Black Celebration

Depeche Mode

March 17, 1986

1,333 ratings

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MP3 Music, March 17, 1986

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Audio CD, June 2, 2017

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Audio, Cassette, October 17, 1990

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	Sample this album Title by Artist 0:00 / 0:00
1	Black Celebration	4:51	$1.29
2	Fly On The Windscreen - Final	5:21	$1.29
3	A Question Of Lust	4:29	$1.29
4	Sometimes	1:54	$1.29
5	It Doesn't Matter Two	2:52	$1.29
6	A Question Of Time	4:12	$1.29
7	Stripped	4:13	$1.29
8	Here Is The House	4:20	$1.29
9	World Full Of Nothing	2:48	$1.29
10	Dressed In Black	2:34	$1.29
11	New Dress	3:43	$1.29
12	But Not Tonight	4:14	$1.29

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Customer reviews

5 star		86%
4 star		9%
3 star		2%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2022

Verified Purchase

There is not a bad song on this album! I've listened to this album/CD/cassette for decades. For me it never got old. Definitely a must have from Depeche Mode! Every single song on this album could have been a single.

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Erich Kohl

I gave it a second chance, and it was worth it.

Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2007

Verified Purchase

I can't believe how good this album is. Why do I say that? Because in the early `90s when I bought it for the first time -- on cassette mind you -- I actually *exchanged* it for something else because I didn't like it at all! And the funny thing is, this was coming from a group that I did like at the time, ever since I fell in love with their brand of electronic synth pop upon listening to the "Catching Up" compilation (and the fact that I'm a keyboard player doesn't hurt either). I guess I can only conclude that my musical appreciation skills must be getting sharper.

I admit I only have a small portion of the entire Depeche Mode discography. I'm not even sure if this is their absolute best album -- maybe that's why I didn't fall in love with it at first (Violator, Playing the Angel, and Music for the Masses are their finest masterpieces in my opinion). Still, I think anyone who likes the dark tones and somber imagery of Depeche Mode will truly appreciate this CD. You obviously have to listen to it carefully -- and, of course, probably more than once -- but it will definitely strike a chord with you if you give it a chance. The songs really flow well from one to the next, and there is no escaping the blasphemous melancholy that is clearly evident in the music and the lyrics.

I have to admit, I sometimes don't like their slower ballads, but if you use them as a means of transition between the more energetic tracks, then it's certainly possible to enjoy them ("A Question of Lust" and "Dressed in Black" are perfect examples of songs that serve this purpose). And that's what's so great about this album -- there's a near perfect balance between soft beauty and gritty intensity that really takes you on an incredible artistic journey. It ranges all the way from the extremely appropriate opening title track, to the abrasive and soul-pounding "Fly on the Windscreen," further on to the peaceful "Sometimes," and then all the way back to the semi-industrial motif with the deceptively titled "New Dress." "A Question of Time" functions as the obligatory hectic dance tune, "Stripped" sucks you into an exotic chasm, and you'll even be treated with a slight diversion from the predominantly black mood of the rest of the album with the track "Here is the House," which is a lovely, upbeat song that has a very catchy melody and an almost happy, optimistic feel to it.

To sum up, "Black Celebration" is a terrific piece of work by an ingenious band. It is well worth purchasing and listening to.

4 people found this helpful

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Sergio Alexis Rojas Zamudio

Clasico SYNTH POP

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2022

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Un album maravilloso de principio a fin.

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Nevadadad

Their best album ever!

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2012

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Depeche Mode started out as a boy band, I'm almost ashamed to say. Their first two albums were happy and bouncy, filled with some decent 80's style synth-pop dance tunes. Although, after Vince Clarke left and Martin Gore took over as the chief lyricist, the songs did start to carry a bit more substance. Alan Wilder joined and brought with him some intensely dramatic chords and rifts and the band's real sound began to develop. Some Great Reward was definitely a landmark and I'll never stop listening to it. But with "Black Celebration" the band truly detached themselves from their boy-band roots and began to attack some serious issues. "A Question of Time" is a classic example: A warning to a 15 year-old girl about men with a driving beat and a foreboding feel to the melody. "Well now you're only fifteen. And you look good. I'll take you under my wing. somebody should". "A Question of Lust" is probably Martin's best song. In it he's trying to convince his partner that he won't cheat on her while he's on tour. The lyrics are truly an open window to his heart and his beautiful tenor voice is put on display in all of its glory here. "New Dress" is probably the best, most politically-charged song I can think of in history. "You can't change the world, but you change the facts. When you change the facts, you change points of view. When you change points of view, you may change a vote. When you change a vote you may change the world" Terrific song and the one that sparked my interest for all things political. (I now write for a website and feel I owe a lot to this band and this song, in particular.) If you've only heard their later albums (post 1990) You should definitely give this one a listen. You'll have a new-found respect and love for this band. If you've never listened to them at all and are wondering which album to start with, this is a very good place! After 27 years, this is still my favorite album.

2 people found this helpful

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Elise Delong

A Must-have for any DM fan.

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2021

Verified Purchase

Love all of this purchase. The Black Celebration 12" Singles include 23 tracks for 16 songs, including multiple tracks for A Question of Lust and A Question of Time, two different tracks of Black Celebration, two versions of Stripped and Christmas Island, and single versions of Black Day, Blasphemous Rumours, Breathing in Fumes, But Not Tonight, Fly on the Windscreen, If You Want, It Doesn't Matter, More than a Party, People are People, Shame, and Something to Do. Important tracks missing from the mix are Here is the House, Dressed in Black, and New Dress. Also note there is no additional literature (like lyrics or background materials from Daniel Miller).

One person found this helpful

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Jerry Bennett

Warning to US buyers! DVD not compatable!

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2020

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Warning to US buyers! The DVD is PAL, not region coded for the US, and copy protected so you can't save it to your computer. How stupid of Sony! I listen to all my music through my computer. Out of my Mac USB to my Topping DAC, into Schitts Audio pre-amp, then through a switcher to either my little desk top stereo or my big stereo system. I can't believe that in this day and age Sony doesn't realize some people listen to music by way of computer. The album of course, is great.

One person found this helpful

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Stotzy

Dark Electronica

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2022

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Released in March 1986, 'Black Celebration' was Depeche Mode's fifth studio album, and is acknowledged by many a critic as the beginning of their golden period, which encompassed this, and their next three albums: 'Music For The Masses' (1987); 'Violator' (1990); and my own personal favourite 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' (1993). With this album they moved away from industrial pop into darker and more atmospheric territory. Let us take a a look at each song, shall we?..

1. Black Celebration - “I look to you and your strong belief...” Some may erroneously believe this song to be a celebration of a black mass ritual, however, it's actually a somewhat ironic look at depression, and celebrating getting through a bad day by finding some solace and hope in the arms of a loved one.
2. Fly On The Windscreen - “Death is everywhere!..” A song about the inevitability of death, with the only escape being to embrace love, whether physical or emotional.
3. A Question Of Lust - “Fragile, like a baby in your arms...” Written and sung by Martin Gore, as a response to his girlfriend who was deeply unhappy about him being so frequently away on tour with the band at the time, for she feared he'd give in to temptation. In the song, he implores her to trust him, for he'd be a fool to let their relationship crumble to dust for the sake of a one night stand. Only reached #28 in the charts.
4. Sometimes - “I question everything...” The second of a trio of songs sung by Martin Gore, it has a plaintive piano melody and clocks in at only two minutes. It's about how questioning everything around you can become very tiresome to those that love you, even though they may share your concerns. Over the last few years, I have become this person, though I suspect my concerns may differ from the band's.
5. It Doesn't Matter Two - “The feeling is intense...” The last of Martin Gore's trio of vocals, I really like the musical arrangement on this. The song itself, touches on the shame of meaningless sex and the brevity of pleasure.
6. A Question Of Time - “...And it's running out for you...” It's a song that acknowledges the predatory nature of man, as the singer wishes to protect an underage girl from those that would exploit her, at the same time understanding his own attraction to the girl in question. Somewhat upbeat tempo considering its subject matter. Another song from this album that failed to reach the top ten, stalling at #17.
7. Stripped - “Come with me!..” Released as the first single, prior to the album's release, it only reached a disappointing #15 in the British charts. It begins with the sound of a car engine chugging away, and is about allowing oneself to become naked and vulnerable in order to move a relationship onto a deeper and more emotional plane.
8. Here Is The House - “Body and soul come together...” Depeche Mode go domestic. A night in with the one you love, and all the warmth and tenderness that goes with it.
9. World Full Of Nothing - “Though it's not love, it means something..” A song about the lack of meaning in one's first sexual encounter but desperately trying to convince yourself otherwise.
10. Dressed In Black - “My mind wanders endlessly...” Depeche Mode return to the themes of domination and submission explored in previous songs like 'Master and Servant.' I do wonder which of the boys fantasises about being dominated by a woman in black leather...
11. New Dress - “You can't change the world but you can change the facts...” A driving song about the media's focus on the trivial over that which is of greater import. Even today, the media are very selective as to what they choose to cover, though I believe they are far more intentionally dishonest.

So, there you have it, folks. 'Black Celebration' may not be my favourite Depeche Mode Album but it is still one I can heartily recommend buying.

2 people found this helpful

Mr. M. Oliver

This is how you repress music.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2020

Verified Purchase

I had this on cassette and then CD as a teenager during Depeche Modes imperial phase, during the late 80's and 90s when along with The Cure they seemed to get even more love from our transatlantic cousins.
This Violator, and Songs Of Faith and Devotion being my absolute favourites.
I'm glad to say as with the Violator reissue the sound quality is astounding, and the pressing is near perfect no pops or clicks. Alot of modern repressing and release suffer from poor production this does not even quite songs like Sometimes sound spot on.
So happy with this purchase im hearing things I never heard before.
10/10 for the album
10/10 for the product.
Great stuff

4 people found this helpful

M. B. Wilson

Dark and often glorious.....

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2009

Verified Purchase

On initial release I found this album a bit too heavy to handle, although I liked a lot of the singles taken from it. As a whole it was just so darned intense! My crackly vinyl went awry many years ago and was only replaced this week with an 'unremastered' CD at budget price.

This album improves with age, and I deliberately chose the version with 3 bonus tracks just to opt for the lighter tail-end (if I wanted). The intensity is still there, and tracks like "New Dress" and "Stripped" still sound dramatic even after all this time. I'd got so used to hearing Razormaid! extended re-edit of the former that I'd forgotten how much tighter the album track is! A pivotal moment for the band, even if a inordinate amount of material is sung by Martin (3 tracks in a row on 'side A'). However I still rate "Question Of Lust" as one of his finest, but "Sometimes" as one of his weakest fillers.

So, what is good and bad about this particular release of the album, with the light-coloured emblems on the front colour and the same cat no as the 1990 release? Firstly, it occasionally distorts, or rather picks upsome distortion on source material, such as the car engine effect loop on "Stripped" on the right hand channel, and the slightly annoying digital sounding click on the left hand channel during the intro of the same. Otherwise the sound is pretty good, if a little top-heavy in places. The copy I've got came with original 11 track booklet, so I don't know if that was always the case or whether the extra tracks were listed on the artwork too.

The 3 bonus tracks are nice extras, the extended mix of "But Not Tonight" is the UK 12" EP mix, not the US remix, and isn't half bad. "Black Day" is a short experimental interpretation of snippets from the title track, which actually works quite well as a closing track, and "Breathing In Fumes" is just awesome. One of the rare decent Mode 'dub' mixes, arguably!

This still isn't a favourite of mine, but it's definitely worth adding to the collection, whether this version or one of the 2006/7 remastered issues.

3 people found this helpful

gaz rushton

Well packaged

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2021

Verified Purchase

Great album by the pioneers of music. Black celebration to me is a masterpiece was hoping for " but not tonight ", but that's only on the deluxe version of this album great album none the less...
Postage was great came in an heavy duty sealed cardboard box no damage to vinyl .

MR J BULL

Good album

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2020

Verified Purchase

Great Depeche sound. Arguably their best.

One person found this helpful

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