I've been a DM fan since the late 1990s, when Ultra came out. My favorite DM albums are Black Celebration, Some Great Reward, Playing The Angel, and (quite obviously) Violator. I sorely miss the presence of Alan Charles Wilder and welcome him to to sire several of my children, should he and the beautiful Hepzibah Sessa decide to part ways (unlikely). I hate the Vince Clarke era of Depeche Mode, and I ultimately believe the best thing that ever happened to DM was his decision to depart. On the other hand, I do believe Dave Gahan's decision to write songs was a good one (and ACW's decision to stick to the programming/arrangement aspects likewise).
Top 5 DM Songs:
Lie to Me
New Dress
The Bottom Line
Surrender (with Martin on vocals--i.e. the version fromOne Night in Paris)
The Sun & The Rainfall
Most Underrated DM Songs (other than those listed above):
Dangerous
But Not Tonight: don't hate it just because it's the single released for inclusion on some dodgy film and was thus tacked at the end ofBlack Celebration; as a song, it is well-done and worthy.
The Sweetest Condition: this is on my list of ultimate boom-chicka-bow-wowwwwwww songs. Sexy!
Useless: greatest breakup song. Ever.
Pipeline: brilliant in both its simplicity and in its recording process.
Most Overrated DM Songs:
Just Can't Get Enough: Ugh. I hate how DM is immediately associated with this song in the States and the UK.
People are People: There's a reason why they don't play it anymore, folks.
See You: I'm forever mad at Daniel Miller for two things regarding the Best of Depeche Mode, Volume 1 set:
Completely ignoring the presence of Black Celebration; it's well-known that he questioned the album's potential for respect and success, and directed that energy at the band. In response (well, okay, not literally in response), the band smashed the hell out of his Fiat in the video for "Stripped" :D
Including "See You" as the representative track from A Broken Frame, when all the real fans know it should have been "Leave in Silence." Such trite pop, used only because Martin Gore was strapped for material.
I Feel Loved: Exciter was a period of experimentation with 'happy' music, but I do not feel this was the best fruit of the bunch.
World in My Eyes: For some reason, I can't see the appeal of this song. I recognize it as a good composition, but I've never felt the vibe.
On a final note: MARTIN LEE GORE IS TOTALLY STRAIGHT. I mean, Dr. Girlfriend did see it on the VH1, after all. Dr. Girlfriend: Sweetie, isn't that the guy from Depeche Mode? The Monarch: Oh, no way! Where? Holy crap, he's with a girl? Dr. Girlfriend: Oh yeah, that guy is totally straight. I saw a whole thing about him on the VH-1. The Monarch: But he's the guy from Depeche Mode! It's impossible. Dr. Girlfriend: Straight. The Monarch: Come on! He's in Depeche Mode!
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