Reviews (page 6 of 14)
little 15 охуєнна
Я для себе вже досить давно зрозумів, що Депеші не мій гурт. Сподобались дві пісні, прям бенгери: Strangelove та Nothing
Люблю цей альбом, бо тут strangelove, а це моя улюблена пісня ДМ. Взагалі я не те щоб прям мегафанат цього гурту, проте послухати інколи люблю. Music for the Masses дуже віддає 80ми й в даному конкретному випадку мені це подобається.
Reminds me of MGMT’s Little Dark Age (I guess it’s technically the other way around timing wise).
overall it's a cool vibe but a little dramatic and goth at times Would I listen again: not specifically the album Deserves to be on this list: yeah 3.6
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.
dull, thin, and very mannered.
Incredible!!!!!!!!!!
This feels peak 80s but unfortunate that just isn’t my vibe so I appreciated it was a cool album but nothing really grabbed me
trails off in the second half
Good first half, then it takes a bit of a nosedive. I'm not inclined toward this type of music to begin with, so that colored my entire experience with the album.
Incrrrrrr
Never been a fan but enjoyed the laid back sound and general ambience.
Acceptable but not setting the world on fire. Losing points for unfortunately not trying hard enough.
If the Smiths and LCD Soundsystem had a baby, that baby would be Depeche Mode. And I am not mad at it.
little 15 made me question all that i’m doing here
One of the first Depeche Mode albums I had in CD format. Got me going with DM and still enjoy it now!
Good for driving… started out well and then tired of it.
Crazy strong opening track with "Never let me down again", one of my favorite DM songs EVER. Hard to follow up such a banger tbh. The rest of the album is okay i would say. Really of it's time with e synths. Best Song: Never let me down again obv ;) Most skippable Song: Little 15 idkkk got a bit boring Song that surprised me most: I want you now, loved the background sounds
own
Depeche Mode having come up in the 80’s slipped under my radar. I can honestly say I bought 100s of albums during the 80’s and not one by this band. Having listened to this I must say the sounds and the music were very good. At time the vocal “melodies” went out of my taste. But overall this was a very good album 3 stars (3.5 if this app allowed it)
Maybe my dad was onto something when he wouldn’t stop talking about depeche mode
1. Never Let Me Down Again - 9 Really fun song with a great sound. Lyrically it's a lot of fun as well. Excellent opening track. 2. The Things You Said - 8 Much slower but still really enjoyable song, especially instrumentally between the verses and choruses. Brilliant vocals also help elevate the track. 3. Strangelove - 6 Not as strong a track. Instrumentally there are some highlights but lyrically it's significantly weaker than the previous two tracks. 4. Sacred - 8 Another fun track. Really great lyrics help guide the song through some brilliant sounds. 5. Little 15 - 6 It's not a bad song but it's not as enjoyable and the topic feels really weird. Instrumentally it sounds a little too much like a abandonded haunted carnival scene. 6. Behind the Wheel - 8 Solid track. Very good beat, with great sounds, and solid vocals. It's a little too rigid in its composition but it's all around a good track. 7. I Want You Now - 4 Vocals are good but all the background noises are a horrible disturbance and makes the track seem overly edgy. 8. To Have and to Hold - 6 Decent track. The lyrics aren't phenomenal but the sounds on the track are nice except for the left over sounds from I Want You Now. Overall, it's okay. 9. Nothing - 10 Excellent track. Flipping brilliant chorus on it as well. Really good sound on it as well. 10. Pimpf - 4 Feels so out of place on the album. It's not horrible instrumentally but it's extremely repetitive. Average Rating: 6.90 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 3.45 Rounded Down: 3 Stars
Big, unfortunate W for the English here. Might come back and bump this up to a 5, but I'm for sure coming back to listen to it in the future
A brilliant sound with some of my favorite songs. 4.5/5
The production does sound unfortunately dated (and I'm a Depeche Mode fan), but the main singles are still very solid.
This is goth music and I'm here for it. The last two instrumentals feel very out of place on this album, but I still ended up loving it overall. Best Songs: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Behind The Wheel Worst Songs: Pimpf, Agent Orange
I like Depeche Mode but I think, listening to this album, I'm maybe more of a Greatest Hits kind of guy
I have already heard Violator from Depeche Mode on this list which includes Enjoy the Silence, which is as close to an essential song from them as it gets. This album does not do anything differently or better enough to justify its inclusion on this list, in my opinion. It's all flat and dull. No thanks.
nice album.
Some solid driving stuff but not quite super memorable.
As grand and cynical as pop can be - a very sharp album!
Favorite Depeche Mode album
Lowkey capable.
avantisssimo
I think Lady Gaga sampled a song from this
Likte i utgangspunktet. Ville høre gjennom men ble litt tynt etter hvert. Med flere karakterer hadde det blitt 3.5, men rundes ned til 3.
1980s Depeche Mode always sound like they are the soundtrack for a sex dungeon. And this collection of ditties is no exception. Frankly, I think its a bit dull. It has that industrial sound that NIN will extend into something more substantial. The tracks are a bit flimsy and empty but are the epitome of Depeche Mode. Behind the Wheel starts like Tiffany's I Think We're Alone Now, which amuses me. I don't hate it, and i don't love it. DM were never a band that i was particularly into, and i remain stoically under-impressed with their not-quite-Gothic sex chamber music.
Not my thing. Never understood why these guys had success. Musically sound, but nope.
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
Takes me back.
So you like synthpop but want it darker? Try this album by Depeche Mode. I'm not into this kind of darkwave leaning synthpop, but one can't utter synthpop or 80s music without thinking of this artist. Overall: 4/10
This felt so dated, and not in a good way. It wasn't an easy experience trying to finish it
A breakthrough!
A bit front ended. But classic broody synth pop.
The synths are out in full force with this one. A few songs were nice, but ultimately I just thought this was mostly forgettable.
Pretty solid album from Depeche Mode. There's some really catchy stuff on here and enjoyable production.
Expected more tbh it still enjoyable.
Happy to have some Dépêche Mode! Saw their Playing the Angel Tour in 2005 and consider myself a fan. Just overall really enjoy their style and sound, but can’t say I’ve explored this album all the way through. Never Let Me Down Again was the stand out and song I was familiar with beforehand, but overall a good listen and a band I’d like to explore more.
Great dark dance pop.
3/5. Redelijk saai
Ihan ok. 2,5/5.
Never got into them. Too repetitive.
Dreary, uninspiring, not something I will ever listen to again!
Trop aimé, des rythmes variés, des morceaux instrumentaux recherchés très sympas (Stjarna), une valeur sûre Depeche Mode
J’apprécie de plus en plus depeche mode mais ce n’est pas mon album préf !
J'avoue j'ai pas été hyper attentif, mais n'ayant jamais écouté d'album de Depeche Mode en entier je m'attendais à un truc plus accrocheur. 2/5
Yeah this is a Depeche Mode album alright. A pretty forgettable entry in their great discography, comparatively. Everything on here is good though. A lot of how did they think of that moments. Pimpf rules, extremely kingdom hearts. Agent orange snoozer finish.
I swear if this list could give me 8 new wave albums in a week they'd do it. This starts off pretty strong with one of their hits, followed by more hits. This is probably what new wave fans call a banger. Anyway, this album sounds a lot more like the Depeche Mode I thought I knew than the other album I have listened to on this list, Violator. I actually liked that one despite myself. This one is just OK. 3/5
Dark, pulsating goodness
I like this better than Violator, which I gave three stars. So this one is a four!
Really enjoyed this one. Will listen again
At last… music for the masses to enjoy. Can’t wait to bang this on at the work Christmas do and see my colleagues’ smiling faces.
I never really got Depeche mode, too boring and one note for me. This album really connected with me in a good way and I quite enjoyed it. The dark moody atmosphere with electronic additions to the classic 80s sounds were a lot of fun to listen to
Depeche mode release unreal bangers, but also 'I want you now' which sounds like the inside of a German sex dungeon.
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
Pretty good, I like Depeche Mode even if they're not necessarily my usual fare. I could be talked into four stars, but I think three is my gut feeling in this moment.
Great ambassadors for 80s music, deep vocals, sawtooth synths. Some slower/less interesting bits though. Top track: Never Let Me Down Again
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.
Fuckin rocked my socks off
Depeche Mode is one of the few artists on this list that I own and enjoy an album from (in this case, Violator), so I was definitely looking forward to giving another one of their albums a go! My first impressions of Music for the Masses are pretty positive! It's a nice mix of catchy synthpop and more experimental cuts, with everything somehow managing to fit together in a way that makes sense and doesn't feel too jumbled. I also very much appreciated the gapless transitions between certain tracks – they really made the album feel like a cohesive story in a way that not a lot of other albums on this list have for me. If there's one thing that holds the album back, it's that it sounds exceedingly '80s and lacks a certain timelessness as a result. MFTM is often epic in scope and provocative without being overly edgy, which puts it a notch above comparable albums like NIN's The Downward Spiral for me. I'd even say I like it about as much as Violator (the band's most celebrated LP) based on memory, but I'd have to hear the two albums side-by-side to know for sure and I'll probably wait to do that until the Generator decides to give me the latter, which could be several months from now. Will report my findings when the time comes! Highlights: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Sacred, Behind the Wheel, Nothing, Pimpf
The sound of the last pieces of the puzzle falling into place so that this band could break into the big leagues with the next album. Huge sounding album for just a couple of fellas and some dinky keyboards. 3.5/ 5
I did not like this and I really did not like the song Little 15… it kind of made me sick. Have no idea what it’s about but just like allergic to the sounds and the key change.
Oh no, this was not for me at all. So dramatic! So much synth!
Der typische Depeche Mode Sound. Klasse Musik aus den 80ern. 5/5
It's not the best Depeche Mode album, but I really need to delve into the catalog more. I wanted to like this one more than I did. The singles on this album are as strong as they have ever had and this really helped stamp their sound. A lot of songs on the back half fall flat for me, at least at first couple of listens.
This album is not really interesting. Why is this revered in any way today ? The music is simple to say the least, very much like others of the time, and bands like New Order have made much more interesting music than this. To me the only track worth anything are the opener which is a good pop song but not that special, and I want you now, that is a bit weird and at least trying something. It has no ambition which is crazy given the title given to that album. But especially it is the writing that is driving me bananas. The words are really dumb. I'll let them speak for themselves : "Nothing, Nothing What am I trying to do ? What am I trying to say ? Nothing, Nothing, oh no". Yeah there is very little worth keeping here, really.
This was interesting for sure. Lots of theatrical and grandiose soundwork. Worth a listen for sure. Not something I'd go back to often but it's worth hearing.
I could have sworn we had already done a Depeche Mode album. There is just so much on this list from this genre. That being said this makes sense. Very engaging, interesting compositions.
I enjoyed this. I’m familiar with DM, but not this album. It sounds exactly as i imagined it would, but better
cool album but I enjoyed it slightly less than I expected to. Music is really cool though!
Great music but at the same time quite depressing
I prefer Violator, but this wasn’t bad. I’m not a huge fan of Depeche Mode, but I might would revisit this one on occasion.
Depeche Mode are the kings of the Synth-Pop era. That said, I'm not too familiar with their work. Only their reputation. This album is a very good offering from them. The dark themes resonate regardless of the era. I could see myself listening to this album heavily about 20 years ago. Today, not as much. The first track was the best, imo. "Never Let Me Down Again" will make the playlist.
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.
Great album. Will definitely listen again Standout songs Never let me down again Strange love Behind the wheel
Hmmm
Music for them asses. British new wave still hits!
Fun very atmospheric didn’t know one single song
While I hear a lot that influenced later music, this was not an enjoyable listen for me. The self important yet droning vocals, the grating industrial sounds, and the kind of bland songwriting made time stretch. When I felt I just about had enough I looked at the playlist to discover that I'm only halfway through. o no, I felt. The best part of the album was a song that started with 1:30 mintues of instrumental. Once the singing resumed, so did my time dilation. Personally this is a 1 for my own taste, but i'm giving it a second star in recognition that it did have a significant influence on other artists.
Future from the past. Some excellent tunes and surprising earworms.
Already a favourite album!
I finished it but can’t remember anything but the first song 😕
More like Mepeche Dode amiryt?
Love Depeche Mode. Feel like a supervillain in an aerobics leotard just challenged me to a dance off for the fate of the world
I think Depeche Mode more than any other, captured the dark 80's synch emo pop vibe. The vocals and ethereal keyboard/synth style combine into something super unique. I also think they do a great job of keeping things simple. I think with the advent of all this new synth technology at the time, alot of bands followed a maximalist more is more approach which tends to be the music that ages the poorest. I am not surprised they were / are, as popular as they are. I'm not often in the mood for this type of music but when i am, Music for the Masses will be where I turn.
Depeche Mode are a band I’ve overlooked because I always thought they were just another soulless 80s pop group, but I was clearly wrong; wrong about both Depeche Mode and a lot of 80s music in general. I thoroughly enjoyed this album. It’s maybe a bit too brooding for my tastes, but it sounds a bit like an earlier, more pop-y version of Nine Inch Nails. I’m looking forward to checking out some of their other work now.
Industrial, sometimes bombastic, and a very 80s sound. A sound that disappeared after the 80s, and has therefore ruined its own timelessness in my opinion. Modest 3 for me.
Loved it
Some refreshing stuff in this album. Never heard of the band before, but like their style and sound. Liked several songs for different reasons. 7/10
Lite samma som Violator, bra hits men ganska trist annars
Minns knappt vad för låtar som var med men jävlar vad bra det var?
Inte hört mycket Depeche Mode utöver några hits som jag gillar. Nice även som helt album! Kändes som albumet utvecklades låt för låt också.
Best Track - "Never Let Me Down Again"
This is my first Depeche Mode listening experience. They were definitely a band that was the butt of many jokes when I was a kid and alternative music became popular music. This is a good album. I listened to the Deluxe version and liked the instrumental songs after "Nothing" as much or more than the rest of the album.
The epic "Never Let Me Down" is best heard as a 12-inch single.
I think "Violator" had a larger impact on me when I drew that album a few months ago. Nothing particularly wrong with this album, it's Depeche Mode as their usual brooding selves, with their driving synths and drums. Things just didn't peak as high as they did in "Violator", which would release a few years later and was representative of the group hitting their stride. Also, "I Want You Now" was a strange change of pace, given the album's content.
What a wild story this band has, good album
weird dark 80s sound. like the 80s but evil (positive)
Having never heard of any of these Depeche Mode songs, I wasn’t sure what I’d get going into this album. But man, this just solidifies how much I enjoy the Gothic, dark electronic music of Depeche Mode. Is it up there with Enjoy the Silence or Personal Jesus? No, but it was a good accompaniment to being in a plane for a while.
Now that’s what I call 80’s
Very 80’s 3.37/5
Sounds like Depeche Mode and I neither like it nor do I dislike it. It’s sounds 80s and not something that would make me want to revisit it. The dramatics of the album kind of were annoying and I wanted to skip the end of some songs.
2 feels too low, but this just wasn't for me. I really liked Strangelove and Sacred, but the rest was just alright.
One of my favourite genres is 80's British New Wave and as such it was a pleasure to listen to a band I had not connected with. Cool.
Eh just not my thing. Not enough energy. Kept wanting it to turn into Blue Monday. Really liked the neat instrumental Pimpf tho, gonna add it to Halloween mix. Would give 3.5 if I could.
It was okay! I didn't have a strong opinion for that one.
Pretty forgettable, first track was cool though. They've got much better in their discography.
The kind of music goths would have listened to in the 80s. It's like darker 80s pop. Sure. Why not, I guess?
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.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 80s. And I love a bunch of the new wave synth dance pop bands, but giving this a good listen reminds me that I find Depeche Mode super tedious. This one strives for conceptuality and symphonic and their usual shady morose kink, but never hits for me. Even the poppy ones. Monotonous drudgery.
Tried to listen to this one. Just could not make my way through it.
Gothic synth. The hits still resonate; some of the rest are interesting but not spectacular.
Fuck Depeche mode
Très bien mais Depeche Mode c'est pas ce que j'écouterais tous les jours.
Some interesting elements on here, but a little too dream/chamber pop for me a lot of the time. I like their later stuff more I think Standouts Strangelove Little 15 3/5
I like this album but it is not my favourite
Didn't like it then, still don't. Something about the harsh keyboard sounds of the late 80s.
80’s. Fine.
A good album, but not quite a great album. They absolutely hit their peak with Violator. This one has a few too many slow/whiny songs.
the soundtrack for my next depressive episode is about to go so hard
First Depeche Mode album I've listened to. I dig the dark, polished sound. Looking forward to checking out Violator.
kinda boring.
Fairly decent album, singing is ok, but the beats are pretty nice. Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, I Want You Now, and Nothing were all solid. Best song: Little 15
Each tune sounds remarkably similar to the last one.
Not sure how much I like dark synth, might grow on me with repeated listens
Första halvan albumet riktigt bra , 80 tals vibe. Kommer lyssna mer på depeche mode framöver.
Çok güzel bir ilk yarıya sahip olmasına karşın ikinci yarı ilk yarının oluşturduğu beklentileri karşılamıyor
Very chilled. Needs a relisten and check out rest of the catalogue
Doesn’t do it for me, strangelove is alright, but as an album pretty weak. Voice is a bit annoying
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
Some catchy tracks, but most are honestly quite forgettable. The opening track is by far the best one, in my opinion. I expected the rest of the album to sound some what similar, but the rest of the songs turned out to be slightly darker and were not as enjoyable to me.
Depeche Mode has a very distinct sound and this album is full of it. But no songs really stood out to me. It was more suited to ambient background music than anything else. Not hard to listen to, but I didn’t find it interesting either.
I’ve never been a massive fan of the late 80s new wave since pop. And Depeche Mode is unique. It’s defining trait is a more avant-garde artistic version of the style of music. The dark voice, while cool, tends to fade in the background and I have a hard time discerning songs from one another. However, as an example of the style of music, this album was pretty Correct.
it was pretty alright for me
(guy you dont wanna be near voice) I loved the neoclassical darkwave tracks Fav song: Strangelove or I Want You Now
good
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...
Possibly the name of a band most pronounced incorrectly. Also sounds like the kind of person that would try to stop Gazza war by floating a tiny boat around
A great band with a decent album, theres a lot better examples of their music worthy of an extra star though so for now i'm leaving this at a 3
Nice LP to listen to when you're driving late at night or relaxing at home with the lights low and a glass of beer or wine. Lush sounds cape well engineered and priduced.
I wouldn’t identify myself as an electronic music fan but I definitely liked this. Fun to dance around to. Lord this band worked themselves nearly to death didn’t they? I guess one did die. Lots of fun in this album!
It was good
Depeche Mode fandom is a mental illness.
Was a pretty solid album. I loved the 80s esthetic while I was driving down the highway pretending I was in Miami during 1986. Some nice tracks, but there were also some tracks that were forgettable/repetitive. I didn't even realize the album was finished and replaying until 3 songs in.
Lame
Interesting. Not my thing.
Not for me.
Total meh. Very dated. Boring.
loved it, no notes
80s but not bad
Best Song: The Thing you Said Woohoo, more new wave music, just what this list needs! 3.5
Boring
Never let me down again is a perfect song, as is Strangelove. I liked The Things You Said. The rest of the album... I find quite boring sadly. 3 for the album, 5 for those two tracks.
Really like the mode
I wasn't much of a Depeche Mode fan when they were making albums. While I very much enjoy the music of the time, including most goth and electronica, they just didn't grab me. Seemed a little arty but without real soul. My wife loves them so I hear it more than I would have on my own and have learned to like some of what they do. Truth is they do make some interesting music and both singers have good voices. This is overall quite a good album. I was only annoyed by one or two songs, Sacred and Little 15. While I might not choose this album for myself, I'm sure I'll be hearing it again soon when driving with my wife. I will give this album a 4 because it is all pretty good. Even if some is not made for me, I appreciate why folks love it.
Strong album, some great songs on this. Shows a band on their way up who would deliver their masterpiece a few years later.
I am starting to think that it’s me. This is a fine album but got old at the end. Some really enjoyable songs but not something I would say I need to investigate further. I was trying to decide how somebody would dance to this?
Very ordinary, nothing really stands out
I came late in life to Depeche Mode. I had always heard of them as a kid and teen but my musical interests lay elsewhere. In my 40's I have been discovering bands I missed in my teens and Depeche Mode is at the top of those I have grown to like. Violator has become one of my all time faves. That being said while I liked this album I didn't HOOK me the way Violator did. I just fell short of the mark for me. Still solid but not great.
Moody, dark, depressing and just right for your first album spin at 5am.
The masses approve
I've only listened to this once, but it's enough to convince me I like it.
I like depeche mode. A few boring moments, mostly enjoyable
This album is very reminiscent of that band called dead or alive called you spin me around. I think I will give it another listen, it's good for background music. The lyrics aren't too present which makes it OK for background listening.
So that's where that song was from.
"Never Let Me Down Again" is one of my all-time favorites from Depeche Mode. The rest of the album has a few peaks and valleys, but nothing particularly standout in my opinion.
Sick
Love a bit of new wave - very easy to listen to
Industrial tinged synthy new wave. Smiths style singing in The Things You Said It's a good sound, but I could use some more variety or hooks Bit disappointed, had higher expectations. It is well produced and written, just a bit samey. Aggro mix of Never Let Me Down Again is good Best track - Strangelove, Nothing 3 stars
I thought this was very good, which makes me think I need to go back and listen to Violator again, because I gave that one a three.
This is an interesting one for me. I'm someone who typically likes synth heavy electronic-based music, but this didn't really land for me. I'll give it another listen in the next few days and see if I feel differently about it.
This is a great album. Emo Synth Pop, what’s not to love! It can get a bit repetitive and its darkness means that I need to choose wisely when to listen to depeche mode, it can be a real downer. Love it!
Enjoyable - love them asses.
7/10
I got into DM right after this album, have a couple other 💿 s from them that I like more, but this still holds up well for me.
I can confirm that this is an album by Depeche Mode. It sounds like them. 4/5
I'm going goblin mode for Depeche mode. fav tracks: Sacred, Little 15, Pimpf, Nothing
I guess I am a part of the Masses (:
why did the one song sound like they just kept yelling 'HO' and 'PIMP'
I heard this album a long time ago and just kinda had a tepid enjoyment of it then, but I never really figured out why, it became even more puzzling when Never Let Me Down Again is one of DM's best songs so... is the album really that meh to me still? Turns out that... yeah it is, mainly because I'm not huge on the slower and moodier songs here which kinda hint at some dramatic, classical inspired things but generally just sound like a chore to listen to, in general I feel this way towards slower DM songs (with some exceptions) but here I feel there are more of those songs which just isn't the best time, still like this album but not like other stuff in their discography.
Très bon album, début des synthés pour mon plus grand plaisir! Quelques chansons qui m’ont emporté! Belle découverte
Already heard most of the album. Good 80's electronic.
The singles really shine, the rest didn't stick.
I wish I enjoyed the vocals more... I am going to keep trying! Everything else was absolutely phenomenal; great music for getting work done. I love the dark atmosphere of the lyrics and production!
Moody synths with some catchy tunes throughout.
★★★½
Me gusta Depeche Mode, pero no me vuelve loco como al parecer lo hace con el resto de la humanidad. Music for the Masses es un muy buen disco, ya lo había escuchado antes, y lo mismo. Me gusta, reconozco los hits pero al final termina y tampoco es que me vuelva loco de la emoción. Y me pasa en general con todos los álbumes de DM.
I’m not sure how I never jumped on the Depeche Mode train. Younger me should have loved this. Adult me thinks it’s pretty good and enjoys the nostalgia of Depeche Mode’s sound.
Solid music! Bra vibes liksom :p typ tre och en halv?
Quite an interesting album i did really enjoy it tho!! Again not my normal kind of genre and def not my time where i usually hear my music from. But it surprised me in a positive sense!!
about 50% of DM's music is rad and the other 50% is that i want somebody to love stuff.
Not sure why, but this didn't grab my attention as much as I was expecting. Strangelove is the stand out hit for me. A lot of it blended into the background for me, though it was still a good listen. I've spent a lot of time listening to Violator which resonates with me much more strongly for some reason. I definitely want to give it another listen.
I owned this album at one point, as well as Violator. I remember their being a bit of a slog outside of the hits. This leans that way—it really fades at the end—but DM does their thing well.
what does this guy do with all that voice in everyday living?
Much better than I remembered. Pretty close to the sound they perfected on Violator, with the first half being particularly consistent on catchy gothic pop.
Depeche Nope
hmm.don't love this album, I do love DM - but it's always been a couple of great tracks and the rest blah on each album-Just Can't Get Enough (1981), Everything Counts (1983) are still huge favorites, + Shake the Disease - I was too busy devouring anything by the Smiths. Violator is the DM album (1990) where they start kicking ass, most of that record is KILLER! But Music for the Masses... no
I couldn’t stand this band when they first came out, but I have grown to appreciate their unique style. This is not just Euro pop. Even though most of it is electronic, there is some depth and interesting moments musically.
It funny, Depeche Mode was introduced to me at the exact angsty moment in high school for it to have full impact. Listening to this album (not my favorite) it definitely is of that time. Feels dated. But, regardless, it took me back after a few songs. There so much space in the sound…that’s part of the appeal.
Larger than life singles. Not much else. The singles feel socially different than the rest of the album. Fuller. Layered with hooks galore. Dancefloor, MTV and stadium ready with the opener launching into the stratosphere. The rest is kind of meh. Aspiring but ultimately falling flat.
I'M TAKING A RIDE WITH MY BEST FRIEND
I was excited going into this one because I've been meaning to check this band out. Ended up finding it monotonous and uninteresting for the most part. A couple decent tracks in the first half but no sense of momentum after that. On paper, I should like this band but they don't do much for me outside of the singles.
The album started off really strong with Never Let Me Down Again, the synths and drums were pretty cool at first. Then the album just progressively got weirder, maybe 2 stars, but giving 3 for what I imagine the cultural significance was of this album for a lot of groups.
My first reaction was, "This rules! I think these are the guys who did Shout." I then realized that was Duran Duran and then found out it was Tears for Fears. Based on that, I don't think I should be given a vote on this one. It generally sounded good, especially the first song.
I wanted to like this album but it wasn’t totally my jam. Initially I was going to give it 2 stars but it started to grow on me so I rated it a 3. Also taking into consideration their contributions to music and modern sound.
Instant 5, another album I don't HAVE to listen to, but I will multiple times.
2 days in a row! I enjoyed Violator a lot more than this album. Still, great Depeche Mode!
Super
Not for me
Luv it
Vraiment cool
Une vraie capsule temporelle des années 80 sans le cringe qui peut venir avec. Un peu répétitif sur l'aspect gothique par contre, plusieurs chansons sont très similaires.
not quiet my taste
Over the years, I’ve tried to get into Depeche Mode about half a dozen times. It never worked for me – maybe I didn’t listen to the right songs or the right albums ? This time, I tried my best to give « Music for the Masses » a chance. I must admit I was finally hooked. It won’t become my favorite band anytime soon, but the cold, brooding atmosphere of this album really struck a chord, and a few tracks left me a lasting impression despite all my initial prejudices. I had never realized Depeche Mode could sound so similar to industrial. I don’t regret giving it a new try !
decent
Enjoyed it! I love Depeche Mode. I think the album went on for a bit too long, though.
Sonically superb - amazing sounding album without any particular bangers of note. Looking forward to listening to this again when the time is right.
...
Classic new era
Two of the singles off this album, "Never Let Me Down Again" and "Behind The Wheel", are pulse-raising stompers, perfect marriages of melody and kinetic energy. ("Nothing" also gets honorable mention.) The rest of this album doesn't reach those heights though - too many of the other tracks are overly stiff and/or overwrought. The earnest singing on a lot of these songs also bogs down the proceedings.
Favourites: Never Let Me Down Again, Sacred, Little 15, I Want You Now, Nothing
Awesome and classic. Brings me back to HS.
Doesn't quite have the hits of Violator, interesting enough listen, probably needs a few more to grow on me.
His was fine. I prefer even earlier DM. Voice starts to sound the same on every single after a while.
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.
Surprised I enjoyed this one.
it was alright
I have a weak spot for Depeche Mode. I'm more familiar with Violator and Songs Of Faith And Devotion, but this already has their sound, even tho some of the instruments sound like they are of the previous era (in the context of the DM I know). Some of the tracks are a bit thin for my taste, void of instrumentation, feeling a bit sparse sonically. It might be a 80's thing, I think a lot of things changed with the lightning fast developments in studio and recording technology around the end of the 80's and early 90's.
This is a classic for a reason. Not my personal favorite Depeche Mode, but a solid album start to finish.
i wanted to like it but i just couldn't get into it, it was too brooding for me
Some great tracks, but a lot of esoteric tracks in between.
My favorite Depeche Mode album.
A low four based mostly on my goodwill from these guys. Not my fave Depeche Mode work but still very interesting
I like Depeche Mode. They are definitely a different sounding band, but they are accessible enough to be pretty popular. I own a good amount of their stuff around the turn of 90s, but I’ve never listened to this album, so I was intrigued about listening to this. It’s interesting in that you can definitely hear the sound that they hone in the coming years, but this is certainly a bit rawer. That said, I have to say that putting this on the list instead of Violator is a crime. This album doesn't have a whole lot of great songs. There’s a few, but those pale in comparison to World In My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Policy of Truth, Enjoy The Silence and others. Violator is vastly superior in just about every way, and I would encourage anyone reading this to go find that album. It’s a much more complete sound and listen. As for this one, an average effort at best.
Surprisingly upbeat music for such morose lyrics
hated it
Depeche Mode, een bekende naam maar wist niet meer echt waarvan. Maar dit is dus de groep van Just Cant Get Enough, en dat is een absolute banger! Ben benieuwd naar andere muziek van deze groep. Hey! Strangelove doet mij ook een belletje rinkelen als ik dit zo hoor. Die ken ik uit een vage herinnering. Waarschijnlijk eentje waarin mijn moeder het volume aandraait en zegt: "Dit is mijn jeugd!". Maar niet zeker. Oke nee, naarmate dit album vordert, hoe meer het op mijn irritatie factor gaat werken.. Het is experimenteel, en hoewel ik dat kan waarderen, betekent het niet perse dat de muziek die eruit komt ook goed is. Oke wat, de cover van Route 66 is wel echt heel dope. Holy shit. Dit verhoogd het ineens wel weer zeg. Stjarna ook heel interessant.. Geen zang, maar wel een tof opbouwend nummer. Met ine eens veel piano? Ook het laatste nummer is in eens weer klassiek. Heh. Eerlijk, dit album is wel een breed spectrum. Voor mij persoonlijk is het begin en eind sterk. Het midden gedeelte begon langzaam maar zeker toch te irriteren. 3 reten. FAV: Strangelove, Route66
Amazing
I don't think this is music for the masses. However, I'm still undecided if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
Meh
Szanuję Depeche Mode, nawet nauczyłam się kochać kilka ich utworów, ale ten album jest męczący. Traktuje siebie zbyt poważnie. Brakuje mu lekkości. Są eksperymenty z muzyką, ale nie ma zabawy z nią. 6.5/10 równane w górę z sentymentu.
I can see how it would make this list but just a bit too moody for my taste(and yes, I get that's what they're supposed to be known for). It feels like something you'd hear as the soundtrack of a Resident Evil game or some horror franchise. Not my cup of tea.
swoon...
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.
Depeche Mode doing Depeche Mode music. It's fine, having gwon up in the 80s and 90s, this both childhood radio memories and Goth Dance Club vibes for me.
i liked me gustó esta clase de electrónica
Slow electronic music is still electronic. Not g[d but not terrible.
Nice
Some funky ones in there. Wtf is the Little 15 song? I can see the dance & pop power in this album as a whole, though. Also the more I listen to DM the more "Your Clown" by Eiffel 65 was clearly inspired by them.
Nice.
Delivering music for the masses, Depeche Mode had finally shed the skin of constricting shimmer and embraced something a whole lot darker, rendering them out of step with their homeland but completely in sync everywhere else. It may not be for everyone but the creative and commercial peak from the band is to be respected as it has given them the platform to not only base themselves off of for good but to morph in regards to changing tides and still be amongst the curve. This is as good of a place to start. Favorites: Never Let Me Down Again, The Things You Said, Strangelove, Behind the Wheel, To Have and to Hold, Pimpf.
Another new-to-me album. As you can see, the 80s are a big hole in my listening history. I've never really dug the synth sound but here we go. Through 5 songs I have enjoyed the variety in music more so than other albums in the genre I've heard. Somewhat theatrical! Overall I don't mind this album at all. I doubt I'll ever cue these songs up again but I wouldn't skip them if they popped up either. 2.9/5
Having a general idea of this list by now (album #389), I feel like Depeche Mode must be on of the author's favorites. This is the first inclusion on the list but seems right up their alley. And I hate it. It has that late 80s British sound with awful vocals. 3.75/10 (1.875/5)
Such an influencial group, I'd give a four start if there were a bit less syths, but it was the sound of the time and furthermore their instruments. Thier music is certainly inluenced by the fact that they were keyboardists above all. Once you count the amount of cover versions from their various records you can comprehend their influence. From this album, I recomend "Never let mle down again from" the Smashing Pumkins.
God knows how much I hate synth-pop. But Depeche Mode represents its darker side, deeper, more refined, blending alternative and gothic vibes, and still hugely influential today. One of the best albums of popular music to come out of that damn decade. Some tracks give off a cold, dark atmosphere that is truly unique. But Violator did it even better, seamlessly bringing in the sound of the 90s.
Magic
Really enjoyed listening to this album. Outside of their first, I’ve not ever listened to a full LP by them, so this was a pleasant surprise. I could imagine myself growing to like both the band and this album much more if I gave it more attention
not my favorite but still doable
Not bad, but not as good as Violater. The synthesized breathing/moaning on “ I want you now” was hilarious. “Never let me down again” is probably my favorite on here.
Au moins 4/5, possiblement 4,5/5.
Music for the masses, but it sounds like music from the asses.
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
Some songs were great! Some songs didn’t age well.
This is certainly not my sound, but the artistry of this was really impressive
This was the first DM album I heard sometime around '91. I still really like this album all these years later. A great representation of the synth-pop sound of the time.
I much prefer the really early stuff (1981 - 1984) but this one is OK with Little 15 being the highlight of the album. Would dance to it at a nightclub but I doubt I would play it again much less hunt down my own copy. The last song on the album Pimpf has a great beat/feel to it so I would buy it & add it to a playlist.
3. Didnt love it but glad I listened.
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.
84% Best: Never Let Me Down Again; Sacred; Behind the Wheel; Nothing Must-Hear? Sure
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.
Good.
Quite good! Enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. Should listen to their other albums.
I liked it! It isn't my usual style of music but that's what I love about this. In a complimentary way, it sounds like what I imagine aliens and robots would come up with if they needed to create music. I love the lead singer's voice mixed with the techno sound in the background. I feel like I can fully see how some of my favorite bands have referred to them as inspiration.
Good album with a lot of good music. It felt like it dragged on some parts, as it was unnecessary but overall enjoyable.
meeeehhhhhhhh!
Not bad at all. Not really moving the needle though. 2.5
Didn't really love this at the time and still don't
Nice
Loved this!
2/5
Back in my teens, Depeche Mode was my first taste of 80s synth pop and new wave, so this one hits a nostalgic chord. It’s hard to get as hyped after hearing these songs so many times, but this album’s a classic that’s rightfully earned its place in music history. Depeche Mode stepped up their game here, moving from the raw, lighter synth-pop of their earlier stuff to a darker vibe with gothic and industrial undertones. The production’s much slicker and more polished than before, and the whole album feels more mature.
Never liked Depeche Mode and this did nothing to change my mind. Moody, brooding, pre-emo junk.
A good album, the singles are the strongest tracks here, I do prefer their 90's albums though. 4 stars.
Solid 80s rock album. Synthy. Pimpf at the end was cool. Otherwise, kinda samey but wouldn’t mind having it on in the background.