Since Violator has just been reviewed and given all it's deserved praise, I thought I'd chime in with my personal favorite, yes, my personal favorite DM album-Songs of Faith and Devotion..

For me personally, this is Depeche's most creative, strongest album. They synth-nerds always get upset at this one. But the reason I like this album the most is BECAUSE it goes against everything that Depeche did previously. We have the widest array of musical styles, much more varied instrumentation, and a drasticaly different image and look for the band. The remixes and B-sides to this period are more alive, raw, and organic. The Devotional DVD also captures this creative peak. Yes, I belive this to be their creative peak. That is the reason why fans are divided over it. Because it is not as cohesive as Violator. It pushes bondaries more. It breaks the expected mold of what people expected DM to be, and that is why some people resist it, and that is why it's my personal favorite...

I LOVE this album. I saw them live almost 2 weeks ago in Dublin and I am still on a high.This cd has some of their best songs....incl. the blissful higher love.

Ultra is better.

GangstaFam said:

SOFAD is great, but I'd put it below both Ultra and Violator. After a while, it gets too samey. The other albums did a better job of expanding their sound, IMO.

SOFAD was a big disappointment to me. Too Grungy sounding. I thought I feel You was a Personal Jesus Rip off (and Barrel of a gun an I feel you rip off)

And for the first time there was a DM song that caused my ears to bleed... Condemnation WHich I renamed for all intents and Purposes "constapation"..."tryyyyy"

OH oh oh...AND this was the first album in which the rest would follow in sound...which for me was not appealing.

'Songs of Faith and Devotion' is my favorite of the post-'Violator' albums. There are some songs on it that rank among their best. Someone mentioned 'Higher Love'. I'd also throw 'In Your Room' and 'Walking In My Shoes' in that category also. The one real downer on the album was 'I Feel You' which, to me, seemed an awful attempt at duplicating 'Personal Jesus'.

Man, I thought this was gonna be about gospel songs

Congratulations. You guys just convinced me to sell my copy. I never listen to it anyway.

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[Edited 7/7/06 13:19pm]

sextonseven said:

sorry.

GangstaFam said:

Waitaminute, "One Caress" is on that one. right? I may give the album one last listen before deciding yay or nay.

sextonseven said:

Good idea. I would always recommend using your own judgement in deciding what stays or goes in your album collection.

sextonseven said:

Yup. I'd say keep it. It's a good album, just not one of my very favorites.