Speak & Spell is the debut studio album by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was released on 29 October 1981 by Mute Records in the UK, and Sire Records in the US. It was the band's only album to feature founding member Vince Clarke. The album peaked at number 10 on the UK Albums Chart, and was ranked number 991 in the 2000 book All Time Top 1000 Albums. The album's cover, a "puzzling" picture of a swan wrapped in plastic, was designed by Brian Griffin and earned him a "brazingly inflated" £1000 fee (about £4,800 today). The band had agreed to not show their faces on their album cover, wanting the quality of the artwork to reflect their seriousness as musicians. Griffin would also shoot the cover artwork for Depeche Mode's follow-up album, A Broken Frame (1982).
Wow I knew Vince Bell was involved with the founding of Depeche Mode, but hadn’t really investigated the group much when he was involved. This gave me a whole new perspective on the group… how interesting to go back to the origins of both later Depeche Mode and Erasure… not two groups you’d normally consider in the same moment.
In the venn diagram of my teen years' musical taste development, 80s New Wave intersects heavily, though only the more rock-oriented side of it (Police, Talking Heads) really stuck. I actually found this a very amiable listen, no complaints. It is a little too thoroughly of its time and genre, which I think largely didn't age perfectly. Too soft-centered and synthetic. But I enjoyed my hour in the museum.
Depeche Mode had at least one album in the main list, why add another? Eh. Anyway, this is exactly what you'd expect from these guys: knockoff Kraftwerk/Gary Numan noises, very dated. And the disconnect between the sound and visual of the album cover is pretty big. 2.5/5.
This was back at the Birth of Brit Synth when I liked Depeche Mode and Vince ruled supreme. I love these sounds. True Synth-pop. A Classic.
Great to hear again
The debut album of Depeche Mode is a nice synth-pop album. It has three good songs: "New Life", "Puppets" and "Just Can't Get Enough". Other songs vary between instantly disposable pop ("What's Your Name?"), subpar produced songs ("I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead") or forgettable tracks (sorry, I can't remember which). All in all it's ok, but you can better listen to their later work.
This is the perfect example of poncey fluff I despised when I was younger and just trying to work out the coolest hammer-ons, pull-offs, artificial harmonics, and power chords of whatever the latest spandex-laden "metal" band just released. Now I just think it's quaint and mildly fun. Definitely more a historical musical artifact seeing how the lovely lads started out, they got way better over the decade; a negative would be that it sounds incredibly dated but that's also admittedly part of the fun. I still say it's fluffy, but that probably says more about me. A fine-enough listen. 5/10 3 stars.
Some fun tracks here and there, but everything this band has released ages so poorly in a modern light. The dominant synth melodies and accents are a bit grating and haven’t been included on any hardware released past 1990, and the repetitive songwriting doesn’t help matters either.
Used to be a 5-star album for me for >25 years. However, over time my view changed a little: I still like the sound very much, and most of the Vince Clarke songs are still great, but there is just little bit too much filler for a 5-star score. My vote: 8/10.
I really enjoyed the second song and the second to last, but Depeche Mode was never my scene. This album doesn’t bother me as much as Violator, but it won’t be going in my library (except for those two aforementioned songs). Good album, though. Well done. 3/5
80’s synth pop for me is usually very hit or miss as it can sound very dated and silly. This album exceeded those expectations and I enjoyed it overall. Solid 3/5
I love Depeche Mode and rated both albums on the main list 5. Speak & Spell sounds like junior high to me, which is a good thing, and Just Can't Get Enough is certainly an iconic representation of the era. Generally speaking, though, they definitely have not yet hit their stride with this album. I agree with a previous reviewer who pointed out the album art (which is quite arresting) and album content seem unrelated, and I would further say the album title is also unrelated to either (beyond just "electronic"). Or maybe there's something deep here and I'm just not getting it?
Some big hits and big misses
Bing bong hop on it disco style... disco beat and hump pump greatness perhaps if you are into it. I mean it's depeche mode. Interesting to put a lesser album of theirs here when the original list already has multiple. Nevertheless, it's good music.
Stand alone this is a good album, but it just feels a bit flat vs their later entries and no way near the same league as violator. Stand alone id include it in the list, but I’d argued the best of Depeche mode is already well represented.
Bad, with one great song
Not a fan. 2 stars.
The first album from Depeche Mode was about as I expected full of synth and lyrically unique. Not nearly as good as violator but this album still has a couple good songs and shows glimpses of their later talent. Most new wave is also just not for me. 5.4/10
Idk man, so silly
Like in all honestly I’ve never gotten the hype of despeche mode. They just kind of bore me, so I don’t get it. I didn’t hate it but like guh.