New Depeche Mode: Yes or No

[rikm]

I would say that my first listen I was rather underwhelmed, but repeated listens have revealed some real gems in there. It's definitely a grower and I look forward to hearing some of the tracks performed live.

Thoughts?

[åpne sinn]

I'm still working through it. Like you, I wasn't crazy about alot of it after the first listen, though Fragile Tension, In Sympathy, Perfect and Corrupt were instant hits. There are still some real dogs on the album (Hole to Feed, Spacewalker) but I have to say that after listening through it 5 or 6 times I'm liking it much more than I have their past several releases. Ultra was okay, Exciter was a bomb, Playing the Angel had some good moments but I think this one is a stronger release.

I also love the fact that they went back almost to the drum sound from the early 80's.

[John Koch-Northrup]

It's growing on me... I've been a stupidly huge dm fan for so long... I don't have much after Violator to be honest. It's growing on me...

[rikm]

Endoflogic said:

I'm still working through it. Like you, I wasn't crazy about alot of it after the first listen, though Fragile Tension, In Sympathy, Perfect and Corrupt were instant hits. There are still some real dogs on the album (Hole to Feed, Spacewalker) but I have to say that after listening through it 5 or 6 times I'm liking it much more than I have their past several releases. Ultra was okay, Exciter was a bomb, Playing the Angel had some good moments but I think this one is a stronger release.

I also love the fact that they went back almost to the drum sound from the early 80's.

I agree with you about Fragile Tension and In Sympathy, those are two really great songs. I'm finding that Wrong is growing on me as well, much more than when I first heard it.

I'm not sure if I like it more than Playing the Angel, but it's definitely growing in my estimation. Mind you there's nothing on Sounds of the Universe that tops Lilian... =-)

[rikm]

John Koch-Northrup said:

It's growing on me... I've been a stupidly huge dm fan for so long... I don't have much after Violator to be honest. It's growing on me...

It's getting better. I haven't had to spend so much time getting into a Depeche Mode disc before, but I figure they've given me so many hours of enjoyment with earlier releases that I should at least make the effort.

[Flight33]

I've been a DM fan for as long as I can remember, but it always takes me a couple of listens for me to get used to each album. I've like what I've heard so far from this latest album -- but it'll take another couple of listens before i *really* like it.

[sympathetic | DIVISION]

I must admit to having gone off DM quite a bit over the years, for me after Songs of Faith and Devotion they kinda lost me. Every so often I heard a great song, but I also heard a lot of crap! Gahan's voice got way too rough & the band sounded as if they all wanted to just go off & do their solo albums. With the new album I have to say it sounds as if they have come back together as a group, still it'll take me a few more listens to get into it totally but it's definitely one that is growing on me! I actually really like Wrong, even though the word wrong is over used!!!!!

[rikm]

Flight33 said:

I've been a DM fan for as long as I can remember, but it always takes me a couple of listens for me to get used to each album. I've like what I've heard so far from this latest album -- but it'll take another couple of listens before i *really* like it.

I can happily say that I've given it the requisite number of listens to reach the "really really Really Like It" plateau. Anticipation for the live show continues to build, made all the more exciting by the fact that it's my partners first time seeing them...

[rikm]

sympathetic | DIVISION said:

the band sounded as if they all wanted to just go off & do their solo albums. With the new album I have to say it sounds as if they have come back together as a group

I would definitely agree that they sound a little more unified on this one.

[Mystical Sun]

I wish Alan Wilder was still part of the band. I think he added that extra something that made their sound...

[rikm]

Mystical Sun said:

I wish Alan Wilder was still part of the band. I think he added that extra something that made their sound...

There's definitely a change in sound since Alan Wilder left the band, something a little more daring and eclectic that they don't have now. Are you familiar with the Recoil albums? Really wonderful solo work from Alan Wilder where he can push the envelope in ways that he wasn't able to before...

[John Koch-Northrup]

Definitely agree... I liked Alan Wilder being in there. A Broken Frame is a beautiful album between Vince Clarke's Speak and Spell and Wilder joining for Construction Time Again - it just seemed the band 'clicked' with the four of them. I saw them four times live in the later 80's - all great shows.

[rikm]

John Koch-Northrup said:

Definitely agree... I liked Alan Wilder being in there. A Broken Frame is a beautiful album between Vince Clarke's Speak and Spell and Wilder joining for Construction Time Again - it just seemed the band 'clicked' with the four of them. I saw them four times live in the later 80's - all great shows.

I was lucky enough to see them a few times then as well. In fact my very first concert was Depeche Mode on the Black Celebration tour! I also saw Music for the Masses and Violator twice each. Amazing shows that count among the best I've ever seen.