My sister LOVES Depeche Mode- ever since we were kids. I liked them, but not that much. As we got older, I started listening to her stuff more. When they toured for Violator, she was in the hospital and almost died. So last year, I made sure she got to see them. BUT I had a paper due for class and was completely stressed out the night of the concert. I complained all the way into the city on the train. We got to Madison Square Garden, the show started, and I think I rocked out harder than she did!

Then we saw them in NJ on Mother's Day. Yes! I said all that to say I am now a DM fan. I stole her stuff and loaded up my iPod.

I love "Home", "A Question of Lust", and "Macro" among others....

I stopped listening to DM after Vince Clark left, I followed his career more than DM.

Though the Behind The Wheel/Route 66 Mega Single Mix from the just say yo cd, still kicks my ass.

lazycrockett said:

man...you are real old...maybe 40 or something!

damosuzuki said:

I'm interested to hear your take now. Go on...

Like!? I them!

GangstaFam said:

I usually try not to do things like this – I figure if you don’t like something, why butt in on other people sharing their enjoyment. I certainly am not arrogant enough to think that my opinion deserves to be weighted above anyone else’s. I once read a quote from Steve Albini where he stated (paraphrasing here) that if he doesn’t enjoy a particular band he produces, he just assumes that’s his problem and that the group possesses something of value that he just can’t enjoy. I think that’s a fine way of approaching music, and it’s something I keep in mind whenever I see someone praising something I personally consider to be dreadful.

Now, since you asked…

Musically, I don't think DM are bad. UK synth-pop will never be my favourite style though I do love some acts that could be considered part of that sound (PSB, Beloved, Heaven 17, ABC), but I do acknowledge that Depeche are good at what they do, particularly on violator, which is the best batch of melodies I’ve heard from them. My main problem is with the front-man and the lyrics.

1) David Gahan – He comes off to me as one of the creepiest front-men in the history of pop music. His vocals always sound like a wretched Vegas lounge-lizard parody. Rolling Stone actually described him as slimey and self-involved in their Violator review, and I couldn’t pick two better words to describe him. Seeing him live (I got dragged along to a Violator show by a friend) entrenched my dislike for him: Flamboyant, self-loving, without a trace of self-deprecation that I could perceive.

2) Lyrics - Their lyrics seem like awful high-school poetry knocked out by a desperately-yearning-to-be-meaningful goth kid in raccoon-style eye make-up. I rarely notice lyrics, but I don’t think I’ve heard one Depeche lyric post-Speak and Spell that didn’t get on my nerves. Every line seems burdened with earnest attempts at gravity and profundity, without a hint of wit, knowing irony or humour.

My first glimmering of hatred for this band developed when I witnessed a friend (the same one who dragged me to the aforementioned show) close his eyes and sing along with Somebody, which I think may be the most nauseating and wimpy lyric I’ve ever heard, like it was fucking Robert Johnson or something. Overly morose, sickeningly sincere, self-important, and just fucking irritating.

Fire away.
[Edited 2/19/07 18:30pm]

damosuzuki said:

Ya know... you are 100% right in everything you say about DM

ESPECIALLY the lyrics.

But I still love them They're DEPECHE MODE! How can you not love 'em??

They always struck me as a band that should be a guilty pleasure, but somewhere along the line someone started taking them seriously. I guess during Music for the Masses... it was all those artsy black and white videos.
[Edited 2/19/07 19:11pm]

damosuzuki said:

To counter that, I present my review of Violator.

5 stars

Of all of the synth pop bands to spring out of the early 80s, Depeche Mode proved to be one of the few able to transcend the genre and forge a lasting and meritorious career. From their sparse beginning on Speak and Spell through its more industrial crunch of Some Great Reward and Black Celebration, they gradually gained momentum. Music for the Masses planted Depeche on the stepping stone to greatness and Violator is the result, a dark benchmark of both their career and electronic music as a whole.

The album was boosted by four monstrous singles. The first of these, "Personal Jesus" stands as an ardent middle finger to detractors claiming the band was one-dimensional. Led by a ruthless blues guitar lick (yes, guitar!), the song stomped its way through radio speakers and punched its ticket as an instant classic. The follow-up, "Enjoy the Silence" would prove to be the band's biggest hit, a mid-tempo dance smash which sees the Mode reach glorious heights while pondering the uselessness of words. "Policy of Truth" oozed with cool, drowning its paranoia in a glossy funk beat draped in fading guitars, synth horns and frenetic keyboards. Finally, the album's mysterious opener "World in My Eyes" is a dark and alluring infusion of electronica and R 'n B that effectively sets the stage.

With such great singles, the rest of the album could get by just coasting. Nevertheless, the remaining five tracks carry their weight quite well. "Halo", in particular, stands tall as one of Depeche Mode's greatest songs, complete with bubbling synthesizers, an unforgettable chorus and a desperation that bursts into a frenzied synthesized orchestra to usher it out. Drama at its finest! Elsewhere, the spooky "Waiting for the Night" creeps along thick on the atmosphere and somber as ever. The lyrics elaborate that the darkness of night will save us all from the stark reality. That we never are told what the reality is makes the song all the more chilling. The intoxicating "Sweetest Perfection" chugs along as a dark plea rife with drug references later contradicted by the ominous closer "Clean". Lastly, the tenderness of the vocals of the silky "Blue Dress" draw even more attention to the unforgettable melody.

Violator is also effective because it required a maturity the band took years to cultivate. That they refrained from attempting such an album until its release is a testimony to times when bands were allowed to slowly evolve and progress. Violator was carefully nurtured, marinating for nine long years while the members collectively harvested their style and substance. Dave Gahan has never sounded more confident and the arrangements have never sounded so effortlessly full. As a result, the album sounds much more timeless than previous efforts and served as a perfect way to usher in the 90s.

Indeed, Violator is the album that Depeche Mode was made to create. Sadly, its shadow loomed a bit too large for the band, as they were never as omnipresent nor as effective in their subsequent career. The musical zeitgeist would soon alienate most electronic bands, particularly ones with the "boy band" label tucked away in their closet. This sent the members into a bit of a tailspin later on, particularly Gahan. Nevertheless, such staggering heights are rarely reached and Violator stands as a landmark achievement- a perfect time capsule for a band at the peak of its powers.

What you're describing above could be said a great number of musicians in the industry, not just DM. There are tons of musicians who have a big ego, are self-serving and write with an overabundance of gravity on meaning. You have to also understand the time that they came out when British Pop was full of the same style - Ultravox, Visage, Spandau Ballet - just to name a few, many British front men sounded like they would go and attempt suicide as soon as they were done recording the album or they would throw one hell of a hissy fit, but it worked, and I found Depeche among the most melodic for me though Ultravox came close as well.

LQ

LadyQ said:

Fair enough - the traits I mentioned are definitely present in the bands you mentioned and others. I'm sure that one of the reasons I hate DM more than Ultravox or Visage is because they were so much more popular than those acts, which led to more exposure and more opportunities for irritation. If Midge Ure had written a single as big as Personal Jesus I'd probably hate that effete fucker too - more so than I already do anyway. Good lord, have you ever seen the video for If I Was?

http://www.youtube.com/wa...tFZlwzVEj8

Tell me this man isn't just pleading to be thrashed within an inch of his life.

Anyway, I promise to drop this now - I really should have just kept my mouth shut and allowed everyone to carry on with their praise.

damosuzuki said:

The reasons I can't stand The Cure. People ask me how I can love Depeche Mode and not dig them. Robert Smith. period.
I teach high school and I see kids still trying to emulate him!!!

damosuzuki said:

Naw! I like hearing everyone's take whether it ruffles my feathers or not. It's good to know dissenting opinions.

I know you're not someone who goes around shitting on peoples' taste every chance you get, so your rant is perfectly welcome.

MikeMatronik said:

LOL!!

Who?

NWF said:

Your sig caught my eye... I just bought "The Essential Journey" yesterday!

One of my favs!

chocolate1 said:

Shame on you.

Anyways, there is one Depeche album that no one should do without:


[Edited 2/21/07 13:16pm]

NWF said:

Shame on me?!
When I was in Jr. High, Journey was so amazing! I have loved them a long time...
But yes, "Black Celebration" is a great album!

I like some bands that sound like Depeche Mode, but can't really stand the band itself.