Depeche Mode

rmthunter · #1 01-28-2007, 08:33 AM

There -- I said it. Just needed to get it off my chest, really.

I recently picked up "Songs of Faith and Devotion," which I had been meaning to get for years, and that just opened the floodgates. I used to listen to them a lot, and then went on to other things. Now I can't seem to pay attention to anything else (which makes doing music reviews a little difficult).

One of my tests of a great album is being able to listen to it again and again and come away with new favorites. That's happening with a lot of their CDs now. They're amazing musicians -- pop music's answer to Gustav Mahler, maybe. I"m even starting to like "One Caress," which I could never stand -- tremendously sophisticated background strings there.

Just one of the Best. Bands. Evah!

NP: Music for the Masses

**pippadaisy**[$] · #2 01-28-2007, 09:26 AM

heh heh heh.

I haven't listened to them in ages either. Mostly because it's all on vinyl.

rmthunter · #3 01-28-2007, 09:50 AM

I have everything through Depeche Mode 101 on cassette, but I'm slowly filling in the gaps in my CD collection. (My vinyl is all classical since my pop records "disappeared" while under the care of my ex.)

And a coworker has what seems to be a complete collection on CD that she's loaning me. Yee HA!

**pippadaisy**[$] · #4 01-28-2007, 09:57 AM

OMG... cassette!

I'm still hoping that someday someone will get me that USB turntable that I asked for two years ago.

I have over 300 albums on vinyl. I'll never be able to replace that. Turntable is cheaper.. and keeps the scratchy noise, I hope.

phoenixx · #5 01-28-2007, 10:47 AM

Y'all need this cool Mac toy, under $40:

Griffin - IMic USB Audio Interface - 9066-IMIC2 - Peripherals - Sound Cards - MacMall

**pippadaisy**[$] · #6 01-28-2007, 11:38 AM

Yeah, but that necessitates a Mac. $1000 + $40 vs. $150. hmmm...

phoenixx · #7 01-28-2007, 01:29 PM

it is just another reason to buy a Mac. Although, if you scroll down you see there is a PC version now as well.

**drmomentum**[$] · #8 01-29-2007, 12:53 AM

I prefer Violator to Songs of Faith and Devotion.

I love Music for the Masses as well, and I listen to it frequently at work. But I felt their new album was the best we've heard from them in years.

"Playing the Angel," for me, qualifies for the criteria you set above. I keep listening and getting new favorites from it.

-JP

**drmomentum**[$] · #9 01-29-2007, 12:54 AM

BTW - when Playing the Angel came out, it really struck me how incredibly fresh they've been able to stay over the years.

They are, IMHO, definitely one of the best bands eva.

-JP

rmthunter · #10 01-29-2007, 07:38 AM

"Violator" was the first DM I had on CD. Special place in my heart, along with "Black Celebration," which I almost wore out on cassette.

Haven't heard "Playing the Angel." Since I'm such a completist, be sure it will join the roster.

You're right about the "freshness." They go off in all sorts of directions and always manage to remain Depeche Mode while doing new things.

wivabef · #11 01-29-2007, 07:41 AM

Love them.

I'm always singing Blasphemous Rumors under my breath.

**drmomentum**[$] · #12 01-29-2007, 10:20 AM

It's odd, but it took me years to realize what was going on in the lyrics of "Blasphemous Rumors." I thought we were hearing two different stories for some reason when I first heard it, and that idea stuck until I was about 25 and listening to it over again. Then I felt like a dolt!

It took me longer to realize that I wasn't sure what they intended by that song. At face value it seemed, well, blasphemous. But at this point I can see how some people might actually find it somewhat uplifting. Not me, but some people.

-JP