AN EARLY 80s NEW WAVE GEM

I have to give this CD a great review because when it came out it was definately one that had me possessed for some time. I couldn't get enough of these songs. When this synth music came out I felt I had stumbled upon something really special. It all sounded so terrific to me back then. I wish I could relive those days sometimes because it was such a joy to turn on the college radio stations and hear so much good music coming out of my speakers. I know that many professional musicians and music critics rejected this stuff as being lightweight and artificial but since I never gave a damn what anyone else thought about what good music must sound like I was able to fully enjoy these guys. This stuff was fresh, fun and very catchy. It was desperately needed since the stuff being played on regular radio stations was starting to get a little old. This album was loaded with great songs like Dreaming of Me, Just Can't Get Enough, Nodisco and Photographic. I can't imagine the early 80s without the music of Depeche Mode. I'd have to be a fool to not have liked this. But the songs that really stayed with me throughout the years are Policy of Truth, Strangelove and Leave in Silence. These three are still really really good! Policy of Truth is one that will without a doubt get your hips moving. It can't be helped! If this doesn't happen to you I think a visit to your doctor or shrink is in order. And speaking of moving the hips, what made Strangelove a little nicer of a song was seeing him dance to it on the MTV Awards show wearing those very nice tight black leather pants! For me it was a mind-searing event because whenever I hear the song I immediately think of those dance moves! Depeche Mode gets a big thumbs up from me for all the joyful moments their music gave me.

buy the import !!!!

If you must have Speak and Spell ( which is quite good, despite being very lightweight, fluffy, lyrically empty early-eighties synth-pop ) do yourself a favour and spend the extra money on the import version. The US version pales in comparison to the original Uk version. There is a great song ( Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead, which is not as depressing as its title would suggest ) that was left off the US pressing, and the extra time was taken up by the inclusion of the 12" remix of Just Can't Get Enough (which is better in its original 7" mix anyway - over six minutes of Just Can't Get Enough is, well, too much of enough ). There are also a few great b-sides that are on the UK version of the cd.

Yes, I love this album. No, I'm not a Depeche Mode "fan."

This is the only Depeche Mode album I own. Why?



One, because it's fun, catchy stuff, and, despite its bubble-gum aura, if you listen closely you see some really interesting production going on by Vince Clark. Turn up the bass, and the songs suddenly become more serious and less bubble-gum once the beat gets thumping. Lyrics? Personally, I don't care.



Two, because, IMHO, after this album Depeche Mode went downhill in a MAJOR way. They tried so hard to be "cool" and "deep" that much of their music just got boring, and, paradoxically, lost its soul.



Some tracks on this album don't do it for me, but there are so many gems (e.g. New Life, Dreaming of Me, Just Can't Get Enough, Tora! Tora! Tora!) that I consider it a must-have.



I have to agree with J.Brady above that if you're going to buy this, you MUST get the import. The import has everything on the American release plus 5 extra tracks, most of which are great. The import has better sound quality to boot. But most importantly, the import has both versions of "Just Can't Get Enough," whereas the American release only has the junk Schizo Mix.



A warning, though, for die-hard DM collectors: some of the tracks common to both releases are ever so slightly different between the two, e.g. "New Life." So, die-hard fans would have to buy both releases, I guess. For anyone else, however, I'd say buy the import "+5" and forget about the American release!