Customer Reviews

Sounds of the Universe Deluxe Box Set (3 CDs/DVD/2 Books)

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After three years of waiting, Depeche Mode are back with their 12th original studio release, the epically grand titled: "Sounds Of The Universe" w/ Deluxe Boxset 3CD/DVD. The band came up with the name quite early on in the process. Songwriter, Martin Gore, has said that the title just felt like it summed up the eclectic nature of the songs and the sounds on the album. While he feels there is no overall theme, the album tends to focus on different aspects of relationships, both positive and negative. This is a lighter, more laid back `Mode, with the album a cross between 2001s "Exciter" and 2005s "Playing The Angel" with a little "Violator" thrown in for good measure. In fact, while this isn't DM at their darkest, there are very noticeable moments of darkness on the album, as well as a retro feel. This is due in part to the fact that, during the recording sessions, Martin would constantly be winning auctions on eBay for classic older electronic equipment, incorporating them into the productions. As with "Playing The Angel," Martin wrote most of the songs on "Sounds Of The Universe," with lead singer, Dave Gahan, providing writing credits for three songs (*).


"In Chains" starts things off with a one minute intro, reminiscent of how a live orchestra sounds like when they're tuning up their instruments. Only here it's a bunch of electronic equipment that's preparing to play a piece of music, with lots of strange noises and other odd sounds going off one after the other, until all is in readiness. Then what sounds like an electric organ begins to play the main melody, which almost sounds like something you might hear during a funeral procession. Until Dave Gahan's voice comes crying out with sexy allure, proclaiming his adulation for the seductive power of the woman he desires, ("The way you move, has got me yearning. The way you move, has left me burning. I know you know what you're doing to me. I know my hands will never be free. I know what it's like to be in chains") and the way she controls him ("I know I crumble when you are around. Stutter, mumble, a pitiful sound. Stagger, stumble, shackled and bound, in chains") with her sexual powers of persuasion ("You've got me dying for you. It's you that I'm living through. You've got me praying to you, saying to you anything you want me to...You've got me reaching for you. My soul's beseeching me to. You've got me singing to you, bringing to you anything you ask me to") that always wins over in the end. Martin Gore adds a funky guitar riff throughout the song that gives it a bit more bite, along with his affective backing vocalizations that are always a crowd pleaser.


"Hole To Feed,"* which sounds more like a Nine Inch Nails title, opens with a cool little beat and an array of retro electric laser beam sounds, as it's formatted interestingly in a chorus-verse-chorus motif. The song centers on the maintaining of a serious and meaningful relationship. ("We are here, we can love. We share something. I'm sure that you mean the world to me.") But with all relationships, there are pros ("You opened my eyes to a world that I could believe."..."The games that we're playing, they've left us hoping") and there are cons. ("When you get what you need, there's no way of knowing what you'll have is another hole to feed") The real point here is that real love takes hard work and dedication, and it doesn't always turn out quite the same way we expect it to be. It's a nice tune with a very poignant message that's rumored to become a future single.


"Wrong," the first single taken from the album, immediately begins with a unified chanting of the title name, four times in a row, until Dave Gahan's voice explodes into the first verse ("I was born with the wrong sign, in the wrong house, with the wrong ascendancy") subjecting the listener to a torrent of negative outcries ("I took the wrong road that lead to the wrong tendencies") and self-deprecations ("There's something wrong with me chemically, something wrong with me inherently") that signify an essence of decay and hopelessness ("I was marching to the wrong drum, with the wrong scum, pissing out the wrong energy") yet is still able to retain that one bleak glow of hopefulness ("With the wrong tune played till it sounded alright, yeah!") that rings true. The word, "Wrong," is actually used a total of 72 times (including backing vocals) on this original album version. It's got a fast groove with a heavy techno backbeat that'll have you singing along and dancing to your heart's content.


"Fragile Tension" is another excellent track from Sounds Of The Universe that also discusses the intricacies of relationships ("There's a fragile tension that's keeping us going. It may not last forever, but oh when it's flowing") and the strength and power the right kind of chemistry conjures up between two people. ("There's a strange obsession that's drawing us nearer. We don't understand it, it never gets clearer") Despite the problems and difficulties, they always seem be able to pull closer together in the end. ("Oh when we're teetering on the edge of collapse, nothing can keep us down") The song has a strongly positive and powerful message with a great beat, a wonderful guitar performance by Martin Gore, as well as a beautiful vocal job by Dave Gahan. ("There's something radical in our hands, nothing logical to our plans") This track has "Hit Single" written all over it!


"Little Soul" is indeed a soulful little tune with an introspective, yet slightly vain, viewpoint. ("My little light is going to shine. Shine out so bright and illuminate your mind. My little soul will leave a footprint") The song has some nice vocal duo moments between Gahan and Gore, with a slow, quiet, and easygoing melody that, while sounding pretty, ("I'm channeling the universe that's focusing itself inside of me...a singularity") still retains that usual DM melodic sense of melancholy. ("My little words are going to sting. Haven't you heard the pain and joy they bring?") It's a pretty tune, which calms things down a bit.


"In Sympathy" picks things right back up again with its nicely moody up tempo sound, ("They're almost falling over you. Why don't they call a truce? Whatever they are trying to do, it's of little use") as Dave plays an onlooker to a beautiful and intelligent woman, whose physical attributes bring her much notice. ("They're drowning you in compliments, trying to furnish proof. And though they speak with eloquence, there is little truth") The chorus is fraught with positive reinforcements, ("You're bright, you're strong, you know your right from wrong, at least to some degree. You're wise, you're tough, you've heard their lies enough. You smile, in sympathy") and coupled with the nice beat, Dave's great vocals, and Martin's alluring guitar work, it makes for a nice morality tale with some good-spirited heart and soul. ("And as the night begins to fade, you're heading for the door. Followed by a sad parade; you're on your own once more") Longtime fans may recognize a swirling noise throughout the song that's reminiscent of a sound used prominently in the 1984 track: "People Are People," which gives this new tune an added retro feel to it. It's a lovely song that has the makings of another "Hit Single."


"Peace," the second single taken from the album, has an affirmation vibe about it, ("Peace will come to me") along with a bit of an Erasure-esque sound quality, as Dave goes through his positive mantra ("I'm leaving bitterness behind this time, I'm cleaning out my mind. There is no space for the regrets I will remember to forget") which gives off this glowing ray of hope & happiness, ("I'm leaving anger in the past with all the shadows that it cast. There is a radar in my heart I should have trusted from the start") something you don't usually find, on a regular basis, in a Depeche Mode album, ("Just look at me. I'm a living act of holiness. Giving all the positivity that I possess, I'm going to light up the world") that's nicely done.


"Come Back"* is one of those tracks that just get better, over time, with each listen. Here we have Dave begging and pleading for that special someone to return into his life ("Come back. Come back to me. I've been waiting patiently") as he bares his soul ("Walking a thin white line between love and hate. Wasting all of my time in another world...in another place. I could use a little company, a little kindness can go a long way") and appears to be waiting in vain. ("Weeks turn into months, months turn into years. Reaching the same conclusions, gathering up the fear") Gahan, always the hopeless romantic, evokes a personal, poetic longing and sweet sincerity, ("Light will always shine in the heart of you. In truth and in reality, only blindness can hide it away") which gives the song its power and additional beauty. Nicely executed by Mr. Gahan.


"Spacewalker" is a short, nearly two minute, instrumental interlude that's reminiscent of "Easy Tiger," from 2001's Exciter. It has an outer-world, space age feel to it, with a moderate beat and an upbeat melody. While the interlude ends all too briefly, it sets things up nicely for the next track on the album.


"Perfect," again, continues the whole relationship motif of the album, this time with the idea of using other dimensions & realities to tell the story. ("On another world by another star, in another place in time. In another state of consciousness, in another state of mind") And each reality has slightly different outcomes, ("Everything was almost perfect, everything fell into place. The jury reached a different verdict, before the judge dismissed the case") some positive, ("In another lonely universe, we're laying side by side, and no one's hurt and no one's cursed and no one needs to hide") some negative. ("I didn't shoot, I didn't pull the trigger. It wasn't me. I'm just a plain and simple singer. I heard the sound, I turned my head around, to watch our love shot down") But the true constant, no matter what reality we experience, is that people, and life in general, are never easy. It's always a lot of hard work and dedication that make anything in this world worthwhile. This track is already rumored to be a future single, and that's not surprising, as it's a great track and a definite highlight from "Sounds Of The Universe."


"Miles Away / The Truth Is"* gets its odd name from the mere fact that when the band heard that Madonna already had a song out called "Miles Away," they didn't want their song to have the exact same title, so it was altered to include "The Truth Is." It's a funky tune, with Dave discussing the mundane and repetitive aspects of getting to know someone ("It's one of those conversations we've, we've had them before. The ones that leave you empty and wanting for more") and that déjà vu feeling of having done it so many times before ("Excuse me for my hesitation I've, I've met you before. Your face seems so familiar and longing for more") you start to wonder if anyone out will ever be right for you. ("With all your superstitions and empty lines, I could be just like you, withdrawn but alive") Accepting the fact that we're not always given the things we want most in this world, ("Life, it has its limitations. We all have our needs. Love could be the only answer. It lies underneath") the struggle to continue on, in the hopes of some day finding them can sometimes leave us feeling isolated. ("Your eyes, they tell me something that I understand. Your eyes, they hold the truth and the truth is, your miles away")


"Jezebel" leads us to the only lead vocal track by Martin Gore on the album. The song, which has an eerily dark calypso feel to it, focuses on the subject of female promiscuity, ("They call you Jezebel whenever we walk in. You're going straight to hell for wanton acts of sin, they say, and that I'll have to pay. But I need you just this way") and feels almost like a direct sequel to the song, "Lilian," from "Playing The Angel." ("They call you Jezebel for what you like to wear. You're morally unwell. They say you'll never care for me") But the biggest difference is perspective, whereas Dave had spoken about this topic in a much darker more objective tone, Martin's take is much more optimistic and forgiving. ("But what they fail to see is that your games are the key. Open their eyes to the beauty. Open their hearts to the fun. Open their minds to the idea that you don't own someone") Martin, as always, does a wonderful job with the song, and gives it an elegant flow with his beautiful vocal work.


"Corrupt" brings the album to a close with a dark and seductive take on the power struggle between men and women, ("I could corrupt you in a heartbeat. You think you're so special...think you're so sweet. What are you trying? Don't even tempt me. Soon you'll be crying and wishing you'd dreamt me") with finger pointing, ("You'll be calling out my name, when you need someone to blame") and sadomasochistic overtones galore. ("I could corrupt you. It would be easy. Watching you suffer, girl it would please me. But I wouldn't touch you with my little finger. I know it would crush you. My memory would linger") Dave Gahan has always possessed those alluringly broody vocals of his, ("I could corrupt you. It would be ugly. They could sedate you, but what good would drugs be?") and they work in this song absolutely brilliantly. ("You'll be crying out in pain, begging me to play my games") It's arguably the best final track on a Depeche Mode album since "Clean" & "Higher Love," with a nicely dark electronic tone, funky guitar riffs, and a groovy beat that ends the album perfectly. But wait, there's an additional hidden track included later on: an instrumental version of "Wrong."


The Deluxe Boxset edition of "Sounds Of The Universe" includes a plethora of bonus content that the band personally curated in order to include as much as possible from the recording sessions. It will make any DM fan satisfied. The box itself is a custom made 2 piece box with foil blocking, plus an inlay, and is about the size of a small (thick) pizza box with a number of additional goodies inside that are very interesting, including:

3 CDs - Housed in Colored Cardboard Sleeves:
Disc 1 - the original album [Blue/Purple]
Disc 2 - Five B-Sides & Six Remixes [Orange/Green], including:

"Light" [4:42] - has a nice feel and flavor about it, with an additive groove ("It's clear we have a mission from above, a mission of beauty. You know I wouldn't lie to you") that makes it a cool track and a worthy B-side.

"The Sun and The Moon and The Stars" [4:42] - Martin Gore's 2nd lead vocal track was deemed unfit for the regular album, but is still a lovely tune just the same. ("One subtle move, God help me, is all it takes to sell me. One single word, unspoken, your name unheard and I'm broken")

"Ghost" [6:29] - showcases Dave as the ghostly spectre of your dreams, ("I'm the ghost in your house, calling your name. My memory lingers, you'll never be the same. I'm the whole in your heart; I'm the stain in your bed. The phantom in your fingers, the voices in your head") which has a nice steely, seductive quality about it that really sounds great.

"Esque" [2:18] - is a haunting electronic instrumental with bells, chimes and other subtle electronic sounds.

"Oh Well" [5:59] - has a frenetic beat and urgency that pulls you right into it. ("Oh, you've got a way about you. Oh, I know so much about you, girl. Life won't be the same without you. Life will surely be the one to tell") It's a nice fast track that's fun to move to. ("Listen to what she's trying to tell you. She could be the one who's going to save you. Oh well.") This song is also included as a bonus track on the Japanese CD.

"Corrupt (Efdemin Remix)" [6:28] - experimental mix that plays with phrases from the song and utilizes a weird sort of funky beat.

"In Chains (Minilogue's Earth Remix) [7:54] - has a bit of an erratic flavor, with a lot of different noises and echoing sounds going on as the opening first verse gets played around and distorted vocally.

"Little Soul (Thomas Fehlmann Ambient Mix)" [9:20] - gives the song a bit more kick this time, with a nice beat and some additional electronic riffs and an echo effect: "My little soul will leave a footprint (print) (print) (print...)" which is good, though the mix is long.

Jezebel (Six Toes Remix) [5:33] - is a wonderfully put together acoustic version, with a string accompaniment that really gives the song a whole different dimension and elegance that really works well.

"Perfect (Electronic Periodic Dark Drone Mix)" [5:25] - has a bit if an urban flavor to it, with a fast beat and mild distortion of the original vocals by Dave Gahan.

"Wrong (Caspa Remix)" [5:05] - is a sleeker version that almost sounds like an alternate take, with heavy drum percussion and additional electronic sounds & distortions.

Disc 3 - Fourteen Original Demo Tracks [Red/Green], including:
"Little 15" [4:15]
"Clean" [3:41]
"Sweetest Perfection" [3:24]
"Walking In My Shoes" [3:45]
"I Feel You" [4:02]
"Judas" [3:32]
"Surrender" [5:06]
"Only When I Lose Myself" [5:50]
"Nothing's Impossible" [5:05]
"Corrupt" [4:44]
"Peace" [4:36]
"Jezebel" [4:39]
"Come Back" [5:10]
"In Chains" [4:34]
(Except for "Nothing's Impossible" & "Come Back" every demo is performed by Martin Gore, and the sound quality is amazing...it's rumored that Alan Wilder provided some of the demos for this disc...Andrew Fletcher has stated that there will be more demos made available on future releases.)

The DVD [Brown/Red] includes the entire album (with B-sides) in Dolby & DTS 5.1 Surround Sound (compressed 48/24) along with the following extras:

"Making The Universe" [45:23] - a grand documentary on the making of this wonderful album, from creation to inception.

"Usual Thing. Try To Get The Question In The Answer" [55:12] - 2nd grand documentary with more insightful stories and interviews with the band members.

"Sounds Of The Universe" [a short film]: with a running time of around 10 minutes, this short but insightful film is highlighted by interviews about the album by Martin, Dave, & Andy. It's a sneak peek into the creation process and there are some nice stories by all to be heard.

"Wrong Music Video" [3:23]: Directed by Patrick Daughters, the video portrays an unknown man (Julian Gross from American art rock legends Liars) tied and gagged inside a car that is slowly rolling backwards down a long road to his death. The band only have a quick 5 second cameo, which is a little disappointing, but the video itself is eerily dark, bleak, and pure Depeche Mode.

Studio Session Performances of "Wrong," "Corrupt," "Little Soul," "Stories Of Old," & "Come Back" (These sound excellent!)

Also included are two 84 page hardback books; one with complete lyrics and photos by famed photographer, Anton Corbijn, the other with candid photos by Daniel Miller, Ben Hillier, Luke Smith, & Ferg Peterkin.

5 artcards (out of 14) sealed in collector's envelope with pics of all 14 on back.

2 enamel pin badges: one of the "Sounds Of The Universe" cover logo, the other of the DM retro logo.

1 large poster of album cover artwork

Numbered Certificate of Authenticity with copied signatures of band members.


"Sounds Of The Universe" is another great album by the best electronic band in the world. Unlike other Deluxe Boxsets by other bands like U2, Pearl Jam, etc, this Boxset is worth every penny, with plenty of wonderful content for value and worth. The album is a triumph and another milestone for Depeche Mode. Pick it up and enjoy the magic of DM many times over.


"Sounds Of The Universe" Deluxe Boxset: Give Into The Corruption.


Stay Devoted!


"There's something magical in the air, something so tragic, we have to care" - M.L.Gore


Also Available:
"Sounds Of The Universe" CD
"Sounds Of The Universe" CD/DVD
"Sounds Of The Universe" 2LP/CD
"Sounds Of The Universe" Japan CD w/Bonus Track

I'll keep this short and sweet because the first review is very good and in-depth. Plan and simple a lot of thought and care went into this amazing deluxe edition. The demo disc alone is worth it. But the books and the DVD is what makes this really a great piece. $72.50 the day it came out. BUY IT NOW. :)

Great album. The album keeps much of the darker sound of their later albums, but has the vintage electronic sound of their earlier stuff. It really shows that they went out of their way to get a bunch of retro electronic equipment (the box set even includes a picture showing all the stuff Gore got of ebay).

The bonus songs included on disk 2 are amazing as well, many should be album tracks. They include more trakcs sung by Martin Gore (Jezebel is the only song fronted by Gore on the main album).

The quality of the boxset is outstanding. The box itself is made from heavy-gauge cardboard stock and is rock solid, finished with foil lettering/graphic. Everything fits tightly into the box, so I was at first tempted to turn it upside down to get the stuff out. But they include little ribbons that secure to the bottom of the box that snake through the items. You just pull up on those to get the stuff out. Small detail, but it just goes to show the care they put into it.

The pins are indeed enamel, have a nice quality luster, and were made exclusively for the boxset. There are "5 art cards", interpretations of the Songs Of The Universe logo by various artists in a sealed envelope. The 5 cards are a random sample out of a total set of 14. If you're a completionist, you're going to be annoyed at having to track the rest of the cards down.

I've spent my whole childhood and teenage years listening to Depeche Mode. I knew all the lyrics by heart, I was collecting tapes with remixes and fake t-shirts with the Violator logo. We were all very poor and the music was the reason to gather and dream of seeing the world in their eyes...

By the way, I live in Romania.

The times are different now. But Depeche Mode kept that special place in my heart. Being now able to order an original box with DM books, discs and cards was like returning to a time when a song was more important than everything else. I returned back in time, to feelings that truly matter.

That's what this box did for me.

I have been a Depeche Mode fan for seventeen years and have followed the band closely ever since. I have seen them three times and plan to see them two more on this coming tour. The amount of CDs, videos, DVDs, books, t-shirts and frames posters I have that are Depeche Mode related borderlines on ridiculous. In my very humble opinion this band can really do no wrong (other than the song call "Wrong'). I like to believe that this devotion is based more on the quality of music that band has produced over the years and not just because anything Depeche Mode does is wonderful.

I know that many people state that Depeche Mode isn't the same band since Alan Wilder left and this assumption is correct. [Hell, Depeche Mode hasn't been the same band since Vince Clark left.] I was REALLY upset when Alan Wilder left the band in 1995. However, in hindsight it wasn't really a big surprise. There was some tension (I believe) after the recording of SOFAD and the Devotional Tour. Nevertheless Wilder is an amazing musician and he really brought a lot Depeche Mode.

One idea I would like to present is this, perhaps Depeche Mode became stronger once Alan Wilder left? The three remaining members really needed to hold it down if they had any plans of going forward. David Gahan kicked his addictions to drugs/alcohol and has released (so far) two solid solo albums. This has lead to Gahan now sharing song writing duties with Martin Gore. Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher also have some accomplishments since Wilder left the band. The former has released a second solo album and has written some great tunes for DM and Fletch has/had started his own label Toast Hawaii.

"Sounds of the Universe" finds Depeche Mode in familiar territory, with some drops of out of character approaches thrown in for good measure. "In Sympathy" sounds like a classic DM from the 1990's and "Corrupt" sounds like a missing song from "Violator". "Wrong" isn't like anything they have done before, where "Peace" and "Perfect" are more uplifting tunes that haven't been heard by this band in a long time, if ever. The vintage synthesizers and keyboards are force to be reckoned with on this album. The instrumental on this album, "Spacewalker" sounds a lot the score from the 1971 film "Daughters of Darkness". There are also certain songs that sound like they are trapped in an Atari 2600 game, which to me is cool.

Comparisons have been made between SOTU and 2001's "Exciter". The only comparison I see is that both albums are mellow. However, I feel that "Exciter" was much more ambient and mellow than SOTU. Subsequently, "In Chains" would have not been out of place on "Exciter". The songs on SOTU really range in tempo, style and meaning. The first track being "In Chains", more or less a love song and the final track being "Corrupt" which is drenched in sordidness, sexy and masochism.

The one thing I noticed about this album is I needed to listen to it a few times for my appreciation to develop. This is a much layered album that might take more than one listen to truly enjoy. "Come Back" and "Jezebel" both didn't sound that great at first, now I totally love them. Therefore, it might be possible for multiple listens before "you feel a little love".

The deluxe box set of SOTU is a Depeche Mode's fan dream come true. When I was first going through the contents in this box set I felt like it was Christmas morning. Within the box a fan will find three CDS. The first is the standard album. The second is five unreleased songs/B-sides and remixes from the album. The third is a collection of demos that range back to the days of "Music for the Masses". I found that the sound quality on these demos were amazing.

There is also a DVD that has four studio performances, the video for "Wrong", the entire album on 5.1 surround sound, as well as the unreleased songs/B-sides, three documentaries following the making of the album. A poster, post cards, buttons; two hard cover books (one with lyrics/photos, the other with photos of studio production) and a certificate of authenticity. A lot of work went into the production of this box set and a statement has been made. Depeche Mode really loves their fans. However besides hard core DM fans, I don't see the causal Depeche listener getting their grubby little paws on this.

As for the unreleased songs/B-sides, they are mind blowing! "Ghost" is such a throwback to the old Mode days, yet retains a fresh vibe. The lyrics are literally haunting. "Oh Well", is the first song written by Gore and Gahan and it is marvelous. As a matter of fact, Depeche Mode could have used all five of these unreleased songs/B-sides plus maybe two more songs and could have easily made SOTU a double album.

With regards to the response to SOTU, it has been mixed. There has been some praise of this album and some criticism as well. This is common for any type of media. Nevertheless, I would like to take a moment to address the criticism towards SOTU. Under the assumption a person just dislikes this album and hates the way it sounds, that is cool, we are all have different tastes and it is hard to please everyone. In contrast, to report that this album sucks because it doesn't sound like "Violator" or "Songs of Faith and Devotion" (or any of their works) is really asinine. To set oneself up to thinking that every new Depeche Mode album is going to sound like one of their former albums is going to produce only one result........disappointment!!

For instance, REM is never going to make another "Out of Time", Pearl Jam is never going to make another "Ten", Metallica is never going to make another "Master of Puppets", U2 is never going to make another "Joshua Tree", and The Cure is never going to make another "Disintegration" and Depeche Mode is never going to make another "Violator". Everyone one of the following bands has evolved over time and is still around. I believe they do this by staying fresh and doing different things, if a band doesn't shake things up then they become predictable and boring.

Depeche Mode didn't get where they were today by repeating themselves. They keep it fresh and try new things; perhaps some albums are stronger than others but the approach is the same. I am just glad they are still around; there was a point in time where I wasn't sure. Besides think of any band, author, actor or movie director (or whatever) that has been around for almost 30 years. There is going to be some deviation from the mean, just to keep it new and exciting. It is hard to pigeon-hole Depeche Mode because they have touched so many different genres perhaps their strength is also their weakness.

As for criticism about the production of this album being bad I don't know what to say. I can say that I like the way this album sounds and I enjoy the songs. For agreement's sake if I wanted production to be better I wouldn't know where to start. Since I have never produced an album before, yet the criticism states to bring Alan Wilder back. Would Alan even come if requested? In addition, what type of "Depeche Mode Fans" is sitting around waiting to listen for "The Next Violator"? "Violator" is almost 20 years old and Alan Wilder has been away from the band for fourteen years. Depeche Mode has released four albums since Wilder's departure; it appears this longing for a copycat album is a moot exercise. I can think of many other elements in contemporary times to grip about than wishing that Depeche Mode would/will rerecord "Violator".

The one thing I do know about SOTU is I believe it is a solid and great album from a band I love. The theme that this collection of songs presents is a polished, robotic and arcane cacophonies that are mired in emotion.

Andy, Martin and Dave, keep up the good work!!!!!

Every time a new DM record comes out, I get that warm, comfortable feeling that for a moment, everything is okay. Kind of like with U2. And like U2, they've put out new music that covers a span of styles and moods from throughout their long and storied career. "Sounds of the Universe" is far from breaking any new ground, but it's still a great record. You have to laud them for treading the line between familiar and derivative; fortunately they lean to the former. "Sounds" at one point reminds me of the old, old days and the next, a seeming leftover from "Playing the Angel." The hardest thing for a veteran band nowadays is retaining relevance; a band can come out with a new disc as an excuse to do a tour. The disc does poorly, gets minimal airplay, but cleans up on the road. (Think: the Rolling Stones.) DM is still relevant by giving us music that's different yet comforting. And they do it without sounding too retro or kitschy. Radiohead has been criticized for being all beeps and bloops the last few years but has made a distinct sound out of it and fans now love and expect it. DM can't be catching onto that "retro" sound because, simply, they helped create the damn thing.

I won't bother with dissecting each and every song and its lyrical meaning. That's up to you. But I will tell you that overall, it's an entertaining and moving album. "Sounds" is meant for longtime and/or serious fans, as there's not much here for today's rapid-fire churned out internet-downloadable junk that'll be forgotten next week. And thank God for that. I want something I won't be tired of a year from now.

All of this leads me to explain why (or why not) the uber-box set is worth buying. I bought it for the b-sides, re-mixes, and demos. They're easy to listen to and moody (DM wouldn't have it any other way, would they?) without being of the "ugh...b-sides..." persuasion. Sometimes B-sides are better than the album, but they just don't fit flow with the other tracks. Intrinsically they are wonderful to hear. (The Cure's "Halo" is a perfect example.) Think of deleted scenes on DVDs: almost all of us have watched one and said "Why'd they take that out? That was awesome!" Well, they were good but just didn't work in the bigger picture.

The B's presented here, like the main disc, seem to span the stylistic breadth of DM's career. Case in point: "Oh Well" sounded to me like it came from the "Violator" sessions but got lost like car keys, only to be found later and rejoiced. The re-mixes are not the typical upbeat, dance-y technotripe that so many CD singles contain; these are just as moody and atmospheric as the originals, albeit longer and a bit trippier. Like any good proper re-mix, they contain elements of the original for familiarity's sake but sound, for lack of a better term, different. The re-mix of "Jezebel" slithers its way into an electronic version of a snake charming backdrop. I liked it just as much as the original.

I'm a sucker for any group that puts out a disc of demos, old versions, remakes, etc. They're fun from a serious fan's perspective of seeing how songs start and evolve to become the polished track we all come to know and love. It all started with the Beatles and now it seems everybody's aping the concept. Why DM? One could accuse them of just filling out a box set with leftovers and rough tracks. I said this box set was intended for superfans. That's why I plunked down $80 for it.

To be honest, I didn't consider the DVD of videos and making of, or the two books when purchasing it. The books feel like they belong on a coffee table to impress guests, with photos by longtime chronicler Anton Corbijn. I perused, was impressed with the artistic value, and promptly put them back in the box. There have been so many "making of" books, videos, pamphlets, kabuki plays, and papyrus scrolls relating to modern music that nothing's new here. It's just DM. The one funny highlight I got out of them was seeing how closely Martin Gore resembles the guy who played J.F. Sebastian in "Blade Runner."

The most important thing to consider in buying this box set is simple: do you want to throw down the chunk of change to get b-sides, re-mixes, and documentation? It's not about their value, really. At first I fooled myself into thinking I could wait until they put out the same set sans books and DVD. Then I realized I was too impatient for that and dove in. I'm glad I did, because like I said the music is totally worth it. I just wish they could have been a wee more compact about the packaging. I need the free space for the next fan-friendly box set they release.

I thought this box set would consist of a CD sized box and a few pamphlets. I am a huge Depeche Mode fan, so I figured I'd bite the bullet. After receiving a surprise discount in price, my package arrived with so much content I haven't been able to go through all of yet. This is weeks later I'm talking about!
Warning: This is NOT Violator. You should have an affinity for Sounds of the Universe!
The box is a sleek work art itself, the album is GREAT and the bonus tracks, books, movies and trinkets are truly worth the mail order wait. This is such a solid purchase of high quality. Every die hard fan DM should consider owning this.

I wish they had box sets like this when I was a kid! Very well put together. The surround mix is great, the bonus tracks are great (and I don't have to buy the singles, I hope!). The remixes are a little lack-luster and uninspired. The demos are all stripped down, but not as different as I was hoping... I guess I was hoping for them to sound quite different, and maybe even a couple with Martin on his acoustic guitar or something. They're still kind of cool because you get to hear Martin sing songs you haven't heard him sing before. The books are good quality, but I wish there was more content... like actual written content. The pictures are great though. Overall it's a great box set and worth the price (I got it at Amazon's sale price). This is NOT for a casual or sometimes fan.

Sounds of the Universe is Depeche's best album since Ultra, in my opinion of course. Exciter didn't excite me much...there was certainly an element or two missing there. And Playing the Angel is great, except the producer (same producer as SOTU) got a little too experimental and over-saturated the sound.

SOTU however, is very exciting, both creatively and audibly, and very well produced! From the SOTU session photos and blogs I've seen, Martin went a bit ape-crazy with the vintage gear and filled every nook & cranny he could find with it. So then, one *might* expect to hear early DM synth-pop? Not quite. SOTU progresses onward in the 21st century. But the soundscape is definitely remmeniscent of 70's and 80's electronica. You'll get a good taste of this with the opening track, "In Chains", as it opens much like an analogue synth version of an orchestral warm-up session. There is quite a bit less acoustical elements (ala Exciter), and more vintage analogue soundscapes, albeit, Martins guitars are still a main ingredient. Daves vocals couldn't be any better, he just get's better with age. Martin sings lead vocals for one song, Jezebel, for which he does in flawless fashion.

Recently, since writing my initial review, I bought this Deluxe Box set from Amazon for $72. This contains 3 discs, and 1 dvd (along with a bunch of other goodies). Disc 2 contains some bonus tracks, not found on the album. All sound great! My favorites are "Esque", a very ambient sounding track, unlike any DM song I've heard before. And "Oh Well" is also like no other DM song I've heard before - very EBM inspired. Also on disc #2 are six remixes from SOTU. Disc #3 contains 14 tracks of unadultrated demo tracks (quite interesting). The DVD blew my mind! In addition to SOTU and extra tracks mixed in 5.1 surround, there are session videos of the making of SOTU. Included are 5 complete session recordings (on video) of Martin, Dave, Fletch, and engineers/producers playing various songs, mostly from SOTU. I almost like these recordings over the album versions especially "Come Back". I highly recommend buying the box version of SOTU over any other.

I can't say enough good things about SOTU, it's already a timeless favorite of mine! It stirs the spirit, and gets you in a good groove from start to finish. As with any symbious five-star Depeche album, it will take a few listens to really appreciate and discover The Sounds of the Universe.

I am a long time devoted Depeche Mode fan. So I purchased this box set initially out of respect for Depeche and their creativity. But I was really impressed by how much content I discovered on CDs and DVDs. Also, in case you haven't heard, this album doesn't sound as well in mp3 format due to high complexity of the sound effects. So having all these extra songs in CD quality helps me enjoy them much more. Books and pictures included are very nice. Anton Corbijn took the photos for the book and they really remind me of 80s and 90s music videos Anton filmed for Depeche. If you've seen short films Strange and Strange Too, you'll know what I'm talking about. To summarize: usually I don't see a lot of value in collector's box sets, but this one really stands out! If you love DM, please buy it, you won't be sorry.