NBHAP: All Depeche Mode Albums Ranked From Worst To Best
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All Depeche Mode Albums Ranked From Worst To Best
A totally serious quality-based recap of the group’s legendary back catalogue. Well, from a certain personal perspective, obviously. 08/02/2017
by Norman Fleischer
Photo by Anton Corbijn
2017 has been another exciting year for all Depeche Mode fans. Back in March, the British synthpop heavyweights returned with their 14th full-length called Spirit, and it looks like they aren’t interested in retiring just yet; they’re now even discovering their political take in these darkened times. 2017 is also the year when two important records in the band’s discography celebrate big birthdays. Ultra turns 20 while Music For The Masses turns 30. Since it’s never too late to discover the band’s almost four-decades-long discography, now might be a good time to do so.
You can start chronologically or by picking the best ones. And just in case you are going for the second option, I have you covered. Being a lifelong fan of the group, I ranked all 14 Depeche Mode albums so far from worst to best (including Spirit) and yes, I am very much aware that this isn’t the most objective list. But it also helps to document the ups and downs in the group’s vital biography. Well, and it’s fun, obviously. Everything counts in large amounts: here’s my definitive ranking. Feel free to share your input if you don’t agree with it.
14. A Broken Frame (1982)
Worst Part Of It: You can sense the transitional character of A Broken Frame through the entire album. Having lost their main songwriter, Vince Clarke, after the first album clearly had an impact. Martin Gore tried to step in but surely wasn’t on the genius level we all fell in love with later. A few darker undertones are already sensible (Leave In Silence), but most of it just follows the teen synthpop simplicity of its predecessor. You might find tracks like The Meaning Of Love and See You funny or charming but let’s face it: they are cringe-worthy.
Best Part Of It: Well, they didn’t give up after Vince left and also pushed on following the release of this record. Those were the days when it was actually possible for bands to grow through multiple albums.
Most Memorable Song: The Sun And The Rainfall
13. Playing The Angel (2005)
Worst Part Of It: The horrible mixing. I still don’t know how producer Ben Hillier did it but even 12 years later that sound is killing all dynamics. Aside from that technical fact, the band tried a bit too hard to please fans following the mixed reviews of the light-hearted Exciter. In an attempt of humour, Depeche Mode even wrote ‘Pain and suffering in various tempos’ on the back of the record. It’s as if they were saying ‘Okay, we’ve given up. You want that dark shit, you’ll get it!’ It’s a bit pretentious and forced and hasn’t aged very well. Same goes for the horrible artwork.
Best Part Of It: Following two relatively moody albums the band finally reignited their love for uptempo beats, giving us grooving songs like John The Revelator, Suffer Well and Lilian. Oh, and Dave Gahan started contributing his own songs for this one which was literally the only way to keep Depeche Mode alive.
Most Memorable Song: Precious
12. Speak And Spell (1981)
Worst Part Of It: Face it, it’s more ERASURE than Depeche Mode, which makes sense as Vince Clarke was the man in charge back then. Yes, they were barely 20 years old and it’s their first album but that will never excuse a track like What’s Your Name? P-R-E-double-T-Y? Look, I won’t hold it against them- it’s their debut. But there’s hardly a reason to listen to it today and say ‘Oh, this is really good’. If you have to pick one, you would instantly grab a record from their later period and you know that it’s true, right?
Best Part Of It: It hasn’t aged as bad as you thought it might have. And the fact that the album’s reduced lo-fi synthpop inspired artists like Röyksopp and La Roux made me worship its less annoying moments a bit more. Also, you can’t argue with singles like Dreaming On Me and the indestructible Just Can’t Get Enough. And don’t forget about their look back then. It’s just four kids trying to play Kraftwerk.
Most Memorable Song: New Life
11. Sounds Of The Universe (2009)
Worst Part Of It: A second album with Ben Hillier following the pretty mediocre Playing The Angel. It might have been a time when the band, albeit unintentionally, decided to play it safe while their side-projects slowly became more creatively fulfilling. At least that’s the intention I got. Martin Gore’s interest in all sorts of analogue synthesizers also felt like a PR stunt to distract from the weakness of his songwriting on this.
Best Part Of It: Although sticking with the same producer, the band clearly learned from the mistakes of their prior release. Sounds Of The Universe sounds way warmer, less aggressive and not nearly as bizarrely mastered as their first collaboration. It allows the songs and its sounds more freedom, maybe sometimes a bit too much (A song like In Chains gets lost in his own ambition). Still, it gave us Wrong one of the best Depeche Mode singles ever and that itself stands for something.
Most Memorable Song: Wrong
10. Construction Time Again (1983)
Worst Part Of It: The really good Get The Balance Right single wasn’t part of it. And the change from gentle synthpop straight to sampling construction sides came a bit out of the blue. A song like Pipeline clearly proves that you can overthink such an idea to the point where it just doesn’t make much sense anymore. It’s still a bit transitional, but unlike A Broken Frame the majority picked the better side.
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