The Middle Eight

20 Responses to “I was born with the wrong sign”

1. #  countpopula February 14, 2009 12:25 PM

   Sounds absolutely incredible. They are truly one of the few bands who make my heart rush every time something new rolls around.  

2. #  James Derek Dwyer February 14, 2009 2:18 PM

   This sounds MUCH better than that terrible ANGEL thing  

3. #  Michael February 14, 2009 4:30 PM

   Exciting, thanks.
   
   DM never lets me down.  

4. #  countpopula February 14, 2009 4:32 PM

   Uh oh--does this make me a blind DM devotee? I LOVED that Angel thing...  

5. #  Michael February 14, 2009 4:49 PM

   I liked the songs on Playing The Angel a lot, but I did feel the production was a bit flat.  

6. #  xolondon February 14, 2009 4:54 PM

   Surely James does not hate Precious or John The Revelator does he? Both tremendous for very different reasons.
   
   I get a sense this album has more muscular electronics on it. All will be revealed!  

7. #  Paul February 15, 2009 3:18 AM

   how exciting. What with new music from Erasure (sort of), Pet Shop Boys and now Depeche Mode it's like the 80s all over again. Can't wait to hear more...  

8. #  James Derek Dwyer February 15, 2009 10:33 AM

   Precious was great, John the Revelator was kinda b-side-ish- but I loved Exciter and hated Angel. I think that makes me an odd duck in DM land.
   
   I think it was the production on Angel that did it for me. Too much crunchy, not enough jetstream. If you know what I mean.  

9. #  xolondon February 15, 2009 10:34 AM

   Did Exciter have Freelove? I lurve that.
   
   Yes, I do know what you mean re crunch. Revelator just played well live. Had U2 written that it would have taken over the planet.  

10. #  James Derek Dwyer February 15, 2009 10:55 AM

    Yes, Exciter had Freelove (the Flood remix is excellent), Shine, When the Body Speaks, Goodnight Lovers and I feel loved. Great song writing and the production didn't get in the way.
    
    I was living in Berlin at the time so I guess that colors my memories of it at release too heheh..  

11. #  theredradio February 15, 2009 1:25 PM

    "Wrong" is sounding so damn good. I can't wait for this album.  

12. #  countpopula February 15, 2009 5:59 PM

    PTA also had the great "Suffer Well" (Dave's best song to date, no?--and with a great video to boot--Martin in a wedding gown!), and the so-retro-it-hurts "Lilian"--I'm thinking "Something to Do" or "The Landscape is Changing"...
    
    If we're talking crunchy, Exciter had the abrasive "Dead of Night"--pretty crunchy. Maybe it doesn't have the same impact of "Pain That I'm Used to", as that was at the beginning of PTA, not buried in the middle.
    
    Oddly enough, I absolutely love Martin's voice, but the last song he did that had me over the moon was "Home" from Ultra. The others are good, but somehow not SUBLIME.  

13. #  Michael February 15, 2009 8:30 PM

    Has there been any information on who will do the remixes for Wrong?
    
    I'd love to hear Depeche Mode remixes from Moonbeam or Aeroplane.  

14. #  James Derek Dwyer February 16, 2009 12:52 PM

    I love Suffer Well, loved Gahan's Paper Monsters, but that Hourglass thing was disappointing. The single off it was great but the rest was just blah... the problem is similar to PTA, I just can't remember the songs on it- even if I like a few...  

15. #  Matt February 16, 2009 5:00 PM

    I agree; Dave Gahan stuff is just...blah. It's OK, not bad, just totally unmemorable.
    
    I thought half of 'Angel' was good; the 2nd half turned into snoresville. 'Exciter' is SUCH an underrated album, probably their most underrated. So many good things. I hope this album goes back to that mellow/cerebreal feel. I'm not a fan of DM when they try to "ROCK OUT" (i.e. John the Revelator, Personal Jesus, alot of Faith & Dev.); it's the same with Eurythmics ('Revenge' is my least favorite of theirs); I don't like the embrace of the guitar/rock thing by electronic bands. Let electronics be your guide!! ;)  

16. #  xolondon February 16, 2009 5:53 PM

    Isn't Dave's stuff disappointing? I had high hopes for his second album after hearing the progression of his writing on Angel. And then... pimpf!
    
    But please please please everyone get the song Nostalgia by Mirror. A BEAUTIFUL song Dave did the vocals for awhile back. A tearjerker actually.
    
    All these comments have made me more excited for the new CD.
    
    PS to Matt - don't forget the guitarry mehness of PSB's Release! Not rawk, but still guitar based.  

17. #  Matt February 16, 2009 8:57 PM

    Steven,
    
    Dave just needs a strong writing partner to keep things hook-y and not so midtempo meandering.
    
    I actually really, really liked half of Release (mainly the guitary and really electronic things) but thought the other half was a bit too bland.
    
    We're DYING to remix them;push us to do something really big and pop; we got a polite "We'll think about it" e-mail from their mgmt., so we're not very certain but...one can hope.  

18. #  Matt February 16, 2009 8:58 PM

    Sorry Stephen, not Steven
    
    Merritt, not Morrissey
    :)  

19. #  countpopula February 17, 2009 1:33 AM

    Really do agree about electronic bands not "rocking out", although I went back & listened to Songs of F&D recently, and rated that album MUCH higher than I did when it came out, as the heavy guitar really pissed me off at the time. It is actually quite good, with Judas and One Caress being pretty great Martin songs.
    
    Exciter IS usually underrated, as is the excellent Ultra.
    
    Glad to see others so passionate about DM still!  

20. #  Michael February 17, 2009 4:39 PM

    I love Nostalgia. It's such a gorgeous song.