Reviews (page 3 of 13)
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.
Dark synth rock
10/10 Depeche Mode is based as fuck
Amazing. Despite the usual complaints about only british pop music being on this list, I actually agree with this one - Everyone should hear this album (especially catholic high school girls!). 5/5
Þessi er ein af mínum kjarnaplötum. Ég kann hvert einasta hljóð utanað og fæ ekki nóg. Hef ekki fengið nóg í 35 ár! Stórkostlegt electro-pop verk!
Excellent album. Literally listened like 100x Seen them 10x Has a great instrumental, Agent Orange. Never let me down Strangelove Sacred Little 15 Behind the wheel Nothing
🖤 Perfect Album
It is not the kind of music you would expect for an album like that, but at every time is great.
Easily Depeche Mode's second best album.
When this came out, it made realise what I'd been missing One of the best lobe bands
Beautiful music. Very well done.
synthy
A classic, building on the promise shown in "Black Celebration". Backed up by a legendary tour and live album.
De-Peach.
never let me down never let me down never let me down never let me down
baita som, eletronico oitentista, muito agradável
likeit
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Amazing
Banger
This is an awesome album!
One of my fave albums of all time
Strangelove clássica. Little 15 é linda. I Want You Now, tem respirações interessantes. Sons interessantes em Agent Orange. Bass de Never Let Down Again é top!!
A real classic.
This was my first real introduction to DM. I love this album.
Dead good.
This album is great! Not my favorite Depeche Mode album, but definitely solid throughout
Me ha gustado bastante. Mejor que Violator.
Mass Depeche
WWO, DM is my favorite band! And this album is awesome!
Favorite tracks: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Nothing, Agent Orange, Pleasure… Little Treasure, Route 66,
gute Synthmusik
10/10 классика
Una maravilla
This brings me back to high school
det er så godt for sin tid!!
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Never let me down again, The things you said, Strangelove, Sacred, Behind the wheel
Knew a couple of tracks - lots of good stuff on this. 1st one to make 3 listens by day 2.
No és perfecte, perquè cap al final de la segona cara comença a baixar el nivell, però els temes que sí ho són, que es són molts, eleven el nivell del disc per sobre del 90% de la producció musical de la década. A 'Violator' es van refinar definitivament com a compositors, però aquí els agafa en el seu millor moment d'inspiració, culminant una ratxa de sis discos en trajectòria ascendent (començant ja el primer d'ells des de molt a dalt!)
Хороший потом Великой группы!
better than I thought - probably a 4.5 but I'm rounding up for the surprise. Very cool early electronic.industrial stuff!
An eternal classic
Bombastische muziek als deze kan ik wel smaken. Het volume ging duidelijk omhoog hoe verder ik kwam in het album, en dan moest 'Pimpf' nog komen: Wat een knaller die compleet in contrast staat met de rest van het album!
Brilliant
Unreal album, brings me back to my youth.
Solid DM album
Hhh
Me ha gustado bastante. Mejor que Violator.
ufff que viaje
2/16 "Relocate to Fresno bumpin' Depeche Mode in the enzo..." Standout Tracks: Strangelove, Behind the Wheel, Pimpf, Agent Orange, Pleasure Little Treasure, Route 66, Stjarna
This absolutely slaps. Sounds like someone took Tilda Swinton and somehow distilled her entire vibe into musical form.
Love a bit of Depeche Mode. This was suitably moody stuff from the lads, filled with catchy synths and melancholic lyrics. Loved how each track seemed to flow into the next, creating a coherence that kept the album moving at a steady pace. Never Let Me Down Again might just be my new favourite track from the band, especially the Aggro Mix which had me bopping my head throughout. Superb stuff.
Three straight classics to begin- the icy sledgehammer of "Never" followed by the heartful vocals of Gore on "Things" and the extremely catchy innuendo of "Strangelove." "I Want You Now" is a very neat darkwave sex piece, and "Nothing" is a great synthpop track indicating the direction they'd head on its masterpiece follow-up.
I enjoyed these unexpectedly dark soundscapes much more than I'd have guessed I would. Favorite track: The Things You Said
I can never differentiate between these and The Human League. Because they had their best success around the same time and I was never really a big fan of either. I quite like both when I hear them but perhaps Depeche Mode have the edge now I've heard this. I had only been aware of some Depeche Mode singles before but not those off this album. "Personal Jesus" and "People are People" are ones I remember but they must have been earlier/later than this. The album got better as it went on. Second half was more interesting than the first. I also liked Agent Orange which was on the deluxe version but not on the original list here. I carried on listening to these extra tracks and found a wonderful instrumental called Stjarna. Another surprising inclusion is a straight piano performance of the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Unsure why it was included but always good to hear (and play!). As Harry Hill's Stouffer would say - "Respect due!" First album since Buena Vista Social Club that has got me wanting to come back to.
This is a good album, with some lovely crunchy '80s synth production and lots of silly noises whizzing around which really is a lost art - why not just press every button on the synth at least once? What's going to go wrong? Well, you might end up with a frog solo like New Order did, but other than that everything will be fine. This isn't Depeche Mode's fault, but as I heard a LOT of Amiga demo scene music before I seriously heard any DM, they will always sound like a rip-off of the former to me, even though it is obviously and clearly the other way round. I can't rewire my brain and will forever prefer to hear stuff made in OctaMED (probably also because I don't really like Dave Gahan's almost monotone voice and obvs the Amiga wasn't capable of anything like that). Anyway, I prefer Violator, but this is still a very, very solid slice of '80s MINDPOP.
pretty fun, nice gothy vibes, a bit drawn out tho. love that the 80's sound is so different and far from today's music that it kinda starts to sound alien to me.
First song is really really cool and is the peak, but the whole album is nice and dark and interesting. I dig the last song and love its name.
Muy buen album, siento que va de menos a mas.
This was cool.
This is the sort of music that my dad always had on radio growing up so I feel very nostalgic for this group but the album rocks. I’ve definitely heard their song Personal Jesus before.
this was really fun! i definitely need to get into more of a depeche mode instead of a depresh mode :P
Liked it more as it went along
14 songs One of my favorite bands, and although I prefer their following album more, Music for the Masses still provides a very solid track list. Never Let Me Down Again is one of their best songs imo, so it's very hard not to give this a high rating.
Kept this one on the shelf I suppose but I was not disappointed by the listen. Heard it after a concert and had a great time. A good #2 to Violator.
A nice one from DM, but I feel like some songs aged not that well. Never Let Me Down and Strangelove are still awesome bangers
Never Let Me Down Again siempre será la mejor canción de este álbum para mi. Me gusta que su sonido es mucho más oscuro sin dejar el ritmo de lado comparandolo con Strangelove, es lo que me gusta de Depeche Mode, no es por decir que las canciones más animadas de sus primeros discos sean malas, pero es lo que más me gusta a mi. Ambas canciones son bastante buenas. Tras escucharlo ya un par de veces, no ha cambiado mucho mi decisión; no me gusta más que Ultra o Playing The Angel, pero definitivamente tiene lo suyo. The Things You Said es bastante buena y Nothing me encantó, la pondría despues de Never Let Me Down Again como mis favoritas de este álbum. Del resto no puedo decir mucho, escucharlo se siente como estar dentro de alguna película de crimen, lo cual no es un punto negativo, es entretenido. Little 15 y Behind The Wheel no terminan de convencerme y no lo harán! Si, lo escucharía otra vez con gusto, los quiero mucho pero no es de mis favoritos.
2026.07.27.
The voice of their generation. Really good sound and rhythm and lyrics
depeche mode lover
I liked this album a lot. I rated Violator a 3. I think I need to give it another listen, but I think I still would like Music for the Masses more. My biggest complaint is that the songs can overstay their welcome sometimes. There's no bad song on the album though.
I REALLY got into this one. The first half was giving that cool, grungy, techno rock that felt like a precursor to Nine Inch Nails or somethingto. They did start to lose me on the back half with what felt like more experimental tracks, but overall they’re a band I want to explore more
Fun yet haunting, and incredibly catchy
EMO, bet visai fainei, primena mary on a cross, — ghost, paskiau nusibosta, labai ilgas
I've been waiting for an excuse to dive deeper into Depeche Mode for some time so this was great. They have this dark synth/ electronic industrial sound that feels very much of the 80's. Definitely a fan of the style, the vocals especially hold this old school weight to it, in some songs I felt like I was listening to an Infected Mushroom song. This is the kind of music I would find appropriate for dozens of environments, active or passive. Most of the songs are very strong but it drags near the end, the bonue 4 tracks especially.
Not my favorite Depeche Mode album but I gotta give it credit for containing one of the absolute greatest songs of the 80s. Favorite track: Never Let Me Down Again
i know i like depeche mode already sooo im excited im really loving this so far would have to relisten to some songs but there's bangers fsfs
3,5
These mfers are running a titration to reach the perfect level of groove. Every addition to the beat comes at the perfect time and they hit sooooo damn hard. Best example of that had to be Behind the Wheel, a constant revision of the same tune that only gets cooler. The bass in this album sounds like it belongs in the brass section, GOD, I wish I could seen this live. 4.5/5 Video game pairing: Metal Gear Solid 1/2
Have I listened to this album before No How familiar am I with this album Somewhat familiar How do I feel about this artist? I like Depeche Mode Pre-Listen Thoughts: I predict it will be good but no Violator Favorite track(s): Never Let Me Down Again, I Want You Now Post-Listen Thoughts: Pretty strong, a few unnecessary bits but overall solid album. Not quite a five, but close. I think I would’ve put Speak and Spell in the book over this one.
Why so many questioning melodies? I feel like I'm trapped in a spy-movie, or the set of the Prisoner. That said this is definitely got more than it's fair share of bangers, it's also comforting to sit in those icy basic glorious 80s synths.
Electronics and monotone vocals. What could be more cool?
This album is so dark, but like in a cup of black coffee sort of way. I loved it. Great memories of high school with this album.
Not my vibe but they set out to make gothic dance music and they made gothic dance music
What a great album!!!! Some fantastic tracks, ending with a sonata…damn!!! 4.4 maybe
Très très sympa
Grand classique, j'adore Depeche Mode, mais pochette nulle par contre Playlist pick : Strangelove
Absoluta joya
As we are at the time of year when Glastonbury normally takes place, it seems pertinent to ask how has Depeche Mode never played, let alone headlined Glastonbury before? I just prefer The Cure lyrically and New Order musically but got into those bands at an earlier age, and I guess in different circumstances I could have been more of a devoted DM head. It all seems quite serious, if you want a good laugh, I recommend you go and listen to the Rammstein cover of Stripped, its unintentionally hilarious
Such a classic sound. Even though I didn’t really know these songs, I knew who was playing. Pretty enjoyable, but nothing that stuck with me after it was gone. 7/10 Quite Likeable
I have a feeling I’m about to get very very into Depeche Mode.
Great out the gate, but I started to zone out a bit on the b side.
me encanta la música de los 80, inmediatamente la paso bien. este se pone re oscuro, 4/5.
Fun, catchy, and atmospheric. I will listen to the rest of their discography.
How in the hell did they make this album in the 80s? I am very impressed. I wish I had found this album sooner.
Have this on original vinyl from the late 80s.
Weirdly reminds me of Bo Burnham's Inside... very 80s. A little spooky at times.
Depeche Mode are consistently strong and one of the greatest electronic acts of all time. Combining great songwriting with their signature broody sound, this record delivers the goods with killer tracks like the single "Never Let Me Down Again." While this falls a bit short of their opus "Violator", it's still a great record and part of a string of great albums.
not as good a violator but still worth a listen
Depeche Mode actually always has great music.
Esperaba más. Pero es bueno
Depeche Mode's one other album on the list is Music For The Masses, which was the band continuing to escape their earlier pop (but not too synth pop like Human League) roots and turning into something more bolder and moodier. Sort of like getting into leather and slowly entering the BDSM rabbit hole. I don't think my second listening for this Music For The Masses has changed my ranking of it. It's a little more gothic than I remember and has mostly some good enough synth and production work for the album to age fairly well. Martin Gore's vocals work incredibly well with the mood they were trying to pull. It's a solid album but just has either a little too much filler or kind of meh songs for about 20% of it. Depeche Mode is a great band, they've got other good albums (mostly in the early to mid 90s) that could've also been on the list compared to some other bands and their selection, but this list needs more goth music and this will have to suffice.
Very stereotypical 80s pop album but I liked it. There were some great ones in here like Never Let Me Down Again and Sacred
love depeche mode and this was nice to listen to but i didn't particularly like any of the songs
Not the album that would top it for me with Depeche Mode but lots of songs I enjoyed hearing for the first time. 4/5
Album 224. Music for the Masses (https://open.spotify.com/album/5Yyx661Ksxl2pmRUuGLzw3?si=of7UzCY2TrC79uJVyWgJog) — Depeche Mode (1987) It's not Violator, but still solid af. 4/5 Liked: — Never Let Me Down Again — Strangelove — Behind The Wheel — I Want You Now — Nothing — Pimpf — Agent Orange — Never Let Me Down Again - Aggro Mix
Really excellent album. Had me boucing around the living room
The first 4 songs on this record are 10/10, amazing, top tier, etc. Then starting with “Little 15,” which I kind of side eye, though I can’t seem to find a consensus on the song’s meaning, everything is just… alright. Not bad, but not brilliant like the first 4 songs. Totally understand why it’s on the list, but it’s hard not to be a little disappointed in the end given the strength of the beginning.
Not my favorite album by them, but this was good pleasant listening. 7/10
Tolles Album, hat mir sehr gefallen
super stimme, gute melodien. little 15 und nothing stehen hervor.
Though this album contains some of my favourite songs ("Little 15", "Never Let Me Down Again", "Behind The Wheel"), many of the other songs are very lacluster which don't add anything special to the album ("I Want You Now", "To Have And To Hold", "Nothing"). This makes the first half of the album really good, but the second half forgettable and unassuming. What I enjoyed most was the beat and the instruments used, the distorted guitar and bass coupled with the clean crisp piano. I also enjoyed the lyrics which had a wide range of themes and though many linked to sex, could be interpreted in different ways. They also sucessfully used the singing as another element of the beat.
Not very happy songs. Good album
This is exactly what I want from my extremely 1980s synth bands and what I thought Violator would bring. Couple of moments on side two that were a touch too weird for me but overall a Good Album.
One of my biggest takeaways from doing this has been how much I dig 80s music that I previously thought was corny. Not every song here is great but I definitely see the appeal. A bit dark and dreary in spots. Favorites were Strangelove and Behind The Wheel.
Depeche Modea oon koittanu useesti kuunnella ja tykännyt kyllä. Ei vaan oo koskaan tarttunu listalle vaikka kovasti pidänkin. Oikein hyvä levy, ilmeisesti jokin suunnan määrittänyt levy DM:n uralla. Kuulosti ihan siltä miltä pitikin.
This was a great album. It may have felt a bit stale by the end, but it's a good unique sound compared to what I've listened to recently.
Der er altså straight bangers her. De lyder bare så sygt, jeg tror når jeg er igennem albummet vil jeg have besluttet om der er for mange sange der ikke rammer helt så hårdt som strangelove, never let me down again osv. 3 sange inde er vi på en 5'er, vi må se om kadencen holder. Efter behind the wheel synes jeg kvaliteten daler lidt. Vi er på en flot 4, men vi kan ikke komme helt derop.
Overraskende godt Det er vist ved at være tid til, at jeg runder op frem for ned 3.8
4/5. some good ass synth-pop/goth music, which sits in the middle of what I’d consider to be a trilogy of classics (Black Celebration, This album, Violator.) the production has a very atmospheric quality to it, I can easily get lost in many of these songs like the opener “Never Let me Down Again” or “To Have and Hold.” Only knock I have against it is that the lyrics are sometimes very clunky, but the musics good enough for me to forgive that.
Review - great album. Depeche Mode are so much better than I'd realised. First got into this album after hearing Never Let Me Down Again in The Last Of Us, delved into the whole album and it's great. Creepy, eerie, and horny in equal measure - classic Depeche Mode Score - 8/10 Need to listen? YES
It’s not all great, but it’s consistently pretty good and some of the lesser-known songs are as good as the hits from their other albums.
Liked it. A blast from the past. We used to call this band Depressed Mode in high school cause it’s what the goth kids listened to. Reminds me of the Cure.
I have listened to some Dépêche Mode before and never quite got the fuss but I did really enjoy this. Twice. Since, once again, it was on shuffle. I liked the goth/synth sound and the melodies and rhythms combined nicely.
Depeche Mode is a band I could certainly dive deeper into. I’ve mainly only listened to Violator (a masterpiece) and their most recent albums (which are quite good), but this was outstanding. I’ve always felt they were much bigger in Europe than the U.S. where I am and that they belonged to Europe, but I think they could be one of my favorite bands.
Depeche Mode proving why they were one of the best New Wave bands in the 80s. 8/10
Fun and well produced though I still prefer Violator
Somewhat gothic, almost campy record, bringing plenty of melodrama with its dark synths. Love the touches of baroque pop when they bring in strings, really feels like a bridge between their frothy earlier work and the pop perfection of Violator Lyrics aren't the best, but manage to work in the context of the song, as long as you aren't looking for deep introspection or societal analysis
This is the album that got me into Depeche Mode. Up this point in my young life I didn't realize that electronic pop could be dark, ominous and completely appealing to a young kid that at the time was really into harder rock and metal. There are perfect pop elements slipped in there as well with HUGE sing along choruses. Now in my 50's I appreciate all the twists and turns and growing living breathing sounds created by synthesizers and human growth you can hear in the entire discography. I own the album on cassette, cd, vinyl and even have the 101 dvd set. This is the 4 star stepping stone to the next three albums that are all 5 stars.
A legendary band coming into their own. Often a better singles band over the years, here DM starts to put together an album worth of quality as they build up to the legendary Violator.
Making my Ops colleagues proud by loving this one.
Molto bello, le canzoni hanno tutte questa atmosfera ipnotica che adoro, un po’ lungo però
Memories from Tallinn
Netyčia du kartus perklausiau, šiaip oš antro tikrai labai patiko albumas, galima dažniau klausytis.
81/100. I really do love Depeche Mode’s sound, and this album is another great example of why. The synth work is fantastic, creating a dark and melancholic atmosphere. The production has a cold and spacious quality to it, yet the songs still carry a strong emotional core. The vocals are excellent as usual, bringing a sense of vulnerability and tension that fits the music perfectly.
I liked this! Sounded great.
Epic New Wave. They should call this New Tidal Wave. New Kahuna. New Tsunami.
by no means a real revelation to me but HEALTH really do owe kind of their entire contemporary career to these guys, don't they? put some slightly more punchy drums on it and The Things You Said would've slotted really neatly onto the B-side of any of those recent albums. anyway this one is a weird one. it doesn't feel as "complete" of an album as Violator, which felt on my first listen (and still feels) like a very singular, driven work with a tightly-focused vision. really excellent singles — Never Let Me Down Again is one of the best songs in their discography and a very powerful opener. To Have and To Hold is one of the most slaveringly erotic songs ever. which is why it's SO funny when you get to Nothing and the whole record just steps on a fucking landmine. one of the most jarring shifts in sound/tone i've heard in god knows how long. and then after that you get what sounds like 5 minutes of spooky haunted house music that somehow got put on the master before they shipped it out? very strange!
Que lastima que no lo hubiera podido escuchar todo de una sentada, porque me pareció increíble, innovador para su época, con mezcla de ruidos poco comunes, pero efectivos. Gran Álbum
Album #149 Depeche Mode: Music for the Masses If this is what the masses actually listened to, the world would be a better place. Dark synthpop is such a unique vibe, and nobody does it better than Depeche Mode. The 80s will always be my favourite decade for music, for whatever reason, the production of the time just fills me with such a sense of nostalgia and yearning for a time that I never lived through. Depeche Mode are one of the finest bands of the era, combining the indifference of Joy Division with the sound of Tears For Fears, resulting in the best of both goth and pop. Though Music for the Masses isn’t as anthemic and iconic as their eventual masterpiece, Violator, it certainly was their finest effort at the time it came out. The atmosphere and texture were all there, they just hadn’t perfected the hooks and melodies the way that they would on Violator; though the signs were there already with songs like Never Let Me Down Again. This album (or Black Celebration) are the perfect soundtrack if you want to dance yet maintain your nonchalant nihilist aura (which I assume is a common dilemma). Best Songs: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Behind The Wheel Worst Song: To Have And To Hold Score out of 10: 8.5
One of several highlights from this band.
Dark, adventurous, and experimental, Music for the Masses is a defining electronic pop album, and I can see why it brought Depeche Mode so much success.
Great album from the Essex boys
- I ❤️ goth girls
Yet another big group where this is my first full listen to one of their projects and its great. The overwhelming sense of dread and despair in some of these instrumentals really make the record for me. Especially with how haunting the vocals sound with that reverb. Type of record I'd want to hear at the end of the world. Awesome intro to this group (beyond some of their bigger songs) that gets me excited to listen to more.
ha mi scho lang uf das gfreut. well s andere vo ihne wo uf de liste isch isch krass geil. erste song isch en super istiig. sini stimm plus die synths plus die mega gated drums sind soo e killer kombi. ok bis etz de erst am beste hä. aber sacred au no recht geil uuuh refrain mega dissonanze mega cool. nüt gseit. um was goht little 15?
I can't really quantify why I like Depeche Mode. It's not my normal kind of thing. But it all comes together in a way that's very pleasing. A couple songs have annoying production choices, but even those songs have parts that are just really catchy or compelling. Also, Strangelove is SO GOOD. Makes me want to dance in a dark, moody club.
Great album, love Never Let Me Down Again
A brilliant album from an incredible 80s band . They had a dream run of records into the 90s
literally the only thing i know about depeche mode is that their name is depeche mode. is this the grunge equivalent to the pet shop boys? is never let me down homoerotic or about drugs? probably drugs but that's boring the things you said--my brother listens to more recent artists who sing like this. who???? i do enjoy this completely '80s techno sound in a weird way. like it's so dated and of its time but that's why i enjoy it. sacred--actually this would be a great dance track in a club i want you now--oh i don't like this intro but the song is actually decent pimpf--wow such drama lost attention for the last few tracks but they're just bonus from the cd release so who cares strong motifs of lovelustandreligion, actually more mixed up than that but i can only do so much with simple text. very strongly connected to leonard cohen's i'm your man (1988). imagine the most like '80s techno synth imaginable, and both albums fit that. actually now i'm queuing up first we take manhattan after this. the only thing i'm docking points for is that they need to be a lot gayer. like come on, str**ght people techno? honestly?
Thought this album was really cool and super weird. Love the effects and cool rifts.
Catchy
Great 80s indie synth-pop.
Really good album
Dark, kinda gay, very British, very 80s, very cold, very cool.
Idlk
excellent really liked it
Their international breakthrough album, it's dark and mystifying with a blend of synthpop and industrial aesthetics. Martin Gore and Dave Gahan really nailed this sound, to the point where this album would provide the blueprint for their music going forward. "Never Let Me Down Again" is the crowning jewel of the record, opening with really interesting synth passages and a haunting melody. The pounding drums echo through your ear, as Dave Gahan croons about trust and uneasy relationships. This theme continues into the next song "The Things You Said", another great song with a similarly dark instrumental and lyrics about betraying trust. Other great songs are the intense "Strangelove" and "Behind The Wheel". The deeper cuts are mostly fine, "Sacred" is pretty haunting, and "Little 15" is pretty unconfortable but that was kind of the point of the song, "Nothing" is a great song as well, right before the atmospheric outro "Pimpf". Overall I found this album to be quite enjoyable and definitely a good one for when you're in a darker mood or driving at night. There was only one dud for me and that was "I want you now". The heavy breathing sounds kinda icked me out. still! I had fun listening to this and definitely see why it's considered a classic of it's kind.
Great album. Plenty of their best songs, and most of the deeper cuts were very good as well. There was one song ("I Want You Now") with a bunch of heavy breathing and... other noises, that I really didn't care for at all.
I definitely want to listen to the album again, it's both interesting and enjoyable. The songs towards the end I didn't enjoy as much as the others, though. My favorite song of the album is Strangelove.
overraskende godt, havde lidt svært ved at tage mig sammen til at lytte til det, fordi jeg allerede havde hørt violator. Men det er virkelig godt og sammenhængende og man føler virkelig man bliver taget igennem en historie. Det Synth-poppet new wave lyd bliver også blandet med lidt rock og det er virkelig sådan mørkt og erotisk på en eller anden måde. Det er noget af den bedste 80'er lyd jeg har hørt hvis jeg skal være ærlig, det lyder næsten helt synthwave agtig noget af det. Det løftede dem til stadion niveau og de sluttede også deres tour af med en koncert for 70.000 mennesker åbenbart, hvilket er pænt mange mennesker. Det er her man siger de virkelig fandt deres lyd og dannede bro mellem deres tidligere og det de senere lavede som var violator, som jo er det jeg forbinder depeche mode med. Generelt meget positivt overrasket over hvor godt og stemningsfuldt et album det er.
Depeche Mode started to stretch their wings here and develop, something which culminated in their masterpiece: Violator. My criticism of the album is the production leaves the songs sounding flat and sterile and I recommend listening to them on the live album 101. On 101 the songs become more muscular and organic. WIth Never let me down again really shining.
I'm so sick and saddened because looking at the reviews I'm realizing for the first time in my life that Depeche Mode isn't universally loved. How can you feel anything but cool while listening to this. The only reason this isn't a five is because of the weirdness at the end, as evidenced by how few plays those last few tracks get compared to the rest of the album.
Strong 4. Some quality tunes - strong 80's vibes (sometimes to the detriment of the songs) - a couple of bum tracks (Pimpf?) mean its not a 5.
4/5
Maybe a little more fun than the Smiths.
W porządku
Surprised at how much I enjoyed this album. Added a few songs to my Playlists, will deffo be listening to it again
God I love this era of music, pre-autotune with great 80's synth sounds. The fodder for a million-million mix tapes. It carves me to my core. I'm not the most enthusiastic fan of Depeche Mode, but the first side of the album is the sweet spot for me. I never owned this album, but experienced it on the dance floor and at parties and so far every song on the first side is amazing and brings back fond memories of peak 80's. The second side is also quite good, but not quite up to side 1, but is dark and interesting.
Not my favorite Depeche Mode album but it is still pretty good.
I liked it.
Knew and liked "Never Let Me Down" off here but hadn't heard the rest of the album. Generally liked it, although it could get a bit repetitive in some songs. "Nothing" was the other big standout here for me, but also enjoyed "Strangelove" and "Sacred"
This is kind of the best. Not much stands out directly, but what a vibe. I’ll need a few more listens.
I do love a good Depeche Mode
I had never heard these songs from Depeche Mode (filthy casual that I am) before, and I'm quite impressed. Never Let Me Down Again and Strangelove especially are very good songs that are almost better than Personal Jesus or Enjoy the Silence. I think the synths on this album are especially standout, compared to the other Depeche Mode album. This album has a heavy and great atmosphere about it.
Creepy and dark in the correct way. Never Let Me Down Again is a great opener, and the album never really lets up from there. The Things You Said, Little 15, and Nothing are all solid tracks that mix that sort of dark synth and British new wave into something that works well. The album ends with Pimpf, which is just a five minute instrumental with a choir, and it's weird that the album just ends with a Castlevania theme honestly.
Ok
Powerful. Industrial. Genuinely Inventive. Glad its here.
Nice 80s goth album
It’s great background music, but there’s a lot happening under the surface—tension, atmosphere, and little production tricks that make the album feel deeper every time I hear it. Since I know the 101 versions better, it’s interesting how different the studio tracks feel. Live, everything is bigger and more aggressive, almost built for a crowd. On the album, though, the songs are cooler and more minimal, like they’re meant to pull you inward instead of outward.
🥀
Не все треки понравились но однозначно топ.
Muy buen disco y qué forma de iniciarlo. El pero que le pongo es ese final, me suena a esas canciones que usan los artistas entre una canción y otra para descansar o cambiarse.
Okay so I really do like Depeche Mode!!! I was so happy to get an album from them because my dad usually listen to them so I knew them from before and have listen to them before as well.
afwisselend bangers met mid, algemeen wel nog nice
8 - GOOD
Really good album, bit overshadowed by Violator but can comfortably stand against it. Strangelove is their best song.
This album is peak 80s. Reminds me of disco. Very "Music for the masses" disco. Feels like a somewhat generic "You spin me round" if it was an album. Strangelove was the song that got me to this point and it's only song 3/14. Half the songs are also just instrumental. Maybe because I'm listening at work I don't really see the main point here, but it felt more like background 80s elevator music that you'd hear before going to a disco skating rink or something?
Classic Depeche Mode at their best. Love this album. Timeless.
9/10
Enjoyable album. It's not their best in my opinion, but I like the sound they developed here.
3.5⭐️/5 04.05.2026
Me gusta mucho depeche mode, escuche los primeros temas con mi bella novia que si bien no los recordaba, le resultaba familiar. Strangelove es un temazo, uno de mis favoritos de este grupo. El ambiente que me transmite este disco es como si fuera un escenario futurista pensado en los 90. La segunda mitad del album se me hizo un poco monótona por lo que no puedo darle 5 estrellas
Det är ju svårt att helt gå i i den kalla, men också lite mesiga, världen som är synthmusik. Här lockar DM in mig ena låten och kastar ut mig och bryter förtrollningen i nästa. Jävligt härliga syntar som används, ibland med smakfulla New Order-guror. Blir en snäll fyra för att jag för första gången kan se mig själv sjunga med i detta tillsammans med andra svartklädda I en industrilokal i Hamburg.
Jau sen bija plāns dziļāk paklausīties Depwche Mode, tā kā forši.
That's a great album. Finally something that I know. I saw some negative reviews, and honestly, I don't understand why. Every song in this album is a vibe.
Liked this!
Mielenkiintoinen projekti. Jotenkin oudolla tavalla myös toimiva. Syna ja synkkyys toimii.
- I love Depeche Mode. - Dave Gahan has one of my favourite voices - love the expressive baritone quality. - Also love the synth work, and the chord progressions. - Love the dark poppy feel of this, and unlike one of the other reviews, I love dancing to it. - This album is a bit hit or miss - I don't love Sacred, Little 15, Pimpf, or I Want You Now for example. The other songs are bangers, though. - It's probably a 3.5 because I skip a few songs, but I'll round up because none of the songs are actively bad and many are actively great.
1. Never Let me Down Again: Muy ochentoso, me gusta. Estilo Stranger Things. 7/10 2. The things you said: Muy tranquilona, siento q va de fondo para hacer cosas, no es nada wow, pero no me disgusta. 7/10 3. Strangelove: Me gusta mucho. Buen ritmo, buena letra. Me gusto bastante. Me hace acordar mucho a otra cancion pero no se a cual. 9/10 4. Sacred: Me gusta, sigue por la misma linea, buen ritmo, buenos arreglos. 8/10 5. Little 15: Me gusta, muy tranquila tambien, no me termina de encantar. 7,25/10. 6. Behind The Wheel: También bastante tranquilona, nada especial, pero me sigue gustando. 7/10 7. I Want You Now: Es más "oscura", de todas formas me sigue gustando. 7/10 8. To Have and To Hold: Sigue esta linea más oscura, me gusto mas la anterior pero igual me gusta. 7/10 9. Nothing: Acá vuelve un poco a los primeros temas, me gusta bastante. 8/10 10. Pimpf: Super instrumental y vuelve a ponerse oscuro, como tema en si meh. 5,5 /10 11. Agent Orange: Sigue instrumental, pero ahora saliendo de la oscuridad, como tema en si. 5,5 /10 12. Never Let Me Down Again: Sigue instrumental, mucho más arriba. Como tema en si. 6/10 13. To Have and To Hold - Spanish Taster: Sigue instrumental y por la misma base. 5/10 14. Pleasure, Little Treasure - Glitter Mix: Gran cierre, me gusta. 7/10 Nota General: Muy ochentoso, me encantó. Quizás en canciones individuales no hay ninguna locura, pero el albúm en si es un viaje, va pasando por momentos un poco más oscuros, un poco mas alegres, un poco mas tranquilos, viaje total. Me gustó mucho como álbum. 8/10
Neat, a bit of beep boop, a bit of mood. Strangelove stood out as a fun bop. Fun overall, decent somberness and melancholy in the second half of the album. Feeling generous now, but, the music helped, so...
It’s an extremely moody album. I loved all of the tracks in these so there’s no singling out this time. ‘To Have and To Hold’ and ‘To Have and To Hold’ I was really drawn to the 80’s gothic moodiness of the album it gave me visions of Elvira, Labyrinth and Tim Burton. Rating:4/5 GEMV (29.03.2026)
I liked the synth vibes of this, would listen again but wouldn't go out of my way - hence 4 stars.
it's cool. quintessential 80s sound without sounding too cheesy
Sounds like Depeche Mode alright
I wore this tape out in middle school. I really like this album.
3rd in my list of DM albums!
Yes, love this voice, excellent songs, really nice.
Maybe I shouldn’t listen to these high off my ass on cold meds, but here I am. Never let me down again sounded like good, solid, typical Brit rock, which it was. I liked the electronic synth in The things you said, his voice was also really nice. Strange love was a bop. Very 80s. Sacred had a good groove to it. I liked Behind the Wheel, and I want you now had a very calming feeling to it. Nothing was exactly what I’d expect coming out of this album. Not in a bad way, it just had a lot of 80s tropes. I have similar thoughts for the rest of the album. I think it was a solid outing. 4/5 ⭐️ 79/1089
Je découvre que j'aime vraiment bien Depeche Mode !
First listen = 3, Second listen = 3.5, Third listen = 4. What I like best about Depeche Mode is the vocals and their synthy sounds. Dave Gahan’s lead vocals with Martin Gore’s backing vocals harmonize really beautifully into a single "voice" that is Depeche Mode. And accompanying the vocals is some pretty creative synth composing. Even the songs that I didn't like that much on this album were still musically interesting.
Choutte
Better than Coldplay
The album they made just before they released their masterpiece and you can hear it. Not every track excels, but their sound is undeniable. Loved it.
8.5/10 - I love this album. It’s dark, it’s moody, it’s interesting. I think the album is a bit too long and tails off at the end. I think if the album ended after “Nothing” we would be looking at a High 9. Great Album.
Good album for background music
Depech Mode gets moody and dark on Music for the Masses. I've been a Depeche Mode fan for a few years because my ex was a fan. I do have a few favorite Depeche Mode albums, but this one has never been among them. This particular listen is changing that. Think New Order, but sadder and sexier. Music for the Masses still isn't a top 3 Mode album for me, but the songwriting is noticeably better than some of their previous efforts, and the change in tone towards darker sounds absolutely works for them. This absolutely influenced Nine Inch Nails.
its a good album
clean
Chill
Great album
Incredible vibes. Depeche mode is absolutely great at what they do.
4/5 Depeche mode how I love you so. SO iconic 80s, every song had something fun about it. I'm so glad I listened to this album in full. Also how do you manage to be so effing queer while only having straight dudes on your roster?? Crazy.
Det hørtes ut akkurat som forventa, så det gjorde ikke nokka særlig inntrykk fra eller til, nei.
I really liked this. It sounds like video game music from late 80s to late 90s in the best possible way. Great album to listen to on the train at night. Standout tracks: - Never Let Me Down Again 4.5/5 - Nothing 4.5/5
I'm a latecomer to Depeche Mode, this album was a lot more enjoyable than I expected.
Very cool, I like it.
3.8
Oh, this was actually a vibe
dark, moody synthesizers and great vocals. beat switches r awesome and it really makes me feel something while listening to it. very great album, very great music by a very good band. melodies and chord progressions r really solid its just great man i love this thing
Very poppy british music. I’m not a huge depeche mode fan but this album is pretty nice 8/10
I'm definitely into synthpop, yet I haven't listened to a lot of Depeche Mode in my life. The first 3 songs on the album were standouts, and I also enjoyed the horror sounds of the closer Pimpf, and a few of the other songs throughout the album were fun to listen to. Overall I enjoyed this album.
Never Let Me Down Again - 4.5/5 The Things You Said - 3.5/5 Strangelove - 4.5/5 Sacred - 3/5 Little 15 - 3/5 Behind the Wheel - 4/5 I Want You Now - 4/5 To Have and to Hold - 3.5/5 Nothing - 4.5/5 Pimpf - 3.5/5 The transitional period between the poppy synthpop of "I Just Can't Get Enough" to the more darker tones of what Violator would become. There were a couple of duds but was really solid throughout. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Never Let You Down Again, Strangelove, Nothing
Yeah
reminds me of my dad. fave song is never let me down again, its a classic for a reason
This album is weird and I kind of vibe with it because of that. Of course, some songs sound similar to each other and I didn’t even notice the album end, but I liked it as I was listening to it.
Its no Violator. But it's pretty good.
Very seranading Saved: The things you said Strangelove Sacred Little 15 Nothing
Not really sure where this album went at the end but the first half or so is solid. Saved (4) - The Things You said - Strangelove - Little 15 - Behind the Wheel - To Have and To Hold
These guys are better than I thought they would be. I've always heard of them but I never sat down and listened to any music by them except for Personal Jesus and only because Johnny Cash covered it. An excellent example of post New Wave.
There are a lot of excellent tracks here. One that I found unsettling but overall solid.
Love ittt
Sin duda no es mi fav, pero empezar un álbum con don’t let me down again debería de estar prohibido
A bit too emo but entertaining. Kings of dread infused techno.
Good album. Maybe not their absolute best, but it features some of my all-time favorite Depeche Mode tracks, like “Strangelove” and “Behind the Wheel.”
One of my favorite albums from all the way back to my college days. It's still it's still a fine listen today. Definitely the hits "Strangelove", "Never Let Me Down Again", and "Behind The Wheel" stand out the most, but backed up dark a beautifully with the likes of "Little 15", "Nothing" and "PIMPF" (9.6) ★★★★½
i want you now like what omg loved it
Listened to it on the flight to Malaga. Solid as expected
Not chirpy music by any means, but feels like one piece of art rather than a lot of songs.
Better than I expected
Big, dark, and moody like you would expect. Def in my rotation, but wasn't ground-breaking.. but maybe i've listened to it too much historically.
Seeee. Gran álbum. Oscuro y entretenido electropop. 8/10
Enjoyed it
I'm taking a ride with my best friend!
Pretty good. Not their best
music for the masses its me im the masses
Depeche is actually my MO
that was legitness
Enjoyed most of this! I do like that whole dark 80s synth pop sound when done well, and for most of this I thought was canny. Never really listened to these before, apart from the big hits. Pleased I took the time!
Dark electronica, loved the way most of the drums and synths fitted together. Not quite as good as violator and I find the blokes voice a shade too croony but the music nearly always makes up for it. The things you said best of the bunch.
4.5 - really, really close to a 5, but I’m grading on the DM scale, and I want to preserve Violator as their peak. “Never Let Me Down Again”, “Strangelove”, “Behind the Wheel”, “To Have and To Hold” - these songs are as good as it gets. Eerie, gothy, but still great pop music. DM are a one of one, and this is a great record with just a couple songs that are “just fine” that keep it from 5 status.
Never really listened to Depeche Mode and even when they were kind of very mainstream in the early 90s I never quite got it, i.e. I Feel You. But since moving to LA I have become aware they have an incredibly disproportionate influence in LA, which is pretty cool - apparently because KROQ pumped them for years and the people responded, and they played a sold out Rose Bowl touring for this album, which is really kind of crazy. This was a lot more interesting than I expected. Will have a significanly more positive attitude towards Depeche Mode going forward.
Looking at my Spotify "Liked Songs", I have 6 songs from Depeche Mode liked across 4 different albums - and only 1 song from this album - so it's fair to say I am aware of Depeche Mode but have only slightly dabbled in their music. I did see a Depeche Mode cover band one time like 10 years ago and thought it was a very good show. So, I'm curious to see what I think of this whole album. The one song I had already "liked" is "Never Let Me Down Again" - which seems to have been the hit song from this album and the one that I remember hearing on the radio. It's pretty cool. After the first listen through, the 2 additional songs I "liked" right away were the 2 instrumentals - "Plimpf" and "Agent Orange". They were a nice break from the voice which seems to annoy me. The music is good though. Funny how they are the least played songs on this album - according to the Spotify stats. Do people not generally like instrumental songs?? Also, apparently "Agent Orange" isn't part of the original 10 song release - oh well, still like it. After 3 listens, these 6 other songs grew on me - "The Things You Said", "Little 15", "Behind the Wheel", 'I Want You Now", "To Have and To Hold", and "Nothing". For some reason, I could not get into "Strangelove" and "Sacred". I'm glad this website/book got me to actually sit down and listen to this. Definitely digging Depeche Mode. Funny thing is, when this was new in 1987, I wasn't really into this type of music - but as time goes by it's grown on me. This also led me to discover a bunch of covers of Depeche Mode songs by other bands, and I really like the Smashing Pumpkins version of "Never Let Me Down Again". Liked songs on Spotify: 9/11 (10 on the original release, but I am counting "Agent Orange" even it it wasn't on the original release - so that makes 11) Rating: 4/5
i don’t think i realized this album was from the 80s
eigentlich ganz cool
Was a bit same same in parts but otherwise a great listen
Clint eastwood…
Like Architecture and Morality, I'm tempted to give this one a five, you hardly can get a better pop album than this. Never Let Me Down is my favorite off of this, but every song up until Nothing is really good! I've made new second favorites on this relisten.
I’ve never listened to depeche mode before but I really liked this album. It was moody and had super interesting sound. Loved it! Favorites: Strangelove, never let me down again, behind the wheel, pimpf
Started off really strong. This album was such an interesting sound.
J'ai bien aimé c'était cool la musique et l'ambiance est vrm bien gérée et cristallise plutôt bien l'identité du groupe. Je me suis fait un petit kiff pour écouter la version extended c'était vraiment sympa ! Enfin bref, bon album
Actually listened to this one — pretty goated
Pretty good. Just barely a 4. Some songs pretty good, some songs dated blahness. Their other album Violator definitely deserves to be on this list but this one I’m not so sure about.