Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

So I'm on my 2nd and a half listen...So far thoughts:
It seems to be better than Exciter.

John the revelator sticks out to me.

I still want Violator part deux. Is this it? Doubtful. quite crunchy.
well for a DM album anyway...

Where's DJ Eddy when you need him? Wasn't he a huge fan? Wonder what he thinks...

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

well i just d/l'd a load of mixes of Precious from slsk, and they all say Playing the Angel as the Album...

was this a promo with just these mixes on...as most don't appear on the commecially released singles...(any idea of a complete tracklisting of the precious remixes - all formats...)

now will go back and try and catch a listen to the album

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this i want this.

well at least i really want to hear it :)

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

I downloaded one of the Precious promo singles w/ two Sasha mixes, the Michael Mayer, Full Vocal, Misc Crunch and Motor mixes ...and to me... none of them really grabbed me you know? Like Precious (Sashas Gargantuan Vocal Mix Edit) had some moments that sounded cool - but all the mixes just seem to be very linear, housy affairs....

The album is definitely a grower - but some have started to stand out. Suffer Well has a nice beat, and definite vibes of older DM, The Sinner In Me reminds me a bit of "Walking In My Shoes" and the whole SoFaD.

but I haven't yet listened to the whole album. I don't know how I'd rank it in preference compared to their more recent albums, but it at least feels like what you'd expect to come out between Ultra and Exciter...

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

Got it!
So far, i've been really liking these:

suffer well
nothing's impossible
a pain that i'm used to
precious (though it's been heard before)
macro

introspectre is also cool... a moody instrumental.

Like joethelion said, it definitely sounds like a grower. I was expecting good stuff and so far i can't say i'm disappointed.

Plus i have the tickets to see em in next february. yesssss

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

i got my hands on it last week...

already gave it a few listens while i was working...

DM has been obsessed with the dark stuff ever since they did Stripped..and they have made really great dark songs, but there were always uplifting ones in there that equally kicked that ass.

Playing the Angel lacks that uplifting sound. Too much darkness here. Too much rough-style, it wasnt smooth and emotional. it was more like sandpaper. Some of the songs sound more like NIN than DM. And honestly..its the first album that really lacks the catchy hooks, melodies, and arrangements that are expected in a DM release. Further exposing DM's ever-so-important missing element, Alan Wilder.

that said...

Ultra was the first wilder-less album. and although its no Violator, Tim Simenon did a great job filling in for Wilder. He did a good job producing. i even remember how happy Gahan was with Ultra..(that and that he's finally 'clean' enough to enjoy his music.)

why can't they get him again?

anyway..even though its sounds like Pretty Hate Machine meets Sasha. 'Suffer Well' is the only song i really like from here. the rest is filler. precious included..

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

I've never understood the comparing of albums to one another, although I'm guilty of it myself. Seperate bodies of work are just that. Apples to Oranges.

ANYWHAT,

Wilder's been gone a lone time and remaining members have proven competent with & without him. DM shows no signs of slowing down, he won't be coming back, so don't hold your breath, arena rock's just not his style.

These boys have proven the show must go on. Even after every bad turn that's come their way, they've managed to feed their spirits with what's necessary to an artist. They have my utmost respect, even when they put out shit. Playing the Angel doesn't come a fly's soaring to shit either. I'm glad they're back, and I don't like arena rock either.

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

I think it's crap. The musical production is solid, but wtf is up with the lyrical content? and dave gahan needs to remember who he is....he doesn't have soul...he's got melancholy (sp?) -- even his darker moments are cliche. all the strained singing and sliding notes in attempt to mimic soul doesn't work for him at all. imho. I also wonder how much MG had to do with the lyrics. light the flame.

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

truth.

i've always thought this about Gahan.

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

Actually I like a lot of the album but some of the lyrics are pants. Lillian and John The Revelator are terrible. I wonder which parts Gahan wrote this time...

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

Lillian is one of the best songs on the album.
Nothing impossible, Suffer well, Lillian...... DM are back, this album is better than Exciter for sure.:)



Even the stars look brighter tonight

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

guess we'll have to agree to disagree there mr.tonedeaf. its terrible. at least the rest of the album is decent. i shall be purchasing this one.

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

Credits for the album:

01 A Pain That I’m Used To
02 John The Revelator
03 Suffer Well*
04 The Sinner In Me
05 Precious
06 Macrovision
07 I Want It All*
08 Nothing’s Impossible*
09 Introspectre
10 Damaged People
11 Lillian
12 The Darkest Star

Written by Martin Gore except * by Dave Gahan, Christian Eigner & Andrew Phillpott.


...kinda surprised that "Suffer Well" is one of Dave's you know?

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

I'm quite surprised to hear ppl slamming "Precious", which I thought was gonna be, by far, most people's favorite (those synth solos are catchy as hell, I was singing along to it unconsciously by the second listen :)). I think this is better than Exciter (and Ultra). My fav's besides Precious:

John the Revelator
Suffer Well
Nothing's Impossible

dunno wassup w/'Lillian", sounds more like a Garbage (the band) track. There will never be another 'violator' or album that compares to violator.

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

Been listening to it for a while now. Uppers for me: a pain that I'm used to, John the revelator, Suffer well, nothing's impossible. Downers: I want it all (sounds too much as if it could be on paper monsters and I didn't like that album at all), Macrovision (I like it lyrically though).

I do like precious, though I think it's too repetitive. It's got no bridge and I'd expect some chord progression at the end.

But, in the end, I can hear the different experiences in the album. Gahan's solo efforts, Gore's counterfeit and maybe (just maybe) Fletch's interference with Client. I hear subtle aspects from some great reward, black celebration, Violator and Song of faith and devotion. And even a broken frame (Lillian). I think that the guys have reinventend themselves. At least some good and honest music between most of the crap that you hear nowadays.

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

Picked this album up at HMV the other day and after a few listens, I have to say it's great...I think it blows Exciter away.

Lillian is definitely one of the best songs on there.

I'd have to agree that it is very dark though...absolutely nothing uplifting on this album...dark, synthy, moody...DM at their best.

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

I especially like John the Revelator. A big fuck you to all the fundamentalists.

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

It's good to have some DM fans here.
I got a hold of most of this album mid september and loved it at first listen. Fell in love with the track Lilian at first listen - it reminded me very much of the broken frame / ice machine / shout 82' DM which I still listen to quite frequently. As stated, this album definitely links to their early roots, but strongly with their newer stuff Violator / SoFaD / Ultra / Exciter.
It's a much better work than Exciter (Hands Down). Exciter was a good album, but not one of their better albums.
To me, Ultra made a mark in DM history and still ranks top as my favourite DM album (as a whole) - with UW remixing Barrel Of A Gun... The Soft Mix is the best Remix.
Lyrically, the album is alot like Some Great Reward / Black Celebration - very dark, yet danceable - and really, that's what DM represent. Dark melodies that you can either cry to or dance to. The album was recorded using alot of analog equipment - which adds to the roughness of the tracks. To me it really made this album stand out and really mixed in some old DM with the new.

Well, that's my 2 cents. I got this album from a friend (partial - crappy mp3's - then d/l it from allofmp3.com - bought the CD/DVD - and d/l it from iTunes - so I guess I like it alot :)

BTW - the (Bare) tracks of Clean and Waiting For The Night are very nicely done. I've been told that they recorded some other tracks as well - Surrender, Nothing's Impossible and Damaged People (?). Would be nice to get a full CD - Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboard and Vocals = Bare.



now playing: "Lilian - DM"

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

I went to a DM CD signing at Tower Tuesday night. *starstruck*:eek:
can't wait to see them live!

Re: Depeche Mode-Playing the Angel
 

I am very jealous.

Can't wait to see them also.