The title’s just a little bit misleading, it’s not like I ever stopped liking them (even went to see them live again a few years ago, for the first time since … eh … 1987 or so). But lately I’ve been listening to the records again and … Wow.
Just as a bit of background - I moved from America to Ireland several years ago, and very little of my music collection moved with me. Last month one of my co-workers, aware of my situation, discovered that I’m a DM fan and offered to lend me his copies of all their CDs. I’ve borrowed them all up to 101 so far. A few observations:
My basic opinions about the albums haven’t changed. I still like A Broken Frame the best, then Some Great Reward, then Speak and Spell, then Construction Time Again. Black Celebration I’m still not crazy about but it has its moments, and Music for the Masses I still consider a very solid and underrated album, though the last couple tracks don’t do much for me. And 101, well, I never did like live albums.
There aren’t any songs I used to love but don’t care much for now. But there are songs I like a whole lot better now than I used to - “Something To Do” and “A Question of Lust” being the two that come to mind immediately. And how did I fail to notice before how absolutely brilliant “Ice Machine” is?
On that note, “Ice Machine” has worked its way onto my official list of Favourite DM songs (alongside “Get the Balance Right”, “Dreaming of Me” and “See You”, which were my favourites then and now).
They really should have cut that “P-R-E-double T-Y” bit out of “What’s Your Name”.
And the whole S&M thing was a bit embarrassing really, wasn’t it?
So anyway, I’ve got these all taped and I’ll be borrowing the later albums soon. I’m really curious to hear them, because I’ve never owned them - I pretty much went off DM after MFTM. But my co-worker has begged me to give them another chance, and I’m looking forward to doing so.
Any other DM fans, please feel free to comment (DM haters can go off and play in the Red Hot Chili Peppers thread or something).
“Flexible” is the b-side to “Shake the Disease”, but can also be found on the American “Catching Up With Depeche Mode” compilation. I don’t believe it’s on any full album out in Europe.
I’m a huge DM fan. I do feel that their music has definitely taken a step down in quality since the departure of Alan Wilder in 1995 - “ULTRA” is decent, but bland in a stripped down sort of way. “Exciter” is okay, but it seems like Martin was kind of running on auto-pilot when it came to songwriting and I’m not a big fan of how it was produced.
Their early stuff is really good, but I’m one of those “Black Celebration” fans From 1986-1993, I think they definitely made their best work. I just wish that I had been able to see them on the World Violation tour in 1990 … that had THE BEST setlist of any tour yet.
If you are interested - both Martin and Dave are releasing solo albums in the next couple of months. Martin’s is called “Counterfeit 2” and contains all covers - it comes out on April 28th. I have it already and I like it a lot, but it’s not accessible at all. Very dark, pretty obscure, and quite low-key. Dave’s album will be his first foray into songwriting and is called “Paper Monsters”. It will come out in June. I don’t have this one yet, but I should have it by the end of the week. So far, from what I’ve heard from other DM fans who have it, it’s supposed to be pretty good.
Oh, and why didn’t they take out that “P-R-E-double T-Y”? Because it’s already an embarassing song, so why not add a little humor? (for the record, that is my deranged roommate’s favorite Depeche Mode song)
Thanks for reminding me about Counterfeit - I’ll have to see if the co-worker has it (the first one, that is). I’m a huge fan of the originals of “Compulsion” and “Smile in the Crowd” and I love Martin’s versions anyway … that’s pretty unusual. The track listing of Counterfeit 2 looks interesting, I will definitely check that out.
What do you think of Alan Wilder’s post-DM work? I’m not familiar with it at all.
Well, I’m assuming that you mean Recoil, the band that Alan Wilder began concentrating on after leaving DM in 1995. The band was formed as early as 1985, but my first experience with Recoil was my purchase of 1997’s Unsound Methods.
It’s a difficult listen to say the least, especially if you are expecting anything remotely like his work with DM, on first listen the album seemed rather chaotic and dark, but it has grown on me, particularly the tracks that feature Siobhan Lynch and Maggie Estep.
Unsound Methods also features guest vocals from Douglas McCarthy (of Nitzer Ebb fame) and Hepzibah Sessa (Miranda Sex Garden.)
Alan Wilder’s most recent album, “Liquid” is pretty good, but even harder to listen to than “Unsound Methods”. Pretty much all of the vocals are spoken word, which definitely will throw you off a bit. It’s really hard to get down when someone’s just talking. But the theme and mood of the album is just awesome. Amazingly dark and perfectly produced - it’s this production that DM is missing these days.
But, yeah, don’t expect DM and you might really like it.
From 1986-1993, I think they definitely made their best work. I just wish that I had been able to see them on the World Violation tour in 1990 … that had THE BEST setlist of any tour yet.