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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.

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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.

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Pitchfork

Paper Monsters succeeds in revealing the "new" Dave Gahan, and that's what makes it a faintly embarrassing listen.

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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.

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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.

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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".

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Paper Monsters

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