I love Dave Gahan: he possesses a spellbinding voice, an elegance that captivates, and exudes charm from every pore… I believe this explains why "Paper Monsters" disappointed me. At the beginning, when we heard him complaining in interviews, we couldn't help but be on his side: "let the man write some damn songs!" So Dave embarked on a solo record…
If only he hadn't!!
The album opens with "Dirty Sticky Floors", a single that we almost began to love after listening to it so much… Unfortunately, the album soon reveals its syrupy, slow, and repetitive nature: for instance, I refer you to "A Little Piece", "I Need You", "She Said" and especially "Stay", where a lullaby-like chorus drills into our brains for 4-5 minutes… But let's focus on the (few) noteworthy tracks: "Bottle Living", for example. It's basically the reason I bought the album... in fact, the remix of this song (I don't remember by whom: forgive me!) was really pleasant, which stands out much less in the original! If I wanted, I could also pause for a moment on "Hidden Houses": a calm song, a bit of an happy hour vibe… "Black And Blue" is my favorite song on the album.. of course even here we aren't up to Depeche levels, but Dave tries hard, his voice is intense, and the lyrics are among the least sugary..
It then becomes interesting to make a comparison between "Paper Monsters" and the three songs written by Dave in "Playing The Angel"… We are forced to admit that in the latest Depeche work the quality is better and "I Want It All" is the only track that suffers from monotony… We therefore thank Martin and Andy who manage to improve with some nice chords songs that make us shout: "If Martin has always written the lyrics himself, there must have been a good reason!".
The point is, I repeat, that I love Dave Gahan and consequently expect a lot from him.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Dirty Sticky Floors (03:34)
Waiting for the last time
For my friend to change my mind
Waiting for the last drop
Seems like a long, long time
Maybe I should go back home
I'll sit and wait right by the phone
Praying over the porcelain throne
On my dirty sticky floor
Ask me what I want
Easy, that's just more
How long will I wait for you?
Twice as long as I did before
Standing in the freezing snow
Maybe you left I just don't know
I'll soon be lying on my own
On some dirty sticky floor
I hope no one can see me
The tinman says I'm doing fine
That lion ain't going to get me
See that gun right there - it's mine
I've painted a face where I burnt the floor
Now the face has become my devil's door
Laying in the back-room
On my dirty sticky floor
My dirty sticky
04 Bottle Living (03:33)
He's like a king without a crown
He wears it like a clown
Watch him disappear
I wish he would come down
So call before you drown
I won' t always be around
Living for the bottle
He's living for the bottle
He's a ship without a sail
He's not listening when you speak
Living for the bottle
He'll be sitting there all week
So call before you drown
I won't always be around
Living for the bottle
He's living for the bottle
Yeah
There's no light on in his eyes
How heavy are the lies
Just jump right out his skin
He'll take you for a ride
Living for the bottle
He's living for the bottle
So call before you drown
I won't always be around
A dog without a bite
Still looking for a fight
All in black
He won't be home tonight
Yeah
There's no light on in his eyes
How heavy are the lies
Just jump right out his skin
He'll take you for a ride
Living for the bottle
He's living for the bottle
I won't always be around
So call before you drown
07 I Need You (04:45)
I need you
I need you
I need you
I'm asking my friend
I need you again
Can you do something for me?
Time, it just past
We had some laughs
Maybe it's just about greed
You'll always need me much more than I need you
You'll always need me much more
You'll always need me much more than I need you
You'll always need me much more
I need you
I'll ask you again but I don't think you've changed
You never did nothing for me
I wonder sometimes if you're looking down
On everything that you see
With all of your gold
Stories all told
Some things just aren't meant to be
You live in the past
Shadows don't last
This time it's all about me
You'll always need me much more than I need you
You'll always need me much more
You'll always need me much more than I need you
You'll always need me much more
I need you
You'll always need me much more than I need you
I need you
You'll always need me much more
I need you
I need you
08 Bitter Apple (06:00)
Days long gone and lost hot nights
No crowded streets to walk tonight
Still the stars shine so bright
Don't need a coat, I'll be alright
Then you walked into my life
A halo bright with dark brown eyes
Just standing in her light
Remembered love again at night
Bitter apple, take a bite
(It's kind of wonderful)
Fallen star, you're mine tonight
(Strange but beautiful)
Bitter apple, take my life
(It's kind of wonderful)
If I close my eyes, you're mine tonight
Tonight
We laughed so hard it caused some pain
Two strangers standing in the rain
We smoked our cigarettes
(It's kind of wonderful)
Exchanging our regrets
(Strange but beautiful)
Bitter apple, take a bite
(It's kind of wonderful)
Fallen star, you're mine tonight
(Strange but beautiful)
Bitter apple, take my life
(It's kind of wonderful)
If I close my eyes, you're mine tonight
(Strange but beautiful)
Tonight
If I close my eyes, you're mine tonight
Tonight
If I close my eyes
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