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Not only is Depeche Mode virtually indestructible, the pioneering British synth-pop group also keeps getting better.
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Every moment screams to be played a little bit louder and a little bit longer; because Playing the Angel is just that good.
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Like the best Depeche Mode, almost everything on the album will make an initial wowing impact while remaining layered enough in subtle details to surprise and thrill with repeated listens.
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Q MagazineSounds so sure and committed that it could be the work of a new band. [Nov 2005, p.127]
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FilterIt's got all the allure of classic D-Mode, but there's that lingering hint of taking oneself a tad too seriously. [#17, p.97]
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BillboardRevels in dirty guitars and fuzzy distortion while maintaining Depeche Mode's familiar electronic sound. [22 Oct 2005]
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Some may say it doesn't move Depeche Mode forward a great deal; I say I don't give a damn, it's a real treat and I'll have some more, please.
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'Playing the Angel' is hardly the most essential Depeche Mode album ever, but it is Depeche Mode doing what they do best.
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Urb[A] remarkable return to form. [Oct 2005, p.75]
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UncutA pleasant surprise: engaging, exciting, and a much better album than most bands can muster after 25 years together. [Nov 2005, p.106]
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Under The RadarIt's taken ten years, but our beloved Mode has returned in fast fashion. [#11, p.106]
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The album skillfully and confidently showcases all of Martin Gore’s songwriting strengths.
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Alternative PressIt's DM's ability to make you dance and look over your shoulder--sometimes simultaneously--that makes them relevant. [Dec 2005, p.212]
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MojoShows a good deal more focus than their last two studio efforts. [Nov 2005, p.104]
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Los Angeles TimesThere's an unexpected freshness to most of the songs. [16 Oct 2005]
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Entertainment WeeklyTheir most self-assured and accessible release in over a decade. [28 Oct 2005, p.83]
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It may be grim round Depeche's way, but they don't let it get in the way of a good melody.
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Sounds surprisingly vital.
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If you really are the sort of person who's been waiting with bated breath for a new Depeche Mode release, then don't worry: You'll love this. Dear everyone else: It's pretty okay.
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The formula remains largely the same, although the group adds some production tricks, dialing down the perv factor and turning up some extra chirps and bloops they haven't used before.
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New Musical Express (NME)Far from bad... but so much of it sounds like a museum piece, the glum-pop self-harmings of another time. [12 Nov 2005, p.45]
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BlenderThe second half drops off badly--the band seem to think that the tonic for a weak lyric is to slow the tempo to a crawl. [Nov 2005, p.130]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 221 out of 246
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Mixed: 14 out of 246
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Negative: 11 out of 246
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Feb 9, 2013
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Mar 25, 2023Best hits here are Precious, Suffer Well, John the Relevator and A Pain that I'm used to. Very good album. 7.5/10
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May 14, 2021