Some people wait four years for the Olympics, I wait four years for a new Depeche Mode release. The initial anticipation is over for Depeche Mode fans, like me, across the universe. Today, they released the first single from their soon to released album Spirit. This is the band's first release since the October single release of "Should Be Higher" in October of 2013.
I have listened to the new single a few times and while it does have the distinct Depeche Mode sound, it has a little too much of it. Meaning, it sounds a little over produced to me. This is the first time the band is working with producer James Ford. Some of the lyrics tend to be repetitive, a what I call "copy/paste writing", the chorus suffers from this. There is a lot this copy/paste in recent songs (by other artists) and it looks that Depeche Mode are following that trend. I am not a fan of that.
Anyway, there are some great parts to this track. The intro is nice, it sort of brings you back to 90's Mode. As mentioned, there are a few sections that are over produced, with possibly some auto tuning in use...as well as too many layers of sound, each competing to be heard. The five minute song could easily be trimmed down to a three and half or four minute track and be much better.
Not to worry. If we just go by the last few 'first singles' we should be okay as (I feel) they were not strong singles. Usually the second and third singles are the better ones. Sometimes, the best song of the album is not released as a single. We will have to wait until 17 March 2017 for Spirit to be released. I will have a track by track review then, as I did with Delta Machine. Stay tuned.
Slight tangent: For the past few days, I have been looking for a place to purchase the Where's the Revolution single. You know, the CD single. I want the 'import' version, but unable to find the CD even as a US. My usual place does not exist anymore. The only thing I can find so far is digital download...and even that is a "get it free when you pre-order the album". Nothing physical or digital as a single release with remixes and B-sides.
So, if anyone out there knows where I can get the UK (or European) release of the single on CD, let me know. Thanks.
Update: The video was released today, 9 February 2017, directed by Anton Cobijn.
This is a much better version of the song. It has been edited down to four minutes by omitting the repetitive copy/paste lyrics. Funny how I mention chopping it down to about four minutes would be result in a better track.
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| Depeche Mode - Where's the Revolution |
Anyway, there are some great parts to this track. The intro is nice, it sort of brings you back to 90's Mode. As mentioned, there are a few sections that are over produced, with possibly some auto tuning in use...as well as too many layers of sound, each competing to be heard. The five minute song could easily be trimmed down to a three and half or four minute track and be much better.
Not to worry. If we just go by the last few 'first singles' we should be okay as (I feel) they were not strong singles. Usually the second and third singles are the better ones. Sometimes, the best song of the album is not released as a single. We will have to wait until 17 March 2017 for Spirit to be released. I will have a track by track review then, as I did with Delta Machine. Stay tuned.
Slight tangent: For the past few days, I have been looking for a place to purchase the Where's the Revolution single. You know, the CD single. I want the 'import' version, but unable to find the CD even as a US. My usual place does not exist anymore. The only thing I can find so far is digital download...and even that is a "get it free when you pre-order the album". Nothing physical or digital as a single release with remixes and B-sides.
So, if anyone out there knows where I can get the UK (or European) release of the single on CD, let me know. Thanks.
Update: The video was released today, 9 February 2017, directed by Anton Cobijn.
This is a much better version of the song. It has been edited down to four minutes by omitting the repetitive copy/paste lyrics. Funny how I mention chopping it down to about four minutes would be result in a better track.
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