Reviews (page 9 of 13)
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.
Low energy, but not too bad. First track is the best track.
Enjoyed this more than I thought, especially the instrumentals. 2.78
Should be called 'Music for the Small Portion of the Masses who Enjoy Ambient Operatic Synth Chamber Music'
🤖
Some interesting parts but kinda boring, especially the vocals. Also the album cover isn’t great.
A bit dark and melancholy for my taste, but the production and sound are solid.
Pretto decent album, but not their best album I reckon.
Sounds exactly like the kind of the music a guy with a skull cane would make.
OK but a bit bland?
Depeche Mode 2as a band in the 80’s l didn’t want to like but it’s very listenable. Like "Never Let Me Down Again" heavier beat.
130/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
i don’t really care for early new wave music ngl
быстро надоедает, слишком гламурно
get uhhhh something carelesss
Good atmosphere, a bit too out there for me
I usually really enjoy 80s synthy, brooding stuff, but this one just didn't quite hit the mark. Not terrible though.
another lee classic
With all the synth sounds and gated reverb it’s of its time.
Ein super song, rest nur ok
Why the bare and thin production makes me feel so uneasy I cannot tell, but something about it makes even the most beautiful pop song here feel a little tonally out of place. Like I'm being judged by the ghost of pop.
Back in the 80ies I hated them. Now I loved them. Why? Don't know, but it just clicks with me. Nonetheless, this one is not their best and nothing really super impressive.
British new wave electro pop, gets boring after a few songs
Noteworthy songs - 808080808 Magical Dream - Kinda catchy synth, but the rest is bland. Ancodia - Good background noise. Cobra Bora - Actually kind of cool, reminds me of Bomberman Hero. Pacific 202 - N64 vibes, but melody isn't great. Donkey Doctor - Nothing too special, weird ending. 808080808 - Really cool beginning. A little slow in the middle but stays interesting enough. Sunrise - Nothing remarkable. The Fat Shadow - Eerie. Very short.
album started out really well and then just slowly started to fall off.... 3.2/5
Better at the start. Last half of the album was a bit thin.
Strong start but quickly got bored
first half slapped. second half was pretty dull tho
You have to be in the mood for Depeche Mode, but it's good Deoeche Mode.
I like depeche mode but I’m not familiar with a lot of their stuff. This album is good, I’d put it on for chillin around the house, making dinner, drinks, or while I work, for an upbeat vibe. Pretty great 80’s sound.
Ah, music for the proto-goth/figuring out LGBTQ+ identity set. My college girlfriend loved Depeche Mode, as did my roommate. I was of course up my own classic rock infused ass at the time. Fun to revisit. The first half of the album holds up much better than the second after "Nothing", where you get the weirdness of "Pimpf" and "Agent Orange" and some remixes that sound ridiculously dated. In any case, it's still worth a listen -- some pretty good tracks on here, both the ones you know and the ones you don't. Unexpected bangers: I Want You Now, To Have and To Hold
The first half of the album was very strong, but it was getting pretty droning with five songs to go and I was ready to be done.
Great songwriting, defining sounds of the late 80’s, some of which I find kind of cheesy and grating unfortunately. Still, the song structures, melodies, and lyrics are so moving I can’t help but enjoy it.
80s synths, if that sounds good to you then this is a classic. Otherwise 3*
I started listening to this album on loudspeakers, as the album art suggested, and it wasn't really hitting for me. Then I switched over to my headphones and cranked it. What I once thought seemed a little bit corny, now I hear as a thumping, pumping culture blast. So many classic synth sounds! Plenty of drama, some classical music-ness to it as well. Behind the Wheel - I love the stereo effects as they echo, call and respond. Then when the thick, sexy vocals come in in the center, I become ecstatic, as in full of ecstasy, but not the drug. I see an image of me sway-bopping in a crowd of 60,000 to these intoxicating tunes. I have no idea what the lyrics are, but that's not what I really listen for on a first pass. Or a second pass. And probably not the third either.
Pretty okay. (Didn’t do a full listen)
Dark and poppy, a unique combination. Perhaps a little dated for my taste, but the production value and musicianship are surprisingly great! Overall, not a constant rotation for me.
3.5 stars
#245. In theory I could just copy/paste my review for Violator here. There's some highlights, but most of it is a bit uninteresting. If you like sad boy new wave, then this is surely the one for you. If not, we'll maybe tomorrow will be better? 3/5: it'll do, I guess.
A mix of "pop" and experimental. Overall just good.
pretty solid album but i think it's a little too serious and pretentious for me. i do enjoy this era of synth-driven music, and i greatly enjoyed the sounds on this one, as well as the production, but i found the sounds themselves a bit lacking. still was enjoyable, but not really my favorite.
Die reinen Instrumentalstücke sind novh immer nichts für mich. An den Rest gewöhnt man sich im Alter.
Depeche Mode are one of those bands that I just find a little samey. I like their sound but find they’re constantly circling the same few ideas and that gets a bit boring over the course of an album
Fine but very 80s.
This really does sound like the 80s, and that's mostly a good thing. I was at times, however, flip-flopping between really grooving with the songs and then being kind of underwhelmed.
Sounds like the future…from the 80s
7/10 muy bueno al principio el final un poco aburridor
The electronic sample and sequence melodies are groundbreaking. Musically it’s very enjoyable. Lyrically… well, it’s good that the gay kids have cool music that’s just for them. It’s pretty bold for 1987.
I liked it even if I’m not a Mode fan. 3 stars
It's Depeche Mode. Interesting, but not something I'd choose to listen to.
Background
It's alright stuff. I kinda forget it now but it was good. Will I listen to again: 25%
Possibly even a 3.5? Enjoyed this more than I expected to
Much as I love the 80s, this one is pretty average
An interesting exploration of moods and drama.
I adore Depeche Mode. I thought I did. The music is a mood all of itself. I feel somber and disquieted. Tentative and unsettled. Its not necessarily nice feelings. As other reviews have said, there is a tonality that sounds same-ish. There is good variety but there is also same-ish-ness. I feel satisfied with the album, but not blown away which is what I would give for a 5/5. Its not an album that I return to easily, but when a mood is upon me. A mood for late 80's new romantic British sombre dissonance. When do I have such a mood ... not often, but I know where to go now. 3 stars. Not 4, the depth within the album or vocals does not seem to be there.
This was some good Depeche Mode action, but I greatly preferred Violator to this album. There weren't any songs here that really grabbed me, but it was consistently good overall 3/5
That's not my taste in musik. But ok
This is a Depeche Mode record. Less poppy than they would become. It's what they call the sort of thing you'd probably enjoy if you enjoy that sort of thing. Maybe more than most of this sort of thing. This is a Depeche Mode album.
Articulate and intricate electronic music. Big sounds. Bit samey.
6.5/10 Great sound, but not enough great songs. Highlights: Never Let me Down Again Behind the Wheel Strangelove
A pretty good album, I enjoyed Never Let Me Down Again and Strangelove the most.
I was kinda vibing but I Want You Now fully killed the mood lol 3/5
Depeche Mode, yeah ok
The dark electro reminds me a lot of NIN (which debuted only two years later). It’s pretty good. Covers a lot of ground for ostensibly being a pop album. Sounds like this was one album in a string of big hits for them. 3.8
little weird
I was not a fan growing up but do like them better these days. This has some O recognize even so.
Pretty solid new wave. There were plenty of cool, groovy parts, but also a lot of boring sections that got annoying before an actual song kicked back in
This started out so good and then kinda fell off and became such a standard moody 80s album. Good but not great.
sounds like 1990
Pretty good Depeche Mode album that I have never heard before. It's pretty chilled out in some places but also mechanical upbeat in others, very nice.
Another Depech offering pretty good also
Fine for what it is. Not as catchy as the best synthpop should.
The Depeche mode sound is like salt on fries. I don't want a whole bowl of salt, I just want a little salt on my fries.
Ok
These guys are definitely a cut above most of their peers in this style of music. There was a lot of creative ideas on this album and a darker tone than some of their other work.
Not my favourite Depeche Mode album. Well crafted and most of what I'd expect from the band, but just doesn't really get all the way for me.
Obvious here is the high level musicality, smooth, soothing vocals/harmonies and melody sense. If you’re good with all synth arrangements then this might be one for your favorites. Personally I need me some real instruments. For that reason, Personal Jesus is my favorite DM song.
An enjoyable listen
I like Depeche Mode but didn’t really like this album. Not liking the instrumental stuff.
Ok album
cool
Always gonna love some moody 80s synth pop. Some strong tracks like Never Let Me Down & interesting arrangements like agent orange but also some others that feel almost clunky and simplistic?! V atmospheric though
At first I was like…This is a bit more like it!! Would have absolutely blown my head off in 1987. Then after the first track it’s just a bit boring. One song sounds like soundtrack to GoldenEye for N64. Otherwise… nah.
Love some Depeche Mode
Moi qui attendait une occasion de découvrir Depeche Mode... Je ne sais pas si c'est un album représentatif, mais l'ambiance était aussi unique que je me l'imaginais : une espèce d'ésotérisme rock/électro. J'ai moins accroché à la fin de l'album, plus expérimentale et ambient qu'autre chose... Ceci dit, je note un véritable projet artistique.
Not being familiar with Depeche Mode, nor the genre, this album took a couple of listens to really get. I could hear the influence they had on Paradise Lost during their One Second/Host-era and AFI post Art of Drowning, but without the infectious melodies and hooks. Moreover, the slow pace of the songs made it hard to really focus on what was going on. The different layers of instrumentation, etc. It didn't hit me as hard as I hoped, but there were a couple of decent songs. So instead of a new One Second/Sing the Sorrow, I got a Believe in Nothing/Burials instead. Best song: Little 15 Weird sequencing: Pimpf would be much better off opening the album
Yeah this was pretty good. Not sure it really hit me that hard. Track 5 was my favourite.
# Playlist track - Never Let Me Down Again # Notes - Dark and brooding in an interesting way, at least at first. - After tracks 4-5 it loses some of the shine and become repetitive. Might need to listen a few more times to get into it.
Depeche Mode's brooding, dramatic version of pop synth music fit particularly well with the 80s aesthetic. They make dance music with synthesizers and drum machines. The songs are catchy and danceable, but it is hard to notice any particular difference between the songs. The band was quite commercially successful at the time, and have been able to sustain a successful career since. Music for the Masses may have had mass appeal at the time, but for the very dated sound of these songs, that appeal has certainly waned.
What can I say? It's Depeche Mode. Formative but there's other things nowadays I'd rather listen to.
Bit dreary
Not bad.
Not really my thing but should listen again
It’s fine
I like new wave more than I am willing to admit more often than not, but a lot of songs sound too similar if you’re not well versed in the genre.
It was good, I wasn’t expecting the ambient-y stuff.
Depressing a bit
This was a good album, I enjoyed listening to it. However I would likely never choose to listen to it.
If one is being forced to listen to electronic synth-pop, I suppose this is better than many options out there.
Listening to this alerted me to the fact that Depeche Mode is not Duran Duran and vice versa. In my mind its all the same, but when you listen, its different. Also appreciated the no-tricks Beethoven at the end.
Meh, too rock pop basic, did only listen to 3 songs or something
Sound exactly like Depeche Mode
Classic depeche mode, not their best but travel away from the greatest hits and enjoy their back catalogue.
good all around album. you know some hits.. really nice. Sonata at end was a special treat
it started really slow, got better as the album continued. feels stereotypical for the 80s, but still nice
The music here is dang near perfect. This is a great, moody, dark electronic-esque album with a lot going for it. Lots of neat effects and synth beats. Where this suffers is in the length and repetition. There are so many repeated lyric lines and the songs just can't seem to cut off at a reasonable point to combat that. It puts a damper on my desire to listen to this again, even if the music is pretty sweet. Fav tracks: Strangelove, Pleasure, Little Treasure, Never Let Me Down Again
First time listening to a Depeche Mode album all the way through, and they really hooked me with the first few songs. The spooky, broody vibes earned it a solid 4 initially but I really lost interest in the back half of the album. Still an enjoyable hour! Standout new to me song: Sacred
This is hitting better than when I listened to it a few years ago. I wonder if this project is opening my ears a bit?
Very 80s
It was fine? It took me like 2 hours to listen to the 1 hour long album because of work stuff and it dragged a bit
This album, without question, has some good songs. It’s classically 80s with its synth and rhythm and yet it has some really unique elements with its pace and dynamics. Quite liked it, got a bit bored.
I like Depeche Mode. Their sound is clearly 80's but somehow isn't dated. That said, I only got into a couple of the tracks here, the better knowns ones: Never Let Me Down Again (which I knew) and Behind The Wheel (which I didn't). So, as a whole it's not as good as their other albums.
Kinda boring
Good sound. 80th sinth and a little futuristic. Definitely worth another listen!
This one falls into the weird Depeche Mode era for me, post- the more bouncy Vince Clarke “Just Can’t Get Enough” era and pre- the more evolved 90’s “Enjoy the Silence” era. As different as those were, I think I prefer both to this one. I either want to be up and dancing or brooding alone in the corner, and this one straddled that line, making me do neither.
'Goedemorgen meneer, wij zijn van de jaren tachtig en we komen wat muziek brengen. Er zit veel keyboard in, lijzige zang, het zet een tijdsbeeld neer en klinkt allemaal hetzelfde. Kan ik het hier neerzetten? Veel plezier ermee en twee keer per week water geven.'
Een album wat mij niet zoveel doet. 3 sterren. Op zich knap, want het baseert zich wel op twee van mijn allergieën. Jaren '80 en zeurende zang.
Ik kan hier weinig interessante verhalen verder bij vinden, maar aangezien Dave Gahan een heroine junk is geweest, zal er ongetwijfeld een prima biografie of documentaire over gemaakt zijn. En dat wil ik dan toch wel weer lezen of zien. Qua muziek is het duistere synthpop met industriele computerbeats en de bezwerende stem van Dave Gahan (of de Talk Talk stem van Martin Gore af en toe). Vrij bombastisch, zoals Depeche Mode wel vaker is, maar wel sfeervol. Het is niet mijn muziek, maar de beklemmende sfeer die neergezet wordt, met name in het eerste deel, is wel goed gedaan. Het album bevat voor mij geen bekende hitjes en toch staat het in deze snoblijst. Als het hele album vol met die sfeervolle nummers had gestaan, dan was het als album nog wel een meerwaarde geweest, maar de intermezzo's van rustige nummers en/of het gebrek aan een of twee bekende hits, doen wat mij betreft toch wel afbreuk aan de albumervaring in dit geval. Hoger dan een 3 kan ik niet komen.
Pretty cool album. Some of the songs are kind of spooky.
The first 4 tracks are a great stretch of classic DM songs--Never Let Me Down, The Things You Said, Strangelove, Sacred is a near perfect run. But after that, this lost me a bit. With the exception of Behind the Wheel, the rest of the album is a SLOG to get through, I was sick of it by the end. I guess it kinda balances out to a 7/10, but a light 7.
funky. will not revisit
wel oke
Great at creating a dark brooding atmospheric mood, not so good at writing good songs
It was fine.
Solid product, but Depeche Mode has never really been my favorite band. I don't hate it, but nothing really stands out, either, other than the sometimes over-dramatic tone in Dave Gahan's voice and the over-the-top \"Pimpf\".
As a being with mass, I appreciate this band making music for me and my ilk. When I have further need of feeling robotic and disconnected, I shall request my musical device to summon said music.
osea de una pero medio like we care. 7/10
This was so darn 80s it hurt. Not really my thing but I did like a couple songs. I get the popularity as I'm sure a lot of the sounds were novel at the time!
Interesting parts, but mostly simplistic mood music. Better than Violator - maybe.
I thought it was cool and very “transcending” if you get what I mean. Felt like I was on another planet. BETTER THAN PEARL JAM
Reminds me of my first internet gf who was into 80s pop. Aside from the nostalgia, it's a little meh. Very "just discovered MIDI" vibes.
I did like this quite a bit. But 3 seems fair.
A classic
not my style
First half awesome. Second half terrible. Lol
Very much 80's synth...meh
Depeche Mode was never one of my favorites growing up in the 80's, but no one can deny, that they have that iconic 80's sound that defined that decade's music. I tended to 70's music and the goth rock bands of the 80's (The Damned, Bauhaus, and The Sisters of Mercy). While a little too synthpop to me, I did enjoy some of this record, notably the lyricism and the song "To Have and to Hold".
Never really my thing but pleasant enough.
Interesting, not sure I’ll ever go back to it but worth listening to it once.
Ik word niet heel warm van dit album
Lush but dreary. Production is great. Nothing really stands out though
"Deluxe Edition" - makes me want to cry. I like Depeche Mode, but I've never really *loved* their stuff. I was enjoying listening to the album instead of just the hits. But then I hit the "Deluxe Edition" junk. When exactly? I don't know. I'm just listening to a good album, and the next thing I know I'm listening to not a good album. Way to kill a good vibe.
Not my style but I enjoyed learning about it!
Interesantes sonidos y tal pero se hace demasiado estático, por lo que cansa enseguida.
not bad but not good
Some well known songs from the 80s. In general I guess I find it kind of boring music-wise.
Like a real melodramatic apocalypse, but with fairly static beats. Very obviously influenced by Kraftwrek. Don’t think I’d end up listening to it fully again, but perhaps a few tracks. Nothing is definitely the most creative track to me. Fav tracks: The Things You Said, Strangelove, To Have and To Hold, Nothing
Not a bad album. Not sure about the weird set nosies on I want you now!! Liked never let me down again and strangelove
Definitely a vibe...super cool an innovative is someways, but a bit too much for me all at once
This was a big one for me in high school, but it took me until just now to realize it’s all about drugs.
Meh. Not my cup of synthesizer tea. I think they're good if you like this sort of music, though.
It's fine I guess. Wasn't really impressed though.
i really really liked the first 3 songs of the album it had a genuinely good start and captivated my attention the rest was good too but a good album starts off strong and this definitely did
First 4 tracks are great, then the quality of the albums dips a bit. The next few tracks are still good, just not as good as the ones preceding them. I don't like 'I want you now'. 'To have and to hold' is boring. I like the dramatic shift the album takes at pimpf, it is a good way to close the album. The remixes are mid but I'm going to ignore them
Interesting, not my thing though
Some known songs but all in all it is not my music style I totally like
Very interesting genre. Usually not a fan of 80's synth but they are different and there were some good tracks. More misses than hits though.
Pretty cool
Die perfekte materialisierung von 'its not a phase Mom!' gut gemacht, aber bei Demo nichts überraschendes und hier auch nicht die oberbanger dabei.
I was really happy to see this band's name show up. I've heard about them and people have raved about them online and I was always felt that they had a solid cult following. What a let down to find out they're just new wave boring British pop. The instrumentals are decent but a lot of this ends up being pretty forgettable. Some of the instrumentals were able to draw out emotion but the brooding of the lead singer just doesn't do it for me. Not offensively bad but also nothing that sticks out.
i wanted to like this more than i did, but it was still pleasant!
Very clean sound and lots of variety, without an overwhelming amount of 80s synths :D Favorite track: Strangelove
Gear: Fostex TH610 (Lawton) Mische: fies hallende Drums, schreit nach mehr Lautstärke - unter 100 Hz wohnt aber (meistens) niemand Mugge: trotz meiner Schwäche für 80s-Synths - ganz große Liebe ist dieses Album nicht bei mir Wertung: 3/5 (+1 für "Behind the Wheel")
Sehr gutes Album mit den Klassikern: Never Let me Down und Strangelove Geht mal aber nicht immer:
It's listenable, unmistakably depeche mode, good background music. Don't love it though. 3 flat.
The first DM album I bought at the time of its release. I was so looking forward to it and paid for it out of my 4th ever pay packet from Tesco. After teasing us with 'Strangelove' and the monumentally brilliant 'Never Let Me Down Again', on first listen I was gravely disappointed by it. At 16, I don't think I was ready for the slow pace of most of the album. Being a goth at that time I felt this album would be better than it was, with all its reverb and a darkness to the tone. However I have grown up and fast forward 36 years, I've finally got round to listening to it again. This time round? Better, but still not exciting me as a whole. All the singles are bangers, most of the album tracks are at best good, a couple are just fillers. However 'Pimpf', a track I hated at 16, sounds really good to my old ears now, I wanted it to go on longer. You can hear their sound slowly transforming into what would become 'Violator' three years later. Difficult decision in what to give this, so I'll give it a high 3.
Very good album, some great songs. However Depeche Mode is one those bands I really love about 50% of there stuff and while the rest isn't bad by any means it's just ok. I don't often listen to a whole album of there's often. A 3.5 for me and since there's gotta be at least one more on the list, I keep it at 3.
I’m not much of a DM fan. They have a few songs I like (Strangelove) but I get tired of the sound after a few songs.
I wanted to like this more than I did. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. I thought it was fine.
I will probably like it more on relisten, but I just kept wanting it to be Violator
Dull by Depeche Mode standards
Some nice surprises but it’s only Depeche Mode with that weird front man.
Enjoyable listen at work. None of the big songs I know of. Ends with Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata?
Blind album, know the artist. Catchy parts of catchy songs but overall not to the higher standards of Depeche when I think of the group. Like chocolate chip cookies, and the chips are way better than the stale crunchy cookie itself. Not Gooey and warm but it makes the cookie good.
Some great theatrical songs, a little slow at times
fav: Nothing
Depeche Mode is one of the more pleasant 80s synth pop groups for me. Still only sorta like it though
this album had some interesting sounds, it took me a few listens to grasp it and they were sim disconnected, I never got it all in one go. never let me down again is good but I found the album kind of blende together as it rolled through, not a bad thing, but difficult to differentiate before you all of a sudden realise that there is some ambient noise and no more lyrics
Staple 80s sound with a lot of reverb. Pop-heavy with fun grooves to ride along to.
Not the strongest offering, with no real standout songs. Overall, a good effort, but j was looking for more.
80s af