Ultra
Product ID: 49356134
Desertcart purchases this item on your behalf and handles shipping, customs, and support to Panama.
CD STUMM148 - PIAS BENELUX - EAN 5016025611485 Review: Pain and suffering, desolation and hopelessness - a look into the tortured heart of Depeche Mode - As a long-time Depeche Mode fan, it's perhaps no surprise that I would be rating this album with 5 stars. However, this is not blind loyalty. Ultra was the band's third and final album of the 90's - a decade that saw them go mainstream and global with the release of Violator and then superstar with Songs of Faith and Devotion. The personal problems that followed that rise are well documented, and by 1995, they'd lost Alan Wilder, the band member who worked hardest on their production to shape the band's sound, and they'd almost lost Dave Gahan, after a heroin overdose meant he died for a few minutes. At the same time, songwriter Martin Gore was an alcoholic and with his own drug problems and Andy Fletcher had to leave the last tour with anxiety issues. To cap it all off, the three remaining band members weren't particular good at speaking to each other. Not many expected a new album. And when it did arrive, it came with stories of needing to record songs seven times to stitch together a single usable take (Sister of Night), and a further breakdown - this time of the producer Tim Simenon. But what they produced, against the odds, and perhaps unsurprisingly is one of their darkest and most heartfelt albums. Lead single and album starter Barrel of a Gun is a snarling, sneering riposte full of bitterness that fires backs at critics (personal as well as public). Home is perhaps the greatest ballad Martin has written, when he was coming to terms with the fact that he might actually not make it. Sister of Night is haunting and balletic, Useless bombastic and heavy. The final track, Insight, returns listeners back to a more hopeful future. This is an album that rewards repeated listens. But its also one that speaks to the fear and desolation you can feel when you're at your lowest ebb. It is a piece of art that describes that moment, and that feeling, where everything is hopeless. This, for me, was Depeche Mode's lowest point, but they've since come back out the other side and continue to make music. If you're interested in understanding Depeche Mode, this is an important chapter - and one that should not be missed. Review: Great Album - Great Album, Received earlier than expected,
| ASIN | B0000070DZ |
| Best Sellers Rank | 42,680 in CDs & Vinyl ( See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl ) 894 in Dance Pop 6,972 in Alternative & Indie |
| Customer reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,481) |
| Is discontinued by manufacturer | No |
| Item model number | CDSTUMM148 |
| Label | Mute |
| Manufacturer | Mute |
| Number of discs | 1 |
| Original Release Date | 2011 |
| Package Dimensions | 14.09 x 12.63 x 1.37 cm; 167.83 g |
P**Y
Pain and suffering, desolation and hopelessness - a look into the tortured heart of Depeche Mode
As a long-time Depeche Mode fan, it's perhaps no surprise that I would be rating this album with 5 stars. However, this is not blind loyalty. Ultra was the band's third and final album of the 90's - a decade that saw them go mainstream and global with the release of Violator and then superstar with Songs of Faith and Devotion. The personal problems that followed that rise are well documented, and by 1995, they'd lost Alan Wilder, the band member who worked hardest on their production to shape the band's sound, and they'd almost lost Dave Gahan, after a heroin overdose meant he died for a few minutes. At the same time, songwriter Martin Gore was an alcoholic and with his own drug problems and Andy Fletcher had to leave the last tour with anxiety issues. To cap it all off, the three remaining band members weren't particular good at speaking to each other. Not many expected a new album. And when it did arrive, it came with stories of needing to record songs seven times to stitch together a single usable take (Sister of Night), and a further breakdown - this time of the producer Tim Simenon. But what they produced, against the odds, and perhaps unsurprisingly is one of their darkest and most heartfelt albums. Lead single and album starter Barrel of a Gun is a snarling, sneering riposte full of bitterness that fires backs at critics (personal as well as public). Home is perhaps the greatest ballad Martin has written, when he was coming to terms with the fact that he might actually not make it. Sister of Night is haunting and balletic, Useless bombastic and heavy. The final track, Insight, returns listeners back to a more hopeful future. This is an album that rewards repeated listens. But its also one that speaks to the fear and desolation you can feel when you're at your lowest ebb. It is a piece of art that describes that moment, and that feeling, where everything is hopeless. This, for me, was Depeche Mode's lowest point, but they've since come back out the other side and continue to make music. If you're interested in understanding Depeche Mode, this is an important chapter - and one that should not be missed.
A**L
Great Album
Great Album, Received earlier than expected,
F**K
Arrived alright, great songs still.
CD is amazing, keep listening to it everyday. Some scuffs and scratches, but it is still alright. The CD design is nice, the cover and the interior is nice.
R**T
Ultra - Depeche Mode
Well I must admit having been so impressed with Violator; then having my expectations blown sky high with Songs Of Faith & Devotion, I was a little cautious when I approached this album. It is rare that any band can keep up their form for three successive albums without losing a few folk on the way. Depeche Mode are no different in this respect. However, I firmly believe that there are a zillion ways that a band can do this whilst still maintaining their creativity and grace. I am happy to say, Depeche Mode have managed it here. True, it is not as immediately strong as the previous two (that would have been monumentally impressive!). Nevertheless, at first listen it is not a bad effort at all. Give it a couple of more plays & you'll find it is waayyy better than originally credited. A definite grower that can stand in the presence of its predecessors without shame. Buy it & see.
C**S
Sony BMG Digipack remaster dope~!!!!
Never too late for grab this 2007 remaster sound ..forget the dvd (extra disc) the master cd was Marvelous..taste with high end Stereo system…the sony one far mo better than the rhino… AAA
S**R
Nice remaster of DM last 'good' album
Good as I remembered. I put this on my ipod shuffle and went down memory lane. Nice to have a remastered version in the Depeche Mode Collection. This for my money was the last of Depeche Mode's albums that had some form of theme, or coherence to them. Sorry but everything past Ultra is not great. This was the last DM album I ever got excited about.
T**A
Great album
In my top 3 DM albums.....phenomenal singles
F**S
Super recording
This was new to me. The 5.1 is amazing quality. The songs are great and the history behind the album makes it even better.
L**S
Christmas
My grandson asked for it for Christmas..he loved it
H**O
THE ULTIMATE ULTRA
Als Kind der 70er und 80er Jahre fand ich schon damals an einigen Songs der Briten Gefallen. Zum DM-Fan(atiker?) avancierte ich jedoch erst nach dem Erwerb der Re-Issues von "Violator" und "Songs Of Faith And Devotion" als Collectors Edition (Hybrid-SACD + DVD) im Jahr 2006. Inzwischen war ich um einiges gealtert und meine wattstarke und oberbassbetonte Hifi-Anlage aus den 80ern sukzessive durch ein Stereo/Surround-High-End-System ersetzt worden (u.a. zwei extrem große Subwoofer mit 38cm-Monster-Bässen, die bis hinab auf 18 Hz voll präsent sind). Was mich an den bisherigen DM-Re-Issues fasziniert, gilt insbesondere auch für "Ultra": dynamisch-bombastischer, transparenter und dabei phänomenal räumlicher Klang im SACD- und DVD-Stereomodus, interessante neue Klangwelten im SACD- und DVD-Surroundmodus ohne die bei anderen Produktionen oftmals störende Effektüberfrachtung. Als Stereo-Purist bevorzuge ich gleichwohl die SACD-Stereo-Wiedergabe. Unglaublich, wie die Songs "Barrel Of A Gun", "Home" und "Useless" durch das Remastering und das hochauflösende SACD-Format an Soundqualität gewinnen. Dynamik bis zum Abwinken! Und noch nie kamen mir die Stimmen von Dave und Martin so eindringlich zu Gehör. Besonders interessant ist abermals der auf der DVD enthaltene Kurzfilm über die Hintergründe der Album-Produktion. Hier wird Klartext gesprochen, nichts beschönigt und niemand beweihräuchert. Klasse! Ich bin ein vielseitig orientierter Musikhörer und besitze bzw. kenne tausende Tonträger von zahlreichen Interpreten. Die Re-Issues aus der Collectors Edition von Depeche Mode gehören meines Erachtens zum Besten, was die Welt dem ambitionierten High-End-Hörer und Musikfan zu bieten hat. Herzlichen Dank und volles Kompliment an die vier Jungs aus Basildon (Martin, Dave, Vince und Andy) und Alan Wilder (nach "A Broken Frame" und vor "Ultra" prägte er den Sound der Band durch seine Professionalität und Experimentierfreudigkeit maßgeblich).
Y**A
EXCELENTE
Excelente disco
M**G
silence the naysayers for a minute...
Please do not take my review the wrong way, is not meant to offend...yes with any band, when a member leaves they take with them the sound/style they brought to it. So the remaining members have to choose to either dissipate or reinvent themselves. Depeche Mode has gone through many a reinvention with Clarke's departure and then with Wilder's. Even Gahan's stint with drugs was a form of reinvention for him as a person and for the band as a whole... this and every album since, along with Clarke and Wilder's mark are what has made DM who they are today. Could they have made it if they did not reinvent with each set back? I don't know, maybe? All I know is that they are a truly great band. Ultra has an array of sounds that just relaxes you into chill mode the minute you push play. As many reviewers said, Ultra is one that shouldn't be overlooked by any DM fan and they're right, you shouldn't. This is my 3rd favorite DM album.
M**K
Awesome
Depeche Mode First The Most Famous & Breaking Electronic Rock`n`Roll Band We Ever Know To Have Fans All Over The Globe. There Is No Country In World & People Who Does Not Know The Band. I Tried To Ask And Always Got Answer Yes, I Know Depeche Mode.
Trustpilot
2 months ago
1 month ago