Track Listing

1. Dream On
2. Shine On
3. Sweetest Condition
4. When The Body Speaks
5. Dead Of Night
6. Love Theme
7. Freelove
8. Comatose
9. I Feel Loved
10. Breathe
11. Easy Tiger
12. I Am You
13. Goodnight Lovers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23620 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

From Amazon.com
One of Depeche Mode's greatest strengths is also their greatest weakness. The band comes up with some of pop music's most inventive lyrics, and at the same time, they always give the impression that they'll arbitrarily sing about anything, as long as it's depressing. But on Exciter there's an autobiography in the lyrics that, for the first time, strikes a chord with skeptics and believers alike.

Singer David Gahan's battle with addiction and its horrendous pitfalls took its toll in DM's 1990s releases; Songs of Faith and Devotion failed to measure up to their groundbreaking albums of the '80s, and Ultra found songwriter Martin Gore less inspired, and a hoarse Gahan incapable of delivering his signature clear and booming vocals. Mercifully, the band has exorcised the demons and produced an album that places them squarely back on track.

The opener, "Dream On," is a close cousin to "Personal Jesus," combining earthy guitar with electrified, pulsating synths. The track's physical and metaphorical imagery poignantly relays the karmic revolution of living the fast life. The brilliant, mesmerizing monster of a tune, "The Dead of Night," swaggers with a giant, crushing industrial beat like a Nine Inch Nails song dressed in glamorous drag, while the ballads "Shine" and "Freelove" are as beautiful as the classic "Somebody" (but entirely unburdened by saccharine sentimentality).

Gore's keen ear for shimmering sonics and bellowing rhythm reinvigorates the Depeche Mode-branded synth-pop that's remained unique for the last 20 years. In all, Exciter is a stunning return to form, and a triumph by every definition. --Beth Massa

CD Description
With all its understated vocals, hushed instrumentals, and lyrical declarations of/investigations into love, EXCITER isundoubtedly the warmest and most "adult" Depeche Mode albumto date. "When the Body Speaks" is an effectively poignant ballad complete with graceful string section. "Lovetheme" isa gentle ambient instrumental that wouldn't sound out of place next to any German electronicat you care to mention. Later another, slightly more melodic, instrumental ("Easy Tiger") pops up. "Goodnight Lovers" is a bittersweet tune full ofopen-hearted sentiment and heart-tugging melodicism.
While "Breathe" is underlaid with low-key breakbeats, the grouplargely sticks with the sonic language they helped create in the '80s and early-'90s, leaving the trappings of latter-day electronica to the youngsters. With it's club-worthy beat, "I Feel Loved" is certainly the most danceable track on EXCITER, but its complex lyrical scheme and gnarly synth textures make it unlikely house party fodder. The harsh, bluesy tone of "The Dead of Night" harks back to "Your Own Personal Jesus", and finds David Gahan reveling in the kind of studied decadence that helped make the group's reputation, but thesong is an anomaly. EXCITER offers a kinder, gentler, seemingly wiser Depeche Mode that's figured out how to grow up without growing old.

Customer Reviews

Exciter
brill a lot of album for the money some deep & thoughtful songs, not everyones cup of tea,
but very good.