Vince Clark Obviously Held Them Back...
Marcin M. Lewandowski | Salisbury, MD USA | 02/21/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is Depeche Mode's debut album and it is a little, well...gay. I mean "Boys Say Go"? C'MON! I am so glad they got rid of Vince after this one, because as much as I neither condemn nor approve alternative lifestyles, such direction never was and never will be a good idea for DM. On their sophomore effort, they will depart almost immediately into still lovey-dovey, but more advanced musicianship and lyrical prowess. As it was, "Speak and Spell" is a decent album, and certainly WAY better than the pop noise released today. A few tracks foreshadow DM's future excellence: "A Photograph", "Just Can't Get Enough", "Torah, Torah, Torah" etc., but even though I own this CD and generally like it, it is hardly DM's best.It simply doesn't age as well as their future stuff. They are still my favorite non-metal band and always will be above U2 in my book."