Depeche Mode - Spirits in the Forest (Documentary Film)

[Rubin Farr]

Anton Corbijn has produced a new doc with the band:

https://www.spiritsintheforest.com/

[Zephyr_Nova]

In cinemas worldwide one night only?  Weird.  But cool.  I definitely want to check it out.  Put on Playing the Angel in my van recently - jesus christ that's a well produced album.  

[Joyrex]

20 hours ago, Zephyr_Nova said:

In cinemas worldwide one night only?  Weird.  But cool.  I definitely want to check it out.  Put on Playing the Angel in my van recently - jesus christ that's a well produced album.  

Yeah - hope this isn't the makings of a farewell to the world...

And yes, PtA is an amazing album - the videos for it have been popping up on YouTube recently, and I've been enjoying watching them.

[Jafs]

PTA is maybe the last really good album from them...

[IDEM]

Looks like this is going to be 101 -- Phase 2, which has me slightly worried and excited at the same time. Signed up for whatever on the site, we'll see how this goes. Apparently, there's a second night scheduled (on 11/24) for Austria and Germany.

[Joyrex]

On 9/20/2019 at 12:13 PM, Jafs said:

PTA is maybe the last really good album from them...

So you didn't enjoy any of the tracks from Delta Machine or Spirits?

[Joyrex]

On 9/21/2019 at 11:00 AM, IDEM said:

Looks like this is going to be 101 -- Phase 2, which has me slightly worried and excited at the same time. Signed up for whatever on the site, we'll see how this goes. Apparently, there's a second night scheduled (on 11/24) for Austria and Germany.

Why would you be worried? 101 was an amazing chronicle of their 1988 tour! and lest I remind you, Violator came after that!

I'm not saying we should expect the next album (if there is one) to be up to the perfection that Violator is, but one can hope!

[IDEM]

1 hour ago, Joyrex said:

Why would you be worried? 101 was an amazing chronicle of their 1988 tour! and lest I remind you, Violator came after that!

I'm not saying we should expect the next album (if there is one) to be up to the perfection that Violator is, but one can hope!

Excited because of all the above; slightly worried that it's going to be a mere rehash/cash grab/an attempt at mass hypnosis, trying to make us all believe that the band is in the same place they were at that time, which was indeed their heyday. But things went downhill from Violator on, and they haven't been able to capture that magic since.

Don't get me wrong, I still go see them whenever I can (saw them twice on the last tour, but the main reason was that Mathew Dear was opening for them, and I'd missed him on the first date), and I still buy every release of theirs, but mostly out of loyalty and sentimentality and because the production sounds like serious MONEY, not because of the great tunes -- production porn, if you will. While they sound better than ever, Martin's songwriting just isn't what it used to be. I mean, on that latest album, Dave's songs were almost better than his, lol. If you'd told me that around Playing the Angel, I would've shot you without blinking.

Still, they were and in a way remain one of the greatest bands of all time, and God knows most bands could be noodling around several lifetimes without ever achieving an album as immaculate as Violator. Unlike you, I've just long given up hope that there will ever be a true successor.

[Joyrex]

1 hour ago, IDEM said:

Excited because of all the above; slightly worried that it's going to be a mere rehash/cash grab/an attempt at mass hypnosis, trying to make us all believe that the band is in the same place they were at that time, which was indeed their heyday. But things went downhill from Violator on, and they haven't been able to capture that magic since.

Don't get me wrong, I still go see them whenever I can (saw them twice on the last tour, but the main reason was that Mathew Dear was opening for them, and I'd missed him on the first date), and I still buy every release of theirs, but mostly out of loyalty and sentimentality and because the production sounds like serious MONEY, not because of the great tunes -- production porn, if you will. While they sound better than ever, Martin's songwriting just isn't what it used to be. I mean, on that latest album, Dave's songs were almost better than his, lol. If you'd told me that around Playing the Angel, I would've shot you without blinking.

Still, they were and in a way remain one of the greatest bands of all time, and God knows most bands could be noodling around several lifetimes without ever achieving an album as immaculate as Violator. Unlike you, I've just long given up hope that there will ever be a true successor.

No, I hear you man - I've felt the same way (although I will heartily disagree with you about post-Violator output - there have been some some excellent songs on releases well past that album, most notably Songs of Faith and Devotion for me personally, it is a stronger album than Violator, due to having a theme (whereas I feel Violator is a collection of songs without any real theme connecting them).

I remember when Ultra came out and the band wasn't a quartet anymore, I was very worried the magic would be lost. I got more worried when the grating, abrasive single "Barrel of a Gun" came out (I have since grown to appreciate it), but then I heard "It's No Good" and my fears were instantly alleviated.

I remember the first time I felt 'let down' by a Depeche Mode album, and that was Delta Machine - I liked the single, "Heaven", but initially I was very disappointed in the album overall. It took a long time before I discovered the gems that are on that release, but overall it's just not as good as what came before. Same is the case for Spirit, which still to this day hasn't gelled with me and I rarely return to any of the songs on it.

Do they have another album in them? I'd say they certainly do, but I'm not so sure they can return to their glory days (and honestly, what band that's been playing and releasing music for almost 40 years now can say that - The Rolling Stones is a good example of this, where I would end up dead if someone asked me to name a recent Rolling Stones song, let alone a hit.

[Zephyr_Nova]

Playing the Angel was strong on both the songs and production front.  That one may be my fave DM album, although really hard to judge due to how many really excellent albums they've released.  I did love Delta Machine the first time I heard it, but I may have been swept up in the production porn more than the songs themselves.  Will have to revisit it.  Spirit's the only Depeche Mode album that really missed the mark for me.  They have a REALLY good track record for a band that's been around so long.

[sidewinder]

This makes me want to watch 101, since I've never seen it.

[Joyrex]

5 minutes ago, sidewinder said:

This makes me want to watch 101, since I've never seen it.

It's a really interesting look and insight into the band, and the live performances in it are nothing short of spectacular.

[IDEM]

Just got the tickets, presale already started. Cool.

[Jafs]

On 9/23/2019 at 8:12 PM, Joyrex said:

So you didn't enjoy any of the tracks from Delta Machine or Spirits?

Of course I did, they are not total let downs. Maybe Spirits is the one I feel the most in between.

I meant PTA is the last one which sounds strong all the way, and with a plenty of solid singles.

[Zephyr_Nova]

Yeah, Spirits did not resonate with me at all, but I should really give it another chance.  Was probably missing something good in there.

[Joyrex]

On 10/6/2019 at 2:22 PM, Jafs said:

Of course I did, they are not total let downs. Maybe Spirits is the one I feel the most in between.

I meant PTA is the last one which sounds strong all the way, and with a plenty of solid singles.

Agreed - I feel the same way.

[Zephyr_Nova]

On 10/6/2019 at 1:44 PM, Zephyr_Nova said:

Yeah, Spirits did not resonate with me at all, but I should really give it another chance.  Was probably missing something good in there.

Wow, I missed a lot apparently.  Spirits is fucking solid.  The production supports the songs really nicely too, and there are a lot of good songs.  I feel they got lost in the ear candy at times on SOTU and DM.  Stronger lyrical content than usual too on Spirit, which I didn't pay much attention to before. 

[Joyrex]

18 hours ago, Zephyr_Nova said:

Wow, I missed a lot apparently.  Spirits is fucking solid.  The production supports the songs really nicely too, and there are a lot of good songs.  I feel they got lost in the ear candy at times on SOTU and DM.  Stronger lyrical content than usual too on Spirit, which I didn't pay much attention to before. 

I recently had a re-listen as well, and there are some good songs on there, but the political ones are a bit cringy at times. Still a solid release by them and I would agree that Delta Machine is probably their weaker recent release - I was especially disappointed when it was touted as a "mix between Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion. NOT IN THE LEAST.

[Zephyr_Nova]

I'd say it was probably the furthest out from either of those albums of any that followed them.  Was that a label promo thing, or a delirious music critic?  It would make sense as a marketing thing (let's pick the two most successful releases that everyone remembers and say this one's like those combined!!!).  But artistically it almost sounds like a deliberate departure from that.  Like "let's see how far removed we can be from classic DM."  Which is an approach I respect.  The first time I heard Delta I was legit blown away.  I've never heard it the same way since unfortunately.  Black Celebration and Playing the Angel are probably my two favourites.  

[Joyrex]

20 hours ago, Zephyr_Nova said:

I'd say it was probably the furthest out from either of those albums of any that followed them.  Was that a label promo thing, or a delirious music critic?  It would make sense as a marketing thing (let's pick the two most successful releases that everyone remembers and say this one's like those combined!!!).  But artistically it almost sounds like a deliberate departure from that.  Like "let's see how far removed we can be from classic DM."  Which is an approach I respect.  The first time I heard Delta I was legit blown away.  I've never heard it the same way since unfortunately.  Black Celebration and Playing the Angel are probably my two favourites.  

I really don't remember where I heard/read that (it may have even been on WATMM). For me, my absolute favourite album is Songs of Faith and Devotion, with Ultra a close second. So many good songs.

[Zephyr_Nova]

Faith and Devotion is fantastic - lot of classic songs on that one.  Ultra sort of missed the mark for me, but there are still some moments of greatness.  I think Dave was really struggling on that one.

 

[Joyrex]

On 10/25/2019 at 1:25 PM, Zephyr_Nova said:

Faith and Devotion is fantastic - lot of classic songs on that one.  Ultra sort of missed the mark for me, but there are still some moments of greatness.  I think Dave was really struggling on that one.

 

Well, considering he was recovering from almost dying from a drug overdose and trying to get his life back together, I'd say he did pretty well!

[Zephyr_Nova]

Without a doubt!  Also, the album version of In Your Room (Flood) slays the Butch Vig mix they used for the video single.  It's all about that key change on "your favourite half light" prechorus bit that really takes the song to another level, and Flood highlights that just enough to give it the impact it needs.  But the overall atmosphere is way cooler in general, as is the drum treatment.  One of their best.

*realized as I was writing that that it's on Songs of Faith, not Ultra, but still relevant.

[IDEM]

Okay, this was amazing. Real tearjerker too. I'm not the most sentimental person, but even I got a little misty-eyed once or twice. GF basically cried through the whole thing. It's just undeniably moving to see how much music can mean to people and how it is able to touch them to the core of their souls and help them through hard times. I guess that's not news to most people on this board, but sometimes we just tend to take so much for granted and feel so entitled, and it was good and really moving to see things from a different perspective. I'll probably go back to being just another cynic tomorrow, but today, it just somehow hit the right spot for me, and I was moved. Romanian guy was funny as hell too.

Depeche Mode forever. Best fucking band in the universe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still don't like "Where's the Revolution" though.

[Zephyr_Nova]

Still need to watch this.

But something on my mind that I need to put somewhere is: when Gore's singing lead, which he does quite a bit, what's Gahan doing?  Dancing around hitting a tambourine?