Search - Depeche Mode :: Construction Time Again

A strong yet sadly forgotten gem

Distant Voyageur | Io | 01/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"DM's previous two albums are quite poppy and somewhat sugary in sound. Nothing like this 1983 LP and the following albums that DM would become famous for, the previous two albums are both great in their own way. Released in 1983, "Construction Time Again" is from my perspective, where the foundation for Depeche Mode's darker, much gloomier music, was built. This record, has a quirky industrial sound that ,while much darker than the glitzy-glamour pop of "Speak & Spell" may not greatly appeal to "Some Great Reward" forwards, but nonetheless, I think that this is a wonderful and unfortunately forgotten classic in Depeche Mode's early catalog. While there isn't anything that is very disturbing or frightening like "Master & Servant", "If You Want", or "Strangelove", "Construction Time Again" is a dark album and marks the doorway between the sugar-pop of pre-1983 Mode, and the industrial gloom rock of "Some Great Reward", "Black Celebration" and everything since then. "Pipeline" and "Told You So" to me, are the weakest tracks on the LP and among DM's most uninspired and the former being quite annoying with the sound effects which sound like a malfunctioning construction crane or tractor. However, occasionally when one is in the right mood, even these can be enjoyable songs. However, that is all made up for with strong and awesome songs like "Everything Counts:, "Love In Itself", and "The Landscape Is Changing". "Everything Counts" to me is the best song on the entire album, both the original and the 7+ minute 12 inch version with the calliope and the dark yet joyous atmosphere all mixed in one to create one of what I consider, one of the best songs ever made in Depeche Mode's early days and ends their joy-pop with a bang. "Shame" while not sunny daylight in mood, is dark yet has a sense of joy buried within its dark atmosphere. The same holds true with "Landscape Is Changing" and most of the rest of the album. I love the hazy ending of "Love In Itself" with the bizarre breezy sounds and the synthesizer dabblings before blasting into the upbeat, quirky, yet eerie "More Than A Party". While there isn't anything that is very disturbing or frightening like "Master & Servant", "Fly On The Windscreen" or "Judas", "Construction Time Again" is a dark album and marks the doorway between the sugar-pop of pre-1983 Mode, and the industrial gloom rock of "Some Great Reward", "Black Celebration" and everything since then. "And Then" to me, is like the precursor to the much darker, and greyer feel of the next album "Some Great Reward" and would've fit well next to "Nothing" from the Music From The Masses LP although "And Then" is just plain fun in a campy way where as "Nothing" is nihilistic in mood. "And Then" is one of my favorite songs on the CD with it's odd style and acoustic guitars. I don't care what detractors say, I think "Construction Time Again" as a whole, is a great album and definitely worth checking out. After this, Depeche Mode would become a completely different band. There is a compilation called "People Are People" that was released as a promo album that contains the long version of "Everything Counts" but instead of getting that album, get this one instead as "Everything Counts" is available here but if you're a die-hard fan like I am, go for the compilation I mentioned as "Now This Is Fun" and "Work Hard" do warrant having that album too. I find it impossible to deny that I actually love this album, in my own campy sort of way and it makes a nice break occasionally from the darker grounds of post-1985 DM. And so begins a string of great albums that DM have created since then and continued with their most recent release "Exciter". Go and buy this CD. It's worth trying out. :-)"

Don't be too hard on Depeche!

J. Alcala | Upland, Ca | 02/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album deserves its just credit. Sure, it included some weak songs such as More Than a Party and Pipeline. Even the single, Love in Itself could've been made much better with some further remixing, but alas, let it be. Alan Wilder's two contributions, Two Minute Warning & The Landscape is Changing are surprisingly contemporary and rhythmic. It would've been so nice if Martin Gore could have continued writing politically insightful lyrics. Told You So has to be, hands down, one of Depeche Mode's finest songs EVER! That song alone, warrants a five star rating. The album, People Are People isn't so bad either. I am aware that this review is really quite "all over the place," but I feel another review is needed just to bring the average rating of this album up just another half-a-star... The Arab Mix of Pipeline givesthe song the quality that it should have possessed in the firstplace. Also, the Acoustic Version of Love in Itself transforms the song into a work of pure art. There are also several remixes of Shame & Told You So. People really are too critical of this album! I'm sure that if you were to ask any true Depeche Mode fan, they would love this album no matter how weak a couple of songs are."

Construction Time Again ~ Depeche Mode

Bjorn Viberg | European Union | 05/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Depeche Modes most political album and it has definite leftist twist and one could call it their manifesto. Songs like Pipeline, everyhting counts, two minute warning and many others attack greed, capitalism and self serving ceos. One has to admire their convictions and the lyrics are not heavily laden with rhetoric like proleterianism or angry leftist manifesto speeches but lyrics that speak to the heart. Everything Counts is the strongest track on the album and truly a track that just gets better and better with time like a bottle of vintage wine. Martin Gore does most of the studio work and Allan has some influence and that is all good. This is a very political yet astounding album from one of the best bands ever."