Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Masses of Stuff..., December 13, 2000
Depeche Mode aren't usually a band you see or hear much glorification about. But a career that has lasted almost 20 years speaks for itself, as the contributers to this tribute album certainly know. Having survived critical indifference (until Violator shut the critics up, then made them talk in 1990), numerous band member desertions and clinical death in the case of the magnificently gaunt frontman Dave Gahan, it's a small wonder Depeche Mode are still here. So it's pleasing to see that this tribute album doesn't just go for the well known tracks (thank God nobody's tried to improve upon Personal Jesus), but includes some choice cuts from their extensive back catalogue. Highlights of which are Gus Gus's "Monument", a darker version than DM's and in my opinion the better for it; Rabbit In The Moon's version of "Waiting for the Night" is pure delight, updating the trancey 1990 dark synth-pop to late 90's breakbeat, with heartbreaking vocals easily rivaling Martin Gore. The best track for me is God Lives Underwater's reworking of "Fly on the Windscreen", giving the track a harder, more rock edge compared to it's former keyboard-led incarnation. Surprisingly the tracks that let this album down are the ones covered by the more well known bands. Smashing Pumpkins version of "Never Let Me Down" is, frankly, at best a soothing mediocre pastiche, and at worst a lifeless stroll through the motions. Apollo Four-forty's rehash of "I Feel You" lacks the relentless pounding rhythm and intense vocal performance of the original, and surprisingly none of the tongue-in-cheek humour of Apollo Four-forty's other work shines through in this either. I can't decide whether Rammstein's version of "Stripped" is merely naively hysterical or plain trash- I just know it's stripped the original version of all it's sinister subtlety and replaced it with harsh grinding metal. Many of the tracks however have managed to encapsulate, if not emulate the sense of humour and spirit of experimentation in all of Depeche Modes work; Hooverphonic's "Shake The Disease" and Locust's "Master and Servant" are good examples. I'm not sure whether this is an album for hardcore Depeche Mode fans: you may not appreciate the different takes on your favourite songs. But for alternative music fans it is a must, if only for the sheer breadth of style represented here by artists such as The Cure, Monster Magnet and Meat Beat Manifesto.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome for people who are DM and techno fans, January 31, 2000
This CD is great! We have some great bands like `The Smashing Pumpkins' and `The Cure'. But in my opinion the best tracks comes from `Gus Gus' and `Rabbit In The Moon'. All bands made personal versions to DM songs, so many fans will not like. Just for people with open minds.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fresh Depeche !, June 17, 1999
I loved this tribute CD. A friend recorded it to me on a tape so i could listen to it and it was great: the old songs (let's be sincere: some of the first records are starting to show their age) were completely renewed, recycled, and polished. And that's the fun of a tribute CD: the songs aren't the original ones. You are listening to Smashing Pumpkins, but they aren't the Smashing Pumpkins anymore, neither it is a DM song. It is something completely new, fresh, and at the same time, well known for all of us DM fans. Some of the songs are better than others, but well, that's the way it is. I would have liked to see more known artists (how about pet shop boys ? or Duran Duran ? or Orbital ? or NIN ? well, maybe the next time).- FIVE STARS !
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is mainly Post-grunge, quite Alternative Metal, with hints of New Wave”
