Did you know that Depeche Mode's debut album "Speak & Spell" was produced by Vince Clarke, who later went on to form Yazoo and Erasure?

Depeche Mode has always been a big band, but in the first part of their career, established in the 80s, they started as an “underground band,” as one user commented. In this Reddit post, with 22 points, users share their experience with the band. The text is almost exclusively conversation-style comments from people discussing their memories of the band, divided by the songs that brought them in. Some highlights include:

• “The Black Celebration” was a very popular album for fans, ranking near the top for some.
• People were surprised to hear Depeche Mode at a breakdance competition.
• Some fans only liked the early songs, stating Depeche Mode got too dark for their liking as they progressed as a band.
• The band became a lot more popular during the “Music for the Masses” album and tour.
• Many people heard “People Are People” (or “Master and Servant”) as their first Depeche Mode song, and it helped them appreciate the band.
• The “101” album holds a special place in some fans’ hearts and was a turning point for some in their fandom. One fan even went on to create a tribute band and has played with Alan Wilder, a former member of Depeche Mode.
• Some people felt that Depeche Mode was a “secret” band to discover and enjoy.
• One user who went to a Depeche Mode concert mentioned there was a heart attack victim who needed medical attention during the show.
• “The Things You Said” stands out as converting one fan from a hard rock/heavy metal fan to a devoted Depeche Mode fan.
• “Just Can’t Get Enough” was a first song for many.
• Many fans mentioned “Black Celebration” being their favorite album.
• Some people discovered Depeche Mode by accident when their friends mixed their records with Madonna’s (“People Are People” ended up in the “Get Into The Groove” sleeve).
• Nitzer Ebb, That Total Age, and Front 242, Front by Front were other bands mentioned alongside Depeche Mode as good music from that era.

Not used in article

• Depeche Mode has a diverse sound.
• Depeche Mode pushed the limits of how far you can take electronic music.
• They have very meaningful and intellectual themes to their songs.
• Depeche Mode has influenced countless artists of several genres throughout the years.
• They are the most commercially successful electronic music act globally, with over 100 million records sold.
• The author has been a DM fan since childhood; they were born in the late 90s.
• The Singles: 81>85 album by the author’s aunt made them know about Depeche Mode.
• The author has ranked all of Depeche Mode’s studio albums from least favourite to favourite.
• Speak and Spell is the author’s least favourite album.
• The author does not dislike ANY of their albums.
• The ranking only includes studio albums and does not cover live, compilation, or remix albums.
• There is no explanation for the ranking.
• The 14 ranked albums are as follows (from least favourite to favourite): Speak and Spell, Sounds of the Universe, Playing the Angel, A Broken Frame, Spirit, Exciter, Some Great Reward, Delta Machine, Songs of Faith and Devotion, Ultra, Music for the Masses, Violator, Construction Time Again, and Black Celebration.
• Some Great Reward, Black Celebration, and Music for the Masses are some of the favourites among several readers on Reddit.
• People believe that Black Celebration is the band’s best album and that Alan’s production and industrial sampling made it a masterpiece.
• Construction Time Again was the first album with Alan Wilder and the first to experiment with industrial sounds that helped shape their sound and career.
• 101 is considered to be the best DM record ever by several people.
• Many songs from DM’s golden era were on their Some Great Reward, Black Celebration, and Music for the Masses albums.
• There are mixed feelings about People are People.
• Some people rank Construction Time Again as their worst album overall.
• People believe that since Alan’s departure, Depeche Mode has not been the same, and his production genius is still sadly missed.

• A Reddit post asking for fans to recommend the best early Depeche Mode live songs.
• The post was made 5 months ago in the r/depechemode subreddit and received 8 upvotes and attracted 14 comments.
• Several users recommended their favorite early live songs, with “Television Set” being a popular choice.
• Some users wished for higher quality recordings of certain songs, and one user commented on the fact that “The Price of Love” was a cover rather than an original song.
• The post included a link to dmlive.wiki/wiki/Songs#Early_live-only_songs for those who wanted to listen to the songs mentioned.
• One user recommended the Mutebank Collection, which they claimed contained high-quality studio versions of several early songs.
• Another user inquired about how to add those songs to iTunes.
• One user proposed a poll called “Which is your favorite Depeche Mode Early Live Song?” with the options: Television Set, Reason Man, Ice Machine, Boys Say Go!, Big Muff, Shout!, Photographic, See You, The Price of Love, I Like It, Tomorrow’s Dance, Now This is Fun, Closer All The Time, or Other. The poll was linked but it is unclear how many people took part in it.
• A few users commented on the poll options and their favorite songs that were not listed, such as “What’s Your Name?” and “Puppets.”
• One user recommended watching live performances from Depeche Mode’s 1981 and 1982 tours, especially for “What’s Your Name?” and “Puppets.”
• One user mentioned the song “Dreaming of Me” as a favorite from the “Speak and Spell” album.

Not used in article

Not used in article

Not used in article

Not used in article

Not used in article

• Depeche Mode will be releasing a new album and embarking on a world tour in 2023.
• The new album is titled “Memento Mori” and is set to be released in Spring 2023.
• The tour will be called “The Memento Mori Tour.”
• The Live Nation-presented tour will begin with a special, limited series of North American arena dates starting March 23rd, before the band heads to Europe for their summer stadium tour.
• The limited North American dates will feature stops at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Chicago’s United Center, Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, and Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.
• The band will then begin their European stadium tour on May 16th, with noted stops including the Stade de France in Paris, Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, Milan’s San Siro Stadium, and London’s Twickenham Stadium.
• O2 or Virgin Media customers in the UK can secure priority tickets for the UK date at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 17th June 2023 ahead of the general sale.
• Dave Gahan and Martin Gore revealed the Memento Mori Tour will be Depeche Mode’s 19th tour and their first in over five years.
• Their most recent outing, the 2017-2018 Global Spirit Tour, was their longest to date and was one of the year’s highest-grossing tours, with the band playing to more than 3 million fans over the course of 130 shows across Europe and North America.
• Fans are discussing the possibility of the band announcing additional tour dates.
• Fans are also concerned that the band may not visit their home cities on the limited North American tour.
• Some fans are nostalgic about the band’s historical lineup, feeling a sense of loss that Andy Fletcher is no longer touring with the band.
• Others are excited to hear new music and visit new venues.
• Fans also share their opinions on various venues across the United States.
• Recommendations for fans looking to buy pre-sale tickets are collected in the comments section.

Not used in article

• Depeche Mode formed in Basildon, Essex, in 1980, originally consisting of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke • Their first album, “Speak & Spell,” was released in 1981 amid the British new wave scene • Clarke departed from the band after their second album, “A Broken Frame,” in 1982, and Gore took over as the main songwriter. Alan Wilder replaced Clarke, establishing a lineup that continued for 13 years • Depeche Mode’s 1986 album, “Black Celebration,” and their 1987 album, “Music for the Masses,” established them as a dominant force within the electronic and alternative music scenes • By 1990, “Violator,” was an international mainstream success • Next came “Songs of Faith and Devotion” (1993), which was another successful album, but the band went through internal struggles during recording and touring, resulting in Wilder leaving the band in 1995 • The band continued with the trio lineup of Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher until Fletcher’s death in 2022 • Depeche Mode has had 54 songs in the UK Singles Chart and 17 Top 10 albums in the UK chart • They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide • The band has been included in several “greatest” lists, including “50 Bands That Changed the World!” and “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.” • “Billboard” named them the 10th Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists in 2016 • Depeche Mode was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and 2018 and was finally inducted in 2020 • Depeche Mode’s origin date back to 1977, when schoolmates Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher formed a band called “No Romance in China” with Clarke on vocals and guitar and Fletcher on bass • In 1980, Clarke and Fletcher formed a band called Composition of Sound with Clarke on vocals/guitar and Fletcher on bass, soon joined by Martin Gore as a third instrumentalist • Gore had played guitar in an acoustic duo, Norman and the Worms, with school friend Phil Burdett on vocals.fThe album Speak & Spell was recorded after Vince Clarke departed from the band, and he would go on to form Yazoo • Alan Wilder would replace Clarke and become the “Musical Director” of

• The article discusses Depeche Mode’s third album, “Construction Time Again”
• “Construction Time Again” is the first album to feature Depeche Mode’s classic lineup
• Depeche Mode’s first album was “Speak & Spell” and their second was “A Broken Frame”
• Vince Clarke left the band after “Speak & Spell”
• “A Broken Frame” was an attempt to duplicate the brighter and often more upbeat sound of “Speak & Spell”
• New member Alan Wilder helped the band’s recognizable sound start to coalesce
• “Get the Balance Right” is the first track to include contributions from Wilder
• “Get the Balance Right” may be the first Depeche Mode single to feel like a “proper” Depeche Mode single
• “Get the Balance Right” has a gloomy atmosphere, a needling synth riff, and lyrics that describe the struggle to be seen as a respectable member of society
• “Get the Balance Right” can be taken as an invitation to dance without missing a beat
• “Get the Balance Right” was released as a non-album single but would largely prefigure the sound of the LP that followed it, “Construction Time Again”
• “Everything Counts” peaked at #6 in the singles charts
• “Everything Counts” is a top-level critique of capitalism, disparaging the executive who sponsors atrocities “with a suntan and a grin”
• “Everything Counts” is a track which is sonically rather similar to “Get the Balance Right”
• “Pipeline” is a condemnation of the exploitation of workers to build a pipeline
• “Pipeline” stands out for its anemic soundscape, consisting of little more than a repetitive mechanical hum that functions as a drone, some vaguely melodic metallic tinkling and the commanding voice of frontman Dave Gahan
• The use of more sophisticated music synthesisers, with the capability of sampling such real-world noise and turning it into music, was one of the biggest innovations instigated by Alan Wilder
• Depeche Mode’s shared DNA with pioneering industrial acts like Einstuerzende Neubauten is undeniable
• “…And Then” serves as a light at the end of the tunnel for the entire album “Construction Time Again,” a break in the clouds created by the rest of its tracks
• “…And Then” has a vision of a better tomorrow created by children who might learn from the mistakes of the past
• “…And Then” is still in

• Depeche Mode released their debut album “Speak & Spell” on October 5, 1981.
• “Speak & Spell” was warmly embraced in Europe but received less praise from critics in the US.
• Vince Clarke and Martin Gore, the band’s members, were inspired by Kraftwerk’s aesthetic but envisioned pop arrangements in place of sci-fi-themed despair.
• The band was originally called Composition of Sound before being renamed Depeche Mode.
• “Speak & Spell” was the only album to feature Vince Clarke, who left the band to form Erasure.
• The opening theme of “Just Can’t Get Enough” triggers joy or homicidal thoughts in most Gen-Xers and has become a New Waver’s Universal Dancefloor Anthem.
• Criticism of the album notes that it does not resemble traditional rock and roll and violates cultural traditions.
• Depeche Mode embraced the past but did not want to sound like it, instead, they envisioned a future for themselves in which their music would be included.
• Other tracks on the album include “New Life”, which destroys rock and roll’s past and “Dreaming of Me”, a synth-heavy ballad about unrequited love.
• “Shout” has darker textures and laid the foundation for Depeche Mode’s later, more memorable records.
• Dave Gahan’s voice is more reflective of Numan’s monotone on the album than on later tracks.
• Depeche Mode wrote songs inspired by Kraftwerk’s musical ethos but also wrote songs for their generation.
• Alan Wilder replaced Clarke after “Speak & Spell” but the album still leaves breadcrumbs for later Depeche Mode albums.
• Boy George once said “It’s not who does it first. It’s about who does it best.”
• The article provides a thorough analysis and celebration of “Speak & Spell”.

Not used in article

💭  Looking into

Reception - how it was received by critics and audiences

💭  Looking into

Release and context - when the album came out and what was going on in music at that time

💭  Looking into

Overview of the album - music, themes, etc.