"Sitting, waiting... Anticipating..."
Depeche Mode's new album comes out October 18. But argh! where are the US tour dates?!
They just released the cover art for Playing the Angel, which I find somewhat boring, but definitely heralds back to the art on some of their older stuff, like the "Personal Jesus" single, for example, or "I Feel You". And if the name is anything to go by, I think we can expect a return of some of the themes and ideas presented in 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion (aka, Depeche Mode Does Grunge).
The track list is neat, and features songs by Dave Gahan for the first time (please let his songwriting skills have improved since Paper Monsters). Includes such titles as "John the Revelator," "Sinner in Me" and "Suffer Well," which pique my interest. Granted, Depeche Mode have a bit of a track record for producing somewhat blasphemous songs (not that this has stopped me from loving them madly. I don't think Martin Gore's synthed-out religious angst is going to suddenly make me question my own faith). Exciter was pretty low-key with the religious references, but this album seems like it could be rather heavy-handed. I just hope it's heavy-handed in a fresh way and not Martin Gore's usual railing.
Like the fangirl that I am, I downloaded the first single from the album, "Precious". Good, but not great -- though it's rather catchy and growing on me. I rather suspect that if I give it a few more listens, I'll love it. It's a little bit Exciter (meh), a little bit Violator (yay!) and a little bit Songs of Faith and Devotion (what I had expected). It's kind of unusual for a first single -- rather slow and reflective. Dave Gahan seems to be in pretty good form, vocally, and that's good. I love the lyrics, too. Very poignant and bittersweet, and a lot of it relates to how I feel regarding certain people and events.
Precious and fragile things
Need special handling
My God, what have we done to you?
We always try to share
The tenderest of care
Now look what we have put you through
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
Angels with silver wings
Shouldn't know suffering
I wish I could take the pain for you
If God has a master plan
That only He understands
I hope it's your eyes He's seeing through
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
I pray you learn to trust
Have faith in both of us
And keep room in your heart for two
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
Yeah, I know, it's all terribly cheesy, but there you are.
Of course, I'll be buying the album as soon as it hits stores, and getting tickets for the tour as soon as they go on sale. But you knew that already. ;)
ETA: Okay, "Precious" is definitely growing on me. I think we can say I'm mildy addicted. I love DM so much! *dies of fangirlism*
They just released the cover art for Playing the Angel, which I find somewhat boring, but definitely heralds back to the art on some of their older stuff, like the "Personal Jesus" single, for example, or "I Feel You". And if the name is anything to go by, I think we can expect a return of some of the themes and ideas presented in 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion (aka, Depeche Mode Does Grunge).
The track list is neat, and features songs by Dave Gahan for the first time (please let his songwriting skills have improved since Paper Monsters). Includes such titles as "John the Revelator," "Sinner in Me" and "Suffer Well," which pique my interest. Granted, Depeche Mode have a bit of a track record for producing somewhat blasphemous songs (not that this has stopped me from loving them madly. I don't think Martin Gore's synthed-out religious angst is going to suddenly make me question my own faith). Exciter was pretty low-key with the religious references, but this album seems like it could be rather heavy-handed. I just hope it's heavy-handed in a fresh way and not Martin Gore's usual railing.
Like the fangirl that I am, I downloaded the first single from the album, "Precious". Good, but not great -- though it's rather catchy and growing on me. I rather suspect that if I give it a few more listens, I'll love it. It's a little bit Exciter (meh), a little bit Violator (yay!) and a little bit Songs of Faith and Devotion (what I had expected). It's kind of unusual for a first single -- rather slow and reflective. Dave Gahan seems to be in pretty good form, vocally, and that's good. I love the lyrics, too. Very poignant and bittersweet, and a lot of it relates to how I feel regarding certain people and events.
Precious and fragile things
Need special handling
My God, what have we done to you?
We always try to share
The tenderest of care
Now look what we have put you through
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
Angels with silver wings
Shouldn't know suffering
I wish I could take the pain for you
If God has a master plan
That only He understands
I hope it's your eyes He's seeing through
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
I pray you learn to trust
Have faith in both of us
And keep room in your heart for two
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
Yeah, I know, it's all terribly cheesy, but there you are.
Of course, I'll be buying the album as soon as it hits stores, and getting tickets for the tour as soon as they go on sale. But you knew that already. ;)
ETA: Okay, "Precious" is definitely growing on me. I think we can say I'm mildy addicted. I love DM so much! *dies of fangirlism*