Customer Reviews

Paper Monsters

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As the singer/frontman for Depeche Mode, Dave Gahan has that same mystique that many lead singers have. Like Ian Curtis from Joy Division, or Michael Hutchence from INXS, he was a man too beautiful for words, too good a singer for the trappings of the genre he was in, and too troubled for his fans to see. The difference is...Dave Gahan survived, and now he presents us with his debut solo album to tell us about it.

"Paper Monsters" is a very personal album, with Dave giving us his account of the dangers of his past addictions and failed relationships, and how he lived through them to make it to the good place he's obviously in at this point in his life. It's an introspective album, but it's not depressing or boring. The music (which was co-written with fellow '80's survivor, Psychadelic Furs guitarist Knox Chandler) is very well thought out, a combination of ambient electronics with punchy blues guitar. Songs like "Dirty Sticky Floors," "Bottle Living," and "Black and Blue Again" sound like some edgy new style of electro-blues, with Dave giving his voice the same edge he did on Depeche Mode's "Songs of Faith and Devotion." Then there are the softer moments, like "Stay," "Hold On," "A Little Piece," and "Bitter Apple," which show just what kind of range the man has (not just vocally, but emotionally). These are the kinds of songs that stick with you. They speak volumes not just about Gahan's life, but about everybody's lives. The themes are familiar, making this music one can relate to. There's something for everybody here.

It's not Depeche Mode...there are moments that are akin to Depeche's sound, but Dave Gahan has shown himself to be a versatile singer and performer, and this album shows us his human side apart from the image he conveys in the band. It's a great album to just "chill" to. It's not too abrasive, but it's not really easy-on-the-ears either. These songs will get to you, but in such a way that you'll be glad you heard it. The accompanying DVD is an excellent insight into how the album was made, and how Dave is approaching his life and his performance. I love Depeche Mode's music, and while I love "Ultra" and "Exciter," I don't think it was until this album that I really appreciated and felt grateful for the fact that Dave Gahan didn't become another casualty of the sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll lifestyle. This album makes me happy he survived, and his words and music show that he's happy too. It's not happy music per se, but it comes from that good place that you just know the man has churned out his best work. I look forward to more from him, either solo or in Depeche Mode.

Check out "Paper Monsters." You won't be disappointed.

Nearly a quarter century since the release of his band's debut, the vocalist for Depeche Mode finally decides to release his solo album. And you know what? It's actually quite good. For over 20 years, Dave Gahan was the voice of the Mode, but he never wrote so much as a note of the music he sang. Now, for the first time ever, he assumes the duty of songwriter, and with help of producer Ken Thomas (who previously worked with Sigur Ros), he comes up with "Paper Monsters." The album offers 10 tracks of guitar-laced electronica that represents a step forward from the dark synth pop of DM. The opener and debut single, "Dirty Sticky Floors" is a nice combo of drum loops, rough guitars, and Gahan's familiar moan, while "Bottle Living" sounds like a metaphor for alcoholism (Gahan himself is a recovering addict following a nasty fling with drugs back in the 1990s). As a lyricist, Gahan isn't going to make anyone forget about Martin L. Gore, but he makes particularly strong impressions on tracks like the mellowed out "I Need You" and "Black and Blue Again," a tale of a relationship gone wrong. This is an overall impressive solo release; it doesn't stray too far from his DM roots and yet it manages to present Gahan in a fresh new light. "Paper Monsters" is available in a limited edition package with a bonus DVD. As supplemental music DVDs go, this one is a nice set. There's a short documentary featuring interviews with Gahan, who discusses the making of his solo album, as well as the nice music video to the single "Dirty Sticky Floors." We also get additional backstage footage, acoustic performances of the songs "Hold On" and "A Little Piece," and a photo gallery by the brilliant Anton Corbijn. "Paper Monsters" is really a 4-star record, but I'm giving it an extra star for the DVD, which makes it an even more attractive deal for Depeche Mode fans.

I don't normally do reviews unless I am passionate about the subject. So Here we go. First off, This is a great album, a wonderful solo effort to show what Dave can do. IF you are looking for Depeche Mode'ish' type music, you can read as much or as little into as you have the time. He was a member of Depeche Mode for 20 years so it does have some influence on his musical style.
That said, this album gets high marks just for being different. This sounds like the work of a man at peace with his wild and tragic past, and at home with being a dad and husband. I will admit it took a few listenings to get used to it. But it is a frequent player in my CD player. I work graveyards and get to wear headphones and listen to tunes all night. It is a great CD for headphones. Dave has obviously spent alot of time and effort to come up with his own sound and style. This album overall has more slow songs then "dance" ones, but those ones really rock. The slow ones seep into your brain over time. Overall, this is one excellent CD, a great first time solo effort and I look forward to more. I was also able to catch Dave's appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show, and he completely rocked the place. Any questions of him being able to still perform live should be put to rest now. This album is great for anyone, new to Depeche Mode or not. Give it a chance, you will like it.

It's typical that a novelist's first work be condemned to autobiography -- and that's exactly what listeners get out of Dave Gahan's solo release, Paper Monsters. A cardinal rule of writing, write what you know, these songs are raw, gritty and well-grounded. Dave is writing about his life, his struggles, his problems, and ultimately, his findings, while Martin Gore's lyrics tend to deal with life intelligently, on a conceptual and spiritual level. The difference between Dave and Martin's lyrics, you might say, is the difference between a lesson in life and wisdom. For those of you disappointed with lyrical quality of Dave's release, cherish Paper Monsters as a rare moment when a celebrated muscian lets you into the nitty-gritty of his life. This is a 300 paged biography summed up in an hour's worth of good music. And his second release, I'm confident, won't sound anything like this at all.

Musically, I'm surprised how much the music resembles Poe's second release, Haunted, than any Depeche Mode album. When I bought the album I was honestly expecting a sound akin to Songs of Faith and Devotion, Dave's favorite DM project, especially since he threatened to leave the band after touring Violator and gained artistic authority over the production of SOFAD. Not quite. I really wish he would have dug deeper into the blues -- more guitar, more drums, more harmonica -- and stayed away from the synthesizers that have encouraged comparisons to Ultra and Exciter.

Overall I give it 4 stars: 5 for the lyrics and 3 for the music. Congrats Dave. This is a mighty successful debut, I've got third row seats to see you in San Antonio and look forward to hearing more. Please keep coming back.

Having listened to Depeche Mode for like 25 years now. Yeah it has been 25 years since they first released their first single, I was a bit apprehensive to buy this solo effort from Dave Gahan. Gahan has some very good vocals and he has definetely become better and better with each year. Since he has not written any of the songs for DM (first Vince Clarke and since his departure after their first album, Martin Gore) I was a nit cautious to what he would his lyrics would sound like. T my utter surprise they are very well written and Gahan shows himself to be a more the decent lyricist. Hearing this album one wonders why he has not done a solo album prior to this since it seems like he is really enjoying himself whilst singing and creating this record. To compare it with DM is not fair since the band sounds quite different and Martin writes totally different lyrics. Still and all, this is an excellent album and he should not wait 25 years to make his next solo effort.

Let me say at the outset that I believe the best Depeche Mode work spanned from Black Celebration through Songs of Faith and Devotion. That doesn't mean they haven't done good work since then, but it hasn't been as consistently good since.

Having said that, I am not going to lament the synth-blues sound that permeates Paper Monsters. Dave's solo debut sounds a fair amount like Ultra, and I don't think he should have to apologize for that resemblance. "Dirty Sticky Floors" is Dave's new "Barrel of a Gun;" "Black and Blue" feels a lot like "Useless;" and "Stay," "A Little Piece," and "Bitter Apple" all feel like cousins to "Home," "Insight," and "The Love Thieves." These tunes sound good in their own right, and stand up well both in comparison to DM and as Dave's initial solo work.

Where Paper Monsters is weak is in some of the lyrical choices. DM have largely been successful because Martin and Dave work well together. Dave is a great singer and I like his taste in music, but his lyrics are lacking in places. ("Bitter Apple" is not one of them -- it's an exceptional song, probably the best on the album, reflecting the mellow wisdom found only in retrospection.) Is Paper Monsters perfect? No, not quite. Is it DM? No, not quite that either. But there is no reason why any artist, in any genre, should have to plead with his fans for not being the same way he was fifteen years ago. There is a maturity to Dave's voice and music that should not be bartered away in the name of some childish insistence on maintaining the sounds we already know and love.

If you are a DM fan, you won't necessarily be happy with Paper Monsters. But if you love Dave's singing voice, and can allow an elder statesman like Dave to explore musical territory without holding him to anything, you might have a new favorite CD. If only Martin's Counterfeit2 sounded this good.

I've been a fan of DM since Ultra. Now I have almost all of the discography. I must say that this album is a little bit too slow for me. I would be glad to see here more songs like Dirty Sticky Floor. But it's not my favourite on the album. My favourite is definitelly Black & Blue Again with its magnificent violins. Next to it is I need you, with the great vocal of Dave. I've recently been to his concert in Katowice, Poland. I don't know how Dave did it, but the album sounded even better. Dave managed to give more life to all these bedtime songs. But I'm not here to write about the concert (which was great by the way). It's not sure that you gonna love this album, just because you're DM fan. This album definitelly differs from DM works. Martin's Counterfeit's are much more similar. There is far more rock and guitars on this LP. And one thing I'm sure about this one is that Dave's vocal is better than ever. So if you love DM for his voice, you should be 100% satisfied with it. I'm looking forward to hearing his next album. Hopefully a bit faster and darker. I cannot say I don't like these bedtime slow-motion songs, but I think that they should be separated by some sharper tunes.

Lots of listeners will be disappointed upon realizing that, either: a) this album is too much like DM and therefore not the surprising departure you'd expect from a solo outing; or b) this album does not have DM's unique, twisted point of view and is therefore not worth your time. BOTH WRONG!! Dave has produced a cd with a quirky sense of humor, catchy, simple song constructions and, of course, his matchless vocals. This collection has charms that you wouldn't find in a DM product - mainly, that it doesn't take itself so seriously. At the same time, it is laced with bluesy basslines and blue-eyed soul.

As a long time DM fan, I bought this album before I heard it. All of DMs fans have waited a LONG time for a solo effort from Dave, and this is it. It will definitely please any fan, but if you're new, you won't be disappointed. There are edgy songs (Bottle Living - which has a "Personal Jesus" feel,and Dirty, Stick Floors) and M. Gore inspired ballads (Hold On, Stay) that will please long time fans and bring in more. If your new to Depeche Mode, start with Music For the Masses, but then buy Paper Monsters!

This album is amazing. Simple as that.

Depeche Mode's most recent album Exciter was any thing but exciting and Martin Gore seems to be losing his touch lyrically and musically. Dave Gahan comes off in full force on this album. Exploring every thing from soft humble songs to acid-blues rockers. Allow me to roll 'em out.

1. "Dirty Sticky Floors" - First single, first track. Gahan is in your face right away and he never backs down. It's hard, it's danceable, it's real.

2. "Hold On" - Late night driving music right here. Excellent song that grows more beautiful with each listen.

3. "A Little Piece" - Another beautiful, tender, and warm song. Dave's lyrics (with help by Knox Chandler) are original and refreshing. By now you can hear Martin Gore shaking in his boots.

4. "Bottle Living" - Acid-blues at its best. This takes us back to the late 80's and early 90's when Dave cut loose with vengeance on songs such as "Personal Jesus" and "I Feel You".

5. "Black And Blue Again" - Wow. Dark, sharp, scary, and not apologizing for any of it. Standout track here. Explodes with beautiful darkness.

6. "Stay" - Best song on the album. Dave's voice has never sounded better. Simple, beautiful, amazing.

7. "I Need You" - A must-be-single. The mood lightens with this pop gem. You'll be singing along with the chorus in no time.

8. "Bitter Apple" - Laid-back and warm. Perhaps the weakest track on the album but still good. More late night driving music.

9. "Hidden Houses" - The dark horse of the album. Great chorus and great instrumentation. Dave's voice shines once again through the dark.

10. "Goodbye" - Can't say enough about the closer. Dark, moody, real, and every thing we've grown to love about Dave.

Dave has got every thing he needs to succeed on his own and it is evident once the curtain falls on Paper Monsters. Maybe we'll see some Gahan songs on the next Depeche album (I sure hope so) and hopefully we'll see some more solo offerings from Dave.

Thank you.