Catching Up with New Wave

Depeche Mode scored their first hit in the United States shortly before the release of this collection, when "People Are People" went to #13 on the Top 100. However, the group had been having hits for years in the U.K. and on U.S. college-rock stations. "Catching Up with Depeche Mode" was thus released so that late-comers could hear the group's excellent early work. Some of the highlights include:



Dreaming of Me - My introduction to the group and still one of my favorite Depeche Mode songs. This song is perhaps their most "new-wave" sounding record and signaled the beginning of a major talent.



Just Can't Get Enough - Has an incredible intro synth line that's impossible to forget, as well as a great chorus. This song is one of their most playful (UK peak - #8 in 1981).



Master and Servant - One of their best-known and most memorable early songs. This song really previewed the direction the group would take with a fuller sound and intriguing lyrics (UK peak - #9 in 1984)



Blasphemous Rumours - Took the group in a new direction - one they'd continue with "Personal Jesus." It includes some of their best lyrics - I don't want to start/ Any blasphemous rumours/ But I think that God's/ Got a sick sense of humour/ And when I die/ I expect to find Him laughing.



Somebody - perhaps their most beautiful ballad ever with an effective heart-beat sound effect (Released with "Blasphemous Rumours" as a two-sided single; UK peak - #16 in 1984)



Overall, this CD collection is first-rate, early 80s synth-pop. However, the group later released "Singles 81-85," a re-mastered CD which includes most of the songs here as well as "Leave in Silence," "Everything Counts," and "People Are People." I don't own "Singles 81-85," so I suggest that you check out the reviews for that CD as well before deciding which (or both) to purchase.

Not the Best Choice of Hits

While "Catching Up With Depeche Mode" is supposedly a collection of DM's more popular songs from the early 80s, there are quite a few more obscure tracks on here than hits, excluding such better-known tunes as "People Are People" and "Everything Counts" for a handful of cheesy ballads like "Dreaming of Me," "New Life," "See You," and "Somebody." This certainly isn't a CD I'd recommend unless you're an avid DM fan. The two main reasons why I bought it was because 1) it was on sale, and 2) for my favorite four tracks on here: "Master and Servant," "Blasphemous Rumours," "Shake the Disease," and "Fly on the Windscreen." A small plus to this CD, though, is the brief bio in the booklet and the several dozen small color photos of the band inside (some are rather amusing). Yet, this CD is really lacking in popular hits. I'd recommend listening to one of DM's earlier 80's albums instead (like "Some Great Reward") or try the similar version of this CD: "The Singles: 81-85," which includes the two aforementioned hits missing from "Catching Up..."

this is "dated" and "uncool"..if you're young and an MTV bot

UNCOOL, November 20, 2002
"Depeche Modes early work sounds dated and uncool now days. And at times embarrassing to listen to." I must heartily disagree. First of all, this one of the greatest early singles collections of any 80s band or indeed, any band you could care to name; it's been totally overshadowed by more recent and more
comprehensive DM singles compilations by Mute/Sire, but I've owned this LP/CD/cassette in all forms since it first came out, and I much prefer the earlier Depeche Mode but I also enjoy a lot of their more recent and 1990s material. Maybe since I'm an older fan it doesn't sound that dated to my ears, and maybe if you're 17 right now this might sound dated, I dunno. But I still think this collection magnificently proves how great a band Depeche Mode were and are. I weary of people describing any rock/pop/other recording made before the past 5 years as "dated"; these are usually people with no sense of musical history, not much taste in music, and little critical reasoning ability. Catching Up With can't possibly sound any more dated now than most of the utterly vapid garbage being spewed out in the past 10-12 years will sound in only a few more years (or so I truly suspect). So do the Beatles sound dated? Does Bob Dylan sound dated? Does DM sound dated? maybe. MUSIC DATES. get over it. Is this a great collection of timeless music? Yes. Get over it. If it's too dated for you, don't listen to it. I still listen to many of these songs constantly, and it's not from nostalgia; it's because I still find this music compelling in a way that I don't almost any of the current wave of pure worthless junk (Basement Jaxx, Dirty Vegas, and J.Lo are top contenders for tuneless, soulless, worthless, gutless, mindless already-dated contemporary pop "music") being foisted on you poor 21st Century kids. If your parents listen to it and you were horrified, ok..I can understand that rebellion...but I think some artists are an exception and I think this collection is the same. Some things will always be cool! At least in my book. Now,if you really want dated and uncool...gosh go get
a copy of any Leif Garrett or Tony Orlando and Dawn recording!
now THAT'S DATED (and hideous and so were the clothes).