Depeche Mode Albums Ranked From Worst to Best
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- čas přidán 19. 10. 2020
- This week we're covering synth pop pioneers Depeche Mode. They won our 2nd ever fan poll in a tight race against New Order. But they came out on top, so we're ranking the 14 studio albums.
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Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon in 1980. The group as of now consists of a trio of Dave Gahan (lead vocals and co-songwriting), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, co-lead vocals and main songwriting), and Andy Fletcher (keyboards).
Depeche Mode released their debut album Speak & Spell in 1981, bringing the band onto the British new wave scene. Founding member Vince Clarke left after the release of the album; they recorded A Broken Frame as a trio. Gore took over as main songwriter and, later in 1982, Alan Wilder replaced Clarke, establishing a lineup that continued for 13 years.
The band's last albums of the 1980s, Black Celebration and Music for the Masses, established them as a dominant force within the electronic music scene. A highlight of this era was the band's June 1988 concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, where they drew a crowd in excess of 60,000 people. In early 1990, they released Violator, an international mainstream success. The following album, Songs of Faith and Devotion, released in 1993, was also a success, though internal struggles within the band during recording and touring resulted in Wilder's departure in 1995.
Depeche Mode have 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. Q included the band in the list of the "50 Bands That Changed the World!". Depeche Mode also ranks number 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In December 2016, Billboard named Depeche Mode the 10th most successful dance club artist of all time. They were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and 2018, and will be inducted as part of the Class of 2020.
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DEPECHE MODE is one of my favourites artists ever, so I don´t dislike any album. My ranking:
1. Violator
2, Songs of Faith and Devotion
3. Ultra
4. Music For The Masses
5. Black Celebration
6. Playing the Angel
7. Some Great Reward
8. Delta Machine
9. Construction Time Again
10. Spirit
11. Speak & Spell
12. Exciter
13. Sounds of the Universe
14. A broken Frame
Greetings from Canary Islands
Exact same as my list. Cheers
1. Violator
2. Black Celebration
3. Songs of Faith and Devotion
4. Music For The Masses
5. Speak & Spell
6. Playing the Angel
7. Some Great Reward
8. Ultra
9. Construction Time Again
10. Spirit
11. A Broken Frame
12. Sounds of the Universe
13. Exciter
14. Delta Machine
Daniel Miller felt Broken Frame was underrated
@@takodabostwick8507 Much closer to mine. Not a speak and spell fan.
Top 5-
1. SOFAD
2. Violator
3. MFTM
4. Ultra
5. Black Celebration
1. Songs of faith & devotion (A+)
2. Violator (A+)
3. Black Celebration (A+)
4. Ultra (A)
5. Music for the masses (A)
6. Some great Reward (A)
7. Delta machine (A-)
8. Construction time again (A-)
9. Playing the angel (B+)
10. Spirit (B+)
11. Speak & Spell (B+)
12. Exciter (B)
13. Sounds of the universe (B-)
14. A broken frame (B-)
1. Ultra
2. Black Celebration
3. Songs of faith and devotion
4. Music for the masses
5. Violator
6. Exciter
My top favorite albums i listen all the time
Black Celebration is number 1. Nothing else compares.
i cant believe you replaced Kramzer with Bono :)
Circa 1997 - Time to hit the Discotheque!
The unibomber on DM
😄
Depeche Mode is magnificent, always liked them, however after getting addicted to their modern live shows, i became a super fan - seen them 3 times, and their ability to bring a stadium down to a private concert in incredible
I love how Kramzer dresses to the vibe of the artist.
1a. Black Celebration
1b. Violator
3. Music for the Masses
4. Songs of Faith and Devotion
5. Ultra
6. Speak and Spell
7. Some Great Reward
8. A Broken Frame
9. Playing the Angel
10. Delta Machine
11. Construction Time Again
12. Spirit
13. Exciter
14. Sounds of the Universe
I agree with Jason that Delta Machine is a surprisingly good late-career album. I go back-and-forth as to whether my favorite is Black Celebration or Violator. It depends on the day.
When Spirit came out it was my less favorite album. When I understood that Spirit is a coherent story with evil mind lurking its ways in the songs, I got it and its, in my opinion, most intelligently written album by DM ever.
my favorite depeche mode album is brrr skibidi dop
1. Violator
2. Ultra
3. SOFAD
4. Black Celebration
5. MFTM
6. Playing The Angel
...
I'm neither a hipster nor a deaf fella but...Sounds of the Universe is one of my favourite DM records.
It was the first DM record I heard in its entirety. Of course I knew all of their big singles at that time, I've been into music since I was a kid in early 90s. It also has to be noted 80% of music I listen to is metal, my favourite non-metal band being Ulver. Worth checking if you're not familiar with them, I'd start with the Live at the Norwegian Opera DVD, quite an experience, definitely comparable to what DM could achieve in the live setting, no exaggeration here, not a slight bit.
Back to DM, my favourite record of theirs is Black Celebration. So ahead of its time in some parts, breathtaking. That industrial super-distorted guitar bit just before the chorus kicks in, my favourite DM moment ever. The record could have only been better by including Shake the Disease in it.
10 A broken frame
09 Delta Machine
08 Speak and Spell
07 Construction Time Again
06 Some Great Reward
05 Ultra
04 Music for the Masses
03 Songs of Faith and Devotion
02 Black Celebration
01 Violater
Surprised to see so much love for A Broken Frame! Definitely an underrated album in my opinion. Having Construction Tile Again as number 1 is absolutely wild. Probably my number 11.
My personal ranking:
14. Spirit
13. Sounds Of The Universe
12. Speak And Spell
11. A Broken Frame
10. Songs Of Faith And Devotion
9. Music For The Masses
8. Some Great Reward
7. Ultra
6. Construction Time Again
5. Playing The Angel
4. Black Celebration
3. Delta Machine
2. Exciter
1. Violator
Construction is also my favorite! A huge step forward and Wilder's recorded debut.
1: Black Celebration
2: Violator
3: Music For The Masses
4: Speak And Spell
5: A Broken Frame
Great list, Kram!!
I am lovin' the channel guys! Dug your vids on Pixies and Sonic Youth..looking forward to watching the Bowie REM and Velvet Underground rankings! Thanks for what you do gents!
DM is one of my favorite bands. I've seen them over ten times in NY. .My favorite album is probably Violator followed by Black Celebration. I actually enjoy a lot of their recent albums even though they haven't been such a hit with some fans. My least favorite is most likely A Broken Frame. Just was never into it. My second least favorite might be Construction Time Again even though it has a couple of great tracks. Anyway, it was good that you guys ranked their albums. I'm always interested to hear what folks think about their music
My ranking:
1. Violator - 10/10 (The music flows)
2. Black Celebration - 10/10
3. Songs of Faith and Devotion - 10/10
4. Music for the Masses - 9/10
5. Some Great Reward - 8/10
6. Construction Time Again - 7/10
7. Ultra - 7/10
8. Delta Machine - 6/10
9. Sounds of the Universe - 6/10
10. A Broken Frame - 5/10
11. Playing the Angel - 5/10
12. Exciter - 4/10
13. Speak and Spell - 3/10
14. Spirit - 2/10 (Artificial)
Interesting, as a die-hard Depeche Mode fan, hearing non-fans rating the albums. Good video.
The "Great 5" 86-97:
1. Songs of Faith and Devotion
2. Music for the Masses
3. Violator
4. Black Celebration
5. Ultra
Before and after:
6.Delta Machine
7. A Broken Frame
8. Spirit
9. Playing the Angel
10. Some Great Reward
11. Construction Time Again
12. Exciter
Because it's mostly Vince Clarke:
13. Speak and Spell
The only DM album I'd rate as "mediocre":
14. Sounds of the Universe
1. Violator. 2. Ultra. 3. Songs Of Faith. 4. Construction Time Again. 5. Some Great Reward. 6 playing The Angel. 7 Masses. 8. Black Celebration. 9 Spirit. 10 Broken Frame. 11Universe. 12 Delta. 13 Speak & Spell. 14Exciter.
Violator and Ultra are by far my favorites, but I have songs I adore from every album, especially Music for the Masses has some of my most played songs in Never Let Me Down Again and Behind the Wheel.
Had no idea Depeche Mode made that many albums, I've only listened to 7 of their 14. As always, great video, gentlemen.
1. Violator
2. Black Celebration
3. Some Great Reward
4. Spirit
5. Music for the Masses
6. Songs of Faith and Devotion
7. Ultra
I respect your opinion but Spirit better than Music for the masses?..pmsl
@@TheJamie6666 Give Spirit another listen, it's easily their most underrated imo.
1. Violator (some of their best songs are off of this album)
2. Black Celebration (the starting point of getting to the darker side of them)
3. Music for the Masses (Another masterpiece)
4. Playing the Angel (best album from the 00s era)
5. Songs of Faith and Devotion (really solid follow up after Violator)
6. Construction Time Again (I'm with Joe on this one, but it's only here because there are 5 albums that I love a lot more.)
7. Speak & Spell (really solid debut album, but they definitely got better with their mid 80s material)
8. Ultra (The last of their heyday albums, not that bad all, I just love the 7 albums ahead of this one.)
9. Some Great Reward (the album cover with the couple on there looks cool though)
10. A Broken Flame (Not a sophomore slump, it's still pretty solid, but I like the other albums more than this one personally)
11. Spirit (It's fine, really solid album and the most political album for sure, the message is really solid)
12. Delta Machine (Not that bad actually, and I think that it's underrated)
13. Sounds of the Universe (Meh to me)
14. Exciter (Opposite of exciting, it's unexciting, but Dream On is an awesome song)
1-4 Awesome
5-8 Great
9-11Good
12-14 Meh or not great
I've been a fan of DM for a long time. I can say that with age I began to appreciate the post Alan Wilder work more. I rarely listen to anything before Violator these days. I think Exciter deserves more love. I rarely see that album praised. I love the atmosphere and guitar work. Great album to chillout to. I can see why it's not popular though. Exciter sounds the best production wise. That's because they worked with Mark Bell. He was perfect fit for DM imo. I wish they would work with him more. This would be my current ranking
1. Ultra
2. Songs of Faith and Devotion
3. Exciter
4. Violator
5. Playing The Angel
6. Delta Machine
7. Spirit
8. Black Celebration
9. Sounds of the Universe
10. Music For The Masses
11. Some Great Reward
12. A Broken Frame
13. Construction Time Again
14. Speak & Spell
I'm with you dude. There's so much groupthink around the best DM stuff.
I've been listening to and loving DM all my life and I'm 50 now.
The production on the 80's stuff sounds pretty dated, as good as it was for the time.
It's disappointing when people casually dismiss anything post Ultra. I've found a lot of the newer albums to be real growers
We need an OMD vid!
1. Ultra
2. Songs Of Faith And Devotion
3. Violator
4. Music For The Masses
5. Black Celebration
6. Some Great Reward
7. A Broken Frame
8. Construction Time Again
9. Exciter
10. Speak & Spell
11. Playing The Angel
12. Memento Mori
13. Spirit
14. Delta Machine
15. Sounds Of The Universe
Ultra is underrated as hell. I just love the vibe on that album and I think the songwriting is strong too. They didn’t lose it all after Alan Wilder left, they were still very capable of putting out good music. They just need to be paired with a really good producer who can take the songs to where they need to be.
And I can’t see Black Celebration at number 1 where many would have it. Probably a few fillers on there for me to be honest but the highs are very high. They grew a lot after BC.
@@AndI0td763 I totally agree.
Been a young casual fan for some time and it was only recently that I really can call myself a devotee, but anyw, here’s my list:
14. Spirit
13. Sounds of the Universe
12. Ultra
11. Exciter
10. Playing the Angel
9. Delta Machine
8. Speak and Spell
7. A Broken Frame
6. Construction Time Again
5. Some Great Reward
4. Music for the Masses
3. Songs of Faith and Devotion
2. Violator
1. Black Celebration
I’m glad Construction Time Again is getting some love! I do think it’s underappreciated and people don’t realize that it’s quite a groundbreaking album! Delta Machine also surprised me as well and was better than I thought it would be. Greetings from the Philippines~ All y'all had pretty interesting rankings~
14. Sounds of the Universe
13. Exciter
12. Spirit
11. Playing the Angel
10. Delta Machine
9. Speak and Spell
8. Ultra
7. Songs of Faith and Devotion
6. Violator
5. A Broken Frame
4. Music for the Masses
3. Some Great Reward
2. Black Celebration
1. Construction Time Again
Yessssss. - Joe
1. Ultra
2. Violator
3. Songs of Faith & Devotion
4. Playing the Angel
5. Music for the Masses
6. Delta Machine
7. Black Celebration
8. Exciter
9. Sounds of the Universe
10. Construction Time Again
11. Some Great Reward
12. Spirit
13. A Broken Frame
14. Speak & Spell
one of my favorite things of Depeche are the sonic textures/production they use to convey the songs, which is essentially what tips the scales a bit for the newer stuff versus that very early batch of albums, which may technically have a few more "better" songs. but Martin never really lost it and his songs to me at least never really took much of a dip. From Black Celebration to at least PTA they were essentially untouchable.
We have basically the exact same ranking!
1. Black Celebration
2. Violator
3. Some Great Reward
4. Construction Time Again
5. Music For The Masses
6. Ultra
7. Songs Of Faith And Devotion
8. A Broken Frame
9. Speak & Spell
10. Exciter
I lost interest in DM after listening to Exciter, but I like all their albums from the 80's and 90's.
These rankings show just how important alan wilder was to depeche mode. Their music started to go downhill after he left.
Depeche Mode is my favorite band of all time. But I can understand how peculiar and even underwhelming an experience it might be for someone who hasn't given each album enough time to grow. Because they are definitely growers. This would be my ranking:
1. Songs Of Faith And Devotion
2. Violator
3. Ultra
4. Black Celebration
5. Music For The Masses
6 . Some Great Reward
7. Delta Machine
8. Speak & Spell
9. Playing The Angel
10. Construction Time Again
11. A Boken Frame
12. Sounds of the Universe
13. Exciter
14. Spirit
Another great video guys. Glad to see some love for Black Celebration. So tired of seeing rankings with Sof&d up there in the top spot, it was a bit downhill for me at that point.
Speaking of synthpop and a bit of a tenuous link to Gore's Counterfeit album, any chance we might see a Sparks ranking from you? With 2 Sparks based movies out this year, it could be a good time, however it might be a bit of a slog, I think theres 24 albums in their discography.
I would love to get to Sparks eventually. Might not be soon but definitely something on our radar. -Jason
@@TastesLikeMusic that sounds amazing!! 😍. Also dunno if you're familiar with punk/postpunk/newwave/synthpop/rock outfit The Stranglers as well, you might wanna check them out as well at some point.
Anyway, loving your videos. Thanks for the reply.
24:20 Everyone is allowed to have their opinion of course. But I think Violator has some great tracks that aren’t those three singles mid including World in My Eyes, Halo, and Clean. But I like Construction Time Again as well, Joe. Everything Counts, especially the extended version, is my favorite DM song.....
My sister got me into DM when I was a tween in the mid to late 80s, and my high school friends were huge fans. ‘Catching Up with Depeche Mode’ was a well used cassette for our mountain biking road trips senior year. I saw them live a couple times in the early to mid 90s. My favorite stuff is from the Alan Wilder years, like most of you. Great memories.
My picks:
1. Violator (1990) 5/5 Stars, in my Top 5 for 1990
2. Black Celebration (1986)
3. Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)
4. Music for the Masses (1987)
5. Ultra (1997)
6. Construction Time Again (1983)
7. Speak & Spell (1981)
8. Some Great Reward (1984)
9. Playing the Angel (2005)
10. Sounds of the Universe (2009)
11. A Broken Frame (1982)
12. Exciter (2001)
13. Spirit (2017)
14. Delta Machine (2013)
Although none of their albums are “Album of the year” for me (Violator and Black Celebration came in at #2) the top 6 albums listed here would all reach the Top 5 for the year. Solid, long living band with an extensive, very listenable discography.
14. Spirit (only one I dislike)
.........
13. Delta Machine
12. Exciter
11. Sounds of the Universe
10. Playing the Angel
.........
9. Ultra (everything from here up I love)
8. Music for the Masses
7. SOFAD
6. Speak & Spell
5. Construction Time Again
4. Violator
3. A Broken Frame
2. Black Celebration
1. Some Great Reward
I haven’t heard the last 3 albums yet and I feel like I need to spend more time with Ultra and Playing The Angel since they’re somewhat well liked, but they haven’t grabbed me that much yet. Violator is my #1 right now probably on the strength of the singles (“Enjoy The Silence” In particular is up there among my favorite songs, period) but Black Celebration is a very close #2 and might be the one I’d be more enthusiastic to listen to all the way through when I’m in a more Depeche Mode mode. I’d probably put Songs Of Faith And Devotion, Music For The Masses and Some Great Reward in the next 3 spots, and then go relisten back to the others to figure out the rest of my order.
Hey Joe, I was 17 when Construction Time Again came out. I absolutely love it.
Loved the video! Here's my rating of DM's Albums (my favorite band btw).
Not so good Albums:
14. Speak & Spell (doesn't sound like DM to me)
13. Exciter (contains only a few good tracks like 'I am you')
12. Spirit (kinda fell off after a few listens)
Good Albums:
11. Sounds Of The Universe (not bad, but not that interesting. The bonus tracks are good tho, especially 'Ghost'.)
10. Playing The Angel (not too much to say about it, other that it's not bad)
9. Songs of Faith and Devotion (didn't like the evolution from Violator too this, but it is not bad at all. 'In your Room' is really good.)
8. Music For The Masses (the overall sound of this album doesn't appeal to me. I don't really know why. But there's some great songs in here.)
Really Good Albums:
7. A Broken Frame (Really like this album. 'Satellite' is probably the most unique DM song, kinda reggae.)
6. Delta Machine (Underrated album. No bad songs on this one, just a bit too much blues in it. 'All that's mine' is the best DM Song in the 21st Century. It's a bonus track tho.)
5. Some Great Reward (Love the industrial sound. A bit too aggressive sounding, this is why it is lower than 'Construction Time Again'.)
4. Construction Time Again (In my opinion their most important record, at least for their catalogue. Without the input of Alan Wilder they would never become what they are now. 'The Landscape is Changing' is amazing.)
Amazing Albums:
3. Violator (Every song is brilliant. Not much more to say about this one.)
2. Black Celebration (Their darkest and also most melodic album. This album has their best songs IMO, being 'A Question Of Lust' and 'Here is the House'. Every song is gold.)
1. Ultra (Especially considering the background story of this album, lyrically very moving. From start to finish unbelievably good. A perfect album in my opinion.)
Been a fan of this band since my discovery in December of 2016! One thing I really have to commend you guys on, is ranking "A Broken Frame" so highly. Most lists negate it as Depeche Mode's worst album, and I think they're sorely mistaken. It's gloomy, and provides this sort of sleek instrumentation we'd later see with "Violator". I always knew they were a phenomenal LP/record band. Perhaps I was spoiled with my first listen being "Violator", but once I found "Black Celebration", I was immediately a fan. They were crafting dark wave gems unlike anyone else. And by the time they made "Violator", Depeche Mode was basically spearheading their own genre.
1:13 what on earth are you on about? They’ve consistently experimented with their sound and style.
Construction Time Again is WAY better than A Broken Frame. A huge leap forward for the band and majorly important in the evolution of their sound with industrial influences
I do really like the synth sound on a Broken Frame and Construction Time. Sounds like nothing else. - Joe
Real D.M listeners will know when Alan left ,the songs of D.M lost their soulful feel after Ultra, when you hear A.Wilder remixed version of In Chains, we can hear what Alan brings to a song arrangement sound wise.
That remix is a nice little taste of what could've been
I wish there was an alternate universe where fletch left depeche mode instead of alan. That guy doesn't contribute anything musically to the band.
@@jjviolator Fletch is the glue that keeps it together.
my highly controversial ranking and rating
1. speak and spell 9/10 this album means a lot to me i love the sound and it has a lot of bangers. dreaming of me, new life, sometimes wish i was dead, tora tora tora, any second now, photographic, just cant get enough,ice machine, shout, all great tracks. really is a product of its time as a band.
2. ultra 10/10 cried when i saw them play its no good and sister of night live, great album. songs like barrel of a gun, home, sister of night, love theives, its no good, ect all great songs.
3. construction time again 8/10 shame and pipeline are iffy but this album has a really good sound, told you so is one of my fav songs right now and everything counts, love in itself, two minute warning, more than a party, great.
4. playing the angel 9/10 seriously a great album. id list songs i like from this one but theyre all great. nothings impossible and john the revelator are some of my favorites of DM
4. some great reward 8/10 i really love the industrial sampled sound, something to do, it doesnt matter, and if you want are great
5. sofad 10/10 even though its at #5 i still think it deserves a 10/10. this was my first DM album and doesnt have a single bad song
6. violator 9/10 a lot of good songs, has a good overall sound. policy, halo, and blue dress are some of my favorites
7. broken frame 8/10 i love this album a lot. meaning of love, nothing to fear, and leave in silence are great songs
8. black celebration 9/10 amazing vibe and sound to this album. the opening track is one of my favorite depeche mode songs of all time. barely any meh songs
9. memento mori 8/10 i dont love every song on this album, but it means a lot to me since i saw them live this tour. songs like ghosts again, wagging tounge, dont say you love me, and never let me go are amazing.
10. exciter 7/10 i actualy love exciter. songs like dream on, sweetest condition, breathe, and goodnight lovers are amazing
11. music for the masses 7/10 i liked this album, NLMDA, things you said, strangelove, and nothing are great but honestly i dont get the hype.
12. songs of the universe 4/10 fragile tension and come back are some of my favorite songs right now, but the rest of them i could live without.
13. delta machine 3/10 heavan and should be higher are good, but the rest is just meh
14. spirit 3/10 poision heart and wheres the revelution are great but i dont really like the sound of this album too much.
notes: honestly i love all these albums and respect the guys for making the music they want to make. i dont really mind the lack of difference between the last few albums even if theyre not my cup of tea.
These ratings are a bit nutty but you do you. - Joe
I wonder why DM never played Lilian live. it's easily in my top 5 of "later era" DM, although I can see it's a bit lightweight.
1 Songs Of Faith And Devotion
2 Music For The Masses
3 Violator
4 Playing The Angel
5 Ultra
6 Speak And Spell
7 Black Celebration
8 Sounds Of The Universe
9 Delta Machine
10 Some Great Reward
11 Construction Time Again
12 A Broken Frame
13 Spirit
14 Exciter
One of the reasons why I have PTA so high, “I want it all” might be the most underrated DM track of all time. Written by Dave too! czcams.com/video/FYwlZmYf1MI/video.html
My main bulk of music listening of Depeche Mode (Besides Music for the Masses and Depeche Mode 101) comes from those first 3 singles boxes that were released. Containing most of the early period singles and remixes .. other than that, loved Violator as well as Songs of Faith and Devotion. Glad to know, that I’m really not missing all that much after Ultra (which I also, enjoyed)
Black Celebration and Music for The masses are my favorit DM Albums.
Add Violator and thats my top 3
Gotta be honest my favorite Depeche Mode album is Speak & Spell. That then Black celebration. Also, I don't think they're a singles band I think they're an album band until the 2000s, which is where they lost me.
1 Black Celebration
2 Violator
3 Music for the Masses
4 Some great reward
5 Construction time again
6 Songs of faith and devotion
7 A broken frame
8 Speak and spell
9 Ultra
10 Memento Mori
11 Exciter
12 Sounds of the universe
13 Playing the angel
14 Spirit
15 Delta Machine
Great review video and some fascinating observations. I've been a fan since 1981 and have found something to enjoy on all the 14 albums which makes this band so enduringly unique.
My ranking:
1: Black Celebration
2: Songs Of Faith & Devotion (I would argue that the live version of this album is greatly improved by subsequent tweaks from Alan Wilder)
3: Violator
4: Ultra
5: A Broken Frame
6: Music For The Masses
7: Construction Time Again
8: Some Great Reward
9: Speak & Spell
10: Exciter
11: Spirit
12: Sounds Of The Universe
13: Playing The Angel
14 Delta Machine
1. Black Celebration 1st DM Masterpiece
2.Violator 2nd DM Masterpiece
3. SOFAD 3rd DM Masterpiece
4. Ultra 4th DM Masterpiece
5. Playing The Angel
6. Music For The Masses
7. Memento Mori
8. Some Great Reward
9. Sounds of the Universe
10. A Broken Frame
11. Delta Machine
12.Spirit
13. Construction Time Again
14. Speak and Spell
15. Exciter
This list is terrible. - Joe
I keep coming back to this video because it's so bizarre. So many things said here that is just not right. It actually would be interesting to see you do this again to see if you still have the same feelings about these albums. To put Delta machine as their worst album just blows my mind. Or Pipeline being a terrible track...wow. Oh well :)
1. Songs of faith and devotion
2. Violator
3. Ultra
4. Music for the masses
5. Black celebration
6. Construction time again
7. Some great rewards
8. Playing the angels
9. Delta machine
10. Exiter
Blasphemous as all get out with anything from 1983-1993 in the low rankings...but I still like your channel lol. Gore's lyrics (wtf Kramzer) and Wilder's music is what made the band-- since Alan left, the magic died.
this is my worst to best of Depeche Mode, but even #14 is to me a good album
14. Spirit
13. Ultra
12. Violator
11. Exciter
10. Construction time again
09. Speak and spell
08. Delta machine
07. Music for the masses
06. Some great reward
05. Black celebration
04. Sounds of the universe
03. Songs of faith and devotion
02. A broken frame
01. Playing the angel
14. Sounds of the Universe
13. Spirit
12. Delta Machine
11. Exciter
10. Playing the Angel
9. A Broken Frame
8. Speak & Spell
7. Construction Time Again
6. Some Great Reward
5. Black Celebration
4. Music For the Masses
3. Ultra
2. Songs of Faith and Devotion
1. Violator
As a lifelong fan, I was pretty upset with all of your on several placements of albums but looking at the averaged list rankings it is fairly accurate of what my list would be. I was surprised. Now that they have 15 albums with Momento Mori, I'd probably place it at number 3 or 4. I curious to where you guys would place it.
Would be me and Jason’s number 1. - Joe
14 A Broken Frame
13 Spirit
12 Delta Machine
11 Exciter
10 Construction Time Again
9 Speak & Spell
8 Sounds Of The Universe
7 Playing The Angel
6 Some Great Reward
5 Black Celebration
4 Ultra
3 Songs Of Faith And Devotion
2 Music For The Masses
1 Violator
I own most of DM's albums and for me personally their singles compilations and best of albums are way more enjoyable and rewarding than any of their studio albums. Too much skipping songs on many of their studio albums and [I'll probably get lynched for this but here goes] a lot of their songs would benefit from being shorter.
Also, they have a catchy little B side called Flexible, which I love. This sort of quirky side doesn't come out as often as I would like on their albums [in fact after their earlier 'poppier' stuff like Just Can't Get Enough and Everything Counts, it hardly came out at all].
My Faves
1. Black Celebration
2. Music For The Masses
3. Violator
4. Some Great Reward
5. Songs of Faith and Devotion
6. Construction Time Again
7. Ultra
8. A Broken Frame
9. Speak and Spell
10. Sounds of The Universe
11. Exciter
12. Delta Machine
13. Spirit
Haha, Joe, good call on Construction! It's not quite my #1, but it's in my top 5:
1. Black Celebration
2. Violator
3. Music for the Masses
4. Some Great Reward
5. Construction Time Again
6. Songs of Faith and Devotion
7. Speak and Spell
8. A Broken Frame
9. Ultra
10. Playing The Angel
11. Sounds of the Universe
12. Exciter
13. Spirit
14. Delta Machine
BTW: Alan Wilder brought the industrial sound in with him when he joined the band.
: (
14 - Spirit
13 - Delta Machine
12 - Sounds Of the Universe
11 - Playing the angel
10 - Exciter
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: |
09 - Ultra
08 - Construction time again
07 - Speak & spell
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: ]
06 - A broken frame
05 - Some great reward
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: )
04 - Songs of faith and devotion
03 - Violator
02 - Black Celebration
01 - Music for the masses
I appreciate the smiley face ranking system.
Love Depeche Mode up to ultra after that a song here and there
My thoughts exactly. They never recovered fully from Exciter.
construction is a great choice for no.1 its revolutionary for its time the samples and songs are original and strong. black celebration is awesome as well
In square one...the unibomber!
Dancing in Pittsburgh huh? My wife grew up in New Castle PA.
Basically anything with Alan Wilder 1st followed by anything since
My ranking for the albums and reason why:
14. A Broken Frame: Nothing really special about the album in my opinion, only liked the singles from this album
13. Speak and Spell: A Marginal difference but it got saved by probably one of my favourite songs for Depeche Mode in Just Can't Get Enough, New Life and Photographic
12. Construction Time Again: As much as this is the first album that I liked from start to finish that was released by DP however other than Everything Counts, there is not really any exciting songs from the album
11. Delta Machine: This is the weakest of the newer albums however it's not the worst album in my opinion
10. Exciter: I actually don't mind Exciter and there is more good songs than just Dream On, Freelove, I feel Love, I am You, Breathe and When the Body Speaks are amazing songs and deserve attention
9. Ultra: I know this might be not a popular opinion but other than Barrel of a Gun, Useless, The Bottom Line and Freestate, the others I am meh about, don't dislike but I only listen to them if I am in the mood
8. Sounds of the Universe: I love this album from start to finish, the only reason why it's low is because the other albums has better songs
7. Some Great Award: Again love this album, Master and Servant being my fav from the album again but it's only low because the other albums are better
6. Black Celebration: This is album that is really good but there is been times though where I am thinking is it a good album and that's why it probably low in the perfect albums for me
5. Sprit: I actually liked this album, very dark and political which is very revelant even now and there is been no questions that I would ask myself to question the album's quality but the other 4 for me are probably better
4. Music for the Masses: This album probably only has 1 weak song and that is The Things you Said whereas the other 3 albums in my opinion doesn't
3. Playing the Angel: Wow what an album, love the edgeness and darkness of this album, John The Revelator, Nothings Impossible, I Want it All, Lillian, The Darkest Star and Free are probably the best songs in the catalogue of DP
2. Songs of Faith and Devotion: Again small margins but this album is really good and there is no bad song on this album, the only problem is the album is too short compared to others
1. Violator: This is one of the best albums ever produced in the history of music, every Artist at least will produce one album in that vein and this is Depeche Mode's. It has the best songs from the band and is the first album that I listened to when I got into DP, so it always has a special place in my heart.
I'm with Jason on this one. I love Ultra and agree that Playing the Angel and Delta Machine are solid records that holds their own in their discography. Can't argue with Black Celebration as number one either. My list would be:
1. Black Celebration
2. Violator
3. Ultra
4. Songs of Faith and Devotion
5. Playing the Angel
6. Music for hte Masses
7. Delta Machine
8. Some Great Reward
9. Construction Time Again
10. Speak and Spell
yeah, black celebration definitely first. SOFAD number 2 for me. Probably some great reward at 3.
Have you ranked The Pogues yet?
Not yet
Indochine is the French Depeche Mode. French band Noir Desir (Le vent nous portera) is maybe also in the same vein. But Indochine is absolutely big chances you will enjoy if you like Depeche Mode. They have also lots of albums, so just like Depeche Mode they envolved through time. As for Depeche Mode they have singles versions that sounds very different than the album versions, so one need to check out the single versions too and not just focus on their albums. As for Music for the masses you need to also check out the singles versions and b-sides. They also have a great Sparks cover version. Black Celebration is my favorite Depeche Mode album. Indochine 3 is my favorite Indochine album, but also their 2nd album plus Wax are favorites. I also love their (Indochine) first album that really is just half an album. And Constructing time again is a great Depeche Mode album yes yes yes :)
Indochine Is a great band, but I see them More as a new wave band.
I went and listened to a bunch of their music based on this recommendation and while I enjoy it, it doesn’t really give me the dark gritty industrial vibes that my favorite DM songs have. It reminds me more of the early more poppy DM from their first few albums, or bands like New Order.
I'm with Joe on this one (except Violator). I don't have much love for the 90's onward (as far as DM goes), think those albums sounded like they were trying too hard to be a stadium act. To me they lost their charm and uniqueness after Violator. Very similar to the trajectory of U2.
01... Songs of Faith and Devotion... 4.5/5...
02... Violator... 4.25/5...
03... Playing the Angel... 4/5...
04... Ultra... 3.75/5...
05... Black Celebration... 3.75/5...
06... Some Great Reward... 3.75/5...
07... Music For The Masses... 3.5/5...
08... A Broken Frame... 3.5/5...
09... Spirit... 3/5...
10... Construction Time Again... 3/5...
11... Speak & Spell... 3.5...
12... Delta Machine... 2.75/5...
13... Sounds of the Universe... 2.75/5...
14... Exciter... 2/5...
1. violator ( i m surprised noone mentioned " waiting for the night") 2. speak and spell (naive beginning and somehow groundbreaking and unique) 3. ultra ( probably their strongest set of tunes, though a few samy tracks and some draging on) 4. a broken frame 5. songs of faith and devotion 6. music for the masses 7. black celebration 8. delta machine 9. construction time again 10. some great rewards one of my favorite tracks "get the balance right" is not on any albums.
Top 5 could 100% swap around any time. There’s times when ultra is my #1 or black celebration is my #1. Theyre all amazing
Late to the party, but my rankings:
14. Delta Machine
13. Spirit
12. Speak and Spell
11. Exciter
10. Ultra
9. Sounds of the Universe
8. Playing the Angel
7. Some Great Reward
6. Songs of Faith and Devotion
5. Music for the Masses
4. A Broken Frame
3. Violator
2. Construction Time Again
1. Black Celebration
You got the top 2 right! - Joe
Would love to see New Order ranked someday. Surprised Joe doesn’t like them. For someone who seems to dig pop you’d think he’d be in love with a track like Bizarre Love Triangle which I think is one of the best pop songs of all time.
Oh I absolutely adore Bizarre Love Triangle. If all their songs were like that I’d love em. - Joe
Joe judging what you had to say about Some Great Reward, sounds like you should have put Playing the Angel ahead of it which you seemed to like a lot more. You had some positive things to say about that one but mostly negative about Some Great Reward.
Comparing DM albums is like comparing black clothes ; which garment do you prefer? As long as its black. Each album has a mood, from happy electro- poppy in the beginning to druggy-gloomy later on. I gave up after Exciter, but I do like the accoustic guitar coming through. High point was reached progressively towards Violator.
So I have the first seven, plus the excellent Singles 81-85, so you needn't listen to those albums!
Black Celebration is my favorite. Having said that "But Not Tonight" lyrically is the low point. Great melody, but inconsistent imagery. "Oh, God its raining".....then he starts singing about the stars and the moon in the sky.....it doesn't work for me. Is it raining or a clear night with stars? If you are seeing both, the rain probably isn't that bad - a light sprinkle, maybe? Not enough to complain about.
Y’all listened to 14 Depeche Mode albums so we wouldn’t have to 🤣
I love many of their songs, but can only listen to three, maybe four of their albums all the way through. I might chime in with my favorite songs tomorrow. 💙✌️🎵
1. Playing the Angel
2. Violator
3. Black Celebration
4. Music for the Masses
5. Songs of Faith and Devotion
6. Sounds of the Universe
7. Delta Machine
8. A Broken Frame
9. Ultra
10. Some Great Reward
11. Exciter
12. Spirit
13. Construction Time Again
14. Speak & Spell
Haha at Joe's expressions when Jason picked construction time again last and kram said it might be the weakest in that era xD
I'm not a huge fan of Construction Time Again, but the song 'And Then' is maybe their best ever song, in my opinion..
My fave from that album!
The first depeche mode album, was mainly written by vince clark, he left after this album to his own career.
Depeche Mode did what a lot of bands do. Basically, they achieved the pinnacle of what they do and then became less interesting because they had nowhere else to go, churning out generic versions of their sound. This happened to Rush. With the Cure, that "generic sound" started to creep in around the time of Wish. (of course, Robert Smith could always be counted on to change things up, making mariachi music on the next album)
Yep, as far as I can tell, that's the story of just about every great band in history. With every album a band makes it becomes exponentially more difficult for them to top themselves. By the time a band has been around 10 to 15 years they've pretty much exhausted their well of creativity/originality. From that point on their music stops being revolutionary and becomes repetitive. The only bands that avoid that fate are the ones that break up before they get that far.
@@AbbeyRoadkill1 I would say King Crimson continued to evolve over the course of all their albums.
The rankings done before Memento Mori. Would have been interested to know what you thought of that album. Top five definitely. Joe you can tell isn't a DM fan he doesn't know what he's talking about. SOFAD is definitely their darkest album.
Sofad is pretty mainstream. Sorry. - Joe
You guys should have done Yazoo, a whopping two albums, haha!!
1 Best of Depeche Mode Vol 1😃....listened to that for about 2 years before getting bored of it.....has to be one of the best best ofs I've heard.....not quite up their with Queens or the Doors or Bowie's as intro the artists....
Why is the Unibomber a guest reviewer here?
My top 3 would be "Violator" (number 1), "Some Great Reward" and "Songs of Faith and Devotion". "Ultra", "Black Celebration", "Playing the Angel" and "A Broken Frame" (which DM themselves consider their worst album) would also be in the higher positions for me. But I'd agree that "Construction Time Again" and "Exciter" are among DM's worst. I wouldn't really judge the last 3 albums since I only listened to them once via CZcams, but they all struck me as slow and forgettable. On "Music for the Masses", I'd agree with the guy who only liked the singles, and "Speak and Spell" is kind of OK, but it feels like a completely different band.
I think Violator was the first album with guitars.
As an in-depth DM Fan i get the feeling that a lot of these albums were skimmed thru to review and not listened to earnestly . The first four songs on Ultra are brilliant . Gore’s Home is one of the best written songs in their catalog. Ultra is a much better overall album than it gets credit for . That being said , I do enjoy your channel very much but unless someone does repeated listenings over time it’s difficult and inaccurate to gauge a review of material .
In no order…
Violator btw is perfect start to finish , Halo being the best written song on it .
Black Celebration
Ultra
Some great reward
Songs of Faith
Least fav
Spirit , Exciter
Damn I think Delta Machine has some great stuff on it.
Delta Machine is top 5 for me. I was thinking if it was because when I first started listening to it at a pretty impressionable age but I think its great. Same with Sounds of the Universe which is 2nd for me behind Black Celebration.
It's a great album... I remember seeing them live on that tour and the songs from Delta Machine were amazing. Especially 'Should be Higher' was just incredible.
When Vince left I left.
Can't believe you Joe! Violator on 7th?. Much closer to kramzer's list this Time. Cheers.
I’m as surprised as you are. - Joe
What's the point in ranking? Each album is released in different times, with different circumstances. And each album is a result of their development from earlier albums. So I think each album is great given its time, the bands circumstances, the resources and the development of their music.
You’re too nice