| | Depeche Mode Music For The Masses CD Depeche Mode Discography of CDs
(6 Customer Reviews)
One of the bands that not only dominated the charts for most of the 80s, but they also typified the type of music that will be looked back on as 'the sound of the 80s'. Their sometimes Germanic electronic pop became softer on this album. They were becoming more of a band, and they were 'rockin', just a little. Keyboards still dominated but the melody seemed less regimented. Vocalist Dave Gahan excelled, as his voice grew in power. In a year or two they would become stadium rock stars, and change forever. The reissued CD had a number of excellent bonus tracks including some interesting remixed material.
Initially the title must have sounded like an incredibly pretentious boast, except that Depeche Mode then went on to do a monstrous world tour, score even more hits in America and elsewhere than ever before, and pick up a large number of name checks from emerging house and techno artists on top of all that. As for the music the masses got this time around, the opening cut, "Never Let Me Down Again," started things off wonderfully: a compressed guitar riff suddenly slamming into a huge-sounding percussion/keyboard/piano combination, anchored to a constantly repeated melodic hook, ever-building synth/orchestral parts at the song's end, and one of David Gahan's best vocals (though admittedly singing one of Martin Gore's more pedestrian lyrics). It feels huge throughout, like they taped Depeche recording at the world's largest arena show instead of in a studio. Other key singles "Strangelove" and the (literally) driving "Behind the Wheel" maintained the same blend of power and song skill, while some of the quieter numbers such as "The Things You Said" and "I Want You Now" showed musical and lyrical intimacy could easily co-exist with the big chart-busters. Add to that other winners like "To Have and to Hold," with its Russian radio broadcast start and dramatic, downward spiral of music accompanied by Gahan's subtly powerful take on a desperate Gore love lyric, and the weird, wonderful choral closer, "Pimpf," and Depeche's massive success becomes perfectly clear. [This edition includes four bonus tracks -- "Agent Orange," "Pleasure, Little Treasure" and two remixes.] ~ Ned Raggett
Recorded at Studio Guilliame Tell, Paris, France and Konk, London, England.
Depeche Mode: David Gahan (vocals); Martin Gore (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer); Alan Wilder (keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Andrew Fletcher (keyboards, synthesizer).
Rolling Stone (p.74) - "4 stars out of 5 -- "Gore's pensive but sensual songwriting reaches a new plateau..." Q (6/95, p.135) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...has its dark, gloomy secrets and layered soundtrack grooves to support some of the groups' most self-conscious and self-questioning storylines....Most of the songs....are real diamonds in the darkness....this was the point at which Depeche Mode were first taken seriously." Alternative Press (p.200) - "MASSES is articulate, intricate electronic music that lacked the tinny feel of DM's early synth pop..." Music For The Masses Music | List Price | $11.98 (You save $3.39) | | Category | Rock Albums, Pop CDs, Alternative, Rock/Pop, Synth Pop | | Label | Reprise | | Orig Year | 1987 | | All Time Sales Rank | 3589  | | CD Universe Part number | 1100168 | | Catalog number | 25614 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Oct 25, 1990 | | Studio/Live | Studio | | Mono/Stereo | Stereo | | Producer | Depeche Mode; David Bascombe | | Engineer | David Bascombe | | Recording Time | 62 minutes | | Personnel | Alan Wilder - keyboards, synthesizer, programming Martin Gore - vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer David Gahan - vocals Andrew Fletcher - keyboards, synthesizer
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Depeche Mode Music For The Masses Songs Music For The Masses Music Music For The Masses Music Review Average Rating: (4.7 out of 5 stars)    List All Reviews Best Depeche Mode Album Ever! I've Been a fan of Depeche Mode for about twelve years but recently I've developed a new obsession. I never owned this album so I purchased it and I can't believe I've spent the last twelve years not knowing the brilliance of this abum. It encompasses who Depeche Mode are perfectly. I am in love with this album. Submitted by jjorgensen6 (Lincoln,NE,USA)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
Classic Depeche Mode I only found out about this album recently, and, having only been exposed to their 'Violator' album growing up, I didn't know that it could get any better than that. But this album is definitely on equal par. Awesome melodic tracks. Classic 80's sound! A MUST for all Depeche Mode fans! Submitted by lmagnusson (Novato, CA)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
A good transitional album This album contains one of the best Depeche Mode tracks such as 'Never let me down again', 'Strangelove', or 'Behind The Wheel', this album marked a period for the 80's and the band, and announced us the upcoming Violator within the guitar riffs of 'Tresure, Little Pleasure' which resemble quite a lot 'Personal Jesus'.
This is one of the best Depeche Mode albums to jump to its beat and enjoy. Submitted by srrauldcmarvel (Mexico City, Mexico) Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
An Excellent work This album is what i believe to be one of the best albums, containing a song called "The thingg you said". while this song has had an odd effect on me, i believe it is better than "enjoy the silence" which until i heard this song was my favorite depeche mode track. Submitted by Blackwind9789 (Boulder, CO) Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
A Masterpiece! Ok, Ok. So the goths might say that Black Celebration is like soooo essential,dark and depressing..blah,
blah,blah. The fact is that Music for the Masses is by far much superior than anything they had released before.
Not only is this a more consistent album , but it is also their first to hit the Billboard top 40 and the first to reach platinum status. Submitted by pulsedemon80 (Hartford, Conn.) Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
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