Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Music For The Masses has a cool industrial electronic pop feel. Easy to see where some bands like Nine Inch Nails drew some inspiration. I thought the songs were a little slow paced though and the album as a whole didn't keep me fully interested. It's very cool to see how this type of sound has evolved over the years though. Standout tracks were "Never Let Me Down Again" and "I Want You Now" A solid 3/5
I like the harmonic choices, and the vocals. The overall style isn’t really my bag but I didn’t hate it.
it's a bit boring for me, but I can't say anything bad about the music. I'll try it later at the right time
Норм
I can see where She Wants Revenge got their influence! This was pretty good too, I'd like to hear more!
A good listen, an important band. Definitely feels dated, but not in a bad way! I just don't think it's for me and that's ok.
3.0 RYM
Gotta respect it for what it was but hasn’t aged well. The drum machine noises on this album are a rough listen in 2026.
Depechian Mode
Alright
Fine. Just too 80s for me.
While the album is pleasant to listen to and has some good songs on it, it is unclear to me what this album is trying to achieve. It's just there in its place being good, but it's not trying to really be anything. 3/5
Perfectly fine album. Couple of really good and good sounding songs... The rest didn't move the needle.
Cool
My second Depeche Mode album and it’s another great one. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Violator though. The synths here give the record a much darker feel than I was anticipating. Never Let Me Down Agian was my favourite and the Aggro Mix really lets the synths shine
I'm a fan but I don't think this is consistently great. 6.8 Fav track: Never Let Me Down Again Least fav: Little 15
Great 80s electronic sound. Don't know if I'll return to it, but didn't hate it either.
I enjoyed it, but no exactly what I would choose to listen to on my own.
Perhaps the lowest 3 stars I’ll ever award. 3/5
Listened to this in the car while concentrating on GPS directions do probably didnt give it the attention it warranted. Nothing stood out for me.
Give me a black eyeliner, a fringed caftan, crimped cockatiel haircut, and cue the fog machine – because we’re about to make a moody entrance into a smokey bar. Menacing, synthy, danceable. “Pimpf”, “Agent Orange” are delightfully ominous, but ultimately disappointing. Like… huh?
Scary The title couldn’t be further from the truth, which surprised me since I mostly knew them from their super popular synth pop stuff. There was some pretty cool stuff about this one. Honestly didn’t particularly like the first song, and then each song got better than the last. There are some genuinely unsettling parts of the album, which is definitely new to me. Not usually my type of music but it still sounds pretty solid. I do think there’s a little bit of a clash between the vibes the albums going for and the vocals but there’s plenty of instrumental stuff that really absorbs you. I feel the album could have been just a tad shorter, but I don’t think it overstays its welcome too much. Definitely on the higher side of 3s, but there’s enough nitpicks where I don’t think I could give it a 4.
I think this is a solid example of the principal eighties sound. That being said, this is probably not something I'd revisit again, mostly just because I find other records to fill the same niche for me in a better way than this one does. The opening track, Never Let Me Down Again is by far my favorite and it had me excited for the remainder of the record, but I felt sort of let down as it went on. Is this a bad album? Absolutely not, but I struggle to understand what makes this record better than some of the work by other bands around the same time. Tears for Fears comes to mind, ironic because this album had the same producer as Songs From the Big Chair. Anyway, this was fine, not something I'd seek out, but not a bad time by any means. Did I need to hear this before I die? It's definitely a quintessential 80s album.
Fine, very 80s.
Good
It wasn't a conscious effort to be cool (that's way beyond anything I am capable of), but just as Depeche Mode went stratospheric, I sort of went off them. I'd loved them throughout the eighties, but this is the last album I bought by them. Much as I love it, I didn't connect with it in the same way I did with the previous five. There are some outstanding tracks, the opener in particular remains one of my favourite Depeche Mode songs, and Behind the Wheel and Sacred also have that classic Depeche feel to them, but there were also a fair few duller moments that were missing from their previous efforts (Little 15, To Have and to Hold, I Want You Now). It was good to listen to this again, and I should probably listen to Violator one day but for me, Construction Time Again is peak Depeche Mode.
Great music for walking the halls of my Gothic mansion
Pues muy aburrido, no le veo algo que haga bien o mal. Es el tipo de canciones que tiene un edit de anime cyberpunk de los 80s o 90s. No se te queda nada de la canción, la escuchaste y pasaste de página a los 5 minutos. Vacío.
Competent but dull
I love modern Ulver so I should love this.
Had never heard them before. I dig it. You can definitely hear where they influenced bands that would come later.
This is high-school Trey's least favorite music on Earth. 34-year old Trey kind of digs it. Is it dramatic and emotional? Yes. Is it cool regardless? Also yes. "Strangelove" made me immediately bob my head. Gets a little depressing after a while.
not bad
Liked this more than anticipated.
good album for the background, will need another listen to really describe how it is. 2.5 rounded to 3
Pretty good, though I like other albums of theirs better. You can see a lot of inspiration for bands like Nine Inch Nails in their music.
Fun album! I didn’t have a favorite, but I enjoyed the piece!
Synrh pop with some cool textures. 3.5 stars
Not bad that. I really enjoyed the beginning but got a bit bored. I liked almost every individual track but a whole album was a bit much
Never let me down: big gay vibes I guess bo Burnham is trying to sound like them sometimes lol This is early emo lol. Sad boi hours. What in the phantom of the opera. Why does it feel like im being inducted into a secret society. (Pimpf) (Upon further research "Pimpfe" refers to a subgroup of children recruited to Hitler's youth, so apropro i suppose). Would make good sci fi music (Agent Orange) (LOL the Wikipedia article says they were asked to score "some dodgy sci fi films" and they declined)
Yup, this was a Depeche Mode album.
I was a fan of Depeche Mode back in the early-mid 80s. Haven't really listened to a full album of theirs since Black Celebration - except the occasional play from a co-worker at the record store. I think by the time this one came out, I wasn't listening to much synth-based stuff. Listening to it now, it's not bad. It's also not something that really grabs me. The album starts strong with "Never Let Me Down Again" and "Things You Said", then things get comfortable, not bad just okay, until it ends strong with "Pimpf". The stuff in between is enjoyable but somewhat forgettable.
Cool in that new wave way
Boa música de fundo. Nada excepcional
a bit middling. much like jared leto tron ares, i also like depeche mode, but primarily through the lens of their popular hits played at clubs or via whichever trans person i am hanging out with who has control of the aux. in other words, i've never actually sat down to listen to an album in full outside of maybe their seventh album "violator", and this is precisely Okay. it's enjoyable to listen to yet at the same time it's just.... There. i don't know if there's anything that really stands out here to me. i'm a fiend of 80s synth but i don''t think this has aged overly well, all things considered.
very cool 80s synth rock.. would rate 3.5 but i cant
Nice
Actually liked this album better than violator
favs: strangelove, little 15
The good songs are good unfortunately I could only identify 3 on the album with the best being sort of standard vaguely industrial electro pop. Nothing on it is bad per se it’s just not particularly great 2.7
Not quite as entertaining as Violator, and it got a bit dark and church-esque at the end. Never Let Me Down Again and Strangelove were the standouts.
This was kinda crazy but I liked it
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.
No private session used for Spotify. Normally 80's heavy keyboard/drum track music sets me off on a rant about synth music, but for Depeche Mode gets a pass. I think its because their music is more complex and interesting than a lot of other synth bands from the 80's.
Despite being British and growing up with Depeche Mode as a constant presence both in the pop charts and in the type of "alternative" discos I used to frequent, I've never listened to one of their albums. I assumed I wouldn't enjoy 45 minutes of their goth-synth sound. I was wrong. This was ace! It turns out that 45 minutes of synthpop in one sitting isn't too much, after all. The goth phase must have come later. I still don't think I'd like that, but I'll probably give it a chance at some point.
I consider Depeche Mode's next album "Violator" to be one of my all-time favorites, but this one doesn't quite reach the same heights for me. 3/5
sort of cool, very familiar. impressive sound. didn't floor me.
This album is like living as a tortured genius of synth pop, cursed with a disfigured face and forced to live underneath the English nightclub that is frequented by the acid-fiends that dance to your music. By chance, you happen to meet a young French synth prodigy named Roxanne. You form a bond with this woman as you impart your musical genius upon her, and in turn she grants you the kindness of treating you like a normal human. To your dismay, Roxanne meets Phil - an American heartthrob with a rebellious style. Roxanne spends more and more time with Phil, even beginning to miss classes with you. To show her that your teachings are the one true path to synth nirvana, you start attacking other known stars. You kill Jedrick and Patricio, and in a mad panic you end up kidnapping Roxanne. However when you take her back to your lair, she looks at you with tearful eyes that betray fear. You realise you can never be with this woman, so you let her go, and leave town.
Just listen to Violator
Sounds like Depeche Mode. In a good way, not a bad way. But Pimpf stuck out like a sore thumb from the rest of the tracks.
A little to emo for me. But still a strong album.
3.5 stars. Synthpop but with dark undertones and an expansive production. The leadoff "Never Let Me Down" is great, and unexpectedly heavy for synthpop, helped by the driving sampling from Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks". Other standout is "Nothing" and the rest of the album doesn't really do it for me. Liked Gore pushing 'pop' boundaries with minimalist composer-inspired "Pimpf" but there are some real duds (like porno breathy "I Want You Now"). Overall an album I appreciate more than I enjoy.
3/5
Didn't pull me in to a full focused listen - probably deserved a better rating from the parts that I am recalling but.
I liked this, but it didn’t fully grab me. I might come back to it again and revise my feelings but for now, I’ll say 3.
I never go in to Depeche Mode. I’m not mad I listened to this, but I don’t think it’s a revisit.
3.5/5
Never Let Me Down Again - 5/5 The Things You Said - 4/5 Strangelove - 3.5/5 Sacred - 4/5 Little 15 - 3.5/5 Behind The Wheel - 3/5 I Want You Now - 4/5 To Have And To Hold - 3.5/5 Nothing - 4.5/5 Pimpf - 3/5 Agent Orange - 2.5/5 Never Let Me Down Again - Aggro Mix - 2/5 To Have and to Hold - Spanish Taster - 2/5 Pleasure, Little Treasure - Glitter Mix - 3/5
Not bad, I expected to like it less than I did because I've heard depeche mode before and didn't love it. I still don't love it, but it was fine.
Decent album, I definitely like the first half more than the second half, at the end it got a bit wonky and I was turned off, over all nice listen
It's okayish, nothing really stood out with anything special, but as kind of background noise I did not hate listening to it. However, listened to the first bonus track and almost fell asleep.
Wow that's definitely 80s. Lots of synth, almost-spoken vocals with some reverb. Kinda reminds me of Pet Shop Boys. Reasonable amount of variety - though most of the instrumental variety is different synthesised sounds rather than actually different instruments, the tracks do sound different enough. Highlights: "Never Let Me Down Again" - does a lot despite the vocal range being about 2 notes "Little 15" - just like the vibe "I Want You Now" - bit of an interesting one. Didn't like everything it did but it got my attention. "Pimpf" - totally different from everything else on the album, built up in quite a cool way. I think with all of the above they're arguably a bit slow to get going.
great opening song - the rest was good vibes but didn't break through to me beyond that.
Too long
Rather melancholy and a bit dated
Even as a depeche mode guy, I have to admit violator is 10x better.
This project is giving me good opportunities to figure out just why I don't particularly care for this kind of music. I didn't hate this album, and it even got my heading bobbing here & there, but the music just didn't really resonate with me and I'm not entirely sure why. Not bad, though, and there were a few standouts that I would like to hear again. Progress!
Pretty good album, like the first half a lot more than the second. Reading that this was the first where they started going a bit dark in terms of music and lyrics so interesting to see how they develop if other later and earlier albums are on the list
this is music for vampires
I got the other, significantly better Depeche Mode album way early into this whole thing, so this one is just kind of whatever in comparison. It's what you would expect, and it doesn't ascend past that like their subsequent work does.
This was fine. I didn't recognize any songs off it. However, I know a few Depeche Mode songs and they have an extremely recognizable sound now that I've listened to a few more songs. It's good, but I'll stick to the hits.
I respect this, but honestly 2.5.
Their best music, in my opinion, came later. This one was okay.
Some songs were decent, others sounded a bit too gothic and moody for me…
Idk, all the songs kind of sound the same, except when they are super different. Some of it reminds me of like the band from Music and Lyrics/80s synth pop, one of the songs kinda sounds like Don’t you Forget About Me. Those are kinda fun, though a little less dancey than those. But then other songs have weird breathing and are just kinda boring. I’d listen to some parts again
Brooding sort of album that was a fine listen but not amazing
this album falls off a cliff after the first half, which i was like "ooooh this is some good 80's synth stuff" and then it just gets into that ambient experimental stuff and like sure that's cool for some people but that's not the vibe i wanted esp from the first half.
Café de Cork fazendo música. Essa banda tem uma vibe muito única, acho massa isso. Nunca vi nada parecido. Gostei muito do começo da Strangelove, me lembra uns beat em ups antigos, tipo double dragou e battletoads. Pimpf parece Castlevania. Álbum bem legalzinho, único, foi gostosinho ouvir, mas nada que me deixou impressionado.
This album has some great bangers but it feels like the middle falls apart and drags the corpse of songs along to a boring conclusion. Too long, too similar.
not very memorable but okay
Agent Orange is a good track. No singing
Very cool 80s vibes. Liked Never let me down again
So I love Depeche Mode, but not this album so much. Never Let Me Down and Strange Love are great....after that I got bored really fast.
Kinda interesting but not interesting enough
Interesting. Another band outside my sweet spot, but I enjoyed it.
Solid album. Good for feeling moody and brooding.
I've always found Depeche Mode to be just OK, even though I like a few of their contemporaries. I think I prefer my New Wave to be more punk / post punk influenced.
Another huge 80's essential album. This one made them stars in the US as well - it followed the successful 'Some Great Reward' album that introduced them to a wider US audience because of the popular single "People Are People". "Never Let Me Down Again" (130M listens) is a quintessential late 80's track. Add in "Behind The Wheel" (53M, popular but kind boring) and "Strangelove" (40M) plus fan favs like the moody "The Things You Said" (20M) & "Nothing" (11M) and you have a solid album. No song has fewer than 2.8M listens, meaning it's still popular and getting streamed by fans. It holds up well, sound-wise, their production work is really good, but they're a bit theatrical at times for me ("I Want You Now") and the lyrics aren't always in my wheelhouse ("Little 15"). Great music for driving at night, moody and rhythmic. "Pimpf" wasn't a necessary track, it definitely could have been left on the cutting room floor. They still tour and sell out large stadiums, but their mark on the 80's and 90's is indisputable. You can hear them any day of the week on 80/90's, alternative, and pop radio. Longevity, hits, impact- this album checks all those boxes. 3.5 stars.
Está bueno
6/10 - signature Depeche mode sound
It was good but never been a depeche mode fan
I really love their sound and the 80s pop synth vibe. Big fan of some of their other music. This album didn’t exactly stand out to me with any specific tracks, but started strong! Top Songs: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove
Top 5 songs: never let me down again; behind the wheel; strangelove; nothing; the things you said.
Joyon solo no estoy en el mood
Modo Despecho tienen un estilo muy marcado, no es difícil identificar cuando algo es de ellos, respeto eso Es música de tensión Vibra industrial
This album feels extremely 1980s. Even though I didn’t hear it in real time, it still gave me a strange sense of nostalgia. That said, I found the second half starting to drag a bit.
I don't think it's Depeche Mode best album but it's still a new wave staple. there's some classic Depeche Mode sounding songs like the things you said and some more unique songs in my opinion like I want you now. The vocals were consistent and so dark, I enjoyed it, and the instrumentals were all so imteresting and dreamy, especially behind the wheel with the long intro.
couple of good ones and the rest were kinda meh,.,,
Very nice background music but nothing really grabbed me.
3/5
It sounds pretty dark but cinematic, almost like something you'd hear in dystopian cyberpunk sci-fi movies and stuff. Not really my cup of tea, but it was good overall.
Woah...first track and I was convinced. "Never let me down" is honestly one of the best songs I've heard this year. This album was quite an interesting listen because this genre isn't what I'd usually go for but I liked most of the album tbh. Fav tracks: 1. Never Let Me Down 2. Strange love 3. Nothing 7/10
not really my thing but good
I wanted to give it 4 stars from the jump. It was cool, it was dark, a little emo, sounded like something Kojima would throw onto a Metal Gear Solid OST. But about halfway or 3/4 of the way I felt myself getting tired of the sound. Every song started kind of just feeling the same. I went from having fun to just waiting for the album to end. 3 stars from me.
Better than I expected, more adventurous than the singles indicate: Pimpf!
Dark
It's definitely from the 80s with that distinctive 80s sound. It's epic in its own way though and embraces itself. I enjoy it for just going for what it is.
I think this is a solid example of the principal "eighties" sound. That being said, this is probably not something I'd revisit again, mostly just because I find other records to fill the same niche for me in a better way than this one does. The opening track, "Never Let Me Down Again" is by my favorite and it had me excited for the remainder of the record, but I felt sort of let down as it went on. Is this a bad album? Absolutely not, but I struggle to understand what makes this record better than some of the work by other bands around the same time (Tears for Fears comes to mind, ironic because this album had the same producer as "Songs From the Big Chair"). Anyway, this was fine, not something I'd seek out, but not a bad time by any means.
se me ha pasado volando así que diría que está bien pero no sé si lo revisitaré pronto
7/10 will definitely come back to
Synth pop Never let me down again Strangelove Little 15
I LOVE Never Let Me Down Again, and it's a part of what I love about Depeche Mode. I think they have such a cool and unique melancholy synth pop sound, but also kind of chamber rock. The rest of the album lacks hits, but it's not bad at all. I'm probably rating this album lower than I want to. But that's in spite of how much I love the artist and first song.
Kinda up and down but quintessentially Depeche Mode. My 7 year old ran into the room and asked what it was and said that he loved it and danced to the first 4 songs
Atmospheric and perhaps a little dark for some tastes.
No me encantó. Siento que cuando lo escuché no estaba en new wave mood pero todo me sonó demasiado igual.
Postoji hostel u sevojnu koji se zove little 15
I'll probably like the other Depeche Mode album more than I liked this one. I enjoyed it well enough, it was pleasant to listen to, but nothing really stood out that much.
La verdad que disfuto de 3 canciones contadas de este grupo, no es para mi
нормалек, но ремиксы больше понравились...
The Good: We get something for all! The Bad: Sometimes the masses don’t know what they want… The Ugly: Hearing this at mass… 540 albums into the journey and I am starting to become very uninspired when it comes to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly… but, like Depeche Mode, I refuse to give up! First time I heard the band was 83, I think… could’ve been 84, with the People Are People song. Checked the Wiki, it was 84. I did not like that song enough to buy the album, which seemed to be what one would do back in those days… It wasn’t till the ‘90s that I really started listening more intently to DM, though still not intently enough to purchase an album… which brings us into the now, where we have spotify, or YouTube, or any other service, where we can listen at hardly a cost to music… Did I like the album… well, yes, but oddly enough, today is the 15th, and I can’t recall a single song that I listened to… which means that I am not going to give it a 4* which would probably be fairer… 3*
A new style of early electric that I’ve never heard, very cool
Interesting and weird and very cool
Great band, just not my jam.
This was an interesting listening but not my vibe at all.
3.4 Always dismissed Depeche Mode has a generic 80s band but there was some pretty good stuff in here. The first 4 tracks were some good solid 80s shit, then it went a bit off the rails with the terrible little 15 and behind the wheel. The next two though, wow, seemed to set the tone for a bit of industrial unless I've mistaken my timeline. Pretty Hate Machine is just a heavier Depeche Mode it turns out. Last few after that were skippable, but overall positive thoughts about this album.
Kinda boring but liked the last song, know i know a little more abojt 80s style shit u know
This was my intro to Depeche Mode. Not too shabby, but also not something I’d go out of my way to listen to. Also the breathing bit at the end of I want you now was had me like huhhh ?????? Very weird.
An interesting album. Definitely a product of its time. And actually very timely because its giving Stranger Things
Another step in the right direction for Depeche Mode, but this time they come swinging out the gates with a hell of an opener, "Never Let Me Down Again." I really wish this album held the same energy as that one song because it truly is phenomenal and I'm glad to see it getting the attention it deserves. The rest of this album feels very much in the shadows of the opener but decides to play it a lot more cool, I don't think this album is amazing but it's pretty close to reaching it.
Not what I'm used to hearing from them, the classical music parts were rather lovely
I like Depeche mode, but when one of their single comes on while I’m listening to a playlist on shuffle. An hour long album like this just eventually started grating on me. I eventually was crying out for it to just be over lol. 3.25 / 5
I guess because of my upbringing, I can't really rate this any lower than a 3. I did like some of it.
I just can't over how that all this sounds nearly same, it's the synths man. I don't think synths are bad, but when its put together with stereotypical 80s production and especially that monotonous drum sound, it really does sap my energy! "Pimpf" is pretty cool and unique, nice album closer with its orchestral-like elements. Highlight Song/s: Sacred and Little 15
Not a fan but it is pretty good
is depeche mode one of the best new wave bands? almost certainly true. does that mean all that much to me? nope
This album was good as far as Depeche Mode albums goes, but it doesn't hold up to other albums in the genre in my opinion.
*1987. *Opens with Never Let Me Down Again, which I love. *Strangelove is the only other song I know on this album. *Standard Depeche Mode - which I dig - with some odd, not great tracks at the end. RATING 7/10
A couple of good tracks, but not enough there to pull me in or convince me that I should be or have been a Depeche Mode fan.
Good. Calming. Bland. 3/5
1980s thriller/horror soundtrack fodder. It’s activates my fight or flight responses. I feel like I did something wrong. But it’s clean, unique and well-produced. Not bad!
Fun but nothing that stuck with me
Some dark lyrics here but like the quite hypnotic beats
Good album with very modern sound. None of the songs I knew of DM (and really like) is on the album, but the sound really grew on me while listening.
Knew of Depeche mode but couldn’t name a song. I mean it’s not really for me to be honest but I don’t think it deserves a 2, unique and has a good sound if a little depressing.
Why are 80s synth pop vocals always so monotone and sung through a megaphone. Even though I get why Depeche Mode is influential and I respect what they did, the whole synth pop thing just never clicks for me. The vocals always feel too tacky. "Never Let Me Down" works for me, but the moment it moves into something like "The Things You Said" I lose all interest. "Strangelove" hits the right spot with that groovy bassline before it shifts into the more synth heavy sound. "Sacred" starts strong and then turns into the same familiar synth pop texture that I just cannot fully get into. They are good songs and the craft is obvious, but nothing really sticks for me. When a genre is mastered this well, the songs can end up feeling too similar. "I Want You Now".... stop moaning in my ear, thanks! You know those very specific sounds that make your whole body cringe; The knife scraping a brick sound in "To Have To Hold" is that exact sound for me. Still, the album is great. They knew exactly what they were doing, and even with my bias against synth pop I cannot go lower than an 8/10.
There were times that I thought I was listening to Tears for Fears. Unfortunately just not as good though. But it wasn't too bad either.
Not normally a fan of this genre of music - but strangely I liked this. Still a little boring to me though.
Very good album from a terrific band.
It starts incredibly strongly, but then it, well, fizzles out by the end. This is one of the albums I definitely need to listen to later, because I feel that one day was not enough to appreciate it.
I like a few Depech Mode songs quite a lot so I was excited for this. MEH! Whole album sounded so similar that it started over and I didn't notice that 3 songs had fully replayed.
First synth-poppy album I’ve actually enjoyed
Ok
Nothing special hear but didn’t hate it.
I've never listened to Depeche Mode before... It was just okay. They've done a great job of claiming a particular vibe and sound - broody synth music - and they do it well. It's not up my alley, but I respect that it's someone's thing. It was perfectly fine as far as I'm concerned, but a little hard to get through.
Now THAT'S how you use synthesizers in the 80s (glares at Knopfler, again). Gore explained his early objectives for Depeche Mode, saying, "My dream was to combine the emotion of Neil Young or John Lennon transmitted by Kraftwerk's synthesizers. Soul music played by electronic instruments." Their next album would be a five star classic.
Not really my favorite music, but I remember how DM gave 80s music a dark edge that would influence the rise of grunge and then Nine inch Nails.
Not bad.
80s, 80s, 80s.... Jesus Christ, the amount of synth.
More introspective and moody than they were earlier in the 80s. And as a result, a lot less fun. Fewer highs to punctuate the lows.
Pretty good, not a personal favorite though
I'm not much of an 80's music fan but this was pretty enjoyable.
If you take out the singles, this is what I imagine they'd play in a dystopian sci-fi sweatshop to set the mood and keep the worker bees in line
kinda of sad pop, sleepy
Eigentlich eine 2.5, aber leichte Tendenz zur 3. An einigen Stellen einfach bisschen drüber, wirkt nach zu viel gewollt.
Nach den ersten Tönen ist man gedanklich wieder direkt in den 80ern. Tolle Musik, ohne Frage, und auch innovativ im damaligen Zeitkontext. Das ganze Album am Stück ist für mich aber anstrengend, dafür wird es dann doch schnell zu erwartbar (bis auf wenige Ausnahmen zum Ende hin).
Stärker Anfang, aber gegen Ende nimmt es etwas ab
First 3 songs
Not horrible to the ears, but could have just listened to the same song 12 times.
A whole bunch of meh 80s music
It was fine, a couple of hits in there. overall good, but nothing too standout.
3 out of 5. Another enjoyable album today and a first time listen, but not for this band as a whole. Now I know where some of their singles come from.
𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 finds Depeche Mode refining their dark, synth-driven sound into something grander and more cinematic. The production is immaculate — icy electronics and heavy atmosphere dominate — but at times it feels a bit too polished, losing some of the raw charm of their earlier records. Tracks like 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘔𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 and 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 still shine, yet the album as a whole can feel distant and calculated. A solid listen, but not quite as emotionally gripping as it wants to be.
Pretty solid, moody.
Started strong then ended up just kind of sounding spooky like the depeche mode I imagine. Pretty average.
I like Depeche Mode and this was another one of thier albums. 3.5/5
Kinda forgettable
This started off great but then i found it just kept going (and its not even that long). So my heart says 3* as I dont think I'll listen again.
Meh, Depeche Mode. I could take 'em or leave 'em. They are skilled at writing earworms that won't leave you alone, I'll give them that.
3/5 - My ceiling for Depeche Mode is about a 3, so there it is. This band never surprises me, and I find them to be the most over-serious, joyless act of the 80s, but I still understand why people like their music. The production is good, and they know how to create the mood with the synths, but I find their songs something to endure rather than enjoy.
Hmmmm it’s okay. I know never let me down again via a smashing pumpkins cover.
It is not the best DM, but it is still DM.
gfallt mer aber denka isch sicher ned ds stärksta album vo ihna
Never been a fan but enjoyed the laid back sound and general ambience.
If the Smiths and LCD Soundsystem had a baby, that baby would be Depeche Mode. And I am not mad at it.
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
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)
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
The production does sound unfortunately dated (and I'm a Depeche Mode fan), but the main singles are still very solid.
I like Depeche Mode but I think, listening to this album, I'm maybe more of a Greatest Hits kind of guy
nice album.
Some solid driving stuff but not quite super memorable.
As grand and cynical as pop can be - a very sharp album!
Lowkey capable.
I think Lady Gaga sampled a song from this
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.
A bit front ended. But classic broody synth pop.
Pretty solid album from Depeche Mode. There's some really catchy stuff on here and enjoyable production.
Expected more tbh it still enjoyable.
3/5. Redelijk saai
Ihan ok. 2,5/5.
J’apprécie de plus en plus depeche mode mais ce n’est pas mon album préf !
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
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
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.
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.
Hmmm
Fun very atmospheric didn’t know one single song
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
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
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
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.
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.
Gothic synth. The hits still resonate; some of the rest are interesting but not spectacular.
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
80’s. Fine.
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
Not sure how much I like dark synth, might grow on me with repeated listens
Çok güzel bir ilk yarıya sahip olmasına karşın ikinci yarı ilk yarının oluşturduğu beklentileri karşılamıyor
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
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
It was good
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.
Interesting. Not my thing.
80s but not bad
Best Song: The Thing you Said Woohoo, more new wave music, just what this list needs! 3.5
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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
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 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.
Already heard most of the album. Good 80's electronic.
Moody synths with some catchy tunes throughout.
★★★½
Solid music! Bra vibes liksom :p typ tre och en halv?
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.
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.
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.
2 days in a row! I enjoyed Violator a lot more than this album. Still, great Depeche Mode!
Not for me
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 !
Enjoyed it! I love Depeche Mode. I think the album went on for a bit too long, though.
...
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.
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.
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.
Some great tracks, but a lot of esoteric tracks in between.
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
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
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.
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.