Music for the Masses

Not super impressed. I guess I am not a big Depeche Mode fan.

Only had the chance to skip around. I like the combo of upbeat pop they used in the debut with the ominous and darker mood that creeps in and shows up later on Violator.

A little sleepy but by the third listen I was getting into it.

Noh.. Oli siinä muutama hyväkin kappale, mutta ei tämä nyt ihan vielä riittänyt kääntämään minua faniksi.

Good I liked it. A fun 80s ish listen

some good and bad songs

2.5

Good but monotonous

I can only picture Bo Burnham again when I hear the singer and it is really throwing me off. The first two songs we cool but strange but, Strangelove got the funk going and got me engaged for sure. Unfortunately that was really the peak of the album and it got pretty uneventful for me after that. I really wanted to like this album because it was a type of weird music which I like but this just didn't do it for me. Pimpf at the end sounded like the soundtrack for End of The World in Kingdom Hearts 1

Fun listen

Strangelove a standout. Like the overall vibe but nothing really stands out. A little long as well

I love DM's signature synthy sound but I can rarely be arsed to listen to a whole record of their actual songs 🤷🏻‍♂️

I like it! 3 cuz I’m difficult

I always thought Depeche Mode was a 90's band. It's interesting to learn more about their history and listen through an album. This particular album and bonus tracks were an enjoyable listen, but nothing overwhelming. The irony of the albums title was not lost on me. It's a unique musical space in the 80's that helped steer the band's own direction and many other artists

Stylistic and dark

Even growing up in the 80's I wasn't big into Depeche Mode then, and I'm still not. I appreciate it for what it is, but this is certainly not what I would choose to play.

Dark and ethereal, this album feels like David bowie looks in the Labyrinth. Not a standout for me, but no strong criticisms either. Favorite track was strangelove.

Great start, but loses some steam towards the end of the album.

Way too dramatic 80s stuff for me but loved the synth sounds

Made it thru the first 4-5 songs, didn't hate it but definitely didn't resonate with me as much as Violator

I love Franz Ferdinand and this reminds me of them (backwards in regards they were first).

Manch schönes dabei

80’s dance music for gothic cathedrals. Good stuff but sounds dated at this point. In context with the times it was fresh and exciting. 3/5

I already listen to Never Let Me Down Again and Behind the Wheel regularly. Some of the other songs are a little too 80s for me tbh

Very weird stuff.

2.5-3, Very top heavy album, falls off heavily at the end

Album 205 of 1001 Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses Rating : 3 / 5 Favorite Tracks : Pleasure, Little Treasure / Route 66 Music for the Masses, it is not. This doesn't do a lot for me. I've heard some Depeche Mode that I enjoy. Overall, this is not it. Hard pass but I'll give it props for giving its intended audience what they wanted. The last 4 tracks did grab my attention.

pretty classic stuff isn't it

Good album. Not so much as Violator.

Un gran álbum de new-wave con tintes góticos. Si bien, la propuesta es interesante y es uno de los mejores álbumes de Depeche Mode, la segunda mitad del álbum es bastante más aburrida que la primera. Sin embargo, es innegable que la banda fue una de las más influyentes del género y una inspiración para todos los artistas que se dedican a la electrónica de estética oscura.

Liked it, thought it was interesting how it was a pretty cinematic album but also used synths a lot Did south oc cars and coffee today with keith, andrew, aidan. lowkey almost fucked it sleeping through my alarms but everything turned out good and it was a great time. tired asf now tho

Ive heard a bit of depeche mode but i dont recognize any of these songs. should be a good one. My local radio station has been shilling them for a long time which has gotten annoying. keeping an open mind. its rainy today so this album is hittin different. first song was enjoyable. October+rain makes this album in good timing. Track 1 and track 3 are ones ive heard a handful of times. Album was too long

Some nice 80's synth pop, not the best example but a nice listen.

Went from ecstatic to listen to this lp to fairly underwhelmed. Added 3 of 14 to 1001 Playlist with Never Let Me Down Again a clear number one

Need to be in the mood for it

I enjoyed it. Would listen to again/listen to more of DM's albums.

60/100

It was a little drab for me. Kinda floated by in the background. Upon the third listen though, the album really popped for me. I'm not typically into the gothic vibe, but there are some really good hooks and fun use of instrumentation here. It gets a liiiittle too Danny Elfman at points, but this is a very fun but dark listen. The bass synth in Agent Orange is so wild.

Listened to this while scrolling r/nope which was an interesting time. I like its weird dark angst. I think if I’d grown up in the 80s I would have loved this but alas my past goth self was more interested in Korn 3.5/5

Intensely 80s. But I kinda love that

Classic Depeche Mode in that is sometimes awesome industrial/new wave stuff (Never Let Me Down Again) and sometimes way too goofy vampire rock (Little 15, Pimpf).

highlights: little 15 - dark tone, interesting idea/story behind the wheel - it had something going on, dark tone, but all the little girl stuff is weird, at least she’s old enough to drive? i want you now - somehow pretty good despite the amount of distorted deep breathing going on, if it’s supposed to be sexy it wasn’t, vocals carry nothing - i actually like this one, good mix of catchy and the tone it’s been establishing pimpf - i get it, but like you just had something going pleasure, little treasure - kind of like it unfortunately route 66 - ? overall: really went in on a dark tone but not all that dark a few highlights, mostly when keeping the dark tone but going a little poppier/lighter/less serious some parts sound dated, not in a good way weird ending

It was okay. Sounded like any of the songs could’ve been on Stranger Things.

Love the 80s sound. Like WHAM or Real Life. Just want more excitement. Had it in the first couple of tracks then lost me. 3/5

The genesis of industrial music, but with pop sensibilities and a new wave edge. Dark, but accessible and relatable. If ministry’s psalm 69 is a day when everything goes catastrophically wrong on the factory floor, then this is a relatively good one; but it’s still the same cold and dangerous factory.

I don't love this, but Depeche Mode made some absolute bops back in their day. Agent Orange is a beautifully composed song.

Happy to have heard it, fun experience. Don't feel compelled to revisit as it lacks that bitta something special and is a bit too long. Fav track: Strangelove

Pretty camp and groovy, I had a good time! Enjoyed the cinematic flourishes and almost wish it had gone further with them. As an album it won't be something I'll be coming back to but I reckon they've got some tracks in the catalogue I'd really enjoy. Fave track: Strangelove

A lot of things to like on this record for me - an eeriness and unsettling tone that almost felt like out of a camp horror soundtrack at times, and some interesting vocals. I felt maybe some songs were a bit too one note, and that bled across quite a few of the tracks. Maybe on another day could find myself more invested in this, but kind of felt something was holding me back. Two and a half. Fave track: Nothing

3.5

different sound but still enjoyed it

Pretty good. Decent listen if you're in the mood for it.

meh

some great singles and others.

Good tunes, none of them bad. Good voice is the same over and over which feels a bit repetitive by the end, but they close with a sonata, so no complaints.

not bad by any means but i think violator was definitely better

Standard depeche mode. I quite like it, but it's nothing special.

dark music still doesn't appeal to me too much, but 3 tracks here were pretty good: "never let me down again", "strangelove", and "pimpf". rest ranged from good to fine enough, but those 3 were pretty nice. i think violator is in 1001 too so maybe i'll like that one more.

Yeah, music for the masses was an appropriate title. It was good music, but came off a bit shallow and overall didn’t wow me. Enjoyable though.

Kyllä tällä bändillä on ihan oma tunnelma. Ei mitään mestariteoksia sävellyksinä ja sanoituksina (kaikki) biisit, mutta äänimaailma on hämmästyttävän yhtenäinen olematta varsinaisesti tylsä. A-puoli on kovin hyvä! B-puoli lässähtää, mutta yritys kuuluu. En silti ymmärrä, miksi pitää olla kaksi instrumentaalia perätysten.

Atmospheric though somewhat too repetitive and dark.

Fiquei na expectativa de reconhecer alguma música, hit dos anos 80. Mesmo não rolando, o disco flui bem.

Bland. Completely average. I've become less of a fan of Depeche Mode since I last got them 550 albums ago. It's just meh.

Solid album, Strangelove is probably the best track. The synths kind of wear on me sometimes, honestly. Behind the Wheel works well! I Want You Now also interesting. Effective on headphones. Still thinking a 3. Solid album, but not their best. Doesn't age terribly well.

Depeche were of my era, and as a spotty faced teen, I narrowly missed out on going to one of their early gigs that they played near my home town. Loved the Depeche sound, it was 80s synth done well, but the achilles heel for Depeche through all their years playing, is for every brilliant track they have, there's a dozen meaninglessly meandering nothingness tracks that become more increasingly irritating as they go on and on and on, in fact the track Pimpf on this album is a classic example of this type of meaningless track. Given that Depeche are of my era, i should be loving this, but I'm not. Best track for me on this album is Strangelove, but I wouldn't rate this as one of Depeches good/best albums.

Agent Orage Sample is DOPE!!!! Sonata 14 Moonlight Sonata

me gusta el disco y depeche mode, pero muchas veces se me torna un poco repetitivo. la voz del flaco que canta es muy parecida a la de cerati.

Um pouco longo demais, mas um moodzinho 80s gostoso em geral

Very Depeche mode

I think I've never quite been a Depeche Mode album fan and this is a good example why - it's got some good singles then kind of drifts around a bit going nowhere.

Pretty fun listen. A lot of unique sounds. One of the older albums I've heard that uses the synth this heavily.

It's ok but not amazing

Depeche mode has found a unique and amazing dark sound and mood but on this album they dont manage to keep it interesting enough for me to be blown away by it

decent, feels like less polished tears for fears

Maybe it’s the laconic hedonism or the all-encompassing seriousness of the music - but once again DP fails to fully reach me. Never let me down slaps though. But so many songs feels at least a minute to long - building up to nothing.

Will be good ambience when I finally open up that haunted house.

Not bad, some fun beats and good to listen to while working.

A bit samey

sounds aren't bad but they aren't particularly captivating either. a few interesting songs here but nothing particularly memorable either. overall just average

This was a pretty classic Depeche Mode album and it was great to revisit. Stjarna was the low point, but there's not too much to dislike in the frantic and dark synth waves of the 80's bouncing over you. Somehow, the very 80's synth sounds still sound pretty fresh to me.

Another NIN ish techno/goth mix.

👍

Helt på det jevne for meg, men ikke noe jeg kommer til å sette på igjen. Stilig avslutnings-sang, nesten litt "spooky".

• I didn’t mind the album, it was quite vampy and fun • I think it would sound good in a nightclub • I don’t think I would listen to the whole album again but there were a few songs that I enjoyed • Favourite song: Never Let Me Down Again

Great album and sound. Very heavy on the synth but definitely make the sound one of their own 7/10

It's from the 80's - lots of synthesizers and drum machines. It's OK.

Alrifht went on a bit and sounded very 80s

I thought it would be better!

If you want to feel like you’re in an 80s movie, this is it. Although I didn’t listen to much 80s music, or watch many movies, it still make me feel nostalgic! Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: if I found it for cheap Favourite Song:

Depeche Mode just IS the 80s to me. I've always appreciated them, but never loved them. This album is a great representation of that. It is all good, a mix of catchy and serious. But it kind of blends together and nothing stands out to me. The first quarter of the album is good, the next quarter starts to fade a little, and then the last half is kinda just there. Overall, I'd say 5/10, round up to 3/5 Favorite Songs: The Things You Said Least Favorites: I Want You Now

Liked this more than I thought I would. Cool parts and sounds. I feel like I’d like this more with a different singer.

Idk, I wouldn’t listen again but it captures a very specific vibe. 2.5?

Actually it was more listenable than I expected. I've heard some Depeche Mode before and they never connected with me probably because I'm not a fan of 80's synth-pop. A little more to it than the robotic electronic mush I was expecting with some decent instrumentation and dance-able beats, but it's true what the Dead Milkmen said, "you'll dance to anything"

I was really into the beginning. Felt like the new wave I'm coming to realize I love. But then it got weird and cinematic/dramatic which wasn't what I needed for work mode. Maybe again in another mood

Best of this genre I've heard on this so far. Makes Eurythmics sound like dog shit

I like Vindicator more, appreciate the techno/alternative/no wave. Also sounds like morissey

I prefer the Violator record over this one, but it was far from being bad, still a good record overall.

While I can understand why this album might be considered significant, it's definitely not my cup of tea. Some songs are interesting but too much synths and monotone rhythms for my taste.

On the first listen, I think that this is a transitional effort to Violator. Am I reasonable rationally? Maybe I'll change my vote later. Fav Track: Sacred

Feels pretty experimental. Top of the album sounded very depeche but middle and end felt like they were just doing stuff. As always, well produced. Cool sound but probably not a re-listen

Got a little boring after the first three songs.

Pretty cool album. Not a ton resonated with me, but it was a simply enjoyable listen. Favorite track: Strangelove

Holy shit what an intro and outro! Really moody and gothic stuff there. Most of the middle was pretty lame with far too much talk of little girls which is always yucky feeling no matter the context. There's definitely stuff to chew on here but it's mostly okay. 3

3 I kept wondering why I felt like I had just recently heard Never Let Me Down Again, then remembered it closed the first episode of The Last of Us. Great show, and great song. Unfortunately, that ended up being the highlight for me - the rest of the album is pretty same-y and unremarkable. While I liked the sound throughout, it didn’t provide a lot of standout moments. So, takeaway, while I don’t dislike Depeche Mode, this cemented an opinion I’ve held of the group for some time now - that they’re basically the Great Value brand Tears For Fears. Like, tell me half the songs here (and that’s being generous) couldn’t be put on a TFF album without anyone noticing. Though, that’s probably an insult to TFF, who are a really great and probably better group - like, I would rather listen to Songs From the Big Chair than this again. It was fine, but outside of Never Let Me Down Again, I’m just not sure how driven I’d be to listen again considering I can get a better version of this sound elsewhere.

Let me begin by saying that I love Depeche Mode. They've made some of my favorite songs and albums of all time - their sound just appeals to me. I do like the first half of this album quite a lot, but I always forget what a slog the second half is to get through. It's not that it's bad, it's just that it gets a bit boring for me. If you enjoy Depeche Mode, or New Wave in general, then I would recommend giving this a listen. If you're not a New Wave fan, I don't think this would be the album to change your mind. I'd give this a 3.5 if I could, but I think I'll round down this time and give it a 3. A few great songs, but overall, not my favorite from them. Standout Tracks: "Strangelove," "Behind The Wheel," "Never Let Me Down Again," "The Things You Said"

catchy electronic music. Big stadium sound style. Very atmospheric. Drops off a bit towards the middle.

Hard to get past the 80's sound but a good album nonetheless.

Really like Depeche Mode, but this is not one of my personal favorites. Still good music!

Refresh Load

Songs were quirky/fun/different… spoooky sometimes!

Was in love during the first half but lost focus. Excited to hear more!

I really enjoy the pacing of the first 4 songs. It's like they are in no rush. There's no performance pressure to speed things up when the energy increases, and it's obvious this was recorded really tightly to a click track. It comes across as a really consistent energy in each song and I appreciate that a lot. Great video-game esque synths throughout the album. I particularly like the intro one on "Little 15". Sounds like a distorted gypsy carnival. Solid album. Great pacing, great 80's moods and dramatic inflections.

Once again, I was impressed by the sound of this album. Crisp and robust and clean and very deliberate. I was also surprised by how much of it was familiar. I guess I heard more Depeche Mode in my life than I realized. But, as before, with each track, I was less enamored. I don't know if it's a symptom of a formulaic writing style, or my limited capacity to enjoy non-organic sounds, or something about the creeping monotony of the vocal. I'm not sure. Maybe more enjoyable sweating and dancing, but considering I did neither during this listen, I was over it before it was over.

I've grown to love Depeche Mode way more than I did in the 80s. I'm sure there's some nostalgia that's driving the love.

A band with a plan and a vision and a mission which is pleasing to see - loyalty from fans is deep and albums like this must have excited and thrilled. Whether this moves me … I’m not so sure. The format doesn’t quite grab me. I suspect their later work might appeal more.

Pretty solid. Never really thought I liked Depeche Mode that much since the ranges it occupies are usually pretty bland to me, but I can see why they've held relevance for so long. Standouts: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Sacred, Behind the Wheel

Honestly, when I saw Depeche Mode as today's listen I immediately thought "this is going to suck", but I was proved wrong. Depeche Mode sounds very similar to Tears for Fears or Talking Heads, except, unlike Talking Heads, the singer knows how to carry a beat, and the band knows how to play instruments. They are a synth heavy electronic/new wave band. I tend to hate new wave music, but Depeche Mode do it right, at least on this album. There were a few duds on here, but overall not a bad listen at all. Strangelove is a great song! I feel like the instrumental orchestral epic Pimpf needs recognition as well! I like the heavier sound that they employ compared to their synth pop cousins like Talking Heads. These guys lean heavier into the Rock genre than the pop one, and maybe that's why I can tolerate them... Well that and the fact that their lyrics make sense. Overall, a surprisingly good album today. Not something I would actively seek out often, but if this era of Depeche Mode came on, I wouldn't skip the songs either. Favourite songs: Strangelove, The Things You Said, Sacred, Nothing, Pimpf Least favourite songs: I Want You Now, Little 15 3/5

Was not bad but did not sweep me up in its embrace. Would not actively seek this out

Never Let Me Down Again has been on my playlists for a while but I’ve never found it in me to dive into this album until now. I really liked the first half of this so I was ready to give my 5s. But the second half lost me. Maybe if i give it one more chance it'll grow on me but i don't see myself listening to it again.

Nice album, electropop

I like the style but the execution is a little flat and disappointing. Songs by themselves are fine.

music for the working man.

Felt very cinematic throughout. Moments of grief, doom, happiness. Almost performative beyond music. For some reason, 'Never Let Me Down Again' reminded me of 'Andy You're A Star'. Also maybe a little Cure-esque at points.

Might be a little biased because I have been an admirer of Martin Gore's songwriting for a few years now. I have been observer from the sidelines slightly dipping my toes into the world of Depeche Mode through albums like Violator, Playing the Angel, and Ultra. The synth + the reverbed spy-esque guitar just strike a chord for me in a way that intrigues the hell out of me. It's cool riffs like those on "Never Let Me Down Again", airy pads on "Strangelove", and vocal duets on tracks like "Behind the Wheel" that make me come back to DM trying to find that special album or era that really speaks to me. I've found a handful of tracks that really get me going but I have yet to find an album by them that is front to back captivation. In addition to the tracks I named above, other standouts for me were "Sacred" and "Little 15" for the characters the stories portrayed and "Nothing" simply because the track grooves. There is some really awesome sound design in this album that makes me feel some type of way (I don't know if y'all got tracks like "Agent Orange" in your streaming service but holy moly this one is cool!). I really really want to round up to 4 for this one but I think that I gotta stick to my guns here and give the album what I feel in my gut it should get.

Quintessential 80s - I kinda liked it. More than my dad I think. Not something I’ll come back too though.

Couple of decent tunes but a lot of it droned on

80s rock. Meh

Didn’t dislike any songs but didn’t like any enough to be added to the playlist

Chill, downtempo synth pop reminiscent of The Cure. Makes me want to watch crime dramas set in the 80’s. Hypnotic and repetitive.

meh

VERY distinctive 90s sound. Interesting the amount of overlap with early NIN stuff in terms of drum machines at least. Overall probably not one I'd put on, very flat vocals, at times gratingly so.

Music for the Masses is the sixth album by English electronic band Depeche Mode, and is considered one of their best. This synth-pop, new wave album features a lot of sampling to create an intricate, intriguing, and seamless electronic project that the majority of critics liked. I also approve of this album and found it brilliant. This is a great early electronic synth-pop album that most people will enjoy.

Solid album, but not as groundbreaking as the previous DM albums. OK, Never let me down again is a massive hit off course, and great song.

I Want You Now is corny as helllllll. Depeche Mode has better albums

Good album, very inspired by European electro, extremely 80s, melodic and listenable. Better than I expected, a touch experimental, not too poppy. Lyrics were amusingly stupid in places. Worth a listen

Great album. Never heard the whole thing before but know some of the songs quite well. Standouts: Strangelove, Little 15, Never Let Me Down Again and Behind the Wheel. A lot of great tracks. 3.5/5

One massive single with some solid synth-pop after. I don’t particularly like the dramatic parts. I might listen to the record again but synth pop isn’t really about albums, is it?

Never was a fan of this 80s melodramatic sound. I can sort of get behind the instrumentation, but the singing is so needlessly dramatic that I can't take it seriously. It might just be the singer's voice, but this band never tickled my fancy. I completely understand where others may see the beauty in this album though. 3/5

In terms of being able to produce a kind of agonised mechanical pop with avant flourishes, Depeche Mode pretty much hit the bull. An icy, almost industrial collection of songs fit for wintry contemplation, even if 'I Want You Now' sounds like the Flying Pickets were to they be assimilated by the Borg collective.

Didn't quite hit as hard as I was hoping it would. "Icy" feels right in terms of a description, so tip hat to Alex. Case in point: "I Want You Now." For a song with the breathy moans of boning, it's about as arousing as Eyes Wide Shut, like someone dumped a glass of cold sadness over the whole thing. (hello shrinkage!) And like Eyes Wide Shut, I wanted more and it never quite pulls me in, but I can't turn away from it nonetheless. Looking forward to comparing whatever album is next to Lolita tomorrow.

Very 80s sound, dream like qualities. The lyrics weren't relatable.

ok.

Instrumentals were usually enough to keep me interested, but I started it and expected it to be more of “Never Let Me Down Again” and it ended up being a lot darker and more goth-y than I would have liked, some songs just did absolutely nothing for me. Best song: Never Let Me Down Again

It's fine. Not my jam

Started off strong but didn’t maintain that peak.

I get why it's on the list. Just not my jam.

Ooh, I preferred this to Violator, which is a surprise. Still can be bloody OTT, portentous to the point of silliness, but most of the time, it really goes hard and brilliantly.

3. did not like this as much as i thought i would. i did like the remixes a lot though.

Honestly I never really listen to them when I put them on. Just turns into background music. Not sure why. Maybe try again sometime. Although I did enjoy Route 66.

Mye kult, men få hits.

It's fine, if your going all in with the synths and production of the era be consistent which Depeche Mode definitely is. Agent Orange with the hidden track was pretty good. Kept waiting for Personal Jesus. Still waiting

Pop electrónico con sintetizadores. Ni fu ni fa.

Personal Jesus - hard to go wrong really

6,5/10

Let me be the first to say that I'm not at all a Depeche Mode fan. I've only really heard their hits and Violator in full before listening to this one. They appear to particularly beloved by many of the users on this site - to date, there are THREE user album submissions for them! So, I already knew "Strangelove" and have seen all of the music videos directly by Anton Corbijn that he made of them during this time period. I think it's a cool sound - I especially appreciate that the vocals were mixed at Konk Studio and was produced by David Bascombe, who also produced Tears for Fears' Songs from the Big Chair. Martin Gore and David Gahan sound more confident than ever on this release - you can tell they were finding a way to make their dark electronic and electropop sound more accessible (as the cheeky album title suggests otherwise), and it worked. This album went platinum and became a huge hit particularly in the USA. I enjoy the sound and the exploration of dark themes, but as an album overall I don't find it to be very likely to revisit it over and over again. Songs like "Sacred", "Little 15", and "Agent Orange" tend to get a bit tiresome, though I love the hits and especially the experimental pieces with classical and operatic undertones such as "I Want You Now" and "Pimpf". I'm honestly surprised that this was such a hit - it's quite weird and inaccessible in some places but I think it goes to show that they were able to release this at the right time and right place, when electronic music was just starting to emerge in the mainstream. 4 stars for the fans, but for me, 3.

First time listening to them. Reminded me of Oingo Boingo

Standard Depeche mode

I'm still not a keen listener to DM but this has some okay moments.

A apocalyptic synth record with a strange religious fervor. Not very hit driven but an interesting listen all the same

3rd synth pop of the week, this one will take more time to digest. Depeche Mode has always left me a little cold, yet I was downright addicted to “Never Let Me Down Again” last year. The dark, almost Halloween-y detours were unexpected, particularly the chanting in the last track. HL: Never Let Me Down Again, Behind the Wheel, I Want You Now

3.8

De kändes som att man höll på att vänta på såsen men den kom aldrig (i dom flesta sångerna ”nothing” gick crazy hårt)

Good songs unfortunately held back by outdated technology, something they’d much improve upon on their following album. Also, Pimpf just sounds silly

Ég skil að fólk elski þetta, flottur 9. áratugur, töff synthar, góð lög og textar, og einkennandi rödd. En þrátt fyrir að finnast þetta á köflum smá töff (sérstaklega Kraftwerkslegt lokalagið) þá er þetta bara ekki mín tónlist. Gott stöff en þið megið eiga það.

I listened to the Special Edition which had a number of songs which were a bit too noodle-y for me. Even "Pimpf" was a bit much for me. Depeche Mode always has this feel of not being overly emotional. It always comes off as cold to me. The few big hits are able to overcome the sterility of their sound, but not the the album itself. It wasn't bad, but again not a big fan. It just doesn't feel very emotional to me.

Before modern day R&B and hip-hop, you just know this was the kids' preferred baby-making music in the 80's. It's hypnotic, it's rhythmic, and then combine those beats with Gahan's sultry vocals (and Gore's lyrics). These guys were the masters of synth pop. I think the 3-song sequence from Never Let Me Down Again to The Things You Said to Strangelove is up there with some of their best work. Awesome tracks. And the sequence from Sacred to Little 15 to Behind the Wheel isn't too shabby either (though lyrics are a bit creepier). There are some bigger holes in the last four tracks. Pimpf is a little too weird and I Want You Now is a little too creepy, but Nothing is pretty good. The album definitely gets better on multiple listens; feels like a solid 3.5. So, round up or down? I went down to clearly distinguish it from Violator, which I feel is a superior album.

I always like Depeche Mode's sound but I rarely find myself drawn in enough to want to explore more. Favorite tracks: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, To Have and To Hold. Could do without the annoying breathing in I Want You Now.

I never really listened to Depeche Mode as an album band. This had more depth than I was expecting. It's not reliant on quirky three minute pop songs, aka the DM Greatest Hits. There was a strong feel throughout. This sounds like a driving album, even though I don't drive.

It was pretty good. Very 80's sounding. I probably liked the Never Let Me Down Again the most.

trails off at the end

I've never been able to permeate DM. Never quite sure why. Possibly because I was always more of a loud guitar teen and DM was always too 80s lightweight keyboard-y and drum machine . Thought 'Never Let Me Down Again' was going to change everything because it's a great track, a fantastic opener. Despite being a single, can't ever recall hearing it. And you know from the very first second that the video for it is an Anton Corbijn clip. But the rest of the album, while not unpleasant is not making me revaluate my opinion on the band. Feel sad that never got to see them live though.

Decent album if feeling some 80s electronic, didn't wow me. Probably will not be listening to again

Meh.

Some very well mad music that I did not like. This stuff is clearly intricately crafted and sounds like science fiction but I did not really feel anything listening to it. The guitars in Route 66 sounds the same as in Doom And Gloom by The Rolling Stones, so maybe the Stones borrowed from this? It was a pretty unique cover.

I don't feel anything so remarkable on this release, but it was a pleasant experience listening to it. The musical work is impressive, they take account of the listener's experience for real, but the high number of promising techniques do not compensate for the lack of "trueness" on the whole album!

80s as 80s gets

It was fine

first listen almost fell asleep

Dave Gahan has a great voice & great performance throughout. Was not hooked by the songwriting here although I liked the minimalism of the creepy little 15.

It has its moments.

Similarly to the Car album, this one could have been so much more entertaining if it was a bit more diverse and upbeat. In the end it was a rather boring and monotonous experience

Good moody album

Keyboards and Cocaine

80s vibes

nokkuð góð DM plata

Fine record, has a few good tracks.

Favorite track: Never Let Me Down Again

7/10 Best Song - Never Let Me Down Again

haven't heard any of these songs before but I can get hints of other songs like policy of truth in certain ones like strangelove. Depeche is always great so this was a good week ender.

Love Depeche Mode, but only for the hits I know, and none of those are on here. Still, a pretty good album with a handful of tracks I dug. Loses a half star though because two of the tracks I loved were from rerelease(s), especially that sparse piano rendition of Sonata No. 14. I'd like at least one more album from them that has some of the big hitters. Favorite tracks: Never Let Me Down Again, Nothing, Sonata No. 14, Route 66. Album art: Not a whole lot to this one, 80% frame around a small picture. I do like that the loudspeakers arranged on the pole look a bit like a small bouquet of flowers, that's what I thought it was when in small mode on my phone. 3/5

kinda spooky

I really like the Depeche Mode sound. Feel like this is isn't the best of their albums though...Violator would likely be better. Hopefully it will be on the list. 3/5

fine - sounds like depeche mode - didn't really get me going

When I was younger I actively hated Depeche Mode, but my views on them have mellowed with age. Still not a big fan, but I don't mind listening to this. I have to give them credit, they could write a catchy synth riff. 3 stars.

Pretty good

Some great singles but not the best Depeche Mode

Cool dark vibes Favorite was Pimpf

Maybe my expectations were a bit too high but this one didn't grab me as much as the other on this list. Maybe it needs a bit more time or I'm just not in the right fram of mind. Fave: Never Let Me Down Again

Somewhat appropriately, my love for this album has faded. At one time I thought it to be much more enjoyable than I do now, and while I do still recognize value in it, my enjoyment of it is nowhere near that of years past.

The odd career arc to go from shy and fey and suffering synth types to the club music equivalent of arena rockers never made sense. This seems a reach to be taken more seriously by being less danceable, but the hooks get a little mechanistic and blocky. “Nothing” and “Agent Orange” are engaging, but “Route 66” and the “Moonlight Sonata” are utterly unconvincing, not even as filler.

3.5

Pop electrónico con sintetizadores. Ni fu ni fa.

Pretty essential, they're nearly there re-inventing themselves from synthpoppers to epic synthpopper gloom gothers. Three stellar singles and a strong set of album tracks.

Legalzinho. Melhores músicas: Never Let me Down again e Strangelove

80s synth electronic. Sometimes it worked.

Good, but Violator is just this album but better in every single way so I don't really see the need to have this on the list. I still enjoyed it though. "Strangelove" slaps so much god damn, that's a song that gets stuck in your head in the middle of the night while you're trying to fall sleep. I had "Architecture & Morality", a very similar album, just a few days ago. What's up with albums from this era having an album cover of a random .jpeg and some text on a plain background?

While the songs that are good are VERY good, most don't really do much for me. Also it gets pretty repetitive at times. There's only so much Depeche Mode i can listen to in one sitting. Still a solid synthpop album, but feels a bit dated.

Very dark and eerie

The album has that 80s sound. It was an alright album. I did not skip any of the songs but I wouldn't pick this album to listen to again.

My first time listening to Depeche Mode (apart from the classics). The album is good, but it does have some weird songs.

High three.

A solid album, but not their best.

Not much of an 80s electronic new wave kinda guy. But this was alright. I thought if the album was like the first and third track I was going to love it. Then there was some wack shit in the second half... So it balances out.

Emotional and contemplative

Depeche Mode... A long time after Vince Clarke left, but before Violator. Hm. OK. Why pick this Depeche Mode? They were pioneers. They changed (well, Vince Clarke did) music with Speak and Spell. They changed it again with Violator, sans Clarke. This album? Say what? Hell. Even Songs of Faith and Devotion was bigger, better and differenter. The album ain't bad - not by a long stretch. But I'd simply not include it given objectively and subjectively better albums from them.

Yep, that’s Depeche Mode

Pretty good. 7/10

I have heard many Depeche Mode songs MULTIPLE times. Depeche Mode has never really caught on with me. Perhaps there were so many strong fans around me, and DM had enough radio play that I never had to listen to much of their music of my own choice. I think I didn't find out about some alternative bands (The Cure, The Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc.) and later new wave artists until later because the local alternative radio station played so much Depeche Mode. This album sits firmly on the darker side of Depeche Mode's work, a good distance away from the pop-ish new wave of their early work. The dark, broody mood of DM still keeps me from fully enjoying this album. "Strangelove" got the highest marks from me for an individual track.

I dig it

Good, but a bit too ominous for regular listening.

80s synth pop, very samey, extra star for little 15 which I LOVED!

I'm going to tell my kids that "Agent Orange" is about Trump. I'm joking. I already told my kids that "Agent Orange" is about Trump and these fellas were just able to see into a dark future. I might also have thrown in how Trump played "Agent Orange" whenever he was getting a golden shower. It certainly sounds plausible. This album is fine, Depeche Mode is fine. A little overrated? Sure, and I'll save my rant for how the hell they're in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for another day. Do I prefer some love versions of Depeche Mode songs? Yes, surprisingly. I wish my take on "Agent Orange" (a pretty forgettable instrumental that sounds like it was added at the last minute as filler) was true. It would at least show that these guys have a sense of humor.

Easy listening and neat sounds. Not entirely my jam genre-wise, but pleasant overall.

Great band but not exactly what Id like.

I'm fond of the 1980s British synthpop sound, but feel like lots of the bands were singles-driven. Maybe I'm wrong. Either way, this record shows Depeche Mode in album mode. It's pretty consistent and well paced. The singer has a very distinctive voice, but hardly any variation - after about half the record, it does begin to seem like the songs blur into one. Overall, it's good but inessential to me. 3.5*

Reminds of Brian Eno

I used to work alongside an obsessive Depeche Mode fan. She would constantly bleat on about her devotion and mainly because of this I couldn't be less interested in the band

Estilo discotequero sin ser techno del todo. Ritmos no muy movidos, pero con un estilo predefinido. Fácil para tener de fondo y disfrutar en la lejanía. No he terminado de enganchar, porque no es un estilo que me guste especialmente

I am a fan of the Depeche Mode albums that follow this (Violater and Songs of Faith and Devotion), which are a bit darker, rockier, and noisy than their early records. The greater inclusion of guitar, the more industrial sound design (more noise and distorition), and greater reliance on pentatonic harmonies (ironically, simpler harmonically than their earlier material) is more to my taste. While familiar with their singles, I had not given earlier albums much attention. It was a real pleasure to spend some time with this album in full. David Bascombe, fresh off producing Tears for Fears and working with DM for the first time, brings a big sound and a penchant for experimenting than is enjoyable. Watching the doco on this album, he was clearly influenced by minimalist composers lie Glass and Reich, which is a bit of a niche sensibility that appeals to me greatly. I really enjoyed this, although not to the same degree as the albums mentioned above. Would buy (albeit for cheap).

Coooool mais un peu long sur la fin

It was fine. Never listened to much Depeche Mode other than the singles, and this was pretty much what I expected.

Jamen godt album. Til tider lidt kedeligt. Til tider rigtig godt!

New wave elektronisk 80’er, hypnotiserende, dystrest, medrivende

Pretty good example of 80s dark synth work

Used to love this

один из лучших их Альбомов у них

The light side and prelude to Violator, paling in comparison. The worst intervals are concentrated on the A-side; The rest lacks the coherence of the followup but stretches toward it and functions as good pop. To Have And To Hold justifies the listen almost by itself, which betrays my sympathies for less positive electronics.

Nothing special. Behind the wheel and Route 66 are decent. The rest is unremarkable, no appeal for me. Can't give 2.5 stars. Flipping a coin between 2 and 3.

Never Let Me Down AgainBehind the Wheel Nothing I guess I liked Strangelove back in the day but it is so overplayed it's hard to stomach.  For the rest I could attribute not really  liking them to the songs not aging well but this might just be an excuse. I liked these guys enough back in the day to buy their first album. tbh, I don't think I listened to it too much since I only liked a few songs. Sounds familiar. Anyway, liking  three songs gets a 3.  

I’m surprised that none of the half dozen or so songs that I associate with Depeche Mode have shown up on this album. I love the lead off track plus some of the ambient instrumentals that end the album like Pimpf and the remixes tacked on after are punchier and less dated than the rest of the material. The rest I find kind of gloomy and plodding. The vocalist doesn't really have a good voice for that type of music, they should have borrowed Peter Murphy from Bauhaus. I’ll round my score up based on Never Let Me Down Again.

Depeche Mode is certainly not for everybody, and even me in particular moments of time. This moody, brooding, dark sound of euphoric synthesizers and keyboards makes for great atmosphere music, and can be a really cool experience just listening in the dark or with mood lighting if you want to create your own little at-home show. Everyone other song on this album is a hit for me, and not including the 2006 Remastered bonus tracks, this is a pretty front heavy album. I honestly don't know enough about the band to put this up against any of their other works, but from my understanding this is a more mature album to leave for later if you want to get into them. I'll certainly revisit it once I do. Favorite Song: Never Let Me Down Again Honorable Mention: Behind the Wheel Least Favorite: Nothing

This is listenable but pretty borning.

When it comes to British New Wave, Depeche Mode is certainly another one of the bands on this list.

I actually really liked this album I thought it was nice and spooky and different than any other album i’ve ever listened to if this was out of 10 I would probably give it seven but four is too high but I did really enjoy this album

Another band I wanted no part of during the late-80s; "don't even show me any moody synth-pop!" So... as has been the case in this exercise, I was actually excited to get it today and give it a re-listen. Right off the bat it's both a lot of what I expected and I ... kind of like it? My teen-filter never let me like Dave Gahan's voice at all but it's perfect for this music and the more I listen the more I like it. To be critical, the songwriting as a whole is fairly limited - there is a sameness to the songs once I start listening. But keeping positive, to me the band's strength is more in invoking a gloomy and dark mood instead which in an odd way is not necessarily a bad thing; almost like all these minor-key synth songs begin to wash over you and create more like a 45 minute experience rather than crafting quality "songs". I'm not sure I'd ever have strong cravings for this specifically, mostly because of the lack of great (or good?) songs... but if someone (including me) says "i'm feeling emo/sad and need to be alone for a while" I know the right album to put on. 5/10 3 stars

Decent but nothing more.

Good album not my favorite from the band.

They’re one of my dads favorite bands so I’m pretty familiar with them. I was real excited to listen to this one. Though the hits aren’t really on it I did quite enjoy it for what it is.

zzz

It's not relaxing listening but it's pretty enjoyable music to mix it up once in a while. 2.5 from me

Strong 3, almost a 4. A few low points but some great tracks, I enjoy the overall style/sound: it's pretty distinctive

Would've been my jam if I was in my 20s in the 80s

Pretty monotonous. Not a bad listen though.

Classic, not for me

Interesting

Nicht so schlecht wie ich über Jahrzehnte proklamiert habe...

Yeah it was alright!

meh

boring af

Its alright, like most 80s synth pop its a bit limp wristed, lacking depth and excitement.

dark and somewhat groovy, maybe worth a revisit

Some obvious highlights on here - such as the opener- this is an album that is brilliant in places but a bit patchy overall. Apparently the album title was meant to be ironic, ironically the irony is that this was indeed the album that hinted at the stadiums Depeche Mode would soon be filling.

Quite repetitive and not particularly memorable. Better was to come.

Good alternative

Gloomy stadium naval gazing. Best Tracks: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Behind The Wheel

Pero por qué me aparece toda la electrónica junta 🙃, aunque no me disgusta, es un poco como rock alternativo.

Enough enjoyable songs outweigh the less interesting. I'd be happy to listen to it again 3*

I liked this more than I thought I would. As an album, I would happily listen again. No massive standout tracks at the moment but enjoyable.

A bit Samey but not bad

Enjoyed this. Quite like a bit of Depeche Mode. A shame none of their big hits were on this but was still a good listen.

It helps with hindsight hearing their evolution. I got as far as track 7 before moving on.

Den er ok ig

Not bad but not my cup of tea

3.8 + Love some Depeche Mode, and some of their best output is here (e.g. "Never Let Me Down Again", "Little 15"). There are also some strange asides ("Pimpf", "I Want You Now", "Agent Orange") where the band experiments with an expanded soundscape. Given the simplicity in the compositions, the almost brute force in the synthesized parts, tracks work best when they're focused around a composed song with standard structure (Verse-Chorus-Verse...). The experimental tracks sometimes sound ham-fisted and pretentious.

Nunca me gustó pero nunca le di una oportunidad. Mejor de lo esperado

Good, partly very good but not great

Ich war mal zufällig auf einem Depeche Mode Konzert und konnte den ganzen Fan-Wahnsinn spätestens nach der Performance von NLMDA voll nachvollziehen und war auch infiziert. Aber über die ganze Albumlänge komme ich mit der Euphorie heute nicht mehr hin.

Electronic not my cup of tea

Electrónica. Bastante más interesante de lo esperado.

It was fine, I guess. I've really liked Depeche Mode very much. This was exactly what I thought it would be.

for many years I believed I was a Depeche Mode fan (i really like the hits) but I cannot stand any of their records for its whole length

Muy lejos de su mejor nivel

I’m not a huge 80s music guy. It just sounds too old. This reminds me of the Smiths and The cure

Eh

another interesting album, had a cool sound and some cool tracks, "never let me down again" and "strangelove" were highlights

great singles, but albums can be a slog.

Kind of dark tone overall. Some of it weirdly reminded me of Pink Floyd The Wall.

Never heard of it before. Songs not familiar. Definitely enjoyable but not my jam on a whole.

4 3 5 3.9 3 2 1 3 3 3

Buen disco.

I like Depeche Mode, but I do not love them. I think the vocals are too naked/clean/straight compared to the darkness of the sound for my taste. I don't think this is their strongest album. Just felt a little too dated, very 80s, a little cheesy at parts. I like the synths though! I have heard "Behind the Wheel" before, prob one of the standouts. Nice driving beat. Also heard "Nothing" before too. Really don't like "I Want You Now", those breaths are a biiiit much. Pimpf is sooo overdramatic. "Agent Orange" was nice atmosphere. Kinda reminds me of a jam of ours without lyrics. "Pleasure, Little Treasure" is kinda fun. I swayed my shoulders in a goofy way. Pretty sure I've heard "Route 66". Had to look it up, but it's a cover. I'm guessing I'm getting into B-sides or something now. "Stjarna" reminds me of like, FF7 music or something. I can't believe they put a cover of Moonlight Sonata on here. Ballsy, but I am not a fan of something that popular being on an album as a cover unless it's a piano-focused album/cover album.

pimpf sounds like it could fit in a Castlevania game - C

Tengo conocidos una generación arriba de la nuestra y creo que no hay uno solo de ellos a los que no les guste Depeche, ese sector fueron darkis fresas sin duda. Es un sonido que me agrada bastante, aunque no se que diablos hace ahí claro de luna.

not totally sure this was for me. maybe i'm not a synth gal? but glad i listened i suppose. oh also, wish it had wayyyyy fewer references to little girls...

Depeche Mode has such an interesting sound they could be reading the newspaper and it would slap. Unfortunately this album had a few pieces that seemed off, but overall a good listening experience

This was ok, probably not going to come back to it ever though

Enjoyable album very Castlevania feel especially early on. Some classic 80s sounds, very common for the time. Good but not great, some songs are a bit repetitive. 3.5

Lettere ens-tonigt.

ok electronic album. A must listen to?

Super bizarre record. I actually like the Depeche Mode, but this one had like— a piano sonata? A cover of Route 66? Weird background cinematic jams? I give it 3 stars just for weirdness