Reviews (page 12 of 13)
Wat een lekkere binnenkomer is Never Let You Down Again.. Een van mijn favorieten. Ik ben sowieso een beetje een sucker voor alles waar goeie synths in zitten. En de atmosferische stemmen van Depeche Mode, zingend over verlangen, gevoelens en duisternis sluiten daar heerlijk bij aan. Zo ook te horen bij Strangelove. Geheel in de stijl van New Order, maar de gitaren hebben plaatsgemaakt voor synths en 80s drumsounds. Behind the Wheel is ook een soort Blue Monday, maar duister (en iets saaier, oké). Een nummer dat je ontsnappingsgevoelens doet opwekken. Dan naar Nothing. Wat minder duister, wat upbeat, een verfrissinkje, zo ongeveer aan het eind van het album. Depeche Mode heeft absoluut een dikke duim in de pap gehad als het gaat om de ontwikkeling van de synthpop en alternatieve elektronische muziek. Al kijk je alleen al naar alle heerlijke technoremixjes die gemaakt zijn van de nummers van DM. Hun invloeden zijn nogsteeds terug te horen, en het album luistert tegenwoordig nog gemakkelijk weg (los van het bizarre Pimpf, een soort marcheernummer voor wanneer Duitsland met robots de 3e wereldoorlog aangaat). Rating: 7/10 Highlights: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Nothing
De titel doet vermoeden dat het album vol staat met radiovriendelijke synthpop nummertjes, maar niets is minder waar. Ik begrijp dat het waarschijnlijk een cynische kop is, maar het album wordt overwegend gekenmerkt door een stemmige sfeer. An sich kan ik de dark wave van de band wel wat beter hebben dan de typische synthpop, maar dit album voelt ondanks de zware atmosfeer toch een beetje leeg aan. Ik vind de mysterieuze soundscape van nummers als 'Little 15' en van 'To Have and to Hold' echt sterk, maar het zijn ook direct de nummers die belichamen dat het album weigert om tot een echte climax te komen. Merendeel van de plaat is een onheilspellende opbouw naar niks, een leeg omhulsel. Wel een leeg omhulsel met een hoop potentie. Het album opent met 'Never Let Me Down Again', die geheel tegen alle statements ingaat die ik net op tafel heb gegooid. De sfeer is direct geheimzinnig, maar leidt ook echt tot een orgastische explosie in de hook, iets wat de rest van het album laakt. Het is een nummer die denk ik perfect tentoonstelt waar Depeche Mode toe in staat is, moody maar toch ook echt aanstekelijke én dansbare synthpop. Een fabuleuze song, en één van de beste in het genre. Wat minder uptempo is het volgende nummer. 'The Things You Said' bevat prachtige synths, en de kalmte zorgt voor een aangename come down na de powerhouse die de plaat opende. 'Behind the Wheel' is een ander voorbeeld waarin een duister geluidenpallet wordt gecombineerd met een opzwepend house ritme. Maar zoals vaak het geval bij Depeche Mode, zijn de vocalen van Dave Gahan een doorn in het oog. Zijn stem wordt vaak bejubeld als perfecte sensuele tegenhanger van de stemmige atmosfeer in de nummers van de band, maar ik vind de vocalen vaak weerzinwekkend. Vooral als 'ie het in nummers als deze heeft over 'sweet little girls', de pedo meter slaat dan naar 10. En daarna het walgelijke gehijg in 'I Want You Now'. De AIVD stond hier nog net niet op de stoep. De tweede helft van het album heeft naast 'Nothing' niet veel te bieden, en ook die song voelt gewoon niet helemaal af. Een klassiek Depeche Mode potjes- en pannetjesritme, die vervolgens niet echt ergens heengaat. Het is het verhaal van dit album. Ik vind de vibe die neergezet wordt completer en overweldigender dan op het album die we recent gerecenseerd hebben, maar hij mist wel echt een punchline zoals de hooks in 'Violator' die wel brachten. Het resultaat is dat de plaat zich schuilhoudt in een dikke pak atmosferische mist, met maar één bergtop die daar ferm bovenuit steekt in 'Never Let Me Down Again'. 6,5/10 Ondanks mijn analogie over één bergtop, heb ik toch twee highlights: Never Let Me Down Again The Things You Said
Ondanks mijn veronderstelling dat we het beste werk van Depeche Mode reeds hebben mogen beluisteren ben ik open-minded dit album ingegaan. En het moet gezegd: het openingsduo is fantastisch. Never Let Me Down Again en zeker ook The Things You Said zijn erg sterk. De rest vind ik lastig. Eigenlijk een stuk saaier. Synths werken voor mij eigenlijk goed om twee manieren: atmosferisch of dansbaar. In de jaren 80 was er natuurlijk veel dansbare synth, in de jaren 90 werd het dromiger. Beiden kan ik zeer goed waarderen. Wat Depeche Mode doet op Music for the Masses is zwaarder, donkerder. Het gaat goed tot Sacred, maar daarna ga ik me storen aan de galm en de echoende drums. Dit album slaat niet bij me aan. 6/10 Highlights Never Let Me Down Again The Things You Said
Yahoo did/does it better 2
The music is better than I expected but I've never liked the way that Depeche Mode decided to prove they were all grown up by writing about sin, sado-masochism and drugs. I find the lyrics really off-putting. Strangely I don't mind when the Velvet Underground do the same thing.
Pretty meh, nothing really stood out, although it was pleasant enough as background music. I hadn't heard a single song off this album before, even the ones that were released as singles. Either that, or they were just so forgettable that I don't remember hearing them before? I kind of enjoyed "Sacred" a bit more than the rest of the album, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to any of this material ever again.
Depeche Mode is one of those bands that is iconic and has a cult following, but their music has never really been my style. I appreciated listening to this album but it simply confirmed I'm not interested lol
just not into new wave/synth pop rock but i know that is a me issue
Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion are when Depeche Mode reached their peak. There are a couple of good songs on this album but most of them are nothing special.
As I've gained wisdom with age, I realize I may have been closed-minded -- even wrong -- about certain convictions I harbored in my younger years. One of those was that 80's music for any reasonable fellow must be screaming hair metal - (Master of Puppets '86; Appetite for Destruction '87; Hysteria '87; Dr. Feelgood '89 and so forth - you get the idea). Well I was dead-on-balls accurate. No 'music for the masses' on that list. Also Moonlight Sonata without the 3rd movement is like Stairway minus the guitar solo.
I was surely listening to Duran Duran and Simple Minds and Def Leppard at this time. But also a lot of Beastie Boys and Easy E. Depeche Mode just wasn’t part of my rotation. At first I thought maybe that was a miss, but this album is just boring.
This is music for somebody. But not me. It just about put me to sleep.
I can’t tell if this is pop music made by goth people, or goth music made by popular people. It might be both. Either way, not for me. My reaction to most of this album was, “oh, I respect that as a decision,” not, “oh, I would listen to this again in public” because an idea isn’t a song, it’s just an idea, even if it came first and is a good idea. “Strangelove” is the sole exception; hard to deny that song slaps. Maybe this deserves a revisit later when I’m more depressed, hornier, or both.
4/1001 Boring, it had an interesting start but then it became very boring and quite dated. Pretty mid.
I loved my cassette of the Singles 81 – 85, but by 1987 Depeche Mode had dropped off my radar completely. I don’t think I missed much with this ponderously gloomy goth album. It’s interesting that it really took off in the US. Maybe there were fewer bands that sounded similar.
Boring
Meh, veel reverb op de drums en matige synth rock. Niet echt mij style, een modderige mix is nooit echt mijn fave
First song was good, but after that it started sounding like art rock from an 80's British band - oh wait - that's what it is! Not my cup of tea.
Sorry. Got distracted. All of a sudden I was near the end of the album where all these generic 80s songs blurred into each other. Definitely not a game changer.
ugh it's sooo 80s i didnt feel forced to skip any though
WTF DID I JUST LISTEN TO
Starts off strong but becomes a bit more hit and miss afterward.
Meh. Never really 'got' their music. Gave this an honest listen, and I still don't get it. It's not terrible, but, I don't get the hype. It's also worth mentioning that I'm generally not a fan of 80s music.
Meh
Leur 6ème album. C'est pas ma semaine, j'ai pas tant trippé sur lui. Des lamentations.
Once again I'm not one of the masses.
Love the intro, the rest of the album is kind of meh
Not a fan, didn’t hate it, but not for me
Sounds like Morrissey but interesting set of soundscaped arranged to fit the late 80's electric
Not my sort of stuff.
Surprised I didn’t like it
I'm not crazy about Depeche Mode but I see how they were such a big influence for synth pop; the beats are really good.
Business proposal: Let's make a pop album, but without hits or any catchy songs. Are you in? The sequencer work is really rough, is that on purpose? Is this technology disguised as art? 2.3
I once had a boss called Dipesh, and although he never made this joke, he was exactly the kind of Apprentice wannabe that would have said he was entering ‘Dipesh Mode’. So that’s all I can really think about when Depeche play their tunes. Anyway, that’s by the by, this fellas getting a 2, not offensive enough for a 1, but it didn’t have much going for it.
Endured this one better than the last Depeche Mode album.
It all kinda sounds the same.
Very flat and unemotional to me. Some nice rythems and melodies but never get "over the hill" to get me coving. Maybe I'll try again in a couple years.
Quintessential 80s sound. A little too brooding and sterile in production for my taste. I can’t say I loved it, glad I heard it though.
Ok
It's a Depeche Mode album, his slow droning baritone over electronic music. Some songs were interesting, otherwise it was more of the same from this band. Nothing really stood out to me. It was ok to listen to
Stop trying to make depeche modè happen.
Last song wtf
I'm normally the biggest synth pop and new wave defender. There's some catchy songs here but on the first listen through this one felt kinda...bland? Songs are kinda repetitive and the album as a whole just goes on for a little too long.
Okayish, not impressive. Maybe it was the case at 1987
Just not the Depeche Mode that I enjoy. Some good tracks, a lot of ones I cared nothing for.
Probably my least favorite so far. Found it boring, couldn't finish the album. Maybe in another headspace I'd be into it so 2/5
oh god, i don’t wanna listen to this but i’m hoping i’m wrong and it’s good. there’s been only a few albums i’ve been happy to listen to you know. it was a bit depressing and i didn’t really care for it.
very 80s, much interesting. only in small doses. kids seemed to really like it
A couple of good songs, but easy to get bored of quickly
Well that was pretty boring and unremarkable
The first few songs had me thinking, “Huh, I wonder why I never really got into Depeche Mode…” but the rest of the album answered that. This is the kind of album I would -maybe- put on as background music for a creative session of writing or drawing….only if I already had a lot of sentences or scenes in my head and didn’t want to get distracted by the soundtrack. None of the songs made me feel any kind of way except Moonlight Sonata, and they didn’t write that.
I've decided I don't like this style of English 80s synth-heavy pop very much.
Not for me. DNF’d
Not a bad album, I just didn't really like it. Nothing was probably my favorite. Pimpf is boss music. Listening to the last couple songs while driving alone at night in the rain seemed appropriate.
My dad quite likes them so I'm kind of desensitised to it, not an era I'm particularly fond of and a bit repetitive but some nice ideas.
очень даже ничего, томно, романтично, пока не было неописуемых красот, но все на неплохом троечном уровне.крайне средне вообщем. как демонстрация будущего саунда и свежесть еще пойдет, сейчас скушновато, но пару песен взяли
Not really into this album. It became quite repetitive.
Quintessential 80s electro pop. Not much soul. Lyrics sung without much emotion. Feels like a formula for 80s movie background soundtrack. I don't feel anything listening to this.
Felt like they discovered the synthesizer and just started pressing buttons. also I really didn't need Dave gahan moaning in my ear, could've lived without that.
Maybe this album was more ground-breaking or influential when it came out, but at least here in 2023 it was a very forgettable hour of 80's synth-pop
Very generic 80s.
ffs, why is this generator so full of 80's music.
it was just ok
2.5/5 - Classic 80s album for 9 songs, it dropped off significantly for the last 3. I Want You Now is my standout on this one.
This album felt pretty gloomy, I would only return to perhaps 1 song.
Dark, moody, and repetitive. The songs start sounding very similar to each other after a few. Lyrics seem very simple which is sometimes boring, although sometimes it works as a type of mantra. Find myself enjoying the groove occasionally
Not a bit fan of this record. Too moody/brooding for my taste. I do like some DM stuff and love 80’s new wave/alt/indie but this album didn’t do it for me.
I was excited with “Never let me down again” but quickly got fatigued with the 80s synth melodrama. “Pimpf” and “I want you know”…only ok if picturing Will Ferrell singing in some crazy sketch. Otherwise cringe.
I can appreciate the influence of this album at the time it was released but I just cant get into it.
Unfortunately, Apple Music doesn’t support this album in my country. I dunno why. One of the moments currently lives here. Either way, this is a great album and a product of its time. Not my favorite. But, impactful nonetheless.
At first I thought I was really going to like this album, I’m a sucker for synths and stuff. The first song I really did like but I just got bored with the rest of the album. It just kept going on and on. It’s really funny that it ends with moonlight sonata though. Regarding last album as I didn’t comment, it’s good probably not going to relisten often or ever though. You can really tell it’s from a movie soundtrack and I feel like I’ve felt inspiration from it in other shows/movies. Maybe I’ll check out the movie someday.
Moody electronic. Not really my thing. Not enough variety or change of pace to make it overall interesting. 2/5 Won't listen again
1/10, 10%
I love synths but turns out I’m not crazy about the godfathers of synths themselves. Found myself a bit bored through this. Probably would not listen again.
Miten synkkää. Sacredissa oli jotain jujua, avausraidassa myös. Hikinen kakkonen.
Pretty boring for me. Although the first song is interesting I couldn’t listen the whole album to the end.
Not for me
One really good song (Behind the Wheel) and a bunch of mediocrity after that.
First song classic 80s hit, the rest too goth.
Boring electronic shit.
2/5 Best: Strangelove Worst: I Want You Now
A lot if it sounds the same
I am not a Depeche Mode fan. So maybe I'm not among the masses that this music is for. But unlike with "Violator," where the decent songs came later, "Music for the Masses" started off strong with "Never Let Me Down Again." That track is proof that Depeche Mode's style can work for me. Unfortunately, that is the exception rather than the rule. A few more tolerable tracks followed, but then just as I began to tire of Dave Gahan's baritone drone, "Little 15" brought everything crashing down. That song has a weird vibe, whether it is about a mother talking to her teenage son (Gahan's version) or a not necessarily sexual story about "a bored, middle-aged house wife trying to find a new lease on life through a young boy" (Martin Gore's explanation). "Music for the Masses" never got me back after that. It didn't help that I unknowingly kept going into the strangely varied instrumentals and totally out-of-place cover of "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" bonus tracks from a later digital release. Depeche Mode will only ever work via greatest hits for me.
Started ok but got bored
So-so.
It’s the best of a terrible band
Sex and love is one of the easiest things to sing about, isn't it?
This is the first Depeche Mode record I ever listened to. More of the British 80s new wave that plagues this list. The first few songs were ok, but this definitely began to drag on. Too bland for me.
didn't care for it at all, parts U2, parts '80s
I thought his voice sounded like Bo Burnham and so I kept thinking it was a joke. It also made me sleepy
Every song is the same song
very 80s. not for me
There's some decent tunes buried under this disgusting 80s production
Non-distinct 80's music that sounded the same on every track to me. I'm a fan of the decade but I did not find this to be representative of the era in any way.
I don't think I really like this band, some songs are ok but I can't see myself going back to this!
Deleted right after listening.
A few good tracks here - and I like their hits - but I don't think Depeche Mode's style is for me.
Depeche Mode is a band that you have to want to hear. Their sound is too unique to be able to enjoy at any moments notice. I find it interesting that their music was in clubs in the 80s. Feel like that would bring the mood down. Overall this isn’t as good as violator and I didn’t find any songs with revisiting really. 5.6/10
Remember Depeche Mode from the bar days, but the song that sticks with me most in not off this album. I was going to write a story of walking through a bar in Detroit with a college buddy, S. Lukes, when Personal Jesus came on and seem to be the perfect song, for the perfect time for a great night bar hopping drinking my blues away while the girl I loved was in Kazoo, not giving me a thought. But Personal Jesus not on this album. So.....not a big fan of their music, but Never let me down is a solid track. Strangelove and Route 66 were ok, but not overall most of the songs didn't do much for me. Kinda fun to step back to see what I may have been missing in the 80's, but it turns out, I wasn't missing much. Just wasn't in to this and won't revisit. But just seeing this band reminded me of a bittersweet time, living in Ypsilanti. 2
Depeche Mode is a lot of hit and miss for me, and this album was a lot of miss. I did like "Never Let Me Down Again" probably the most out of all the tracks, although Agent Orange gets bonus points for sounding like the soundtrack to Terminator 2.
I’m only familiar with Depeche Mode through their peppy breakout hit “Just Can’t Get Enough” and their most famous album “Violator”, a moody monolith of alternative synth-pop. Named with deliberate irony, “Music for the Masses” is supposedly a bridge between the two, as the band inch away from sprightly singles and closer towards the doom and gloom of “Violator” onwards. I’d call it more of a dark and cold underground tunnel between the two: this has none of the sheen of “Just Can’t Get Enough”, or the polish of those more commercial-reaching moments in “Violator”. On first listen it felt like a real slog, with no discernible excitement or prowess. After spending a bit more time with it, certain songs have started to slowly emerge from the haze… but it’s still not blowing me away. This is an atmosphere-first, songwriting-second, grooves-third album. The focus here seems to be much more on Andy Fletcher’s keyboard textures than anything else, which sit well in the unmistakeably 80s production. “The Things You Said” is a strong example of this approach working well: sparse and minimal, a bassline shifting between two chords, ripples of other synths or programmed drum fills billowing over the top throughout. “Pimpf” is a pleasingly bombastic closer. And it may be an outlier, but I appreciate the audacity of “I Want You Now”, punctuated by deep breathing and vocal-sounding synths. It stands out from the rest and at least shows a little more sonic experimentation beyond every other line-up in the 1980s. I’m beginning to suspect there’s not much more to these songs than the first few listens can reveal. Most of the lyrics are written in vague generalities, with an occasional toe-curlingly awful line to grab attention (“Promises me I’m as safe as houses, as long as I remember who’s wearing the trousers”, in the otherwise album standout “Never Let Me Down Again”). The rest of the tracks range from passably interesting to wholly forgettable. Where “Sacred” is a rare (but bloated) chance to dance, “Little 15”’s arrangement hasn’t aged so well and is a real snooze break. There’s a lot of wallowing, with nothing particularly concise. It’s fine, and passes the time without much objection, but I can’t say I’ve unearthed a classic.
I always had a tough time really getting into new wave. Some solid entries in here like Behind the Wheel; I just want this album to get to a place it never really gets to.
If I’m taking a ride with my best friend and they queue up this record, well, they’re going to let me down.
Echt de meest doorsnee typische 80s synth pop. Totaal niet mijn ding, echt niks aan.
I have come to appreciate DM as an adult, but this album didn't do anything for me. It's too one-dimensional and depressing. I prefer it when they get weirder.
A very specific eerie mood, not sure if I liked listening to it for an hour straight.
It’s quite the audition piece for a film score, but personally I think it is style over substance. I found it quite dull. I also found the song “Little 15” quite problematic, so much so I had to google it. Turns out it’s about a 15 year old boy rather than a 15 year old girl, and it may or may not be his mum singing to him - so slightly less problematic but still. Some 80s songs need to be retired. I’m looking at you Sting (Don’t Stand So Close To Me) and you Heaven 17 (Come Live With Me)
Not quite sure what this is, but I didn't really enjoy it. It's just a bunch or weird 80s sounds.
Was ok, but didn't stand out to me as much as some other DM.
35 years later, it sounds like Sonic music with middle class mid life crisis vocals
it’s just soooo sad
Very slow and mellow, a bit boring I must say. But also kinda unique in it's sound.
I didn't dislike it but the whole thing was very one dimensional. The vocals were the same "spooky" monotone, the music synth-y, "intergalaxic-y" 80s electronic pop. I think I like Depeche Mode better when I hear individual songs rather than a whole album all at once and I wouldn't go back to listen to any of these songs in particular
Why do people like Depeche Mode? The vocals are painfully boring and the instrumentals are typically pretty flat and boring. I can't understand the appeal.
lame
I was set to really enjoy this, but it was a disappointment. Hoping that I'll enjoy the next album of theirs that crops up more.
Probably a good album, but not really my music
Not really my thing. It wasn't awful but it did grate a little. Some of it was OK though.
this feels fake and superficial which is sad because i think they’re trying to be deep and sincere
A bit boring
A smooth classic, i like it probably for the memories it awakens...
Depressed mode for sure.
Meh
Ei oikein iskenyt. Outoa musiikkia, outoa hengitystä. Oudot melodiat, oudot tehosteet. Strangelove ehkä tuttu
track 1 - 5.5/10 track 2 - track 3 - track 4 - track 5 - track 6 - track 7 - track 8 - track 9 - track 10 - track 11 - track 12 - track 13 - track 14 -
Couldn’t find anything of note here.
Tal vez para escuchar drogado 👍🏻
Just plain bad – not only are paper-thin melodies stretched to full-length runtimes ('The Things You Said' is literally the same riff repeated for four minutes), but some of the instrumental choices and attempts at novelty are mind-bogglingly poor (the song that's just pure grunt noises, anyone?).
Not sure if it is better or worse than previous. Certainly soulless, cold, at times repetitive.
Låter ba int bra.
Moody music, just doesn't do it for me overall
Too ploddy for me. I was looking forward to giving this a virtual spin, as I only really know the first album. Which I must say has much better tunes. I found the mixing of religious allusions with S&M imagery of the lyrics in places a bit hackneyed, tbh. And Pimpf is verging on prog pomposity. Overall a rather sombre experience and not one I would intentionally repeat.
Dull droning dross. What a waste of a weekend.
I didn’t like it it just wasn’t rhythmic of fun. Kinda just an annoying alternative album
It's not bad, just not my thing
Very 80s and not very good. The singer has some odd affectations, and the lyrics are nonsense. Not their best work, probably, but not actively terrible.
This is boring at best and depressing overall. It has no heart or soul. If I'm listening to the radio and Depeche Mode comes on I change the station. The only thing on this album that I liked was the cover of Route 66 and that apparently is only on the reissue, not the original version.
a little lackluster, maybe controversial but i honestly don't think this is their best work. i did rlly like Route 66 tho
I like the vocal production and the spooky sound of it with the odd chord progressions, but the songs go nowhere and lack excitement. I know it was their intention, but not something interesting for me.
I like Depeche Mode but this album was just quite boring. I never realized the importance of a “single” on an album, but here I noticed that there’s no one song tie the others together
this felt like nothing, just overdone synths and label-provided lyrics. i felt nothing new during or after the album.
Not super into it
First time listening through and I didn't finish. Largely bored with the record. I do like certain Depeche Mode cuts, just nothing really on this record – although I do like the opening track.
Gute Hintergrundmusik Gesang etwas eintönig
First track v good. The rest is utter shite
never let me down again and little 15 were decent songs, didnt mind agent orange for awhile also
never really got into them..but still gave them a listen.
Wasn’t a big fan of this group… But my brother in college kept sending me cassette recordings thinking I would like them but I did not
its a bit boring and missing anything to stand out, might have some historical relevance im not aware of
Average despite people loving it
Startlagið geggjað en ekki nógu mikið djús á restinni.
Need to listen
Pas mon genre, je n'ai pas les outils pour apprécier. Quelques pièces accrocheuses, beaucoup de longueurs.
I can see the draw, but this album is not for me.
A mid-range 2. It sounds so miserable, without the jaunty bits that make Joy Division / The Smiths more bearable. I wouldn't say there was a standout song. Not going to listen again, but not the worst we've had.
Wel oke maar de meeste depeche mode nummers zijn niet mijn ding
Just doesn't do it for me. I think I liked "Strangelove" but that might just be because I recognized it.
Albums with a perfect title in regards to the music. 2.5/5
New wave feels very hit or miss for me
The whole of the album proper is basically just very dull samey synth-guff. Funnily enough some of the bonus tracks on the deluxe/expanded editions are much better: Route 66 is actually fun and Agent Orange is weird but kinda great background music? Still can't really rate the album as a whole though.
Disappointing.
mehh. 2?
Kinda boring. I can see the influence on bands I do like, but having a more animated vocalist would do wonders.
Pretty much the same review as for the last DM album: Find the singing super annoying; the instrumentals are better and more suited for their cinematic creepy/minor key keyboard sounds. 0 Stars for album cover.
Not my fave album of theirs. Some tunes were good but others dragged for me.
2/5
Lista chyba chciala pokazac jak bardzo gatunek moze sie roznic przez porownanie wczorajszego kraftwerka z dzisiejszym depeche mode, ktorzy debiutuja na liscie likowej z ich szostym albumem studyjnym music for the masses z 87, gatunek jak poprzednia pozycja synthowy pop, ale jest to calkowicie inny rodzaj muzyki, brak tu jakiegokolwiek konceptu, a jak przystalo na depeche mode brzmia jakby uciekly z radiowej audycji boomerowskiej tesknoty za latami 80, ciekawie w ogole wyglada podzial obowiazkow w zespole, cztery osoby, David Gahan zabija koty na wokalu, Martin Gore pisze dla niego teksty ktorymi zabija te koty, Alan Wilder ten tworzy caloksztalt muzyczny na ktorym koty sa mordowane i Andrew Fletcher ktory nie robi nic i odcina kupony, ciekawa sprawa, ze jako czlonek bandy nie ma zadnych creditow jako tworca, pewnie przez wczorajsze robocie synthy, ale te dzisiejsze brzmia tak nudno, a polaczone z tak wysmienicie zwyczajnym wokalem tworza mieszanke residentowosleeperowa, wyjatkiem od tej reguly bedzie otwierajacy never let me down again, jako cos swiezego, tylko po to zeby kolejne 40 minut slyszec go w 8 innych remiksach, bo praktycznie pierwsze 4 minuty definiuja brzmienie kolejnych 40, z wyjatkiem zamkyjacego traka pimpf, ktory zmienia koncepcje tworzenia radio friendli songow na rzecz kompozycji czysto instrumentalnej opartej na brzmieniach rodem z opery, dodatkowo isterowe egi nawet ma kawalek jak pol minuty ciszy po ktorym jest outro calej plyty, gdyby reszta albumu byla podobnie tworzona, to mogloby cos z tego ciekawego wyjsc, ale tak to depeche mode pozostanie dla mnie banda od personalnego jezusa, na plejke dodam wspomnianego wczesniej pimpfa
I think I'm not german enough to completely and immersively enjoy an album like this. I'm not sure where the german obsession with 80s music comes from, but it's a strikingly intergenerational phenomenon. Its prevalence on radio could be explained away by taking a look at the demographics of radio consumption, which I suspect would reveal a 40+ trend. Nostalgia is a strong driving force in enjoying and consuming music. None of this can explain why the youth also celebrate 80s music and 80s revivalism to the extent that they do. It feels like every second night at a studenty bar/club is an 80s/90s night. Living here I've come into contact with more music from the decade than I would ever willingly subject myself to. Suffice to say, it hasn't rubbed off on me. There must be plenty of qualities in this album that made it important at the time, but I struggle to identify them. The only song I really found myself invested in was Pimpf, but i'm unsure if this was because of the qualities of the song itself, or if it simply relief at the brief respite from the deluge of 80s synth sounds that is Music for the Masses.
Not for me. Techno is good and all and I like how the album didn't just stick to the genre. While maybe a foundational work, later bands in the same genre did it better.
Pompous casio 80s
I didn't really enjoy this album, I think I liked one song. 2/5 stars.
Too instrumental, too monotone
From reading the reviews I see that you either love or hate Depeche Mode. Personally I find them a bit too pretentious, the brooding lyrics and the lead vocalist’s dis-embodied robotic voice is annoying. Other bands eg Kraftwerk can do electronic and not have it come off sounding so contrived and emotionless.
trying not to let my bias against the 80s show but I was not a big fan of this. my biggest criticism of this album is that it takes itself wayy too seriously, there's not the slightest hint of humor or personality. it wasn't without merit, and i liked the first few tracks well enough, but beyond that i just wanted it to be over. the vocal melodies were really monotonous, lyrics were trite, and the drums and synths felt kind of generic. 3/10
not that great. this band definitely has better music. 2.5
Never been the biggest Depeche Mode fan, and this... well this didn't change anything about that.
Not for me. Due to not enjoying the genre the songs blend too seamlessly to the point of feeling the same one after the other
Not a big fan. Might have to give it more time
Very unpleasant to listen to. First track is great though.
The first half was fun but it became all doom and gloom in the second half and not the fun kind of doom and gloom.
A bit monotonous for my liking. I prefer their brighter, poppier songs. Very 80s. Did I need to hear it before I die? Probably not.
Boring.
I liked track 2, The Things You Said, but otherwise not really for me. Far too long, felt a real slog
It was alright 5/10
Not really my vibe. A couple of decent tracks, but it was another album that kinda passed me by.
Enjoyed the first song, and was excited for the rest of it. However it didn’t kick on well enough, was a bit middle of the road at times. Am sure there are much better Depeche Mode albums
I never really got Depeche Mode. Just weird singing but I understand how they helped pioneer electronic music. 4/10.
Meh, pero no tan meh como otros meh
eh
found that a bit hard to get through and annoying
Depeche Mode es quizá el grupo que más respeto me merece como impaciencia por su música tengo. Se me hace un grupo con harto talento, musicalmente en la música de synth y new wave fueron innovadores tanto en sus letras como en hacer una música un poco más sombría, aunque a veces tanto música como letras pueden sentirse que caen en eso de "tries to hard" y terminan sonando como pretensiosones o adolescente que grita mira que oscuroooo... siendo que hay música mucho más funebre en su sentir que se siente más honesta. Pareciera que en teoría me debieran gustar mucho pero a pesar del crédito que les doy esa voz y el sonsonete nunca lo he aguantado por más de dos canciones, un disco completo es demasiado. Por otro lado cuando comparo este disco con el Violator (sí, son los únicos dos que conozco) es curioso que el que se oyera más sexual es el que tiene letras más maduras y este se queda centrado en sexo todo el tiempo. No tengo mucho más que decir, siempre se me han hecho personas talentosas, con algunas canciones muy bien hechas y una gran cantidad de su obra que se oye muy repetitiva (Strangelove es en efecto muy buena, el problema es que para la canción 5 ya me hartó la voz de David Gahan).
Dark, moody, a little a-tonal. I found this hard to listen to an enjoy. Some of the production was great though.
I turned this on while I was working. And honestly nothing about it drew me to listen to it closer. Even on second pass it was just on.
Quality British electro rock, huge influence but not my cup o tea.
I want to like this band, but I find myself irritated by what feels like thick layers of irony. I enjoyed some songs but mostly felt annoyed throughout.
Meh not for me
Not a fan.
Este disco es una mezcla entre Depeche Mode y el soundtrack de algún Final Fantasy. Conceptualmente se me hizo parecido a “The second law” de Muse (o más bien, al revés), y también me pareció curioso lo irónico del nombre, rematando con una canción de Beethoven, para que quedara bien claro. Sobre la música en si, la canción que me gustó más fue justamente Claro de Luna. Creo que soy parte de la masa.
Se me hace música muy complicada que viene cargada de un sentimiento artificial de "oscuridad" y "sexualidad" que se vuelve hostigante. Las canciones del disco son, o soundtrack de una orgía diabólica y están a punto de ponerte un cogidón, o un músico de garage jugando con el sintetizador y viendo qué pasa si mueve todas las palancas a la vez. Ah, y Claro de Luna… Y luego está Route 66, que me da la impresión que alguien les dijo "oigan, bájenle a lo sexual del disco" y entonces se inventaron esta rola que solo menciona ciudades de USA, donde por cierto no viven. Sí me queda claro que tiene su público, y conozco gente que es muy muy fan, pero curiosamente el perfil es el mismo: supersexualizado y pseudooscuro.
Not for me.
Did not enjoy. Weirdly dark but not in an interesting way
80s synth pop/rock that's not doing a whole lot for me. This might be the first album that I'm struggling to finish.
very very 80's. I quite liked some of it and didnt like a lot of it
80s drivel in my personal honest opinion. But I guess it had some merit.
meh, not for me
Ei ole mun pala kakkua
Not for me.
I like depeche mode, but I don’t think I liked this album. Very emotional but I don’t think it did it for me
Nahhhhhhh too somber
Very specific sub-genre of electronic dance from the 80's that I just dont vibe with. Every song sounds the same to you, so many more things i'd rather listen to in a club/dance setting. 1.5/5
Not for me
Little 15 sounded predatory and gross. A-side was weak. Not my kind of music.
Didn't listen yet
Poo
me deprimo. Boring. No lo pude terminar de escuchar.
Just depressing sounding. This is my 92nd album in this foray and the first repeat artist I believe. I liked violator much more and even then I think I gave that 3 stars. At least that was interesting.
There are some bands that just creep me out. Sometimes it’s a good creep, like a horror movie or a Evil Knievel jumping the fountain at Caesar’s Palace. Then we have these fuckers… like a rough hangover praying to the porcelain gods. Like listening to Joe Rogan debate Howard Stern and Tucker Carlson. Thanks, no thanks.
Ok
how is this popular
Excuse me, I need to flip my shit into "Depeche" mode. I'm usually in "survive" or "waiting for global collapse of capitalism," but I believe I owe this record the switching of uhh ah jeez this sucks. I got nothin. I just want to catch up on my reviews, but I refuse to half-ass this. You may be wondering; "You write these with your whole ass?" The answer? Yes. You couldn't tell most of these reviews were the result of sitting on the keyboard and hoping for the best? In all seriousness, I am rather stupid. This record kicked off like a really fast car with shoddy craftsmanship as it went off like a shot and then skidded to a calamitous terminus about 90 seconds in. I'm sorry. I'm too dumb for Depeche Mode. Or maybe, I'm just not cool enough. One of those. I just can't find the appeal of these moody, ashen twinks crooning over the dulcet tones of a 99 pound (sterling) Casio. A record that feels like standing outside a West Midlands rock club, fighting the frigid air with the help of a cigarette I bummed off an even paler girl who seems to have a tragic backstory. The night fades to morning, just as the days bleed into one another. Everything is numb. Nope. Still can't get in the mindset. Take this leather jacket back and get me the eye makeup remover. I'm not cut out for this. 1 HIGHLIGHTS: Not cool enough for leather jacket? Reviewer stuns in latest embarrassing summary of British music that eludes him.
Couldn’t get through it unfortunately.
Music for my asses
Not my cup of tea
p568. 1987. 1 star. Pretentious mid-80s electro wank with no redeeming features. It's like punk never happened.
No. It just sounded like a durge. Odd track was ok
Nie lubie tego głosu wokalisty, muza tez srednia
me escuché 3 canciones solo, no era mi estilo chat im sorry
First listen Saved 2/11 Top track: Never Let Me Down Again
Ah, I mentioned 80s synth nonsense in yesterday's album review..... And here it is rearing it's moody head! Speak of the devil and all that. Anyway, I hated it. It's boring, it's too slow and i feel there is good reason people aren't still making music like this. It certainly is not music for the masses... 1
🥱
This one did not do it for me. I like weird and different stuff, and I can appreciate that this was potentially the first of its kind when it released, but I don’t think I’ll ask someone to throw some Depeche Mode (at least this album) on for me.
I could not get through it. I’ve heard their songs before but I don’t think this album did for me.
Really hated this one! Zero hits on this record? It’s giving Depeche Mode cover band.
It was a synth nightmare carnival in a bad way.
Meh. Depeche mode is overrated.
Tough one to listen too
Ble lei etter 2 sanger
The singer lowkey sounds like Bo Burnham; too many synths and electronic elements for my taste
uhhhh idk
I can respect the sound and how it paved the way for many artists to come, but it was kind of a drag.
I tried. I really did.
I have never understood the appeal of Depeche Mode, and this album didn’t help any. C’mon, Little 15? Woof
Little that was notable to me.
I don't like Depeche Mode
Struggled to get through this, very dull.
dull, thin, and very mannered.
Fuck Depeche mode
Didn't like it then, still don't. Something about the harsh keyboard sounds of the late 80s.
Doesn’t do it for me, strangelove is alright, but as an album pretty weak. Voice is a bit annoying
Lame
Depeche Nope
hated it
Meh
Never liked Depeche Mode and this did nothing to change my mind. Moody, brooding, pre-emo junk.
Pants. Just don’t get it.
Couldn't digest the band then, can't do it now. 3/10
This music is simple/simplistic; the lyrics are also simple/simplistic & often forced. The delivery is very consistent — disaffected, can’t be bothered; nihilistic. I’m glad there’s music for every crowd. But it’s not my kind of music. I’d prefer not to hear this album or almost any of the individual songs again. It’s a 1.
Listened to the first 4 songs. I can’t do it.
Not my fave. At all
This is not fun.
Not my jam
I couldn’t do it. I don’t like Depeche Mode.
If there's one thing worse than a bad album, it's a boring one. Never Let Me Down Again is a good opener, but then after that my interest levels dipped gradually, then sharply once I realised help wasn't forthcoming. Such a waste, but then wasted is how you could easily describe Depeche Mode for most of the 1980s. I'm severely tempted to give this a 1, a rating I usually reserve for fulminating hate and utter contempt. Time to open up a new frontier...
genuinely did not enjoy this album. very dated and i was looking forward to getting to the last song
Migraine inducing. Not a single redeemable song.
Half way through, not really into it
Notes as I listen: Songs 1-5: This is so boring I’m considering switching over to Megadeth Song 6: Is the concept "gregorian chants over 80s techno"? Song 8: Put in my other earbud to see if that helped at all. Song 8: It didn't. Song 8: This is like when the most boring person you know starts telling a story about the children of people you don't know. Song 10: wtf is this Song 10: very upset that this is 14 songs long. Song 11: Was this album meant to be the background scoring for a movie? Summary: This is a fucking slog. Started as a gentleman's 3, but the more I listened the more I hated it.
Didn’t finish, didn’t really like.
I've hit a bad run of time wasting albums...
I despise synthy 80s music and I despise Depeche mode. Music is subjective, but I genuinely cannot find anything to like in this. Utter crap
Not for me
Don't love the industrial sound of this album. Reeks of a genre of music that never came to be. Not much enjoyable about the music itself
sucked 2/10
the vocals of depeche mode have always been a non starter for me, so the almost entirely acapella sexy breathing song really ruined my night. i also did not care for the songs that sounded like they were from a castlevania soundtrack
I really had a hard time rating this one. On the one hand, it's extremely over-the-top, ridiculous pop with vague lyrics. I should LOVE it. But on the other, it's the most 80s synth-sounding album I've listened to in full before. The synths, the drums, the droning, the echoeyness, all the stuff distinct to that particular period... I just can't do it. It's not for me. If this album were made with technology available 5 years earlier or 5 years later, we could be cooking. So I have no choice but to move to intent. What is this album supposed to do? What am I supposed to feel? And literally right as I'm sitting there having this existential crisis over a Depeche Mode album, completely at war with myself, second-guessing my sincerely held musical convictions, my guy taunts me by asking "What am I trying to do, what am I trying to say? I'm not trying to tell you anything you didn't know when you woke up today." I hate you for that, Depeche Mode, and I hated most of the 80s when I woke up this morning. But I did enjoy "Never Let Me Down Again." I would enjoy the alternate timeline version of it much more, though. The rest of the album is one big skip.
Meh, too scary
I hated this. The music itself is fine. It's not particularly good, and it doesn't have any flaws or anything, but I don't like the guy's voice, and the style of music is something that I really don't like. So this is just an un-perfect storm.
Generally not a fan of Depeche Mode's sound
Really somber and boring. With the bad ass drumming and synth one would think some more energy would be coming from this. Plus wasn’t there a lot of cocaine back then too? This album had 0 fun from the 80s.
The vocals on this are so bad and stereotypically 80's that it borders on parody.
It all blurred together, nothing special. A couple songs were ok but it was overall disappointing and some of it made me feel anxious.
Another album that just makes me mad at the creators of this list.
This is the second Depeche Mode album I've been recommended. I gave "Music for the Masses" three songs. I can't take any more. I'll never be a Depeche Mode fan. This shit sucks. 👎👎
Music for the Masses, by Despeche Mode, is genuinely the most bland thing I have ever heard. There is non substance, the synths sound stupid, the snares dont work, the lyrics are awful, and it fails utterly at feeling like some grandiose package, and is rather some dude making annoying sounds with alarms in the background. The highlights are Never Let Me Dow Again and I Want You Now, which are honestly not too shabby. Besides these though, the album has no substance. All in all, Music for the Masses is a horrible album. Best Song: I Want You Now Worst Song: Nothing
Music for the Masses? I know one person that likes them
Rick roll like. 80s pop
I hate this album
I don’t like this at all. I was optimistic at first but this album is annoying and unpleasant in my opinion. Honestly, how did this one even make the list?
This is a big bag of poop.
Not my jam.
Not their best
Moody atmospheric self loathing 80s synth music. Sounds like an electronic church service. Painfully repetitive. Wish zero rating was an option
Really didn't like this one much at all.
This stinks.
This album did nothing for me.
Just yuck!
doomy and unpleasant
Not good
Die einzigen sinnvollen Lieder: Pleasure, little Treasure und Route66.
Not much to say about this. I know people who love them, I don't share that opinion. But it's not terrible. 1