Ever since Depeche Mode released their new single “Ghosts Again,” I have been on a bit of a Depeche Mode kick. While my favorite album of theirs is Songs Of Faith And Devotion, my close second is Music For The Masses. This album is truly fantastic. From the moment it starts with “Never Let Me Down Again” to “Pimpf” there’s not one song that feels out of place on it. One of the songs I’ve been stuck on for a long time is “Behind The Wheel.” I love this song. It’s darkly seductive and yet the beat behind it gives it a bit more of an upbeat feel. “Behind The Wheel” you could say is a bit of a blueprint for future Depeche songs that you’d hear later on with albums like Ultra and even a bit of Exciter. The video was directed by longtime collaborator Anton Corbijn and it actually picks up where the video for “Never Let Me Down Again” leaves off. This song is for sure one of those in Depeche Mode’s catalog that stands out and in the late 80’s gave a precursor as to where electronic music was going and influencing.
This post is quite awesome as it features two of the best UK bands of all time as well as two huge favorites of mine. Back in 1999, Placebo released a cover they did of the great Depeche Mode song “I Feel You.” Originally the song was released as a fan club-only cassette in 1999, as well as a bonus track on the American edition of Placebo’s album, Black Market Music. Later on in 2003 as part of a bonus disc for Sleeping With Ghosts, it was released again. Depeche Mode is not an easy band to cover and do it well but, Placebo did it justice and the way Brian Molko sings, he really made it his own. I thoroughly enjoy both versions and each has their own vibe. I think you’ll enjoy this.
Depeche Mode is one of my favorite bands. Through the years, I’ve really come to admire the honest approach they take when they create albums. They’ve always stuck to their guns as to what they wanted to do and it’s paid off. All these years later and they are still putting out great music. This Ultimate Set List was a little difficult to make due to Depeche Mode having so many great songs but, I think I made one hell of a great set list.
Guideline 1: What line up of the band would it be
Guideline 2: Where would you want to see the show
Guideline 3: maximum 25 songs (In order of how the set should go)
Lineup: Dave Gahan, Martine Gore, Andy Fletcher, Alan Wilder
Venue: Santa Barbara Bowl
Set List:
01) Wrong
02) Everything Counts
03) Barrel Of A Gun
04) Stripped
05) Behind The Wheel
06) Come Back
07) Precious
08) I Feel You
09) Clean
10) Black Celebration
11) Soothe My Soul
12) A Pain That I’m Used To
13) Halo
14) Walking In My Shoes
15) Condemnation
16) It’s No Good
17) The Dead Of Night
18) In Your Room
19) Policy Of Truth
20) No More (This Is The Last Time)
Encore:
21) Dream On
22) Never Let Me Down Again
23) Enjoy The Silence
Depeche Mode is one of the most intriguing bands of the last 30 plus years. They have never been a band to keep making the same album. They’ve experimented and evolved in a way that is truly astounding. Each album stands out on it’s own. Some are better than others but the true essence of Depeche Mode is in each of their releases. Which brings me to their 1993 album Songs of Faith and Devotion. Following up an album like Violator is never easy but, this is Depeche Mode we are talking about. They followed up their breakthrough album with a record that took chances and showed just how really diverse Depeche Mode is.
Songs of Faith and Devotion is the eighth studio album in the bands catalog and it’s one of their more darker and aggressive albums. This album would be produced by Flood again and was recorded in a rented home which the band built a studio and live and worked in. This album saw the band become very interested in the alternative music that was taking over. Bands like Jane’s Addiction and Soundgarden have been mentioned as key inspirations for the albums sound and style. The making of the album was quite difficult. Growing tensions among band members and drug addiction had caused some very trying times for Depeche Mode. Despite all this, Songs of Faith and Devotion is one of the best pieces of work the band has ever put out. Songs like “Walking In My Shoes,” “I Feel You,” “Condemnation,” In Your Room,” “Rush,” and “Higher Love,” just further prove that this album is truly remarkable. Even with the addiction issues, Dave Gahan’s vocal performances on this album are beyond stellar. Martin Gore, in my opinion, outdid himself with the songs he wrote on this album. Perhaps the growing tensions within the group especially the most strained between drummer Alan Wilder and Gore, helped to make some of the bands best songs. The following promotional tour for the album, The Devotional Tour, would be regarded in the bands history as their most “debauched” rock tour ever. This tour would also be the catalyst for the long break the band took afterwards before they would begin work on their album, Ultra.
Depeche Mode’s catalog is full of so many great albums. Violator is always going to be the one that the “masses” reach for but, the deep fans know there is more than just “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy The Silence.” Personally for me Songs of Faith and Devotion is in my top 3 favorite Depeche Mode albums (the other two are Music For The Masses and Exciter). There is something truly beautiful about how all the negativity that surrounded the making of this album created a record that surpassed an expectations that people would have. For almost 40 years now, Depeche Mode has proven you don’t need to make the same record twice. Taking chances and evolving in a way that still keeps the essence of the band in tact, has always been key to the bands success, and Songs of Faith and Devotion cements that fact.
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