User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 246 Ratings
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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- Most helpful
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NikDOct 17, 2005it is just an amazing piece of work, you need to listen a few times and then you get really addicted to it !! let the electricity flow...
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HapFOct 18, 2005Incredible. DM at purely great form.
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AramisGOct 18, 2005A really solid album. It just pisses me off thinking it is going to take another 5 yrs to get more material out of these guys when this album is so good. Sounds like they have been listening to some of the bands they influenced (Xiu Xiu, etc.).
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AlexOct 18, 2005The best album after Violator. New sound challenges and still sounds like Depeche Mode.
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GoranMOct 18, 2005it is a beautiful and mesmerising...true DM
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IanOct 19, 2005Shades of Construction Time Again and Speak and Spell - they really went back to their roots for a lot of the sound here.
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emptycansOct 19, 2005alan wilder-irreplacebale :(
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omarcOct 19, 2005
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joebOct 19, 2005No way near Violator. Not too bad though..the band is missing the unique sound of Alan Wilder. Best since Violator though
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JohnNov 9, 2005DM is inventive once again meshing violator on to form " Playing the Angel."
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GermanCOct 21, 2005Muy buen cd.... todavia no pueden superar "musica para las masas" o "violador", pero estan arriba de "sonidos de fe y devocion" y de "ultra." La primera mitad del cd es increible... la segunda mitad baja el ritmo, mucho segun mi gusto, pero en general le doy 8 puntos. todavia siguen vivos y dando guerra.... aun son lo mejores del genero por lejos. Gerdmode
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igorOct 21, 2005well ... first impession was ... disturbed, crushed and fooled around again. After several rounds of listening - it's %^@#&^ great! I love it.
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RAYVOct 21, 2005One Of Depeche Mode s Great Albums Very Good As Always
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EndorphineOct 22, 2005Very vibrant and deeply layered music, that takes hold of your brain. Good to see a varied mix of songs this time, and more upbeat.
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SteveJDec 2, 2005
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JohnDOct 25, 2005Any band that can make the same song for 20 years and still make it sound great deserves at least a 7.
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skyewOct 26, 2005Ive really enjoyed this album and i just cant get enough!
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BryanOct 27, 2005
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BroderickHOct 29, 2005A band who have been recording for 25 years produce an album which is only bettered by their best, the absolute classics "...Masses" and "Violator". Not even Bowie, Ferry or Dylan can hold a candle to this.
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OskarSNov 21, 2006It made me feel emotions that I haven´t felt since 1990. Great collection of addictive songs..
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jgFeb 21, 2006some of DM's best stuff!!!!!!
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timeOct 26, 2007
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LouiseSAug 25, 2007I'm really dissapointed. sounds like adults trying to tell what it's like being a teenager, they've simply lost it.
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TaninoMNov 13, 2005A great album by one of the best and most consistent bands in th world. My favourite tracks are Precious, John The Relevator, Nothing is Impossible and Lilian. A great reurn to form !
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MyosotisCNov 17, 2005
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DavidZNov 18, 2005Very enjoyable. A more industrial electronic sound than in recent albums. Martin's lyrics are thoughtful and interesting. I saw the live concert in Vancouver and it was excellent. It makes you realize how many great songs Depeche have written over the years. Best tracks Precious, Suffer Well (Dave Gahan wrote this - now I want to buy Paper Monsters CD) and the Darkest Star.
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AlexJNov 19, 2005After several listens, I found my enjoyment growing and the emotional depths of DM's electronic layering as rich, unique and beautifully bizzare as any previous work of theirs that has endeared me so much to this group. Playing the Angel is full of fresh new sounds, providing an all too familiar sense of awe. How do they do it?
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LilianWNov 26, 2005...I just cant get enough of Depeche Mode! Im really impressed with their new album...very very Depeche Mode-ish!! Cant express how honoured I felt (and still do -blush blush sigh sigh) seeing they came out with a song called Lilian.....with ONE L, too!! Now thats what I call justice in the world!!!
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jenniferNov 26, 2005doesn't get any better than this....live in san diego was awesome.
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erikamDec 14, 2005the best!!!
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Awards & Rankings
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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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BillboardRevels in dirty guitars and fuzzy distortion while maintaining Depeche Mode's familiar electronic sound. [22 Oct 2005]
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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]