Depeche Mode -- Sounds of the Universe

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

"In Chains" continues very very well! awesome

"Hole To Feed" seems kind of silly; it may be partially because of the terrible headphones I'm listening to this through, though.

That one's a bit goofy but it won me over after a few listens.

The ending is more appealing than the beginning.

So my above stance on "Wrong" is quickly changing because I find myself humming it constantly; it's amazing what a great video can do for a song, huh?

(also the lyrics are badass)

lol so my first reaction upon hearing the opening to "Fragile Tension" was "wow someone has been overdosing on Ladytron CDs"

I can't believe how great Dave sounds these days.

"wow someone has been overdosing on Ladytron CDs"

Hahaha. Hey, they got 'em to open for the tour in Europe for a reason!

So as of "Little Soul", this album basically makes me think they're trying to recreate Exciter using the equipment they used for A Broken Frame.

"In Sympathy" has a really nice intro.

They are trying to slim down and re-Vincify on this album, it seems. There's a sense of lean spring to the music that's been missing for a while.

x-post -- Pretty much!

I mutter this in the review but there's definitely a sense of 'here's where we are now but using the tools we would have had back then,' which is essentially your point. And I like that because that adds initial notes of the unexpected -- in hearing the demos for this album on the box set it's also interesting to hear what did and didn't change much from the 'rough' versions to the final cut. I'll be watching the DVD stuff tonight to see what else can be gleaned.

There's a sense of lean spring to the music that's been missing for a while.

This can be especially heard in the three Dave-sung bonus tracks on the second disc that aren't remixes -- "Light," "Ghost" and "Oh Well."

"Peace" I didn't notice; I got distracted.

"Come Back" is gorgeous!

"Peace" you gotta get back to, total 1984-era bassline for them. And yeah, "Come Back" is one of my favorites, another wonderful Dave-written song.

It's funny I really don't hear the old school vibes so many of you are talking about. So far "Come Back" and "Miles Away" are the ones really kicking my ass. Love the kind of sun-hazed vibe of those two. Also I can't believe no-one has mentionned "Jezebel" whic is really goregous in a Lynch kind of way.