Depeche Mode – Sounds Of The Universe

Amazing sound, so clear and clean! Totally great edition, zero surface noise

DM with another album where they struggle mightily to create music that made them the icons they are. SOTU is a slog weighed down by their legacy and DM is on a search to find their place in today's scene. when they used to create uptempo dance music? When they weren't afraid of a hook? Now they lean heavily into guitar riffs to prove they are more than an electronic act and have taken depression to another level. There is zero here that makes me want to play it loudly, sing, or delve deeper to soak in all the intricacies that were found on albums of the past. Very disappointing.

I don't get why so many people hate this album. I love it. (Similar situation like with the eponymous The Cure album lol). In Chains is a thrilling opener. Wrong is a creepy masterpiece. This song is so intense and gloomy (especially with the music video). Peace is for me among the most beautiful DM songs ever. Come Back (probably my favourite song here) is amazingly powerful, rock-inspired tune that listening to is a pure joy. Jezebel is IMO (as of now) the last great DM song with Martin Gore singing. And Corrupt is a great ionate ending to this very good album.

Ok, I decided to "relisten" some DM albums which I had forgotten about, namely everything from Ultra - up to now. Maybe I had not listened correctly or not enough.... but that was it not. Indeed these "newer" DM albums are really boring and PTA is irritating with it digital clipping (glad some others find this too)...Ultra was fine compared to this here for example...there is not ONE song which grabs me. And many seem "skip" material and this was DeMo... And btw. if you listen very good you can hear some small samples in the background from 80ties albums hehe
This here and PTA and Exciter (Ex-Sleeper?) get all only 2 points.

Weak songs.
Irritating soul-like formula singing.
Wrong producer.
Too long, poorly curated.
Poor graphics.

Not what you would expect from Depeche Mode if we grew up with them from the early eighties...

Why is the year of release on this version 2006? It appears to be a simple typo. All other versions of this record were released in 2009.

This album is not good
they went further with their electronic sound

I'm here to put up a case for the defence of Ben Hillier, who seems to have been blamed by a lot of DM fans for the supposed paucity of the 3 DM albums he produced. First of all; Hillier did not write the songs, so if you consider the songs on those albums, below par, then you really ought to look at Messieurs Gore and Gahan. Ask yourself: as a producer, what is one supposed to do with a track like "Another hole to feed"? It's hard to believe that Gore didn't have anything he considered more worthy of inclusion on the album than this! It appears to me, that the 2 warring factions have come to an arrangement, whereby Gahan is guaranteed to have 3 of "his" compositions included on all DM albums, regardlesscof whether there's better material or not. This is not a problem when he's supplying material like "I want it all", "Cover me" or "Come back" - yes I'm apparently alone in thinking it one of the better tracks on SOTU - but "Another hole to feed" must surely be a contender for the all time low point in the DM canon. I'm a big irer of all 3 albums, and I feel that this is to a large degree, due to Hillier's attention to detail. There are lots of little touches, which as unlikely as it might seem, draw the ear; I'm referring to things like the percussive sound ("wood block"?) that comes in at around the 2:02 mark on "Secret to the end". From "Playing the angel", the single "Precious", sounds to my ears, at least, like an absolute classic Depeche mode single, that puts "Enjoy the silence" to shame. To my astonishment, many even seem to be blaming Hillier for the flawed mastering of these records. Give the poor sod a break! If I have a complaint about these albums, then it is that there is too much in the way of undisguised guitar, but then this is something that has become a constant in DM's music, ever since "Songs of Faith and Devotion". I appreciate that Gore considers himself a guitarist, first and foremost, so perhaps he could record unplugged versions of DM songs - which he could give away as free s - and get it out of his system, leaving the albums relatively guitar free?!

I feel a bit sorry for all these dissapointed die hard fans out there. I think that beeing dissapointed from a new Depeche Mode record is part of the game for fanboys from the early days. A bit funny and obvious i think.
For me this is for sure a brilliant record from start to finish. Great songwriting and very intersting soundwork - would love have an instumental version of this album.

I had so high expectations for this album. The leading single Wrong is just brilliant but it's very easy to see why they picked it. The album has no other singles on it. It barely has any good tracks at all. Half of the album is listenable and the rest you forget the moment you've heard them.

Why Gahan should have three tracks on it when one of them (Come Back) is worse than any of his solo work is beyond me. There are some good extra tracks on the box set that could have turned this into a decent record.

It begins quite alright. In Chains is a slow but decent opener. The Gahan track Hole To Feed is quite catchy and Wrong is just outstandingly good. Fragile Tension, In Sympathy and Perfect all sound way to similar and uninteresting. Miles Away/The Truth Is at least has some experimenting with the drum sound. The album closer Corrupt is another of the "good" tracks.

I've tried really hard to like it but together with Ultra this really is a crap record coming from this band. Vintage equipment alone won't make a great songs.