EXCITER is Depeche Mode's tenth studio album, which was released on 14 May 2001 in the UK and May 15 in the US. It uses more digital music technology compared to their other albums. It was produced by Mark Bell of Björk and LFO fame. The album also launched the Exciter Tour, which was one of the band's most successful tours.
EXCITER debuted at #9 in the UK Albums Chart and debuted at #8 in the Billboard 200 with sales of 115,000 copies in its first week of release. It's the only Depeche Mode's album to debut higher in the US than in the UK. As of April 2006, EXCITER has sold more than 426,000 units in the United States and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
EXCITER is undoubtedly the warmest and most "adult" Depeche Mode album. "When the Body Speaks" is an effectively poignant ballad complete with graceful string section. "Lovetheme" is a gentle ambient instrumental that wouldn't sound out of place next to any German electronicat you care to mention. Later another, slightly more melodic, instrumental ("Easy Tiger") pops up. "Goodnight Lovers" is a bittersweet tune full of open-hearted sentiment and heart-tugging melodicism.
While "Breathe" is underlaid with low-key breakbeats, the group largely sticks with the sonic language they helped create in the 80's and early - 90's, leaving the trappings of latter-day electronica to the youngsters. With it's club-worthy beat, "I Feel Loved" is certainly the most danceable track on EXCITER, but its complex lyrical scheme and gnarly synth textures make it unlikely house party fodder. The harsh, bluesy tone of "The Dead of Night" harks back to "Your Own Personal Jesus," and finds David Gahan reveling in the kind of studied decadence that helped make the group's reputation, but the song is an anomaly. EXCITER offers a kinder, gentler, seemingly wiser Depeche Mode that's figured out how to grow up without growing old.
"I Feel Loved" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Awards for Best Dance Recording and for Best Remixed Recording.
Recorded At:
RAK, Sarm West, London, England Sound Design, Santa Barbara, California Electric Lady, Sony Studios, New York, New York.
Depeche Mode:
Dave Gahan (lead vocals) Martin Gore (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Breathe" and "Comatose", acoustic guitar on "Dream On") Andrew Fletcher (keyboards).
Additional personnel includes:
Knox Chandler (cello) Todd C. Reynolds, Joyce Hammann, Natalie Cenovia Cummins, Ralph H. Farris, Lee Grinhauz (strings) Airto Moreira (percussion).
All songs written by Martin L Gore.
Track Listing:
1. Dream On – 4:19 2. Shine – 5:32 3. The Sweetest Condition – 3:42 4. When the Body Speaks – 6:01 5. The Dead of Night – 4:50 6. Lovetheme – 2:02 7. Freelove – 6:10 8. Comatose – 3:24 9. I Feel Loved – 4:20 10. Breathe – 5:17 11. Easy Tiger – 2:05 12. I Am You – 5:10 13. Goodnight Lovers – 3:48
Exciter (2001)
ReplyDeleteDepeche Mode
Album Description:
EXCITER is Depeche Mode's tenth studio album, which was released on 14 May 2001 in the UK and May 15 in the US. It uses more digital music technology compared to their other albums. It was produced by Mark Bell of Björk and LFO fame. The album also launched the Exciter Tour, which was one of the band's most successful tours.
EXCITER debuted at #9 in the UK Albums Chart and debuted at #8 in the Billboard 200 with sales of 115,000 copies in its first week of release. It's the only Depeche Mode's album to debut higher in the US than in the UK. As of April 2006, EXCITER has sold more than 426,000 units in the United States and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
EXCITER is undoubtedly the warmest and most "adult" Depeche Mode album. "When the Body Speaks" is an effectively poignant ballad complete with graceful string section. "Lovetheme" is a gentle ambient instrumental that wouldn't sound out of place next to any German electronicat you care to mention. Later another, slightly more melodic, instrumental ("Easy Tiger") pops up. "Goodnight Lovers" is a bittersweet tune full of open-hearted sentiment and heart-tugging melodicism.
While "Breathe" is underlaid with low-key breakbeats, the group largely sticks with the sonic language they helped create in the 80's and early - 90's, leaving the trappings of latter-day electronica to the youngsters. With it's club-worthy beat, "I Feel Loved" is certainly the most danceable track on EXCITER, but its complex lyrical scheme and gnarly synth textures make it unlikely house party fodder. The harsh, bluesy tone of "The Dead of Night" harks back to "Your Own Personal Jesus," and finds David Gahan reveling in the kind of studied decadence that helped make the group's reputation, but the song is an anomaly. EXCITER offers a kinder, gentler, seemingly wiser Depeche Mode that's figured out how to grow up without growing old.
"I Feel Loved" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Awards for Best Dance Recording and for Best Remixed Recording.
Recorded At:
RAK, Sarm West, London, England
Sound Design, Santa Barbara, California
Electric Lady, Sony Studios, New York, New York.
Depeche Mode:
Dave Gahan (lead vocals)
Martin Gore (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Breathe" and "Comatose", acoustic guitar on "Dream On")
Andrew Fletcher (keyboards).
Additional personnel includes:
Knox Chandler (cello)
Todd C. Reynolds, Joyce Hammann, Natalie Cenovia Cummins, Ralph H. Farris, Lee Grinhauz (strings)
Airto Moreira (percussion).
All songs written by Martin L Gore.
Track Listing:
1. Dream On – 4:19
2. Shine – 5:32
3. The Sweetest Condition – 3:42
4. When the Body Speaks – 6:01
5. The Dead of Night – 4:50
6. Lovetheme – 2:02
7. Freelove – 6:10
8. Comatose – 3:24
9. I Feel Loved – 4:20
10. Breathe – 5:17
11. Easy Tiger – 2:05
12. I Am You – 5:10
13. Goodnight Lovers – 3:48