Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward

The billing and shipping weren't the same. You didn't have to, but I do thank you.










I received this in the mail as a kick in the ass to write more of these. I wasn't expecting it, but then again, I don't expect a lot of things that happen.
It's true, I'm not familiar with Depeche Mode's Some Great Reward. Well, I was with ONE of the songs. You would think that with all this 80's that I'm exposed to, plus the fact that the 80's are cool until next year (the decade that is two decades past is always the "in" thing), that I would have heard all of this at some point. Well, I often disappoint. Here goes though, broadening my past.

I first played this through a few times in my car, and I felt like John Hughes was telling me where to drop off Judd Nelson so that we could pick up Molly Ringwald to go get dinner. Meaning: it's very 80's feeling. Which is easy for me to say, because that's what I imagine the 80's were like. So, in my mind, this is the way things were and are.
Something To Do starts out the record by making me feel like I'm supposed to be running. I don't know what I'm running from though. Oh, right, because I'm running to something. Fast paced and so fucking catchty.

Lie To Me, no, please don't. This is totally an 80's gettin' it on song. More mellow and darker than Something To Do, it has a great swaying feel to it.

People Are People is the only song I knew on this record. I never knew it was Depeche Mode though. I used to hear it when Louisville had an 80's station. Then it turned to country, then I got an iPod and left behind radio. You've heard it. If I've heard it, then you've definitely heard it before. No explanation necessary.

It Doesn't Matter comes next and makes me think that if I went to a cool music-nerd 80's prom that I would be dancing to this and then making out to it later. It's a slower one kids, but it's still a good one. Guess I'm a sucker for the slower mellow ones. That's what old age does to me. My days of pop-punk are done for.

Stories Of Old starts out slower but then brings in catchy synth and vocals. A good little kick is in this one.

Somebody slows it down again, and that is not a bad thing. It's a slower one, so of course I love it. The piano in it and ambient background noises make this a nice and relaxing song. The vocals are just as flowing as the piano, and together they sound very smooth.

Master And Servant is completely different than the last track. More of a feeling like Something To Do made me have. For you kiddos out there, this sounds like a Faint song. You know them, right? One of you is seeing them tonight! I really can tell that they got a lot of their sound from this song. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I just thought of their sound when hearing this song.

If You Want starts out slowly until the noises start happening. Picks up with a jumpy beat after that. Most of these songs make me feel like I should be at a club somewhere at 2 in the morning, this one has that feeling too. I'd still be ordering drinks for everyone because we're all doing strange dances in a dark room, even though we know it's almost time to go.

Blasphemous Rumors is the last song on this party mix. It's a long one too, but I don't mind. It has that good epic feeling that I expect of a longer song. I really love the dark but light sound of this song. Makes me feel fine that I've reached the end of the record. Not all the way fine, but it's something that I can handle.


I am happy to have heard this record, and to be able to be back at writing. No matter how much drivel there may be. As always, enjoy.


Two favourite tracks:
Lie To Me
Somebody