Don't pots links to sites like Mininova, etc. I'm pretty sure it could get BJ in srs legal issues.

Don't pots links to sites like Mininova, etc. I'm pretty sure it could get BJ in srs legal issues.

 

In the US maybe mate... I've been using Mininova for about the past 4 or 5 years, I've had absolutely ZERO problems, not even a "tsk, tsk, you're a naughty boy for downloading stuff" letter from my service provider....

 

.....So far I hasten to add..... ;)#

 

Besides, Mininova itself is a perfectly LEGAL website when all's said and done.... It's not like I'm posting links to child porn or Fundamentalist Jihadi websites......

I love the album.

 

It's absolutely fantastic innit...?

 

For me, the best Depeche Mode album since "Ultra"..... A fantastic mix of experimental electronica (ie, stuff like Kraftwerk, DAF, Aphex Twin and Orbital) and good quality Pop music, like they did in the old days..... I can see this album doing very well in Continental Europe, particularly Germany, Scandinavia, etc.....

It seems that Wrong went to No 2 in german chart! If true, i am very happy, Germany still loves DM :dance: .

 

But i don't know what to think about the album. I heard a couple of songs and i am far from being impressed :cry: .

It seems that Wrong went to No 2 in german chart! If true, i am very happy, Germany still loves DM :dance: .

 

It also went to No 1 in the DAC (Deutsche Alternativ Chart). Funnily enough, the Germans also like The Prodigy, with Omen hitting the Top 10 as well...... :lol: Germans mainly have good taste.....

 

.....And then unfortunately spoil it by going apesh!t over David bloody Hasselhoff....... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Serioiusly though, being "alternative" in Germany is more accepted than in UK, every year in Leipzig you have the Gothik Treffen festival, basically, for a week in May, the whole CITY of Leipzig is one huge 'Mecca' for Goths/Metallers/Industrial/Alternative types, with dozens of gigs all over Leipzig....

 

It's also just gone to number 1 in Italy... I didn't realise that they had a major fanbase there. For sure, it's difficult for non-Italian artists to get to number one there.

Serioiusly though, being "alternative" in Germany is more accepted than in UK, every year in Leipzig you have the Gothik Treffen festival, basically, for a week in May, the whole CITY of Leipzig is one huge 'Mecca' for Goths/Metallers/Industrial/Alternative types, with dozens of gigs all over Leipzig....

 

I was there one year by chance (and not by choice , i didn't have a clue at the beginning what is happening :lol: ). Very surreal and funny :lol: . I expect the DM gig in Leipzig, where i will go this year, to be fantastic! But i will not wear only black, to let my hubby a chance to find me :lol: .

It's also just gone to number 1 in Italy... I didn't realise that they had a major fanbase there. For sure, it's difficult for non-Italian artists to get to number one there.

 

DM do extremely well, critically, in every European country except Britain it seems, and they've had phenomenal success in the US over the years... In Britain, our music press still cant seem to get over the fact that Vince Clark made them sound like a poppy piece of cr@p in the early 80s, obviously the band MUST be punished for that throughout their entire career, even though their music has progressed and evolved throughout their 25+ year history.... Of course British artists dont seem to have that mentality considering that quite a few over the years haven't exactly missed a beat in either collaborating, remixing or doing covers of their material..... :rolleyes: DM have this legendary, influential status, which everyone except the UK music press appreciates.....

Well, to be fair, they got from the german Rolling Stones only 2,5 stars for the new album (but for their better albums they got better, so RS is not biased against them), which is less than Take That album got. So, they are not loved instantly from the critics, but they are accepted more and they have a huge following!

 

I remember being a teen and the DM fans were as influencial as the Metallica fans back in day :lol: .

 

 

Well, to be fair, they got from the german Rolling Stones only 2,5 stars for the new album (but for their better albums they got better, so RS is not biased against them), which is less than Take That album got. So, they are not loved instantly from the critics, but they are accepted more and they have a huge following!

 

I remember being a teen and the DM fans were as influencial as the Metallica fans back in day :lol: .

 

Okay, Iris, off topic for a moment... PLEASE explain this weird.....thing you Germans have for David Hasselhoff...... I mean, come on.... To us, he's a bubble-permed prick who got outacted by a car...... :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Okay, Iris, off topic for a moment... PLEASE explain this weird.....thing you Germans have for David Hasselhoff...... I mean, come on.... To us, he's a bubble-permed prick who got outacted by a car...... :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Ewww, i don't know when he was in Germany seen as good (as i am in Germany only for the last 8 years and i cannot rememebr to hear him singing). But the germans have a good hand for kitsch, they made the word so they must keep it alive. That explain why the horrible carnaval songs are every years in charts and how such songs like Snuffi or with other stuffed plush animals :lol: go to no1.

 

That a lot of more alternative songs go in german charts doesn't mean that the germans have a better taste in music as the UK listeners. For example the good english pop songs go in german charts only by chance (and mostly if they got first success in USA charts). To keep the balance a lot of bad pop songs go in german charts as well with the alternative ones. :lol: (is enough that they have success in uSA to have success in german charts).

 

Well, to be fair, they got from the german Rolling Stones only 2,5 stars for the new album (but for their better albums they got better, so RS is not biased against them), which is less than Take That album got. So, they are not loved instantly from the critics, but they are accepted more and they have a huge following!

 

I remember being a teen and the DM fans were as influencial as the Metallica fans back in day :lol: .

It's really RS that important? ;)

 

All main reviews:

http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/de...dsoftheuniverse

 

 

As much as i liked or not, RS is quite important on european market as critics. Perhaps not very influencial at the big masses taste.

 

Alin, did you bought it? Is it any good? Like i said, from youtoube i don't like it too much, Wrong is still my fav ATM.

As much as i liked or not, RS is quite important on european market as critics.

'

Well, imo, they're completely wrong about the new DM album... It's a damn good record..... Certainly better than the incredibly dull "Exciter" (which totally failed to, er, 'excite' me at any rate....), and in a lot of ways, a step up from "Playing the Angel"..... I can only assume this particular RS critic was perhaps expecting "Violator" or "Ultra", part two....

 

All things considered, for a band getting to their 30th year of existence, I reckon they're doing considerably more than alright when they come up with material such as this... I tell you though, I find it incredibly curious that some critics seem to criticise them for "going back to the 80s" when they probably wouldn't make the same criticisms of, say, Ladytron, Goldfrapp, Client or others who similarly crib notes from the Gore/Gahan songbook..... Surely Depeche Mode are kind of entitled to sound "DepecheMode-y"...... :rolleyes:

OK, I have to admit, bar the brilliant first single and one of their greatest songs EVER, the phenomenal 'Peace', the new album's leaving me a little underwhelmed.

 

Main stalling point for me is the lyrics.... teeth-grindingly awful in parts.... with the same old themes Martin Gore was exploring in the mid-80s...... sin, redemption, religion etc etc etc..... I've heard it all before. And on this album they've held back with what Gore is best at - incredible melody and song structure... it all sounds a bit tired and all over the place to me.

 

The thing that's really depressed me about DM since Violator is that, for a band who pretty much defined beautiful artwork (it's them and Pink Floyd and the Cocteau Twins for me)..... why on EARTH are they trusting Corbijn with their design work? :puke2:

 

This new artwork is appalling. OK, he's a great photographer, but Anton Corbijn couldn't design a blank piece of paper. 'Playing the Angel' is one of the ugliest album covers of all-time...but with this cheap, nasty and all-round ghastly cover... they've even surpassed that?! Why oh why?

 

Think of 'A Broken Frame', 'Construction Time Again', 'Violator'.... then compare to every single release since that album and they've all been p*** poor.

 

DM were great on Jools last night.... Martin still looking like an out of work drag act..... and I can't wait to see them at the O2 just before Christmas...yayy!

Think of 'A Broken Frame', 'Construction Time Again', 'Violator'.... then compare to every single release since that album and they've all been p*** poor.

 

DM were great on Jools last night.... Martin still looking like an out of work drag act..... and I can't wait to see them at the O2 just before Christmas...yayy!

 

I disagree... I liked the artwork of "Ultra" personally, but then, I like Industrial, and that's kind of what it reminded me of... "Playing the Angel" artwork was okay, but, yeah, I can see why you dont really like the cover of the new one.... I'm not quite sure what it's meant to be....? Some sort of Scientific diagram...? A pic of a DNA helix or summat would've been better actually....

 

And come one, Martin Gore's slightly cheesy lyrics are always part of DM's charm for me, "Jezebel" is particularly hilarious..... :lol: And, frankly, I see nowt wrong with the darker lyrics in tunes like "Wrong" or "Come Back".... Gahan's vocals have rarely sounded better, and on some tracks, he's the best he's ever sounded, imo (the phenomenal "Peace" and the album opener "In Chains" are fantastic vocally and musically...).

 

I've listened to this album about a dozen times now, and I keep picking up bits I'd never noticed before... It's not 'immediate' like "Violator" or "Ultra", it's what's known as a "grower" in my book, some of it's even quite "proggy"..... A new genre - "Progressive Synth Pop".....??? :lol:

 

I'm probably going on the 15th Dec to see DM, what night you going...? Unfortunately I had to make a choice this month to get my NIN ticket, couldn't afford both just now, and the NIN show may just be the last chance I ever get to see either NIN or Jane's Addiction :( , and tix were selling out rapidly..... I tell you what though, I seriously hate 02/Ticketmaster and their "service charges"..... Fukkin' hell.....

 

Hiya Scott..

 

we're going the night after.... think it's the 16th..or maybe 17th? Not had the tickets yet... but it'll be my first O2 visit so I'm looking forward to it.

 

Ultra artwork... that was ok...... a little dark, the front of it, though. But this new one... sooo tacky. I'm stunned they approved it.

 

I hope 'Come Back' isn't the new single to be honest.... I'm not keen on Gahan's songs.... they always seem a bit obvious next to the Gore's. Then again, I also prefer Gore's vocals..... how mad is it that this man STILL hasn't been recognised for his contribution to music???? I always think of the DM single 'A Question of Lust' which could easily be sung by someone like Bassey - it's a modern standard in my book - magnificent.

 

ps...you made the right choice in choosing DM over MiN.... you know my feelings on Reznor ;)

ps...you made the right choice in choosing DM over MiN.... you know my feelings on Reznor ;)

 

Oh, I think you misunderstood, I bought the NIN tic just now, getting DM's in a couple of weeks :lol: NIN I prioritised because it's a show with Jane's Addiction (who are one of my favourite Rock bands of all time...) and because tix were almost gone (as it is I'm stuck up in the bloody GODS.... :rolleyes: ), and cos of the fact that it may just be NIN's swan song. I'm gonna go on DM night where tix for standing or the lower tier are still available.....

 

I know how you feel about Trent, never understood your hostility towards the guy personally.... I mean, lyrically, I dont believe he's anymore embarrassing than a LOT of acts out there of a similar type, and in terms of production, music and artwork, NIN's albums are absolutely incredible.... You cant knock Trent for having the ability to do everything himself, he self-produced his debut album in a very guerilla-fashion, working at a studio in Cleveland, Ohio by day, and then going in at night to work on "Pretty Hate Machine" and basically doing it all himself... That gets my absolute respect, simple as..... Absolutely nobody "manufactured" Trent mate, in fact I'd say as an artist he's probably more credible than about 99.999999999999999999999% of others out there who call themselves "alternative", and he's continued to do things on his own terms ever since, that should really get the respect of any genuine fan of real music if nothing else.....

 

And, tbh mate, I would argue that Trent inspired the likes of Depeche Mode, U2 and Gary Numan to actually go all a bit "Industrial" and experimental in the early-to-mid-90s.....

I know you love his stuff, Scott - but there always seems to be a whiff of '6th form angsty poetry' about everything he writes.... it all seems so affected.

 

As for influencing others - Numan for sure - but then, Numan's based his whole career on pastiches of other people, from Day One. Horrible little man he is. Still, I kind of admire anyone who bases their career on a Stars In Their Eyes-a-like performance of Bowie..... with just one decent song in his whole repertoire.

 

As for DM... I'd say they were more influenced by the 80s 'metal bangers'..... the German band whose name I can't spell.... also, Skinny Puppy (whose act Reznor seems to have studied quite closely).

 

There's just something so fake about Reznor to my ears..... he conjures up images of the embarrassing token goths and outcasts in those old John Hughes films from the 80s.

 

But as I know you're a fan.... I won't say anything bad about him as it's a Bank Holiday and the sun's out ;) :P

 

p.s..off topic totally... but Scott... YouTube Fever Ray.... she's the vocalist from Swedish band The Knife, long time faves of mine.... her album is nothing short of phenomenal.... as are the videos. Bjork-like...only with actual songs to boot ;)

As for DM... I'd say they were more influenced by the 80s 'metal bangers'..... the German band whose name I can't spell.... also, Skinny Puppy (whose act Reznor seems to have studied quite closely).

 

Yeah, "Construction Time Again" is prob influenced more by the "metal bashers" Einsturzende Neubauten, and the likes of DAF (Deutsch Amerikanishe Freundschaft), but I would still argue that "Ultra" and a fair few tracks on "Songs of Faith and Devotion" is more towards Trent/NIN, particularly in the production values.....

 

Oh come on, how can you criticise Trent for his "angsty, 6th form goth poetry" when you listen to stuff like "Blasphemous Rumours" or "Master and Servant"..... :lol: :lol:

 

Trent's never denied being influenced by Skinny Puppy or Front 242, but whereas those guys were all about the dehumanising side of Industrial, NIN's always been more about putting a bit of humanity into the genre..... He actually found his own angle, and unfortunately a whole load of copycats (some good, some bad, some downright terrible) jumped on his train..... Anyway, you cant argue that the NIN logo is probably one of the most effective, instantly recognisable and best pieces of design ever.... Trent could easily have started his own designer line with that label.....

 

Personally, I think you should reserve your criticisms more for the likes of MCR and those other horrid little emo gits who're probably the worst thing to happen to Alternative music culture, ever..... :lol: