Depeche Mode - The Singles 86>98

So Depeche Mode releases a singles compilation featuring only one previously unreleased song ("Only When I Lose Myself") in anticipation of a major tour. Sound suspiciously like a shameless cash-in? Sure. But The Singles, 86-98 needed to be made. This is a worthwhile purchase for casual admirers and completists alike. The two-disc set contains revamped versions of the major singles from 1986 to 1998 and a version of "Little 15" that was first released only in France. The set's "grand finale" is the live recording of "Everything Counts," from the 101 album. Although the original studio version of the "Everything Counts" single appeared on 1984's People Are People, DM fudged the chronology to justify including this astounding live recording on the album (a ploy to psych up concert-ticket buyers?). The live recording highlights the worshipful crowd applauding, cheering, and chant-singing "The grabbing hands / Grab all they can / Everything counts in large amounts" long after the song has ended. Ka-ching! --Beth Bessmer Amazon.com

Essential DM

I first purchased this album on double-length cassette when it came out almost ten years ago and it's still one of my favorites. This great compilation covers the albums "Black Celebration" through "Ultra". Even if you had all five of them, this is still an essential collection. Some of the tracks here are different from the original album versions. One noteworthy omission was "But Not Tonight" which in the US was flipped with the "Stripped" single. There's one previously unreleased track, "Only When I Lose Myself". "Little 15" from "Music For The Masses" seems a little out of place near the end of the collection but it was only released as a single in France. The album ends with a live version of "Everything Counts" from the 1989 live "101".

Whether you're a die hard fan or just a casual one, this will be a great addition. It's a true testament to their longevity. The first disc runs just under 42 minutes the second 55 1/2 minutes. January 26, 2008

Need an intro to DepecheMode?

Hi, i'm a new fan of Depech Mode. This was an excellent album to get my listening collection started. Highly recommended. October 10, 2007

Perhaps the greatest singles band ever.

Sure, Beatles fans would stone me to death for that one, but DM were influential and popular as well. They influenced many a goth/industrial act as well as popularized electronic music, and it's not just that, the songs are pretty catchy on the whole. The band's albums are ALL good, but they work well as a singles band too. This compilation uses the versions of the songs used as A-sides, so some of the mixes are different than you might remember them. The songs are all re-mastered here, and the treat for casual fans is you get to see the lyrics to ALL of the songs in here in the liner notes. Oh, and look at the price that Amazon's currently selling this at; if that's not a reason you should be getting this already then I don't know what would be.

Oh, for the people who are already fans, all that's worth mentioning is that classics like "Stripped," "Strangelove," "Personal Jesus," "Enjoy the Silence," "I Feel You," "It's No Good" and "Home" are here. These songs are more than worth buying "The Singles 86>98," and not only that, this isn't a bad first move for your collection of the band. This was the real creative peak for the band. There is only one new song here, "Only When I Lose Myself" and that one is pretty good. It's a more mellow track from the group and I think it works fine. You could also look for a used copy of the single (or if you prefer, the sixth or so singles box set) where you can hear the Dan the Automator remix, which is possibly better than the track in here.

"Behind the Wheel," "In Your Room" and "A Question of Time" play in different versions than on the respective albums that they originate. This makes a nice additions for the bigger fans like myself, and young ones like myself who find it hard to get their hands on every last single and box set of the group. You'll listen to this album and it's no coincidence they have an album called Music for the Masses. It's rock and only occasionally feels really rock ("I Feel You"), and while it's dark it is never really whiny or overly depressing. There is real emotion to the tracks and this collection, as well as the band selling out the Rose Bowl in Pasedena were things that they used to successfully bite tongues of the classic rock fans. Even the "lower" moments from the group are stuff that most bands wish their finest material could live up to be. "Barrel of a Gun" and "Little 15" are not personal favorites of mine but work fine enough in this collection.

Feeling nostalgic? Want to hear a catalog of a really great band's music? Look no further than this compilation and if not you can sell it; many people will probably want it anyhow. July 21, 2007

One of the best electronic bands

Depeche Mode does their brand of electronic music very well, with songs that are catchy and stick in the head and are a few times even emotionally evocative. This is a 2-disc compilation, with the first disc being the stronger one, probably cuz it's the one with the radio hits. But the second disc definitely has some gems too. Good stuff on disc 1:

Never Let Me Down Again
Personal Jesus
Enjoy the Silence
Policy of Truth
World in My Eyes

Disc 2 meritorious melodies:

Barrel of Gun
It's No Good
Everything Counts

If you like sythesizer, you'll like this. June 18, 2007

Depeche Mode Singles

This compilation is the greatest collection of their greatest music, no one should be without these CD's if they are a fan! March 30, 2007

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