ARTIST: Depeche Mode
TITLE: Violator
LABEL: Mute
GENRE: Pop
BITRATE: 212kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 47min total
RELEASE DATE: 2006-04-03
RIP DATE: 2006-03-30

Track List

01. World In My Eyes                4:27
02. Sweetest Perfection             4:43
03. Personal Jesus                  4:56
04. Halo                            4:30
05. Waiting For The Night           6:07
06. Enjoy The Silence               6:12
07. Policy Of Truth                 4:55
08. Blue Dress                      5:38
09. Clean                           5:32

Release Notes:

In a word, stunning. Perhaps an odd word to use given that Violator continued in the
general vein of the previous two studio efforts by Depeche Mode: Martin Gore's
upfront lyrical emotional extremism and knack for a catchy hook filtered through
Alan Wilder's ear for perfect arrangements, ably assisted by top English producer
Flood. Yet the idea that this record would both dominate worldwide charts, while
song for song being simply the best, most consistent effort yet from the band could
only have been the wildest fantasy before its release. The opening two singles from
the album, however, signaled something was up. First was "Personal Jesus," at once
perversely simplistic, with a stiff, arcane funk/hip-hop beat and basic blues guitar
chords, and tremendous, thanks to sharp production touches and David Gahan's echoed,
snaky vocals. Then "Enjoy the Silence," a nothing-else-remains-but-us ballad pumped
up into a huge, dramatic romance/dance number, commanding in its mock
orchestral/choir scope. Follow-up single "Policy of Truth" did just fine as well, a
low-key Motown funk number for the modern day with a sharp love/hate lyric to boot.
To top it all off, the album itself scored on song after song, from the shuffling
beat of "Sweetest Perfection" (well sung by Gore) and the ethereal "Waiting for the
Night" to the guilt-ridden-and-loving-it "Halo" building into a string-swept
pounder. "Clean" wraps up Violator on an eerie note, all ominous bass notes and odd
atmospherics carrying the song. Goth without ever being stupidly hammy, synth
without sounding like the clinical stereotype of synth music, rock without ever
sounding like a "rock" band, Depeche here reach astounding heights indeed.