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Paper Monsters

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 9 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 19 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Mute / Reprise
Release Date: 03 June 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Alternative, Rock, Electronic
Summary
The Depeche Mode vocalist's first solo release finds him working with Sigur Ros producer Ken Thomas.
Also By This Artist: Hourglass
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Depeche Mode: Exciter Martin L. Gore: Counterfeit 2
Also On The Web: Official DM Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Q Magazine
Superior to both the last two Mode albums and [Martin] Gore's recent solo effort, Counterfeit 2. [Jul 2003, p.103]
Splendid
Despite the amount of rock and soul that Gahan tries to inject into the stew, Paper Monsters only occasionally breaks free of the Mode paradigms.
Read Full Review >Amazon.com
Lyrically autobiographical, songs deal with Gahan's trouble with relationships and intoxicants and, though they lack Gore's sense of drama and perversity, they do have a maudlin charm.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
Paper Monsters succeeds in revealing the "new" Dave Gahan, and that's what makes it a faintly embarrassing listen.
Read Full Review >ShakingThrough.net
Too much reflection equals not enough action, and Gahan's halting lyrics beg for an urgency and immediacy that Monsters doesn't deliver.
Read Full Review >Blender
Not everything is as heart-stopping as the velvety, elegiac "Bitter Apple," but there's enough quality to suggest that Depeche Mode could use a few Dave Gahan songs. [#17, p.135]
Mojo
An intriguing companion to DM's Songs of Faith and Devotion, heady with the lexicon of addiction and redemption. [Jun 2003, p.110]
All Music Guide
Paper Monsters is a competent solo debut, and although it doesn't stray too far from the Depeche mold, Gahan does manage to put his own stamp on the songs.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Gahan's lyrical moochings are inevitably less assured without his umbilical cord to [Martin] Gore, at times bordering on moon-in-June banality. [Jun 2003, p.108]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 7.4 (out of 10) based on 19 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Lisa B gave it a10:
Have always been a great Depeche fan and Dave can do no wrong in my opinion - what a voice! I also admire him greatly for staying clean and dry and for opening up his heart in this album.
maritns k gave it a1:
very poor work. just a waste of time...
V. gave it a 1:
The lyrics are the only part Mr. Gahan wrote entirely alone - and imo they are weak. And for the music... I listened to the album several times to find some kind of an own style, something that made it a unit - nothing. For me its just an overproduced bunch of ideas that were not ready to be songs. Sorry, but if he would have been a real newcomer, most critics would not even have taken notice.
David P gave it a 9:
Really good album but can compare with the show. Oh my God it was just too good, and i got his autograph and took picture of him.
MATT D gave it a 7:
I have always been a devoted DM fan. I find this album, over all, liitle overindulgent and melancholy. I still love Daves style and the rich sound, but it needs more shining stars like Dirty Sticky Floors and Hidden Houses. Hats off to Dave for overcoming his adversities. His self contentment is evident in the DVD.
Craig C gave it a 9:
Have been DM Fan since 84 and now a Dave (solo) Fan .very good music ,heart felt lyrics.Got tickets to see him live in Aug .
Luca gave it a 9:
Much better than Gore's solo album (which is too boring for my likes..). A great first album and with no doubt best tracks are "hidden Houses" and "Bitter Apple".
