Music for the Masses

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Solid 80s rock album. Synthy. Pimpf at the end was cool. Otherwise, kinda samey but wouldn’t mind having it on in the background.

It was okay. First few songs were good but then felt repetitive

This one felt like 80s Mecha anime to me. I could definitely hear the influence that this album probably has. Sounds similar to some Muse songs? My favorite track was Strangelove, which sounded different from the rest of the album. I liked it overall but I don't think it would be something I would seek out to listen to.

So 80s. I like that it got really weird in the last tracks

Quite enjoyed this….

Meh. I like Depeche Mode in general. But I don't think I'd ever really want to sit and listen to them with intention. I've always really liked the vocals on all the Depeche Mode records, this one is no exception. I don't really have anything else to say about this one. It's an album that exists. 3/5

Haunting sounds of the 80s. Would give 3.5/5 if I could. Really fun but one of those that you don’t neeeeed to go back to

Decent, for 80's music. 3/5

The Synths are interesting but in general I felt this album was not for me.

Rv/g

Pretty good but unfortunately an ex ruined Depeche Mode so it will never be high in my book

a very cool atmospheric album! could be a four if i keep coming back to it 3.5/5

OK I heard Depeche Mode.

Listenable, just nothing standout

Some good beats. Enjoyable.

The first three songs on this album, were really great! However, I feel like the rest of the songs on the album, struggled to stand out. Everything melted together for me. I will likely not return back to this album, although I do feel they did well fitting into the synth pop scene.

This Is Religion, There Is No Doubt 1001 Albums Generator 57 (06/20/2025) Music For The Masses lies in the middle of the most critically acclaimed trilogy of albums in Depeche Mode's discography. The cover is a bright spot, bookended by the darkness in the covers of Black Celebration and the highly regarded Violator, but the sound of Music For The Masses is certainly not as bright and airy as its cover would suggest. While this is a synthpop album, there is a darkness present here, especially in the second half. I have been very late to the Depeche Mode party to be honest. Violator has been on my radar as long as I can remember but I haven't ever listened to it, so I was excited to jump into Music For The Masses. The album, like many albums on this list, opens with one of its strongest songs. Never Let Me Down Again is one of the poppiest songs here, and it works great. However, even underneath this poppy exterior lies a darkness; some sort of brooding energy lurks below and foreshadows the vibe that later songs on the album would have. Strangelove is another hit. I love the synth riff that happens in the intro and post-chorus. This is also a good time to mention the drum sound on this album. It's absolutely huge and manages to walk the uncanny valley between sounding natural but still having an electronic timbre. The first half of the album continues on a strong note from here with Sacred, which opens on a theatrical, haunting choral part before falling into its groove. Although the chorus is simple, it is one of the most affecting melodies on the album. As you can probably tell, my favorite songs on this album are largely the ones that lean more into synthpop and less into darkwave/gothic elements. The penultimate song, Nothing, is my favorite song on the whole album I think. It is so underrated; I can't believe this wasn't a massive hit. It has the gothic aura that the album exudes but it does that in such a unique and fun way. However, about half of the songs here do not have enough going on for me. The worst offender is Little 15, which just feels so silly to me. I just envision a little elf marching to the silly ah beat. The closer Pimpf is built on a good piano line, but I struggle to take its martial energy seriously and it goes on too long. As a minute and a half outro, I would think it was kind of cool, but 4 minutes is way to much. I Want You Now and To Have And To Hold don't have much distinguishing themselves from one another either, so that whole part of the tracklist drags for me a bit. Music For The Masses is a pretty good album. It features some of the best songs that I have discovered during this challenge thus far, but it also has a lot of songs that I do not care for. Definition of a 3/5 for me. Favs: Never Let Me Down Again Sacred Nothing Least Fav: Little 15

Doesn't have the atmosphere of Some Great Reward or the songs of Violator, and so it doesn't do much for me. It's fine, but not much more than that.

Good album, not their best

Interesting; did not live - did nit hate it

A lot of stuff on here

I assumed I knew Depeche Mode’s music but I didn’t recognise a single track on this album. I associated them with New Romantic but tbh they sounded more like Kraftwerk. Not a fan of electronica, but I liked the variety in the second half of the album. Good to listen

3.3 2x

Some solid gold classics but not as good as violator

Dark, theatrical synth-pop that is also very hooky. Never Let Me Down Again and Sacred were my two favourites. Very close to being a 4.

I was prepared to give this a 2 but then amid a beat made from homoerotic grunting it suddenly dawned on me: This is actually not bad at all. Not a big fan of the 80's sound to be honest so that keeps it from getting a 4 from me.

2.7

Like I've said before, just not my genre. Still a very listenable album though. 3/5.

I never really got into DM, but it was enjoyable.

There's a lot of nice arrangements and artsy stuff going over there, but I can't say that these songs will stay in my mind forever. Enjoyable!

Decent 7/10

Cool band and a good album overall

3.6

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would, but I probably wouldn’t listen again. The music was fine to have on in the background but nothing particularly grabbed my attention. Fav song: Strangelove Least fav: Sacred

Not a big fan of this one honestly. I haven’t heard much of depeche mode but this isn’t making me very enthusiastic. Specific rating - 2.6 Fav song - never let me down again Least fav - the things you said

Oh dear, that was dramatic (and a little gay.) Music for the Masses is an album of 80’s dance music that improves and gets more listenable with each passing song from Nothing to the finish. Best few cuts are at the end. Or maybe they just wore me down. I think the title helped get this album on the 1001 List. (2.75*s)

I'd consider myself a Depeche Mode fan. They bring a darker synth pop sound that mostly resonates for me. Even though I enjoyed the album I wouldn't consider it "for the masses". I feel like it has a pretty high point of entry and could easily see how someone would find this album skipppable or off-putting. I tend to lean more toward the album Violator as their best work so I'm a little surprised that Music for the Masses made the cut. I'll be pleased if Violator shows up but I'm not sure they deserve two albums on the list so I think this one could be axed without issue. While Music for the Masses is a good example of what Depeche Mode offers I'd consider it a pretty middle of the pack entry even if I am a fan of the band. 2.50

Cool 80s vibes. Vocals were sort of weird and some of it seems dated at this point.

Pretty good, but it didn't feel particularly interesting?

es un album muy me presento soi miercoles adams. como oscuro pero mola, se q en otra epoca de mi vida me gustaria mas

Have never listened to any Depeche Mode beyond the singles before. A but dated, but I can see why they have endured so well. Very cool, dark textured production and strong vocals. Didn't blow my mind but really liked the last few tunes especially.

je me sens depressed en écoutant ça. mais c’est appréciable

This is ok, definitely has a couple really good songs and a bunch of forgettable filler. Not as good as Violator or their early stuff, but not bad

Kind of interesting and there's enough here to fit some very specific vibes but I don't see myself revisiting this.

I know these guys are "legends" but I wonder if Music for the Masses is a description as well as a title and in trying to be more accessible they created this otherwise forgettable album.

Reverb heavy, dreamy, echoes

Ugh....things sure were *dramatic* in the 80s.

Tom Breihan of Stereogum #1 fame, wrote this about Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails: "For much of the 1990s, Pretty Hate Machine was that type of album: One that could inspire fervent, devotional need and absolute revulsion, largely depending on the age of the person hearing it. And that's even more impressive when you consider that it's basically a **synth-pop" album**." ...did Tom forget that Depeche Mode exists? This idea that 80s synth music was all suitable to be used as backing tracks for Miami Vice never seems to go away, despite the fact that in the UK and the rest of Europe it was often used to create music that was cold, stark, dark and deeply passionate. That said, after a high energy start to "Never Let Me Down Again", the album does start to become overwhelming by the midpoint. The grunt filled Little 15 felt voyeuristic rather than a real character study.

Depeche Mode sits in such an interesting spot in time. What they’re successful at on this album (and in general) is capturing a style/aesthetic and putting it in album form. I can imagine being a teen at the time of this album coming out, it could’ve been a huge gateway into more gothic stuff, more underground electronic music, more industrial stuff. For putting all those genres together in a fairly digestible package, I applaud “Music For The Masses”. “The Things You Said” is my favorite vocal track, with that “I never tried to hide them” call and answer in the chorus. “Pimpf” is my favorite instrumental track, it really leans into the haunted, grand, dramatic direction this album sometimes goes in. I think I like the instrumental tracks the most overall on this project. “Music For The Masses” isn’t totally for me, I think artists in the future iterated in this sound and took it in more intense, interesting directions. I also think this album occasionally lacks hooks, but maybe that’s just me wanting more accessible choruses in general. All that being said, I get the appeal of this album, this band, and the time period they did it all in. Soft 3/5.

C'était bon ! 5

Nothing standout (aside from Agent Orange and Stjarna which are really cool instrumentals) but a really enjoyable overall listen (except for Pimpf which spooked me and wasn't good enough to make that ok).

Beep, bop, boop! Love me some Depeche Mode, just not very often.

80s outdated

Not a bad listen...not nearly as good as Violator though. Only really remember "Strangelove" from the radio or MTV. 3.5 stars...rounding down because of that song with the weird breathing.

3.5

If by "the masses" they mean drunk Gen Xers with their nipples exposed through mesh shirts, the title is spot on

The 80's was the golden age of new wave synth pop. This is a pretty great album. Never Let Me Down Again and Strangelove stand out. I have always liked Depeche Mode, but they always sound downbeat and angsty. Still good, but just that vibe to the music. I was more a New Order person, but this is definitely worth a listen

Vraiment pas mon préféré de Depeche Mode, je le trouve juste correct

Ça me fait pas grand chose.

6/10

Oh hi, it's me, the masses! Out of the gate this is not for the masses, it is a Gothic rock-pop with shouts to early Industrial. Both of which I adore. I am a bit surprised (once again) that Depeche Mode was chosen over the more obvious bands to represent these genres (hello King Woman, Electric Wizard, Sleep, Melvins, Kyuss, Helmet, Mudhoney, later years of The Damned, etc...). First track is a banger. Second track drags, the beat and chimes could have been used to go so much harder imo. To quote Jack Harlow, "whole track sound like an intro". Sacred is layered and atmospheric in a really interesting way but somehow manages to squeak just under being catchy. Little 15 - I'm guessing this is a pedo song? (Looked up the lyrics and yes it is.) Is it just me or is new wave filled with this topic? Just came out of listening to Oingo Boingo's Little Girls. I Want You Now is one of the most fun songs on the album. The layers of vocals doing the heavy lifting of percussion, bass, backing vox and special fx is pretty cool and there is some interesting discord. I have the same gripe about this song as I do for the other songs on this album - there is so much potential for the song to get larger and more dramatic after the chiller, tense "intro". Again the entire song sounds like an intro. Maybe I've just been ruined by modern music. But I Want You Now feels like the blue balls of music. Nothing fortunately brought this album back to life. While the song could have been an intro, it also stood on its own as a eerie bop new wave gothic. The synth and organ are the perfect tone to go along with the gloomy wailing vox. The last two songs have similar dark flavours and tones and end the album on some interest. That said Agent Orange is another "entire song is an intro" kinda track and reminds me of old skool James Bond video game load screen music. Not bad, but it's load screen music. The version of this album I found on spotify had some remixes at the end and I'm sorry to say that they were all better than the originals and transcended the original tracks past intro status. Overall, fun new wave album with pretty tight production and a strong undercurrent of darkness. Did I need to hear this before I die? Absolutely not. Was it moderately enjoyable? Yes. Three stars because compared to other New Wave on this list (hello Duran Duran) this is mildly less interesting.

Good, though it starts to feel a tad samey as many of the songs feel similar. Nothing here’s bad though, and plimpf is a great closer

Fav: Never Let Me Down Again Least Fav: I Want You Now Don’t be fooled by the opener, it’s an average at best album

velho conhecido, mas muito abaixo da minha preferência pelo Violator.

Very 80’s with the synths and melodies, very Depeche Mode for the vocals and the percussion. First two songs don’t do it for me, but Strangelove picks up the pace with the interesting synths. Slows back down again until Behind the Wheel, which I also like.

Liked it enough to download it

A change of pace for 80s music. I feel like I haven’t heard a ton of their music and it was adequate

Painfully 80s, but kind of enjoyable. Brooding synths. The singer reminds me of the guy from the Smiths.

2.5/5

Listens: 2-3 Standout Tracks: Behind the Wheel I have conflicting opinions about this album/band. On the one hand uggggh 80s New Wave is blah; it seems so stereotypical of the era, but on the other hand, the album is growing on me; I am finding myself enjoying it, and I am not sure why. Perhaps its like an accident on the highway. You can't look away. This music is not where my brain goes when I think about or want to listen to Electronic music. 3

On Music for the Masses, Depeche Mode lean hard into their electric goth/pop-industrial roots, delivering a moody, synth-soaked soundtrack for the disenchanted dancefloor. It's a record where sad bois groove through the gloom, threading dark romanticism with pulsing beats and icy textures. The opener "Never Let Me Down Again" sets the tone with its driving rhythm and haunting piano touches, while "The Things You Said" and "Behind the Wheel" create immersive, unsettling atmospheres that tug you deeper into their nocturnal world. "Sacred" stands out with a bouncy, elastic bassline that injects just enough energy to lift the gloom without breaking the spell. It’s not a flawless album, but there’s enough here to keep both your eyeliner and your body moving.

not bad not bad

Solid album, probably something I would fw more if I was 70 years old and alive when it came out

This one receives three stars of five as a good work but not very bright throughtout its A-Side. In fact, the best moments I recall after getting to know the records are from the ending tracks. Fav track (by far): To Have And To Hold. This one is immediately on repeat.

I had only known Depeche Mode through their one song "Personal Jesus" which I liked quite a bit. You can really hear the aging on this album but just because it's dated don't mean there weren't some enjoyable songs on here. It has a certain charm to it that anyone that enjoys 80s music overall could enjoy. At the very least it didn't make me want to fall asleep compared to the other albums on this list. Overall it was pretty good. Top 3: Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, and Behind The Wheel No bad songs 3.25/5

It is said this is DP's best album; I disagree. To me, it's par with everything else in their catalog, which is to say it's REALLY good. I prefer Violator. As always, extraordinarily well-produced 3.75

I really couldn't get into this that much. It's fine 80s music, but Im not sure I'd turn this on intentionally.

Not the best but has that nice beat to most songs and catchy rawness that makes Depeche Mode

Violator is superior. This is pretty gothy and morose, though, which I like.

Listened to it, iconic sound but not very memorable. I like the hits, b tracks don’t speak to me.

Like they’re on the brink of putting it together for a true hit but all the pieces aren’t quite there. Meanders at times making me wonder what they were going for and feeling like they didn’t know and didn’t get there.

Vinyl: Yes Fav Song: Strangelove Notes: I want it to be better than it is. Violator is 5 stars.

Interesting album from this group. None of these specific tracks brings back any memories from this 80's kid, though the overall sound absolutely does. This is prime electronica from one of the most recognizable artists of the genre, though not my favorite in their catalog. Also, pretty sure "I Want You Now" is about a dude's blue balls. Deep stuff.

Ayyyy I must really be in a Depeche mode..... ahhhhhhhh... never-ending suffering. Anywho this is very similar to violator. Less hits but equal in quality. Also equal in me not caring too much. Good stuff but not getting spun constantly

“Strangelove” … eh, OK. But the rest of these songs just kinda run together …

not exactly my style but interesting. i'd check out more of their stuff

Not something I would regularly listen to, but I get the hype.

not my favorite od DM but still good

3/5 Ymmärrän albumin listalla olemisen ja onhan tää ihan hyvää, mutta omaan makuun kuitenkin hieman liian laahaavaa musiikkia.

Although my favourite DM song is on this album, Violator is much, much better.

This dour, shadowy modular pop is loaded with the sort of hooks that takes dozens of listens to reveal themselves and would have meant loads to its audience back in the day (the entire gay population of the Soviet Union for example). A bit goth and serious for me, but total respect all the same. Other from Numan and NIN did anybody else achieve such a ‘rock’ sound with so many prominent synthetic elements?

This album was more enjoyable than I expected. The highlight for me was Plimpf (the closer). It was absolutely crazy in the best ways. I'd say this is a 3.5 star album, but I can't round up for the site. I can't go to 4 stars.

I enjoyed this album more than I expected. Though I am an 80s alternative guy through and through, Depeche Mode was never in my wheel house. Too dance, too electronic, etc... But I enjoyed the darkness and drama of the songs on this album . They definitely know how set a mood. The opener is the obvious touchstone with its arena rock ready grandiosity, but there are a number of very enjoyable songs here. 3.5 stars

Not as bopping as other Depeche mode albums, 3*

Yeah it’s ok. Violator is better

It’s good. I like their album Violator much better.

Outside of that one hit, this wasn't sitting with me well yesterday for whatever reason.

Yeh it's Depeche mode ain't it, decent album but probably one I won't visit again. High 3.

As a big fan of Violator, I was really surprised by how little this album did for me. Some cool sounds, and a surprisingly pop punk energy behind the first half, but yeah, very middle of the road.

3.5

Lijkt een beetje op the the, alleen vind ik het dan minder pit hebbe

Pimpf was good. Some nice synthy bangers. Quite dark and depressing but not bad. Not in a rush to chuck on again

Kinda torn cos Never Let Me Down Again is prob my face Depeche Mode song but rest of the album was a bit mehhhhhh. 2.5-3*

A very decent album. Very ominous. Some absolute bangers at the end. Stand out song - Never let me down again - Aggro mix

Good album, not great.

I had the exact opposite experience listening to this album as I did with Violater - it gets rapidly worse with repeated listens. The pacing on some of these songs is slow as a wake, but not on purpose. Strangelove shouldn't be THIS much better than the rest of the album. And, conversely, I Want You Now should be thrown into the sun. Perfectly balanced. Take my 2.5 rounded up and fuck off

That oozes the 80s more than slimer.

Started off really well but faded towards the end for me. Really like the first couple of songs though.

Hittejä ja huteja itselle.

Ei parasta tältä koska se paras on lähes parasta mitä on

Helppoa kuunneltavaa. Laulajan mystinen ääni ja erilainen ääni jäi mieleen. Kappaleissa kiva taiteellinen viba.

Ihan miellyttävää kuunneltavaa. Tykkäsin eri soundien käytöstä, mukana oli jopa etnisiä sellaisia. Ei kuitenkaan ehkä sitä mitä laittaisin viikonloppuisin soimaan.

5 de 11 canciones me gustan

Upgraded from 2 to 3 and added review which was missing: This music is not a natural fit for me, but it has grown on me.  I have listened to it about 10 times with limited fatigue.  It has the basis of a very boring monologue but somehow manages to take time to sparkle occasionally.  Its dated sound too much of the time but despite that I can hear some elements of uniqueness and quality. In the end I just started to enjoy the weird 80s synth and that culminates to me in a weird cult like chant in "Pimpf" and sounds like it's a film score for some dark sci fi epic.   It's un-conventionally strong and while I do tire of some of the vocal fillers in this, I do actually like it I have come to realise.  Certainly, the musical part with all its gothic height and oddities it makes it for me.  Just.

Not great, Some good songs, some very strange sons

I enjoyed the first 9 songs, but after that I was pretty keen for it to be over. I don't enjoy instrumentals too much and they also got a bit too intense and moody.

Really like the first half of this album, but for me it falls away badly after Little 15. I Want You Now is just awful.

It's very much of It's time. The synth sounds and the electronic drums. It was an interesting listen but I was never a big fan and this hasn't really changed my mind.

Fantastic album!

Good album but it started to sound the same a couple songs in. The last song was a nice change

Classic. I love the first half more than the second.

This album is very dour and downright depressing if you listen to the whole thing. They sound great and are influential to a number of bands I love, but few of the songs on this album were memorable, and yeah I really felt drained by the end of it.

Liked a few songs but not the majority

This album seemed pretty forgettable by the end. I enjoyed well enough while listening but can’t think of my favorite track after the fact… 3/5 not bad but not great

Sounds like more Depeche Mode. It's good.

probably a lot better on headphones and never let me down again is such a hit

Squeaky clean pop goth. Cool stuff, good music. Not entirely for me. Some bands ABUSED the gated snare and shitty synth effects of their day and Depeche Mode is amongst the list of those. It sounds so robotic, loses alot of the charm.

I’m not a huge Depeche Mode fan. I didn’t like their early synthpop, Top of the Pops stuff. I do like Violator, or at least some of the songs, very much. This is somewhere in between. There is a darkness to some of the numbers but the instrumentation on others is a little weak.

starts strong, ends stron, middle is weak

I have liked the idea of Depeche Mode for a long time, but hesitated to say I like-like them because I've only scratched the surface of their songs via the radio so far. So I was excited to have a first date as it were. Well it didn't go quite as expected. I like the song I knew going in "Strangelove" but the rest were kinda meh for me. I was hoping the deeper tracks would be more dark and synthy, but a lot of these seemed "normal" With a title like Music for the Masses, maybe it was intentionally toned back to try and get wider appeal, so we could have been both trying to be fronting a bit on the first date to try and appeal more normal, when deep down we are really just black shirt sad kids. So I'll be willing to give it a second shot, and hopefully (by looking at the tracks I also know) Violator will be on here later on. Favorite track "Strangelove" 3/5

Interesting but seems rather locked into a specific range of sound. Lyrics were hit or miss.

Итс окэй. Очень интересно, как же так вышло, что это группа стала таким феноменом в совке и на его руинах. Лучшая песня - Strangelove.

It's fine, but Violator is better.

Not bad

All the songs sound the same

Favourite song: The Things You Said

Fine. Depeche Mode improves through albums and while the first couple songs on this first record are strong, the latter half loses me

now i love me some depeche mode, but i KNOW they can hit harder than this. what was this y’all. every song just kept falling farther and farther off. gotta be either a high 2 or low 3. imma do low 3. low though. low.

More listenable than I expected but still not really my thing.

Good trance dance music didn’t grab me for a sit and listen

I'd rather enjoy the silence 😂 😂 😂 It's alright to be fair. Agent Orange - my favourite of the bunch - sounds like the opener to a gritty 80s thriller; not unsurprising with a title like that. It was also pointed out to me that Pimpf sounds like a Final Fantasy dungeon track... Some enjoyable bits here and there, but outside Agent Orange, nothing I'll relisten to. Highlight: Agent Orange

🎧I had no idea Depeche Mode was capable of such darkness and brooding. Favorite track: Nothing

Meh

The songwriting keeps the interest here. Less catchy that some of their other work. As a collection it works pretty well.

Enjoyable!

Classic

I thought this would be more pop bc of the title, but I don't think it was. Another 80s album imo.

Started out horribly, but grew on me as it progressed.

I have a liking for the dystopian feel of Depeche Mode's dark-brand of 80s electronica, without being a fully-fledged fan. Behind the Wheel - it's the Crystal Maze! I actually can't listen to this without hearing "start the fans please!" and thinking of over-excited contestants running in shell suits to the Aztec Zone. This one in particular feels like a warm up for Enjoy the Silence. It's a very solid album, and the first half evocatively foreboding with catchy melodies. 'Things You Said' is superb. That is some Smiths level of greatness. But the second half tails off into little of note. It can smell a four. But I think it remains a strong three.

An eerie, atmospheric, and well-crafted album. Embraces the computerized, almost alien sound of synthpop to good effect. I don’t think I loved it, but I would give it another listen or two. Best song: The Things You Said

BaustellenPop, 1987 -> 3

Generally okay; "Pimpf" was quite fun. 3/5

its the same disco music for me its kind of lame

1) Never let me down again 2) Pleasure, little treasure 3) The things you said 24/01/2025

Built their gig core

Jeg kommer nok stadig til at synes, at denne liste har for meget Depeche Mode, men indtil videre har begge albums været positive overraskelser. Et par af numrene lyder sangeren som Maynard fra Tool

Rigtig fed synthlyd!

Really liked the sound of this. 3+

Some good song writing and creative 90’s rhythms.

I like it but felt like it got kind of boring by the end of the album

Not particularly memorable. Decidedly not music for the masses (ba dum tss) Giving this a 3 instead of a 2 because I like “Never Let Me Down Again” and the funky music theory of “Pimpf”

Like for the general soundscape they cultivated here, don’t love bc the songwriting is a bit too same-y for me

wasn’t really a song that stood out to me. a bit too goth and brooding for my tastes but i respect it

Some classic bangs but the rest of the album started to sound the same as I kept listening.

It was fine. I will never choose to listen to this again, I wouldn't complain if someone else put it on. Classic 3 on the John scale

It’s exactly what you expect from Depeche Mode

In a certain context I could see myself enjoying this more, but too moody for first thing in the morning.

Not sure why there needed to be two Depeche Mode albums on the list. They are very similar. Not meant to be a criticism of the band, I enjoy their mood at times and certainly danced to them plenty. There is just so much variety out there to explore, and Depeche Mode is a very specific sound that doesn’t ever seem to stray far.

Great soundtrack for a 1980s vampire

Actually like this album! Nice groovy music - Perfect for work actually... Yea enjoyed it and would listen again and recommend

Me gusta. Son más explicaciones

Its ok

It was a decent album, 3/5. I like a few songs by Depeche Mode but none of them are from this album.

As a 14yo in in 1987, I didn't have a tremendous exposure to music. I played this album a lot back then. It was the edgiest thing I had acquired at that point. Relistening now, I'm just not in this space anymore and I like a couple of tracks, but this is sounding bland to me now. I do enjoy some of Depeche Mode's later albums though.

Music for the Masses is fine... The production is polished and the mood is cohesive, there aren’t many songs that truly stand out or grab you. It’s decent background music, but not their most memorable work.

Solid

I've wanted to like Depeche Mode for forty years. I respect the songwriting. I just don't like the sound.

Some really good songs that I can never remember are by Depeche Mode, mixed with a lot of others I don't care for and easily forgot.

Didn't hate it, but not sure I loved it, either. Seems frozen in its late-80s context, so it's hard to get past the production and arrangement choices to connect with the songs. So it's all about the sounds. Some are captivating, some annoying and opaque because of the overwhelming coldness of the synths. Learned to truly respect David Gahan as a singer and the way his voice weaves with the synthetic production. A solid, middle of the road 3 for me.

Bueno

Never Let Me Down Again // Strangelove // Sacred // Nothing //

Meh. I feel like I've heard this before. So 80s, it's bleeding synthesizer.

DM is another one of those 80’s bands that I was not following / actively listening to that genre at the time, but their hits were in regular mainstream rotation. As time went on I came to appreciate the hits more, but never felt the need to do a deep dive on the band with full albums and this album didn’t do anything to change that. Rounding up because they were big at the time and influenced things and bands to come. 2.5/5

As a much bigger fan of their earlier work, I had already moved away from DM by the time this album came out. Revisiting this surprisingly did not reveal any surprises. Outside of the really good “Strangelove”, the rest of it was pretty forgettable. And the end tracks were simply annoying filler. Ranking in the middle on the strength of Strangelove alone. 2.5/5

Sounds like the 80s. 2.75

This is fine but ultimately totally forgettable. I nearly rounded down to a 2 based on the last song. 2.75/5

I feel kinda bad, but aside the hits this one is pretty boring.

Favorite track: never let me down again other picks: the things you said, strangelove, behind the wheel

It’s cool and all, but something about the sound bugs me

Good, not great

This was the album before they got insanely good. Not too many serious bangers or specific moments in here - at least not on a first listen thru

Decent, but didn't feel as ground breaking as their last album I got on this list.

The album contains the four hits "Never Let Me Down Again", "Straingelove", "Little 15" and "Behind The Wheels" and thats it basicly. 🤷‍♂️ 3,5

Got quite excited when this popped up because I like the new romantic music genre which was popular during the early 80's. However although I didn't mind this album I found it a bit repetitive. It retained the distinctive sound of Depeche Mode agreed but I have heard better from them

I like this band, but this album, not so much.

never let me down again- 5 the things you said- 3 or 4 strangelove- 4 sacred- 5 little 15- 3 behind the wheel- 4 i want you now- 4 to have and to hold- 5 nothing- 5 pimpf- 5 agent orange- 5 incredibly boring

Pretty vibey, nice and relaxing with good energy. Nothing too outstanding though

It's dark. It's interesting. There's not a massive breadth of variety here, but somehow, I enjoyed it. I thought this was going to be a slog. I'm acquainted with Depeche Mode and can recognize their sound easily, but a look at the track listing revealed no songs I knew. I'm surprised how cohesive this album feels. Very cool.

Meh

Didn't mind that

Very different to what we expected at points with a strange operatic section in the middle but overall solid 80s sound.

Joar, ist okay gewesen.

Sounds like every other Depeche Mode album

It's okay, never listened to Depeche mode before today. Solid finds but I'm not really in a moody mood so I didn't vibe with it too much. Some tracks are bangers and I will be re-listening. This is music i would listen to while breaking down at like 4am while watching a black and white movie idk. Idk why some tracks reminded me of the movie Ernest scared stupid and the OG tmnt soundtrack. So brownie points for that lmao.

I think this probably needs the right mood, and getting stuff done on a Monday morning wasn’t it, as it felt a bit too dreary for that. Quite enjoyed the drama of Pimpf (minus the unnecessary extra bit after a short pause).

I prefer their upbeat (as much as Depeche Mode can be upbeat) stuff so this album was a bit hit and miss for me

Another act where I've enjoyed the singles but never done a deep dive. A (very busy) day probably isn't enough to get a decent impression of this. Maybe a bit too gloomy and downbeat for me though, with pretty uninteresting lyrics. I prefer the power of synths to get me on the dancefloor.

Primeras impresiones: Never Let Me Down Again: 90 The Things You Said: 65 Strangelove: 80 Sacred: 75 Little 15: 60 Behind the Wheel: 75 I Want You Now: 60 To Have and to Hold: 50 Nothing: 80 Pimpf: 70 Total del album: 70

First three are real good, album drops off and gets wafty and gothy after that

A pleasant surprise! I didn't think that Depeche Mode would be my cup of tea necessarily but I was enjoying myself quite a lot during the first half of the album. Never Let Me Down Again and Strangelove were especially strong. Loved the spacy and lush sound of the record, it made for a great atmosphere. It was also very reminiscent of The Colour of Spring by Talk Talk, which is a positive. Overall a solid record but it loses momentum in the second half and save for a couple of songs, the songwriting was not that captivating. Still a positive impression given that I thought I would dislike Depeche Mode entirely.

There’s a few reviews here giving this album a bad wrap but I found it quite enjoyable. 3.5 stars.

Fine but not my thing.

Inégal

Not a favourite band but one I am aware of but never bought any of their music. Certainly back in the 80’s their music was everywhere so when I listened to this quite a few tracks were familiar. This is music of its time so from a nostalgia point of view nice to reminisce again. Trouble is after a few tracks they all seemed to merge into each other and began to sound the same. A problem music of this type seems to share. I blame electronic drums and the constant beat uninterrupted by a human putting his/ her style upon it. That said this album is a good example of what was happening in the late 80’s and better presented than a lot of other bands around at the same time churning out similar stuff. 3/5 11/11/24

A somewhat morose outing and with vague Wagnerian overtones toward the end. It’s a long way from their early work with Vince Clarke, but this is what they’ve been for a very long time.

I had Depeche Mode in the real art house bands and they are but I guess they were a bit before my time to get them the first time round but this is a superb album. Ambient 80s synth, layered and rich. The back end of the album lost me a bit but overall it's enjoyable. Stand out tracks: - Never let me down again - The things you said - Strangelove - Sacred - Too have and to hold

Good

I enjoy Depeche Mode from afar, or the occasional radio track, but they really don't light my candles. This was a fine listen, but still no melted wax.

Music for the Masses wasn't as good as i was hoping for it to be but it is still a solid album. I have heard plenty of things about Depeche Mode but never really sat down to listen to an album by them and their sound was generally what i was expecting. Half of the album was a pretty typical 80s new wave album with all the bells and whistles you'd expect to see. The other half though, was really orchestral and cinematic which i don't find to be a really good or bad thing. i just find it kinda funny. The album, like a lot of others like it, did have a few forgettable tracks but the good tracks were still pretty good so this album is a good one. Best Song: Little 15 Worst Song: To Have and to Hold

Not a huge fan of Depeche Mode, can find the songs very same-y and his vocals are a bit droning. Some decent tracks on it though: Fave songs include 'Never Let Me Down Again' and 'Strangelove'.

This album is alright. I think if I heard it without the context of violator I might have appreciated it more, but to me this just sounds like an inferior version of that album. It's not terrible, some good tunes on here, but I'll have to listen to both this and Violator more to fully pick out the differences between these two albums. As it stands, this album sits at around a 3 outta 5 for me.

never been a fan but i dig the mood of this album. "Agent Orange" is great.

Typical 80's fare... nothing to write home about

Depressed Mode. Moody gothic techno christian music from the 80s. Not the best Depeche album but its got some good songs and a somewhat short runtime makes it more palatable. 6/10

Classic

Not my absolute favorite Depche Mode but I still like it a lot more than some other albums on this list I've given more than 3 stars to.

This is soooo 80s. I can so see the line between Depeche Mode and a lot of the artists I like today, but this album was just too dated-sounding for me. I was also not a huge fan of the lead singer’s voice.

Transported me back to another era - nice to feel the emotions of a bygone time but only for a short time

Not bad, reminded me of Tears for Fears.

Another tough one for me -- it certainly takes me to a specific time. And Depeche Mode really owns their distinctive sound, and I kind of like that sound. But their melodies are discordant just enough to bug me.

dancealicious

3.5

Ja kijk, Depeche Mode is goed. En ik vind het ook niet zo erg om te luisteren, maar ik moet zeggen dat er zoveel Depeche Mode clones in deze lijst staan, dat ik er ook weer niet heel erg op zit te wachten om het te luisteren. Uiteindelijk staat het dan aan en gaat het me gewoon prima af, maar echt heel enthousiast kan ik hier niet meer van worden. Het andere album dat ik van ze kreeg beviel me ook een stuk beter, dus dit blijft steken op een 3.

pretty fun to get to listen to a depeche mode record after years of only hearing their hits... they're pretty rad, definitely respect the sound, the energy, the gothic synthpop stuff is tight. one of the better sounds to come out of the 80s for sure. some really brain-tingling cuts on here like "never let me down again," "strangelove," "behind the wheel." somewhere in the middle i started to zone out a bit (maybe from "i want you now" to "nothing") but "pimpf" is a really cool and unexpected closer. sounded a bit like boss music in a video game or something. overall, really fun. not going to become my new obsession or anything, but great music nonetheless.

I am a fan of the Depeche Mode albums that follow this (Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion) which are a bit darker, rockier, and noisier than their early records. The more prominent use of guitar and analogue drums, the more industrial-influenced sound design (more noise and distortion), and greater reliance on pentatonic harmonies (ironically, simpler harmonically than their earlier material) is more to my taste. While familiar with their singles, I had not given earlier DM albums much attention. I own a few, but they are cruelly ignored in my record collection. It was a real pleasure to spend some time with the Music for the Masses album in full. David Bascombe, fresh off producing Tears for Fears and working with DM for the first time, brings a big sound and a penchant for experimenting than is cinematic and grand scale. The sound and lyrical content are less tinny than their early work. There are a some very strong songs here (Never Let Me Down, Strangelove, Behind the Wheel). You probably could get away with only listening to side 1. Watching the doco on this album, Bascombe was influenced by minimalist composers like Glass and Reich, which is a bit of a niche sensibility that appeals to me greatly. Those Glass/Reich/Bowie-in-Berlin inspired deep cuts are tucked away on side 2 for the true fans. Christgau wrote that Depeche Mode turned "adolescent Weltschmerz into something catchy, sexy and seemingly significant". You can see why the goth kids love this record. He adds, accurately if not a little unkindly, that "Gore can't create without venting his shallow morbidity, which happens to mesh with a historically inevitable strain of adolescent angst... Dark themes combine with light tunes until the very end of side two. Anybody with an interest in adolescent angst (adolescents included) can sob or giggle along as the case may be." I think 'dark themes with light tunes' really captures the strength of Depeche Mode; it's a feature, not a bug. The vestigial goth kid in me really enjoyed Music for the Masses, although not as much as Violator or Songs of Faith and Devotion. Would buy (for cheap).

I enjoyed it but there really wasn't anything memorable

Yeah they are pretty okay. Dont need to listen to any more of them tho tbh

Choosing between a 2-3 for this one, starts off really strong before descending into dullness. also ive already listened to the superior depeche mode album so … 3/5

Quite good.

Very typical 80s pop music. Did not blow me away.

Somehow, I have had a couple reviews doubled up; this was one. I like Depeche Mode, I like this album.

Somewhat brooding, electro pop

3.5

Never Let Me Down Again - To Have and to Hold - Nothing - The Things You Said - Pimpf - Little 15 - Strangelove - Behind the Wheel - Sacred - I Want You Now -

3 at best

Just more 80s synth pop, it's still passable today I suppose

Solid album, nice to listen to while focusing. Great ambience.

I love Violator and some of their other stuff, but I've never listened to this album in full. Surprisingly it was kind of boring for a Depeche Mode album? It had some highlights for sure, but most of it was just a bunch of boring, repetitive instrumentals. I wouldn't mind this playing in the background, but it's definitely not something I'd go back to. 3 stars

Hmmm disappointed in this. I love Depeche Mode but never listened to this in full, only knowing a few of the songs, which I like a lot (Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Behind the Wheel). Unfortunately the rest just falls flat for me, which is a shame as I really wanted to love this.

Thought I was somewhat familiar with Depeche Mode but did not know any of these songs. After listening to the album now I know why, nothing special here.

Never Let Me Down Again Strangelove Behind the Wheel

OK, sounds about the same as when it came out.

Liked some of it, but overall not totally my thing.

3.5

Unsure which version was intended due to broken link with Apple Music. Listened to the base version (no bonus tracks, 10 song track list).

Good listen, but might not listen to again. Pretty much classic Depeche Mode

Maybe I’m just not into new wave

Synth gods, but this one fell flat for me

Starts off strong but ends weakly. Which is a shame as I think Depeche Mode are a sweet band.

Interesting, latter half of album was easier to jam to. Beginning half was a little slow. Sounded experimental

The eighties were so heavy. Sometimes I can’t stand the drums.

Früher hatte ich gar keinen Zugang zu Depeche Mode, jetzt finde ich dieses Album ganz ok. Trotzdem, packen tut es mich nicht ***

After like 5 songs you kind of get the point.

Not bad, some decent songs. Not their best

I do rate Depeche Mode above most 80’s bands, they just seem to have an atmospheric sounds to them that outweighs the dates 80’s synth sound.

Not my favorite album of theirs but it's decent.

Alright, Depeche Mode is an ultimate weakness for me. I melt at his vocals and tremble with the synths. Although, I don’t think this is their peak. I anxiously await another album from them in this adventure.

This is what I think of when someone says 80s music.

Depeche Mode is nostalgic for me and although there are some skips for me on this particular album, I enjoyed it overall.

First half of the album is just same old same old, 80s synth stuff as expected. The second half tho goes towards a more new wave sort of direction and I loved it. It has a kinda Vangelis sound that I really enjoyed. Unfortunately half the album being good and half being bad averages out on a mediocre note.

This album is dark and moody and driving. It is very well done and is very good. I’m just not big into this kind of music. Favorites were Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, and Pimpf.

I’m surprised how much of this album I know. It sounds great. But it’s not really my thing. I wouldn’t put it on again. But I also would not turn it off. I might listen again to study the production.

First concert. Not my go to though. 3/5

Fine, lacked variety for most of the time

3 at best

This sounds like a rock opera made by your local goth high schooler who huffed too much paint for too many years and never really came all the way back...real dayman vs nightman vibes. It's eerie and dark and very, very cool. I don't really love the whole synth era or the sound in general but these guys were masters at it and you have to give them that. I still can't give them any more than a 3 though because I really didn't enjoy listening to it for an entire hour.

Viewed as a soundtrack or a vibe it’s excellent. But individual songs feel lacking. Great world, but sometimes the ideas drag on 3/5

Really enjoyed the first half of this. You can hear the huge influence it has had on bands like LCD Soundsystem. I started to tail off into the second half. should probably listen again.

Never let me down again is the stand out. It’s a good album but not yet at Depeche Mode’s full potential

Never Let Me Down Again 3.3 The Things You Said 3 Strangelove 3.1 Sacred 3 Little 15 3.1 Behind the Wheel 2.9 I Want You Now 2.8 To Have and to Hold 2.7 Nothing 2.8 Pimpf 2.4 Score: 2.91

Meh

Meh didn’t like it

This album surprised me, and not in a good way. Their subsequent album Violator is perfect, 5/5. This one suffers from forgettable songs, uninteresting instrumentals, and an ok vocal performance. I can only really give this a 2.5/5 -> 3/5.

I appreciate the artistry, but not my cup of tea

This is a fantastic representation of 80s synth pop. I just don’t really love 80s synth pop.

Not my thing but a good album nonetheless.