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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Depeche Mode is the only band from the eighties still capable of delivering great albums. That's what they used to say, right? Well, "Sounds of the Universe" has absolutely no reason, aside from its name, to be listened to.
An album in which everything is tremendously anonymous, starting from the title and cover to the songs it contains.
What was supposed to be the vintage album of the now-famous trio from Basildon turns out to be a more or less remarkable flop, retaining only a few sounds sprinkled here and there, probably recovered from the early versions of "Space Invaders." A shame, truly a shame, because with a great single like "Wrong," claustrophobic and obsessive in the best Depeche style, one expected great things from the band's twelfth studio album. But it takes little to realize the illusion.
No thrills, no flashes, everything flat and sterile from start to finish. It could be dismissed as a bad album, if it weren't for the fact that when reviewing something, a definitive word like "bad" has no meaning. Essentially, however, it's not wrong to talk about a poverty of ideas and a lack of inventiveness. The instrumental part, always meticulously curated in every previous album, seems rather relegated to an exclusive role of accompaniment for a pop song. Accompaniment to what is, it should be said, the splendid performance of Dave, gritty and unexpectedly rock. But it's just energy that finds no outlet, and remains bitterly dispersed somewhere. Martin, now completely stripped of his guitars, sings only one song, "Jezebel", possibly one of the few tracks worth saving (besides "Wrong") along with "Little Soul", "Corrupt", and "Peace" (though with an embarrassing chorus).
The only glimmer of hope for "Sounds of the Universe" remains the fact that tradition teaches us that any Depeche Mode album has always been difficult to assimilate on first impact. If it had been another band, it would have been an album I would have discarded after five minutes, but what can you do, as a fan, sooner or later, I will give it another chance. Definitely not now.
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Summary by Bot
The review criticizes Depeche Mode's twelfth studio album, Sounds Of The Universe, as uninspired and flat, with few standout tracks. Despite the strong single 'Wrong' and some moments worth saving, the album largely lacks creativity and energy. The reviewer expresses disappointment but remains hopeful for a future reassessment.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 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.
By Breus
Depeche Mode at their worst was perhaps not something I expected to encounter right now.
"Sounds of the Universe" is a boring album from the start and you can't listen to it in full, even if you want to.
