So I’m in one of my favorite newstands, in the Music section, and I come across the latest edition of Mojo, a terrific music publication out of the UK, and I look through the table of contents to the music review section, and see this title: “Depeche Mode delivers another clunker.” I immediately start laughing out loud, because without even hearing the songs on the album, except for “Wrong”, I feel relaxed, and not anxiety ridden on what to expect before the album actually comes out. I get worked up before an album from one of my favorite artist’s comes out, usually just hoping for great expectations, good songwriting and such…

I have to say that even though it’s not another “clunker”, it’s nothing earth-shaking either…it starts off fair enough, with a blippy intro going into “In Chains”, with Dave Gahan singing mournfully and seductively as always…but I want something more…I want to hear this band dance and swing like I know they can..good driving music with a steady backbeat…this is what is in my head prior to hearing the actual album…instead I’m hearing slowed down keyboard arrangements, except for a handful of tunes, like “Wrong”, and “Fragile Tension”…”In Sympathy” is quite captivating…but-but…I don’t know..I’ve listened to the album in its enirety 4 times now over the past week, thinking maybe I’ve got it wrong, or listening with an open mind…yet, I can’t get that phrase out of my head: “Another Clunker”..

Tags: Albums, Bobby, Bobby Talamine, Depeche Mode