Depeche Mode - Construction Time Again
Our Score: 4.8 - Near Perfection
The third studio album for Depeche Mode released on August 22nd 1983 onto Mute Records.
The album recorded at John Foxx's garden Studios (John Foxx of Ultravox) also is the first album the band recorded with Alan Wilder who wrote two tunes on the album: "Two Minute Warning" and "The Landscape Is Changing".
This album not only introduced the band's new lineup but also a new lyrical path in Depeche Mode history with politically and socially charged lyrics that will echo for decades to come. It catapulted the band away from the synthesized pop party scene creating a powerful combination of catchy melodies and raw lyrics that would pave their path to stardom.
This album is so to speak Depeche Mode's stepping stone album.
LOVE, IN ITSELF: opens the album with a contagious Harmony that gets you moving from the first beat and marks the tone for the album.
PIPELINE: This is my favorite on the album and the most abstract/ deconstructed tune out of the album, the most progressive and industrial inspired. Martin performs this as a solo.
This is a darker, politically infused tune which in my opinion shows off Martin's writing skills as well as his vocals and his passion for musical experimentation which has ultimately allowed Depeche Mode to remain current and one step ahead of the trends for their entire career.
EVERYTHING COUNTS: This is one of the greatest and most enduring track off the album, a song railing against big business and avarice that has become one of Depeche Mode’s anthems. The song the themes is such a classic that it transcends the album.
It is hard to hear this song and not envision the 101 performance at the Rose Bowl….or any of their concerts actually .
TWO MINUTE WARNING: One of the two songs Alan Wilder contributed to the album and that he originally intended to be released as B sides.
See it performed in 1984 in Hamburg here:
SHAME-Slow and steady song capable of painting torment with the help of extremely piercing lyrics, definitely a very underrated song.
THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING- A wonderful environment inspired tune and the second contribution from Alan Wilder.
TOLD YOU SO- I adore this tune! I think it is the combination of the dance and upbeat tempo that is accompanied by fundamentally dark lyrics that seem to have surpassed the test of time…unfortunately?
[Verse 1]
And do those feet in modern times
Walk upon the flowers and walk upon their brothers
While their heads are busy lying low trying to keep to cover, oh
Something went wrong along the way
Everybody's waiting for Judgment Day
[Chorus]
So they can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
They can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
[Verse 2]
Bring me my gun of itching desire
Bring me my bullets and I will fire
Sights set higher than the tall church spire
[Pre-Chorus]
Something went wrong along the way
Everybody's waiting for Judgment Day
[Chorus]
So they can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
They can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
They can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
They can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
[Bridge]
Standing in line, the blind lead the blind
Waiting and waiting for an overdue sign
Brothers and sisters playing Chinese whispers
If things aren't suited then they'll get diluted
[Verse 3]
There's one more dead with a hole in his head
He shouldn't have said all the things he said
Many tears were shed for the blood he bled
[Pre-Chorus]
Something went wrong along the way
Everybody's waiting for Judgment Day
[Chorus]
So they can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
They can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
They can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
They can go, "Told you so"
(Told you so, told you so)
AND THEN..- This concludes the album and lyrically bring the entire concept together ending on a higher note so to speak.
Gahan’s vocals are soft and almost stand in pure contrast to his work on “Told You So” showcasing how flexible his range really is. I think this album in general was not only DM’s coming of age album but his own affirmation as frontman of the band.
Total Running Time : 42:26
Track Listing
SIDE A:
1- Love In Itself
2- More Than A Party
3- Pipeline
4- Everything Counts
SIDE B:
1- Two Minute Warning
2- Shame
3- The Landscape Is Changing
4- Told You So
5- And Then...
