Track Listing

1. Never Let Me Down Again
2. Things You Said
3. Strangelove
4. Sacred
5. Little 15
6. Behind The Wheel
7. I Want You Now
8. To Have And To Hold
9. Nothing
10. Pimpf
11. Agent Orange
12. Never Let Me Down Again
13. To Have And To Hold
14. Pleasure Little Treasure

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #85637 in Music
• Released on: 1993-12-31
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
This album is a culmination of Depeche Mode's middle-period experimentation. More informed by goth than techno, it is still anchored by plenty of the larger-than- life-baritone melodrama so distinctive of David Gahan's vocals. The most experimental track is "Pimpf"--a song that heave-hoes along with the synthesised emulation of a Russian men's choir. Although nowhere near fast enough to be danceable, the commanding "Never Let Me Down" ranks as the best single on the album, with the most hummable "Strangelove" coming in a close second. Each song is a praiseworthy accomplishment, but the singles here set off the experimental tracks, making the album seem thematically schizophrenic. --Beth Bessmer

From Amazon.com
This album is a culmination of Depeche Mode's middle-period experimentation. More informed by Goth than techno, it is still anchored by plenty of the larger-than-life-baritone melodrama so distinctive of David Gahan's vocals. The most experimental track is "Pimpf"--a song that heave-hoes along with the synthesized emulation of a Russian men's choir. Although nowhere near fast enough to be danceable, the commanding "Never Let Me Down" ranks as the best single on the track, with the most hummable "Strangelove" coming in at a close second. Each song is a praiseworthy accomplishment, but the singles here set off the experimental tracks, making the album seem thematically schizophrenic. --Beth Bessmer

CD Description
One of the bands that not only dominated the charts for most of the 80s, but they also typified the type of music that will be looked back on as 'the sound of the 80s'. Their sometimes Germanic electronic pop became softer on this album. They were becoming more of a band, and they were 'rockin', just a little. Keyboards still dominated but the melody seemedless regimented. Vocalist Dave Gahan excelled, as his voicegrew in power. In a year or two they would become stadium rock stars, and change forever. The reissued CD had a number of excellent bonus tracks including some interesting remixedmaterial.

Customer Reviews

You'll want it Now
The ironic title says it all "Music for the Masses" was meant as a tongue in cheek statement but turned out to be more prollific than was intended.
A great album by any standards with standout single tracks including "Strange Love",(the album version is different to the single release)these are interwoven masterfully with a unique, textured backdrop of sound and emotion a la Martin.
The first Mode Album to introduce guitar in a major way. This is not used in a conventional fashion but more in order to give the songs an edgier texture. Developing and growing new sounds has always been a DM staple and is used to great effect on this album. Never to outdo the song but rather to enhance it as illustrated brilliantly on "I want you now" yes yes yes!!! Martins Voice is full of emotion in this ballad (he sings 2 on the Album)
Probably there best offering for new fans next to "Violator"as it shows a maturity and newness while offering commercial appeal. The tempo of MFTM is varied and never dull it takes you on a journey in a style similar to that of a "concept album"without being trite or pretentious. The CD includes a Stunning remix of "Never let me Down" with a killer beat as well as another atmospheric Martin Gore istrumental - Agent Orange
The overall near perfect production of MFTM makes for a worthwhile investment.

Sit back and enjoy.

Getting there!
The albums title was originally made tongue-in-cheek due to the lesser commercial feel and increased experimentation of the tracks. However, it was soon to become very accurate as it was the album that broke the band big time in the States and led up to the concert in front of 70,000+ fans in the Pasadena Rose Bowl! "Music For The Masses" indeed!!

Opening with the now classic live favourite "Never Let Me Down Again" through to the sombre Communistic "anthem" of "Pimpf", "MFTM" is an album that clearly defines DM's increased move away from a glossy pop sheen to the darker and more intense moments they are now renowned for.

"Little 15" is almost classical in feel, "I Want You Now" all experimental and heavy breathing whilst "The Things You Said" is a tender Gore sung ballad and "Strangelove" poppier and more upbeat than anything else here.

This is an album that built to the career defining moments of "Violator" and "Songs Of Faith & Devotion" but itself never quites get there. Highly recommended all the same!

THIS IS HOW THE mid80s SOUNDED - AND THEY SOUNDED GREAT!!!
MTV had been already established as mainstream, the BOSS was getting soft in the Tunnel of Love, BON JOVI were more about the hair than ever - and the British invented Alternative music. Two such post-punk groups, THE CURE and DEPECHE MODE, better than most others, were able to grasp the decade's vibrations and broadcast them back as UNBELIEVABLE MUSIC. Whereas the CURE were mostly edges, the DEPECHE MODE were mostly technopoetry.

This was the first album I ever bought as a CD - and I remember bringing it home to my new JVC HiFi, anxious to listen to the "crisp, digital sound" (little did I know that, only some years later, we would come to miss the fullness and richness of the old vinyl records). I was right to be anxious though: this was ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS - EVER!

MUSIC FOR THE MASSES is one of those rare albums that can be listened to from start to finish. No filler material here. The voices are atavisticly haunting; the keys persistently penetrating; and the lyrics stay with you for ever.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!