Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
Depeche Mode




General Commentary:


I didn't actually purchase a Depeche Mode album until 2000. I actually owe my thanks to someone I used to chat with online a lot for getting me into them. We made this deal that if she bought a Sunny Day Real Estate album that I would buy a Depeche Mode album (since they were both our favorite bands at the time) She suggested I get either "Violator" or "Black Celebration." I picked up Violator since I didn't see the other album there. I then right after purchasing the album dropped it into my portable cd player and was playing it minutes I got outside the store. I definitely liked it the first time I heard it, but not all the songs grew on me all at once. A couple months later I purchased the album "Ultra" because I had these cerfificates for $10 off a cd. I went by the Depeche Mode cds and then I remembered liking the song 'It's no Good' so I decided I would purchase Ultra. Again I liked the album, but I actually generally only listened to the first half for some reason. Then I didn't really play the albums for a little while until one rainy day where I went on a little trip with my brother and mom and I decided to bring my DM cds to listen to in the backseat. After playing both albums something just like clicked inside of me. I then played through both albums again in their entirety and was just blown away by them. That was the day when I first really started to appreciate the albums and Depeche Mode. Bringing us up to today I purchased the album Black Celebration as well as getting the "101" live album and the live show "One night in Paris on dvd," I then won the album "Songs of Faith and Devotion" off of eBay and I got 101 on video! I made the bid for the 101 video in the last thirty seconds of the auction and the final price was only six bucks! That was definitely very exciting for me. I also now own the DM videos Plus dvd!

Featured Albums:


Black Celebration (1986)


  1. Black Celebration
  2. Fly on the Windscreen
  3. A Question of Lust
  4. Sometimes
  5. It Doesn't Matter Two
  6. A Question of Time
  7. Stripped
  8. Here is the House
  9. World Full of Nothing
  10. Dressed in Black
  11. New Dress
  12. But Not Tonight


I personally purchased "Black Celebration" in early 2002 and this album was a very important release for Depeche Mode. The reason I say that is because this was the album that basically started to establish the Depeche Mode sound. It moved away from the industrial pop sound to a more darker one with sharper arrangements. This is definitely one of my favorite Depeche Mode releases and it runs just around forty five minutes.

Song Highlights:


Black Celebration: The first track on the album is the, well album titled 'Black Celebration.' It has a slow start, but right from the second the pinging sound begins, I knew this was going to be a great song. It then roars into some great synths and Dave's voice comes in. A little while later the drum beat kicks in and this is where the song really starts going. This is a excellent song from beginning to end and is actually rather uplifting at times when I think about it. I also never seem to tire of this song so that's some more points towards it. Definitely one of the band's best songs.

Fly on the Windscreen: This is a song about the fact that death is everywhere and comes so quickly that we should take the time to tell the people around us how much they mean to us. A song like this should have gotten me to tell my dad that I appreciated him more than it seemed. His death was rather sudden though. Well don't make my mistake, make sure the people who mean a lot to you know that.

A Question of Lust: This song begins very slow and somberly. Martin does a very good job at using his voice at different pitches and having it never sound strained in this song. It is about a relationship between a guy and a girl (as most DM songs are), but it's very well crafted (again as most DM songs are). The couple is obviously trying to strike a balance between independence and togetherness which is a very difficult thing to do. Anyone who has been in a relationship should know this. This is something that is basically impossible to achieve.

A Question of Time: This is a extremely well arranged and pleasing song to hear. I know if I could dance and if I actually heard this song at a club, I would be tearing up the dance floor heh It has a excellent beat and Dave's voice compliments the song very well. The song is about wanting to protect someone from the real world, but in the end basically admitting that the person will eventually cave in to the pressures of the real world anyway. I think this is true, you basically do have to give into the pressures often. That doesn't mean you have to be a one hundred percent conformist though.

Stripped: This song is extremely captivating. While this is another song that centers around relationships there is definitely more behind it. The line let me see you stripped down to the bone should not be taken literally as you can draw from the song that it is refering to a feeling of, let me see who you really are rather than the more literal observation some people could make. This is an especially notable song from the album and the video for it is excellent too! Depeche Mode smashes this car's windshield and destruction is of course great. This is definitely one of their best songs of all time.

Here is the House: There are so many strong points in this album and these three consecutive songs are probably the album at its strongest. It's like pure bliss to experience this song. Dave's voice has a very ethereal feeling to it and musically the song is very alluring. I don't think this is one of their most recognized songs, but it should be. Everything about this song is great!

World of Nothing: This track isn't really a stand out track muscially, but it's a good song anyways. It discusses a relationship between a guy and a girl that isn't necessarily love (as the guy lusts for other girls), but it is something. Shit that's more than I get haha

But Not Tonight: Oddly enough the lyrics for this song aren't listed in the booklet. I believe it's because this song originally wasn't on the album, but when it was released in the states their label added it. I guess they thought it would be best, so Depeche Mode doesn't much care for this song. I like it and I know there are a few other people out there who do too. Anyways this is probably the most uplifting song on the album. The feeling of being glad to be alive is clearly stated throughout the entire song. I also like the imagery that is portrayed in the song and the way rain is looked at as a positive feeling, instead of the usual negative way. I personally love rain. I probably don't want to be out in a down pour, but the sound of rain I find often times soothing. I think this song ends the album well and it might be a little weird hearing the album end without it.


This album really was the defining album for Depeche Mode and was the start of their commercial success. They had hits before the album, but this was the beginning of their world wide fame. This is one of my favorite albums in my entire collection and I look upon it very favorably. If I was going to suggest a album to non-fans of the band I think this would be a great place to start.

Violator (1990)


  1. World in My Eyes
  2. Sweetest Perfection
  3. Personal Jesus
  4. Halo
  5. Waiting for the Night
  6. Enjoy the Silence
  7. Policy of Truth
  8. Blue Dress
  9. Clean


"Violator" was the very first Depeche Mode album I purchased and really is one of the best albums of the 90's on so many levels. It spawned many of Depeche Mode's most popular songs and is one of the best selling DM albums to date. It runs just about the same length as Black Celebration did and also introduces a new rockier approach in one of the songs. Prior to the release of this album Depeche Mode still basically only had a very large cult following (yes only). The release of this album brought DM more mainstream appeal.

Song Highlights:


Personal Jesus: The new rockier approach was seen in the song 'Personal Jesus.' Often times DM was never considered a real band by some critics because they didn't have the guitar very prevalent in their songs. Personal Jesus silenced these critics by having a song with the guitar as the main focal point. This song deals with some issues regarding religion, but I think it can be looked at in a variety of ways and isn't religion exclusive. Overall this a very good track though somewhat simple sounding.

Halo: This song has some excellent synths and is another song I would love to hear played at a club alas clubs never play good dance music. It's all just some hip hop/rap stuff that you are supposed to just kinda grind to. Maybe I should try to go to one of those retro nights, then again most of my friends don't seem to have too deep of a interest or a varied interest in music. Oh well.

Waiting for Night: This is a very tranquil and soothing track. While ignorant people see it as a song based off of mopery and the like I don't see it that way at all. I think it has great theraputic value and is actually rather uplifting. I also highly favor the night as well. I definitely like the day as it will typically get me up to do things sometimes, but I love being out at night. Not much is better than a warm summer night.

Enjoy the Silence: Even non Depeche Mode fans should know this song. It is clearly one of their greatest accomplisments and is extremely catchy. Everything in this song is in perfect harmony and is a sheer joy to listen to. It also has a very anthem like feeling to it and pretty much conveys everything Depeche Mode is about. If for some unknown reason you never heard this song you should be ashamed of yourself. I honestly remember hearing this tune back in the early 90's and liked it though I had absolutely no idea that it was a Depeche Mode song. Had I know that, I might have gotten into Depeche Mode around 1992 though I only did have a casual interest in music. It definitely would of been cool being into them way back then and I may have gotten into other music much sooner. I am often pissed sometimes that I generally missed or just didn't pay attention to a few good eras in the earlier to mid 90's. I also remember how the music video generally goes though I haven't seen it in like ten years, the DM videos dvd proved it. Also Martin does a really awesome guitar solo in the version on the "One Night in Paris" concert dvd and this is another song that I can never get enough of.

Policy of Truth: This is a song I don't hear anybody mention too much, but I like it a lot. The lyrics are awesome and it's another great song musically with some really good synths. The lyrics basically are about what my dad always told me and that's to guard your heart. It's good to open up, but you can't do that to everyone you meet. I'm not saying don't believe in someone you don't know, just don't go on thinking that the whole world tells the truth. Tony Sly of No Use for a Name summed that up pretty good for me, thanks for writing some great lyrics!

Clean: Ending the album is 'Clean' and it has a really good beat to it. Dave's vocals are at some of his best in this song. The only thing odd I found about this song is that it was written before Dave got into all of his problems with heroin. So I'm not sure what the inspiration for this song was. Regardless it's a great closer and wraps up a really solid album from being to end.


While Black Celebration started Depeche Mode's path to world wide success, Violator kicked it into over-drive and made people recognize them. Following the tour for Violator though things started to take a turn for the worst on personal levels. Anyways Violator is also another album that I would suggest to non-fans.

Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)


  1. I Feel You
  2. Walking in My Shoes
  3. Condemnation
  4. Mercy in You
  5. Judas
  6. In Your Room
  7. Get Right with Me
  8. Rush
  9. One Caress
  10. Higher Love


I recieved "Songs of Faith and Devotion" in late November 2002. I got it off eBay for a ridiculously low price of $3.50 (including shipping). I normally would have paid my standard amount for cds (around $12 in stores), but the Media Play near me never had it. When I saw it going on eBay for 60 cents I figured I'd put in a bid for it and was astonished to see myself win the album so cheap. Anyways the band had changed quite a lot when this album was released. Dave Gahan had turned into a long haired rocker and Alan was playing live drums. Dave also pushed for a more guitar oriented sound, but the thing is that the album basically sounds like your standard DM album and didn't really stray that far away from what Violator sounded like. This album just has a few new tricks and a bit higher production value.

Song Highlights:


I Feel You:The album opener begins with a screech of feedback and then sounds similiar to Personal Jesus with a few snazzy effects to it and heavier synths behind it. It's definitely got some power behind it as well. The song is written as someone having basically a obsession with another person and feels them in everything they do. I can definitely say I never had a feeling quite that strong and wonder if I'll have the chance to even have a feeling anywhere near that strong towards someone. Any takers? heh

Walking in my Shoes:This is a fantastic song. It begins pretty calm, but builds up until it erupts during the chorus. This song discusses the hardships in life and the songwriter agrees to doing things that may be percieved as wrong, but then challenges those who judge him to try walking in his shoes. Musically and lyrically this song is exceptional. I personally try not to be the one that goes around judging people for their beliefs and such, so I would like it if I wasn't judged for mine. This is one of DM's best songs to date

Mercy in You: This song is highlighted by its outstanding harmony and the lyrics deal with a relationship that certainly must be unhealthy. Well the one side of the relationship seems to get pleasure in hurting the other side and then recieving that side's forgiveness. Martin never did write the typical relationship song and this one is noticeably perverse, yet also enticing at the same time. Depeche Mode's songs definitely always created a lot of different feelings.

In Your Room: This song is a completely enrapturing experience. It has a very dark feel to it and the lyrics are equally dark as well. This is a song that is best experienced than described. I really don't have that much to say about it, but I had to mention it. The video for it is pretty cool and probably this album's best.

One Caress: This is my favorite song Martin sings on the album. It's on the slower side, but it isn't as slow as 'Judas.' This song has a really nice strings arrangement and is really dark sounding. This song is about a guy that when he is discouraged with the world and in pain, he goes to his girl and she takes it all away, but there is more to it than that. I haven't quite figured out how to put into it words, but this girl also wants like the guy's soul as well or something. I like the video for it as most of it takes place in a autumn forest. Two things I like a lot.

Higher Love: This song's soaring vocals and the melodies definitely go together well. The song deals more with a spirtual love than just love for simply another person. This is a very intriguing song and is well written. This was a effective way to end the album considering the title for the album.


This is probably my least favorite DM album I own, but I was just in the mood to run a feature on it after listening to all my other Depeche Mode albums. This album often seems to be considered a favorite by many DM fans and while the songs I listed are generally remarkable, other songs come off to me as kind of average. Calling it least favorite doesn't mean I don't like it though as I'm happy I have it nontheless. I never heard Mercy in You & Higher Love before I got this album, so I was delighted to find some other songs on here as good as Walking in My Shoes & In Your Room. I don't think I would recommend this album to newer fans, but it is still a good album.

Back to Music Page