This album was sort of a transitional album for Depeche Mode. They had mostly abandonded the analog synths that dominated their first two albums, but the sounds were less metallic than they would be on "Some Great Reward". Also, the music was slightly more light-hearted (note that the only
really light hearted DM album remains "Speak & Spell" and I am not going to claim otherwise).
Personally, I view it as my favourite Depeche Mode album. What is more evident on this album than on any other album by them is a very obvious influence from YMO/Japan, particularly in the arrangements, but also in the extensive use of pentatonic melodies.
But the main thing about this album is it is the album where Alan Wilder shows himself as the underrated songwriting genius of the band. I still hold "The Landscape Is Changing" as my favourite Depeche Mode track. Sure, the lyrics are a bit too obvious and "realistic", but the melody is great, with a really great bridge and an even greater chorus. And all those YMO/Japan-influenced electronic effects during the end are really interesting too.
Another key track is the Martin composition "Told You So", which may be their most YMO-influenced moment ever. Plus there is of course also "Everything Counts" which remains one of their better singles, and there is a wonderful final track in "...And Then....". The only slightly weak point may be "Pipeline", which does still have enough ping-pong sounds to make it kind of an interesting listen.
And the album could have been even better, had the Alan Wilder composition "Fools" made it to the album rather than to the "Love In Itself" b-side. Another bona fide Depeche-classic, and their best ever b-side!
So, what more is there to say? Except this is more CLASSIC than most. There are other Depeche Mode albums that I love a lot too ("Black Celebration", "Some Great Reward" and "Playing The Angel" being my favourites beside this one), but none of them are quite as good as "Construction Time Again" and it's a shame Alan didn't write more of their songs.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 10 November 2006 23:13 (nineteen years ago)
Geir is fully, totally, absolutely OTM here with the soul exception being that there's no reason to have any trepidation about loving "Pipeline".
― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 November 2006 23:25 (nineteen years ago)
I've been listening to the reissues (got em all), and let's just say that CTA, Black Celebration, Exciter, and Ultra reissues CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH!
― gwynywdd dwnyt fyrwr byychydd gww (donut), Saturday, 11 November 2006 01:03 (nineteen years ago)
Yus yus yus. I need to scarf up some more of those reissues myself...hey, there's any idea for when I finally swing by Tower this Sunday (I believe they're down to 40% at the local one now).
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 11 November 2006 01:04 (nineteen years ago)
The documentaries on those reissues are great! It's a blast watching these kids -and they are kids - in a candy factory playing with their new Synclavier during the recording of "Some Great Reward."
― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Saturday, 11 November 2006 02:53 (nineteen years ago)
This has always been one of my least favourite Depeche albums. Here's where you all groan as I lapse into silly cliches about how the album is too cold and mechanical to affect me in any meaningful way, or how its overall sound is too sparse and clinical compared to their later (and better albums). I have no issue with these qualities in music in general, but I don't think that style brings out the best in Depeche Mode.
― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 12 November 2006 10:38 (nineteen years ago)
NoTimeBeforeTime is one of those guys who prefers guitars and real drums, obv. But then, why pay attention to Depeche Mode at all?
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 12 November 2006 16:54 (nineteen years ago)
>
the only really light hearted DM album remains "Speak & Spell"I can't agree. For a start, one of its songs is titled I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead. As Exhibits "B" and "C", I offer the mean-spirited Puppets and the sombre Photographic. Tora! Tora! Tora! has a distinctly nightmarish feel to it, and the penultimate track is the exquisitely melancholy Any Second Now.
― Palomino (Palomino), Sunday, 12 November 2006 20:05 (nineteen years ago)
Sure it
is way less light hearted than the average Erasure album, but besides those tracks you mention (and "I Sometimes With I was Dead" sounds really lively in spite of the dark lyrics) the album does also contain those three singles, plus tracks such as "What's Your Name" in addition.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 12 November 2006 21:33 (nineteen years ago)