Track Listing

1. A Pain That I�m Used To
2. John The Revelator
3. Suffer Well
4. The Sinner In Me
5. Precious
6. Macro
7. I Want It All
8. Nothing�s Impossible
9. Introspectre
10. Damaged People
11. Lilian
12. The Darkest Star

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3403 in Music
• Released on: 2005-10-17
• Number of discs: 1

From the Label
Playing The Angel is the 11 Depeche Mode studio album, and the first to include songs written by frontman Dave Gahan. Playing The Angel was recorded in Santa Barbara and produced by Ben Hillier, who has recently worked with The Doves, Blur and Elbow. Playing The Angel is already being cited by those that have heard it as one of the defining albums of the bands illustrious career.

CD Description
Arguably the only credible surviving stars of synthpop, theMode return with their eleventh album and follow-up to 2001's 'Exciter'. Recorded with producer Ben Hillier (Doves, Blur) and marking a return to form with a fresh, revitalized update of the band's classic sound, this is being hailed as their best work in years. Includes the single 'Precious'.

Customer Reviews

RAISE YOUR GLASSES "THE MODE" ARE BACK.
I have been a life long fan of "THE MODE" from my teenage years,what with the advent of the synthesizer and the ground breaking sounds they produce.
Here we have Depeche mode a band that have stood the test of time and with this album still prove to do so.Their music still as popular as ever.
Like all "MODE" fans I wait with anticipation when new material is released and I think this was worth that wait.The Album starts with the track "Pain that I am used to" which is a good excellent track then moves on to "john the revelator" which is one of my favourites Gahans vocals are superb as always.Apart from "Precious" which is very commercial,Other tracks that stand out are tracks:4,7,8+11 with only track 6 disappointing. On the whole this Album suceeds where Exciter bitterly disappointed and is well worth the investment.Welcome back "Depeche Mode"

I'm a convert
Unbelievably clever production. Distortion and dirty sound are used very, very effectively on this album, transforming relatively simple pop tunes into something much, much better, and contrasting crunchy, rough sounds (including a very effective "blown speaker" sound which made me panic for a moment) with pure tones and perfect clarity. If you've any interest at all in electronic music or music production it's a must-hear album.

If you've liked a couple of Depeche Mode tracks in the past, but generally prefer metal, industrial, or rock, buy this album and be converted. I was.

Mode is BACK... with one of their most defining albums ever!
Having been a fan of DM for ages (since my introduction to them during my high school days back in the 1980s), it was good news to me when I heard about their intention to record a new album as afterall, it has been 4 years since their last effort. But on the other hand, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Their last few albums have had mixed reviews... 'Exciter', though a well-recorded album, was considered by many as being too experimental and lacking in Mode-styled, powerful dark-electro-dance tunes that have made them so popular... 'Ultra' contained some excellent tracks but was criticised for lacking uniformity and direction... 'Songs of Faith and Devotion' brought them to the height of their career but was a more rock-powered and less synth-laden experience. Although 'Songs of Faith and Devotion' and 'Ultra' are actually 2 of my favourite DM albums (despite some who hate them and prefer their older albums), I can't say the same for 'Exciter' as I did not particularly enjoy it when it was release, and up till today, I still feel that 'Exciter' is their weakest album to date. So, I was pretty worried about a similar sounding new album. But just a few seconds after putting the new CD into my CD player... listening to the griding industrial intro of 'A Pain That I'm Used To' and I thought... yes, definitely some potential here... and scrolling through quickly track-by-track, I wasn't disappointed. From a creative synthed-up adaptation of the traditional 'John the Relevator', to the classic Mode sounding 'Suffer Well', 'Precious' and 'Lilian', and the slower and darker tracks like 'I Want It All' and 'Damaged People', this new album does not disappoint. YES, they are definitely BACK! And most interestingly, we now have not only Martin's songs but Dave's as well. This is probably the album that will rebuild their reputation as one of the pioneers of synth-industrial pop, an album that reminds me very much of 'Violator' and 'Black Celebration'. Old fans who have given up, try this and you'll definitely forgive their past misadventures. And those from the younger generation who are unfamiliar with Depeche Mode, this is an album worth exploring if you love Nine Inch Nails. And those who love Marilyn Manson's 'Personal Jesus', also check out the aforementioned 'Violator'.