Is Violator the most beautiful album ever made?

[donunus]

The only problem with violator... not enough songs

 

[zoboomofo]

There's something heavenly about Violator. This makes the album happy for me because most synth pop at the time felt hollow in comparison. The use of real drums helps this album age well, and the arrangements are very tasteful. Then there's the crazy imagery in the lyrics, and those excellent vocals. I'm getting excited about this album just typing about it.

 

[JeffS]

Thanks Head-Fi.

I haven't put Violator on, in quite a while, and decided thanks to this thread
to queue it up. Wow, I forgot how much I loved this album. Definitely one
of their best.

-Jeff

 

[EdipisReks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus The only problem with violator... not enough songs

the problem with more songs is that it runs the risk of adding bad ones. i'd rather have an album with 6 great songs than one with 6 great songs and 4 mediocre songs

 

[ilikemonkeys]

The Bends is the most beautiful album ever.

wanna fight over it?

 

[Ellen_125]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilikemonkeys The Bends is the most beautiful album ever. wanna fight over it?

I think this is the best Radiohead album. It's not comparable with DM; just different kinds of music...

From Depeche Mode, I think Songs of faith and devotion is the best. But I like Violator too. Actually I like all Depeche Mode albums. Even the last one (Exciter), though it's at the end of the list.... My boyfriend got me into DM, we went to see the concert in Antwerpen (Belgium) during the Exciter tour and it was great!!

I love to listen to DM with my Grado's on; with a pair of good detailled headphones they sound even gerater!!!

 

[ilikemonkeys]

agreed.

 

[donunus]

Ive been a dm fan since before black celebration... They are awesome... soundwise musically and lyrically. I think all their albums from black celebration til now are good. I even love martin gore's counterfeit ep. awesome!!! Wonder if they are planning to make another album together after gahan and gore making their latest solo albums.

 

[Ellen_125]

What do you think about the album Dave recorded?

 

[donunus]

daves album paper monsters... Hmm, I didn't really like it. It Doesn't have the right mood. some songs are ok but none are awesome.

 

[DarkAngel]

Violater is a very good album......but I would respectfully suggest most beautiful synth pop album was made 8 years prior:

OMD - Architecture & Morality

Not only deeper but more profound beauty, also more imaginative musically, the pinnacle of new romantic movement.

 

[Ellen_125]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus daves album paper monsters... Hmm, I didn't really like it. It Doesn't have the right mood. some songs are ok but none are awesome.

I didn't like that eather.... I think it's obvious that Dave is only the singer of DM (wich he's very good at!!), but Martin is the guy of the music and the lyrics!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel Violater is a very good album......but I would respectfully suggest most beautiful synth pop album was made 8 years prior: OMD - Architecture & Morality Not only deeper but more profound beauty, also more imaginative musically, the pinnacle of new romantic movement.

I've never heard of this album. I'll try to find it and try it out!

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellen_125 I've never heard of this album. I'll try to find it and try it out!

OMD = Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

 

[donunus]

Well, I havent heard that omd album but some of its songs are in the best of which i have. OMD is different though, Theyre not really dark like DM

 

[bong]

i second DarkAngel's recommendation for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's Architecture and Morality. it could very well be the most beautiful synth-pop album ever recorded... from 1981 no less. Depeche Mode were still sucking their thumbs, teeny bopper poster pin up stars singing about someone they just can't get enough and asking for names from pretty boys (P-R-E-double T-Y!)

anyway, the three songs that appear on The Best of OMD and The OMD Singles compilations (Souvenir, Joan of Arc, Maid of Orleans) tell only a portion of the Architecture and Morality story. the album features some of the most beautiful melodies ever played on the keyboard on the song "Sealand," you'd wish Paul Humphreys would play more of it before Andy McCluskey starts singing. the ambient setting on "Sealand" is also very impressive.

the album opener "The New Stone Age" features noisy, textured soundscapes (very similar to Joy Division's "Atrocity Exhibition") that could fit well on any modern Industrial record. the ambient title track exhibits OMD's knack for making impressive instrumentals, and also a technique of using looped choral tapes and vocal samples to form a song's basic structure... also found on the sparkling pop single "Souvenir" (first Paul Humphreys sung single) and the impressive "Joan of Arc" single. the "Maid of Orleans" single features a waltz time rhythm not commonly found on a hit single, and features an impressive atmospheric intro.

"She's Leaving" displays beautiul melodic subtlety, and could have easily been OMD's fourth Top 5 UK single if they would agreed with Virgin Records to release it. "Souvenir," "Joan Of Arc," and "Maid of Orleans" all were Top 5 singles (#3, #5, #4 respectively) and OMD were concerned about exploiting their fans with a fourth single, while on the other hand The Human League gave in to Virgin Records releasing the classic "Don't You Want Me" as the fourth single off the hit record Dare! and became a #1 hit, making them loads of money. Andy McCluskey has said in many occasions that he should've released "She's Leaving" as the fourth single.

"Georgia" features a highly catchy keyboard riff and "The Beginning and the End" similarly uses a catchy guitar riff.

what i would recommend more is the Remastered Editions, which appends with seven bonus tracks of B-Sides and studio outtakes. if you're thinking these are merely album fillers, you're highly mistaken because these seven songs make a flawless synth-pop album even better. "Sacred Heart" features an ambient setting, the "Extended Souvenir" has an extra vocal verse not found on the album/single version, "Navigation" finds OMD at their sonic experimentalism peak, and "The Romance of the Telescope" is easily Paul and Andy's favourite OMD song ever recorded, and is also OMD fan's favourite song of all time.

Architecture and Morality made OMD superstars until they went totally experimental and uncommercial on the conceptual (and highly underrated) Dazzle Ships album in 1983. from there they lost their footing and went gradually downhill until Andy McCluskey ressurcted OMD (without Paul Humphreys or long time members Malcolm Holmes and Martin Cooper) on the highly successful Sugar Tax album. Architecture and Morality remains a synth-pop classic.

ok... bong (self proclaimed Head-Fi's Cure and OMD expert) is DONE!

sorry to hijack the thread...