Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Good consistent album with some great hits.
Classic. The good songs are great. The not good songs are a drag.
If your not too familiar with Depeche Mode, than this is a great starting point. If you start with this album, I’d recommend going backwards and listen to all of their old albums before you go forward.
Buen álbum, equilibrado en su oferta
Can't fault it really. Though I tend to listen to Black Celebration rather than this album for some reason. Personal Jesus and Enjoy The Silence are perfect slices of goth pop perfection
Nice discovery for me, recognised the singles but I’d never heard the album. Very different from what was around at the time, if sounding a little dated with its synth heavy leaning.
"World In My Eyes", "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy The Silence" and "Policy Of Truth" - what is more to say! The other songs on the album can't match the quality of these four banger. 3,5
Love it. I can't get enough of the dark, kind of depressing 80s/early 90s synth pop. The vocals are haunting at times.
Way better than I expected
Very unique production. When I eventually get my doctorate in music I am gonna write my dissertation on the weird snare drum sound they used in “World In My Eyes”. I usually associate 1990 with a crappy year in music before Nirvana and co. revolutionized things but this is a nice reminder that there are still gems out there to find. Standouts: “World In My Eyes”, “Personal Jesus”, “Policy of Truth” Stinkers: “Sweetest Perfection”, “Blue Dress”
Damn this was way more exciting than I expected. I’ve always dug “Personal Jesus”, but I think “Halo” might be my new favorite DM song. So many tracks are catchy, dark, and just so coooool. “Enjoy the Silence” and “Policy of Truth” are also big standouts. Side note, I loved later Smashing Pumpkins (Adore/Machina and associated b-sides) in my younger days. I see now they were really just Billy C’s Depeche Mode era.
Was this as sexy as electronic music could get in 1990?
I’m generally not a big fan of synthesizer based bands but this was pretty good. I liked the drums a lot. The production I thought was great.
Been a while since I’d heard this. Like it a lot more now.
a gothic synthpop offering from Depeche Mode that reflects the shift in composition for the band where pre-production was limited, demos were incomplete, and the creativity was highlighted. Tracks changed, and ultimately created a comprehensive body that showcased the bands creativity in a complex and powerful way.
Your own personal Jesus is a classic. This was from when the band was at the top of their game.
1. world in my eyes: great production, nice calm vocals, good beat, good build, nice harmonized vocals, long outro 2. sweetest perfection: fade in drum beat, nice vocals, cool sound effects, great middle interlude, nice switchups, solid song 3. personal jesus: heard this before, nice bass riff, singalong vocals, massive drums, trippy outro 4. halo: funky bass, chiller, nice chorus, great harmonies, cool song 5. waiting for the night: nice calm intro, nice harmonized vocals, feels like looking at the stars, great string outro, cool song 6. enjoy the silence: already like this song, cool hidden track at the end 7. policy of truth: general electronic beat, good chorus, some sort of sax sound during bridge, long repetitive outro 8. blue dress: cool intro, soft vocals, shallow lyrics, kinda boring, cool hidden track at end 9. clean: chill bass intro, great sound effects, kinda repetitive, vibing outro overall: solid album, great production, cool sound effects, some fun songs, some chill songs, kinda boring and repetitive at parts rating: 7.5/10
++: World in My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Halo, Waiting for the Night, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth +: Sweetest Perfection, Clean +-: Blue Dress 9,4/10
This is the exact sound I expect from Depeche Mode. They always feel, to me, like a one trick pony, with really one style and sound. But it’s good.
I dig this, drums and bass sounds good throughout this whole album, synth is kind of all over the place- laser sounds, swells, stuff I don't even know how to describe. This feels like a much more electronic The Cure, or maybe if Daft Punk weren't french robots but sad Brits
This album has 'Personal Jesus', 'Enjoy the Silence', AND 'Policy of Truth'??? Holy buckets. Love the synths, love the drums....a few of the slower songs seem to be building but never hit a big payoff.....maybe I'm just spoiled because I listened to some LCD Soundsystem the other day. Solid 4.5...would definitely throw this in the rotation.
More new wave. This list should be titled "900 new wave 80s albums to listen to before you die, plus 101 bonus tracks that aren't new wave." Anyway, despite being sick of new wave, I liked this album better than I thought I would. I always seemed to think of Depeche Mode as one of the main villains of 80s synth rock. These guys are a lot darker than I envisioned they were. I may listen to this again in the futrue.
A sonic and emotional adventure.
Overall a solid album with several top hits. They make the electronic sound enjoyable.
normally synth/electric/pop/dance is not my thing, but this was an enjoyable listen. broody without taking themselves too seriously, enjoyed the variety of sounds & tempos. World in My Eyes is great opener
Not their best album, but definitely one of their best.
Good album, masters of their craft (which is an ok craft). I'd give it a 3 but the hits are too good.
4/5. The driving bass line and excellent riffs from the synth keep each song engaging and danceable but like sad dancing. There was not a bad song on here, each one had great instrumentation and the vocals are quietly aggressive, like warning or a threat. Great aesthetic, even if it does sound like many other emo electronic new wave artists. There are some forgettable songs on here, just because it can blend in the sound, but no bad songs, an overall fun listen. Best Song: Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus, World In My Eyes
The singles are all-timers and "Policy of Truth" is among my fav songs, low-key.
7 Moody, broody synthpop fun. Best track: "Policy of Truth"
Its a good album with good hits. It took me several listen to make my decision. 3.5
Depeche Mode is such an interesting group. It's the darkest dance music I've ever heard. Violator in particular is entrancing. Such a unique sound.
I really want to give this a 5/5 rating, but I just can't justify it. The four singles are all stellar, and maybe by contrast, the remaining songs seem almost filler-like.
Super interesting Good vibes, great singles, but the album tracks are great. Greater opener
Very close to a five! So many bangers on this album. More great songs than ok songs. All in all a very enjoyable album!
I remember hearing Personal Jesus for the first time when I was like 5 and playing GTA San Andreas. Good times, and I really like this album.
A fun entry! Doesn't feel extraordinary, but it knows what it wants to achieve, comes in, achieves that, comes out. Dark, mysterious, dancey. I feel a hint of Sisters of Mercy in there. It's either a 4 or a 5 for me. No weak points, although some song are not memorable. It's SOLID, but I can't really feel exact brilliance in it. Risky 4.
Excellent album, extremely well done music, vocals & composition.
Classic synth-pop-rock-goth album for a band who no one expected to become as massive as they did. People obviously weren't hearing the massive hooks and tunes - but they caught up on this album. Rightfully on the list. Best Tracks: Personal Jesus; Enjoy the Silence; Blue Dress
Tää oli parempi kuin odotin, en oo Depeche Modesta hittejä lukuunottamatta välittänyt. Ja tällä levyllähän ne parhaat hitit oli. Tummempi fiilis kuin aikaisemmilla bändin, josta pidän. Parhaat: Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus, Waiting for the Night
Dang, this is pretty good. A very pleasant surprise. Strong overall with a couple five star songs. I was only familiar with the big singles and it was nice to finally hear the rest of the album. It makes sense why they got huge.
I quite liked this, I only really knew the hits, but it was all pretty great. Some of the gothy new wave synthy stuff can get a little cheesy or boring but this was entertaining throughout
7/10
88% Best: World In My Eyes; Halo; Enjoy the Silence; Policy of Truth Must-Hear? Sure. Especially “Enjoy the Silence”, one of my favorite songs ever.
Very nice
Not perfect, but really good! Sounds like a mix of Joy Division and Kraftwerk. Personal Jesus is on the soundtrack of GTA San Andreas, so I listened to it a lot since I was a kid. Gonna give 4 stars today.
Solid listen. It came off a bit samey throughout, but was still pretty enjoyable despite that. 'Enjoy the Silence' was my fave from this album.
Depeche Mode'un gayet sevdiğim ve zaten tek bildiğim şarkıları Personal Jesus ve Enjoy the Silence idi. İkisinin aynı albümde olduğunu bile bilmiyordum. Bu albümü dinlemeye başlamadan önce de niyeyse diğer parçaların bu ikisi kadar iyi olamayacağını varsaymıştım. Belki de elektronik müzik pek dinlemediğimden sahip olduğum bir önyargıdan ötürüydü bu. Ancak yanılmışım. Albümün karanlık ama pop ambiyansına kendimi kaptırdım ve bir ikisi hariç her şarkıyı oldukça sevdim. Beklenmedik bir banger.
January 25, 2025 HL: “World in My Eyes”, “Personal Jesus”, “Waiting for the Night” “Enjoy the Silence”, “Blue Dress” Familiar with some of the singles, first time hearing this in full. Surprised by the quality of the slower tracks “Waiting” and “Blue Dress”, as my favourite Depeche Mode tracks usually have a driving beat, like “Personal Jesus”, “People Are People” or “Never Let Me Down Again” Helps me further appreciate Music For the Masses, as a lot of the creepy stuff they had in that album is here in a glossier, more subdued form
Great stuff.
Listened to this in full a few years back. I remember Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence and Policy of Truth the most, all of them are great. Revisiting today for the challenge. Favorite track(s): World in my eyes, personal Jesus, enjoy the silence, policy of truth Will I revisit?: high priority/already knew this album Current rating: 8.5/10
Depeche Mode is always a joy!
Thoughts before listening: People go crazy for Depeche Mode (and especially this album), but it has never really appealed to me. The synth pop sound just isn't one I gravitate to, but I admittedly probably haven't heard this outside of the singles. Review: While this is still not necessarily a sound I would typically gravitate towards, I understand the appeal of this album. The hits on here including "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", and "Policy of Truth" rank amongst the best songs from the 80s. This is a dark album with hard hitting synth driven beats that really shouldn't be my cup of tea, but it all works really well. 4-stars
Really good album. Personal Jesus and Enjoy The Silence are clear standouts, but the rest is great as well.
Personal Jesus and Enjoy The Silence (my god what a tune) are the obvious hits but the whole album is strong and balanced and darker than their previous work. Waiting for the night was a particular stand out too
this is a great album i have nothing else to say x
Not a massive fan of Depeche Mode but this is not a bad album - the obvious highlight is "Personal Jesus" but some tracks were really not up to the standard.
Sounds like temptation
classic shit
Deserves four stars for Enjoy The Silence along. The rest of the record is great too.
Tan bueno como arrullador
A transformational album taking them from electropop to rock
Fantastic album
Bra album. Allt är inte bangers dock
Violator has no weak spots, and it holds up really well after so many years, now in its fourth decade. If there were a Mt. Rushmore of synth-pop, this album would be strong candidate for inclusion. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-violator-by-depeche?r=4ztyq&selection=75a8c68a-000c-498b-8bbd-651b2091f79e&utm_campaign=post-share-selection&utm_medium=web&aspectRatio=instagram&textColor=%23ffffff
Iconic music from the era.
Listened to this before. It's pretty nice, but not something I gravitate towards.
Phenomenally dark & moody 80s pop. The entire album is a fun ride.
An iconic electronica/synthpop album by pionders of that genre DM. Some claim its their best, and it really is good. Personally I have 2-3 other DM albums that I might rate higher, although for sure Violator is in my top 3-4.
This is a really awesome record. Compared to the album from yesterday, this much fuller and varied. The synths are all time on this one. Really really cool synths and beats. I also really love the kind of blues element that this record has. Its subtle and overwhelming at the same time. Its just untraditional, they're bending synths and noises in a similar way that you might bend a harmonica or guitar. Its like krautrock, new wave, gothic blues. Each song really locks you in. It does feel very 80s, but its not cheesy 80s. Its kind of a nod at the decade and leans into but forms its own path. Each song really is varied and layered in interesting ways. This isn't a knock, but maybe the only thing that doesn't transcend the time when this came out are the lyrics. Lyrically, its pretty creepy. Kind of feels a little incel-ish, but such was the entire 90s. Its very Gen X. That being said.. I kind of feel that style of songwriter is making a come back with younger bands.
Really cool sound scales and some good songwriting. 4.5 stars
4.5
Policy of Truth is a banger. I liked this - somewhat repetitive but seemingly on purpose and not as much as other Depeche Mode we’ve heard on the list.
good one
Pretty incredible. Out of the ~200 albumsd generated so far it might be my second favorite new-listen (after Outkast’s Stankonia). Almost thought about giving it 5 stars but the tailend is a weaker for me (including Enjoy The Silence, though the start of that song reminds me of New Order’s Vanishing Point, which is one of my favorites), Policy of Truth notwithstanding.
Unexpectedly kick-ass songs. Very nice enjoyment but “Waiting for the Night” should not have been on this album.
Sleepytime Depeche Mode. Still excellent, but I prefer Black Celebration, Construction Time Again, and Music for the Masses.
Definitely the most Depeche Mode sounding Depeche Mode album
The first half was fine but the latter half was great. I loved Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth. Pretty good album overall
What a great album. Multiple songs I recognized and sang along too. And I discovered a few more I enjoyed. Soild from start to finish
Really liked this one and will prolly go back and listen. Space-age with great instrumentals. Best track - Personal Jesus
Un real clásico de la música gótica moderna. Con un ambiente oscuro que vive esencialmente en el Pop, los legendarios británicos nos muestran su Mágnum Opus con clásicos como "Enjoy The Silence" y "Policy of Truth". Si bien podemos afirmar que "Violator" construye su sonido basado en diferentes actos industriales experimentales que le precedieron, su mérito es haber acercado ese sonido al mainstream, dándole espacio a bandas como Nine Inch Nails e incluso a Marilyn Manson. Un real indispensable de la música occidental, escúchelo, por favor.
4.5
If only the non-single tracks were better. The hits hit hard though.
Not sure about all the songs, but there are some bangers
idk, ive heard personal jesus I think but not the others, but I might just not want to listen to this today. Actually, i eat my hat. This has a bunch of 80s bangers. 4 stars.
This itches the brain very nicely.
SYNTHS!!!!
Classic pop with so many gems and a bunch of other decent songs
Fett fucking bra!!!
As a nine inch nails fan I was excited for my first foray into Depeche Mode and to listen to one of Trent’s influences. Definitely see the influence, especially on pretty hate machine even if this album came out after PHM did. Personal Jesus, enjoy the silence, are two cool catchy songs with a nice groove
A great album!
Fun, very “futuristic”’of the time.
This album broke in 1990 for these legends, and houses their most listened-to track, "Enjoy the Silence." Violator drives home their sound and introduces us to tracks like Personal Jesus, Halo, and Policy Of Truth... In a trying (?) album order. Such forays into existing strengths make the concept of favorites such a challenging and reductive thing to ever feel strongly about. Violator is my favorite album in the Depeche Mode catalog. I have many memories to this music; bias or not, I knew it was getting the maximum rating upon seeing the album art. I'm pretty sure it's widely recognized as - or, is at least among - their best work. I own it on CD and would gladly send it into space to outlive humanity.
Found the album really easy to listen to for the first time, pop songs with a sinister raw vibe
These muthafuckas don’t miss.
I enjoyed listening to this album. I’ve always been a Music for the Masses fan and only really knew the popular songs from this album. In a listen from beginning to end, it really is a very good album. I think this music impacted numerous bands that came after it. Coldplay, Keane….among others.
This is strong
OK, this is a strange album. The first song starts and I swear it made me think of Cyndi Lauper, it sounded so anachronistically 80s. The 80s sound was also heavy in the next song, but that song still had me tapping my toes. Then comes Personal Jesus. Fucking. Banger. Nothing 80s about that song, it's completely self-contained, only of itself, and timeless. What a song! Then you got Halo and Waiting for the Night, which, whatever. Halo is pretty OK, a bit of a filler song, and Waiting for the Night is slightly better. Then back-to-back you have Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth which - holy shit, that's a genius ten minutes of music! So, I've got an album that has some songs that sound really dated, and some songs that sound completely unique and amazing.
Nice smooth sounds, i like the overall vibe of Depeche mode. Songs i could listen again: Personal Jesus Enjoy the silence Policy of truth
It's a struggle to produce music that is mostly electronic based and not sound dated particularly decades later, but Depeche Mode have avoided that and this still holds up really well. 4*
Haven’t heard some of those tunes for years… classic DM :-)
Such a good album took me right back to high school.
Unique sound, which I can only describe as “definitely sounds like Depeche Mode”. Really strong album. Hits, hardly any weak moments, not too long. The rest is a matter of taste.
The strongest songs on here (Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, a few others) are good enough to lift the album into 4 territory. Some of the other tracks are good but not at the same level. But overall an enjoyable listen.
Really solid album. I would appreciate it being a bit more straight forward but it's still good. Don't tell me the intro to \"Clean\" isn't \"One of These Days\" by Pink Floyd.
In my youth I never actively listened to Depeche Mode, but I remember hearing them a lot on the radio or seeing them on MTV and it never clicking. So when I went into this album, I was sure I was going to be meh on it. Hearing this album now, not only do I recognize a bunch of the songs, I appreciate their music more. I came out of this album really enjoying it, and will definitely give it a relisten.
Almost a 5. Last 2 songs were comparatively weak
Great album. Love the synth work. Will definitely be exploring more of their stuff as they’re another group I had only ever heard the hits. Sometimes I was wishing that parts had no vocals so the music could breathe a bit more. I can definitely hear their influence in a lot of modern electronic artists I listen to.
4 really good goth
Incredible album, vibes off the chain.
top three depeche mode albums. i <3 world in my eyes
I've never been a big fan of Depeche Mode, I'll admit, even though they're (to me) probably one of the most complete and talented members of the 80s New Wave synth sound. That said, I can't say how often "Personal Jesus" runs through my head, and I'm very glad to see that this album has that song, as it's one of my favorites (for reasons I can't really explain). There are also quite a number of impressively interesting videos accompanying the tracks on this album (especially "Halo", but also "Enjoy the silence" and the Pink-Floyd-inspired "Clean"), although the video for "Personal Jesus" makes me think that perhaps it's not as insightful a song than I always imagined it to be.... Judging alone by how many tracks made the radio rounds, this is a very solid album, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.
It’s my first full time through this album although I’ve heard Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth a million times. Really like this vibe and will revisit this album in the future. 4⭐️
it was not the god of all synthpop destined to free the genre of 80s electronic pop hits from the shackles of man's judgment but apart from that it was pretty good
Really enjoyed this - it was great for the time but it still holds up.
Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence coupled with solid sound throughout gives this a 4
Wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did.
7.7
I don't know much Depeche Mode, but what I do know is on this album.
很少有不难听的new wave了
Great synth and many standout tracks such as: Personal Jesus, World In My Eyes and Policy Of Truth.
The radio hits are not the only good songs on this album.
In general, I'm not really into synthesizer music, but this is a lot better than the majority of the genre. Several just plain good songs, regardless of instrumentation. 3.5* and I think I need to round up to 4, though 3.5 is really where I'd place this.
Dark and moody. Stripped down electronics/industrial. Can hear how it may have influenced NIN, Daft Punk, etc.
A classic banger
Not a bad song on the album. Quintessential Euro-pop with an edge. Favorite tracks- Sweetest perfection. Personal Jesus
What an amazing record!
pretty good British synth sound, had listened to this before back in the day.
mid 4
Good album with some great tracks on it.
Deserves more listens, stripped back, dark - 3.75/5
This really surprised me and was right up my wheelhouse. Came close to giving it a 5/5. Waiting for the night, personal Jesus and enjoy the silence are absolute bangers
I loved this album! What a vibe!
Good stuff, lotta hits
Fun with more Depeche mode! Mostly heard their hit songs, so exciting to hear the rest of their repertoire. This one contains some of their most successful hits with 'Personal Jesus' and 'Enjoy the Silence', which are real killer songs. I'm happy to say that that's not all the album delivers, however. Despite Depeche Mode perhaps not being my exact taste, I find the rest of the songs pretty decent, such as 'Policy of Truth' and 'Blue Dress'. What I find lacking is a bit more uptempo songs, as most feel more tuned down and ballad like. This really lets Dave Gahan shine with his stellar singing, but a record with a majority of ballads is not what I'm looking for in synth music. Weak 4. I think overall this deserves a weak 4.
Really enjoyed this one. They have such a dark, cool and menacing sound! Together with "The Human League" they really had a good electronic sound going. There are quite a few hit songs that I really like. "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence" and "Policy of Truth" really are a step above the rest. Honestly those songs by them selves warrants a 4 star. The rest is also good too and it is well worth listening to the whole album. Whole album just breathes 80s cool!
enjoy the silence i personal jesus są super, ale cały album nie trzyma tak dobrego poziomu
I know personal Jesus from this. That’s all. These other songs are really good. This is a great album. I need to listen again to study the production.
This was a pretty solid synth time!
With Violator, Depeche Mode now breathed rarefied air. Years of struggle owing to misconception, vilification, outgrowth and creative reinvention brought them to this point. The world was now theirs for the taking and they were doing to make it dark. Running the gamut from deitification to sexual pleasure to the early experiments of Pink Floyd, Violator showcases Depeche Mode at their most motivated, their most outgoing and most inventive. This is the bedrock that galvanizes the curious listener to the fold. Favorites: World in My Eyes, Sweetest Perfection, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth.
a few great songs but instrumentals full as dirt
I think this is the first time I’ve ever knowingly listened to Depeche Mode. It’s not what I expected. I expected more industrial noises and metallic clanks (I suspect other DM albums might deliver on that or maybe my notions of DM are just off). I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s very subdued without being boring. I really dig it. Will definitely be revisiting this one. 4/5 Highlights: Sweetest Perfection Waiting for the Night Policy of Truth
Good riffs, weird lyrics.
Lots of quality here. Some filler too
Sounds great still today
Jumping back into this challenge. First track is starting off funky, so I like it! 1990 is crazy though. I keep finding myself thinking “this sounds just like Depeche Mode” which is funny but also proves their sound is so singular. Ok Personal Jesus!! And Enjoy the Silence!! I don’t like Clean but I am happy for him.
one of my preferred from dm
First venture into Depeche Mode For some reason this is a band that I feel gets made fun of. I don’t really have any real examples to site, but that’s the vibe I’ve always gotten. I can kind of see why, as their sound does feel very stereotypically 80’s. But know that they’re an 80’s group, and understanding what to expect based on that, this was pretty good. Lots of depth in their sound, with well developed spaces for it to exist in. It felt very intentional, created to evoke feeling and meaning. I’ve definitely learned to appreciate that 80’s sound a little more through this project (thanks to a-ha and the Human League for that, among others). Overall this was cool. Four stars. Standout Tracks: World in My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Waiting for the Night
3.75
Very good. Some of Depeche Modes best work is on this album.
You need to be in the right head space for this, but, if you are, it's excellent.
Many hits
Familiar album from junior high
Yeah, wow. Lots of good and great numbers on there. I loved hearing many of these during a concert in Germany in 2023. It's great that Dave and Martin are still in form after all these years, even if Fletch is now gone (RIP).
Wow...multiple great songs on this album. Depeche Mode doesn't get the respect they deserve.
I would give this three stars on the strength of "Clean" alone. And yet! You've got plenty of other bangers on here.
Fantastic give me 14 more
Similar in sound to groups I like including ABC and Spandau Ballet. All from the same genre. Good album overall.
A couple of all time bangers. The rest is a mixed bag, but it doesnt matter.
Violator has this weird vibe to it. I wouldn't say its malicious but the beats have this slightly devious tone to them if that makes sense, like they're trying to keep you on your toes. I like the first half over the second half and while the musicians voice is nice to listen to, the album as a whole is more like I'm just listening to the music instead of the lyrics. It's pretty good.
7/10. Very good overall but not really my style. The hits are the hits for a reason from my POV. Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth all made the 5 star playlist.
Great right from the start. I haven't heard this in years, but it still holds up. The first side is a little weaker, but the second side is packed with consistently solid songs. Liked songs added: - World In My Eyes - Enjoy The Silence - Policy Of Truth - Blue Dress
8/10
This was great, not sure why I've struggled to get into it previously
Amazing album
Is there something called dark pop? I feel like that should be a name.
Bra album. Enjoy The Silence är på min top 30 låtar. Denna skiva har flera andra riktigt bra låtar. Policy of truth är bra. Bra album. Coolt och cleant omslag. Bra album. Andra halvan blir kanske lite tråkig så det blir 4/5, bra album. Depeche Mode är bra.
Would love to give this 3.5 - so close to a 4... An album I missed at the time (there was a bit going on in 93...), but enjoyed the chance to visit it now. Oh heck, factor in 101 and its a 4.
7.5/10
Didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did. Best song - Personal Jesus
Actually better than I expected. Lots of childhood favorites from the radio
Плотная четверочка, меня аж прям так и обволакивало холодными и запоминающимися синтами
Good band man yeah idk.
A very good album that captures a mood
Eins lítið og ég er fyrir raftónlist þá fíla ég Depeche Mode alveg og get alveg ímyndað mér að setja það aftur á fóninn. Reyndar finnst mér vanalega einhver cover af lögunum þeirra góð en þá má maður alveg líka leyfa sér að hlusta á upprunalegu útgáfuna líka þótt hún sé raftónlist
Really enjoyed it. Didn't even realized that I'd finished it. Pretty goof album.
wat een album, nooit helemaal geluisterd, kende alleen Personal Jesus en Enjoy the Silence natuurlijk Policy of Truth ook nice Veelzijdig album man, veel instrumentale nummers, een ook verdrietige piano liedjes zoals Sibeling
Amazing, especially ending songs
One of the tracks on this album is titled Clean, which is the first word that comes to mind for me… clean. This is a tight, well-composed album. I love the feel, the vibe. Obviously Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence are ever-present hits, but there are some other gems in here as well.
It’s a brilliant album. A proper joy to listen to these dark songs.
Considering the sheer number of remixes and edits there are for Personal Jesus, it's interesting to hear the original version in the context of the album it was released on. Depeche Mode create a rather unique sound, one that's hard to mimic while maintaining quality, so it's easy to see how the Violator album brought them the fame and accolades it generated on release.
Utterly great. Really enjoyed the unique sounds and songwriting.
It was very good at the atmosphere it made - it felt less pop than I expected. It was a bit meandering, but kept me interested and I enjoyed it. :)
This isn't typically my kind of music, but I really dig this--well, most of it. Some songs would be ones I'd skip if I listen again, but there's some really good stuff on here. 4/5
Interesting style, great to hear rest of songs that accompanied Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus Highlights: -Personal Jesus -Enjoy the Silence -Policy of Truth
the album is so good?!?!
I knew of course the hits of this album, but the other songs are pretty good too. It's dark and catchy, sufficently diversed to not be boring. It's a good 4.5 stars for me
I already knew quite a few songs. I don't fully dig it but I liked it nevertheless
The peaks on this album are so high that it makes the other material seem much weaker. I adore about half of the album.
Grunge techno pop… I mean I dig it. Fav Songs: Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Blue Dress.
Still holds up, lots of great tunes
One of the greatest memories of my early adulthood, listening to this album. Impeccable quality, magic and mysterious sounding. Despite it being closer to pop than prog, I find very little to criticize about it. Solid 4 stars, maybe even a5.
Sneaking this in while waiting for an inspector. Personal Jesus is a great single. The vibe is also pretty fucking stellar on this. Enjoy The Silence is another killer track.
So this was better than expected. I think this could drift into 5 star territory in the future as I listen more. It just has such a specific strong vibe
This is a good album. Has a nice 80's feel, and is enjoyable. It's a quick easy listen, I gave it two. However, if I was in the wrong headspace, I could see how this could be very depressing. 4/5
The Downward Spiral if it was good
Enjoy The Silence and Policy Of Truth are goated, great album
Solid album full of bops but missing an oomph to get 5 stars 4/5
Listening critically: Samsung Galaxy Earbuds: Really enjoyed the finesse of the opening drum beat on the first track Never specifically heard/paid attention to the tuba(?) that adds so much to the drama and "big feeling" in personal jesus. Listening critically on KEF Q950s while browsing the internet: I have always liked Enjoy the Silence, but listening to it on the Kef Q950s was a whole new experience. So much detail and new information. I think I have only heard it on shit car speakers. This is a GREAT recording. (Policy of Truth) So much depth and interesting activity on the synthesizers between channels. Really cool mix and vocal layering I haven't heard until now. This is a whole different song. I'm so glad to be listening to this album. What a great start to this adventure! Everything sounds so forward and present. I just did not appreciate Depeche Mode in this way before (Blue Dress). I haven't heard this song before. David Gahan (vocals) has a...something special. Such a unique voice, and knows how to use it. I'm really liking the post-song interludes that the radio never played. It's like finding money in the couch cushions. Seamless segue into Clean Clean: Every instrument is in the exact right place. What is it about this recording? Have my speakers always sounded this good? Starting the album over on the KEFs. Better than the earbuds, for sure. I wish everything I listened to on these sounded this...crisp (World in My Eyes) It's Sweetest Perfection that has the slick beat (sounds like brushes). I like the surging/building effect this has. Also...sounds great on the KEFs. Loving the cello break at 2:20.
Loved this when I was 16, so curious to return to it. Hasn't aged quite as well as I hoped, but it's a solid album, and I still get some of the feels. 4 🌟
What an interesting, cohesive and avant-garde record. I really enjoyed it !
The albums has great vocals by the artist but gets just a little repetitive. The production on this is great with some darker tones with some club vibes in the mix. Very solid work may need to relisten a couple more times.
An absolute vibe.
I heard so many songs from this record, without knowing their title. Great album overall! Very good listening experience and very ahead of its time.
This is a cool album. 3.5/5.0: Very Good
All around good songs and has some of their most memorable.
Clean cut 80s electronic synth kids from Essex discover heroin and S&M. Initially delighted that this appeared, after all, who doesn't love the Mode in their early 90s Flood inspired pomp. BUT, aside from the big hits, I didn't love this as much as I remembered loving it. Personal Jesus / Enjoy the Silence are an automatic 4 star minimum, but struggled to find reasons to lift it to the 5. So didn't.
personal jesus is so iconic (however sweetest perfection was ear overload) // weird vibey 90s electronic pop rock vibe from my Dad’s usb in 2009
A very solid album at a transition between 80s new wave and 90s sensibilities.
I was distracting myself and didn’t want to enjoy this album as much as I did. I wanted to come up with an excuse for why it wasn’t as good as I found. It’s an interesting album with a slow start. Personal Jesus I heard before on the Johnny Cash album I had listened to, so it was cool to see where the song started. The middle of it is great, and I think that Clean is an appropriate and fun closer. Snuck its way into a 4/5 for me. Cool album cover too. Standouts: World In My Eyes, Halo, Waiting for the Night, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth, and Clean.
At turns wild, smooth, pulsing, brooding, unsettling, and grooving. I'm probably enjoying Depeche Mode the most when they lean into the dirty guitar and throbbing synth sounds, so this album was a bit all over the place for me, but overall I enjoyed it a whole lot.
Many iconic sounds here, but at the end of the day it is new wave.
There is a specific type of person that listens to this but it still goes so hard for some reason
Nice variety of song structures with a very interesting sound profile. It cultivates A novel vibe . My favorites were halo enjoy the silence blue dress and clean. Surprisingly Jesus Christ superstar didn’t stick out to me very much tbh.
4+
World in My Eyes - 4 Sweetest Perfection - 3 Personal Jesus - 4 Halo - 4 Waiting for the night - 3 Enjoy the Science - 4 Policy of Truth - 3 Blue Dress - 3 Clean - 4
World in my eyes - 4.2 Sweetest perfection - 3.8 Personal Jesus - 5 Halo - 4.2 Waiting for the night - 4.1 Enjoy the silence - 5 Policy of truth - 3.8 Blue dress - 3.1 Clean - 2.6 4.0
5/21/24 S Tier—————————5 A Tier—————————4 World In My Eyes Personal Jesus Enjoy The Silence B Tier—————————3 Clean Halo Blue Dress C Tier—————————2 Sweetest Perfection Waiting For The Night D Tier—————————1
Violator by Depeche Mode Tuesday 5/21/2024 8:40, office S Tier————————— Policy of Truth Enjoy The Silence Personal Jesus A Tier————————— World In My Eyes Waiting For The Night Sweetest Perfection B Tier————————— Halo Clean Blue Dress
It was pretty good
Knew a few tracks off this already. A bit of an acquired taste but started to really enjoy it towards the end.
Second listen. I am really not sure whether I should give this a 3 or a 4. I really like the most popular songs (World In My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, kind of Policy of Truth) but the others don’t do anything for me. Ultimately I’ll give it a 4 because I know it’s good and I don’t have any strong complaints against it and I like enough songs off of it.
"Enjoy The Silence" sometimes feels like it might be a perfect song.
Enjoy the Silence, Personal Jesus, Policy of Truth. This on its own makes it a 4. So good.
Love the hits "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", and "Policy of Truth". 4/5
This was my first time listening to Depeche Mode, and I definitely enjoyed it!! It did blend together a bit but apart from that it was a great listen. The synth work was amazing and the arrangements and hooks made it hang around in my brain for a while. Fav songs: - World In My Eyes - Enjoy the Silence - Policy of Truth
Violator is the Depeche Mode's seventh album, and one of their most successful. It includes some of their biggest singles, like "Personal Jesus" and "Policy of Truth." These tracks are great examples of the band's synthesizer based pop songs, with a dark, almost sinister sound. Depeche Mode made international pop hits out of dance club music, becoming one of the biggest, most influential band of 80s and 90s popular music.
I know Depeche isn’t for everyone, but this is a great album. It’s electronic music I can get behind— really creative instrumentation,, songs that have a memorable melody sung by a capable vocalist with a unique voice. 4.2
Iconic, but still languishes a bit on the second half. This is one of the albums that make me wish this website allowed you to rate "half stars", because Violator is a solid four and half stars record.
Very good album Standout songs: Halo Waiting for the Night
If your not too familiar with Depeche Mode, than this is a great starting point. If you start with this album, I’d recommend going backwards and listen to all of their old albums before you go forward.
After the end of this album, I wanted more Depeche Mode, something I never thought I would say. Above Average
I am basing this rating on the original track list. I didn't get to the added B-Sides that were included in the 2006 rerelease. This is a very nostalgic band for me, this isn't the album I had on repeat those early high school years, but Enjoy The Silence brings me right back there regardless. The album wraps up a little strangely, but I still enjoyed it thoroughly and would throw it on again.
I knew the singles, but had never heard an album. Enjoyed this, electronic melodies over a simple drum pattern, interesting lyrics.
Rigtig god faktisk, positivt overrasket. Jeg synes de store singler man kender passer rigtig godt ind på albummet, resten føles ikke som filler
pretty good. "Personal Jesus" my fav DM song
Love me Depeche Mode.
Chill
This album satisfies my inner goth greatly. Starts out a little slower but not in a bad way and Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, and Policy of Truth are such amazing tracks. 4.3 stars
Enjoyable background music.
Excellent album. I have heard some of the songs but probably not the whole thing. It's really good and I'm sure I will listen to it again, maybe purchase a copy.
You can hear the transition from the 80s to the 90s. Enjoy the Silence is my favorite track on the album. I think after a while the vocals become more monotonous to me and I started to tune it out a bit more but overall solid album.
moody and sexy and kind of overwrought.
Depeche Mode: one of the 80s synth pop bands who got popular, for good reason. This album was pretty good. My one gripe with 80s synthpop songs is sometimes they overstay their welcome a bit in length. But most of the songs on this album were good enough that I didn't have that issue. Policy of Truth is always a bop.
An exceptional album, Depeche Mode's "Violator" is an assortment of electronica, pop rock, and darker alternative rock. "Personal Jesus," Enjoy the Silence," and "Policy of Truth" are hit singles from this album which have received critical acclaim and radio syndication. Depeche Mode is masterful at their craft producing their hauntingly spooky yet somehow still beautiful music.
Never quite got into Depeche Mode though I know the singles this was a definite hit. Really good album, great sound and far better than I knew.
just some good spooky sounding shit could i write poetry to this? y
This is a 3.5, but I went with 4 because of the strength of the last four songs.
KINDA LIKED IT
I find a lot of albums in this genre area uninspired and bland, but I really enjoyed this one. Personal Jesus is a classic.
Depeche Mode, wie man sie kennt.
Det kan jeg stadig virkelig godt lide 😇 solid 4/5
A perfect blend of pop and goth that was dark yet accessible. The melodies and lyrics are on point and stand the test of time.
Very good, very moody. I feel like all of modern synthwave is trying to recapture the magic of this album. So many catchy, atmospheric songs you can just get lost in. The big singles Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence are masterpiece-tier pop songs. The biggest surprise for me was Waiting for the Night. That song has vibes for days.
DM, eine meiner Lieblingsbands. Da bin ich zum Glück nicht voreingenommen und zücke 4 völlig gerechtfertigte Sternchen.
Well...
9/10
Puf, qué rollo. Menos la canción conocida.
Have had this CD since release. Always a go to when choosing one.
Another classic. 4/5 for some of the slower ballads that are not my favorite.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
A well executed recording of consistently good songs. Each sound was in the right place. This album sets the stage for electronic music in the 90s.
Had some solid bops. Would listen to again.
Great New Wave. Personal Jesus is such a great song. Enjoy the Silence is a great one too.
Beautiful synthesizers, iconic 80’s sound. I’m not a huge fan of the vocals but the lyrics are evocative.
3 for me now but giving a 4 because of everything this album inspired that I love.
Masterpiece. The truer beginning of an era of music. And the best of the best of synth music.
Really enjoyed this, though it did feel like it went on a bit at times. Strong album nonetheless, so close to giving it a 5 but it has skips so I can’t do it Stand out songs: Personal Jesus Enjoy the silence (one of my favourite songs of all time to be fair)
The pinnacle of new wave evolution
Is good
I feel like one more foot tapper and I could’ve gone a full five, but there’s just something about the troughs of this album just a little too low. But I mean also at the same time they feel like part of my core identity, like remember that movie inside out where all these emotions are inside of this little girl banging around fucking with her memories and personality? I feel like that’s how my mind works with bands and Depeche Mode is definitely one of those bands.
Really really good. Middle or even high school me would have hated this. So glad I matured.
Depeche Mode heeft voor mij altijd een beetje op de grens gezeten tussen hit or miss. Maar ben eruit, het is een hit Violator is qua geluid precies de overgang tussen de new-wave van de jaren 80 en de typische sound van de jaren 90. De hits op het album ken ik al jaren, zijn nooit een favoriet geweest maar blijven goed en worden niet irritant. Ook het nieuwe werk van Depeche Mode verrast me al een aantal keer. Wat de kwaliteit en tijdloosheid van de band aangeeft. Highlights Personal Jesus Halo Waiting for the Night (stapje naar shoegaze)
I really enjoyed this one from start to finish. I’m glad I listened with decent headphones. Looking forward to checking out their back catalogue. Highlights: Sweetest Perfection, Personal Jesus, Policy of Truth.
Helped to define New Wave. Solid.
This was honestly great, listening to personal Jesus again brought me right back to playing 2K as a kid and the album really picked up as it found its stride. I’ll keep it downloaded for sure
Atmospheric and cool, don't know why I've never heard any of The Cure's music before now. 4.75*
Full of good electronic grooves, this album kept me bouncing my head all the way through. The production on this record is definitely high quality, I'm less of a fan of their vocals. Some real bangers - my biggest knock on the record is the length, and I felt like one listen wasn't enough to parse out most of the songs i hadn't heard before from one another. 8/10. Favorite Songs: World In My Eyes, Enjoy the Silence, Kaleid Least Favorite Songs: Sweetest Perfection, Happiest Girl
C lour
ca bangue
Moody, iconic, dark.
I like Depeche Mode. The synths are so late 80s, but his voice is great. Solid album, and enjoy the silence is a bonified classic
Great electrónic vintage sounds. Enjoy the silence is a super track. Love it.
Great listen and awesome production
This is a great album, I'd never heard it in its entirety. Depeche Mode is a staple of the 80s, and while I do really enjoy their music... it's not necessarily something I reach for again and again, either.
Nice!
Well crafted album. Nice variety in the songs while keeping a consistent ambience. I thought the vocals and music were balanced well and the lyrics were effective. Light 8
Excellent album from a good group.
Such a dark brooding classic gem. Great stuff
ha depeche mode scho zweimol live gseh und trotzdem nie würkli glost. jetz isch ihri chance. World in my Eyes. er singt sehr geil. und de all the islands in the ocean teil isch geil. jäh und de rest vom refrain au. sweetest perfection huere guete text. und s baut huuere geil uuf. gitarre tönt hammer. sweetest perfection sehr sehr geil. ok personal jesus kenni und wa für en song er tönt sooo guet, country imitation mit spitzige reso-synths isch huuuuere geil. boooh de shit slappt. alte de instrumental outro teil isch huuuere geil. Halo geile übergang in refrain. sänger tönt mit de harmonies biiitzli wie de chad kroeger? Waiting for the night. hüüübschi ballade. sehr schön. enjoy the silence absoluti hymne rieeeeese song. sicher so guet wie personal jesus. nomel glost und wafüren baaaaanger isch da. mega langs outro fühli gad au. policy of truth au seehr geil, wonky aber robot mässig findi huuere geil. er singt hammer und d textures sind preemium. hook slappt. Blue Dress isch sehr schön melancholisch und trottet sochli daher, aber gfallt mer. Outro mit vocals suuuper schön. clean. de synthbass isch mega shuffle mässig ohni d drums, findi super. droge time oder de text? de tüf ton isch geil, und die verzrerrzte "sometimes" au. sehr sehr sehr guets album, s isch soo guet gmixt und git en riese mood übere bin sehr nöch amne füfi.
Modern rock was my jam in high school. I loved Depeche Mode and have introduced my kids to them. The album singles remain really strong. But what would I think if I were listening to this for the first time? I kinda think the middle songs drag a bit. There may be such a thing as too much synth.
Straight electronic angst. Lyrically very dark and creepy with a lot of religious imagery. There were some good mid-song tempo changes, and I do think overall, objectively, it pushes the envelope on a new way of creating music that doesn't rely on traditional instrumentation. There were some interesting outros and instrumental tracks, but lyrically felt a little over the top with trying to be dark, mysterious, emo.
The Depeche mode album our quiz team has been waiting for
Klasse, zumindest die erste Hälfte.
What a phenomenal album. Loved it. Personal Jesus was my favorite song but there were many great songs. The lyrics were pretty good, not amazing, but good. One of my favorite albums from this project. Love the dark and almost moody mood of the whole album
Personal Jesus is a fantastic tune. Plus it makes me think of the SubGenius concept of a Short Duration Personal Savior. (https://www.subgenius.com/bigfist/goods/shordurpersavs/X0012_ShorDurPerSav_Lesson.html) Also, the rest of the record has some really good songs that brought me around on Depeche Mode.
Some good dark and synthy songs on this. Again I knew more songs then i was expecting. Quality listen.
Really good album. Dark and moody but a lot of fun to listen to.
Spectacular album. Lyrical themes of guilt, desire and repression are held in place by disciplined synth arrangements to create dance music you don’t want to dance to and pop music that delves to unpopular and unpleasant places. All delivered by Dave Gahans sombre, almost operatic vocals. Recommended.