Customer Reviews

Best of Depeche Mode, Vol. 1 (CD/DVD)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great collection of songs from Depeche Mode. Is it really the "Best Of"? That is up to debate, because every DM fan has a different idea of what their best songs are (I feel "Stripped" & "Freelove" shouldn't have been omitted). At least with the Singles collection, there was no debate; they were officially released singles. Regardless of what hierarchy these tunes fall in the DM catalog, they are still great.

As for the new track Martyr, it is a great song. Wonderful synthesizers, guitar and vocals, overall a classic Depeche Mode track. Recorded during the Playing the Angel sessions, the band felt that this song didn't fit the "dark" mood of PTA, so it was left off the album. However, it has found it's home on this Best Of compilation.

As for the second disc, it is a DVD with all the videos featured on the CD (the first disc). Sadly, many of these videos are featured on the Singles 86-98 DVD set. Therefore, many people will be paying twice for videos they already have. I am sure many fans who are buying this Best Of set, already have the Singles 86-98 DVD set, which where most of these videos have already been featured. However, videos like "Dream On" & "Suffer Well" make it worth the investment for this new set.

Depeche Mode is an amazing band and deserve recognition for all the work and contributions they have made to the music industry. This collection is also a very fan centered release, and Depeche Mode has always been appreciated of their fans. Which makes them a real class act. I'm already looking forward to Best Of Volume 2.

"Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1" is the fourth hits compilation from the Basildon quartet-turned-trio, but it's the first to cover their entire 25 year recording history. With the exception of "Black Celebration," the CD samples every studio album in their catalogue, with an unrelased track "Martyr," recorded during the "Playing the Angel" sessions. The bonus DVD has a collection of their music videos, though it does make a few omissions (including 1982's "See You"). There's also a documentary featuring the band along with management, producers, and former members Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder. Those who own the recently released CD/DVD reissues will recognize this clip, as it features interviews also used for the documentaries included in the CD/DVD reissues. This hits collection isn't flawless (no "Question of Time"), but for a single-disc collection, you can't go wrong with "Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1."

Been a fan of Depeche Mode for 22 years? Got every scrap of stuff they've ever made? Even all the singles individualy and in box sets? Then you'd expect me to say you don't need this, right? Well, wrong, I love Depeche Mode a lot, and I'm a completionist, so I had to have this. And, this version includes a dvd with the videos to go with the songs, as well as a little documentary, and the new song Martyr. I have gone along with this band, even though I still suffer from Alan Wilder leaving, even if they don't want to include the video for Get the Balance Right anywhere, and even after seeing the "video" for Martyr. Despite the fact that this compilation might seem like overkill in a year where we've had singel releases, 6 remasters and a live from Milano dvd, I'm really happy with this set, both in terms of the look and what you get with it. But would I have bought it without the DVD? Probably... I guess I'm a fan.

The DVD contains the following videos, many of which were
previously unreleased on DVD:

Just Can't Get Enough - NEW to DVD
Everything Counts - NEW to DVD
People Are People - NEW to DVD
Master And Servant - NEW to DVD
Shake The Disease - NEW to DVD
Stripped
A Question Of Time
Strangelove
Never Let Me Down Again
Behind The Wheel
Personal Jesus
Enjoy The Silence
I Feel You
Walking In My Shoes
Barrel Of A Gun
It's No Good
Only When I Lose Myself
Dream On - NEW to DVD
I Feel Loved - NEW to DVD
Enjoy The Silence 04 (Mike Shinoda mix) - NEW to DVD
Precious - NEW to DVD
Suffer Well - NEW to DVD


Doesn't get 5 stars because I'm a bit tired of record
companies re-releasing essentially the same thing in
slightly different versions to rip off fans. That said,
this collection is a must for any DM fan.

To put things plainly and clearly mindful shopper...This is a first true "BEST OF" Depeche Mode.

Each collection prior to this release only showcased a set of singles in a consecutive order. I am referencing "Catching Up With Depeche Mode" from 1986, "The Singles: 86-98" from 1998, and "The Singles: 81-85" from 1999.

Finally, a remastered set of songs (selected by Daniel Miller who needs no introduction), that span the entire career of the band. Might I say that the proof is in the pudding! If you are an archivist or just a
dedicated fan, you must own this set. Beautifully packaged with liner notes written by Paul Morley co-founder of The Art Of Noise, also responsible for the success of the infamous Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Each single is noted in random order, which keeps you guessing the whole way through! Kudos!

"Martyr" the brand new single sits perfect amongst this collage of pain and pleasure. In fact I might have to say that this track is one of their best of the last 10 years! Pure ear candy my friends.

Depeche Mode as a whole create music that transcends all generations. Their songs merge with you when you are young and continue into your adult life. We can identify with the lyrics, and my friends, I am very sure that each of you have several memories no matter how vivid or remarkable reflected in a Depeche Mode song. Best Band on the planet? I say without refute!

The DVD is the treasure! Consecutively, I say with a chuckle, 23 videos from 1980-2006. Most of us have these already, but the real easter egg is the short film documenting each song!!! My personal thanks to DM for stuffing these little bits in their releases!

We simply just can't get enough!

Most of the big hits are here,from the bouncy 1981 U.K smash "Just Can't Get Enough" and 1985's USA Top 20 "People Are People" to the modern-rock dance hits "Strangelove","Shake The Disease" and "Never Let Me Down Again" to the breakthough smashes "Personal Jesus","Enjoy The Silence" and "I Feel You"(sorry,no "Policy Of Truth") to such recent highlights "Dream On","It's No Good","Precious","Suffer Well" (the last two from 2005's "Playing The Angel")and the unreleased track "Martyr",all in fine remastered sonic glory thanks to engineer Simon Heyworth.The DVD features most,if not all, of their videos in great picture and sound and a short but entertaing 30-minute film showcasing and discussing the DM songs featured on this collection.All in all,an excellent introduction to the music of Depeche Mode for the novice.Bring on Vol. 2!

This compilation may seem pretty pointless. There are two singles compilations from DM right now. It is most likely that fans already own these. But some fans maybe a little turned off by the trend of recent reissues, beatifully remastered and packed with extras, but for a price. Here is a collection of some of DMs best with the remastering and a new track. The remastering is superb, even if it is not entirely neccessary. The new track is not really noteworthy. What makes this collection worthwhile is the DVD edition. For fans of DM who have bought the prior video collection, there are 10 videos from the pre and post 86-98 period and a new short film. That alone makes it worthwhile.

For someone who was originally planning to be dissapointed with another best of collection, I was actually impressed with what into it. The cd has an interesting non chronological sequencing, making it for interesting listening. It's also a good standalone release for casual fans who want the pure absolute hits and then some without having to buy a number of collections. The hits are here: Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Just Can't Get Enough, and a bit more. It's not complete and fans will debate it, but for the casual fan, it's plenty. While I'm not a fan of repeat compilations, this is an OK compilation, made great by the inclusion of the DVD.

Yes, there have been two singles collections from Mode out, and there is a single-disc version of this, without the music videos and the "short film" overview of DM. This is supposed to be a "best of," although that's what makes it a slight disapponitment: They had good enough album cuts to appear on the compilation. "One Caress," "Pimpf," "Here Is the House,": Now THAT is the best of DM of the past 25 years. The only track I really felt they could have left out was "See You." In spite showing that the band could have a hit without Vince Clarke and that they represent "A Broken Frame," I find that track bland, and it isn't the best-aged of DM's songs. It seems, in this respect, more like a "greatest hits" compilation, as none of the songs from "Black Celebration" were included, and those only got to the top 30 in the UK and did nothing in the US. Still, the other 17 make it worth it; even though I never got into "Shake the Disease," it's a fan favorite and deserves its place on here. That and the new "Martyr" are the only two tracks not to make a proper DM album ("STD" was single-only at the time). With the exception of four tracks on here (one new), everything else has been released on a Depeche Mode singles collection. It doesn't go in chronologic order like those two; it doesn't have to. Everyone needs some DM, so I don't mind this release. Warning to the new ones, though: You might get addicted & then buy everything with the band's name pretty much.
Case in point: Last year, of the studio albums, I just had "Violator" and "Playing the Angel." I liked those two so much, I've ended up picking everything up, with the exception of 1983's "Construction Time Again" (which I may come around to getting).

a satisfying primer for newcomers to the world of Depeche; but true devotees will consider owning everything they ever released essential. For it is in the appreciation of Gore's off the beaten path songwriting that one truly comprehends the majesty of the band.

CD is a rehash, but the DVD makes it all worth while