Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Not ever listened to a lot of Depeche Mode (and in particular this album), but enjoyed this and will definitely listen to it again.
This was fun. Waiting for the Night is a dark horse banger
4.2 + “Enjoy the Silence” was an international smash when my family first got cable and MTV became a fixture in my life. I’ve been obsessed with that song ever since and have listened to this album countless times. It’s been a few years since I gave this a full listen and admittedly the sonics sound thinner and less impressive than I remembered. A couple tracks like “Sweetest Perfection” are clunkers. But the hits definitely hold up and Dave Gahad’s voice is a real force.
enjoy the silence and perosnal jesus are great. the rest sounded bland to me.
Gostei bem mais desse álbum deles, bem anos 80. Melhores músicas: Waiting for the night, Enjoy The silence e Blue Dress.
Lost my review for this one, but this album is a great touch stone for how far synth music had come by 1990 (when compared to earlier albums like Truth or Dare by Human League). It sounds much more mature than the works of the 80s which is probably a testament to the advance of technology more than anything else. This album is very much worth a listen and features some of Depeche Mode's most famous songs 4/5
My first discovery that I've really liked on the generator. Incredibly well-composed synth-pop with passionate vocals and intriguing lyrics, and catchy as hell.
It’s not quite my style but the dramatic synth-y pop certainly stands out and doesn’t sound quite like anything else.
Revisited review: bumping this from 3 to 4.
Deciphered a moot love between rock and electronica , a string album
This was already an album I quite enjoy :) So I’ll go ahead and give it a 4
Must admit I've never explored DP albums. This is great. The 2 "hits" are epic...and there are other great tracks. . It holds together well as a thematic whole. Impressed. Its dark and driving. Ominous melody meets oppressive lyrics. Clear 4.
Really sweet album. Dark and moody and nocturnal while still being lush and full. I love the heavy synthwork and the deep vocals compliment it so well. Also the creativity in terms of electronics used is awesome to hear 8/10
Alltid bra med litt Depeche Mode Ein del av songane (spesielt Kaleid ) minna om Nine Inch Nails , da har eg aldri tenkt øve før
I never liked Depeche Mode growing up (always chuckled at KMFDM jokingly standing for Kill Mother Fucking Depeche Mode), but I actually enjoyed this album quite a bit.
I like this alright. There's some good singles, but the other songs don't do much for me. I am between a 3 and a 4, so I guess I'll put as 3.5 and round up 3.5/5
I can’t believe I used to think that stuff like Depeche Mode was lame. I guess that’s what the kids call a personal flop level. I’m really trying to be more discerning towards 5 stars though and hoard them like a dragon’s gold. And I do have the same problem with Violator that I do Rumours- it peaks with “Enjoy the Silence” and think that the last third is a step down. Where do you go from “Waiting for the Dark” and EOS? But it’s all still very good and I love the perfect balance between unforgettable synth hooks and terrific musicianship. And Martin Gore’s voice is incomparable. A-
Depeche Mode is one of those bands I fall in love with every time I hear them and then promptly forget they exist. No fault of theirs, this shit is fantastic. 4
Some very catchy tunes; Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus are standouts.
Альбом красивый, похоже, знаковый для группы, но не до конца им проникся, как хотелось бы. Но звучит мощно, ярко.
Meh, I'm like 50/50 on these guys. Wasn't a huge fan, but they do have some good songs and their sound pretty much defined 80s new wave. When I listen I hear almost every 80s movie soundtrack. They get extra marks for that.
One of the things I’m really loving about going through this list is how I’m starting to see connections between different artists across different time periods. With this album, for example, I immediately heard the influence of Kraftwerk. The cold electronic production and the emotionally detached vocals remind me of the Kraftwerk album we listened to previously, “Trans-Europe Express.” And yet Depeche Mode does it in their own way. This album has a goth club vibe and a lot more pop hooks than that Kraftwerk album. I’m digging it so far. Here’s another connection: On “Personal Jesus,” the heavy breathing and drum beat that happens around 2:15 is almost identical to the bit on Kanye’s “Black Skinhead”! Kanye’s version seems like a deliberate reference to this song but I’m surprised there’s no songwriting credit given to Depeche Mode. It’s really similar!
Some of these songs are ingrained in my brain from the countless times my parents played them throughout my childhood. The songs I didn't know going into this didn't do it for me. While I did enjoy "Waiting for the Night" it felt out of place on the album especially leading into "Enjoy the Silence". All in all I did really enjoy this album and the childhood memories it brought out. However the non-single tracks are a little harder to enjoy and at times are overboard with the synth. Though it is a Synth-Pop album so I should expect that, but I just am not the biggest fans of synths if they aren't used tastefully. With all that being said I am giving it a 4/5 because a 4.5/5 isn't a thing.
Day 16: Pretty good album, am always a fan of electronica and I guess that extends to older versions of it as well. Not all songs really stuck out to me but Personal Jesus and the start of Enjoy the Silence were absolutely amazing. Favourite Song: Personal Jesus
Donkere synth-pop met meezing-momentjes. En toch wat dromerig, maar niet té
I was familiar with this one already, and it was an enjoyable listen.
Kinda slaps
Bueno obvio que el disco de Depeche Mode que tiene Personal Jesus y Enjoy the silence va a tener un excelente puntaje. Opinión impopular: Las canciones de DM que más me gustan son New life y Dreaming on me de su primer disco.
A lot of nice melodies, and it flows well together.
A good album with a couple bangers.
Un album à l'image de Depeche Mode dans le sens où il met en scène un défilé très agréable visuellement mais extrêmement rapide, la faute à un manque de temps caractéristique du groupe. Les mannequins présentent de ce fait les créations en marche rapide (pour ne pas dire en courant) et finissent par suer dans leurs tenues tant le rythme est soutenu. Tant pis pour les photographes qui repartiront chez eux l'appareil rempli de clichés flous.
Je suis extrêmement fan du groupe Depeche Mode, et suis donc très satisfait que mon appel à l'aide publié dans la critique de l'album des ignobles Spacemen 3 hier ait touché le coeur de Robert. En espérant que cet album symbolise le début d'une nouvelle ère générateurienne, basée sur une augmentation du pouvoir d'achat et de la qualité de vie de toute la population générateurienne.
Pretty good
Some good classics
Not quite what I expected but still good
This is what that Eurythmics album was missing. Super cool synth beats. They basically took what had been their style and tried to fuse it with something a little more rock. It works well. And sure, David Gahan is no Annie Lennox, but he's still got a silky voice. It's man sexy. And the lyrics are typical Depeche Mode - really f'n good. They make you think...a lot. I mean, the 3 big singles from this album (Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth, Personal Jesus) are just so biting and memorable. They're everyday life quotable - my wife was telling me a story the other day about someone screwing up (again) and I said "never again is what you swore the time before". And she doesn't know Depeche Mode but gave me an affirmative "right?" Their lyrics are sharp. "Reach out and touch faith", "pick up the receiver I'll make you a believer", "feelings are intense, words are trivial", "the delivery of proof in the policy of truth". Even just the titles are sublime! I'm not going to give it 5 stars because a few songs were just ok. But of songs I didn't really know before I quite liked World in My Eyes, Halo, and Blue Dress (it's Every Breath You Take creepy/addictive).
This album already deserves 5 stars just for Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence (what a song!), which are the tracks I recognize (and love). The rest of the album does not reach those same highs, but is enjoyable nonetheless. Ultimately more enjoyable than all of the middle of the road "inoffensive to my ears" albums on this list, so a 4 it is.
good album, im starting to like them more and more
Always enjoy throwing this one on from time to time. Very dark and very deep, this one touches on a lot of topics from drug addiction to religion. The precursor for a lot of moody shit you hear today.
Never a mix of Synth-pop, gothic rock and dance music worked so well. This is Depeche Mode's best album and has a lot of great songs. "World in My Eyes", "Personal Jesus" and "Policy of Truth" are all amazingly creative song, great efforts by Martin Gore. But "Enjoy the Silence" is at another level (but curiously, the single version is better - which is rare). An amazing listening, nonetheless.
Great memories. Really solid album. Forgot how long all the songs are
Un peu surcôté mais propre Prefs: World In My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence, Blue Dress Moins pref: Halo
Yes, this was great - it could have been a bit gothier for my taste, but it still hit the spot. I'm vaguely curious what fetish-wear "Blue Dress" was really about, but, uh, not enough to go digging. Fave track - "Enjoy the Silence" by a mile - that's a tune.
Probably their best effort. It's certainly their most consistent. The three "hits" (the songs I knew before I heard this album) are unabashed classics, and a lot of this sounds like a healthy mix of The Smiths and Pink Floyd. Always a good sign: I kept listening after the album ended, and Spotify thrilled me with an epic live version of "Personal Jesus" that sounded like a fucking party.
Best Song: World in My Eyes. Groovy, bombastic intro that sets the tone for the rest of the album. Worst Song: Blue Dress. Weird and overly long outro. Overall: Better than I expected. Feels like an odd combination of dance music and Buffalo Bill style murder monologues.
Very good album and an interesting listen with its layered Synth and Keyboard sound. The vocals had a nice range and accompanied the bands dark music style really well. Only heard Personal Jesus and Enjoy The Silence before but it was great to hear their extended versions. World In My Eyes, Halo and Policy of Truth were the newbies I enjoyed a lot. The last two songs I didn't like as much as the rest, but apart from that great listen.
Good song after good song.- this album is fresh as ever and grooves madly. It’s also themed with what I think is David’s struggle with newfound sobriety - which gives it a layer of depth beyond the dark synth pop that makes this album
Excellent
Great Álbum 8/10
I've never been very into Depeche Mode and hadn't listened to Violator prior to today. It's good! It's really good and gets better each time I listen to it and I want to keep listening to it. In addition to the great Personal Jesus, I do enjoy Enjoy the Silence, Halo, Policy of Truth, and the very fine Clean. I'm not done with this one yet.
More proggy than I expected especially with the singles on it too.
Some good songs on here
Personal Jesus alone is enough to give this album at least a 3 but the rest of the tracks were pretty enjoyable as well. I think it's only the second 90s electronica album I've gotten that I actually fully enjoyed. Quintessential 80s sound. Fav songs: PERSONAL JESUS, halo, enjoy the silence
I was enjoying this, then Enjoy the Silence came on. What a great song. It resonates with me so much and made the whole album more meaningful to me. Very Depeche Mode. Very 80s mode for the 90s. Very new wave new romantic.
owo
Still prefer their earlier stuff!
Hits sind nice. Meistens aber zu experimentell
First half is classic, but a little same-y. Second half falls off a bit.
A bit dark but great. Highlights: Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth
Had this CD a few times growing up from the library. Definitely feels like a greatest hits album at times as some of the best Mode songs are here. The quality drops a little outside of the singles but the instrumentation and Martin Gore’s incredible vocals keep it interesting enough Fave tracks: “Enjoy the Silence” “Personal Jesus” “Policy Of Truth”
Great album. Very moody and good lyrically.
Violator was a major turning point: two guitar tracks like Enjoy The Silence (atmospheric riff over a pensive disco beat) and Personal Jesus (an energetic boogie that will remain their most aggressive track ever), Depeche Mode set themselves apart from the old synthpop. (7/10) Favourite Tracks: Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth
Great, but got a bit slow at the end
Moody electronic pop, and it’s great. Basically like if The Cure and Nine Inch Nails joined up, you’d get Depeche Mode. Really enjoyed the whole album, and it’s one of those where even if you didn’t know it, you’re going to recognize some of the tunes.
Je partais avec un mauvais appriori, connaissant juste "Just can't get enough" qui m'agace. J'avais tort. Premiere musique ecoutée : Enjoy the silence. Franchement j'ai adoré. Le reste alterne entre le tres plaisant, le transcendant et le lassant. Je pense mettre 4/5, mais je le reecouterai pour fixer mon avis.
Some cracking tunes on this album, some of which were new to me. Not a massive fan of the "industrial" sound, but this is definitely worth repeat listens
Un discazo, empieza con tonos de notas oscuros y se desarrolla super bien, cada tema encaja con el anterior. Vale la pena escucharlo.
One of the best synthpop albums ever. 8/10 1. Policy of Truth 2. Enjoy the Silence 3. Waiting for the Night
Two Depeche Mode records in two weeks?? My 20-yr old guitar-hero-worshiping self would be apoplectic. I really like it though; it's a great *sounding* album - great stereo spread - even if most of it is so painfully synthy. If there's any criticism, none of it *swings* at all; it's so on-the-grid and I'm sure at one point I would have hated that but that's the point. The songs are nothing overly complex, but they all sound so coldly clean that it makes them easy to digest and I've found it gets better upon repeated listens. Great moody and sorrowfully melodic album - I'll come back to this one. I love the obvious nod to Pink Floyd on the intro to "Clean" too! 7/10 4 stars
I didn’t like them back in the day but this album is definitely better than I expected.
Lite ovanligt för mig men bra intro till new wave / synth pop. Efter jag vande mig var den najs.
The singles on this album are absolutely brilliant.
Really good
Wonderful stuff, sags a bit at points preventing a five for me however worth noting it contains one of my all time favorite songs
If you like that moody 80s electronic sound similar to bands like Tears for Fears then I think you will like this album.
really good, some classics on here
Strong atmosphere, very catchy songs.
The marriage of the driving electronic beats which, developed to their logical extreme, make synthwave, with more organic instruments and vocals is nostalgic but never dated or cheesy. In the repetitive sections are echoes of more dance-floor-focused music, which I'm bearish on here. There's a great deal of thematic consistency which would benefit from longer-form working-out. Religious language gives the text some weight, while it sticks pretty close to the music-corrupting-teens narrative suggested by the title. But it's an order of magnitude more subtle than Soft Cell, which I utterly enjoyed as well.
This album starts out amazing. The first 3/4 of the album is killer with some filler added to the rest. End of the album was nothing too exciting though not terrible. 4.5
Great DM album with more weird electronics than you think.
Приятный саунд, но песни максимально затянуты, а от некоторых только спать.
A bit too electronic overall, but after full listen can see lots of merits. Personal Jesus is fantastic. Has quite a few worthwhile tracks.
Very 80s, but in a good way. Had some tracks I’ll definitely listen to again
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: World in my eyes, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the silence
Good fun, sets a mood and sticks to it. Would listen again
Already love this album. Mix of industrial and new wave.
classic
Alle klassikerne, ret fedt, men lidt for langt.
psicodélico, moody, cohesivo, excelente producción, buen ambientación, la mezcla de los vocals y la música te transportan, lo mejor es la instrumentación, los instrumentos se van y regresan en el momento correcto, y siempre añaden capaz a la musica que tre producen chills. Tracks favoritos: Personal Jesus, Waiting For Tonight, Enjoy The Silence, Personal of Truth
Grupo inglés de electrónica, considerados los amos y señores del rock electrónico. Discazo con temas archiconocidos como 'Personal Jesus' o 'Enjoy The Silence'.
Interesting
I wish there was a 3.5 option. I think this is a really cool vibe. Impressed that they kept the moody vibe interesting for 47 minutes.
Wonderful stuff, sags a tiny bit at points preventing a five for me however worth noting it contains one of my all time favorite songs
Entretes los sintes 🕺4/5
Saved Prior: World in My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth Saved Off Rip: Sweetest Perfection Cutting Edge: Halo, Blue Dress, Clean, Dangerous, Kaleid, Happiest Girl, Sea of Sin Overall Thoughts: Very good album, sinister/sexual vibes, 4 all-time bangers, ambient songs towards the end bring it down to a 4 star
It's a 4 for me Clive.
Very solid album, well written and executed. I don't know that I have specific praise, other than that I just really enjoyed it.
Veel synthesizer. Het is wel goed maar niet wat ik snel zelf zou opzetten.
First 6 tracks were banging. Tails off a bit towards the end. Can see how it has influenced a lot of music though
The vibe is strong in this album, and I like that vibe. Dark and brooding. Add some hits into the mix and you have a very good record.
Dos temazos absolutos. El resto está bien, pero.... No es mi estilo
I already own a copy of Violator, it's an album I have great regard for. There are a couple of longeurs in the pacing I had forgotten about, but overall this crackles with a dark energy and sharp song craft. The production is pretty dated, but I can overlook that. Not a single person at either school or college liked Depeche Mode.
Kraftwerk Einflüsse - v.a. auf Waiting for the night & und policy of truth
Puf, qué rollo. Menos la canción conocida.
Hell yeah. Let’s do this. It was a great listen definitely something that was ahead of his time and I can see the influence of the house on so much music that out today definitely worth a second re-listen once all this is
Never listened to them before, glad I did.
Tres bon ! Je me suis surpris a connaitre quelque chpanson de cte album. Probablement parce que c’est des classique. Personnal jesus enjoy the silence. 4.25
I bought this album way back in the nineties, I've probably listened to it a dozen or more times. It's not my favorite thing, nor was Speak & Spell, which I also owned on vinyl, in the early eighties. I did actually see DM perform once, in 1988.
I ran away from this type of music like the plague/COVID when I was kid, but I’m happily in a very new wave friendly place in my life. Love how this record sounds. “Sweetest Perfection” is sooo good. Did KMFDM really stand for “Kill Motherfucking Depeche Mode”? Need to get to the bottom of this.
Nada que decir. Cinco estrellas. Excelente servicio. Recomiendo consumir.
I loved this album
The voice seems like it's not in tune with the music. Singer has interesting tone but needs to be more in pitch. The synths and the drums are amazing and remind me of 70s, 80s music. Instrumentation rocks but voice needs some getting used to. 1st track is weird. 2nd is much better. 3rd track personal jesus is fire. 4 sounds like some synthwave with funk rock. Really enjoyed this track "Waiting for the night" what a soothing intro. Another good song +1 "Enjoy the Silence" +100 what a classic I never knew this was by depeche mode. Next two songs were very relaxing. "Blue Dress" is a beautiful catchy ballad with a haunting melody and beautiful tremolo guitars that swell. The last track "Clean" is a drums and bass driven rock anthem. Suitable powerful end to the album.
Gay me up Depeche Mode, gay me up!
Very pleasant on the ears. I can see why Chester Bennington says this is one of his favorite bands. Had to listen to it twice. Only complaint would be that a lot of the songs are sort of depressing, but catchy melodies nonetheless.
dark, edgy BANGER
This was a fun listen! Recognized a few songs, too.
fuckin beat as hell
7.5/10
i'm feeling the dark dancey vibes depeche mode brought to the table with this album! nothing's really standing out but i would definitely put this on again to work to. these songs feel like vampire jams.
Enjoyed the hits, but I don’t hold this album in as high esteem as others
Cool 80's synth pop rock hybrid album, has 3 great songs, a couple really good tracks and a few clunkers. It is very moody and electronic but doesn't lose its soul. I like the production and in the right setting this would be a cool album to throw on.
Good album in the way that it was cohesive, but it felt a little too serious for me.
Synth pop classics
Never listened. Interesting vibe. The singles that I knew stood out.
Some really great tunes surrounded by some filler tunes. 3.5/5.
This I enjoyed. A good 3.5.
3.5
Just sounds a bit too 80s for my liking
Really enjoyed this. Heard a few tracks off this album beforehand. I really like their sound overall and definitely am interested in diving more into their catalogue. 3.5/5.
really fun listen, some major tunes in there, tho is it bad to say i enjoyed music for the masses better ?
666
Very 80s and synthy - pretty good but just misses out on a 4 - 3.8/5
I really enjoyed Clean and Enjoy the Silence, but I felt like most other songs, especially the vocal themes throughout, followed a similar formula. It felt very same-y by the end of the listen. I felt the production value was above average though.
Second album après ‘Music for the mases’ que j’avais peu apprécié (noté 2/5 - trop de morceaux quelconques). Ce second album me paraît plus intéressant, en particulier le hit ‘enjoy the silence’ que j’avais déjà entendu et que j’apprécie beaucoup. Album à réécouter. =>3/5
Not as bad as I expected - totally pop music.
Listened
As a general proposition, I don't change the station when Depeche Mode comes on. "Personal Jesus" is a great song. Some of the others are enjoyable, but this is too much of the same. Great cover.
I remember when Violator came out in 1990 while I was stationed in the San Francisco Bay Area during my Navy days. Everyone at my favorite record store seemed excited about it, but I was more into hair metal and R&B at the time, so I never listened to the full album. Thirty-six years later, I'm glad I finally did. I'd always liked "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence," but I really enjoyed discovering "World in My Eyes," "Sweetest Perfection," "Halo," and "Policy of Truth." The production is excellent, and every song feels thoughtfully crafted. There aren't any weak tracks, and the album maintains a remarkably consistent quality from beginning to end. I was never bored, but I also never had that moment where I thought, "Wow, this is incredible." It's a very solid album that I can appreciate more now than I probably would have back in 1990. While it didn't completely win me over, I understand why so many people consider it Depeche Mode's masterpiece.
Enjoyed. 3.3
I enjoyed this more than I expected. 2.75
This is very much of its era and holding up fairly well but nothing to write home about.
This album is definitely back-loaded with bangers, but by no means that does mean the first half is “bad”. Not exactly my cup of tea either, but still a solid listen especially for someone whose biggest exposure to electronic is Daft Punk.
Hat natürlich ein paar sehr bekannte Lieder. Aber irgendwie ist es mir zu monoton an manchen Stellen. Sonst ganz gut
Bra album, innehåller två superklassiker samt två spår till som jag känner igen och som var väldigt bra. Betyget dras ned en hel del pga flera låtar inte föll mig i smaken, och att det svajar en del över albumet i sin helhet. Bästa låtar Enjoy the silence Halo Policy of truth Personal Jesus
very cool sounds from the 1990, when synth pop was still pretty much underground. I like the almost "opera rock" feel to the writing.
I liked the songs fairly well but it's not something I'd listen to on a regular basis.
idk i just don’t get them
Not sure I’ve ever heard of this band. Cool production on the first song. Vocals are pretty good. I don’t like sweetest perfection. Lyrics are fine it’s just too slow. Cool sounds. Too long too. Personal Jesus is a banger tho. I think I might actually like this version better than the Johnny cash version. Really cool production. Awesome outro too. Halo is pretty cool. Definitely a mid 80s vibe but I like that style. Cool song. Good production again in waiting for the night, too slow again for me. With that being said, again I really like the outro. Enjoy the silence had me hooked after the first note. This is an awesome pop production. Again 80s vibes. U like the 80s vibes sings. Very upbeat and fast. Awesome outro again. And then a sweet fade into policy of truth. Another good pop song. More cool production/sounds. Awesome keys. Album has a very interesting mix of retro and futuristic sounds. Blue dress is ahead of its time for sure. Lyrics are just ok tho. Cool outro again. And another sweet fade into clean which u like alot. This one is pretty catchy. Unique sounds again. That’s one of the themes of this album. It’s not perfect by any means but it was a lot of pretty good songs and one banger. I’d recommend if you like 80s pop/90s electronic. 3.3/5 stars.
I know a couple of songs, they’re nice
Moody, swelling, synthpop, interesting, bossgirling while on a walk, but also not really my thing. Too much annoying white man voice
So surprising this is their 7th studio album, I don't know them at all but that seems very far into a career. Thought it was cool for sure, mega 80's/90's, but besides enjoy the silence (which bangs), it leaves a bit to be desired
I love the synths The songs are all kind of repetitive but they’re all good I was not expecting the instrumentals at the end
A : 3, Halo JL : 4, Policy of Truth
A few bangers, overall not bad but outside of the bangers pretty forgettable. This would be like 3.5 stars if there was a half star rating option
I liked this album. While it was decidedly dated the compositions remain strong and musical.
I actually liked parts of it. Small parts!
A bit too polite for me.
6.5/10
Personal Jesus 5/5, the rest is just okay.
Bit of a weird listen this one. Some of the songs are awesome, but then others fell a bit flat.
Wasnt sure what to think abt this at first, but honestly it got better as i listened. In love with the dark spooky vibes. Fav song halo bcs it reminds me of tboi for some reason heh.
its just so british but i be feelin the vibe
I really dont get the vibe of the album, that synth pop-rock or wtv is going on, it is simply not it. Voice is pretty mid and lyrics are too Either way, listening to the album was not as bad as it could be, it’s just easy to listen to and easier to forget. Only exception on the album is personal jesus, but again the vocalist manages to make it way more mid. Ts so ass
Honestly not bad I enjoyed the uniqueness of this album compared to other genres that are overly represented on this list.
I really thought I would not like this album but instead I found myself enjoying most of it. Not as moody as I was expected.
Catchy electronic pop-rock. Not my usual listening style, but I can see why people like it. Well produced and thought out.
Toutes les années 80 pour aboutir à un truc vaguement potable.
Pretty good stuff, will give this one another listen, lot of good synth tracks
3,5 Un peu long
I never took to the 80s synth pop wave - ultravox, Gary numan, bronski etc. The sound is too tinny & unsubstantial. But if you’re going to go there Depeche come top.
Great atmosphere on this one. Definitely something meant to be listened to as an album than as a collection of songs. I'll have to come back to this.
This is my second DM album on here, the other being Music For The Masses, which I found a little flaccid. I really enjoyed this though. I found it interesting throughout, and with so much more depth than MftM.
Ahh, my teen angst.
This is why they didn't stay an 80s act. Stepped it up and put in some more powerful work.
Synthy and eerie Likes: Sweetest Perfection; Halo; Enjoy the Silence; Policy of Truth
This is synth-pop I can tolerate. It's still not something I'll ever look for, but I can understand it beng on a list of must-listens. The pop is a little too structured for my liking, and the synth itself is well achieved, it just sounds like an era and I'd say it's late to the game in 1990, but then maybe that's precisely why it's so well pulled off. It's potentially some of the last evolutionary steps before it turns into another genre altogether. I could listen to this again in the future with no complaints, I just won't be the person searching to put it on again. I'm not that wowed by Personal Jesus, which was the only song to have creeped into my music libraries in the past. 2.85/5
Few critical consensuses baffle me more than that applied to this album, which would have you believe it is one of the best hundred or so albums ever made. As for me, I find it hard to hear anything else but a slightly-better-than-average synthpop record. Yeah, if every track was up to the level of “Enjoy the Silence” or “Policy of Truth,” we’d really have something special, but they aren’t, and we really don’t. It’s fine. Hell, it isn’t even the best Depeche Mode album (that honor goes to Music for the Masses). My general practice when this happens is to withhold final judgment, hoping that someday I’ll see what others do, but I’ve listened to this so many times in vain hope of that happening that I’m reaching the end of my patience with it. Best track: “Enjoy the Silence”
Cool
Todos los puntos son por “enjoy the silence” que temon
This was fine. Recognised some songs but nothing blew me away
Bueno
I went back and forth on this album a few times. I was pretty apprehensive at first then gradually won over, then left feeling over it by the end. I think it's clearly really well done and they definitely pull off the vibe, I just feel like it might be a little overly theatrical and a little too emo by the end. Happy to have listened to the whole thing but probably won't be back for more any time soon.
Music for sad BDSM goths who like to party. Sounds insanely fresh and ahead of it's time production wise, and the vibe is spot on. Let down a little by some hokey lyrics.
Like the sci fi bladerunner like tone
depeche mode have the interesting sound. but as for me it is also heavy and sugary. and dm often have narcissistic lyrics.
Dark and pulsating, cinematic & slightly foppish singing. Like if art school students were good at synths and drugs. 1990 seems like a time when darkness was manageable and the answer was a party. Remember when NIN used to scare you? That time you first her Animal in the bedroom of a friend, along with Big Ones from Aerosmith. It felt like getting away with something. Illicit. That a world was just beneath this one that you weren't allowed to know about, but once you did, there was no going back. But with older ears and a world that feels like a spinning piece of clay, off centered on a wheel that is speeding up, the old songs that scared you felt like an exercise in imagination. "Personal Jesus." "Policy of Truth"
once again we are at a place where i want to like it so bad, so bad, and yet …. (i’m looking at you donald fagen). the album cover and name are immaculate (im still looking at you donald fagen). hell, the underlying music is great (yes, still fagen). but the singing … dear god the singing. unlike fagen (yes i’ve finally looked away) where i felt like the singing was simply not making the music any better here the singing could be good. i can’t tell because his voice is awful. not his skill as a singer he’s clearly skilled. but that 80s tone dear GOD what is that he sounds like he’s trying to flirt with a metrosexual and a 1920s flapper. i hate it. music is objectively good. downloaded one song.
I mean Personal Jesus will always remain one of the most iconic songs ever.
me gustó, estuvo bueno. se me hace como un soundtrack q un personaje q está sufriendo no se xq
On the more listenable end of the spectrum of Euro pop. I like the richness and depth of the vocals.
i never fully listened to an album by Depeche Mode before but so far i really enjoyed this one
Second and final Depeche Mode. Neat. I listened to Music for the Masses a little over 160 albums ago, which I don't recall much about. The only thing about it which sticks out in my memory is that the music sounded a little dated and the vocals were somewhat blown out. Anyways, I know this is Depeche Mode's most acclaimed release, so I keen to put this one on. Here goes. Yeah, it's the second Depeche Mode record. Again, I don't recall much about Music for the Masses, but I think this album has a darker and denser sound than their previous outing. It certainly wears more of a goth rock influence on its sleeve. While I do generally enjoy albums with a thick, heavy sound, it wasn't all there for me in the case of this album. The wide range of electronic sounds which are featured on this album guide the songs along decently and occasionally culminate into some decent moments, though for the most part the synths are mild and fail to build on one another in way which creates a compelling atmosphere. The guitars add a muddy, raw sound to the instrumentals that I also don't think quite lands. Like Music for the Masses, the vocal style of Depeche Mode isn't for me, though I commend these performances for being good within their genre. Overall, this album was decently engaging, but not something I'm particularly moved by. I know this album is a big deal, so I'm not going to consult the book for why it's in here. If anything, I think Depeche Mode could get away with having a third album on the list given their critical acclaim and level of success. For the time being, however, I cosign this inclusion.
I really enjoyed this album and it’s very different to what I normally listen so it was nice and refreshing. Some of my highlights were Enjoy the silence, Policy of truth, Personal Jesus and waiting for the night(honourable mention goes to Blue dress). I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for a punk/rock synth sound.
Quality synth pop that provides a bit of candy for the ears but doesn’t quite grab and not let go
I enjoyed this but man does it get repetitive and boring to me after a while. I get it, I just think my ears were too tired to really continue with it.
Didn’t enjoy as much as music for the masses but I still love the electronic but kind of dark themes on their music
Liked large parts of this. Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence are excellent.
This was ok, I wasn't bowled over, but his was interesting and I enjoyed the synthesised music. I have previously liked some of the group’s singles, but I didn’t recognise any tracks on this album.
starting out kinda strong but i am lowk feeling pretty bored. okay sweetest perfection is lowk a banger, i liked that. personal jesus is also good. thing is so far these are all rlly good as bg music but not like actual active listening omg i love this! music. obviously enjoy the silence is super duper good. the only song i would actually listen to on repeat from this album. okay policy of a truth is a straight banger. love the hook and the instrumental, yeah its lowk repeatable. yeah i finished it annnnndd there were some standout ones but overall it was prettyyyy mid. 6-7/10
Lovely gothic moody alternative electronic music. Fantastic😍
Depeche Mode treffer meg sjeldent, men Policy of Truth er så fordømt kul.
Høye topper og veldig stort sett flatt terreng. Har egentlig lyst å like DM, men får ikke helt til.
Lever på hitene. Resten av låtene er pompøse og utdaterte. Svak treer.
was surprisingly familiar with this album already, but I enjoyed a lot of it nonetheless. giving '80s vinyl night vibes certainly would listen to again
some great tracks lots of boring ones
Standouts Personal Jesus Enjoy the Silence
It was good. All I got. Sorry, tried
80s synth pop band wakes up one morning possessed by NIN New wave meets industrial, most songs are a bit more mellow and moody than “personal Jesus” but still good overall
Not my vibe but a great album non the less, I really enjoyed some of the songs
less album-y listen more like yay here are the bops, so boppy tho. love the synths that are low and crunchy like beeeeoooww. fave track policy of truth but also really liked sweetest perfection more than i remembered
Know the hits — "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence" — they're unavoidable. Violator holds together better than a hits album would suggest, darker and more cohesive than expected. The synths have real weight, the production is meticulous, Dave Gahan's voice suits the material perfectly. But nothing surprised me. The hits are the peaks and the rest is good without being revelatory. A very well-made album in a genre that isn't quite mine. 3/5 — solid, dark, accomplished. Just not mine to keep.
Same old same old. Some interesting sounds but very much of its time. Quite mediocre and not one I would choose to listen to.
Some great singles and the album has aged well.
It bops, but the lack of variation brings it down a notch. Hmm, wouldn't bother me with any other genre though
Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence are great. Rest of the album just doesn't stack up. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Aside from the hits on this album it’s surprisingly boring. I thought I would be there for it. But… I wasn’t. The hits from back in the day still hit, and I almost wanted to go 4 just for that, but in the end my boredom won out.
I groaned when I saw this one. I don't think of myself as a Depeche Mode guy. I was surprised by all the iconic hits on this one, basically defining the 90's for me: "Personal Jesus," "Enjoy the Silence," and "Policy of Truth." The other tracks are brooding, atmospheric, and worth a listen. I liked "Blue Dress."
only good song here is Personal Jesus just due to it being used for everyones favorite segment, The Kevin Sorbo Tweet of the Week on the Pure Boys Podcast. Its an okay album, an 80's hallmark I guess. More synth than you can handle.
Only on here for Personal Jesus. And I can’t hear that song without thinking of the “Kevin Sorbo Tweet of the Week” from my favorite podcast Pure Boys
leuk, zou er zelf niet vaker naar luisteren dus niet in de playlist
Twas aight
Couple of good tracks. On whole sounded very same. Not likely to revisit the other tracks outside the hits.
Decent record. First 2 didn’t hit but then it got good. Overall a solid electronic album.
it's like kinda cool sometimes Will I listen to again: 25%
Honestly? I don't really get the hype, but I am not on the side of hating either. This could be an album that grows on me over time if I ever give it another listen as there is a lot of the same elements here as albums I do really enjoy. As of now my opinion is just middle of the road. Favorite Track - Halo Least Favorite Track - Waiting for the Night ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The voice just ooozes late eighties. Not a bad album.
Fine album. Sometimes my eyes glazed over and tracks blurred together, but I guess that's a feature of this genre. Wouldn't count on relistening, though, except for perhaps using it as background music while I fill some spreadsheets. That was a compliment, by the way.
Stand-out atmospheric sound design Okay-ish musical construction (too narrow and repetitive for my taste) Very bland and dull singing (doesn't speak to me in any way)
2 very good songs rest were bad
Some great songs on here, but also some filler
Bland allmänlyssnaren anses väl Violater vara den bästa DM-plattan, men knappast bland riktiga DM-fans. Jag är inget superfan av DM men jag lutar mer åt fansens uppfattning, det finns ett flertal album jag tycker är bättre än Violator. Jag trodde faktiskt att den var inspelad i Hansa i Berlin men ser att den är inspelade på flera olika ställen bl.a. Milano, Puk i Danmark och The Church men inte Hansa. Det är högt och lågt och ganska mycket mittemellan här. Utan tvekan bäst är den underbara minimalismen i “Waiting for the night" nåt av det bästa DM gjort, makalös låt. Riktigt jävla bra är ju förstås "Enjoy the silence" också det går liksom inte att undkomma. De anndra två stadiumsyntsinglarna "World in my eyes" och "Policy of truth" är bra men det finns bättre DM-låtar av den karaktären på Music for the masses. “Halo" och "Blue dress" är habila typiska Martin Gore skapelser, rätt bra albumspår och garanterat nåt som ofta spelats i Kents replokal. "Sweetest perfection" och “Clean" trista och knappt godkända. Och så "Personal Jesus" då som är direkt dålig, synt som bluesrock är ingen särskilt bra idé. Den är faktiskt usel, skvallrar om inriktningen för det kommande haveriet på nästa DM album (Songs of faith and devotion), där man gick totalt vilse. Nä den enda versionen av "Personal Jesus" som äger ett existensberättigande är förstås Jerry Williams (sorry Johnny men din version är rätt trist också) och jag är fullständigt oironisk när jag skriver det, Jerry version är kanon trots en dålig låt. På Violator märks det tydligt att DM har blivit ett stadiumband, det är ganska lite synt (som genre) vi hör. Är det dessutom inte en gitarr jag hör där nånstans? — Judas! Mitten trea
Personal Jesus är verkligen en superlåt av hög klass. Resten av hitsinglarna här, Enjoy the silence, World in my eyes, Policy of truth, är också bra. Men sedan blir det lite tunnare. Jag ser inte vitsen med låtar som Sweetest perfection, Halo och Clean. De står mest och stampar utan att komma loss. Tror jag gillar Music for the masses bättre. Men tillräckligt med bra spår för en trea är det.
Jag har inte lyssnat så mycket på Depeche. Det är bara Speak and Spell som finns i skivsamlingen. Det här är mognare, hårdare, mörkare och bättre. Plus för World in my Eyes, Personal Jesus (visst Cash gör den bättre, men det är fortfarande bra) och Clean. Minus för Waiting for the night som är plattans tristaste spår.
It's interesting. Not my favorite but interesting at lease.
Do I actually like Depeche Mode? This album is a banger.
PERSONAL JESUS
I like enjoy the silence but don’t care for the rest.
Technically good music, just not to my taste
I have tried for years to really get into Depeche Mode, but they have never really taken. Some tracks here and there really do it for me (Enjoy the Silence is excellent), but for the most part i find most of their music to be just fine. And upon listening to Violator again, my opinion hasn't really changed. Maybe it sounds too 80's, or not as dark as I think they should be, but this band is just not for me.
Some of this is good. Some of this is kind of boring. I wouldn't say I dislike it, but it definitely falls in the (pretty broad for me) category of 'wouldn't put in on to listen to myself, but wouldn't turn it off if someone else decided to.' I guess I don't really have strong opinions on dance-goth.
This has all the elements of electronic and indie I like - and yet I can only get on board in moments
already know, peak as well
interesting
It's not really my genre. But there was something very interesting about the more electronic parts like it was scifi of some thing, while being very dark and mysterious. The songs that made the biggest impression on me was probably Clean and Sweetest Perfection.
Fine! I knew one or two of these songs already so expanding my awareness of this artist was cool.
Beeping and booping
already heard, lowkey vibe, some of them are fire
It was interesting. Some of the songs I really liked but others were meh
Enjoyed this one. Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence are both classics
Sort of cool at times it felt too experimental. Not that that’s a problem it just isn’t something I’d listen to again. Personal Jesus is a banger though
I've checked out Depeche Mode beyond their biggest hits. After listening to this that's still basically true, because this album has a couple of their absolute biggest songs on it. Those are both good, Policy of Truth is also an absolute banger. The slower songs don't hit for me though and almost all the songs out stay their welcome for me. That's probably more of a personal thing, I like short songs and really long songs. A five or six minute usually just feels like a three minute song with an extra verse or two to me. I also kind of hate the guys voice, so songs that are more about putting him front and center don't hit for me. This is like a 2.5, but I'll round up.
I agree with others in that it sounds like a dark marble statue. Everything is pristine and sterile as I admire from a distance. There were some great songs that got better on my second listen. The slower songs did tend to lose me. It is a very cold listening experience. This goes in the respect but don’t necessarily enjoy category. Rating: 3.5
Enjoyed the two songs I knew…the rest seemed to fade into obscurity. Not an unpleasant album, also not life changing.
The two hits are classics. Eraserhead baby gets extra marks. Will listen at least once more, but not overly in love with the sound, it's fine.
There were a couple of singles that stood out to me, but the rest really ran together. Not the best new wave but serviceable
Not my style at all. Ugh
Notables: - Personal Jesus - Enjoy the Silence
Me gustó, puede ir bien para ciertos momentos chill, pero no es un álbum que escucharía demasiado. Estuvo bien y listo. El género es synth pop(le daria mas oportunidades).
Considering i gave the album they released just before this one 2 stars i didnt have high hopes. This seems like more of a whole band effort, just a less boring album. Vocals still shit me.
Sophie - I’m fairly fond of Depeche Mode but can’t say I’ve ever listened to a full album. This is one where I only knew the singles going in. While I found the rest pleasant enough, it’s still the ones like Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence that stand out even now. The singer has such a unique style that I think works best on those 2 songs. All in all, I liked it and I think I’d relisten but nothing new really jumped out at me. 3.5/5
I understand why people like this. I enjoyed a lot of the songs… specifically, in isolation. I think the songs work well as singles, but as an album experience it felt monotonous. By the time I got halfway through, I started craving a greater range of vocal expression that never arrived. The music and mixing is good, and the lyrics aren’t bad, but there’s only so much I can endure from the monotone vocals before I start wanting something else.
Catchy music
reminds me of INTERPOL and SHE WANTS REVENGE so its pretty good to say I'll enjoy this album :>)
Worthy of repeat listening.
Overall its a intresting darker rock album. Some great songs hit amazingly. Other dont do it for me. Very high deviation or songs, overall cant complain abour it. 3/5
was good need to listen again tbf
I feel violated
Enjoy the album! Depeche Mode and what you would expect!
Sehs so wie Martin😄
3/5 Personal Jesus und Silence sind Klassiker, ansonsten ganz nett
I liked the first track was expecting this to be a no lyric type of album when I saw that they were an electronic band. I like that this album covers a variety of feelings with some upbeat tracks and some slower trackers. I liked the cinematic feel of memphisto could see it on a music score for a movie. Some of the accompanying tracks in the later parts of the album which I dig the feel of overall a great album with varying tracks.
Never a massive Depeche mode fan but 3 or 4 songs bring it from a 2 to a 3
I just like synth
Having only really listened to PJ before (and at the time being a teenager who wanted everyone to know how much better I thought the Marilyn Manson version was), what a treat this album turned out to be! Enjoyed every song :)
personal Jesús y enjoy the silence, 2 temones q no sabía de dónde o de quién eran. me gustó el álbum en gral pero no sé si es mi estilo
Interesting, not my kind of music, but interesting. And i even knew one song enjoy the silence, just don’t know that it’s depech mode’s.
Good album.
so so
Pretty solid album from DM. I was a big fan of the band for years when this was released. This marked a bit of them “going mainstream” for me, and I’ve always looked at it that way. Not sure why it skews my thoughts on the album but it does. I like their earlier work better when I considered them a bit more underground / alternative. 3.5
They did not sound bad. But skipped 3 songs because they all sound the same and quite boring
This is a solid late 80s/early 90s album. I have never listened to the Depeche Mode much and I knew more songs on this one than I thought. 7.0/10 Top song Enjoy the Silence
Giid stuff
Guitars? In my synth-pop? What is the world coming to? I was actually a pretty big Depeche Mode fan back in the '80s, but this album is a perfect example of why I fell out of love with them. The addition of guitars on a few tracks definitely added something to the music, but overall, they just started, IMHO, to take themselves too damn seriously. Compare an album like Black Celebration, which used engine sounds and songs about Princess Diana's new dress to make it interesting, to Violator's seeming attempt to be super serious Gloomy Gus rock stars. They stopped exploring using synths to make something at least a little interesting and different, and just tried to be the synthetic Rolling Stones. Meh. At least Vince Clarke had the sense to get out and keep making fun interesting music with Yaz and Erasure.
Depeche Mode – Violator (1990) On Day 93, I found Violator to be an interesting listen, though not necessarily transcending or groundbreaking. It did a great job of setting the tone throughout the session and certainly wasn't boring, but it didn't have enough impact to guarantee a higher score. The production is slick and consistent, providing a solid atmospheric backdrop, but it lacked the immaculate soul or the tuff energy I need for a 4 or a 5. It’s a respectable body of work that holds your attention while it’s on, but it doesn't leave a lasting impression once it’s over. A solid 3/5.
Nice Sythie-Pop with some overlong fadeoutd
Better than expected
Yeah, still not working for me. I find their music too simple, for the most part, and the grooves don't move me much. I can appreciate the musicianship, but its an annoying listen most of the time for me. 2.6
While I'm not really a fan of this band, this wasn't bad. I enjoyed hearing the original of "Waiting for the Night" - although the Ghost cover is better.
Pas trop mon style et très peu habitué à ce genre de musique, j'aime bien l'électro mais dans un contexte comme celui-ci je ne me dirais pas que je vais écouter le projet en entier Des chansons sont relativement filaires et je ne les réécouterais pas Cependant, deux énormes bangers apportent toute l’atmosphère nécessaire pour passer un bon moment en général Avec plusieurs écoutes ma note pourrait monter je pense
fue grande para los anuncios de coches... a excepción de 2 tampoco me ha movido demasiado. eso si, aprecio como todo el album es tan cohesivo y tiene esa vibra erotica, fatalista...
a tad too tame overall
Album Review 092 Violator by Depeche Mode (1990) Rating 3.5/5 There is a constant theme throughout this album and it’s one of despair and heavy drug use. Although it’s the synths that drive the music, this is NOT pop, this is Depeche Mode at their darkest and most bleak. I find Violator a difficult album to listen through as there is no let-up in mood, but it does have two of the greatest songs of the early 90’s in Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus.
Chill, electronic soft
It a funky one. Good tunes here n there, fancy lyrics, but not extremely notable?
I can draw a straight (and fairly short) line from this to the Orgy, Powerman5000, and Deadsy records of my adolescence. That should compel me towards affection for this record, but I’m not sure it’s there. Sure, “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy The Silence” are certified bangers, but I’m not hearing much that sucks me in beyond those two. Like, it’s all fine but I just don’t see myself listening to this much/ever. I’ll note that I struggle to even listen back to the other bands I listed above. Maybe I’m finally out of my goth phase.
I enjoyed it a lot more than I typically enjoy electronic music.
Really enjoyed, very good at nailing the dancey vampire vibe without being off-putting.
This is probably the last of the Depeche Mode albums where I enjoy their music. The singles, particularly the two “biggies”, are the obvious standouts, but I’ve always enjoyed “Policy of Truth” too.
It's lots of songs I don't know plus Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence! I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I might while I was listening to it but nothing had left much of an imprint on my brain by the next day. I quite like the vocals even though most of the time the delivery makes it sound like they'd rather be doing anything else other than singing. Personal Jesus is fabulous and the clear stand out, if just for the hook. Everything else was pleasant enough. I think this is a 2.5, but I'm going to be kind: 3/5 P.S. I was today's years old when I became aware Vince Clarke of Erasure was briefly in Depeche Mode.