In addition to "Photographic (Some Bizarre Version)," M also includes highlights "Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead (Flexi-Pop Mix)," "In Your Memory," "It's Called a Heart," "Shake the Disease," "Fly on the Windscreen," and "Get the Balance Right!" As the mood shifts on the second disc, O, Depeche Mode hits what is arguably their cultural peak, the triumphant span from 1986's Black Celebration to 1990's Violator. M kicks off with Depeche Mode's earliest material with Vince Clark and slowly gets darker over the course of their first four albums ( Speak & Spell, A Broken Frame, Construction Time Again, and Some Great Reward). While almost everything here has been available in some form somewhere else for quite some time, having it all in one place is an ideal way to discover additional period treasures and enjoy them in the proper chronological context. Each disc provides a great snapshot of the general era in question, bridging their pop, alternative, and electronic sides in smooth succession. In addition to the convenience of having every LP in one place, MODE justifies its existence on the back end, with four disc's worth of material - titled M, O, D, and E, naturally - that collects 63 B-sides, remixes, standalone singles, and compilation bonus tracks. All 14 of their studio albums are included, packaged in sleek and stylish black sleeves with the original artwork darkened to match. A whopping 18 discs' worth of music, MODE charts the band's evolution from their debut studio recording (the pulsing synth-pop "Photographic" from the 1981 Some Bizzare Album compilation) all the way to an electronic-washed cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" recorded live during their Spirit era. And we have had our fair share of rubbish the past 2 decades.Collecting nearly four decades of material in one stylish package, Depeche Mode delivers their most comprehensive studio collection to date with the MODE box set. But why would they care, they know there are a bunch of people to buy concert tickets whatever they release. If that’s so sure is questionable says Will Boiders: “I seriously doubt that the past few Depeche Mode albums have been commercial successes. That’s a sad evolution because a real flow would open their eyes.” But these days some fans accept whatever they get thrown at them.” That is also what Theresa Saywers mails us: “Some die hard fans really have lost every insight in music and just swallow whatever garbage they get thrown at them. This material is no way representative of Depeche Mode and it would have been musical suicide had they released this early in their career. It really hurts listening to what they produce these days. Nowadays they sound like some hipster act high on prozac.
Ladislao Mendoza: “They’re great no matter what, but I miss the wonderful melodies and deep dark compositions from the genial Martin Gore surrounding the whole albums creating real art pieces!” And Henri Sizaret adds that the band should focus on “less introspective winning.” Andreas Noreen wants the new track to be “harder, faster and electronic” where as Billy Dojcak say she wants the new material to be “upbeat and with synthesisers – guitars gotta go.” That’s also what Rob Harvey seems to think: “Less blues rock by a mile.”Ĭarlos Peres: “I don’t want hits, I just want good songs that you can relate too. Thomas Esselman: “Can I hope for one song that isn’t bland?”īut what is a good song? Here’s what you think. This is probably one of the most remarkable wishes we received.