Listening to it now and so far I am loving it. Dare I say a return to Violator brilliance??? I think I just might.

Check it out.

Swa

Swa said:

I saw that commercial last night for their new album and i'm intrigued. So it's good??

I've had this downloaded for a few weeks now, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Or the new U2. Too distracted by other things right now.

Ooh, I better check this. Thanks for the heads up!

TRON said:

I hear you. There's so much good stuff out right now. I'm trying to give my attention to a few things at a time, so much week after week I'm finding now.

dancerella said:

I would say it's their most consistent album for a few releases, very much in the Violator realm of musical enjoyment.

Swa

not feeling it yet..

Sdldawn said:

What about..... now?

Its just about their best overall work in the last 15 years, solid work throughout. No surprise that this year has had its best albums from 80's bands, and it will continue as the year goes on

I have to buy it tommorrow . I haven't gotten to the store today.

lastdecember said:

who else would you group in there?

Box-Set arrived yesterday...haven't checked the whole stuff.
The DVD documentary is a bit boring...too much table-soccer "action"

still haven't listened to this, and i was so hot for it about 2 months ago. this and PSB and PJ Harvey and Peaches are logjammed while i'm still on a new Prince kick.

Thanks 4 the Heads up.....headed 2 the store.

errant said:

I hear you.

Listening now.....so far, not digging it.

Can't say I'm the biggest DM fan around but I do like them. I seem to like some of the newer stuff that most do not. From what I've heard of SOTU, I like.
Very, very retro sounding. Considering they used classic synths and sounds makes sense. I've heard it described as their "psychedelic" album. I dunno yet on that one.
It also seems to be a grower. Those are my favorites.
Can't wait to hear it in 5.1 surround sound. Their albums benefit nicely from this treatment.

TRON said:

Easily U2, that record is the best of the year. REM is finishing up a new one, they did it really quick and its gonna be in the same vein as "accelerate" which was amazing, the Pet Shop record is really good, though im not crazy about them, i do respect them. And the new a-Ha is due in Late June and the first two singles (tracks heard) are amazing as expected.

xtraloveable said:

Hanging to get my boxset - looks so beautifully packaged.

Swa said:

meh.. not doing anything for me yet

Sdldawn said:

Did you like Playing With The Angel?

I honestly think this is Depeche Mode's best album since the Violator/Songs of Faith of Devotion era of excellence.

I love how the album is at all turns chilled out, spooky, hugely dramatic, spacey, romantic, and idiosyncratic in that classic DM way. And much to my surprise, I like every single track with the exception of the last one, which feels too much like a stray from Playing the Angel. All the other tracks have a nervous pulse and energy to them that I can't seem to get tired of.
[Edited 4/23/09 17:06pm]

Risico said:

Agree 100%. Depeche Mode needed this record, kind of like RadioHead needs to find guitars again. Depeche though still has that "spooky dark" sound, they have taken it out of total darkness and given dark songs light.

lastdecember said:

At first listen i loved the album but thought it lacked a few killer singles. But the more I listen the more potential singles reveal themselves - songs such as Peace, Perfect, and Hole to Feed could be legit singles.

I think it's their most consistent album release in many an album.

Swa
[Edited 4/23/09 18:11pm]

I like it OK... but i do not think it compares to Violator, Faith & Devotion or Black Celebration.

Production-wise, Alan Wilder is still sorely missing.

I've got tix to see them this summer at the Hollywood Bowl, though.

Bfunkthe1 said:

yeah, I like most of it

Sdldawn said:

give it one more listen... you know you want to - there are layers in it that you only hear after repeats.

Swa

the new record sucks so bad. it's awful. another lackluster album like this and it's goodbye depeche mode.

Wowugotit said:

I liked a couple of the songs-- Wrong and Peace, but I personally prefer the new PSB album.

rainbowchild said:

I wasnt crazy about the new PSB but then again i havent really been crazy over any of their albums for the most part, its been kind of like a "oh their out" and buying it because i have all their stuff kind of thing. With Depeche they were going the RadioHead route, meaning getting a little full of themselves, and just to damn dark in depeche's case, though thay have always been dark they at least have been able to create good melodies, i didnt like "Playing with the Angels" at all, that one i quickly stopped playing.