Depeche Mode – Playing The Angel
(Mute)

Dave the Lighting Guy says in the movie “Orgazmo”, “I don’t want to sound like a fag or nuttin, but I think Depeche Mode is a sweet band”. Gay joke aside, I’ve always felt pretty much that way. I never really became a big fan until their greatest hits CDs came out, but I’ve always had an appreciation of the Mode to some degree even in my youth. That said, I’ve only heard their more recent, less appreciated albums “Ultra” and “Exciter” (the former I like, the latter not much at all).

So I can’t go and tell you that this is a “return to form”, or how it compares to “Violator”, but I can say that this is a quite catchy, enjoyable album from start to finish, with several potential singles that would stand up nicely next to their older material. Never does it really sound like a desperate 80’s band, probably helped by the fact that several successful bands, like The Killers, are kinda weezing in on that sound lately, and not even as well.

The lyrics on this album are pretty cheesy and morose, as Depeche Mode have always had, however since this is essentially a pop album everything lives or dies on the strength of its songs, and “Playing the Angel” delivers. Single “Precious” is now one of my favorite Depeche Mode songs ever, and “A Pain That I’m Used To” and “John the Revelator” are also great. A few songs, such as “Macro”, push the cheesiness a little too far, but it doesn’t hurt the flow of the album much.

So to any of you semi-gothy people out there who felt let down by the latest NIN album and need your fix of quality music with the words “sinner” and “pain” used liberally, “Playing the Angel” comes highly recommended. — Goon

SCORE: