevertheless
The peaks on this album are so high that it makes the other material seem much weaker. I adore about half of the album.
Grunge techno pop… I mean I dig it. Fav Songs: Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Blue Dress.