"Free" Is A Must Have For "Playing The Angel"
Mr. | USA | 10/25/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well, DM's 11th studio album: "Playing The Angel", is out, and as always, there's much debate amongst the fans on how it measures up. It's an album that definitely requires multiple listens to truly appreciate what it has to offer. Dave Gahan gets his first crack at writing for a depeche mode album and, now having Paper Monsters under his belt, doesn't waste the opportunity, with "Suffer Well" (gotta love that guitar riff) & "Nothing's Impossible" being two of the best songs on the album. He's never sounded better. Martin Gore's "Precious" is a standout song all its own (and is the first from the album to obtain single status). No doubt one of the most private and personal songs of his career, dealing with his own divorce and having to handle how it affects his children.
"A Pain That I'm Used To" is the opening song that grabs your attention, at first, with a loud noise (like was done with "I Feel You" or, yes, "The Dead Of Night"). It really prepares you for what lies in store, with it's very bleak and moody electronic broodery, that has a nice beat to it. "John The Revelator" & "The Sinner In Me" are the two most religiously referenced tracks on the album ("JTR" is also very danceable too). It's interesting how Martin perceives religion in his songs, considering he himself has never admitted to being very religious. "TSIM" also contains another guitar riff by Martin towards the end of the song, that sounds a bit erratic in certain spots, but is still quite cool and very catchy.
Like just about every DM album since Some Great Reward (save Black Celebration), Martin takes on lead vocals for two songs for this album: "Macro" & "Damaged People". "Macro" is a twangy tune with some interesting lyrics, but "Damaged People" is more of a standout between the two, with it's rather playful opening. I could swear that the chorus of the song reminded me a little of a song Erasure did back in the 90's, ironically titled: "Home". They may have used similar instrumentation.
"Lillian" is a fast moving song about a fast, seductive, and manipulative femme fatale, that really revs up the rather slower moving second half of the album. Dave's wonderful way of singing seductively about being abused and manipulated by the fairer sex gives off this S&M feeling that you can't help deny is there. DM have always been so good with this kind of subject matter, and they probably always will.
"The Darkest Star" at nearly 7 minutes, initially ends the album
with it's slow melody (and some very nice singing by Dave). The problem is that it's too slow for its own good and not the sort of way one would like a Depeche Mode album to end...slowly. Thankfully, the Japanese CD Edition of "Playing The Angel" includes a track that many feel should've been on the album to begin with: "Free". This is a great track. A GREAT TRACK! Having it included as the final song on the CD gives "Playing The Angel" exactly what it needed, a fast moving, grandiose ending, with Dave hitting every move and groove, lyrically and physically, giving the listener the icing on the cake they so desperately desired. It may be pricey, but if you feel the same, I highly recommend you seek this Japanese CD Edition out to have "Free" officially included on this wonderful album. You will not regret it.
The anger, the angst, the melancholy is all here. "Playing The Angel" shows DM pulling out all the stops and doing what they do best: making cutting edge, state of the art, electronic music. Again, grab up the Japan CD so you can have "Free" ending the album. It really makes a huge difference and will not disappoint. Here's to the continued success to the boys from Basildon.
"Playing The Angel" - "Pain And Suffering In Various Tempos"
Stay Devoted!"
The voice of DM
James Yekrang | San Francisco, CA | 10/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I couldn't wait until I could get my hands on this album. Been tiered of listening to most of the so called music of today's generation (with some exception of-course) and when I finally got it, which is over 10 days now, I have not been able to stop listening to it. This album really grows on you and if you are fan, then it is even more of a treat. I have two kids, 14 and 9 and they have turned into a fan. They sing along and they tell me that it's grown on them.
So, if you are thinking about it, I'd say go for it. Listen to it at least two or three times by yourself and turn it up loud. This will be an album that you'll listen to for a long time to come and make some really go memories (hopefully)"
"Free" One of the best tracks on the album
Clubber Lang | NYC | 03/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought the US release of PTA when it came out last fall and found out about the Japanese import which has the bonus track "Free" on it a little later. I've heard it was also icluded as one of the b-sides to the UK release of the "Precious" single and been hearing good things about the song from the DM site etc so i was curious of how it was. and waddya know ? my GF gets the jap-import for me for X-mas. now, i must say Playing The Angel is an awesome album on its own, im proud to say that, DM really has never put out a bad album. Some ppl say they didnt feel Exciter too much but i think they are just thrown off by so much down tempo songs on it. it didnt really bother me cuz it was so different than whatever theyve done before and like all DM albums had few instant classics. Now, back to PTA. i gotta say ALL songs are really good with some that stand out more than others. If i can compare it to any of their prior albums, it would probabaly be a cross between Violator & Ultra, i know some would call that an overstatement, but time will tell. The final/bonus track on this import, "Free" is just perfect, since the album ends with a slow electronic ballad "The Darkest Star" you kinda feel a bit drained, then "Free" comes on and your up again ready to move ! Depeche Mode has done it again with PTA and i'll be seeing them @ Coachella in April."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1