I still remember seeing the video for I Feel You on the Beatbox on RTE 2. I had no idea at the time who Anton Corbjin was or how he was very good at making bands look amazing, but here was Dave Gahan looking cool in a suit, trying to embody all the greatest rock stars in one person, and stopping me in my tracks. The video was amazing. I’d never given DM a second thought before that but suddenly I was very interested. (I’ve rewatched the video for this post and it hasn’t aged well, to put it mildly. Or does anyone involved look cool.)
The eagle eyed amongst you will notice that this write up isn’t for Songs of Faith and Devotion though. As I was relistening to the album to start prepping for this entry, I realised that, as good as Songs is, Violator is just peak Depeche Mode. The band have come close to it a few times but never bettered it.
I’ve no idea how I got to hear a copy of Violator, it was probably my mate Tez in Uni again. (Honestly, I didn’t realise how big an influence he was on my taste until I started writing this top 50! and if he notices, he may never let me live it down.) I’m not sure when DM became such an important band for me, it seems that it happened kinda slowly, but I can remember being very excited for Ultra and then being disappointed by it. (I was wrong about that too) But somewhere along the way, I fell pretty hard for the band I’d hated because of I Just Can’t Get Enough. (If you were ever at an early 90’s Irish disco, you’d understand why.)
I mean, just how do you start talking about this album? Just look at that track listing, That’s four (4!) world class songs (World in my Eyes, Policy of Truth, Personal Jesus and Enjoy the SIlence), two more songs that are pretty close to that good, (Halo, Sweetest Perfection) and the rest are just between good and very good.
World in My Eyes may be the crown jewel of synthpop. The electronics combined with Dave’s voice is nothing short of alchemy. Combining the man and the machine perfectly gives the world one of its best songs.
Personal Jesus has got such a swagger, but it’s such a great pop song. It’s one of those songs that shouldn’t work but that makes it even better. DM writing a blues song just sounds like the maddest idea, but Personal Jesus’ guitar riff can’t be denied (Unlike Jesus).
Policy of Truth, such a great pop song that delivers such a great lyrical barb, and possibly the only song I know that advocates lying. You know what you did, live with it, isn’t usual pop song fodder. Or is Enjoy the Silence the best Synthpop song?
Do you see my problem talking about this album? It feels like it’s so ahead of the pack that I’m left looking confused, like John Travolta, looped in that Pulp Fiction gif, hand out and just vaguely gesturing and wondering where to start.
The lyrics in Enjoy are almost effortless
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Such a simple thought, but so beautifully delivered. Most bands would murder to have a song as good as this and DM make it look easy.
It needs to be pointed out just how good Gahan’s voice is here. Rich and commanding, he brings a lot of humanity to what could be quite austere music without him. He brings a magnetism that only the best front men can bring to a band. It’s just sad to know what the pressure of this role would cost him in the coming years, with his addiction problems and being actually, clinically dead. (It’s ok, he got better)
But all that horror is in the future for these Essex boys who shot for the stars and somehow made it huge. Like 7.5 million copies of Violator sold huge. This is always going to be the band’s defining album but the fact that there’s another three albums in the band’s discography that can give it a run for its money says a lot for just how great Depeche Mode are, but this album will always be the highlight for me.
https://lynkify.in/song/enjoy-the-silence/tAHWNCRm
The ways of exile 