Customer Reviews

Paper Monsters

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, who would have guessed? Dave Gahan made not only a fine fine album, but also one that easily overshadows his fellow bandmate's Counterfeit 2, and could rival Exciter any day.

Let me start saying that I love DM, I have all the albums, and most of the singles. BC, V, SOFAD and U, are in my view their best, and Exciter seemed okay, but a little worn out and uninspired. So I didn't think Counterfeit2 or Paper Monsters would be any better, but know I admit how wrong I was.

Paper Monsters brings back the freshness and sense of aventure DM used to have. I'll explain song by song:

1-DIRTY STICKY FLOOR: The radio-friendly hit. It sound a bir like DM in the SOFAD era, something between Rush and My Joy. A nice song, and good opener.
2-HOLD ON: So the question was "now what?" And here comes this gentle, soulful ballad. Somewhere between "The Love Thieves" and "Goodnight Lovers".
3-A LITTLE PIECE: Atmosphere! It is all about atmosphere! A really slow song, reminiscent of Higher Love, even In Your Room (SOFAD version).
4-BOTTLE LIVING: Rocking again. Dave plays harmonica in this bluesy tune. A reference in the DM catalogue is not easy, could be something of a "The Doors meets Depeche Mode".
5-BLACK AND BLUE AGAIN: A mid tempo, semi obscure song. A little bluesy too. The verse of Useless could be something to compare it to, but it is all Dave.
6-STAY: Great ballad! Remember when DM seemed to make songs like Waiting For The Night" effortlesly? Well this is it. A powerful, very emotional, fluid, touching song. Minimal arrangements, soulful singing.
7-I NEED YOU: Probably the only song that seems a bit rough, as if it still needed some arranging. This is the most danceable song in the album, with the kind of dry machine sound that DM used in Music For The Masses (Nothing, for example), but past the nineties.
8-BITTER APPLE: Ever heard the Beatles' White Album? There is a song in there titled "Goodnight", very much like this one. Dave sings over strings, and when he gets to the chorus, a strange but beautiful vocal arrange makes the song stand out.
9-HIDDEN HOUSES: The best song in the entire album. Again, remeber classical DM at their best? Think of Clean, something like that. This one is a song that would shine even among the best DM songs. Definitely, this is his crowning achievement.
10-GOODBYE: A rare, haunting atmospheric song. This is the one most difficult to get used to, but that is saying a good thing, because it's mistery requires you to dig deeper and deeper.

So, not only do I use URGE you to get this, but also, I think now it is the time for DM to open up and include one or two Dave Gahan songs in the next album. It is about time. Listen to this album and you will be thinking as I do. And wouldn't it be wonderful?

I concur with the other reviewer. This is not only better than Martin's "Counterfeit 2" release, but I think I actually like it better than "Exciter" - at least in part. While musically this is a very strong solo release, the lyrics are nowhere near Martin Gore-level. But as a whole, this is one excellent record, with not a bad cut to be found. Much less bombastic and more subdued than most Depeche fare, and Dave's vocals are, as always, excellent. I mean, that's what I've loved so much about Depeche over the years anyways is Dave's voice, so this is the next best thing to a new DM album for me. But let's hope these two solo projects are not signaling the end of the Mode, though! I'm still waiting for another "Violator"!!

David Gahan may be the voice of DP, but he isn't the soul and body of the group. This fact is apparent with Paper Monsters.

I don't want to perform a comparison between this album and those of Depeche Mode, but the fact of the matter is that is exactly what must take place.

Without a doubt, there would be no Depeche Mode if it were not for Martin Gore. He IS the body and soul of Depeche Mode to David Gahan's voice of the same. To further my simile, a voice without a body and soul could only be hollow - and that is what this album is - hollow.

Don't get me wrong - I'm an enormous DP fan. I'm a huge Gahan fan (I just wish he'd get his personal life sorted out). But, I've long since acknowledged that blind alliance is a futile effort in any endeavor.

The songs in Paper Monsters are flat, even with Gahan's rich voice. The orchestrations are not full; and lyrically there is no variation in them. For these, it seems, we are in need of Martin Gore.

I don't dislike Paper Monsters, I just don't like it as much as I would like to. However, it's still new and I haven't really digested the whole thing at once (I've found this to often be necessary with later DP albums). I loved Violator from start to finish from the moment I heard it, then when Songs of Faith and Devotion came out, it took me a while to learn to like it. The same happened with Ultra. That's because each time DP cranks out an album it sounds just a bit different. They are a cutting edge group and have been since their inception. If the group's name was any indication (Depeche Mode is french for "fast fashion"), then they have given us what they promise.

If he is following under that mandate, then Gahan is certainly making the appropriate strides. However, I don't think this is an intentional transformation. I think that Gahan has created an album that is his own - and frankly it's just not as good as it could/should be.

Save for the Welsh band Melys's release of Casting Off Pearls, I haven't been excited about music in quite a while. Then comes along Dave Gahan with this beautifully pieced album. It's kind of wonderful. The song that really hooked me is Bitter Apple. "If I close my eyes.. you're mine tonight". I don't really care to review this album.. but I had to review it to give it 5 stars. I've been playing it non-stop for over two weeks.. still not tired of it. Saint Etienne's Finisterre is also pretty good. Dunno about Gore's Counterfeit2.. haven't really listened to it. Ramble ramble ramble.

The front man for depeche mode has released a solo album that is well written. Many people did not know that dave could write his own songs but he has. The whole album is very well done, from dirty sticky floors, hold on, bottle of living, and I need you. You could say that there is not a bad song on this album and the album flows from song one to song 10. Dave has shown us his creative musical side that was well worth the wait.

This is a good album by depeche modes frontman. There is not one bad song on the album. Bottle living for me is a good track with an excellent feel. The album flows real well from the first track to the last track and the songwriting is not bad at all.

I do think this is a good album by Depeche Mode's singer. More than by his style or by his ability as composer, I was attracted bcuase of his very personal voice, and so I wasn't disappointed. The songs are a bit harder than the latest DM songs which, in my humble opinion (I refer to Ultra and Exciter) were a bit trite and bland. They range from let's call them 'electro-glam' songs to DMish ballads, with some touches of industrial, rock and pop.

HOWEVER, what struck me most, and I hope you don't take it as an offence, is the feeling grown in me that Dave gahan is cheating us, pulling our legs, you know. Why? well, he has been raving against electronic music for the last 10 years or so, he has been saying in almost every interview I've read that he is mainly in love with hard rock music. Then, when I listen to this album, which is a good one, and I find a more electronic sound, in the vein of Depeche Mode, I can't help feeling that, although his compositions are surely personal and drawn from his really sincere inner emotions, the wrappage, the musical envelope that is the music (the instruments used, the sound production, etc) are designed just to please DM fans. It seems obvious to me he was afraid to take the risk of disconcerting DM fans despite his real musical likes. Well, that's what I think, though I may be wrong, of course.
But all in all, it's a good album, an excuse for listening again to one of the most personal voices nowadays even though the musical expression may be a bit trite and not very groundbreaking actually.

For a first release, it's pretty good. Especially when you've been singing everything Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher have been writing for this many years.

A few of the songs on here are pretty hard to get used to. I've had this album for almost three years now and some of the songs like "Black And Blue Again", "Stay" and "Bitter Apple" still elude me. Yes, they have (somewhat of a) tune, but they're just not very catchy at all.

The standouts on this album are the very pop "Dirty Sticky Floors", minimalistic "Hold On", the "I Feel You" inspired "Bottle Living" and the infectious "I Need You". I think Dave should have included "A Song For Europe" on here as well. That's one of his other excellent tracks... well techinically not his, since it's by Roxy Music, but nevertheless it should have been here.

In fact, I can't believe that Counterfeit2 by Martin Gore actually has a lower user rating than Paper Monsters here on Amazon.com because in my opinion, Counterfeit2 is pretty damn flawless.

That said, if you're a fan of the darker songs by DM plus you lean on to the industrial NIN/Haujobb/FunkerVogt sphere then you will probably really love this.

Wow he should write more music it is awesome. I love this album. Its one of my favs right now. If your a fan of depeche buy it.

Being a fan of Depeche Mode, I gave this a try...and well....it's ok. It has some good songs like Bottle Living and Dirty Sticky Floors, Stay and I Need You are close seconds. The lyrics can be Martin Gore inspired sometimes and Vince Clarke other times. It's a good first album, but I'll be expecting something special next time.

I'd prefer to listen to any DM albums or Martin Gore albums over this and usually do, but there are times when I do want to listen to it, but not very many.