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THE REVIEW
Depeche Mode at their worst was perhaps not something I expected to encounter right now. Not now, when a piece like "Wrong" with its accompanying video clip had given me shivers of pleasure. Not now, when it seemed a new evolutionary phase had begun, full of innovation and electronics devoid of complacency.
And yet... the worst album since "Speak and Spell", with the added drawback that this was their debut album, and its lack of brilliance and ingenuities are entirely justified.
Martin Gore and company got fixated on vintage instruments and probably thought they could successfully execute a historical reinterpretation of the synthetic sound. But when you write songs without any bite that are light-years away from the melodic qualities your audience is accustomed to, every techno-cultural magic gets lost in nothingness.
And it’s not that the undertaking was impossible: "Wrong" proves that it is an exceptional track, hard-hitting, very current, and impeccably produced. That was the path to follow, a record with about ten tracks with that atmosphere, with that sonic luster. So it makes me think that if only one track out of thirteen turned out well, our dear Depeche have something that's not right.
It's pointless to dissect everything track by track. "Songs of the Universe" is a boring album from the start and you can't listen to it in full, even if you want to. You get halfway through, and you're asleep. The feeling is one of poor inspiration and recycled ideas. Maybe two other tracks are worth saving as they have a slightly more original touch than the average ("Little Soul", "Jezebel"). But from the legendary Depeche, I expected something completely different.
Completely failed. The disappointment of the year.
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Summary by Bot
This review expresses disappointment in Depeche Mode's 'Sounds of the Universe', calling it their worst since their debut. Despite one standout track, 'Wrong', the album largely lacks innovation and melodic strength. The reliance on vintage sounds feels misguided, and only a few tracks show promise. The reviewer expected much more from the legendary band.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music group formed in Basildon in 1980, led by Dave Gahan and Martin Gore. They built a global audience with synth‑based albums and large-scale tours and remain influential in synth‑pop and alternative electronic music.110 Reviews
Other reviews
By Giordyboy
After more than thirty years of career and success, these three wealthy middle-aged gentlemen present us with another fantastic album, once again surprisingly innovative in its sounds and production.
The opening track 'In Chains' will probably become one of DM’s all-time classics, with its poignant and alienating melody.
By Alevox
"Sounds of the Universe has absolutely no reason, aside from its name, to be listened to."
"No thrills, no flashes, everything flat and sterile from start to finish."
By donnie darko
'It’s certainly not an immediate album like Playing the Angel, and it doesn’t contain hits that stick in your mind upon first listen, except perhaps Wrong, which is beautiful.'
'It’s an album that gets under your skin little by little... a tough album, not at all sycophantic, which I believe can win the hearts of fans as it is doing with me.'
By biaspoint
"Wrong" finds its compositional apex, a nursery rhyme/chant blending into an extended verse without a precise chorus.
It is a great album, deserving of at least 4 stars, to listen to carefully and many times because it is full of details.
By Aragno
Nothing better captures what I think about these three "guys"... class.
Each piece has a very precise, well-searched identity in terms of sound and melody, that conveys different sensations.
