Songs of a Black Violation - Celebrating Depeche Mode History

Depeche Mode. They are one of the most influential, moving, and soulful, bands in the world. In the span of just 5 days, 3 pivotal Depeche Mode albums celebrated big birthdays.

Songs of Faith and Devotion became old enough to vote.

Violator hit the legal drinking age.

Black Celebration can now rent a car.

While the legions of devoted fans have their own "favorite" album, or top 5 list, the three albums listed above are the ones that top, or nearly top most of those lists. They are defining moments in Depeche Mode history. They each turn the page in sound. They are classics that have held, and will continue to hold, their own throughout the halls of music.

 

For me, these three albums will each hold a different place in my heart.

I was 14 when Black Celebration came out 25 years ago. To be honest, I don't remember what my first thought was. I do know that it quickly became an important album in my life. By 16, "But Not Tonight" was the song that, all these years later, would be my song - my go to song when I was down, my feel good song, my favorite song. I can't think of one note of one song that I don't like on this album. It was my #1 for many years and still ranks in my top 5.

21 years and counting, Violator is a classic Depeche Mode album, and another one of my favorites. Sweetest Perfection, one of the song titles on this album, is the perfect way to describe Violator in my eyes. I was working in a small record store when this album came out and I played it, and played it, and played it - our regular customers had to be tired of it, I'm sure. But I didn't care. I couldn't get enough of it then and I still can't get enough of it now.

I have a long, mixed emotion history with SOFAD - to long to explain here. But I will say, 18 years on, I appreciate this album much more now than I did when it came out. And it took a while to get here. There are songs that have always moved me - "Judas" and "One Caress" being two of them. Even when I didn't think I could listen to other songs on this album, those two were always with me.

HAPPY 18TH, 21ST, and 25TH BIRTHDAYS SOFAD, VIOLATOR, & BC! You are loved.

 

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Sweetest Perfection - Violator at 20

March 19th and 20th marked the 20th anniversary of the release dates (UK & US respectively) for Depeche Mode's Violator album. For many it was their introduction to Depeche Mode thanks to the success of the songs "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy The Silence." For others it was the next step for a band who had just about 2 years earlier had put on the concert of a lifetime at Pasadena's Rose Bowl with the 101st show on their Music for the Masses tour.
By the time Violator was released in 1990, I had been listening to Depeche Mode for 6 years. My introduction to their music came in 1984 with the song "People Are People." I still remember going to the record store and buying Some Great Reward on cassette. Soon after that came the purchases of Speak & Spell, A Broken Frame, and Construction Time Again, where I learned that I had also heard "Everything Counts" and "Just Can't Get Enough" on the radio long before PAP. I just never knew who sang them and was, I guess, too young at the time to have really formed a deep connection. But I soon became a devotee. Walls that were once covered in posters of Duran Duran became covered in posters of Depeche Mode. My first live show was on May 2, 1988 at the Seattle Center Coliseum on the MFTM tour.
I eagerly awaited the release of the follow up album, but I will confess that the first time I heard "Personal Jesus" I was less than impressed. It took me a few listens to warm up to it, but once I did, I was hooked. When Violator was released I was working at a record store so I was able to buy it right away. I was also able to play it when I worked - over and over. And over and over again I did. I loved this album. From the opening beats of "World In My Eyes" to the closing notes of "Clean" there was something special about Violator. The only song that didn't wow me was "Policy of Truth" - which to this day is still my least favorite song on the album. I don't dislike it, but it doesn't touch me in a way the rest of the songs do. Three of my Top 10 DM songs are on this album (Halo, Enjoy The Silence, & Waiting For The Night) with two others (Blue Dress & Clean) creeping in depending on my mood.
I wish Violator a very Happy Anniversary. It will always be a special album that will fill my life with incredible sounds and fun, exciting, and emotional memories. The subsequent tour found me traveling to both Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR to see them perform, and again, I was not disappointed. They remain, to this day, one of the greatest, yet most underrated (to non-fans) live bands around. And 20 years on, "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy The Silence" remain concert staples - with occasional appearances by "World In My Eyes," "Policy of Truth," and "Halo" - always crowd favorites.

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