Depeche Mode

Bonus Tracks

Reviewed by Austin Powell, Fri., May 8, 2009

Depeche Mode

Sounds of the Universe (Capitol)

There's no brave new world for Depeche Mode. The UK trio's impeccably produced 12th album orbits back around the black-hole romanticism and sonic flourishes of its 1980s catalog with some welcome success ("Wrong," "Fragile Tension"). Dave Gahan's songwriting ("Hole to Feed," "Miles Away/The Truth Is") has improved since 2007's solo Hourglass, but this Sounds like a mundane midlife crisis.

More Phases & Stages
Bob Dylan

Together Through Life

Thee Oh Sees

Help

New York Dolls

'Cause I Sez So

Peter Doherty

Grace / Wastelands
St. Vincent

Actor

Röyksopp

Junior

Empire of the Sun

Walking on a Dream

Metric

Fantasies

The Veils

Sun Gangs

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