The Austin Chronicle is an independent, locally owned and operated alternative newsweekly that reflects the heart and soul of Austin, Texas.
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. 
This article appears in May 8 • 2009.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
