If you were ask me back when I first started putting bands on the chopping block to review this band, I would say no freaking way. But as with other bands that I’ve put on the chopping block there are certain people in this world that will bug you and bug you and bug you to the point where they say “you should just listen to one of their albums, just one.” Then you listen to that one album and you realize oh it’s not that bad which then leads you to wonder how is the rest of the catalog? Are they really that bad or perhaps does one have some preconceived notions and it’s only heard what is being played on the radio? Anyway, the band on the chopping block is Depeche Mode and as I said before, just a couple of years ago, I never would’ve even considered reviewing them but here we are so with that let’s take a look……….
Speak And Spell- you know there’s something oddly fun about this record. Like I guess I would say it’s Electro pop (is that even a thing?) but there’s just something I don’t know very 80s sounding about this record. I actually enjoyed this more than I would’ve thought and again it’s just kind of a fun record. I was very pleasantly surprised so I’m gonna go ahead and give this one a 9/10.
Standouts: I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead, Nodisco, Dreaming Of Me
A Broken Frame- I would say this once maybe not as upbeat as the last album but it has its moments that are like that one. It does seem a tad darker and maybe not as happy I guess, but I still found myself enjoying this one. I’m gonna have to give this 8.5/10.
Standouts: Leave In Silence, Monument, My Secret Garden
Construction Time Again- I guess if I had to describe the sound of this album it would be worldly. There’s definitely European influences as well as some slight Asian influences as well. Definitely an interesting sounding record and I’m going to give this one 8/10
Standouts: Love In Itself, Shame, Told You So
Some Great Reward- this one kinda reminds me of the last one a little bit, but it does seem to be a bit slower and somewhat darker. It’s a very interesting follow up from the last album and it’s sort of feels like a continuation of that album too. Not a bad album and I’m gonna go ahead and give it 8/10.
Standouts: Lie To Me, If You Want, Something To Do
Black Celebration- I feel like if you were to take industrial and pop and put them together this is the album that you would get. Again it does feel like a darker album but at the same time it doesn’t it’s kinda hard to explain. It also has this sort of neo noir vibe too which again makes for an interesting listen. Overall, the very interesting album and I’m gonna go ahead and give it another 8/10.
Standouts: Fly On The Windscreen, A Question Of Time, New Dress
Music For The Masses- this one definitely feels more atmospheric and it doesn’t really have a pop sound like you heard on previous releases. I feel like with this one it did tend to drag quite a bit in parts, but maybe it was meant to do that. I’m not really sure. Overall, I found this one just to be OK and I’m gonna go ahead and give it 7/10.
Standouts: The Things You Said, Little 15, Nothing
Violator- finally we get an album that’s not as dark. Like I was really starting to get tired of saying this album is dark, but with this one, yes it has a little bit of darkness to it, but it kind of reminds me of maybe the first couple records. Oddly enough, I enjoyed this one more than I would’ve thought but again it drags and I’m starting to notice that with a lot of these other records. As a whole, I could see why this would be considered a classic and I’m gonna go ahead and give it 9/10.
Standouts: World In My Eyes, Halo, Dangerous
Songs Of Faith And Devotion- OK so if you go back and look at my Mixed Bag Reviews, there is a review for this album (I think it’s on the latest one) but this was probably the first album of theirs I actually listened to from start to finish and I gotta say at the time when I listened to it, I really enjoyed it and that has not changed the second time around. It does sort of seem to continue where Violator left off and you could honestly listen about those albums back to back, and it would be an amazing listening experience. So my thoughts on this one really haven’t changed since I originally reviewed this album so I’m gonna go ahead and still give it to a 9/10.
Standouts: Mercy In You, Rush, Higher Love
Ultra- I believe my first impressions when I heard this album was “ Oh wow, I can clearly see how a band like Nine Inch Nails would be influenced by a band like this.” This is one of those albums that starts off really strong but then towards the middle it just drags on and on and on and on so much so that I ended up having to skip a few songs in the middle because it just started to get really boring. One thing I will say do not drive in traffic and listen to this album or the next album because it will make your anger so much worse. All kidding aside if they had just cut this album in half I think it would’ve been a lot better. As a whole it’s OK I’m gonna go ahead and give this 7.5/10.
Standouts: Useless, Barrel Of A Gun, Junior Painkiller
Exciter- so they said with the last album this one also tends to drag in the middle and being stuck in traffic and listening to this album probably didn’t help matters. But in any case, I can see how fans would like this album and I can see how other bands would be influenced by this album. Listening to it a second time it’s actually a very good album. No, it’s not dark like other albums and it’s actually kind of weird because there’s a lot going on so with that I’m gonna go ahead and give this 8.5/10
Standouts: Dream On, Dead Of Night, Comatose
Playing The Angel- this one sort of picks up where Exciter left off because the songs feel very similar. This was another one of those that I had to listen to a second time around in order to really appreciate it but overall, I’d say it’s not bad. I could see how this one might get overlooked by fans of this band, but I hate to admit it’s a pretty decent album. I’m gonna go ahead and give this one 8/10.
Standouts: Suffer Well, Damaged People, I Want It All
Sounds Of The Universe- I feel like this is one of those albums that you kind of get a little bit of everything. Again, I had to go back and listen to it a second time in order to appreciate it a little bit more but (and I can’t believe I’m typing this) I actually really like this album. It’s just something about it. I mean it’s got their kinda pop stuff there electronic/space sounding stuff basically as I said before it’s got a little bit of everything. I’m gonna go ahead and give this one 9/10.
Standouts: Fragile Tension, Perfect, In Chains
Delta Machine- OK this is one of those albums that I honestly feel like could’ve done with maybe five or so less songs. It starts off pretty good but towards the middle it really gets boring. Like I’m talking you can’t wait for this album to be over. Kind of boring. Again it’s not a bad album, but it’s just long and drawn out and the vocals keep repeating themselves over and over on certain songs. I think they released a B sides of this album than it probably would’ve been a little bit better and maybe I’m just not getting it this time around, but I found this one to be just OK. I’m going to give this 7/10.
Standouts: Welcome To My World, Long Time Lie, Heaven
Spirit- maybe it’s just me, but I kinda get futuristic vibes when I listen to this record. I don’t know this is something about the way this sounds. It’s very kind of space sounding almost futuristic sounding. I really can’t describe it but it’s definitely a very interesting and unique sounding record. I’m gonna go ahead and give this one, 8.5/10.
Standouts: You Move, Cover Me, The Worst Crime
Memento Mori- this does kinda remind me of the previous record, but on a more refined kind of level if that makes any sense. Like this album and the one before that are perfect albums to listen to back to back. To me this one’s a little bit slow for my taste, but it’s not quite as dark as the last album or other albums we’ve heard from this band. This being album number 15 it doesn’t sound like a rehash of what’s been done before just maybe (as I’ve said before) a slight refinement. I’m gonna go ahead and give this one, 8.5/10.
Standouts: My Cosmos Is Mine, People Are Good, Wagging Tongue
So yes, this is another one of those bands that I usually would not listen to, but I can see how they would be an influence for many bands that I enjoy. The biggest thing that I noticed with a lot of their songs is that a lot of vocals tend to repeat themselves over and over and they could’ve left off a good amount of songs off of several album albums and they would’ve been fine. But again, I am glad I gave them a chance but I don’t think you’ll see me wearing any of their merch or going to any of their shows. But again this band actually isn’t that bad and they are very interesting and unique sounding band and as I’ve said, other views, if a stubborn metalhead, such as myself can’t give these guys a chance then I would encourage anybody on the fence to do the same thing.
Final Grade: B+/A-
Album Rankings:
- Songs Of Faith And Devotion
- Speak And Spell
- Violator
- Sounds Of The Universe
- A Broken Frame
- Spirit
- Exciter
- Some Great Reward
- Memento Mori
- Black Celebration
- Construction Time Again
- Playing The Angel
- Delta Machine
- Music For The Masses
- Ultra
Sinister Reviews 