Depeche Mode: Songs Of Faith And Devotion Album Review Part 2 - The Sound Of S.O.F.A.D.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Part 2 of an in-depth album review series of Depeche Mode's 8th studio album , "Songs Of Faith And Devotion ", released in 1993. In this episode we examine how the overall sound of S.O.F.A.D.

[@trancescend7d809]

@VaufgnGeorge, have you composed a full instrumental cover of In Your Room? Would be nice to hear a good instrumental synth cover without any guitar sounds but more Orchestral combined with Synth, Enigmatic and Ethereal sound.

[@BiserAngelov1]

Songs Of Faith And Devotion is the peak of their golden period, that started with Black Celebration. When i say that i miss Alan Wilder, this is what i mean. The sound of Devotional Tour is Depeche Mode in their best game.

[@BiserAngelov1]

@@DorisDay-lw4xs could have been worse. You could have said Exciter

[@HJPhilippi]

For me, as a DM fan dinosaur who grew up with pure synth-pop, SOFAD was a real pain in the a**. It did hurt, and it took ages to recognize its brilliance. But today I do. And Vaughn nails it with everything he says about the album. Brilliant, as always.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Glad you liked the video ! I appreciate your kind words ! VG :-)

[@HJPhilippi]

@@VaughnGeorge My pleasure, Vaughn, since I'm a VG fanboy by now. ;-) Really looking forward to seeing you live on stage with Mesh in Langen!

[@depechemoderemastered20pl]

I feel you, @HJPhilippi

[@Darkem-ur5ho]

Probably the best musical experience ive ever had listening to S.O.F.A.D for the first time

[@ninawildr4207]

Agreed!

[@eelponna3145]

Higher Love - one of their most unheralded tracks. ❤

[@tafur101]

An album that marks a before and after in the band... Alan Wilder, a master in musical arrangements, a great musician

[@VaughnGeorge]

Amen!! VG :-)

[@OberkornSmalltown]

Being a fan since 83, I must say I was quite disappointed by Sofad for the reasons evoked by VG; the contrast with Violator (which I consider as their best album) was too stark. But I also admit this change, although I didn’t like it, was necessary in DM’s evolution. Otherwise they would have been stuck to the 80s and would be regarded today like bands such as OMD, Duran Duran or even Erasure or Kraftwerk (« same old thing all the time ») The ONE thing I still deeply regret : My Joy not being on the original album. What a great track

[@thesynthfloyd]

I am not here for Depeche Mode, I am here for Alan Wilder. Thank you. You are welcome.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thanks for coming! VG

[@kylereece1979]

Just got home from an incredible night in Dublin last night, where my mind was blown from seeing DM for the first time. An absolutely stunning stunning show that cast me to another world driven by events of the last year of my life. That You, DM. Anyhoo- The more "Rock" influences on SOFAD totally led them into a new fanbase. I remember seeing the videos from this album alongside Nirvana, NIN, and other great alternative bands of the era. I know lots of Rock/Metal fans who love SOFAD because of the darker, rockier enhancements and elements.

[@Victorcolongarcia]

For me it’s their best album. In your room/Higher Love/My Joy are my holy trinity. In your room is for me the best Depeche Mode song ever. The way it builds up, opens and grows… it gives me chills every single time. I love all the songs except Condemnation (not my style at all). And the concert is their best imo, I listen to the instrumentals once a month 🤣I’m obssessed with the bass in World in my eyes. And the bridge of I feel you. Insane! Imagine seeing it live!!

[@boyddickson1751]

Alan Wilder

[@buney]

I was back stage at crystal Palace with the Sisters of Mercy during the Devotional tour. There was something special in the air that night. Depeche Mode at the top of their tree! "In your Room" was something I'll always remember.

[@jbcharm]

SOFAD is my all time favorite album and my all time #1 favorite concert I went to…….my 2nd favorite album is ultra

[@depechemoderemastered20pl]

My 2nd favourite is Black Celebration, then A Broken Frame

[@Morse___]

Aside from "I Feel You", I'm not sure there are that many guitars on Songs Of Faith and Devotion - just that most of the instrumentation (pianos, keyboards, etc) were filterede through amplifiers to make them seem more "rock". I rememebr Flood saying that they can use whatever instrumentation they wanted, but it's very very far removed from being a conventional rock album. Totally agree Vaughn 👍👍

[@alejandromorales8715]

There are plenty of guitars on SOFAD, but at the same time, there are lots in Violator too: Violator: Sweetest Perfection Personal Jesus Enjoy the Silence Interlude Policy of Truth Blue Dress Clean Additionally, there's a guitar sample from Fleetwood Mac in World in My Eyes, and I seem to remember that the main riff in the chorus in Halo (which is also the main riff in Policy of Truth was derived from a guitar). SOFAD: I Feel You Walking in My Shoes Mercy in You In Your Room Get Right With Me Rush (Possibly Higher Love too, not sure about that sound with the very apparent delay effect)

[@EtsiJuuret]

​​@@alejandromorales8715Rush has only guitar samples, not played by Mart. And you've forgotten "My Joy" )))

[@alejandromorales8715]

I don't see the difference, really. And I didn't forget My Joy, I just stuck to the album. Kaleid also has sampled guitars.

[@EtsiJuuret]

@@alejandromorales8715 the difference is obvious: you play the part on instrument by your own hands or you take 1-2 or more seconds of some1's playing, cut it to a sample, manipulate with it slowing, fasting, inversing, pitching it, combine with others, so, then you've got a new sound (sample) or loop, which you use where you need in your track. It is more complicated process, and for Alan himself it is his own trademark, homage if you want to his favourite artists, his favourite highlights. A culture of sampling i would call it, that totally lost by modern DM without him. And once it has returned in "In Chains".

[@alejandromorales8715]

@@EtsiJuuret i know "that" difference, of course. I also have my own project where I play my own guitars, sample guitars from other spurces or resample my own ones. What I wanted to state is that, from a conceptual approach, there's no real difference. The idea is "let's use the guitar as a sound source". Same with strings, either played first hand (One Caress) or sampled (Halo). Additionally, there are quite a few drum sources many people believe Alan played first hand but are samples from other bands. Sometimes, Alan played those live. The concept in either case is 'lets use the sound of a real drum set".

[@SeshChannel]

Great approach from you to explain the sound of the album. Very high quality of material as always you do. Thank you for your work. You are the only person I know on YT, who talks with fully enthusiasm about DM. It is always interesting to listen to your opinion and your argumentation. Greets, Alex from Poland.

[@sageril12]

ha ha ha! very good point from Fan Alert and MG laughing 🤣

[@АндрійОвчаренко-я2ц]

I was 17 years old teenager who graduated high school at that time. I am still very impressed with the sound and production😊 And by the way, when I used the word "dig on smth" during the conversation with a Scottish friend from Glasgow, he was laughing like if I could unexpectably pronounce "f*ck" 😅

[@depechemoderemastered20pl]

When I was 12 / 13 years old, "Songs of Faith and Devotion" was a really meaningful album from Depeche Mode. It took me 12 years to realize how much is a really amazing album; also, a lot of pressure went into making of this album

[@UnderDarkSkies]

I remember many fans were really shocked after that album comes up after Violator, and many people did not like it. Today most of them say it's their best one, or they stopped to be fan and switched to Industrial gothic / electronic music :)

[@UnderDarkSkies]

anyway it was a game changer of that genre in Germany that time ago

[@andyry1269]

Love it. Thank you, Sir. -Andy Ry Denmark

[@shuntup]

"Don't use same sounds, don't use presets" but actually they did used them

[@DevotionalDaveakaPFM]

Thank you for this video post, so many memories from this album as a producer myself, I would listen to this album to perfect my sampling technique.

[@VaughnGeorge]

You're very welcome! VG :-)

[@clauscombat418]

The chance of seeing them on the Reeperbahn during their final mixing sessions in Hamburg was thrilling 😃

[@NancyCastellano-t1b]

Congratulation George!!! I love SOFAD!!! The high Album for my, mark a before and after in the trajectory of DM. The beautiful, diverse and intense Work to also enjoy in the musical schools, also taking in to account what year it was made. Regards from Buenos Aires City DM Forever 💯 Cordially, Nancy!

[@safetskeric5658]

Speaking about samples, as i produce electronic music by myself, i see myself so often creating a sample out of my synths, shaping them and using them instead of „classic oscillators“. Changing a track in a DAW Project from pure synthsound to organic sample brings it to life. What is your point on sampling?

[@MEDIASYSTEMSTUDIO]

1.Violator. 2MFTM. 3.Songs Of Faith And Devotion For me the best ever,

[@matsfrommusic]

I really don't mind the rock feel of SOFAD but it's just a little too loose and groovy :) For me this album is not among the top 5 but that has to do with the quality of the songs too where at least 5-6 of them are ok but nothing special compared to other albums. Walking in my shoes is a good example, a completely overrated track.

[@safetskeric5658]

I never really felt SOFAD as some sort of outstanding rock album. They were just getting better and more creative in creating samples with each album. To me SOFAD is even much closer to MFTM than Violator.

[@thomasnihil4878]

Finally!

[@solidnakehoho5106]

Hi Vaughn. Is your album review ends with SOFAD or you gonna continue till memento eventually? Thanks!!

[@depechemoderemastered20pl]

He said at the beginning of the series, he will do all of their albums

[@FLH3official]

7:10 Depths etch mode... Sorry 🙂 10:21 "never use preset". Well, with all due respect for the band (I wouldn't be watching this video and wouldn't be a long time subsciber to this channel) , when you get the old EMU libraries, you realise they've used a lot of these EMU "stock" sounds. A lot 😄 Almost like JMJ with Zoolook when he stated in these times he had personnaly recorded "sounds all over the World" and actualy used factory Fairlight's presets. We all know that as we have the access to orininal samples & presets in our computers now. Art is not truth, only the result is relevant.

[@rashidjurgens9992]

very nice watch

[@edu2076]

Given that Violator and SOFAD are often compared as the two peaks of the band, I have one argument in favor of the more intense, "rock" sound of SOFAD. Violator debuted with Personal Jesus, which is a pounding song, but the vocals are never too intense, and throughout the album, Dave is kept at his low tone while Martin does the highs. Meanwhile, SOFAD debuted with I Feel You, which wastes no time with the guitar and "I FEEEEEEEEEL YOOOOOOU", like woah Dave, I didn't know you could belt, we're in for a treat. And indeed we were, with other amazing vocals in Condemnation and Higher Love. Not so much in guitars, but now the singer gets to shine even more, which is what a rock band were about, as opposed to electronic acts.

[@Victorcolongarcia]

Mercy in you is the highest he ever sang. The last chorus I mean. So much so that I could not recognize his voice the first times.

[@VaughnGeorge]

@@Victorcolongarcia The outro vocals on "mercy in you" are not Dave's, they are Martn's . VG :-)

[@alejandromorales8715]

​@@VaughnGeorgeI'm pretty sure Victor meant the "mercy in you!" shout in the chorus which was never replicated live (which is a shame). Haven't checked if it's his highest ever, but it's definitely there.

[@Victorcolongarcia]

@@VaughnGeorge I meant the final chorus

[@Victorcolongarcia]

@@alejandromorales8715 exactly. Thanks. Never been sung live because it’s too high.

[@MyJoyDepecheMode]

🥰👍🥰