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Rating: Music For The Masses is not just the title of an album; it is a true declaration of intent.
It is the determined will of one of the most important bands of the last twenty years to bring the electronic sound to the ears of the whole world in the second half of the eighties. Even the artwork on the cover, with images of large speakers hanging from a pole, seems to confirm this intention.
Delusions of grandeur? Not at all, a winning bet, as for DM, after the release of this album, came the absolute pop consecration.
Music For The Masses was a huge success in Europe and also broke into America, reaching the top of the charts. Indeed, the Depeche would later be welcomed in the USA by massive crowds in arenas usually reserved for football and rock concerts, as testified by the video documentary 101.
The level of arrangement on this album is extremely high with the band in its "historic" lineup (Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Alan Wilder, Andrew Fletcher), the production is signed by DM and Dave Bascombe with the touch of the inevitable Daniel Miller, hence an impeccable sound with treated guitars and synthetic sounds as well as industrial percussion and abundantly reverberated voices according to the style of the time.
Even in the themes addressed, Music for the Masses is a pop album, in fact, the lyrics talk about feelings, destiny, spirituality, definitely universal themes.
The album opens with Never Let Me Down Again (one of Depeche's most famous singles), which appears as a subtle metaphor on the man's relationship with drugs (I'm takin a ride with my best friend, I hope he never lets me down again... never want to go down, never want to put my feet back down on the ground...)
A suggestive synth bass line (A. Wilder, of course) introduces us to "The Things You Said", a splendid electronic ballad where the lead vocals and just a few keyboard phrases make us dream for three and a half minutes, immediately followed by Strange Love (My all-time favorite, I was 13 when I heard it for the first time on the radio), that is, Love with its ups and downs, keyboard carpets prepare us to dance with the most ingenious riff ever conceived in the history of electronic pop, supported by catchy and technological rhythms, with Dave's voice in great shape at the forefront.
Even in "Behind the Wheel", the synthesizer riffs along with the straight drum dominate the scene. Here in the lyrics, Dave escapes the male chauvinist stereotypes and lets the woman take the wheel (oops, the handlebars) (you're behind the wheel tonight).
The album magnificently closes with the pompous "Pimpf", featuring strings and timpani.
The beauty of this album lies in the sheer genius of the vocal melodies and keyboard riffs. The Depeche, between "highs" and "lows," know how to hit and go straight to the heart of the listener.
This album also represents the perfect synthesis of the sound and spirit of new-wave and synth-pop.
Tragically carefree or fatalistically vacant like the track "Nothing" (a nice poor copy of Never Let Me Down Again), the eighties watch us from the grooves of a vinyl, there's even the purple ink stamp of SIAE in the middle, since back then the adhesive sticker hadn't been invented yet... but it's really true, we were better off before!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Never Let Me Down Again (04:47)
I'm taking a ride
With my best friend
I hope he never lets me down again
He knows where he's taking me
Taking me where I want to be
I'm taking a ride
With my best friend
We're flying high
We're watching the world pass us by
Never want to come down
Never want to put my feet back down
On the ground
I'm taking a ride
With my best friend
I hope he never lets me down again
Promises me I'm as safe as houses
As long as I remember who's wearing the trousers
I hope he never lets me down again
We're flying high
We're watching the world pass us by
Never want to come down
Never want to put my feet back down
On the ground
Never let me down, never let me down
Never let me down, never let me down
See the stars they're shining bright
Everything's alright tonight
02 The Things You Said (04:02)
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
But they know me better than that
They know me better than that
They know my weaknessess
I never tried to hide them
They know my weaknessess
I never denied them
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
How can a view become so twisted
How can a view become so twisted
They know my weaknessess
I never tried to hide them
They know my weaknessess
You tried them
I get so carried away
You brought me down to earth
I thought we got something precious
Now I know what it's worth
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
I heard it from my friends
About the things you said
I've never felt so disappointed
Never felt so disappointed
They know my weaknessess
I never tried to hide them
They know my weaknessess
Thought that you liked them
They know me better than that
03 Strangelove (04:57)
There'll be times
When my crimes
Will seem almost unforgivable
I give in to sin
Because you have to make this life liveable
But when you think I've had enough
From your sea of love
I'll take more than another riverfull
Yes, and I'll make it all worthwhile
I'll make your heart smile
Strangelove
Strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove
That's how my love goes
Strangelove
Will you give it to me
Will you take the pain
I will give to you
Again and again
And will you return it
There'll be days
When I'll stray
I may appear to be
Constantly out of reach
I give in to sin
Because I like to practice what I preach
I'm not trying to say
I'll have it all my way
I'm always willing to learn
When you've got something to teach
Oh and I'll make it all worthwhile
I'll make your heart smile
Pain will you return it
I'll say it again - pain
Pain will you return it
I'll say it again - pain
Pain will you return it
I'll say it again - pain
Pain will you return it
I won't say it again
Strangelove
Strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove
That's how my love goes
Strangelove
Will you give it to me
I give in
Again and again
I give in
Will you give it to me
I give in
I'll say it again
I give in
I give in
Again and again
I give in
That's how my love goes
I give in
I'll say it again
I give in
04 Sacred (04:47)
Sacred
Holy
To put it in words
To write it down
That is walking on hallowed ground
But it's my duty
I'm a missionary
So here is my confession
It's an obsession
I'm a firm believer
And a warm reciever
And I've made my decision
This is religion
There's no doubt
I'm one of the devout
Trying to sell the story
Of love's eternal glory
Sacred
Holy
To put it in words
To write it down
That is walking on hallowed ground
But it's my duty
I'm a missionary
Spreading the news around the world
Taking the word to boys and girls
I'm a firm believer
And a warm reciever
And I will go down on my knees
When I see beauty
There's no doubt
I'm one of the devout
Trying to sell the story
Of love's eternal glory
Sacred
Holy
To put it in words
To write it down
That is walking on hallowed ground
But it's my duty
I'm a missionary
Sacred, Holy [2 times]
Sacred
(To put it in words, to write it down)
Holy
(That is walking on hallowed ground) [repeat fadeout]
05 Little 15 (04:18)
Little 15
You help her forget
The world outside
You're not part of it yet
And if you could drive
You could drive her away
To a happier place
To a happier day
That exists in your mind
And in your smile
She could escape there
Just for a while
Little 15
Little 15
Why take the smooth with the rough
When things run smooth
It's already more than enough
She knows your mind
Is not yet in league
With the rest of the world
And it's little intrigues
Do you understand
Do you know what she means
As time goes by
And when you've seen what she's seen
You will
Little 15
Little 15
Why does she have to defend
Her feelings inside
Why pretend
She's not had a life
A life of near misses
Now all that she wants
Is 3 little wishes
She wants to see with your eyes
She wants to smile with your smile
She wants a nice surprise
Every once in a while
Little 15
06 Behind the Wheel (05:18)
My little girl
Drive anywhere
Do what you want
I don't care
Tonight
I'm in the hands of fate
I hand myself
Over on a plate
Now
Oh little girl
There are times when I feel
I rather not be
The one behind the wheel
Come
Pull my strings
Watch me move
I do anything
Please
Sweet little girl
I prefer
You behind the wheel
And me the passenger
Drive
I'm yours to keep
Do what you want
I'm going cheap
Tonight
You're behind the wheel, tonight
08 To Have and to Hold (02:51)
I need to be cleansed
It's time to make amends
For all of the fun
The damage is done
And I feel diseased
I'm down on my knees
And I need forgiveness
Someone to bear witness
To the goodness within
Beneath the sin
Although I may flirt
With all kinds of dirt
To the point of disease
Now I want release
From all this decay
Take it away
And somewhere
There's someone who cares
With a heart of gold
To have and to hold
09 Nothing (04:17)
Sitting target
Sitting waiting
Anticipating
Nothing
Nothing
Life
Is full of surprises
It advertises
Nothing
Nothing
What am I trying to do
What am I trying to say
I'm not trying to tell you anything
You didn't know
When you woke up today
Sitting target
Sitting praying
God is saying
Nothing
Nothing
Always
Knows the prospects
Learnt to expect
Nothing
Nothing
What am I trying to do
What am I trying to say
I'm not trying to tell you anything
You didn't know
When you woke up today
Nothing, nothing, nothing
Nothing, nothing, nothing
Nothing oh no, nothing oh no
10 Pimpf (05:25)
Let's have a black celebration
Black Celebration
Tonight
To celebrate the fact
That we've seen the back
Of another black day
I look to you
How you carry on
When all hope is gone
Can't you see
Your optimistic eyes
Seem like paradise
To someone like
Me
I want to take you
In my arms
Forgetting all I couldn't do today
Black Celebration
Black Celebration
Tonight
To celebrate the fact
That we've seen the back
Of another black day
I look to you
And your strong belief
Me, I want relief
Tonight
Consolation
I want so much
Want to feel your touch
Tonight
Take me in your arms
Forgetting all you couldn't do today
Black Celebration
I'll drink to that
Black Celebration
Tonight
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Other reviews
By Enkriko
"This album made my muscles move in high school; yes, even if I wasn’t in high school because I was too young, I already imagined myself there listening to it... already savoring the endless deference in the dances."
"Martin Gore has always, I say always found ingenious solutions, never trivial, absolutely spot-on and very Gay. Fantastic!"
By Breathing
"Music for the Masses is a record that made Depeche Mode great to the world."
"The album is like war sirens, but with completely personal and psychological themes."
