I vividly remember being a 12 year old kid and being in a hotel room somewhere in Germany with my sister. My parents were out having drinks somewhere and were were just wasting time watching MTV. They played the music video for "Walking in My Shoes" (off of this album) and I had never heard anything like that before. When we got back home from the trip, I had to wait for the school to start because I had a school friend whose brother was much older than we were and he had all the newest albums. I remember intensively listening to this album for a few years. Still to date this is the only Depeche Mode album that just ... works. The two other similar "MTV moments" were hearing - or rather seeings - Oasis' Whatever and The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony for the first time.

 snowcat wrote:

I was impressed that Alan Wilder, as a classically trained musician, thought "we need a drummer, okay I'll learn and play the drums", and went and did that well (at least to my ears) live

A bit dull…

As an active member of my high school thespian club's stage crew in the 1990's, this song falls within the soundtrack of a certain portion of my life. 

Top stuff.  Needs more airplay to my ears.

What an album! A band at the height of creative power! There is so much more than Higher love...

mooooved.

 shayde wrote: 

I thought it was TFF too until I looked.

Decent tune.

 Wizzuvv_oz wrote: 
Why? If you listen to it, or even just look at the track titles, you'll see that it does what it says on the tin. The songs have plenty of religious imagery and angsting (is that a word?) about pain, punishment and redemption. Electro-Goth, if you like. but unlike most goth bands DM are danceable and poppy (I can't imagine bopping along to the Neph, for instance ;-)). This is a very fine album IMO, and perhaps their best ever. 9 from the Nottingham jury.

Hey a Depress Mode song that doesnt suck!  4.

Why is he mooing?

Is this song about cows?

So wrong.  Tie them to the Smiths and New Order with a big rock and chunk 'em into the pit of eternal inconsequence.

 jah_blessed wrote:

 

Yeah, what an amazing period for them with Alan going away and David's near-death from Heroin overdose.  And they had a real drummer on many of the songs on this CD.  Brilliant.

heyjoe3577 wrote: Well I would say buy a copy of Violater. Listen to it a good few times and if you aren't hooked walk away from DM. They have been through several phases and some people prefer one phase to another. Somgs of Faith and Devotion (the album this track is taken from) is darker work in comparison to Violater but as Dave Gahan was fighting serious drug addiction at the time it's no surprise.

kalpol wrote: For a non-DM fan, can someone please tell me what of theirs is actually good? So for instance, this song I rate a 5. I'd like to like at least a couple of DM tunes.

Weird, in the intro, I went "Huh, some Tears for Fears I hadn't heard before..." Guess not.

jah_blessed wrote: Alan Wilder left after this album. Been a bit of a struggle since, but still some good songs on their later stuff.

andrello wrote: Well said!

An album that calls itself "Songs of Faith and Devotion" needs to deliver a _lot_ more than this IMO.

If you're having troulbe getting to sleep . . .

love this

Hate it! Hate is a strong word isn't it? Yeah, defenitely hate it.

Love this song... love Depeche!

phreels wrote: Used to ride my bicycle rollers/trainer to this album. This song could always put my heart rate monitor well over 100% max for extended periods of time. Simple purity.

Live version would deserve more than ten. Especially when experienced live.

Everything on this album is Depeche Mode's best work. "Enjoy the Silence" was genius on Violator, but absolutely EVERYTHING came together with this album (as a result, Gahan started tumbling into his ultimate blowout and rehab). Two fave albums in a row! I give RadioParadise a 10 out of 10 for this.

Whoa this song. 10/10!

I feel you....is the best song on this album...never got into these guys, but a one night stand - years ago made me quite aware of them....those were the days.

I used to skate while listening to this album, on the straits around Stockholm. It enhanced both the skating and the listening experience. Highly recommended if you're in to DM..

It just keeps going on and on...!

I found Playing the Angel to really only have 2 tracks (Precious and Lilian) which stand up next to late 80's / early 90's DM tracks like this one. Not nearly as listenable as Exciter. My favorite DM track would have to be "In Your Room". Sing out loud, steering wheel pounding goodness. twm wrote:

One of the most powerfull DM songs ever! Especially considering his addiction issues at the time!!! I've seen them live 7 times...actually my first concert ever was "Some Great Reward" at the University of Houston.

twm wrote: I have, actually. Stylistically it's pretty strong, but the production gloss cannot hide the weak melodies and simplistic lyrics underneath. Precious is the only good track and still nowhere near their best work.

jah_blessed wrote: Have you listened to Playing the Angel yet? I would put several of the songs from it on par with Songs of Faith and Devotion and Violator. In fact, I think The Sinner in Me might have become my favorite Depeche Mode song ever. I've been a very long time fan and had been underwhelmed by a lot of their recent efforts, but not Playing the Angel.

One of my favorite Depeche Mode albums! Thanks for adding this to the playlist.

Kinda boring really.

Really cool, I've not heard this cut before.

One of my favorite track from one of the best (the best?) DM cd. Great addition to the playlist.

Beautiful, lesser-known DM song. The closing track of 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion. IMO, their last truly brilliant moment. They never reached this level again.