Depeche Mode - The Singles 86>98
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Free Music Notes for The Singles 86>98
Free Music Review: Why this is the purchase for the First-Time DM buyer
Hit: 5 Stars
Sure, you've heard it before and it sounds a bit like a no brainer that anyone would recommend buying a greatest hits compialation when you're considering buying a cd from a band that's been around for over two decades. If you've looked around at all the Depeche Mode cd's that are out there, you probably felt the way I did when I first started listening to the band at age 15. " There are SO many to choose from, which one do I pick?" Of course, now that I am an avid fan I feel like there aren't enough DM cd's out there but that's not you and you're probably feeling a little overwhelmed so here are some reasons why this should be the CD you choose...You'll notice that there is also a greatest hits collection aptly titled " The Singles 81>85 ". The only time I would recommend that one over this would be if you're really into the light, boppy, happy-sounding 80's music which you would probably hear playing in a retro gay night club. ( i.e: Probably only the more serious Depeche Mode fans or fans of that type of music would like that DM sound best ).
On this album you'll be able to hear all the singles that span five studio albums as well as one live cut and a song that can only be found on the album itself. If you want to buy a Depeche Mode album but are not sure which one to go with then this will let you famiarize yourself with all the different sounds of DM as their music evolved and changed over the years. This album also covers all the hits from their three most popular and successful albums ( Black Celebration, Music for the Masses, and Violator ).
Many of the songs on this cd are different than the album-versions of the song so if you do get another Depeche Mode album, even the songs that you will have already been familiar with from this album will have a newness to them since thier somewhat different. Two great examples of this are " A question of Time"( the version on this cd was only released on a rare imported maxi single of the song and it's the same for " In your Room " ).
I must admit that this was my first Depeche Mode cd and this Double Disc serves up a massive dose of the most popular and influencial synth/ industrial Rock out there. Don't be dismayed when some people classify this a lot of this as " pop ". There is far more quality and depth to DM material as well as sound innovation that makes it more than just " pop music ".And No, they DO NOT sound like Bon Jovi or Bruce Springsteen or other " rock " artists. Depeche Mode are so original, they really should have their own genre.
Disc One definatly stands out over Disc two. Every song on Disc one is Like a powerful, high energy anthem that is well written and highly addictive. Disc Two is a more Modern yet ecclectic journey that shows the various stages of DM in the 1990's which has a feel more like Modern Rock ( I feel you ), an unusual song that almost sounds gospel ( Condemnation ), and a sound reminisent to the alternative grunge sound of the late 1990's ( Barrel of a Gun )."
All in all, not only is this a safe purchase in which you are sure to find tons of songs that you will play over and over for months on end, it will also help you decipher which which DM albums to purchase in the future based on which songs you enjoyed the most, UNLESS of course, you fall in love with them all( like I did )and have to own all of the DM albums but then is that such a bad thing? =D
Free Music Review: Masters Of Darkness!
Hit: 5 Stars
This c.d. covers the vast period of time from which Depeche Mode went from being a ridiculed and much maligned group,to one which gained repect the world over.Throughout this time the group went through sveveral dramtic periods,from the pesonal troubles of Dave Gahan to Alan Wilder leaving the group altogether.From the very start of this c.d. their original poppy Vince Clarke sound had long been forgotten.The first 3 tracks are taken from "Black Celebration"-which is one of their darkest albums.This triumverate of tracks clearly stood out on that album and are an outstanding opening to this c.d.From the foboding moods and rhythms of "Stripped",to Martin Gores tender vocals in "A Question Of Lust",to the driving quick beats of "A Question Of Time".Their next album Music For The Masses saw a shift in their sound.The arrangements were paired down to an almost minimalist effect,the synths were a cross between industrial kraut rock to the hip-hop sound of Cameo.Lyrically it's all pretty risque stuff as they delve into very dark worlds of differing sexuality.Once again they only use that albums three main singles-of which "Strangelove" is the stand out.After quite a long break they came back with their finest album yet-Violator.What a shock it was to many people when on the opening single they actually used a slide guitar as the opening sounds to Personal Jesus.They had experimented with this briefly a lnog time before in "Construction Time Again",but it resurfaced here and would grow more common in their later work."Enjoy The Silence" changed the sound once again with it's almost Euro Pop(but with Modes dark tones) feel to it."Policy Of Truth" once again showed that Mode were not averse to questioning the world of politics.I'm surprised that there are so many tracks taken from the c.d. "Songs Of Faith And Devotion"-apart from Feel You it didn't have many stand out tracks.I'm also surprised that they didn't include Gore's "One Caress" on this c.d.-as it's probably the finest track on that album."Condemnation" was a nice surprising change of sound-it almost had a gospel sound to the vocals and percussion.The sound of "Ultra" seemed to bring them even into darker moments-which is not surprising considering the trials and tribulations suffered by Gahan during this period.The sound has quite a grungy more rock sound.With singles like Barrel Of A Gun you could see that D. Mode were being more influenced by the sounds of U.S. alt rock which previously had been influenced to a certain extent by Mode.There is one really glorious moment though on Gore's song Home.Hugely ambitious with vast sweeps of orchestration and even a guitar solo it's one of my favourites from this group.I think Ultra was a good yet underrated album.The c.d. closes with Everything Counts-and old track taken from the pretty poor and over-dubbed live album.It also includes 2 rushed extra tracks which are nothing special at all.
I do hope Depeche Mode continue to evolve and last long enough to give us a 3rd singles collection.But on the evidence of their last c.d. this doesn't sound too promising.
Free Music Review: Perhaps the greatest singles band ever.
Hit: 5 Stars
Sure, Beatles fans would stone me to death for that one, but DM were influential and popular as well. They influenced many a goth/industrial act as well as popularized electronic music, and it's not just that, the songs are pretty catchy on the whole. The band's albums are ALL good, but they work well as a singles band too. This compilation uses the versions of the songs used as A-sides, so some of the mixes are different than you might remember them. The songs are all re-mastered here, and the treat for casual fans is you get to see the lyrics to ALL of the songs in here in the liner notes. Oh, and look at the price that Amazon's currently selling this at; if that's not a reason you should be getting this already then I don't know what would be.
Oh, for the people who are already fans, all that's worth mentioning is that classics like "Stripped," "Strangelove," "Personal Jesus," "Enjoy the Silence," "I Feel You," "It's No Good" and "Home" are here. These songs are more than worth buying "The Singles 86>98," and not only that, this isn't a bad first move for your collection of the band. This was the real creative peak for the band. There is only one new song here, "Only When I Lose Myself" and that one is pretty good. It's a more mellow track from the group and I think it works fine. You could also look for a used copy of the single (or if you prefer, the sixth or so singles box set) where you can hear the Dan the Automator remix, which is possibly better than the track in here.
"Behind the Wheel," "In Your Room" and "A Question of Time" play in different versions than on the respective albums that they originate. This makes a nice additions for the bigger fans like myself, and young ones like myself who find it hard to get their hands on every last single and box set of the group. You'll listen to this album and it's no coincidence they have an album called Music for the Masses. It's rock and only occasionally feels really rock ("I Feel You"), and while it's dark it is never really whiny or overly depressing. There is real emotion to the tracks and this collection, as well as the band selling out the Rose Bowl in Pasedena were things that they used to successfully bite tongues of the classic rock fans. Even the "lower" moments from the group are stuff that most bands wish their finest material could live up to be. "Barrel of a Gun" and "Little 15" are not personal favorites of mine but work fine enough in this collection.
Feeling nostalgic? Want to hear a catalog of a really great band's music? Look no further than this compilation and if not you can sell it; many people will probably want it anyhow.
Free Music Review: An absolute must, if ever there was one...
Hit: 5 Stars
Anything superlative that can be said about Depeche Mode is probably true but the one thing that is 100% undoubtable is that rank amongst the top 5 when it comes to the most influential bands ever to walk this planet.
Unanimously loved by metalheads, pop lovers, electronica afficionados and anyone with an ear for good music, the Mode have proved time and time again that you can make commercial music without surrendering quality, a feat accomplished by very, very few.
More than that, if ever there was a case for musical genius then this is definately it. Other groups, with much less the influence and far less the creativity and originality have been hailed as geniuses and messiahs over time but Depeche Mode incarnate that image to the very core of it.
Being as it is, this compilation -small objections aside- does very much justice to the group. Leaving out the work between 81-85 (included in a different compilation). It contains some of the most drastically catchy songs ever written, in quite faithful chronological order and that lets you easily realise that D.Mode have aged graciously. It's no coincidence that one of their most complete albums came only 4 years ago (Ultra) when they were already counting 2 decades in the circuit.
Often blamed for being a hit band (in contrast with one that releases "balanced albums") the truth actually is that when they landed a hit it usually was one of monstrous quality and appeal. So much so that hearing their songs today takes nothing away from their incredible power. Equal on musical prowess and lyricism alike this is is a group you need to discover if you're young and one to rediscover if you've been a long time fan. I've repeatedly found that there's always things to rediscover about their music.
Powerhouse songs like "Personal jesus" (one of the most often covered songs ever), "Never let me down" (a simply monumental drug-track) , "Barrel of a gun" (electrodoom for the masses), "World in my eyes" (simply beautiful), or the S&M "Master and Servant" are all on offer here, but this double CD is one you could play through and through without tiring.
An absolute "must" if ever there was one.
Free Music Review: Great bang for the buck
Hit: 5 Stars
The songs on Singles 86-98 come from the albums "Black Celebration," "Music for the Masses," "101," "Violator," "Songs of Faith and Devotion," and "Ultra." The only DM album not represented here is "Some Great Reward," which lends songs to Singles 81-85. Between the DM1 (85-85) album and DM2 (86-98) album you get great bang for the buck although I must be disappointed that "People are People" is nowhere to be found.Depeche Mode, by many, is considered a "synthesized 80's/early 90s band." However, I would point out that they use guitars and other real equipment in their concerts and some of their tracks. They are more than just a "synth band" in that their beats are hypnotic and their vocals are excellent.
Many people purchase their CDs nowadays to reminisce about "the good old days." If you are someone in your 20s or early 30s many a good time probably occurred to one DM song or another. As a Depeche Mode Fan I will recognize that Violator was the album that busted these guys wide open to selling millions upon millions of albums and that is representative in the DM2 CD (86-98), as it is primarily chocked full of Violator tracks. To me, that was also their best work and was driven, in my opinion, by the progressive nature of electronics. During the 80s/early 90's keyboards and beat machines improved DRAMATICALLY and "synthesized bands" such as DM kept improving their music.
I purchased this CD and the Depeche Mode 1 CD as I didn't have a lot of their stuff on CD format. Folks, if you like great vocals and great beats buy DM2 and DM1. Both of these albums are LOADED with great songs and represent great "bang for the buck" albums, something rare in the music industry. Other good albums with keyboard/dance beats/vocals would be Moby's Play album, the Smiths Singles album and, if you want to be more modern BT's Movement in Still Life and Chicane's Behind The Sun Album is worth listening to and then purchasing.