Rating: NN
Depeche Mode frontman David Gahan’s second solo disc is closer to the electro-pop vibe of his better known project than that of his first solo outing, for which DM fans will likely be grateful. Unfortunately, he’s not as good a songwriter as Martin Gore, and this has a shortage of decent hooks.
We knew this was going to be a bit of a mopefest, but the fact that Gahan survived drug addiction doesn’t make droning mid-tempo dirges any more interesting or excusable. Some songs start out peppy and intriguing, but his moaning over top sucks all the life out of the groove. Hardcore Depeche Mode fans will likely find more to like, but it’s hard to imagine any but the most rabid really loving it.
