Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel (W/Dvd)
|
Our Price: $103.40 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $9.99 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Playing the Angel (W/Dvd)
Free Music Review: Pain and Misery Always Hit the Spot
Hit: 5 Stars
You'd never imagine in 1984 that the band who brought "People Are People" to American shores would still be putting out addictive, amazing music twenty-one years later. Depeche Mode surely seemed to be a flash in the pan in a Bruce Springsteen world; why should anyone take them seriously?
Indeed. Playing the Angel is a better album than any band DM's age has a right to put together. These three Basildon boys have tossed F. Scott Fitzgerald's observation that "There are no second acts" right out the proverbial window, leaving ardent fans in an extended state of elation, and thickheaded detractors of "synth-pop" scratching their heads yet again.
So, just how good is it? Good enough that, if you ever liked Depeche Mode, you must own this CD. It will bowl you over. And if you're a deep DM fan, like yours truly, then you need the limited edition with attendant DVD as well.
On to the substance of these two discs:
THE CD:
Playing the Angel opens up with a vacillating shriek reminiscent of the intro to "I Feel You," making quite clear that we are not about to hear another sleepy album. Now I am not about to hop on the bandwagon and decry Ultra and Exciter as utter crap. Both albums are actually quite good, but they have personalities distinct from earlier sin-binges such as Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion. They are mood pieces. But this album works for pretty much any mood familiar to a Mode junkie.
One of the controversial (among longtime DM fans) aspects of PTA is the bigger role lead singer Dave Gahan is taking in the band. Three songs on this album are written by Gahan, and they stand up quite well compared to Gore's work. "Nothing's Impossible" is a dirge on the one hand, repeatedly striking the same deathly chord, and the verse lyrics confirm the mood. Yet the chorus strangely reveals either a perversely optimistic bent, or the desire for it. The song leaves an indelible impression and demands repeated play.
"Suffer Well" is even better, a fast-paced tale of woe that reminds me of "Walking in My Shoes." Gnarly guitar roots around in the synth beats until the chorus blooms like a rose, redeeming the suffering speaker. The effect is almost transcendental.
But Gahan's writing isn't the only noteworthy item here. Gore's songs are in no way complacent, tugging at the boundaries of the Depeche Mode ouevre. "Precious" is of course the first single of the album, and rightly so. When I first heard this song, I thought, "this sounds like Erasure," which is another way of saying it sounds like early Depeche Mode. Here, Gahan sings Gore's apologetic lyric, mourning a divorce and its effects on children. It's an opulent, dark, moving piece not quite like anything else DM has ever done, yet entirely at home in Playing the Angel.
"Sinner in Me" is thematically more familiar, but no DM song has ever sounded so at home in a strip club. This one oozes sex, sin, and a yearning for something purer while we behave in a very dirty fashion, all against a seductively slow beat.
Following tradition, Gore saved two songs for himself to sing: "Macro" and "Damaged People." "Macro" is probably the better of the two, using backing strings in the chorus to good effect. "Damaged People," as the title suggests, is about a relationship between two frail individuals who can't really stand to be alone. In its own way, it is the descendant of "It Doesn't Matter," "It Doesn't Matter Two," and "A Question of Lust."
The closer for Playing the Angel is also probably one of its best songs: "The Darkest Star." This is a slow, hypnotizing, dark blast of electronic music, alternately menacing and brooding.
The only track that can reasonably be called filler is "Lilian," and even DM filler is better than most bands can muster on a good day. It's not bad, but it's a little more throwaway than the rest of the album.
These twelve songs have a cohesive, star-lit, distorted feel to them, and unquestionably constitute the best DM album since Violator. In many ways it seems that making another Violator is an elusive holy grail for DM, but if they keep putting out albums like PTA while on this quixotic quest, I certainly will not object. Five stars are easy to give to this phenomenally good album from a band that deserves recognition for its enduring, unique sound.
THE DVD:
This is a real treat for die-hard fans, or for anyone who really appreciates the songs on Playing the Angel. The album itself is playable on your DVD player in 5.1 (DTS or Dolby Digital Surround) and stereo. Making the Angel is a brief documentary with interviews from the usual suspects, including Daniel Miller. The photo gallery is nice if forgettable, and the video for "Precious" is very slick and atmospheric; check it out if you have not already.
But the biggest surprise is "Clean (bare)." It's shot like a very casual music video, in Corbijnesque black and white, while Gore strums a guitar and Gahan delivers a heartfelt, sensitive rendition of the lyrics. It's an acoustic, melancholy, achingly beautiful surprise, and the guitar riff is just faintly reminiscent of the moldy oldie "House of the Rising Sun." It may be the best version of "Clean" I have ever heard.
IN CLOSING:
If you like Depeche Mode, Playing the Angel is a must-buy. It will be in your head for weeks or months to come. And the extras on the DVD are worth just a bit more cash for all but the stingiest of music lovers.
Pick this one up. There will be no disappointments.
Free Music Review: One of the Best Albums in the History of Modern Music!
Hit: 5 Stars
Basically, what Depeche Mode has done with "Playing the Angel" is rewrite the history of modern music. It's back to the drawing board for Rolling Stone magazine, which will now have
to rewrite its essential Top 200 albums of all times. SPIN magazine will have to rewrite its Top 200 of all times, and the British publication Q will have to rewrite its essential Top
200. This album is so amazing, so mind-blowing, and so robust, that its hard to even find where to begin in an effort to describe it.
Let's start with Dave Gahan, whose voice has never sounded better, and whose individual contributions to a DM album have never been so crucial. Or should I start with Martin Gore,
whose song-writing and sequenced arrangements have never sounded so lush, so exact, and so lavish. Or should I start with the supporting cast of other musicians and producers, who
meshed with the inner core of DM, and pushed their sound, and their creativity into the outer edges of the stratoshpere. Unlike other reviewers of this album, i'm not going to waste
any time comparing it to prior DM albums, as there is no comparison. This album stands alone by itself as without a doubt being the greatest DM album ever released, and it will go down arguably as one of the greatest albums ever made in the history of modern music. And notice that I said "modern music", and not "electronica", nor "alternative" music.
The album gets things going with "A Pain That I'm Used To", a song that starts off with a synth sample reminiscent of a World War II air raid siren, as if to signify that something of huge importance was about to drop right out of the sky. But instead of some type of bomb, DM drops an infectious synth loop, on top of killer, thumping drumbeat, that will instantly have your foot stomping, and your head bopping.
The next song, "John the Revelator" took me by surprise. Upon seeing the title, I had no idea what to expect from this one, but the keyboard programming was utterly remarkable, the arrangement was tight, and Dave Gahan did things in this song with his voice that I never knew he was even capable of doing. Then comes track number 3, a song that Dave wrote titled
"Suffer Well". This song blew my shoes, my socks, my shirt, and my pants off with its hard-driving beat, and hypnotic guitar riff. The guitar riff sounded like something straight off the Peter Gunn soundtrack, with its calculated precision, and its retro feel. Never has a guitar riff sounded so sweet in a DM song. "Suffer Well" will arguably go down in history as one of the best DM songs ever recorded. The groove continues with cut number 4, "The Sinner in Me", which is just plain and simple, classic DM. Track number 5 is the first single "Precious", which keeps the magical journey titled "Playing the Angel" going with another tight beat, and more examples of just how incredible the synth programming is on this album. And to all the reviewers out here who keep saying this song sounds out of place on this album, I beg to disagree. This song is a perfect transition between "The Sinner in Me", and track number 6, a song titled "Macro". "Macro" is another example of classic DM
lyrics, layered on top of a classic DM sound. Also, the lead vocals in this song are absolutely incredible. "Macro" is just an utterly amazing song. I could go on and on for hours about the first 6 songs I just briefly overviewed, and I could go on and on for hours about the last 6 songs, however i'm going to just end it here. Of course you will have to listen for yourself and be your own judge, but whether you are a fan from back in the day, or this is the first DM album you've ever heard, I seriously doubt that you will be disappointed.
Free Music Review: The Best DM Album Since Violator
Hit: 5 Stars
Depeche Mode is back with a retro sounding album. I've had the chance to hear this album for 2 weeks now and could provide you a detailed review. This album sounds like a cross between Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion, but also contains tracks that would have easily fitted on Black Celebration and Music For the Masses.
01.A Pain That I'm Used To : Probably the 2nd best track on the album after Precious and will be their 2nd single as rumor has it. The track starts out with a groovy bassline. This is an upbeat track with a strange verse in a style we have never heard Gahan sing before, but it sounds real good and the chorus is catchy. 5/5
02.John The Revelator : This one has Gahan singing in louder yelling type voice, which is not in his normal style. The music and singing reminds me of Nitzer Ebb's "Ebbhead" album and this song could have been easily a song from that album. 4/5
03.Suffer Well : This is one of the best tracks on the album. It's one of the 3 tracks written by Dave and it's the first time Dave is contributing in writing. Up to now Martin Gore was 100% songwriter of all DM songs. This one has a beat and music similar to Behind the Wheel/Route 66 tracks. CONGRATS DAVE. 5/5
04.The Sinner In Me : A mellow and catchy track with melodic synth layers and has a real cool distorted guitar breakdown in the middle. 5/5
05.Precious : The first single and best track on the album. It has a melodic and catchy beat. The first time I heard this it reminded me of Enjoy The Silence and could have easily been a track from that era.
06.Macrovision : The track starts out with a bassline similar to "In your Room" and has the same type of singing. However, Martin Gore is singing on this one. The music and production on this is not so great. They could have worked on this a little more...maybe used a catchier beat. 4/5
07.I Want It All : Another track by Dave Gahan. This is my fiancé's favorite track of the album. It is a dark track and a very good effort by Dave, but it will take sometime for this one to grow on you. 4/5
08.Nothing's Impossible : WOW! Here we go with a track that could have been on "Black Celebration" album. Very dark and eerie. This one is also by Dave. Somewhere in the middle of the song comes this very analogish groovy synth sound. I love this track. 5/5
09.Introspectre : OK, what the hell is this? A short instrumental, with no singing! It's wasting CD space. They could have easily put another track here. The B-side to "Precious" called "Free" could have been a great fit here. 1/5
10.Damaged People : Another WOW! Starts out with metallic bell sounds and sang by Martin Gore. This one also reminds me of Black Celebration album. Martin's voice really fits this track well. 5/5
11.Lillian : WOW Again. This one sounds very 80's. It reminds me of the track "The Great Commandment" by Camouflage, a band that usually sounded like DM, but now DM sounds like them. 5/5
12.The Darkest Star : A dark track again with very cool vintage synth sounds. 5/5
Overall this album is a 5 out of 5 and I would rate it better than Ultra and Exciter.
Free Music Review: Another Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
What can I say Depeche Mode is timeless band! I have read several reviews stating that this album is throwback to the 1980s and doesn't sound contemporary at all. I am not sure about all that, but the DM did use some analogue equipment in the recording of "Playing the Angel", which gives it an aged sound. The opening seconds of "Suffer Well" portray this beautifully.
I am not sure if this is the "darkest album" Depeche Mode has ever recorded, but it definitely has a sullen, ominous, hard and deep feel to it. I suppose the "darkest album" comparison comes from the album recorded prior to PTA, Exciter. Exciter was much softer, mellow and ambient in comparison to PTA. I also think that the solo work of Gore and Gahan (recorded during the gap of Exciter and PTA) are also a frame of reference when judging this album.
As for the songs, they are stellar. They are both modern and retro, a combination which has made DM a genre all their own. "Precious", "A Pain That I Am Use To" and "John the Revelator", amazing songs. However, one of my favorite tunes on the album is "I Want It All", which was written by Gahan. It almost has a "Sister of Night"-"Freelove" feel to it.
I find it interesting and welcoming that David Gahan penned three of the twelve songs on this album. I think they are all solid songs and give the band a refreshing twist. I am not sure why there is this sense of trepidation when it comes to Gahan writing songs. It appears that Gahan should be discredited because Martin Gore has written all the songs for over twenty years. Most people need to remember that Gore didn't start out writing the songs, Vince Clark did. Consequently, the songs and fans adjusted to Gore's writing and the rest is history. David Gahan has been a major part of the band's success and was the one who gave the band its name. After all, both Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher welcome David Gahan writing songs. So if the band is cool with it, so should the fans!
As for this deluxe CD/DVD, I think it is pretty cool and worth the money if you are a huge DM fan. The DVD has the video for "Precious", a mini documentary on the recording of the album, a bare version-video for "Clean", some photos and the entire album on 5.1 and Stereo -DTS 5.1 (24bit) -Dolby Digital and surround sound. I have heard many people complaining that the DVD was "weak" and "should have more on it". I can recall the old days when a CD was just a CD, no bonus DVD was included. Therefore, I was very pleased.
In conclusion, I was at the first performance of the "Touring the Angel" concert in Tampa last November. This was my third time at a DM show and I have no reservations stating that these guys are still awesome. In addition to the fact that all the new songs translated amazingly live. In a time where music is so superficial and soft, I hope DM is around for another twenty plus years!!!
Free Music Review: Pain and suffering in the lyrics, joy to the ears...
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard Playing the Angel, the person playing it had played Exciter and Playing the Angel back-to-back. After concluding track "Goodnight Lovers" from Exciter, I felt like falling asleep. Opening track "A Pain That I'm Used To" from Playing the Angel woke me right up, and the tracks that followed kept me dancing and smiling.
"A Pain That I'm Used To," though, was probably only my 3rd or 4th favorite track. "John the Revelator" is my dream come true--I love pulsing, throbbing dance music with both energy AND lyrical depth, so it captivated me and made its entry into my top 5 Depeche Mode songs of all time. Lead single "Precious" was similarly loveable, but for very different reasons. "Precious" is atmospheric and textured, and it reminds me of "Enjoy the Silence" from Violator (not a bad thing AT ALL). Moaning love-story-gone-wrong "Lilian" was another treat, and "Suffer Well" proves that Dave Gahan can't just write songs, he can write GOOD songs.
Outside of the singles, the album was a bit touch-and-go to me. I enjoyed "The Sinner in Me," "The Darkest Star," "I Want It All," and "Nothing's Impossible." The other tracks are okay to me, but they're not on par with the rest of the album (in my opinion) because they seem slower and a bit more like the filler I heard on Exciter. Still, the strong lyrics shine throughout.
The CD + DVD set impressed me. It isn't part of the "Depeche Mode Remasters" that I've been collecting, but I liked it a lot. The video is...well...short, running at about 8 minutes, and it doesn't seem as professional as the 10 videos that come with the reamsters, but that's fine with me. The video of "Clean (Bare)" was interesting, and the song itself is quite beautiful and mellow compared to its Violator counterpart. And my personal favorite from the DVD? The video for "Precious"--Depeche Mode's best video yet.
Finally, the album in surround is okay, but...the production for Playing the Angel seems more geared for your iPod than your surround system. And the photographs on the DVD, well...they're studio photos. Some were repetitive, some were interesting...with video footage included, the photos seem kind of...just..."there." But overall, this is a great album packaged with a great music video and a nice documentary.