New Wave Outpost Forum

Surprised no mention of the new Depeche Mode track yet...? I quite like it. I catch a bit of a Precious and/or Enjoy the Silence vibe.
Haven't bought a DM album since Ultra. That may change if the rest of the album is this good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIyrLRixMs8

I like it too! It's certainly not reinventing the wheel, but in my opinion, it's a solid single, and the first opening single since 2005's "Precious" to actually get me excited about a new DM album. Though, I did like "Going Backwards", but that was the 2nd single from "Spirit".

I do kinda wish Anton would retire the black/white/red motif or step aside for someone else to direct the band aesthetics.

What a breath of fresh air after the diabolical "Spirit" album, defintely hints of "Precious" and more electronic.

I have to be honest... I'd totally given up on Depeche Mode. But I absolutely adore 'Ghosts Again'. Hoping for some faithful remixes, especially an extended version. Whatever, I'm 100% back on board

Well, upon first listen I am sad to report the new DM album sounds to my ears exactly like every other DM album over the past 15 years...half-baked, overly simple, lacking in depth, and cliché'.
The reviewers calling it a return to form and/or reminiscent of Black Celebration are either on crack or the take.
It sounds like a mixture of the last album, Spirit and Exciter to me. Borderline unlistenable...Some may like it (I Guess), but I don't. I'll just play Black Celebration, then Some Great Reward and finish up w Violator and be happy. "-)

This new album leaked a week ago, and we all thought it was a bunch of demos)))) so poor is arrangement, as if recorded in a hurry....

I agree. In particular the drum programming seems very basic. Some tracks sound like a little Casio toy keyboard or one of those old home organs from the 1970's w a Bossa Nova beat. They totally sound like demos to function as a metronome for sketching out a song. I guess they bring to mind Sounds of the Universe. So far removed from the intricacies of tracks like Stripped, Blasphemous Rumours, Policy of Truth, or In Your Room. The sparse/minimalist thing works if the basic structure of the track is great on it's own. Artists such as Sufjan Stevens (Carrie and Lowell) or Hayden Thorpe (Moondust for My Diamond) come to mind. They know how to write amazing lo-fi electronic songs that work because the original idea is superb. As much as I hate to say it, I am not sure either member of DM know how to write great pop songs anymore. The last music I enjoyed from them was Ultra. Well, and Martin Gore's 2nd Counterfeit album. Ghosts Again did have me feeling somewhat optimistic for this album. Kind've how Precious did a while back. But alas, just as Precious was, Ghosts Again is BY FAR the best track on MM.

So when is the actual release date for the USA? I'm never sure these days.

Today

Not as good as some of their other albums but better than the last two (Delta machine) and (Spirit).

Besides the drum programming, I think the biggest disappointment w DM is their lack of compelling choruses. I mean the 2nd track's chorus is literally Gahan just repeating "watch another angel die" over and over. No build up, no subtle shifts in word inflection, no changes in length...nothing...it's just the bridge...da da da da...then he says "watch another angel die"...then back to the bridge. The listener knows the full breadth of the track after 45 seconds...no surprises, no variations...rinse and repeat. Next track...same basic layout except instead of "watch another angel die" it's "So don't say you love me Cause you'll never love me"...then right back to the bridge...ugh...

omar wrote:Not as good as some of their other albums but better than the last two (Delta machine) and (Spirit).

I hope this is true for me when I finally hear it. There were a few good songs on each of those albums but they are probably my least favorite Mode albums. Everything from 1981-1997 is in the top half and everything from 2001-whenever Spirit came out is in the bottom half for me. 2 distinctly different levels of quality. I'll always be a fan, I just don't expect AMAZING things from them at this stage in the game. Which is fine... The first 9 albums were all fantastic in their own ways. Not many artists ever obtain that.

So yesterday I went to our local music store chain in the mall here in northern Michigan and they didn't have it and the gal working there didn't even know who they were!

That's what social media has done to the youth. Some have heard of them now due to Never Let Me Down Again being used in some TV show recently. Otherwise, if you aren't on Tik Tok, no one under age 20 knows who you are.

ABOATES wrote:That's what social media has done to the youth. Some have heard of them now due to Never Let Me Down Again being used in some TV show recently. Otherwise, if you aren't on Tik Tok, no one under age 20 knows who you are.

Lol well I guess that ALSO works both ways, since I have no clue in the universe who anyone on TikTok is, and I couldn't care less hehe.

ABOATES wrote:That's what social media has done to the youth. Some have heard of them now due to Never Let Me Down Again being used in some TV show recently. Otherwise, if you aren't on Tik Tok, no one under age 20 knows who you are.

Totally opposite for the youngsters beyond the former iron curtain!!!)))
I understand how our generation, who heard SPEAK AND SPELL first in the year of its release, loves this band, and I still wonder how youngsters 15-25 yo still treat the band as the cult one. It is still the religion here!!! They have dozens of forums discussing their music, annual mass gatherings in major cities on May 8, Dave birthday(?), all fans clad in leather jackets and Dave's 80ies haircut, tribute parties throughout synth music clubs with dozens of tribute bands playing their hits, and so on. Every DM tour visiting Russian cities was the utmost celebration for them all.