My peak DM listening is a bit skewed from that - 85 to 97 covers it (I love Ultra)
Depeche Mode
- Thread starter simes1970
- Start date
The Ultra singles were all 5/5s.
I own nothing past Violator, but I wouldn´t really want them (or anyone) to go back to a certain vintage type of music. Usually those records are so ingrained into our minds that a return would always sound like a simulacrum.
Take OMD for example: Trying to do something akin to Dazzle Ships is just bland and actually weakens the "original" because it reduces its originality to a formula that appears to be easily duplictated.
At least that´s how it feels/sounds to me.
I don't necessary want DM to go back and produce another Violator. I just wish they weren't so restricted musically at the moment by sticking to same bluesy style (so it feels) as they have been since Playing the Angel.
Completely agree with this.
This industrial/blues sound (don't know exactly how to define it) doesn't land for me for some reason and they've been trying it for a long time.
I think more downtempo-ish electronic songs like Happens All The Time would be a great direction.
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100% agree with this, Delta Machine for me was just bleak, I much prefer Spirit, it just took a few listens to get in to, but Going Backwards, Cover Me, You Move, No More, Fail, all great.
I also think Playing the Angel is great too, Sound of the Universe I enjoyed at the time, but now I struggle to get through it, although there are some gems on there.
For me Ultra is an extension of the 1983-1993 peak Depeche Mode, it's a great album and the producer did a fantastic job of capturing those Alan Wilder production qualities.
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Yes I was never as convinced by the new OMD stuff as a lot of fans seem to be.
Andy and Paul should bin their laptops and buy some tasty analogue synths because "what if Architecture & Morality but sounding like Liberator" is not it.
As for Mode, there are no albums after Violator that are great from top to tail. Ultra has mostly underwhelming singles but some of their best album tracks; Playing The Angel is a feast of clichés; Spirit is cringemaking. I get the complaints about Martin's blues stylings but I still maintain that Exciter, Sounds and Delta Machine are the best post-Alan releases, and all of those are too long and have at least two Mode-by-the-numbers "spectaculars".
Hmm, I enjoy a lot of their post Alan stuff.
Ultra, Playing The Angel and Spirit were all great eras for me.
Ultra, Playing The Angel and Spirit were all great eras for me.
Home and It’s No Good underwhelming singles????
I’m still waiting for the day Exciter clicks with me, Goodnight Lovers is gorgeous but as an album I can’t get through.
I’m still waiting for the day Exciter clicks with me, Goodnight Lovers is gorgeous but as an album I can’t get through.
The Exciter Tour was the first time I go to see them live, so it's kind of special in that way for me.
But overall I find that album a little bit all over the shop in musical direction and not as cohesive as all the other albums.
Sounds Of The Universe is probably a bit like that for me too.
But overall I find that album a little bit all over the shop in musical direction and not as cohesive as all the other albums.
Sounds Of The Universe is probably a bit like that for me too.
Exciter has some nice stuff...felt like a welcome breather after the heavy 90s albums. But it's quite uneven in terms of the songs.
Agreed, Martins writers block so very evident on the biblical names track. I do like Comatose though.
Home is exceptional and I would have led the campaign with it. It's No Good is rambling, empty, derivative and decidedly "middle of side 2".
I love ‘It’s No Good’. I’d gotten a copy recorded from radio and played it to death until I could have the actual single and album. Perfect post midnight listening, and it has a satisfying seedy feel.
I am well used to being on the dissenting side for all things Mode post-Alan!