no idea who or what you're talking about but i'm glad that people like you are out there.

Review by Ned Raggett
In a word, stunning. Perhaps an odd word to use given that Violator continued in the general vein of the previous two studio efforts by Depeche Mode: Martin Gore's upfront lyrical emotional extremism and knack for a catchy hook filtered through Alan Wilder's ear for perfect arrangements, ably assisted by top English producer Flood. Yet the idea that this record would both dominate worldwide charts, while song for song being simply the best, most consistent effort yet from the band could only have been the wildest fantasy before its release. The opening two singles from the album, however, signaled something was up. First was "Personal Jesus," at once perversely simplistic, with a stiff, arcane funk/hip-hop beat and basic blues guitar chords, and tremendous, thanks to sharp production touches and David Gahan's echoed, snaky vocals. Then "Enjoy the Silence," a nothing-else-remains-but-us ballad pumped up into a huge, dramatic romance/dance number, commanding in its mock orchestral/choir scope. Follow-up single "Policy of Truth" did just fine as well, a low-key Motown funk number for the modern day with a sharp love/hate lyric to boot. To top it all off, the album itself scored on song after song, from the shuffling beat of "Sweetest Perfection" (well sung by Gore) and the ethereal "Waiting for the Night" to the guilt-ridden-and-loving-it "Halo" building into a string-swept pounder. "Clean" wraps up Violator on an eerie note, all ominous bass notes and odd atmospherics carrying the song. Goth without ever being stupidly hammy, synth without sounding like the clinical stereotype of synth music, rock without ever sounding like a "rock" band, Depeche here reach astounding heights indeed.

I made an offhand remark once over on Bee's beloved ILM board that i thought Depeche Mode hadn't aged well and that Ned Raggett guy almost had a coronary.

Your memory is short Billy. That was the Fastnbulbous post wasn’t it? That was such an amazing thread because it was all Obner people who responded to that thread.

The reason Ned took your head off is because not only did you criticize DM but you went after New Order and than the Cure. Your comment wasn’t that critical of the Cure but I know you and probably got it moreso than Ned did. So by going after these three bands you might as well as called his mother a whore, it cut very deep in Neds book though he was out of line with a new poster like that.

what a damn good year for hip hop.

I thought All Shook Down was 1991

That Brand Nubian album is SICK, so is PE, and Tribe's debut, but Ice Cube was like a goddamn firebomb. First, that album is harder, louder and meaner than NWA'a debut, and second, Cube isn't having to give his best rhymes to folks who can't write, but have "better voices."

Though I personally still like Death Certificate better, for personal reasons, this is one of my favorite hip-hop albums. WTF ever happened to The Bomb Squad. Eric "Vietnam" Sadler is one of the best names in the world.

And, for the record, I thought you'd be with me FU!!

Sep 17, 1990

But I'm going to go with the pixies. How could this not be a poll choice?

Because in the best light it's their third best album, and I think it's actually their weakest by a country mile.

Because in the best light it's their third best album, and I think it's actually their weakest by a country mile.

I don't know if I would've put Bossanova on the poll list either, but I don't understand why an album's ranking in the band's own discography should have any bearing on how it ranks against albums by other bands in a best-of-the-year poll. I mean, the 3rd best Pixies album is still head and shoulders above anything by Depeche Mode or Ride.

# De La Soul * Three Feet And Rising (Tommy Boy)

Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting