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An oppossing review:
why you should buy 'playing the angel':
1. 'a pain that i'm used to' -- an INSTANT depeche mode classic. it's a great opener since 'personal jesus,' 'i feel you,' 'barrel of a gun' and 'dream on' (the previous four dm album openers are essentially composed from the same blueprint). dave's never sounded more confident. he sounds revitalized and rejuvinated. the squealing intro gives way to classic dm bassline/groove. it sounds like bubbling tar and it's fabulous. it's got a huge chorus along the same vein of 'never let me down again.' i got goosebumps listening to it.
2. dave's 'suffer well.' i was so surprised by what a truly great song this is. it reminds me a little bit of 'behind the wheel' in its chord structure (but just a bit). the analog synth at the beginning took me back to 1983. here's hoping dave pens more dm songs in the future.
3. 'precious.' the album's centerpiece and another instant dm classic. i've heard some say this is one of the weaker tracks on the album. oh, contraire! and considering martin's going through a divorce and this song's about his kids, it's all the more affecting.
4. the production. ben hillier, he of doves and blur fame, was an absolute coup. instead of bringing a electronica guru (mark bell, tim simenon), hillier brings a breath of freshness to the album. 'exciter' sounded forced. 'playing the angel,' on the other hand, sounds very organic and alive (despite the analogue synths--how he did that, i don't know) and one gets the feeling he gave the band some much needed focus while allowing them to remain loose and inspired. while the songs themeselves are vintage dm (brooding, gloomy, driving, etc), the experimental blips and bleeps and knob-twidling add a nice complexity. the songs slowly evolve, sometimes demanding you listen for two or three minutes for the payoff--something dm has always done--always.
5. it's bloody depeche mode! my generation (the 30-35 year old group) were practically weened by the band. any depeche mode release is cause for celebration. 'playing the angel,' hyperbole aside, really is a classic depeche mode album. it reminds of all the reasons you love depeche mode in the first place: martin visits familiar themes (sin, redemption, god, lust, etc), dave is still one of the great vocalists around, and well, fletch is still fletch.
some have complained about the lack of discernable melodies, and while that's occasionally true, the majority of the songs on 'playing the angel' are quite memorable. others still complain that "it's not violator," or "it's not music for the masses." of course it's not, you dolts. nor should it be. if you want another violator, go listen to violator. having said that, however, if you're pining away for depeche mode circa 1987-1990, 'playing the angel' is the remedy for the post-violator blues. a really, really solid and exciting album and a worthy successor to 'violator.' listen to it for what it is, not what it's not.
since 2006 marks the 25th anniversary of 'speak and spell,' i anxiously look forward to their induction into the rock and roll hall of fame. you deserve it, boys.
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