'Disintegration' vs 'Violator': a POLL

maybe. Depeche are teen pop!

I watched 101 recently.

Huh, Violator went to #5 and double platinum in Canada. I don't think I knew anyone who listened to Depeche Mode until I was 19 or so. Maybe I didn't talk to enough girls when I was 11. As far as I could tell, they were listening to Vanilla Ice or NKOTB.

"Enjoy The Silence" sounded awesome amid "Step by Step," "Vogue," and Tyler Collins' "Girls Night Out."

Oh yeah, Madonna.

xpost I'm thinking of the "Catching Up" review, which ends:

First they "Just Can't Get Enough," then they ponder "The Meaning of Love," then they doubt "Love in Itself," then they play "Master and Servant." The little girls understand.

Of course, his "Violator" review:

Violator [Sire/Reprise, 1990]
Fearing the loss of their silly grip on America's angst-ridden teens, who they're old enough to know are a fickle lot, they forge on toward the rap market by rhyming "drug" and "thug." And for the U.K.'s ecstasy-riding teens, who God knows are even more fickle, there's the techno-perfect synth/guitar sigh/moan that punctuates the easily rescinded "Policy of Truth." C-

mm yeah he's wrong

I remember Disintergration getting great reviews at the time from both critics and fans. I wouldn't call it "rehabilitated" at all.
Maybe some people were hoping for more pop singles, but everybody seemed to agree it was pretty masterful. Oh and I looove "Last Dance". So underrated.

Christgau's writing is such a strange phenomenon (but does seem to disprove that everyone thought Disintegration was masterful!).

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Violator = Better Singles.
Disintegration = Better Album.

They're both great tho. They should be friends and hang out instead of fighting over which one is better. A tied result would be fair.

I love the Violator singles (esp "World In My Eyes" and "Policy of Truth") but all four of the Disintegration singles are outstanding. Also all of you people bagging on the second half of the album, particularly "The Same Deep Water As You", are fucking INSANE.

what he said

Dan, I think it's just that "Same Deep Water As You" is a breaking point for some. It's a 10 minute dirge without the bite of the title track, so I can imagine if someone makes it that far under duress, it could be just what it takes to make them turn it off. I mean, I like it fine, but as I said upthread, it entails a certain degree of commitment.

actually my only complaint about Disintegration is that "Same Deep Water As You" isn't ten million years long. they really fucked that one up.

that includes at least 1.2 million years of thunder sounds

I imagine for some people, "Disintegration" is just the infinite soundtrack to their sad, lonely, thunder-rumble of a life. ***sighs/cries***

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

righteous.

Ugh.

crütm

yeah, and it wasn't even close.

If I get 67 ballots in for my Cure poll in a couple of weeks I'll be v v happy.

I think I forgot to vote in the end! (think I would have gone for Violatot TBH but not like it'd have made a difference)

I think the Cure poll is going to be fantastic nate. Big fanbase on ILX and no obvious Top 10. They're the kind of band whose most loved songs often aren't the big singles.

Seeing as none of the polls in the mean time interest me much I though I'd get a start on my Cure ballot. I could go with 20 'b' sides and be more than happy with ensuing playlist! Just as well I've a few weeks to ruminate 'cos my initial list is 50+ thus far.