Sorry Ferris, Dave Gahan's my new hero.
On my third listen of today alone, I'm going to have to say Depeche Mode's Playing the Angel certainly restores my faith (and devotion) in their production of new music. As Jesse put it quite succintly, "have you heard all of the new depeche mode album?... freakin fantastic." For fans of Violator with a dash of Exciter, this one's for you. Playing the Angel has the feel of drifting through the depths of space for 52 minutes, with sensations of both weightlessness and being pulled around by unknown violent forces simultaneously. Individual track assessments:
01 A Pain That I'm Used To - Fairly dark, driven by moody synthesizers, similar to Exciter's "I Feel Loved"
02 John the Revelator - Another track bursting with emotion and great synth work
03 Suffer Well - Steady, slower, but still dark, similar to Violator's "World in My Eyes"
04 The Sinner in Me - Reminds me of Black Celebration's title track, but with more depth
05 Precious - Perhaps the most moving track on the album, vocals as smooth as ever, similar to Violator's "Enjoy the Silence"
06 Macrovision - Eerie detached feel, not as captivating as other tracks but still good
07 I Want It All - Somewhat of a 6 minute ballad, fits well in middle of the album
08 Nothing's Impossible - Another track of slower pace, not as much to offer lyrically but still excellently arranged
09 Introspectre - Great instrumental piece, similar to Exciter's "Lovetheme" but once again with more body
10 Damaged People - Hauntingly happy? Yeah, sounds like Depeche Mode...
11 Lillian - Ah, the joys of love being used against you for deceitful purposes
12 The Darkest Star - Feels as if you're taking a 7 minute journey through dark regions of space, which is very fitting
Best tracks: 01, 02, 03, 05, 12
...it will sure be fun when I can actually review things for KALX and not just for random intarweb peoples. Though this is fun too.
01 A Pain That I'm Used To - Fairly dark, driven by moody synthesizers, similar to Exciter's "I Feel Loved"
02 John the Revelator - Another track bursting with emotion and great synth work
03 Suffer Well - Steady, slower, but still dark, similar to Violator's "World in My Eyes"
04 The Sinner in Me - Reminds me of Black Celebration's title track, but with more depth
05 Precious - Perhaps the most moving track on the album, vocals as smooth as ever, similar to Violator's "Enjoy the Silence"
06 Macrovision - Eerie detached feel, not as captivating as other tracks but still good
07 I Want It All - Somewhat of a 6 minute ballad, fits well in middle of the album
08 Nothing's Impossible - Another track of slower pace, not as much to offer lyrically but still excellently arranged
09 Introspectre - Great instrumental piece, similar to Exciter's "Lovetheme" but once again with more body
10 Damaged People - Hauntingly happy? Yeah, sounds like Depeche Mode...
11 Lillian - Ah, the joys of love being used against you for deceitful purposes
12 The Darkest Star - Feels as if you're taking a 7 minute journey through dark regions of space, which is very fitting
Best tracks: 01, 02, 03, 05, 12
...it will sure be fun when I can actually review things for KALX and not just for random intarweb peoples. Though this is fun too.