Music for the Masses

Great album! Love Depeche Mode! Highly recommend!

Great album! Favourites : Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Behind The Wheel, Little 15, The Things You said.

yesssssss

Al principio creí que sería un disco que iba a aburrirme por qué nunca había escuchado un disco completo de Depeche mode, pero que equivocado estaba y mi favorita del disco es "SACRED" por lo que pudieron trasmitirme, sin duda 1000/10

Fantastic music. Reminded me of how good Depeche Mode is.

The production is immediately striking. It sounds like what people in the 80s thought the future would sound like. I think I get why this is our dads' favorite band Very good, almost otherworldly. It left me speechless and I'll definitely be revisiting it.

tbh depeche mode has only bangers in their discography

7/5

This was pretty good. Don't know how much it will stick with me, but I really enjoyed it while listening to it. Edit: I have come back to this fairly regularly. I was incorrect. It's great Favorite Songs: Never Let Me Down Again, Little 15, I Want You Now

10/10 Best songs: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Sacred, Little 15, Behind The Wheel I am a big Depeche Mode fan, and this album contains (starts off with) what I consider to be their all-time best song: Never Let Me Down Again. Beyond that, the album is full of absolute bops. The 80s synths, terrific pacing, goth vibes, and Dave Gahan's distinctive voice make this a fantastic album.

I’ve enjoyed this from day one.

my fav album from DM

yo this is so fire (I Want You Now is very creepy thou but all the song transitions are cool) fav song: Strangelove

Didn't even need to listen to this album since it is one of the most listened albums in my life. Depeche Mode is the band of my life, and Music for the Masses is the essence of Depeche Mode.

Love this album. Quintessential synth pop album full of anthems.

Slaps

6 - Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses - Rating = 5 Big album for me - In 1987 as my musical tastes were fully veering from the radio and pop into much more alternative. This album was a big early block in that. The opening notes to Never Let me Down Again… just a grabber for me. It’s a driving brilliant opener and I love this song. The Things you Said is a vibe that this album is going to have a different mood than previous Depeche Mode offerings, a little richer/less poppy. Strangelove has a great opening riff and is just good and an ear-worm. Sacred is mildly catchy if not a standout. Little 15 is haunting and moody. Behind the Wheel… love this song, driving, cool (and the Route 66 remix is epic). I Want You Now… the opening breathing is sort of off-putting but it comes around as it’s a nice crooning, simple love song. Moody, heavy, like the vocal / helps add to the overall depth of the sound on the album. Nothing is one of the better 9th song of the albums around. Nice, cool moody keyboards and fits nicely with the overall. Pimpf is a sorta-nice moody dramatic piano outro to cap it. This album also fed 101… which is a top album.

It's depeche mode... come on ofc its good

VERY nice Smooth - creepy voice 5/5 Dark vibes Strangelove IS A F BOP

Definitely music for me

I mean it doesn't get any more classic for Gen X than this album. Arguably their best release. Musically everything is on point and meshes well. Songwriting is perfect and vocals weave nicely in and out of the synth lines. The song Little 15 has always given me the ick though.

Ofcourse aclassic depeche mode has a lot of amazing singles

Ooooh, yessss!

Music for them asses lmao

I love scary moody synths rrrragaghhrgaghhrgaghagagagaggghhhh

One of my all-time favorites. I was surprised and thrilled to see this album come up today.

Finally got an album by one of my favourite bands. Easy five stars. The run of the first four songs is incredible and Nothing is one of my favourite songs by them. That said, the fact their best album (Songs Of Faith and Devotion) isn’t included on this list does make me think the author chose their albums more for the singles than the albums as a whole. This one does get slightly weak in the middle for a bit. Still love it.

Loved this darker sounding tone. It feels like the climax of a movie and singularly unique.

Excellent

héél lekkere plaat. Route 66 waarschijnlijk favoriet maar veel nummers zijn bangers

A belter of an album from a period where music was great

Not one bad song. Could listen this album over and over.

I never paid enough attention to Depeche Mode, even if I like a lot of songs by them. To be fair, both this one and Violator have been among the best discoveries I've made using this fantastic website.

Rating: 9/10 Short Review: This album has an incredible soundscape that captures you for its entire runtime. It's drenched in this almost gothic sound mixed with synthpop and every second of it is enthralling.

Brilliant

Meilleur album pour le moment

One of the easiest 5*, legendary album, every song is a hit.

well yes.

5️⃣

When I was a teenager, this was the first album by DM that I *really* got into, thanks to a friend of mine who was a massive fan of theirs. He used to push me to check them out, and having mainly known the radio singles, I was intrigued by this record which I had never heard one song from. To this day, it's still close to my heart and probably in my top 3 DM releases (with "Ultra" and "Violator"). "Never Let Me Down Again" is a fantastic song -- I'm sure there'll be theories written about it still in fifty years. "The Things You Said" is wonderfully Kraftwerk, "I Want You Now" still sounds like nothing else almost forty years later. "Strangelove" and "Behind The Wheel" are brilliant dance pop songs, and the twisted "Pimpf" was a huge inspiration for my first band -- we were trying to merge these apocalyptic soundscapes with prog and post-rock influences. Great times ...

I am here once again to say that I was wrong. This one is so good. It’s weird, it’s sinister, and creepy. The Black Album wishes.

A classic artist in my household, but have never super dove into one album. This was fun!

Sexy as hell

Excellent record front to back

Vibes: 5/5 Instruments: 5/5 Production: 5/5 Emotional Value: 4/5 Storytelling: 5/5 AC: +0 Stand Outs: Sacred, Pimpf Overall Rating: 4.8

THIS IS SOME WEIRDY SHIT. I LIIKE IT.

Classic. Always love Depeche Mode. Reminds me of the Coffin Club.

9/10 right before their best album, this has a lot of great tracks. If I could inject the synth into my veins... 12-08-2025

Now we're vibing

101 masses ready.

Depeche Mode is band I always forget how much I like until I hear them again. These songs have a tendency to run together, but I like that in some albums. Feels a little like listening to one song with several different movements.

This is likely going to end up in regular rotation. Catchy and accessible synth pop with a darker edge. I hadn’t heard this album before today, but this might be my favourite thing I’ve come across on here so far.

Classic album of the 80s. Depeche Mode´s best album of the 80s, just one step behind to their masterpiece Violator (1990).

One of my faves, so pleased to see younger generations re-discovering Depeche Mode. Never Let Me Down is a classic song

Absolutely love this stuff, some stuff reminds me of alphaville and some is wayyy more doom-y and still great, love this album!

Perfect album!!!

Probably one of the coolest depeche mode albums if not the coolest and it will make you cooler for enjoying it

This is really good. The production is superb, everything sounds clear and big

Literally OBSESSED with DM.

Absolutely loved this. It's more understated and less... flamboyant? than Violator, but equally good, I really love both.

This is an awesome album. Great songs and the overall vibe is weirdly foreboding. Depeche Mode at their best.

Excellent

80’s Electronic pop with a sad soul.

igazan jo volt, nem tudtam, hogy szeretem a mufajt es azt sem, hogy ez ennyire regi

Nothing is the best song on this album and it's not close, but the rest of them are fantastic. 4.5

I <3 depeche mode

By the summer of 1988 I was taking acid once or twice a week and this album is woven into the fabric of that time period.

Very enjoyable.

A classic full of classics.

Simply amazing

Beautiful album

little 15 охуєнна

This album sounds pretty dark. Can't decide if it's a 4 or 5 for me. I think I'm going to give it a 5.

Incredible!!!!!!!!!!

Incrrrrrr

One of the first Depeche Mode albums I had in CD format. Got me going with DM and still enjoy it now!

own

A brilliant sound with some of my favorite songs. 4.5/5

Not my favourite DM album – that honour would go to Violator (or the one that followed it) – but in the grand scheme of this list, which is riddled with some truly baffling choices (and a fair bit of dreck), this one stands tall., hence a 5 star rating. A dark, moody and powerful record from a band right at their peak. Standout tracks: Behind The Wheel, Never Let Me Down Again, Little 15

A breakthrough!

Great dark dance pop.

Trop aimé, des rythmes variés, des morceaux instrumentaux recherchés très sympas (Stjarna), une valeur sûre Depeche Mode

Dark, pulsating goodness

A dark synth pop masterpiece with a few flaws. I know this deserves at least 4 stars, but I might even bump it up to 5. Anyway my RYM rating will be 4.5/5.0 most likely. I am feeling generous this morning and giving this 5

Puedo empezar a poner calificativos y faltarme espacio. Una de mis bandas favoritas y uno de sus mejores álbumes. No se entiende la historia del rock sin los (entonces) cuatro de Basildon, por mucho que el género en el que se les encasille sea el de synth-pop. Entre el oscuro y rompedor “Black Celebration” y el enorme “Violator” surge este disco como perfecto nexo de unión entre ambos. Entre sus mejores temas: “Never Let Me Down Again”, “Strangelove” y “Behind The Wheel” pero sin olvidar “Nothing” o “The Things You Said”. Comercialidad sin perder un ápice de calidad y vanguardia. Sencillamente fantástico.

Der typische Depeche Mode Sound. Klasse Musik aus den 80ern. 5/5

I like Depeche Mode. Depeche Mode always sounds so pristine and polished. It sounds big and important. They write great songs that a lot of other bands cover. A cover of a Depeche Mode song is bound to be great. This album captures all of these things.

Already a favourite album!

Minns knappt vad för låtar som var med men jävlar vad bra det var?

One of my all-time faves. Layered, brooding, dramatic - I love it as much at 50 as I did at 15.

I've never listened to this album or really Depeche Mode and I really like it. it's like, proto-NIN. spooky and fun with good beat/ sound effects. I've listened to this album at least 3 times through today.

Very chilled. Needs a relisten and check out rest of the catalogue

Hmm, I'm very quickly becoming a Depeche Mode fan. One of those vibey bands who I can listen to for the vibe and mood of the music, rather than a specific melody or tune that I like. Would I revisit this: hell yeah

Music for the Masses (1987) is the kind of album that sounds like it’s permanently playing in a post-apocalyptic nightclub where everyone is sad, beautiful, and wearing sunglasses indoors. Depeche Mode named it that ironically, by the way—because they knew damn well it wasn’t for the masses. It was for the people who walk alone at night on purpose. You’ve got “Never Let Me Down Again” as your dopamine anthem, “Strangelove” for your tortured romance moment, and “Behind the Wheel” for the part of the movie where you silently drive into emotional ruin. Rating: 5/5

fuckkkkkkkkkkk i love you so much The Pesh Mode...

I guess I am a part of the Masses (:

why did the one song sound like they just kept yelling 'HO' and 'PIMP'

Très bon album, début des synthés pour mon plus grand plaisir! Quelques chansons qui m’ont emporté! Belle découverte

Instant 5, another album I don't HAVE to listen to, but I will multiple times.

Classic new era

Does it sound like it's from 1987? Definitely. Depeche Mode making that shift from new wave to the darker sound that they do so, so we'll. Yeah, take the auditory time machine back 38 years. It's worth it.

This is a classic for a reason. Not my personal favorite Depeche Mode, but a solid album start to finish.

My favorite Depeche Mode album.

Amazing

Como su título indica este disco les lanzó al estrellato masivo. Tres pelotazos como Never let me down again, Strangelove y Behind the wheel lo hacen imprescindible como su posterior 101 en directo. De aquí sale su trilogía imbatible con Violator y Songs of faith and devoción. Sacred es gótico, venían de Black celebration, pero bailable. I want you es bastante explícita, no es Master and servant pero sí tiene gancho. Nothing es otro buen tema como Little 15.

Magic

all the songs are really well produced and i really enjoy the sound of them and it had this sort of dark vibe to it (it was so random when it went dark souls mode at the end but i loved it) not an absolutely perfect album but its pretty close

The last part had dark and creepy moments, but I loved it 5

Sure I know Depeche Mode. They had 2-3 hits in Europe. I know them as innovative composers who were master of the synthesiser craft. A bit dark maybe? So I was looking forward to listen a full album of theirs. Oh I like their beats. It‘s very groovy without much percussion. I like how understated the songs are. The songs are epic. On some of the songs (never let me down and sacred) I wished the singer had a fuller voice. This would work well as an opera or maybe as an Adele album. It has aged incredibly well. Close too modern deep house. I like their joke to call it music for the masses while they knew they will always stay an underground band and then putting megaphones on top of a mountain on the cover to underline the joke. Bottom line: fell in love with it. Exactly what I was looking for: new albums for me top 50 album list.

I've come to realize lately that I tend to consider New Wave in pretty much only two ways. On the one end, you have pre-80's New Wave that's all experimental and post-punk-y. Think of bands like Talking Heads and DEVO. Then, we slam right into the other end with 80's New Wave, which itself subdivides into two further categories: radio-friendly MTV music and one-hit wonders. Y'know, Duran Duran in the former, "The Safety Dance" in the latter. Those are the bands I've had in mine whenever I discuss New Wave on this website. However, with this album, it just occurred to me I've missed a style of New Wave altogether. Frankly, it's a little embarrassing that I have, given that it seems to be the main style by which people these days know the genre: "serious New Wave," as I'll call it. The kind of New Wave where the singer typically has a deep-ish voice, and he's backed with these cold, mechanical synthesizers. There's a darkerness to it; they wouldn't dare be caught singing about how they're hungry like wolves or how this woman blinded them with science. That, as far as I can think, is the kind of New Wave you commonly hear whenever someone throws up a quick pastiche of the genre. It's the kind of New Wave I wouldn't think I'd like. I mean, yeah, I'd be judging it by its cover: it does **not** seem as enjoyable as the other genres. Like, come on, pre-80's New Wave is quirky, MTV New Wave is catchy, and one-hit wonder New Wave can be just plain fun. Serious New Wave seems more like the kind of music that mostly Important Rock Critics gas up because, y'know, it's "serious." It's **ART**, dang it! It aims to **say something**, unlike its peers! All'a that same ol' jazz you'd razz rock journalists for. But I'll tell you, MUSIC FOR THE MASSES worked for me. Obviously not as much as something like, say, DEVO's debut, or even RIO, but there is something going on about it that I greatly appreciate: it is very theatrical. The music on this album is just dripping in drama, and every song sounds just so big and important. They sound like they should each be scoring their own big, emotional scene in an indie flick — heck, some of these could work in **thriller scenes** for how dramatically they lean. It's quite the wonder to hear, honestly, and a testament to the compositions and instrumentation. To tell you the truth, I don't know if there's anything I can really rag on the album before. I know I can't touch on the lyrics because of course my AuDHD-rattled brain won't let me, but other than that... I guess I'm not too up on the transition out of "I Want You Now"? The breathing sounds were not my thing. As well, I guess there was the occasional synth choice where it was like... I'll never knock an album for sounding dated; it's often a plus in my book. Dang, though, if there ain't a synth sound or two on here that sound really goofy to my ears when paired with this gothic grandeur. Other than that, gawd, this thing is such a **mood**. And believe me, I **was** kind of looking for some reason to ding this thing a 4 and not a 5. Just this nagging thought in the back of my head that I don't wanna go too gung-ho all at once: maybe I'd find some other New Wave in this vein that'd make me look back at this and go, "Oh, that's not a 5..." Or maybe I'd hear another Depeche Mode album that'd cause me to think, "Yeah, this is good, but they can do so much better..." Or maybe my tastes would go, "As much as I like this, it's not the kind of New Wave I'd gravitate towards first: it ain't no 'Take On Me'..." Or maybe, on a closer look, it just wouldn't have that undefined "wow" factor. I gotta keep those 5's **special**, y'know? But honestly, as I keep listening back to clips... No, I really like the theatricality of it all just that much. It's not as easily poppy or quirky as I typically understand New Wave, but for what it's doing, it really is just that damn enjoyable. I'd for sure give this thing a couple more listens, honestly. I could see myself sitting back and Fantasia-ing this album, tryna picture the scenes these songs would score. It is, by my tastes, worthy of a 5. This is music for them asses whom know just how good a mood can carry things. And if nothing else, it helped remind me of what else New Wave is, and that kind of thing is always worth some good points.

Love me some moody 80's synthpop. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 5. My first proper Depeche Mode album – all the big singles I know of are on the follow-up to this, “Violator” (which is also thankfully on the list), so I went into this one totally blind. I’m pleased to report that Depeche Mode is indeed that fucking good – this didn’t necessarily blow me away, but it did affirm that I’m a moron for never digging deeper, as has been proven multiple times by the list at this point. This album does feel exactly like what I’ve always assumed Depeche Mode to be like; a little moody, heavy on the synths, rhythmically pleasing as hell, and vocally gliding on all of these electronica-influenced pop beats. I’m actually surprisingly really impressed by the lyrics; maybe I’ve just never paid as much attention to the lines of “Policy of Truth” or “Enjoy the Silence”, but these tracks all felt really well-written, and despite the filter & the slightly monotone feel of the vocals, the inflections pull some really good emotions out. Of course, the emotions are brilliantly complimented by the instrumentals, which act as THE highlight of the album. The spatial awareness these guys have in terms of capitalizing on a moment in the soundscape feels really reminiscent of Kate Bush. When a beat drops like that, it turns the energy of the track up on a dime, and they use that trick to perfection. In many ways, these are crafted similarly to hip-hop beats, and the momentum of each track shifts naturally in the same way. That spatial awareness applies to the sound design as well; a track like “Behind the Wheel” doesn’t work as well without the spinning plate / hubcap intro, and “I Want You Now” probably isn’t as effectively desperate without the vocal sounds throughout. All in all, it’s just a really well-produced album. I wish I could gush more, but that was just 44 minutes that flew by in a heartbeat. The transitions on this album keep the pace moving really steadily, and the energy from the instrumentals is pretty infectious once they get going. This feels like a good hybrid sound between Eurythmics, Talking Heads, and a little bit of that goth rock vibe that The Cure explored on “Pornography”, whilst staying true to the synthpop trends of the mid-80s. I enjoyed it a lot, and I’m glad this was on the list and not just “Violator.” I’ll be looking forward to that one, though. For now, this gets a very easy 5 from me.

Diverse, hard to rate tbh

So many great songs in one album. Sounds and overall production is top notch. I really love the murky atmosphere of the songs, both musically and lyrically. Most of the songs are about human relationships, but with interesting twists. One of my favorite synthpop albums and definitely a 5 star album for me.

Great

Little known fact; that guy from Depeche Mode? Totally straight. "But that's impossible!" you'll say. "He's IN Depeche Mode!". Yeah well I saw a whole thing about him on the VH1. Anyways, don't think I've listened to this particular album before. I like it.

Are all of these songs about banging? They’re all about banging. Golden age DM.

Bong

Brilliant band. Great album

The album that really introduced me to DM

Ik vond deze echt de leukste tot nu toe

Amazing

Another perfect Depeche Mode record.

This one is great... Not every song, but the album as a whole creates an amazing atmosphere...

I love DM. I'm a bit surprised that the album starts with Never Let Me Down Again (one of my fav songs from them). I feel it would be better placed toward the end to give this magnificent track the emphasis it deserves. Of course, Strangelove, Behind the Wheel, and Nothing - other songs I regularly have in my playlist - are absolute highlights. And the album wraps up nicely with some pleasant instrumentals from Agent Orange

Yesss Depeche Mode, ik hou er van. Beetje hetzelfde maar toch heel anders dan Radiohead. Very good very demure.

MOODY NEW WAVE!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic, the 2nd best album of DM for sure with many great songs.

Kan kanske vara det bästa album på hela den här listan. Ett mästerverk.

One of my top albums from the 80s. Part of my soundtrack to Spring 1988 when I graduated high school. An absolute classic.

Best Depeche Mode Album.

really fun album

This one's pretty great. The synths ooze cool and the vocals have an enchantingly dark aloofness to them. I even listened to a few tracks again and liked them more the second time around. Favorite tracks: "Strangelove," "Agent Orange"

I've heard this album before and I've gotta say it's one of my favorites. I absolutely love Depeche Mode and I wish I could see them in concert someday.

Great album great band

What an amazing record. Never Let Me Down Again is one of the greatest tracks ever written

I goth goth

Easily the best in their catalog.

Fantastic atmosphere. Aged better than most 80s music. Teenage years bias, but I'll own it: 4.55

One of my ALL TIME favourite albums

A true masterpiece.

I own this on CD so it automatically gets bumped up, listening to it again I've really enjoyed it, my favorites are Nothing, Behind the Wheel, Never Let Me Down Again. I also learned that the CD might have a hidden track on it, which is interesting! Overall 5 star

Oh let’s just review the album that got me through junior high…

New wave-y in the best way. A gothy, very 80s alt rock album. I will relisten to this one.

Quintessential 80’s new wave album. Sstandouts "Strangelove", "Never Let Me Down Again", and"Behind the Wheel".

Such atmosphere and presence. This coupled with Violater is such a strong back to back performance. Brooding, tense, and sexual. Peak example of the genre.

Goddamn, this one changed me. This was my first Depeche Mode record. Got a tape of a tape, back in ‘88. Listened to it, pretty much non-stop all through junior high and high school. This turned me into a hardcore, new wave evangelical devotee, and DM super fan. The nerve of this record to still sound so good. It’s been many, many, many years. But it still hits all the right notes. Easily the best in their catalog.

FUCKKKKK 😩

This album, Violator, and Songs of Faith and Devotion are the holy trinity for me when it comes to Depeche Mode. There is such a wonderful metamorphosis that happens across those records, from synthpop masters to full on rock stars. Standouts on this album are "Never Let Me Down Again", "Strangelove", "Little 15", and "To Have and To Hold".

Very fun album, enjoyable listen.

Tämä on ollut mun aktiivikuuntelussa pitkään sen jälkeen kun hurahdin DM:een. Nimi on mainio levylle joka nosti yhtyeen jo osin koko maailman tietoisuuteen juuri ennen todellista pommia, Violatoria. Miks tykkään tästä niin paljon? Ennen tätä levyy bändi oli muodostanut jo omintakeisen soundin joka ol jotain gootihtavaa rokkia mutta synalla -tyyppistä, mutta tämän levyn kohdalla mukaan tuli viimeistäänkin valtavat pop-koukut jotka yhdistettynä upeaan nimeen muodostivat aika hiton hyvän synapoprocklevyn. Sika kovia hittejä ja väliinkin jäävät biisit ovat nousseet itselle kiinnostaviksi. Tämä kaikki tulee nyt toki aika kovan DM-fanin suusta. 5/5

This is a classic and was from the day it was released. Depeche Mode has been making consistently great music for 4 decades now. This falls between Black Celebration (which deserves a spot on the list. Let’s throw the Associates off right now). I’m pretty sure if you disliked this album you need to get back to the safety of your auto tuned nonsense and overproduced numetal.

Always a great listen from the Basildon boys!

# Album Name: Music to the Masses # Artist: Depeche Mode # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Absolute banger of an album. Took a few listens but i got there in the end. Some great tracks on this thing. I really enjoyed it. The vocals, the tunes, the beats. All top draw. # Top Tunes: Tracks 1 - 9 # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Perfect train music

Immediate hell yes from me. My favourite Crizzo coded electronic group. Imagine the vibes of hearing this blasted through a big ass cathedral. Shout out to Pimpf for being Final Fantasy villain music in the middle of all this. Piano building up throughout until it’s just the final flash keys at the end rules.

It's a great sounding album with some solid songs on here. However, if it would be up to me, I'd either put Black Celebration or Some Great Reward on this list instead. It is a classic album tho

Rinos fave, really enjoyed Depeche. Reminds me of Duran Duran. Going to be in the rotation going forward.

Yes

Good rainy day music. Good band

So good!

This is my favourite pop album of all time. Depeche Mode is one of my favourite bands of all time. I adore this album.

Never Let Me Down Again is one of my favourite songs of all time, so it will be hard not to rate this album a 5/5.

If Edward Cullen made a synth-pop album

Despite seeing them in concert a couple of times, every time I listen to depeche mode it makes me want to listen to a lot more depeche mode.

Peak Depeche Mode

LP

I went to their concert too... except it was the Singles tour. I like this cd... I especially like the My Secret Garden remix. I don't know that I'll make time to listen to it today. Maybe. :) It has been awhile since I listened to Depeche Mode.

I listen to this album once a week..love it.

Wow, this is up there with Violator (spoilers, also a five).

-ouUU MY god another favorite… forgot how good this was.. I was obsessed with this album in Summer 2023, I remember listening to it on the beach during my Senior Week trip -some of Depeche Mode’s best work. not a single boring song on here. the deluxe tracks are really cool and underrated too -Favorites are The Things You Said, Strangelove, Behind The Wheel, and Nothing

Amazing

This is a good album, Great tunes and a great sound that is very unique to the band. I am a Depeche Mode fan, but this one has gone under the radar with me before now. I will listen to this again. Favourite song: Nothing and Strange love Least favourite: All good tunes Album artwork: Cool cover

Loved the goth vibe.Reminds me of halloween but vintage ❤️

depeche mode, one of the biggest names when it comes to new wave music as a whole comes here and blows me away with their dramatic synthesized symphonies. their sound programming skills were like no other back then, and it remains the same today, with otherworldly, divine sounds that knocked the amateurs out with their corny fm patches. it's absolutely, beautifully mortifying listening to some of these tracks.

Big Depeche fan, great album

Potent!

10/10. Nah, screw that rating system. It will receive a 11/10 instead. Actually, hell, no. That doesn't do it any bloody justice. 100/10. The purpose of the 1001 album project should be to find life-changing music that you will reflect upon at one point in life. So far, I have listened to around three quarters of the albums in the project (including those which I haven't yet received in this website's database), and this album is hands-down one of my favourite albums, and one of the albums that has had the biggest impacts on me. I vividly remember the first time I listened to this album. On the day I listened to this album, I previously listened to three other albums: "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" by Small Faces, "Go Girl Crazy!" by The Dictators, and "Low" by David Bowie. Upon listening to "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" and "Go Girl Crazy!", I wasn't very impressed. Then, I listened to "Low" by David Bowie. While listening to it, I gave myself a manicure. I enjoyed it very much (it's David bloody Bowie, why wouldn't I enjoy it?). Then, after listening to that, feeling amused both by the experience, and by my fresh, new manicure, I went back to the list of 1001 albums to select one to listen to next. "Hmm...how about Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode? That one looks interesting. I've been meaning to check out some of Depeche Mode's music, and I only know their song "Personal Jesus". Let's give it a try!". I didn't have many high expectations. I am well aware of the sheer amount of mediocre 1980's pop albums in the 1001 album project. Also, I listened to this album for the first time only a few days after listening to the album "Songs From the Big Chair" by Tears for Fears for the first time. Upon listening to that album, I was absolutely blown away, and I declared it my new favourite pop album. Along with that, I am biased towards hard rock and metal music, so I don't always judge non-heavy albums in a fair manner. Anyway, I hit the play button on this album. The first track of the album, "Never Let Me Down Again", began playing. *boop boop beep, boop beep, beep, beep, beep boop beep boop beep* *queue the other instruments* "Oh...oh my...oh my goodness...what am I listening to?" David Gahan didn't even utter a single word yet, and I was already immersed in the experience. I may have already forgotten about my fresh, new manicure. THIS is the moment. I proceeded to attentively listen to the rest of the first track. "Wow, that was incredible!!!" Queue "The Things You Said". Much like the first track, I absolutely enjoyed this track as well. I was completely immersed in the listening experience of this stunning album. Queue "Strangelove". At this point, I'm already too far gone. I've only ever heard three Depeche Mode songs at this point, and I was already a huge fan of theirs. Either while listening to "Strangelove", or this album's proceeding track, "Sacred", I went onto my online forum (I run an online forum), and somewhat freaked out. I wrote, and I quote, "I can feel my heartbeat increasing. I want to cry. My ears are blessed. My body is alive. My toes are happy.", followed by the Spotify link to this album. I wanted to encourage my peers to listen to this album with me. Queue "Little 15". This song featured a very interesting vibe, but like the rest of the songs so far, I was completely immersed in the experience. I begged for as much of this album as possible. Queue "Behind the Wheel". Everything sounded so on-point. The album went on. When it ended, I was left shocked, and with a raging desire to listen to everything else that Depeche Mode has to offer. My initial favourite track from this album was "Nothing", but now, it's "Never Let Me Down Again". I wrote a note to myself to remind myself to listen to more Depeche Mode. Upon looking through the list of 1001 albums yet again, I found out that "Violator" is also an album in the project, so I listened to it the proceeding day. Much like "Music for the Masses", I absolutely loved it. The proceeding day, I began a serious Depeche Mode discography binge. I may have listened to them for around six hours on that day. I began listening to at least one Depeche Mode album every day, so that I can get through their entire discography. Upon listening to their entire discography, "Music for the Masses" remains as my favourite Depeche Mode album. One month later, and I had nearly 1,000 Depeche Mode scrobbles on last.fm, and today, they are the second-most-scrobbled artist in my profile (after TOOL). Prior to me getting into Depeche Mode, I've never been THIS into an artist upon listening to them for the first time (not counting the times I listened to "Personal Jesus" a few years prior). At this point, it's needless to say that this album changed my life, and my perception of the art of music. In fact, the only other album in the 1001 project that may have had a larger impact on me is the album "Master of Puppets" by Metallica. Thanks to the list of 1,001 albums, I began listening to Depeche Mode. Ever since the day I listened to this album for the first time, I have not gone a single day without listening to Depeche Mode, and I plan on continuing my daily ritual of immersing myself into the world and work of Depeche Mode. In fact, I'm listening to Depeche Mode as I'm writing this review for this splendid masterpiece of an album. I would like to give a massive thanks to the compilers of the 1001 albums for bringing this album, and this band into my life. TL;DR, I adore this album, and I adore this band.

Enjoyed this album much more than i thought i would!

orginaali 44 min todella kattava kokonaisuus stopattiin siihen ja pistetään pä poikki sillä huuhuhu conceptual madness

RNG giving me Siouxsie and the Banshees and Depeche Mode in October is a very polite gift

Truly a great classic... It's incredible how well these songs have aged, it's almost like if they're Porto wine or a pure malt. Delicious ;-)

Ohh I am sinking into this nicely. I resolve immediately to spend some more time with Depeche Mode. This so, so stylish. I wasn't this cool in 1986; hence my first listen. The notable achievement here is album is a humming synth pop 80s soundscape has enough soothing human warmth to prevent it being another "less than zero" emotional sinkhole. Quite the beguiling a mood maker - we certainly hear the "soundtrack" intent of this project. I'm hooked from the start. Hints of German Kraftwerk but also New Order and far off Joy Division. I am ignorant if who knew whom .... But I'm loving how beautifully it's honed from a shared palate. Superb. Archetypical warmth and resonance. They are fully in charge of both austerity and power, skillful progress atmospherics and some very nice playful (and perfectly executed) flourishes. Spine tingling stuff. Pimpf feels like a prologue to a Requiem.And speaking of classical terms, I am a bit fascinated at how New Orders "Elegia" is an hommage to Joy Divisions Ian Curtis and yet the organs in "Little 15" have a similar signature for me. To quote Playboy as quoted in Wikipedia (if only to its delightful use of a German portmanteau word). From Wikipedia; 'Robert Christgau complimented the abnormal road symbolism of the lyrics, particularly on "Little 15", and believed that apart from the sadomasochistic metaphors, Depeche Mode succeeded in turning "adolescent Weltschmerz into something catchy, sexy and seemingly significant". Easy 5. Probably a 6.

A classic, combined easy synth pop with depressing lyrics. Easily one of the best albums they have put out but for me it doesn't top Black Celebration.

Fantastic LP, one of the best!

That was sweet

Music for the Masses saw Depeche Mode evolve into a more sophisticated sound, with expansive production that enhanced the already anthemic qualities of their music. The upbeat minimalism of earlier albums gave way to something darker and more brooding, sharpening both their sound and image. This shift not only contributed to their global success but also ensured that the album still sounds remarkably fresh even today. Martin Gore’s songwriting is brilliant throughout, while Dave Gahan began to exude his now-famous magnetic stage presence and sex appeal. An ambitious album that achieves its goal of reaching the masses, even if the title was initially tongue-in-cheek. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? Sure Would this release make my personal list? I enjoy this release but if I had to pick just one DM album it would probably be Violator Will I be listening to it again? Definitely

I enjoyed this one a lot. Barrett said it sounded like The Smiths, but I don’t hear it… mostly because I actually liked this.

1,000 bands have a similar sound but none come even close to doing it this well. I prefer Violator but this record is great too.

I used to think Depeche Mode was tacky, with plain lyrics, however mixing those simplistic lyrics with the first traces of synthetic music makes this album a work of art.

God

Favs: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Sacred Behind the Wheel, Nothing Least Fav: I Want You Now

9.5/10 Added some of the songs. Definitely worth listening! The ending song is kinda specific, but still magnificent.

Geil.

So good…. 10/10

Only 3 notes for this one: -Still don't go crazy for Depeche Mode but their relevance and influence is undeniable and you can feel it -This would have sounded way better if I was dancing to it, I listened at work :( -Reminds of my dad, whom I love, 5 stars

Es ist ein absolutes Meisterwerk und ein Klassiker der Elektromusik. Dieses Album, das Mitte der 80er Jahre veröffentlicht wurde, prägt den Stil dieser Ära auf herausragende Weise. Mit ikonischen Songs wie “Never Let Me Down Again”, “Strangelove” und “Behind the Wheel” hat Depeche Mode einen unverwechselbaren Sound geschaffen, der sowohl düster als auch melodisch ist. Die Produktion ist makellos, und die Synthesizer-Klänge sind sowohl innovativ als auch zeitlos mit einen Hang zum „Baustellensound“. Jeder Track auf diesem Album erzählt eine eigene Geschichte und zieht den Hörer in eine Welt voller Emotionen und Klanglandschaften. Besonders beeindruckend ist, wie das Album sowohl tanzbare Beats als auch tiefgründige Texte vereint. Das Album never let me down again 😊😊

A great album. I've never heard it in its entirety before. I already knew some of the tracks, just from the concerts I've attended. I didn't realize that this was the follow-up album to Black Celebration, which I've always enjoyed listening to. It's great to have heard the whole album now. 5/5

initially struck me as kinda flat but as i kept listening it blossomed...major, one of the most stunning and immaculately produced albums...i love being goth 10/10

Damn. Incredible and so full of life.

Great album

Me ha gustado bastante. Mejor que Violator.

One of my favorite bands at that time

Depeche Mode is grand. They being their dark synth style to a new height with some interesting instrumentals in the later half of the album.

Depeche Mode is perfectly tuned to sooth my brain. Always hits me just right.

Absolutely loved this one. I'm all about the synthy 80's vibes this album has.

Love it, love it, love it.

man i’ve been on a journey with this album over the last three and a half years… MFTM was the first depeche mode album i ever listened to in full. looking back, i’m not sure why i listened to this one first (my guess is because i loved Strangelove so much), but i really wasn’t into it much upon first listen. as i got more into depeche, i would come back to this and enjoy it more with each subsequent relisten. nowadays i’d say it’s one of my favorite albums of theirs. Little 15 is meh but everything else is soooo classic DM. 4.5

One of the greatest albums of all time

One of the best

Я вижу дикий шмот, я ловлю хайпуки. Просто обложки я уже знаю что это будет балдёжно И это балдёжно!

Incredible album... first 9 tracks are all memorable. The whole album is dark and sad except for Strangelove. The most memorable tracks are: Never Let Me Down Again Strangelove Little 15 (featuring timpani)(last track of side 1) Behind The Wheel Bonus tracks are mostly instrumental remixes, except for the last song, Pleasure, Little Treasure was released as the B single single to Never Let Me Down Again.

Depeche

"I'm taking a ride with my best friend", what could he possibly mean by that....

I guess I'm a mass, I really enjoyed it. Chill, monotonous, almost meditative. I disliked I Want You Now, but the intro in To Have and to Hold is (almost) the only Russian phrase I've heard in 1001 so I'll give this album some nepotism points

Always a great pleasure to listen to this album. Viva the 101 tour !!!

4.5

Depeche Mode will always have a spot in my heart to live. Listening to this record I was instantly transported to my angsty teens and early twenties.

Amazing synths as always truly one if the best of the late 80's.

So good. Dark and grand and sonically gorgeous.

Another classic album from my high school days! Another band closely tied to the junior high and high school years in my life!

I love depeche mode, they were my introduction to post-punk and goth related music. Go to album to ponder on your life while it's raining outside.

I like me some Depeche Mode, and this is some good Depeche mode. He really has a great voice and a great sense of melody. A lot of catchy moments and good synth tones. This is probably my 2nd favorite Depeche Mode album behind Violator.

Have I said how much I love this band!!!

Stellar DM! Stellar tour!

Full of classic 80's dance tracks. This album is still enjoyable to listen to today.

Ooh, perfect weekend album. Something to really slip into. Sorry to see all the negative reviews, but perhaps you needed to grow up with Depeche Mode. I'll grant that it perhaps drags a bit in the middle, but overall I love the sound of 80s synth.

Brit-Pop goes Synthie

This is another good one and I'm so happy it's here. I loved these songs when they were new and I still do. I didn't buy this album then, but I did buy the 45 single for "Behind the Wheel" because "Route 66" was on the B side. I had many of the other songs on tapes, but today I was so glad to hear it as an album (including the bonus tracks such as "Route 66").

I suppose this did not stray from what I would expect to hear from Depeche Mode…and that isn’t a bad thing. It’s quite good.

How did I like this more than Violator? Eh, I probably didn’t. Can I get a do-over? I like this one! A lot!

I fell in love with Depeche Mode’s Violator album around the time of its release, and that inspired me to start going backwards through the catalog. This is likely my second favorite album from Depeche Mode. Terrific!

Mood.

Like

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤👌🏻🔥🤘🏻🍺

Dieses Album gehört zu den prägendsten der 80er. 5/5

Incredible album. You could feel the change in musical direction that would lead to Violator (their magnum opus in my eyes). I will revisit this one again, and frequently.

Muy buenos siempre

Lots of teenage hours spent listening to this

You don't have to persuade me that Depeche Mode is great

Always loved Depeche Mode. Many memories of blasting those synth beats in my friends car with the mega sub woofer. Many nights chilling to this band. Even more recently my son reintroduced me to the band and I’ve really enjoyed listening with him…to many songs I hadn’t even heard. This album was no different, was so great to listen to the entire album. From the first song, one of my favorites to the last. And Strangelove is absolutely great! Love the title, “Music for the Masses” which they knew they were not reaching the masses, and the album cover depicts the speaker in the middle of nowhere where the masses are not listening but maybe someone is. My favorite album cover of theirs. I’m hoping Violator & Black Celebration will be on this list.

Great album! I think what Depeche Mode does well where other electronic bands struggle is in the songwriting. DM songs have good structure and (usually) great lyrics!

Damn near perfect, holds up even today.

Really enjoyed this one. It is clear that they have had a heavy influence on modern music

Music for the Masses was one of my first CDs and absolutely fantastic. This was the first album I had that was without any gaps between the single tracks. "To Have and to Hold", "Never Let Me Down Again", "Behind the Wheel", "I Want You Now", and "Little 15" are still my favorites—one of the best DM albums.

5/5, ❤️ (300+ scrobbles) personal favorites: • never let me down again • strangelove • behind the wheel • to have and to hold • agent orange

Great album

I haven't listened to much Depeche Mode in the last 20 years and listening to this makes me wish I had. It doesn't fit my mood or activities for the day and I'm still thoroughly enjoying it. Will be listening to more Depeche Mode in the future because of this.

Notable tracks: Never Let Me Down Again, Sacred, Little 15, I Want You Now, To Have and to Hold, Pimpf, Pleasure Little Treasure

Master piece

Nice!

Gorgeous. Futuristic, gothic chamber music.

Awesome sound, like an outer-space cyber-punk dystopian night club in the rain. Moody and dissonant, feel like I need a trench coat on. Vocals are so clean.

Very easy listening, really enjoying. Dad would love this. Not a fan of the remix's at the end.

Depeche Mode perfected the dark, moody synth vibe. Love that style!

cool

This album got me through my awkward teenage years.

Big fan of Depeche Mode's singles so it was fun to dive into one of their albums to hear some lesser known songs

One of the the best Bands in the 80th with a good album. Must Play for all generations!

Easy listen this one

Highlights - Never let me down

Love love love.

I don't think I have listened to this album since high school, but it's just as great as I remember. After seeing Depeche Mode live for the first time this past summer, I can appreciate them even more. Love the mix of moodiness and darkness with great songwriting. It all just works.

Very good

Love

Banger album. Almost peak DM. Every time I hear Strangelove I imagine myself in a New Wave club in London, circa 1988.

Already have it on vinyl :)

Really good pop rock album!

Great album

This is a great album Fav: Never Let Me Down Again, The Things You Said, Strangelove, I Want You Now

Gros classic!

I'm a goth, so this was mandatory.

they went beast mode

Dave gahan love that bitch so much

“Sound of the 80’s”. I really dig these guys, good introductory album to listen to.

So meaningful... Happy that I found this album!

Up to Violator all DM albums (that is, their first seven albums) are more or less 5 star. Occasionally, there is a weak song or so, but even the B-sides from this period are generally great. There is a slight quality drop on the next three albums, but only slight: still 4 star for sure. Their final 5 albums are patchy: 3 star perhaps, but must admit that I haven't hear their last album. This album is number six, so 5 stars. It contains several DM classic songs, in particular, Never Let Me Down and Strange Love, and it is one of their most consistent efforts.

Many familiar songs, but never really checked out this album as a whole. I haven't listened to Violator in a while, but this seems just as good. Getting strong Kraftwerk vibes.

This album wears well.

Even while second part is not that hitty, still a banger record in whole

Depeche Mode was a staple of my musical diet in college. I know many of these songs by heart. I will always marvel at the haunting quality of David Gahan's vocals. Their dark lyrics combined with driving synth sound is mesmerizing.

Phenomenal music again from Depeche Mode. Not quite the exciting revelation that Violator was, but still great.

Cannot describe this album in words... Masterpiece... What Depeche Mode dud to music is mind blowing. Always coming back to this album.

80s at its best. A unique sound never matched.

5 hands down. It's NIN if they were sad instead of angry. Wildly interesting album

Very good. not sure the masses were or are ready for this though Favorite Tracks: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Little 15, Pimpf 4.5-5/5

A very good one with a lot of hits. Maybe there are albums by depeche mode that are even better but this one has it all

Excellent, one of top 4 records from DM

im not a giant depeche mode fanboy (not yet anyway lol) so i haven't listened to ALL the albums but this one has been my favorite for quite some time now simply because it just doesn't miss. every song a banger. great to put on again

Yes.

MY BABYGIRL..... DEPECHE MODE ALBUM.... music for the masses isn't even my fave 80s record of theirs, so giving a listen to the full thing for the first for a while was interesting!! the thing about music for the masses is that it is very easy to forget how weird the whole thing actually sounds? like yes it has some of dm's most popular singles like strangelove and never let me down again and because of that you kinda overlook the fact that there's still horals and long synth instrumental tracks and weird samples.. at least that's how i perceive it! very.. spacious record i'd say. i kinda view it through my violator bias and on one hand mftm feels less consistent? in it's sound, like the listening experience isn't as tight as on violator, it doesn't feel like one big 50min soundscape, but on the other hand it has a lot of room to breathe and instrumentals overall feel a bit more raw in a good way. little 15 is a good example of that imo, one of my favorite dm instrumentals overall actually i wanted to say more but forgor to make notes on other thoughts i had 😭 but you probably don't need my ramblings to know that music for the masses is great skskdndksks ANYWAY strangelove is the song of all time my #1 pick to sing along like my life depends on it. literally i give in to sin because i like to practice what i preach!!!!!!!!

I had listened to Depeche Mode's entire discography years ago and even after burning myself out, and getting annoyed by some repetitive songs after multiple listens, I still can't say no. I just love moody synth too much.

Such a good album from a group so young This album is the epitome of the 80’s sound

I've been a fan of Depeche Mode for awhile, but I'm only really familiar with their hits. That said, this was great and will be staying on my phone. The highlight for me was "Little 15."

This music is magnificent. Its like a future, alien earth with humanity in such a different context. The harsh verb feels like its for this purpose of finding humanity in a bleak and dehumanizing sound context.

Great album, love Depeche Mode Saved tracks: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Behind The Wheel, Nothing

Awwwwe yeah, here's my jam! Love me some DM That was great!! As much as I love DM I'd never heard that album!

good as always!! my adorable guys :))

Great 80s music

Black Celebration is better and I absolutely resent the shade the book throws at it, but this album still absolutely rules. Depeche Mode was one of the first bands I ever loved and I still can't get enough.