My 10 LEAST Favourite Depeche Mode Songs !!
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- My 10 LEAST Favourite Depeche Mode Songs. Counting down my 10 least favourite Depeche Mode songs of all time.
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Counting down my 10 least favourite Depeche Mode songs of all time.
Thank you again very much VG 🥰😍🤩 You were once again too Top of the Top 🙏🙏😱🙀🤗😉❤️♥️ You are still the best 📺🎹🎧🎤👌👍💪🥳😉❤️❤️ Never change anything and even Great !!! 😱🤗🥰😍
Vaughn.....ohhhh myyy gerd just as you said about "he has no chance to interview us...etc" I was JUST writing that thought, haha. Worried legit NOW cuz you deserve to interview them. YES ... metronomic...that is the word that describes all too much plus the over saturation of Mr. Gahan's vocals in all too many songs.
He he he - - - omg 'that' beginning to video mate!!!! I am here for it ALL !
So much love is on spirit not on delta machine
@@and.y.draven9327 Yep. It how's how little I care. They all sound the same, VG :-)
Thank you for a brilliant video. I feel we are being ripped off as fans. I have bought every release, compilation and special edition. The last album that I enjoy from beginning to end was Songs of faith and devotion, I have had to revisit the albums there after to find something to enjoy, and have failed. The same applies for the live shows. Dave seems to be impersonating Mick Jagger, there is no variotion in his tone or voice. Hopefully we find less R&B or weird failed experimental showboating and just good music.
Great channel.
I always liked "it's called a heart" :)
Same here and I also liked "the meaning of love". As someone who loved DM and stopped following after Ultra it seems I did not miss a lot from the looks of this video
It's Called A Heart is one of my favorite DM singles. Sure, trite lyrics. But the moody, catchy synth riffs and drones encapsulate so much of what I love about that 84-86 period. The extended version is fantastic.
As supremely talented as Martin and Dave are... they are kinda rudderless without Alan in the production department. They managed to squeak by with Ultra but after that the loss of Alan spelled the loss of DM for me.
You are absolutely right Matt! VG
IMO, Playing the Angel is a great album, and I like it overall more than Ultra, but those are the only 2 albums post Alan where I liked the majority of the albums and not just one song.
@@aliwantizu indeed PLAYING THE ANGEL be better than Memento Mori...after the departure of Alan...My fav late songs are hush hush....one is haunting me, THE DARKEST STAR, on the whole I agree with the sélection of this excellent young reviewer who is sensible, respectful and educated...I hate " scum"... greetings from France 😊
It's called a heart is a great track for sure.
"rudderless without Alan in the production" - 100%, @mattpoe7178
‘It’s called a heart’ is far better than almost all of the songs of last albums, sorry to say
I can t agree more with you from France 🇫🇷. Bye bye devotee ❤
It's not
You're right
Uh, no. 😂
The extended mix is awesome.
Alan wasn't just a good musician, not just a very good sound designer, not just a hardworking studio "worker"... he was an "instrument" in and of itself, and that's missing. It's significant when songs from the late 80s, early 90s sound better than current stuff...
@@Zontar82 Ultra and Violator are at the moment my most liked albums, but it can change because they are so good, Exiter and Sounds Of The Universe was their last albums I bought. I was 13 in 1983, and got Construction time again so have grown up with them. I feel a little guilty that I like Ultra so much because Alan was not involved
@@rodney9409 Exciter** not Exiter
@@Danimal77 Hi , English is my second language, and I struggle to type, age are catching up with me etc, I try to check my spelling.
Martin and Dave should bring Alan back
For me, DM died soon after Alan Wilder left. The band is night and day different from what they were with him, and the difference is not good in any way.
“According to sound engineer Ben Hillier, Gore called Andy Fletcher to sing Lilian over the phone to him. At the time, the former was apparently drunk and throwing pasta at a tree while he sung it.” Lilian makes be smile ever since.
I like Lilian. Especially when I'm a bit drunk, which ... after your comment makes (even) more sense. :)
That's hilarious 😂
Wait... what??? Throwing pasta at a tree? I've heard of cooks throwing pasta on the wall to see if it will stick to tell if it's done, but a tree??? WTF??? 🤣
Ok that’s funny and great lol
I like lilian ❤
Ultra 1997 was the last very good album to me thanks to Tim and his team and martins continued good songwriting. PTA was less but still good 75%
The rest of the albums since have been only good in pieces . Still love them like most hardcore fans
It's frustrating to see how a band so decent in distant times is now an ugly thing that lives on past glories and cringes.
To me the most infuriating thing about later Depeche Mode is the fact, that they kept some of the best songs off the albums. Better Days, Newborn, Light, Happens All The Time, All That's Mine, Always were all released as bonus tracks and b-sides, yet they are WAY better than some of the songs that ended up on the main albums, like those mentioned in this video.
I love the song light and better days and ghost. Really great songs that should have been on the main albums. What a shame it wasn’t.
Funny thing is that Sounds of the Universe was a rather meh album (like Spirit) but if you made your own CD including the bonus tracks, it suddenly becomes somewhat decent.
That's why I made my own playlists for each of the more recent albums, with some album tracks out and non-album tracks in, no more than 12 songs per album. This way I got some really REALLY very good albums!
That's one of things that was always awesome about DM, drove the singles B-side and 12" market.
I totally agree I think that above all there is a big concern for the production of the latest albums and the choice of songs because indeed we find the nuggets on the B-SIDES!!
We need a favorite and least favorite track from each album next👍🏼 I think Depeche Mode’s problem is that they are constantly overthinking ways to reinvent themselves and their sound, but they don’t realize that fans that prefer their heyday (majority) want to hear that magic. The melody, the unique brilliance and beautifully tortured vocals. It really goes to show where Alan contributed. Although much of Recoil’s stuff isn’t too terribly incredible, I’d like to think Alan has some songs in the chamber that he’s been sitting on for years, waiting on whether or not to rejoin..
It’s sad that Martin and Dave have just become Gene Simmons-like.
I can’t stand people who say “Depeche Mode have been more successful without Alan” as if their success isn’t predicated and built on their 80s/early 90s material lol
I agree. Also it's hilarious how all the old 80s electronic artists are trying to reinvent themselves for a "newer, fresher sound" when the the 80s sound has literally come back and in fact is fresher than the poppy miserably "commercial" stuff they're thinking is fresh. Respectfully, it's like they're just waking up one day, bored and suddenly decide to publicly piss all over their legacies.
It's happened to every single 80s artist and I think it's because the 80s has never happened before so the musicians and their managers don't really know what to do. I just hope DM's upcoming album has a more up-to-date producer and their manager(s) and stuff wake up a bit.
The only reason why that is said is because they have been able to endure without him for a longer period of time. Alan was with them for roughly 15 years. Yet, they have worked without him for almost 30. They did great in their own right and proved that they could stand on their feet without him on Ultra, Exciter, & Playing The Angel and have continued on, even with the passing of "Founding Titan Member" Andy Fletcher. Do I wish Alan would come back, YOU BET YOUR AZZ I DO. But, I surely DON'T count DM out without him.😁
It’s the problem Rush had, “what radical change can we do this record?” Finally the Foos producer got ahold of them the last 2 & said “shut up and be Rush”.
Al parecer, Martin sabe que las canciones actuales son mediocres XDDDDD lo ha dicho en un par de ocasiones.
Lilian is such a great song, every small little detail well crafted, it puts a million images in my head, I just wonder why people take music SO seriously 🙆🏻 I’m saying this as a music producer myself.
Team Vaughn! 😁 It's so weird to be a DM fan from the 80s and realise I have only liked few tracks since Exciter (which was already a bit of a disapointment!); But hey, I will never thanks them enough for the doors they have opened in my life and love them to death! 🤩
I feel the exact same way. I only listen to Speak all the way to Ultra because of how DM it is. It’s so funny how Ultra actually sounds like Alan is playing on that album. My heart breaks when I think he’s been out of the band for almost 30 years 😢
@@rubaidaallen2764 I guess Wilder's shadow was still a bit on Ultra. And as a music producer/composer (Synthwave/Synthpop), I can only but admire Martin for the amount of amazing and moving melodies he as been able to provide us! Perhaps inspiration is like a spring that can run dry?! I suppose every artist has his "momentum"?!
It does seem strange how such a prolific hit-making machine suddenly stopped in 1998. After 17 years of 100s of classic songs pre-2000; and then only 1 catchy song post-2000 -- Precious. (IMO.)
@@neilsun2521 I suppose no artist can maintain such a high artistical quality level for decades! I'm a bit less negative 🙂: Yes, yes "Precious", absolutely, "Wrong" was something and I really like the black & white studio version music video of "Broken" (better than the album version in my opinion), "South my soul" was catchy and I liked Dave's high notes experiments in "Should be higher".
@Nell Sun One of the reasons why Alan gives about leaving. Any pop/rock/ band after 20 years are not as vital/ cannot sustain - Neil Tennant calls this ,' the purple period '.
Solo/ marginal ' cult' artists are more able to sustain. Cheers.
"Don't focus on the gear, focus on the Song!" That sums up brilliantly, why so many newer DM songs suck. Sounding like demos for modular and analog Synths, without having any emotional impact.
You got it Frank!! VG :-)
I quite like Hole To Feed. The sparse feel of the track and rhythm works for me. Hard for me to take it out of context of the time and it seemed like a solid idea back then but there's been a lot of the same sort of stuff since and DM have become a rather tired band. I hope things improve next time but I suspect not.
Hey Vaughn. Absolutely spot on. Today Depeche Mode songs are mainly hookline orientated and one dimensional without depth. In the old days we enjoyed leadmelodies, countermelodies combined with brillant vocal melodies packed in a beautiful dynamic, layered arrangement thanks to Alan. Shake the Disease, Sun and the Rainfall, Walking in my Shoes and the list goes on and on and on.
You got it spot on in your analysis!! VG :-)
Alan is that missing ingredient, however they are capable of reaching that level without him. Home, Sister of Night and Wrong are examples for me that embody what the DM sound is and those were done post-alan. I think the last album albums to have that feel are Ultra and Playing the Angel.
@@andycibc I agree and Playing the Angel is a good album that often gets overlooked...
Jeez, the ones that get me are "The Dead of Night", which destroyed Exciter. And "Just Can't Get Enough", because when it gets into my head it segues into "Baby Shark".
Ahaha I also can't stand just can't get enough for that same reason
I like "The Dead Of Night". I think it has the heaviest chorus of all Depeche songs.
And Im a metal guy so I like heavy music.
I love "so much love". Has a lot of energy; I love how the distortion is on her voice. They are opinions, all valid. It is worth clarifying that So much love does not belong to Delta machine. That song is on the great Spirit album. I miss that confusion.
'So much love' is the only song on Spirit worthy of a mention and easily one of very few highlights on the last tour.
I totally agree. SO MUCH LOVE for me personally is one of their best tracks since 2000.
Best song of Spirit indeed, not of Delta Machine.
I personally would take Lillian out of your list, but hole to feed is a good shout for “ the worst” .. not surprised a few spirit tracks on list as that definitely worst album. Knew b4 I watched this there be nothing from music for the masses be on the list as it one of the best albums ever period 🙂
"So much love" is from Spirit not Delta Machine 🙂
I kind of like that song. I rank it as the seconds best song from the "Spirit" album. Going Backwords is the best I think.
Let's just call their last ~20 years of slop "Playing The Spirit Machine of The Universe".
@@thirdlantern PTA is the best of all these. But after that, you can't really tell the difference between albums.
😅 Mr. Wilder sits in silent judgement .
Totally agree about "Hole to Feed." I went out to the toilet during that track at the O2 on the SOTU tour... and it was only the second track! My wife said when I came back: "Hmmm... Not my favourite track."
Yes I agree !! They should have called it "HAEMORRHOID TO FEED!!" :-) :-) VG
The Dead of Night is one of my favourite on Exciter. And My Little Universe is one of my favourite on Delta Machine. I really like this straight-line synthesizer on this song.
But yeah, I hate Hole to Feed! Especially combined with the Video! I still can’t believe DM approved this video!
But at the same time, I think Wrong (from the same album) is one of the best ever DM songs and video!
Agreed. The Dead of Night it’s pure synth and beats and I love it when things are done “rough”.
My Little Universe it’s a hidden gem: pure experimental electronic. And I love that.
@@andrealeonti2967 i remember my first DM concert. It was Exciter tour, and the Dead of Night was open track. It was pretty cool
I never laughed so much in a great while. THANK YOU Vaughn!! Very entertaining and I agree. HAPPY NEW YEAR Man
Glad you enjoyed it1! VG :-)
Agree about Dead of Night. Although it received something of a saving grace through it being promoted as the opening number on the Exciter tour. Dave's entry onto the stage was as magical as always.
I love Dead of Night and I agree about its life impression. This song should be played life again.
@@hijk2008 i'm with you i love that song
Lillian is actually the song that made little 14 year old me look up Depeche Mode and listen to Playing the angel. And then I liked it so much it made me listen to their whole discography billions of times!
Hi Vaughn, greetings from Chile. Yeah, i agree with you. The last two albums (specially Spirit) they sound like demos. I know Alan said once that Martin will be happy releasing his songs just like they are, bared and without any production. Another thing about the drums. Are you note that all the snares sound like clap?. There's no more powerfull snares anymore like those of the golden days, like Never Let Me Down Again, Stripped, If You Want, and a lot of songs. I think you understand what I mean. It's really so sad.
This whole video was completely hilarious. Oh my god this was great. The sound quality isn’t as good as it was. I miss the old Depeche Mode. I love the side cut to Alan Wilder. Thank you Vaughn 😊.
Remember the days when DM would produce a B-side and you would ask over and over again why it wasn't included on the main album, since it was simply a wonderful song?
What Vaughn just did was voicing what all old DM fans have been thinking about the last 4 albums. They all have lacked someone in the recording room saying "NO. This will NOT go into the album or on any B-side for that matter. Give it to your daughter/son to experiment with it and let's find something that's actually worth putting in an album."
My only complaint is about It's called a heart. I've always liked that song, a lot.
Awesome video Vaughn. Your Depeche tastes are very similar to mine. You're correct the sonic vibe has gone. Once Wilder left, they have been in decline. Still can't believe they managed to create the awesome Ultra without him, and all the shit they were going through personally. But the rot began with Exciter. Still had some sonic sugar on some tracks but something started to change within them from then on. The good news for the band is their current direction/style does appeal to new and old fans, so we'll just have to suck it up buttercup. We at least have a tonne of fabulous songs to enjoy until the end of our days.
Yeah, the quality control went not long after Wilder left.
If you listen to the demos of some of their famous songs, they sound very similar to the finished product. I don't know why people give alan so much credit whereas martin gore does all the creative work.
@mksmith570 spot on
I fully expect DM to release this playlist as a "Worst of" compilation. You've done the hard work and written the liner notes, too.
i think the magical word you said sir about "layering" is whats lost of them after Alan left, no need for apologies - its you own clear and honest opinion and that you mentioned is what there 3 succeeding album to stagnant to my taste...thanks for sharing your in depth ideas and analysis brutally deconstructed, but sincerely delivered.
"Soft touch/ Raw nerve" is crap
Could you make a video of 10 best DM songs post Alan Wilder?
Great video, really enjoyed the format/production! Totally agree in terms of the sound of the recent albums (with a few songs as the exceptions)..
...but am I the only one who likes "the Meaning of Love"? I enjoy it as a 80's novelty :)
I like it too. Good music video as well.
@@FrankieTeardrop1998 "Meaning Of Love" could have been a really good song, just some bad choices were made in production IMO. And the lyrics could have been presented a little tongue in cheek but instead they went ooey gooey doughy earnest. Anyway, I dislike "Love In Itself" more.
Nope. I was kind of afraid it would make the list and I would be mad. Even though it's twee as hell.
@@paganpines I could be mistaken, but I think Martin wrote Meaning of Love when he was 14 (or maybe it was See You), hence the tweeny sound of both.
Drop the word, "like."
Thank you soooo much! I really enjoyed watching your Depeche Mode tops as well as flops two weeks ago. Memento Mori really made me return to mad fandom. 🩶
The fun thing about your flop list: While I never was a big listener of Spirit or Delta Machine (achieved their total playback count with Memento Mori in a single day), you made me return to these albums. And let's say, especially Delta Machine (incl. bonus tracks) is growing on me quite a bit.
So thanks for bringing me closer to these albums!
I couldn't even remember some of the tracks you've mentioned here, Vaughn. It's not that I HATE them, I just don't come back to them after a three or four attempts to actually love them, and it really touched me that you did just the same.
I cant name songs from albums since about Ultra. The last 3 have been pretty abysmal. I used to go to DM concerts everytime they had a new album, sometimes to multiple shows the whole time they were in town, and now I havent gone since the last 3. I only went to one 4 albums ago to see if they'd play the oldies...cuz that's all I like from them. It pains me because my circle of friends know DM is my ultimate fave band because their 80's to mid 90's songs were during my formative years, musically-speaking.
Thank u cuz this taught me what not to do as a song writer.
BTW, you got me rediscovering them I love your top 10 best. I love the new album too. Thank you 😊
You are very welcome Brenda!! VG
I was honestly surprised by Hole To Feed being the bottom one. I 100% agree, that the video is awful, but it has a catchy rhythm, that makes me dance on the chair. It is actually one of my favorite songs from SOTU. Having said that, i like the fact that the majority of the songs were from the last 3 albums. Let's hope that Memento Mori is more than a excuse for a tour, that they have found their way once again.
8:37 - that's a surprisingly good ML Gore impression!
This is one of the greatest videos you’ve ever released. And I agree with you on all of it. You could wish the last three albums into oblivion and I wouldn’t miss a damn thing. Maybe Wrong and Heaven I’d keep and that’s it. I do think The Sweetest Condition is worse than The Dead of Night. But they’re like two sides of the same coin. LOL Thank you for putting this out. It was fun. LOL
Congrats on the 30k subs Vaughn, impressive milestone 🙂👍
Let's celebrate it by listening to your all time favorite DM track: Hole To Feed.
Jokes aside, well done my friend. Keep it up with the quality content! Here's to 50k! 🍻
To be a great Depeche Mode fan is to love the great stuff and call out the underperforming songs let it be known and let it be said and discussed. Love the video keep being true to you channel!
Thank you Alex!! VG
Absolutely agree with this comment. #truth
Great video Vaughn, I laughed my ass off at the "Great cornholioooooo" bit :D. And I can see why "Alan is not impressed" either, LOL...🙄 I pretty much agree with your list, and I might add that there is another thing that DM songs have lost over the years, a thing that I call their "frenchiness", what I mean is that nostalgic, melodic aspect in songs resembling to those songs in old 70's french movies, for example "Little 15", "Dressed in Black", "Things You Said", "It doesn't Matter Two", "Here is the House", etc... It would be nice to have those kinds of songs back on the "Demento Memori" new album... Anyway, I loved your video, thanks Vaughn, cheers!
Yes !!!! FRENCHINESS for yeeeears Ive been saying that!!!
The video shows you are a true fan, because I've not heard of any of the songs you named except a couple of the honorable mentions, due to tuning out of what the band has been releasing.
Cheers my friend. Yes I'd like to think I am a true fan . VG :-)
I have to say, my least favourite tracks are all from the post-Wilder era (No surprise there, I know), and they vary so a top/bottom 10 is not something that comes to mind quickly.
Oh no! I'm working on mixes of some new tracks of my own and I'm using saturation. However, I never go into the red - it's just to add harmonics, not distort the crap out of stuff. If I do ever distort a vocal it's for a very specific reason and usually as an effect, not the main vocal. My music is dark in tone so like a clean vocal as a contrast.
I'm with you though, Vaughn. BTW, stop apologising mate - devotion should never be blind 😉
Great video Vaughn. I appreciate your honesty and agree with most of your list. Side note, I thought So Much Love was on the Spirit album, not Delta Machine?
You are so right, Vaughn. I've had the best of the best from these guys, and for years, their music was on this exciting, upwards trajectory. Each album was different and better than the last, they kept upping the stakes with new, creative, emotional, ingenious ways to create songs. Therefore, I cannot just take the very obvious step down in quality since Alan left. Ultra was still decent, and there's been a catchy and fun song here and there since, but I'm done lying to myself - they'e trying to give me McDs, and it hurts and I can't go along due to the highs we soard to together. Thanks for saying it, I have felt largely alone!
Are you just going to play Delta Machine? 😂
It's insteresting that the DM fandom hates Delta so much. I like Delta Machine more than Spirit or SOTU. I also really like Exciter, more than the S&S or a Broken Frame. I like when they to some more interesting experiments. Delta Machine has its problems, but I also think that it had some really interesting electonic experimentalism going on.
@@hatzegopteryx.sounds3637 lm joking of course, but I watched DM live twice in 2017 and no Delta Machine track was performed. For me, it’s not the songs it’s the way it was produced / arranged that disappoints.
Yeah, Delta Machine kinda sucks.
There may be one or two minor slipping in off a record or two, but keep that quiet just between us only. No one will see this comment 🤫🧐
Delta machine is waay better than spirit imo
There is a distinct difference between A Broken Frame and Construction Time Again, and then from Songs of Faith and Devotion to Ultra, and it’s the same key piece. In my opinion, they’ve only been able to keep going for last 30 years because of what they built with Alan Wilder. If he hadn’t joined them, they probably would have fizzled out in late 80’s.
Absolutely. Once they allowed him to have input, his work ethic in the studio saved the band and ensured they’d have a long lasting career. Pity the three self centred original members didn’t appreciate that.
Totally agree...I really lost interest when Alan left the band
Yeah, well said. Alan was their wizard
I like the newer albums too for the most part, but my favorite era of DM will always be MftM through Ultra and parts of Exciter. That was when they had the grittiness and darkness but also the crooning Melodie’s, catchy hooks, and interesting synth sounds at their best.
As a fan from the Speak and Spell days, you’ve said exactly what I’ve thought from Playing The Angel to Spirit. I hold the Berlin trilogy in high esteem, a lot of what DM are putting out now is like a really bad DM tribute band. Forced To Mode are better at DM than DM are….that’s the irony. Massive respect for putting this out there, at least you have the balls to do such a video.
Yep. Honest opinions just need to be heard sometimes - even if people don't like hearing it. (Constructive truth telling.)
Violator would have been the perfect time to split. Go out on a high and then have lucrative reunions down the road. Songs of Self Indulgence was a poor Rock album and broke them apart anyway. I can understand making Ultra to prove they can do it without Alan, but I wish that Martin had balls like Vince has and could just walk away. It has been 26 years of crap since Ultra. Imagine if he had split away and done more stuff like VCMG.
@@handsolo1209 I can't get into Songs of Faith either. It seems to be mainly people who attended the devotional tour that place the album on a pedestal. Not very catchy, to me.
...I actually do prefer Ultra! (The only song I really like since is Precious. 1 in 26 years, yeah maybe time to drop the bitcrusher, boys...
Went to see The Devout in Newcastle last weekend. They played for 2 hours, 40 minutes, played 30 tracks (all from '81 to '93 except Home) and all for £13!! They sounded so much better than DM do live these days. Can't recommend them highly enough.
At risk of stating the obvious but with regard to 23:22: Alan Wilder surely was very much the quality control of DM. In addition to being the primary architect of their soundscapes, the arranger extraordinaire, co-producer, backing live vocalist, one-time tour drummer, occasional studio bassist, occasional song writer, etc. His influence on the quality was probably both direct and indirect. His direct impact is well documented, but the indirect influence on the quality was no doubt via his overall musicianship and work ethic. The others were clearly aware that he was the superior musician in the band, and therefore they had to raise their own games. Without Alan, all of this was gone, and each of these roles had to be replaced in some way. Most of the time, it was not done in a successful way, unfortunately.
No hate for me, everyone has different opinions. As is should be. Looking forward to your top ten.
Quitting while your ahead is not exactly the same as quitting. Rem realized this. I love these videos so much Vaughn!
“You Move” finally something I agree with.
The Hole to Feed demo is a very good track. They literally murdered it on studio.
Yes, 100% true, the demo song was beautiful. Unfortunately, the final version went in a wrong direction completely.
You're bang on about this. Another track, for me, is Nothing's Impossible. No idea how Hillier and his team went about murdering it for the album cut. In fact on my playlist I can only listen to the demo version. Yet they managed to create something like Precious FFS.
@@hairycousin4252 The demo of Nothing’s Impossible is stunningly beautiful
Turns out Demo Mode is now better than Depeche Mode
Indeed, I remember the demo, just a very distorted synth plus Dave´s voice, kind of a MGMT-esque song.
😂 ...wonderful video. I agree with you on the "crunchy, dry & oversaturated", which is the sound of the last three albums. But this is exactly the sound of a lot of (too much!) contemporary electronic music in general. It is a fashion, like the excessive reverbs of the 80s.
And so... we all prefer the f$%#$ REVERB !
There's no such thing as excessive reverb!
Great video and a great list. 'Demo Mode' is so accurate.
So much love is from the last album " spirit" . But as a DM fan from the first hour , i agree with your opinion. Especially the fact that we wait 4 years for a new album and the end product sonically is extremely minimalistic. It sounds cliche but Alan Wilder made the atmosphere of the album and they never replaced his job. Or maybe they did not pay attention to what made their band special.
It's very difficult to choose the one I prefer 🤗🙀🙀 They are all beautiful 🙏🙏😍🤩❤️♥️🎧🎤🎹🎸
Things I've noticed:
- SOTU, Delta Machine (Demo Machine in your case), Spirit are a complete blackbox to you. Do you own these albums on cd/vinyl? If so do you ever give those records a re-listen?
- Lilian B-Side? With all respect Vaugh I thought you liked Playing The Angel, I have my doubts after watching this/hearing that.
- Not an single Exciter track on this list? I'm probably in 'Comatose'....
The in-depth album review will be an intresting rollercoaster ride after Ultra. You'll probably spent just 1 quick episode on Exciter, unfair.
I agree with you Vaughn 110% I think they have lost that sparkle from their later days when Alan was at the helm .A Dave’s vocals on the last few albums and also live .He is worse than a social club singer .What the hell has happened to them .I can totally understand why Vince and Alan wouldn’t want to come back.Excellent review my friend.Top marks .
Secret to the End is one of the Highligts from the Delta
I give you a lot of kudos Vaughn - can’t have high’s without lows. Agree entirely re Hole to Feed but I LOVE the seediness of Corrupt. Peace should definitely be on the list
I never understood why so many people dislikes Spirit. Going Backwards and Cover Me are top songs for me. Poorman is a great electronic song that reminds me of Kraftwerk, and Fail is one of my favourite Martin's sung tracks since Home. So Much Love is a clear improvement compared with Soft Touch, that is a real mess of production.
Also I really enjoy with Scum and You Move which both have very interesting sounds. And then Eternal, which is simply a piece of art.
On the other hand, Where's the Revolution is disappointing as a lead single, and Poison Heart is a boring song, but the rest is good for me.
The album is pessimistic, that's true, but that isn't a bad thing. I liked it much more that Delta Machine and of course more that Sounds of the Universe that is my least favourite album.
I find Spirit to be great. Where is the Revolution is one of the best songs ever.
Their calling hundreds of millions of Americans "nazis" while promoting it wasn't a huge help.
I like the Spirit Album Except Fail, Spirit is a great album
@D D Day esq you are letting me down.
In my opinion, Spirit is the best album since Ultra or even Violator. It's political, dark and not rock-like. I like Hole to Feed too😆.
Delta Machine and especially Exciter are much weaker.
“Where was the quality control!” 😂 Vaughn, the quality control WAS Alan Wilder!
I actually agree with your dissection and opinion on each of these songs. Although I would have added or chosen other songs over some of these if I was only making a list of 10 myself. And I loath soft touch raw nerve and would have chose that over hole to feed.
Other songs to mention I dislike:
What’s your name
Monument
Satellite
It doesn’t matter
Comatose
John the revelator
Macro
Agree with you on Fail, to me it sounded like Martin Gore was singing a completely different song from the music and the "F" word Martin you're so much better than that.
Your assessments are correct, very much downhill after devotion, it feels like the effort just isn't there most of the time beyond a few gems here and there.
Love your characterizations. I felt like the songs on DMachine & Sounds were missing shape, like you said they seemed like demos. Love your videos thxs!
“So much love” (song) , is not from Delta Machine , it’s on Spirit album (2017) But of course I understand, this worst songs is forgettable .
Can't even get the right album. "So Much Love" is on Spirit
jajaja funny, my two comments on this: I save Corrupt and the reaction of Alan fits perfectly on "what about to release a new Recoil album Alan?"
Secret to the End is one of the best things they have done post Alan IMHO.
^^^^^^
Cornholio has more groove and vibe than DM's last several albums. You almost made me fall out of my chair laughing with that last one, Vaughn! 😂😂 Thank you for this.
I totally agree with you Vaughn. Does Daniel Miller still advice the band every now and then?? Regarding their first 2 albums you just have to go back to 1980-82, the sound was so different by the time, in my opinion great albums back then and there would be no Depeche Mode today if it wasn't for "I just can't get enough"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In my honest opinion, a 'real fan' is going to be someone who is critical of all the work their favourite artist will produce. And for me, a great artist is one that will take calculated creative risks that may or may not pay off. I can't see any reason why a fan of an act shouldn't be able to say that they're not into something while still loving that band. So, this video was great to hear your insight into what has worked for you and what hasn't.
Personally for me, I agree that the past few albums can feel very similar in style and that can often leave me feeling like the older catalogue is better. Personally for me, 'The Dead of Night' is one of my least favourite DM tracks, so I am glad it got an honourable mention.
I quite like "The Dead of night" musically but hate the vocals and lyrics. Remove those and it just become an LFO (Mark Bell) track. I also dislike "The Sweetest condition" from the "Exciter" album, as I can't help but hear it as a Martin Gore attempt at writing a Nick Cave song. It wouldn't have sounded half as out of place on "Songs of faith and devotion", though.
@@MisAnnThorpe You're right that 'The Sweetest Condition' does have a very Cave-esque quality to it, although I have to admit that I don't mind the track. 'Exciter' still sits as probably my least favourite album from Depeche. While it does have some truly wonderful tracks - 'Freelove' springs to mind immediately - there are some tracks that just leave me bored, or worse, irritated. 'The Dead of Night' is an automatic skip track for me.
this video is hilarious. i feel the same. i cant even bring myself to listen to a full album they released in the 2010s because im scared i might waste my time and just get disappointed. i havent got my expectations too high for memento mori but i live in hope nevertheless
it would be interesting to see what vaughns least favourite song from the wilder-era is
Cheers Jonny!! Glad you liked the video !! Your question on "least favourite song from the wilder-era" is a great question!! I will need to think about that !! VG :-)
They opened their set on the Exciter tour with "The Dead of Night." Egad!
So my least fave song is "Just Can't Get Enough" cause Vince Clark seems
to have *not got enough.* Rewriting this song as "Other Side of Love" for Yazoo.
He rewrote it again for Yazoo as "Walk Away from Love". Subtle differences yes.
Your presentation was well done. It's tough being a fan _and_ a critic! 🎹
Corrupt and Lilian are great songs IMO 😊
Finally a good podcast! I totally agree with what you said.....all the last 4 albums, MMori included, are made in the same factory, same effects, same dramatic depressive voice....very boring and minimalistic, it is like the demos were left as they were....
Hey Vaughty! I really like it when you get the balls out and have the courage to be honest. I've been struggling for years (since Exciter) with the so-called 'devotees' who accept whatever rubbish comes from Depeche Mode. I can't accept songs like the ones you mentioned (and you could have easily reached 30-40 tracks) just because the same band has made masterpieces in the past. From CTA to SOFAD it is almost impossible to find a song below 7/10, besides the fact that most of the songs are absolute masterpieces or come close. We can certainly criticize Set Me Free or Flexible but compared to 90% of the compositions from Exciter onwards they look like real gems. Also, these are b-sides. I really can't give you my top 10 worst songs list. Rather, I could rather rank the top 10 from Exciter forward, selecting, with difficulty, 1 to 3 songs maximum per album. I've never laughed so much at one of your reviews, but your expressions, combined with Alan's, made me go to the floor laughing. However, I think you forgot one real horror, namely Miles Away - The Truth Is. However, my worst, from Exciter onwards (songs included in albums only):
Exciter: Shine, The Dead of Night, Lovetheme, Comatose, I Feel Loved, Goodnight Lovers
Playing The Angel: John The Revelator, Introspectre, Lilian
Sounds of the Universe: Hole to Feed, Fragile Tension, Peace, Spacewalker, Miles Away - The Truth Is
Delta Machine: My Little Universe, Slow, Soft Touch Raw Nerve, Soothe My Soul, Goodbye
Spirit: The Worst Crime, Scum, You Move, Cover Me, Poison Heart, So Much Love, Poorman, No More (This is the Last Time)
Yeah, Spirit is the worst DM album, with Sotu as closed second worst
To be honest, we should say that a few songs in the latest albums were really good: The Darkest Star, Come Back (bare version, the album one sounds like a demo), Angel, Broken, The Child Inside, Should be Higher (yes, Delta Machine with 7-8 songs only would have been a good record), Where's The Revolution
Thank you brother!! VG :-)
My least Depeche Mode songs:
1. Jezebel;
2. Goodnight lovers;
3. Come back;
4. Black day;
5. Sometimes;
6. More than a party;
7. In chains;
8. Introspectre;
9. Monument;
10. I want you now
I want you now and in chains is crazy
I have a really good feeling about Marta Sologni working with them Vaughn on the new album.
My sister and I used to sing that Pretty Boy song to our baby brother when he got fussy during car rides
Interesting list. I love DM but of course they have a lot of songs I never listen to. Specially after Ultra.
Maybe some time you can do a list of your least favourite DM songs with the requirements they have played it live at least once.
I love songs like Dangerous, In your memory, Little 15, It’s called a heart, Lie to me, But not tonight; etc. But I really dislike songs like Just can’t get enough and also I feel you.
By the way. Their ultimate two songs is Shake the disease and Behind the wheel.
"Just can’t get enough" is awesome. Most people only reference the single version, but it's rather supposed to be in 2 parts, part 1 the slick glossy side we all know, part 2 it turns dark: ruclips.net/video/q9ckSDuPLKc/видео.html Classic dark synth pop. It still kicks. You've got the birth of techno right here. Anyone who definitively says that it came from Detroit 4 years later hasn't listed to classic synth pop with any depth.
@@alexwestconsulting
Yes, a little bit better. But still so boring. Always hate when they play it live. Can’t understand they prefer that song instead of any of the songs I mentioned. But I know a lot of people love it. But you must get tired if it. They almost play it at every tour. Can’t understand why at all.
Vaughn, what I respect about you is that unlike so many others out there, you take the time to explain why you dislike something, while still acknowledging what redeeming qualities it may have.
I love "The Dead of Night", but I always saw it as the "quirky" song of Exciter with its somewhat silly lyrics.
The first time I heard "Peace", I thought it was a throwback to early DM, like something off A Broken Frame. I think the track would have been a lot better if Martin had done the vocals.
I wonder, would you ever consider doing a 10 Least Favorite from the Wilder era someday? Or a top 10 favorite from the modern era? Surely you must have them.
Bless you my friend and thank you ! I'm glad you realise that I try hard to be balanced and provide reasons for my opinions. Your suggestion for a "least favourite songs - Wilder era is a good idea ! Just to let you know , I've just launched a new Depeche RUclips Channel called "Depeche Mode Hub" . Be sure to check it out and subscribe! Thanks ! VG 🎹👍😎
Thank you for the video! I agree with 99% you have said in this video. I feel almost physical pain when I have to listen to the worst songs of DM. It is also because I feel bliss when I hear their best songs. My mind cannot accept that it the same band. I cannot be dishonest to myself about DM, too.
Please... call Dave and Martin. Talk some sense into them. Their next album cannot follow the same groggy tempos, distortions, flat, un-interesting, lazy songs that have defined every album since Exciter. I am a DM superfan. But they're losing me. They may end up with as many terrible albums as they have fantastic ones. This next one MUST be good, please! Invent. Dig deep. Find inspiration! I love them so much. So it hurts to hear their last three albums. "Wrong" was the last best song they've put out in recent years. I'm crossing my fingers.
Bless you !! I'd love to speak to them but I guess I am not BIG or INFLUENTIAL enough!! I am tired of sitting in the background and watching all the dreadful interviews that get conducted! I am sure you will agree I'd do a good interview because unlike most interviewers, I actually like the band. It'd probably never going happen though because I am not cool enough. VG :-)
I don't think they really care anymore what people think. Just look at how Dave reacted when asked about Alan recently. Very pompous!
Sometimes it seems like in the XXI century, Depeche Mode was bitten by a some kind of sick version of Nine Inch Nails. IMHO
I can’t wait for the show! I hope “flexible” is not on the list. Lol 😝 pretty much a lot songs on Spirit were a bit odd to me. I’m thinking a little experimentation was mixed in.
I love flexible 😍
@@thomasgary1219 yeah 😉
@@I8Trpn You are gorgeous 😍
Flexible should be on the list only if we take into consideration albums with Alan Wilder, together with Set Me Free. Said that, compared to nowadays songs, they are masterpieces
Thank you for being lenient on "What's Your Name?" I love that song.
In my mind, ULTRA is Depeche Mode’s last album.
I hesitated to buy Ultra when it came out in ‘97. My manager at the record store I worked at told me to get it. I fn love that album now. And yes I agree with you, it is DM last album as far as that distinct, beautiful and unique sound of theirs that we love so much. Ultra has Alan Wilder written all over it ❤
@@rubaidaallen2764 'Playing The Angel' wants to talk to you 😉🙂
@@aneinthedark5008 🤣🤣🤣 Playing the Angel wasn’t bad at all. I met David, Martin and the late Andy Fletcher when that album came out, so it holds a very special place in my ❤ Precious is one of the most beautiful songs MG has ever written.
@@rubaidaallen2764 Wow, that is very cool 😮! Yes indeed. Amazing album. In my honest opinion that was the last great record of DM, things went downhill after playing the angel...
Precious is an phenominal song.
Absolutely. Tim Simenon (Bomb The Bass) did a great job and he filled in as much as possible the glaring technical gaps of the band without Alan
I agree with some of the songs like poorman. You have a lot of songs of Delta Mashine and Spirit. I even sort of like Hole to feed and Lilian.
My least favourite albums are Playing the Angel and Sounds of the Universe. Martin sounds like he is crying while he sings, like Macro. I‘m missing the melodies at all. They have some great songs on them like Wrong and Precious.
With Delta Mashine came at least some melodies back and I didn‘t push the forward bottom.
Memento Mori is great again accept of My Cosmos is mine. When I hear the album, I start with Wagging Tongue.
But this is my opinion and tastes are different.
I love it's called a heart.
Laughed out loud to many of your comments, particularly Hole to Feed. I didn't like the song to begin with, but then the video.... that's something you can never un-see!
Hi Erika !! I am glad we agree.I love the band but "hole to feed" is unforgivable !! VG :-) :-)
Yes, DM have pretty much become their own tribute band. I've actually been saying this since Alan left, because without him, they started expressly hiring producers who could make them sound like DM, because they sure couldn't do it on their own anymore. 😄 But now it's worse, because even the contributions of the remaining members are starting to sound like tributes to themselves. I had to laugh when I watched some videos of the DM tribute band Forced to Mode recently, and thought to myself that they sound more authentic than the real DM does these days. 😂
The 'we miss Alan Wilder' narrative is both lazy and simply means that no fans have a half glass empty attitude to DM albums since he left and a half glass full approach to the ones before.
Amazed that anyone can listen to 'Playing the Angel' and album even their harshest critics respected, can say that they sounder like a "tribute band".
Their greatest pre-Ultra album, was the all time classic 'A Broken Frame'. Wilder didn't even appear on that one.
But of course Alan was important. The sequence of albums form 'Construction Time' through to 'Violator' was as good as anyone's ever produced and of course he was vital to this.
However, they've been consistently great. I've got friends who never liked them in the 80's, becoming admirers ever since 'Angel'.
@@banbrotam I also know people who had always hated DM before, but like them now. That's because they have different musical tastes than I do. I'm not being "lazy" (what the hell does that even mean in this context?) or negative, I just think they are an inferior band than they used to be, and I stand my own subjective tastes and opinions. If you still like them just as much in a different way for whatever reasons, then good for you, you're also entitled to your own subjective tastes and opinions. If you think I'm "lazy" then I think you're less discerning, but who am I to question your opinions?
@@rbrtck I think it's 'lazy' of anyone to call them a "tribute band" simply because a band member left.
You can't give them, arguably the biggest insult anyone can give them, alude that it's because AW left and not expect some kind of criticism.
As a fan from the moment 'See You' charted - I was extremely worried what on earth they were doing with SOFAD and whilst 'Ultra' and 'Exciter' were nearly as bad (i.e. no return to the vintage 82 to 90' period) it astonishes me that any fan can listen to 'Angel' and say they sound like a "tribute band".
'Universe' meant we'd got their two best albums since 'Violator' and whilst 'Delta' was uneven and odd sounding - their last two have also been up with anything they've released.
Indeed my five faves are 'Angel', 'A Broken Frame', 'Spirit', 'Masses' and 'Violator'.
So whilst I get that the sound is different - it's not that different and certainly not negatively effected.
But each to their own. My opinion is no better or worse than yours.
@@banbrotam It's what I personally hear, not just that a band member left. And it's not all about Alan, as other aspects have declined considerably, although he was the one who worked with their producers to make their final arrangements and orchestrations, which the other band members have done little of since then. Look up Mark Bell's (and Flood's and other producers') most candid comments on working with Depeche Mode. They're quite telling. That concerns what the band lost, and it translates directly to what I hear.
That said, I would still hold the same opinion even if Alan had stayed and the end results were the same as they are now. Depeche Mode don't sound as good as their best tribute bands, so they might as well be one of them. It's not meant as an insult (although it is kind of amusing), it's just my opinion.
I can't stand Delta Machine and Spirit. Though, I do like "Always" and "Happens All The Time" from the Delta bonus disc. They totally redeemed themselves with the brilliant "Memento Mori". Their best since Ultra. In my opinion of course.... :)
Your opinion is exactly the same as mine on this !! 🎹👍😎VG
Appreciate your candor! I realize I'm beating the horse well past rigor mortis, but the problem is also the arrangements. Songs like "Peace", "I Am You", and "Fragile Tension" could have been absolutely triumphant, but Demo Mode opted instead for this plodding ennui that marks their post-Wilder work. Memento Mori will be their sixth pass at something compelling, and each effort only makes his absence that much more profound.
Dave recently scoffed haughtily at the notion of working with Alan, but what he's not understanding is that fans aren't "living in the past" and "need to move on". Rather, it's those that know and love them the most simply wanting Depeche Mode back!
Honorable mention to your list: "Breathe".
In Chains seemed to me like a mediocre song, but Alan put it on another level, so I agree with you 110%. Production is the 1st problem but, recently, even Martin lost his touch and his composition fell down
3:06 So much love is on "Spirit" album
The simplistic sound your talking about started during exciter