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| Depeche Mode - Ultra Band: Depeche Mode One of Depeche Mode's best albums to date I love, love, Love this CD and I have been meaning to write review about it for awhile. As stated by another reviewer, this album ranks right up there with Black Celebration and Violator. I don't think it has left my 3-disc CD Player for more than a week without me missing it and sticking it right back in! This is a very solid album, there isn't a single song I dislike or want to skip through (well, okay, I don't really Love Jazz Thieves, it has no lyrics which I dislike, but still I do listen to it and it's fairly short). Also, the songs flow very nicely into one another so there aren't any abrupt transitions between songs. Another reason I Love this album is because the lyrics are solid and fairly poetic. I am a big lyric person and good lyrics are very important to me. I am not going to write a mini review of each song, because that has been done quite nicely by another reviewer, but I will say that Sister of Night (reminds me of Waiting For the Night to Fall), Freestate (I have a whole music video in my head for this song), The Bottom Line (romantic and Sweet in a very DM kind of way), & Insight (I Love the way the guys use their voices on this one) are Truly great songs and some of DMs best work. Matured Mode After listening to this album, my first impression was that even Depeche Mode could not escape the need to grow and mature. The songs are more matured on this album, darker and gloomier too. Songs like 'Barrel of a Gun' might take some time to catch on, but after a few listening, you just start to realize how good it is. Dave Gahan sang this song after his near-death experience with drugs and you can really feel his agony in it. 'It's No Good' is another of those infectious Mode tunes that they are so famous for. But yet, no longer is there any sign of immaturity. 'Useless' is another great track. Some old fans feel that since 'Violator', Mode's songs have lost the 'fun side' of the earlier albums. But, think about it. Where are groups like OMD, Human League or Duran Duran now? Those were the groups that shared their peak of popularity with Depeche Mode but have since faded away. The fact that DM is still around today and as popular as ever shows that they have not made the wrong Move in maturing. A motley of styles and modernized sounds...pre "Exciter" I think when this album was made, The Band was trying to follow the trend of popular alternative music at the time. the track "Barrel of a gun" barely resembles the band's sound if it's recognizable at all. I don't like "Barrel.." but there are some awesome songs such as the experimental "Freestate", which reminds me of spain for some unknown reason and "Sister of Night" is a wonderful ballad that is deeply felt. It's apparent that this album was made to try to attract a more alternative crowd but the cd has something to please everyone. At a glance:<BR>Best song:( Tough one this time... )...Freestate<BR>Least favorite: Barrel of a Gun<BR>Overall:<BR>1. Barrel of a Gun: It's obvious that DM was trying a bit too hard to win the hard core, alternative Audience with this one. Too bad it just doesn't fit into the album very well; which is good because if the album totally sounded like this, it would've been very very bad 4/10.<BR>2. The Love thieves: Soft, a bit sensual ( in my opinion ), and thoughtful. This song is like an ' Exciter " preview of what would follow this album. I like it. You will too if you like the softer DM ballads along side your basic DM sound 8/10.<BR>3. Home: When Martin Gore takes the Mic, always know that it's a ballad and it will either be sad or romantic or both. This is a little of both 8/10.<BR>4. It's no good: The very first DM song that I ever heard when I lusted over Dave in the music video. I was paying more attention to him than the song but I heard enough to inquire into the band's music and the rest is history. Very modern for those who shy away from the 80's sounding stuff 7/10.<BR>5.<BR>6. Useless: An anrgy song that is a little reminissant of " Barrel of a Gun" but this one sounds better since Dave is actually singing and not taunting his words. A great song to put on when you're in a bad mood and you feel like de-stressing without violence. Sing this one and I guarantee you'll at least feel a tiny bit better if you're mad at someone 6/10.<BR>7. Sister of Night: One of the best songs on the album. Great beat, great imagery through lyrics, and the instruments used create beautiful sounds that remind me of " waiting for the Night" from Violator 8/10.<BR>8.<BR>9. Freestate: A unique creation that reminds me of the color red and Spanish imagery. I would dance with a partner to this song in a red and Black dress at a bull Fight ( if that makes any sense ).It's slower than what I usually hold as criteria for a really great DM song and it is by far, a one-of-a kind, but it is strangely beautiful and surprisingly dancible 9/10.<BR>10. The bottom Line: This has the most romantic lyrics of all the songs on the cd. I wish I had written this song; it's just so well written and beauti Buy Depeche Mode Ultra at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
