| Full Review | Ratings (948) |
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0.0 | mandan | March 8th 13 | As much as I enjoyed Violator, Music for the Masses might be superior. The songs are far catchier and it feels much fresher.
1 Bumps | Bump |
4.5 superb | Tom93M | March 10th 11 | Depeche hit the big time with a mellow and sophisticated album that demonstrates a band comfortably matured into its own dark sound. Not a weak moment on the whole disc, superb.
1 Bumps | Bump |
3.5 great | Bedex | August 9th 22 | I am kind of disappointed if I'm honest. A lot of my feelings for this are the same as for Black Celebration: the synthpop gothic post punk esque sound is fantastic and complemented by crystalline prod, but they don't do much with this sound. 7 is a good example. There are cool ideas, there is a cool sound, but where is the song? I really struggled to engage with this album. This is reinforced by a strong compilation feel, though there is a nice unity of sound. Songs like 5 which clearly cut at the end remove a lot of the sense of flow. 3 is pretty cool, 6 is perhaps more engaging than the track or two before it, 8 has a very cool intro, 9 is slightly engaging I guess, and 10 again has a great intro building into a really weird yet grandiose instrumental track that I like a lot and that stands out. But despite this the album overall didn't really captivate me, though I must say the conditions were perhaps not ideal. The bonus tracks puzzle me even more. What is all this, I don't even know what I am listening to. 12 is kinda fun I guess, and so is 16 with its Depeche ZZ aesthetic - but gotta say the execution on that fun idea is very tame. I really like the broody yet sappy melancholic feel of the piano piece on 17, and 18 is a huge question mark - wtf is Moonlight Sonata doing here. At leats Black Celebration benefited from being the first to introduce their sound, whereas this largely feels like a repeat of the same mistakes. 3.3
Bump |
3.8 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | August 18th 20 | Music for the Masses? This is more industrial and dark than what the masses are used to. What is truly mass-material is the sound: it's fucking grandiloquent, opener "Never Let Me Down Again" kicking things off by offering expansive soundscapes, full of big synths, big drums, and big vocals. The gothic approach seen on their previous album Black Celebration is still present, but its impact is diminished because of the sheer power the music delivers. Not as brilliant as Violator, but an influential atmospheric and dark synthpop record.
Bump |
4.0 excellent | Alabaster Jones | September 7th 17 | Here's where Depeche Mode began to turn into the skid somewhat when it came to their atmospherics and their production, and as such Music For The Masses would be the best-sounding and finely-tuned record the group had made at the time. Whereas the filler of records past was uneventful and meandering, any track that could be considered filler here is still ultimately gorgeous and doesn't detract from the overall experience much. Add to that some truly wonderful songs like opener "Never Let Me Down Again", the catchy "Strangelove", and the sprawling "Sacred" and you've got a recipe for a record that is through-and-through enjoyable to hear. Everything sounds fuller and more enveloping, which in turn allows the decidedly melancholy and even a bit angsty atmosphere to be appreciated that much more. They would go on to capture lightning in a bottle with their next release, but you need not forget to give Music For The Masses a spin or two.
Bump |
3.5 great | Britch2tiger | May 26th 15 | A tad overrated IMO. Credited the vocals and synths played their parts well, I just have a problem w/ bands/musicians having to resort to lyrical genres regarding romance in their songs. A "few" songs in an album CAN be acceptable, but encompassing nearly an entire album is classified in my mind as "wasted potential" and/or "lazy effort."
Bump |
4.0 excellent | ffs | March 29th 24 |
4.0 excellent | Lassie | February 22nd 24 |
4.0 excellent | doofy | January 7th 24 |
4.5 superb | Surtur | December 5th 23 |
4.0 excellent | Bren80 | October 26th 23 |
4.0 excellent | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | September 25th 23 |
3.5 great | Ledgy | April 6th 23 |
4.0 excellent | fifek | March 28th 23 |
4.0 excellent | xa2bad | March 28th 23 |
4.5 superb | Timmy | January 12th 23 |
4.0 excellent | Awake88 | December 28th 22 |
4.0 excellent | saantiii | December 13th 22 |
4.0 excellent | MvdW | November 25th 22 |
4.5 superb | kildare | September 28th 22 |
4.0 excellent | Djokoll | September 19th 22 |
3.5 great | olmedou | September 8th 22 |
4.0 excellent | Luna | August 25th 22 |
4.0 excellent | MUSEli | July 19th 22 |
4.5 superb | Brabiz | July 17th 22 |
3.5 great | Denis | June 8th 22 |
4.0 excellent | Cam | January 30th 22 |
5.0 classic | mrdisco | January 21st 22 |
4.0 excellent | rykos | January 19th 22 |
4.5 superb | KuyJuk | December 22nd 21 |
4.0 excellent | CamiloG | December 6th 21 |
4.5 superb | Zeuzo | December 5th 21 |
4.0 excellent | biggzhc | September 17th 21 |
5.0 classic | Adol | September 15th 21 |
4.5 superb | Icw70 | September 11th 21 |
5.0 classic | quetzal | August 25th 21 |
5.0 classic | Jerrad | August 10th 21 |
4.0 excellent | mdew | August 7th 21 |
4.0 excellent | eureka | May 29th 21 |
5.0 classic | pabcel | May 29th 21 |
4.0 excellent | Harlz | February 23rd 21 |
4.5 superb | Juuso | February 7th 21 |
4.5 superb | Sean H. | January 16th 21 |
4.0 excellent | Jrzg85 | December 18th 20 |
4.0 excellent | Artechi | December 11th 20 |
5.0 classic | CalinD | November 30th 20 |
4.0 excellent | Spag | October 17th 20 |
4.5 superb | gorp | September 29th 20 |
3.5 great | Aranox | July 30th 20 |
4.0 excellent | Drpibb | July 11th 20 |
4.0 excellent | Mike01 | June 11th 20 |
4.0 excellent | OliKad | April 15th 20 |
4.0 excellent | BigHans | March 10th 20 |
4.5 superb | degina | February 29th 20 |
4.5 superb | David83 | November 14th 19 |
4.0 excellent | ariich | November 13th 19 |
4.5 superb | Josh | October 24th 19 |
4.0 excellent | Flomink | August 28th 19 |
4.0 excellent | Jimmer2 | August 15th 19 |
5.0 classic | jk2two | June 28th 19 |
4.0 excellent | jsaadia | June 17th 19 |
3.5 great | fog CONTRIBUTOR | June 7th 19 |
3.5 great | Yotimi | April 23rd 19 |
4.0 excellent | lxxwj | March 13th 19 |
4.5 superb | Ryus | February 6th 19 |
4.0 excellent | MarcoLG | January 26th 19 |
5.0 classic | rdawg20 | October 10th 18 |
4.0 excellent | necropig | September 11th 18 |
4.0 excellent | NateMa | September 6th 18 |
5.0 classic | 1111ace | August 18th 18 |
4.0 excellent | bobby72 | August 14th 18 |
4.5 superb | FelkFg | August 8th 18 |
4.0 excellent | jsounnd | June 28th 18 |
5.0 classic | hipo88 | June 28th 18 |
4.5 superb | Stkyle | May 29th 18 |
4.0 excellent | Nero | May 25th 18 |
5.0 classic | ABond | April 9th 18 |
3.5 great | ArvidL | January 26th 18 |
3.5 great | Prancer | December 27th 17 |
4.5 superb | Fear | December 10th 17 |
4.5 superb | PhilSam | December 9th 17 |
5.0 classic | kb3984 | December 2nd 17 |
5.0 classic | KOZAKY | October 17th 17 |
4.0 excellent | adios | October 3rd 17 |
5.0 classic | Gueero | September 27th 17 |
3.0 good | igi78 | September 20th 17 |
4.0 excellent | tyler | September 14th 17 |
4.5 superb | YayoG1 | September 3rd 17 |
5.0 classic | jnedi | August 6th 17 |
4.0 excellent | GazAldo | July 28th 17 |
4.0 excellent | aghast | July 21st 17 |
4.5 superb | Alexxx | June 21st 17 |
3.5 great | wg98 | May 12th 17 |
4.0 excellent | BeeRyan | April 4th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Trundle | March 23rd 17 |
4.5 superb | Steev | March 19th 17 |
4.0 excellent | TwigTW | March 17th 17 |
4.0 excellent | ZeCham0 | March 9th 17 |
5.0 classic | Luisito | February 12th 17 |
4.0 excellent | jtswope | January 25th 17 |
4.0 excellent | btati | January 14th 17 |
4.0 excellent | El Olam | January 7th 17 |
5.0 classic | bSmith | January 6th 17 |
3.5 great | Wolfe | December 29th 16 |
3.5 great | Devius | December 2nd 16 |
2.5 average | Jots EMERITUS | November 19th 16 |
4.5 superb | F1Aaron | November 5th 16 |
3.5 great | Greem | October 20th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Jordan M. EMERITUS | September 26th 16 |
4.0 excellent | MO | September 19th 16 |
4.5 superb | Rice303 | September 15th 16 |
4.0 excellent | elch21 | September 4th 16 |
3.5 great | DaveD | September 3rd 16 |
4.5 superb | Lord3 | August 1st 16 |
4.5 superb | Saul | July 27th 16 |
4.5 superb | Blaacs | July 22nd 16 |
4.5 superb | PaabL | July 6th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Sebe | June 13th 16 |
4.0 excellent | cb123 | March 28th 16 |
4.0 excellent | MsPinky | March 11th 16 |
5.0 classic | ksoflas | January 25th 16 |
5.0 classic | Keating | December 26th 15 |
3.5 great | Toolock | December 26th 15 |
3.5 great | Titan | December 20th 15 |
4.0 excellent | Jethro42 | December 19th 15 |
3.5 great | Log S. | December 1st 15 |
4.5 superb | daFigz | November 22nd 15 |
4.5 superb | Bierlag | October 26th 15 |
3.5 great | adr | October 26th 15 |
4.5 superb | IrishC | July 28th 15 |
4.5 superb | edirp | June 6th 15 |
5.0 classic | MarkD | May 23rd 15 |
4.0 excellent | hudso | May 12th 15 |
4.5 superb | HasseC | April 16th 15 |
4.0 excellent | Dav85 | February 1st 15 |
5.0 classic | Denk10 | January 15th 15 |
4.0 excellent | fuzzbutt | December 29th 14 |
5.0 classic | alin1 | December 28th 14 |
5.0 classic | thx06 | November 8th 14 |
5.0 classic | nobouk | October 29th 14 |
4.5 superb | efk241 | October 5th 14 |
4.0 excellent | Javimut | September 21st 14 |
4.0 excellent | coolray | August 23rd 14 |
4.0 excellent | CRX | May 22nd 14 |
4.5 superb | Iznie | April 21st 14 |
4.0 excellent | msm008 | March 12th 14 |
3.2 good | Trey STAFF | March 10th 14 |
4.5 superb | f1gt | February 17th 14 |
3.5 great | jmh886 | February 5th 14 |
4.0 excellent | zackseb | February 4th 14 |
4.5 superb | MaggieG | January 16th 14 |
4.0 excellent | kbyo | December 16th 13 |
5.0 classic | hsb | December 15th 13 |
4.5 superb | Kalhur | December 4th 13 |
4.0 excellent | dre517 | November 12th 13 |
4.5 superb | Axl752 | November 1st 13 |
4.5 superb | ADM20 | October 6th 13 |
3.5 great | artrock | September 14th 13 |
4.5 superb | Zydar | September 6th 13 |
4.0 excellent | joomisy | August 30th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Gnome7 | August 22nd 13 |
4.0 excellent | t67 | August 17th 13 |
4.0 excellent | TPM731 | August 16th 13 |
5.0 classic | MF79 | July 15th 13 |
4.5 superb | Snuron | June 21st 13 |
2.5 average | Bab | June 15th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Jackus | June 6th 13 |
4.0 excellent | goat38 | March 28th 13 |
4.5 superb | bol90 | March 24th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Zeg | March 19th 13 |
4.5 superb | heck | February 22nd 13 |
4.0 excellent | mrkolas | February 17th 13 |
4.5 superb | Lobber | February 4th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Majkl | January 25th 13 |
3.0 good | Escain | January 6th 13 |
4.0 excellent | tarcus | December 28th 12 |
4.0 excellent | Freakeye | December 19th 12 |
4.5 superb | Atheus | November 29th 12 |
4.5 superb | Damone | November 28th 12 |
2.5 average | bobbi | October 5th 12 |
4.0 excellent | Lucido | October 4th 12 |
4.0 excellent | gnotnek | September 8th 12 |
5.0 classic | raithen | August 22nd 12 |
4.5 superb | abysmo | May 13th 12 |
5.0 classic | balaz3 | April 29th 12 |
4.0 excellent | Elisa09 | April 4th 12 |
4.0 excellent | Phate72 | April 1st 12 |
4.5 superb | Host78 | March 21st 12 |
3.5 great | virpi | February 25th 12 |
4.0 excellent | Leyland | February 18th 12 |
4.5 superb | keeno | February 3rd 12 |
4.0 excellent | tmm87 | December 29th 11 |
4.0 excellent | boleyn2 | November 19th 11 |
5.0 classic | ElDev | November 9th 11 |
5.0 classic | aguzman | October 18th 11 |
4.0 excellent | agrian | October 2nd 11 |
4.5 superb | modey3 | September 18th 11 |
3.5 great | cinnas | September 13th 11 |
5.0 classic | Bossie | September 11th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Drawkcab | September 3rd 11 |
3.0 good | stfrnz | August 17th 11 |
4.5 superb | GenBK | August 10th 11 |
3.5 great | sharmz | August 10th 11 |
3.5 great | seifer | August 4th 11 |
3.5 great | Ladakh | July 12th 11 |
4.5 superb | Opaque | July 9th 11 |
5.0 classic | Cayit | March 31st 11 |
4.0 excellent | iggy00 | March 18th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Nagrarok | February 28th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Jips | February 27th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Voivod STAFF | February 22nd 11 |
4.5 superb | Manic_ | January 16th 11 |
4.5 superb | Pillbox | November 15th 10 |
4.0 excellent | ECRbubs | October 23rd 10 |
4.0 excellent | Sconza | October 21st 10 |
4.5 superb | easolet | October 12th 10 |
4.5 superb | IAJP | August 14th 10 |
4.0 excellent | djigor | July 31st 10 |
4.5 superb | lkd | July 13th 10 |
4.0 excellent | DrThodt | July 12th 10 |
5.0 classic | Yusuf | June 3rd 10 |
3.5 great | FLRTE | March 10th 10 |
3.5 great | MrGM | February 14th 10 |
4.5 superb | Smevin | February 7th 10 |
5.0 classic | chaos17 | November 25th 09 |
5.0 classic | aeuk | November 16th 09 |
3.5 great | ferrum | November 4th 09 |
4.5 superb | avestin | October 23rd 09 |
3.5 great | JesusV4 | September 29th 09 |
4.0 excellent | Thujon | September 12th 09 |
4.0 excellent | Titan50 | August 23rd 09 |
4.5 superb | MTEK | April 2nd 09 |
4.0 excellent | kingsoby1 EMERITUS | March 28th 09 |
4.0 excellent | godhell | November 30th 08 |
4.0 excellent | kygermo | August 19th 08 |
4.0 excellent | das4776 | August 8th 08 |
4.0 excellent | Kaleid | December 18th 06 |
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