I have a weird relationship with this band. On the surface they should be essential. I love synth pop, almost all things 80s, and I respect their artistic arc, still making somewhat relevant music four plus decades later. Yet after numerous deep dives, I really can’t say I love much of any of their peak output from the 80s to early 90s.
The only album I really click with is Ultra, which I understand was entirely produced by Bomb the Bass. I was 13 when Ultra came out and I remember being fascinated by the music video for “It’s No Good.” I keep returning to the back catalogue hoping to really click with their more iconic albums like Music for the Masses or Black Celebration. I just find their sound back then kind of thin… the pop songs aren’t catchy enough and the “innovative” stuff doesn’t feel particularly edgy or interesting to me today.
Wonder how much they are a product of their time; if I was 13 in 1986 maybe I would feel a lot more affinity for them. I even watched the 101 doc and it kind of helped inform the feel of that time for me, but still don’t really connect with the music all that much.
Anyway, just a bit of a ramble. Interested in input from the true fans on how well they think the 80s stuff held up or any other skeptics like me.
I mean I’m not a true fan (by true, I mean obsessive / fanatical) but the content on construction time again or some great reward is really pivotal influential stuff on that pocket of synth pop and all things 80’s. But beyond that, you seriously don’t like violator? That album is such a diverse and incredible departure from even their other prior catalogue work, that I think it stands alone as an achievement in their career.
I’m really not like a superfan, but this is definitely music that lives on, playing on repeat in some dark corner of my brain with all of my old black clothing and a pair of doc martens.
i mean, of all the synth based bands except New Order, they had the best sounds and the best songs (at least up to Violator). maybe not as consistently great album to album but Black Celebration is all bangers and the others of that era hit far more than they missed. but like New Order, once the core members start leaving the bloom is quickly off the rose.
for a high school or college road trip back then, rolling down the windows and blasting Never Let Me Down? hard to top it
I saw them only once
I was born in 1978
Black Celebration is cool, but cold and not a modern prodiction
When i saw them, 4-6 y ago, they played the entire ultra album
I think they know it is their best…. Or that is what i make of it
The audiënce contained a lot of different people, this was very clear when we went home by train and spoke with different people. Also people who didnt have enough of ‘i just cant get enough’. A lot of people who listen the radio or like ‘top 2000 best music every’ -lists.
Freedom’s a state, while recording ultra i think their state was very special. Maybe because they just jurvived a very hectic period of their life
Memento mori is okay
The first song of exciter is one of my favorites
And songs of faith and devotion is very nice, just the way it begins gives me a very good feeling.
The voice is a bit polarizing maybe (on the earlier work), it’s not the typical lead singer vocal register. I’m also a big joy division fan so I think there’s a sonic overlap, not the style per se, but the tone.
It’s funny, my brother and I agreed just a few years back that as time and music novelties/whatnot go by, we just find ourselves eventually returning to different DM eras over and over. It’s just the soundtrack to our lives. We’ve dissected Martin’s unique approach to harmonies and the absolute genius of Alan Wilder since forever - unmeasurable impact, really.
And of course, all that Bernard and the lovely Other 2 couple come up with (we don’t mention that other bloke ) is up there as well .
And I agree with @shigginpit - Violator is like my desert island album. The stars were all aligned on that one!
Ah, yes - especially that period that had Dave clinically dead for a little while . It IS a great album, though - extraordinary effort by Tim Simenon and his team to respect quite a lot of the foundation that Alan built.
I tend to think the Alan Wilder era is quite accessible. I don’t think you ‘had to be there’ for it to resonate if you like darker, moody synth/drum-driven tracks with darker-moody lyrics.
I still break out Black Celebration, the first DM album that clicked from beginning to end for me, and sort of awe in its perfection of capturing its mood effectively (and mine at the time, and all my friends at the time).
I don’t know if you had to be there. I was not really consciously aware of Depeche Mode in 1982 but I still think that “Leave in Silence” and “The Sun and the Rainfall” are awesome songs. Their best songs ever? No. But you’d hope that people learn something about songwriting over the course of 40+ years, right? Maybe it’s really “generational” or something? Just for reference: “Music for the Masses” is my all-time favorite but I don’t remember an album I didn’t like (eventually) in their entire catalog.
I guess what I’m trying to communicate is that there is a lack of immediacy to connection for me. It didn’t take me very many listens to connect with “Bizarre Love Triangle” or “Close to me” or “This Must be the place” ….for some reason DM feels like a lot more work to find a way in. And there are plenty of other bands that I didn’t click with immediately that I eventually loved.
Of course I recognize the significance of “people are people” or “enjoy the silence.” They are undeniably significant songs, but I don’t get the spark from them, for whatever reason.
It might just not be for me overall, but then I see the comments about Martin and Alan’s brilliance and I feel like I’m not listening for the right things. Especially since it’s a band I feel like I “should” like.
Black Celebration, Violator, Songs of Faith and Devotion, and Ultra are all gold for me, start to finish.
But they were some of my go to albums during my formative years, so that’s probably why I love almost every song on those albums. Some Great Reward is and Exciter are almost as good, I like those albums quite a bit.
But outside of those…I really don’t care for DM, ha. Most of other albums maybe have a song or two I like…but that’s it.
Lol dont get me wrong, very talented guy but I do not like prince for a number of reasons. Morris day and the time are cool with me though so if that means anything to you!
If people could stop self-moderating within topics it would actually give the Moderators less flags to deal with in the long run - this is the whole point of flags; to stop escalation.
This topic just turned into a shit-show because everybody has to jump in and have a say, there’s already one casualty - let’s not have any more, please … if it gets toxic, flag it for attention, not outta spite or revenge or for lolz (that’s a quick way to the door)
) is up there as well 
.
. It IS a great album, though - extraordinary effort by Tim Simenon and his team to respect quite a lot of the foundation that Alan built.
