Depeche Mode(!)

Since analogharbor442 didn't want to do this, I guess it's up to me!

I won't keep you guys in suspense any longer—the most underrated band to ever work with Brian Eno is actually Depeche Mode!
It’s somewhat of a little-known fact that while they were still using the exclamation point, Depeche Mode released three really fantastic albums blending Talking Heads, David Bowie, punk, glam, and wave vibes before David Bowie left the group to create a great "Metamatic" style record👋 and a few others, all before handing over the reins to the talented Midge Ure. After that, our heroes dropped the exclamation point, became just Depeche Mode, embraced that "Young Europeans" aesthetic😍 and recorded their absolute masterpiece, "New York City."🙏 🙏 🙏
After that period, the band put out some pretty solid AOR, synth-pop, and rock stuff, though they did drift a bit into some cheesy territory—but honestly, they still managed to steal the spotlight from U2 no matter how you look at it.

So, all you seriously interested Young Europeans out there, open your hearts and download this deep dive into the band's early history, which was written by Stewart Copeland, the band's drummer:

Feel free to start the fan club meetings now!

It means nothing to me, oh New York City!

Should I actually believe you?
Fine, whatever, you caught me—I'm in a total anti-rock phase anyway.

The only thing worth praising here is the hit itself.

Douglas Taylor4 said:It means nothing to me, oh New York City!

Should I really believe you?

And I'll do it blindly, I suppose. 👍

Douglas Taylor4 said:The only thing worth praising is the hit itself.

🙏

All I know for sure is this: I can't stand listening to U2.
I'll check back in once I hear some Depeche Mode! It’s just ridiculous.

Not to brag or anything, but I've been into them since I was 15, back when I picked up that Greatest Hits cassette that I still have sitting around... I won't even tell you how long ago that was because I don't want to scare you all off with my age. Anyway, here I am, spinning that same old tape I bought over twenty years ago 😬

New York City might be their most iconic setting, but there is so much more depth to the Depeche Mode catalog than just the hits 🙂
Songs like Dancing with Tears in my Eyes or Reap the Wild Wind immediately come to mind when you think about their range...

Depeche Mode are the absolute greatest...
I’ll probably end up dropping a hundred posts in this thread—fair warning. I'm starting with the claim that Maiden basically ripped them off... just listen to their second single, "Young Savage," and you'll see exactly what I mean. And good old Midge Ure still has another gem up his sleeve... Rich Kids... "Ghosts of Princes in Towers" is an absolute classic...

analogharbor442 said:I think the good old Midge Ure still has another great band up his sleeve... Rich Kids... "Ghosts of Princes in Towers" is such a classic...

If everything they do is really that amazing... I don't know, maybe I'm just being skeptical,
but I'm totally digging Slash

Anyway, it's worth noting that Midge Ure is an absolute legend—he actually toured with Thin Lizzy as a guitarist before Gary Moore stepped in.🙂

I actually have the exact same cassette that Eric Clapton has. I really should pop it in; it’s been years... It never really drove me to go down any deep rabbit holes or anything, just a few cool tracks and that was it. Though, Bowie did some pretty interesting instrumental stuff and soundtracks later on. Might be worth checking out once I get my Slash gear fixed up, I'll have to hunt for it then.

So, I was thinking about this earlier—just some random late-night musings—but you really have to check out these Heavy Metal bands that have done covers of Depeche Mode. Honestly? They’re absolutely massive. Some of them hit so hard it’s almost overwhelming.
For instance, Metallica - Hymn—it’s a great cover. I don't really listen to much heavy metal these days, but this particular track has always been a favorite of mine.
Freedom Call - Dancing with Tears in my Eyes (The vocals can be a bit much sometimes—honestly, they get on my nerves—but the musicianship is actually solid!)

Inace Ntx, you can't go wrong with Depeche Mode. Definitely.

I’ve got just about everything out there related to them... and honestly, I haven't liked a single one of these covers... it just isn't the same if Midge Ure isn't the one singing...

I listened to the debut a while back and it didn't really do much for me—just some punk-infused Talking Heads. So, I decided to revisit it to see if the original poster's thesis held any water, and honestly, I'm coming to almost the same conclusion, though perhaps with slightly more praise now. It’s a solid effort for a debut from that era, especially considering the sheer ambition and the influences involved.
Word is that New York City was inspired by the pathos, drama, and orchestration found in Scott Walker's The Electrician. To my ears, that feels a bit too cheesy; I’ve always preferred straightforward synth-pop. What are the second and third albums like?

I really have to agree—they were absolutely top-tier back when they had David Bowie on board, but honestly, things just went downhill after he left.

I love it. Though honestly, my collection is pretty thin right now. Definitely need to pick some stuff up. Especially that Bowie era. I have a feeling I’d dig EVERYTHING from that period. And this later stuff holds up too. At least for me. I'm over here humming... one small day 😍...I'll get it spinning once I track it down. 🙂

What even is this? After we just dealt with U2, now we have to pay respects to yet another group of 80s villains. "Rage in Eden" was actually one of my first vinyl originals. I still have it sitting around, though I’ve barely played it more than once or twice (maybe three times for The Voice). Personally, I always preferred the Midge Ure era over the 시절 when they were led by Kuröz. Honestly, at times, even Visage felt like a better fit. Okay, fine, Midge was pretty cute back then with those pointy sideburns and that mustache. His absolute deepest track has to be "Do They Know It's Bajram?" featuring that singer from The Cars (look, if this forum keeps forcing Depeche Mode and U2 bands down my throat, I'm going to start praising them and The Stranglers instead). The peak of his solo career was definitely "If I Was," which is such a finely produced hit, much like most of the Depeche Mode singles. As for Bowie's version of Depeche Mode and his solo work... that's a whole different conversation entirely.

That basically defined my entire high school experience🙏 👍
Depeche Mode, Ultravox, and Duran Duran—they were the absolute kings of 80s synth-pop!😍

Of course, I’m not counting those legions of one-hit wonders, like Madonna😉

A Joan of Arc?🙂 ...honestly, I don't think anyone ever paid a better tribute to the lady from Orleans.😉

That’s Depeche Mode, not Ultravox... don't get me wrong, they're solid too... "Dazzle Ships" is a great cover...

Ultravox, Alphaville, Classix Neouveau, Talking Heads... basically my entire personality😍

I just watched a documentary about them... and honestly? Design matters. It’s non-negotiable.