Depeche Mode -- Sounds of the Universe

so i think my problem with this is that none of it is really MASSIVE the way i like my depeche mode (with the exception of "wrong," maybe)--"little soul" i keep waiting for it to blow up big and it never really does.

"peace" is pretty good but again just doesnt get as BIG as classic depeche imo. a lot of the songs have too much radiohead sounds.

i sort of wonder if id like it more if it wasnt streaming on the fucking internet and i could actually listen to it somewhere besides my computer. ill say this--like all dm albums it sounds best when u play it really loud

listening to the leak now, not really into Depeche Mode anymore but this thread has me excited about this new album.

the few tracks i checked out last week sounded like early demos

Corrupt (live session)

thin white duke remix of "wrong" is actually pretty dope, especially the breakdown with the stereo-d out toms. not feeling the others at all, though it can't be easy to live up to the originals sheer vastness! i think it's my favourite 00s dm single yet!

Yeah I was really liking that mix as well -- the other two I picked up had their moments, haven't yet heard the Trentemoller.

Anyone here getting the deluxe box set?

Hi there! (Preordered it in early March.)

Figured out something about "Fragile Tension" just now -- it's kinda their payback song to Billy Corgan's own open fandom (and is a hell of a lot better than anything Corgan's done in years).

I know it is lolRolling Stone, but this "bad" review couldn't be more of an endorsement IMO:

The pulsing single "Wrong" oozes classic synth-pop angst, but with Commodore 64-style beats and laser-tag keyboards, ballads like "Peace" are comically New Romantic, and the dour "Spacewalker" sounds like the score to Star Trek rewritten by a deeply bummed-out robot.

Now I'm even more psyched to hear this & will download today.

Black turtlenecks? When did Depeche Mode become a beatnik band?

I can't think of a single review written by that particular critic that I've agreed with.

http://www.rollingstone.com/blogs/caprilounge/2008/03/sonny-bono-rap-superstar.php

i haven't really cared about a DM album since "violator," but this is pretty freaking awesome. part of that is simply that it's tailored to my tastes -- much less stadium rock, much more electronic noodlery...

i was actually hoping it was going to be more electronic than it is. they teased me with that info about the vintage synths & i started dreaming of a fresh take on super-sized synthpop. nonetheless, it's a very strong album & i can't wait to see them live later this summer.

i certainly would have been happy with a much more electronic direction, but i think the way they DID use the synths is really done -- they bubble up from the structure, rather than just being slathered on top. i think "fragile tension" shows the synths/rock balance really nicely.

also, after a dozen listens or so, i think that the songwriting is really in pretty top form.

ok - I might go during my lunch break to see if my local store has put this on the shelves early

yeah i agree, "Fragile Tension" is one of my favs. i heard an early demo of it that sounded really dull too, so it was a nice surprise. but i am all about the last two tracks right now. "Corrupt" is damn sexy.

listening here:
http://www.dhnet.be/dm/

wow, this is great so far.

it's a good album, the best since Violator.

also...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RpTRoam5eOc/SW_lkQIIfcI/AAAAAAAAK70/mmkZYPN9zk4/s400/Depeche.jpghttp://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/budilike/3266.jpg

oh man. someone didn't do their photo archive research.
agreed on best since "violator."

(that photo's gotta be corbijn, btw, right?)

wow @ this album. can't wait until the real thing drops.

Why does Martin look like he just acidentally wet himself in that photo and is cringing.

^ someone's holding the B-52s LP sleeve up on Anton's right

the album kind of reminds me of portishead's third in terms of production and songwriting

This thread, I fear, is giving me some seriously unrealistic expectations.

ha no kidding

esp since I don't like "Wrong" nearly as much as everyone else seems to

just being a dissenting voice here but i wasnt blown away at all.

fwiw im basically the opposite of phil in what i want from depeche, which is way less electronic noodly stuff and way more arena synth-pop... and even the arena synth shit on this (like wrong) doesnt do it for me

This thread, I fear, is giving me some seriously unrealistic expectations.

ha no kidding

esp since I don't like "Wrong" nearly as much as everyone else seems to

Sadly, agreed.

fwiw i hated "wrong" the first time i heard it (the video in this thread), but i have done a complete 180 because it works so well in the context of the album . it very much makes sense as the third track.

fwiw i hated "wrong" the first time i heard it (the video in this thread), but i have done a complete 180 because it works so well in the context of the album . it very much makes sense as the third track.

substitute "hated" with "was a little disappointed by" and this is exactly how I feel about "wrong." I love it now.

oh the video is totally badass, I am just not convinced by the song yet

Walking In My Shoes demo = ROFL

(ok, maybe not ROFL, but certainly "uncomfortable O_o")

I've listened to this twice and so far I'm a bit underwhelmed. It feels very un-Depeche, which is surprising after Playing the Angel which I thought was the perfect encapsulation of what post-Violator DM is about. I guess the new one has a bit in common with Exciter, but whereas that album seemed to aim for a sultry night vibe (only half-successfully) the new one, and this is a first, mostly comes across as a daytime album.

the other night I dreamt I was watching tv and there was a commercial for depeche mode lego sets

― peter in montreal, Thursday, 26 March 2009 21:46 (3 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Construction time again.

― a tiny, faltering megaphone (grimly fiendish), Thursday, 26 March 2009 22:24 (3 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Haw I contributed this to Photoshop/MS Paint Nike and other evil corporations ruining famous album covers almost four years ago!:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/olem/lego_depeche.jpg

am listening for the first time right now: Sounds Fantastic! Best since Violator: too early to tell, but I wouldn't be surprised.

My AMG review is up.

The sounds in the chorus of "Peace" remind me of Lindstrom/Prins Thomas' "Run"

Anyway, got the box set edition in the mail today and it is crazily gorgeous. Currently listening to the second disc with the extra session tracks and remixes -- "Light"'s a good little number, fits in line with something like "Martyr" and, stepping back a bit, "Sacred" (more on the lyrical front).

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-closure21-2009apr21,0,3970072.story

Hollywood Boulevard to close for Depeche Mode show

The band will tape a performance Thursday at 8 p.m. at Hollywood and Vine. The boulevard will be closed from 11 p.m. Wednesday until Friday at 6 a.m.

The demos disc is fascinating stuff for sure -- not just hearing Martin's lead on most of the songs but some of the elements not carried over. Like on "Judas," where there's a very Jamaican-style synth-horn part that appears.

nice review, ned.

I think I prefer your review to the album at the moment, Ned. However: this is a first listen and yes, you're right, I think it almost certainly will be a grower. (And I can't help but be disappointed given some of the breathlessness upthread -- including my own!)

Thank yer both. (Grimly -- it wouldn't be the first time that's happened; I *still* get people going "I wish I liked Exciter as much as you did with your review!")

Hahaha, brilliant (ad for the German market -- Martin speaks a couple of languages fluently IIRC):

okay "In Chains" starts very very well