Depeche Mode: Violator Album Review Part 2 - Sound/Production & Track Listing

[@VaughnGeorge]

I hope you enjoy part 2 of my Depeche Mode Violator Album Review Series!! Be sure to watch the previous videos in the series by browsing my video archive !! VG :-)

[@luigiperrone8169]

Vaughn, I am thoroughly enjoying you analysis of Violator. I heard you say that you have particular ideas about why their newer music doesn't hold up to these peaks. It would be great for you to explain your thoughts on this in some future videos!

[@civicmindedjimthehonest6389]

I'm with you about the haunting nature of Sweetest Perfection, for me a lot of the mood comes from the quiet moments when you can really hear the brushed drums. Gives it a jazzesque, smoky bar feeling. Like you're the last one one to leave the bar, and the band just carries on as you walk out the door. But that's just me 🤔

[@pault0910]

This is their "Dark Side Of The Moon", the way it flows so perfectly and the way the tracks are sequenced. It can only be listened to in full, from start to finish with a bottle of wine.

[@MUSiC-world-20986]

Agree. A G R E E

[@Kubit76]

Violator will never ever get outdated. It is magistic, dark, beautiful , the melodies and sounds are prolific. No electronic band could beat this album ever. I share your passion for this record Vaughn!!

[@VaughnGeorge]

I feel you brother !! Cheers to you !! VG :-)

[@erichschoenholtz5170]

Well said. It's electronic perfection.

[@RumourdProd]

@@VaughnGeorge I'd like to privately share with you the recent 4K restoration of my 16mm B&W film of "Blasphemous Rumours" made just prior to Violator's release in 1990. The reason you may find it interesting is... a Rose was my central image, and none of the Violator artwork had yet been released - a complete coincidence. USC lost the original soundtrack which I'm now rebuilding...but would you care to take a look?

[@garywalker7493]

If you really want to hear how obsessive Francois Kevorkian was in mixing, check out the 12" Beat Box Mix of Policy Of Truth. The intricacies of the multiple hi hat patterns that weave in and out of each other is just astounding. Of course the sounds were put there by Flood and Alan initially, but I think it's this attention to detail on Violator as a whole that makes covering these tracks convincingly so difficult. There may not be that many "parts" as such, but the complexity of sound within those parts makes this album a joy for the ears.

[@Lofote]

Yes. But I think it's much more easy to heat that in WORLD IN MY EYES (OIL TANK MIX). The way the hihats sound in that song is just extreme.

[@MartinidM]

33:08 - don’t know if you read my comment from previous film. I think the early stage of conflict between Martin and Alan was during MFTM album, when Martin was vote-out by the rest of the band and his versions of songs went to the b-sides as remixes and Alan’s version went to the album. As Martin’s songs until MFTM were heavily preprocess as demos Alan had to approach differently by doing two songs with one text (until MFTM album). So when he asked Martin to bring demos as raw as it possible it was sneaky bypass to achieve his targets over Martins in the way how each album after 1987 would look like.

[@crimsoneyedkyu3728]

There is rarely an album with all songs that I like. Violator is one of those unique albums in which all songs are so good so you can listen to them every day and you will never get bored of them~ And it is really hard to decide which song is my favourite but I love Halo, The Sweetest Perfection and - classic - Enjoy the Silence.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Your words are so true !! I love this album !! VG :-)

[@SkyeID]

The "Enjoy The Silence" demo started off as what my sister calls "a funeral dirge". Once Alan and Flood got their talented hands into it, the song became "a Beautiful Composition Of Sound" (nudge, nudge) However, there's a place in my heart for both versions.

[@D.Appeltofft]

All of a sudden I imagined anyone listening and watching this without having heard the record previously... " Who is this person? From what institution has he escaped?" But, now we all watch in awe and think, yeah, that's spot-on...

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hahhaha cheers Dan !! You absolutely get it Bro!! Cheers !! VG 😎🎹👍

[@HappiestG]

I'm so grateful for your insight into DM. I never get tired of discussing them, listening to intelligent analysis on them, and Violator in particular will never get old. Even just watching you hold the album, itself a work of art, brings me joy. Also -- comment 101!

[@VaughnGeorge]

That was such a great comment to read!! Thank you so much !! VG :-)

[@nsford7651]

Every time I hear Policy of Truth I will think of Vaughn's 'nodding dog' impression! Great video, looking forward to the others.

[@ewashortnotsofastandfuriou6947]

Not a musician but it's always interesting listening to you explaining the technical aspects of the tracks. As always,well done! Thank you 🙏🌹

[@adamheinrich8322]

Vaughn, at the end of the Enjoy the silence they arent saying Set point. It is actually Fletch saying Crucified 😇 37:23

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you , I shall listen again !! VG :-)

[@KidMrRemixes]

It was years before I figured out what that was. Used to bug me so bad!

[@anitaklisovic7782]

Every time I hear any song from Violator I get chills...Sweetest perfection

[@steadycasemiro]

Seriously Vaughan, what you are doing with these album reviews is phenomenal. I love that you are doing these in so much detail. Great great videos. It must be a lot of work, but appreciate it so much.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you Neal!! VG 👍😎🎹

[@spootnik00]

I have Violator playing in the background while watching this album review 🌹

[@jamesroney1874]

I find it ironic that this album ends with Clean, leading to SOFAD......

[@VaughnGeorge]

Very true James!! VG :-)

[@grimlund]

I dont think that Dave was so clean back then.

[@thegoutenmusik]

Interesting point of view!

[@swasle]

That album has an unexplainable atmosphere to it, you are spot on with everything you’ve said. Sweetest Perfections rhythm is I think drum brushes, looking forward to all the videos on Violator as this album is very close to my heart!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you and keep watching !! VG :-)

[@MartinidM]

37:27 actually it’s ‘Crucified’ and this is the name of this Interlude.

[@freezer02]

and its Fletch saying it as far as I know

[@paulb3517]

@@freezer02 it is...

[@thisistype_concept9964]

Violator is an album in it’s own perfection. The nine tracks are sound perfection worked out down to the last detail. How it all kicks, presses and floats at the same time. No details disappear in the hall, everything is present and stands for itself. Martin great songs and of course the work of Alan, Flood & Francois Kevorkian. A masterpiece.

[@allegrajane7205]

Hi Vaughn! I'm so glad that Martin You Kinky Bastard and the Off-Topic Chicken are back with a vengeance. 😁 But seriously, the dynamic range explanation you gave was very enlightening, because now I understand why Violator is such a literal pleasure to listen to. Also, when you said "futuristic", I was thinking about the dance and techno influences that were very much around at that time. Brilliant work by all involved!! Take care xx

[@VaughnGeorge]

Allegra Cramb thank you for your constant support!! I really appreciate you !! VG :-)

[@d10srelish40]

as you said Vaughn this record was and still futuristic.... and so difficult to choose a favourite song in particular... but recently I've been listening to HALO alot .

[@platetec4636]

World In My Eyes has always been the stand out track for me and Clean is my bathtime song.

[@johnbarrett5268]

Halo is superb the greatest bassline ever

[@katzcheng.1111]

I am in heaven ❤️ I'm not a musician, I'm not a producer, just a girl which has so many feelings when I'm listening to that music and I'm really thankful to hear, somebody feels the same. And you make me hear the songs in one more another way to feel much more! Thank you so much to share this with "normal" people ❤️

[@lovepulse]

VG you gotta reach out to Flood he just did a Netflix series where he discussed The Killers and NIN, I’m sure it’s worth a shot. Also Francois Kevorkian would be super insightful regarding mixes. And you know, Alan ;)

[@enriquegutierrezjr4710]

The Interlude between "Enjoy the Silence" and "Policy of Truth", the sample voice is from Fletch yelling "crucified". Also the bass line from Clean someone ask Alan if it was sample from "One of These Days" from Pink Floyd and he only that it sounds very similar. Greeting from Tijuana.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hello Enrique and welcome !! VG :-)

[@erichschoenholtz5170]

Great analysis! The production of this album can never be replicated. The programming of this album is bonkers crazy good. Technical genius/ craftsmanship. I think when you mentioned this album being a thorn in Martin's side...I tend to agree...and I think that's why. I feel Ultra had a similar feel in terms of technical genius/craftsmanship as well. To be honest, I think that was the last album that was technically "tight" if you get what I mean. I think in some interviews of one of their last albums (Delta Machine I think), the interviewer asked Martin what album does this remind him of the most from previous albums and he said Violator. IMHO, I believe DM want another album like this. They will never admit it, but I think they do. Strangely enough, I feel their albums now lack a sense of emotion that their older albums had that I can only convey as: youthful emotional turmoil. What I mean by that is...when we are younger..things affect us more because of naivety or inexperience, etc. which means hurt, anger, loss, love, etc. are more dramatic in our youth. I think the closest they reached that level of emotional hurt/ that feeling of loss, etc. was on Playing the Angel. Precious is a well written song that fits with the tone and mood of songs like A Question of Lust. As you get older its hard to feel lustful, or obsessive about things because you've either are mature enough to navigate those feelings...OR you've been in a relationship with the same person for decades and we all know how relationships that are long like that change overtime. Throw kids into the mix and again, your perspective on life isn't quite the same. I feel like I'm rambling, but I feel like their music simply lacks that raw youthful emotion. I mean, what does a mid 50 year old get hurt by emotionally now that they haven't experienced yet? In the moment a bad ending to a relationship, etc. in your 20's is far more dramatic than you being on your 2nd or 3rd wife. :shrug: LOL. I also feel that their drinking and drug usage tapped into some creativity that can't be replicated when you're sober. Your perceptions of the world is different and stuff. Sometimes I joke with my friend and say: Martin's songs came from the heart when he was drinking more. I guess? It's horrible to say...but I hope you get what I mean. Their last album to me tried to hard to be political and fell flat IMHO. I can't wait until you review that album. LOL Break out the armored vests! LOL!.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Brilliant posting this is Erich!! I think what you say about the drugs and booze is sad yet very true !! Being sober has it's downside I guess!! VG :-)

[@erichschoenholtz5170]

@@VaughnGeorge Thanks Vaughn. I like a lot of their new stuff, but what always bothers me is the lost potential in the final product. You know what I mean? The bones are there...it's just they don't...for whatever reason...put melody as a priority anymore. I feel they don't take as many risks with their sound anymore...or don't push their sound far enough. I don't know if that comes from age, apathy, laziness, or whatever. Not sure. Maybe it's the wrong producers. Who knows. Maybe the producers don't challenge them enough and are yes men. I don't think that it's intentional. I also think, that the dynamic of the band in the last two albums is almost competitive in nature between Dave's songs and Martin's songs. I wonder if they have some sort of agreement on how many of each other's songs are allowed on the "depeche mode" album. Maybe I'm wrong on all of that...but I feel like Dave has taken the drivers seat of the group now. His Soulsavers work definitely crept into both Delta Machine and Spirit...hell they even made a remix for DM. Maybe with this time during the Pandemic, Martin has really written some good stuff. I just hope the potential on the end product isn't lost with bad programming, lazy soundscapes, etc. That's why Violator will always be in my Top 3. The album NEVER gets old and I can listen to it over and over again because the care, craftsmanship, choice of music notes, etc. all works perfectly. It is truly a piece of musical art. It always bums me out that some people never give this album a listen when I recommend it. They are missing out.

[@alexismccourt7712]

@@erichschoenholtz5170 Eric I think your right, its an age thing. As you get older you loose a certain amount of spontaneity and as you said (navigate your way through certain emotions). But as a fan iam always hopeful, when they release an album, that it's going to be the there best album ever. Anyways thanks for your post I really enjoyed it.

[@JessTea]

Vaughn, Your enthusiasm about Violator is what I feel the DM universe needs more of! I just absolutely love every video! Your music speaks volumes in terms of talent also! The world needs more people like you! Thank you for your review series!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Bless you Jess!! Thank you so much for your kind words!! VG :-)

[@atudarden342]

Spot on analysis. This is my favorite DM album along with Faith & Devotion (a near masterpiece) and of course Black Celebration and Music For The Masses (masterpieces in their own right). Violator is definitely a dry / minimalist album and that’s partly where the genius lies along with the lyrics. The b-sides are amazing as well. I was blessed to see them twice in NY for that tour once in the old Giant stadium (10th row from the stage) and at Radio City Music Hall. Both brilliant performances and at the top of their game.

[@georgemantzik3941]

👏👏👏Enjoy the silence with your own personal Jesus! 👏👏👏👍🇬🇷❤️

[@jeanninecherene8168]

Okay! Now I can't un-hear the pressure cooker valve. Thank you for the emotion and feelings. It's what music does.

[@manlynrivera7659]

I can't wait for the videos of the songs. This video was a good as the first one. I got goosebumps listening to pieces of the songs. The way you break down everything is amazing. Violator is my favorite album since I was 11 and to this date still my favorite. The darkness and mystery of the songs is something that will never be outdated. I think Violator is the perfect album

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you and I am glad you liked the videos !! Standby for more...... VG :-)

[@niklasandersson9084]

"Violator", "Black Celebration" and indeed almost all of their albums have a weird uniqueness that no electronic band can replicate. because it's not really "electronic" music. Sure they use synthesizers, sampling, modulars and computers, but at the songs core it's blues, country and rock. Organic, sad, emotional. Like a musical "dirge" that's happens to be produced with modern technology.

[@atudarden342]

Exactly. It’s blues/rock wrapped in a electronic sound. On a side note, I believe 3 out of the 9 songs are not even in a 4/4 time signature. Sweetest Perfection / Blue Dress and Clean are in a 6/8 time signature.

[@inga1721]

Well said👌

[@MotneNielsen]

Maybe you know ...sure you do! ;) the "bendy" sound is a sample from Fleetwood Mac " Black Magic Woman " mixed with some electric guitar. And the hi hat/perc is a sample from Kraftwerks " Man Mashine :)

[@hooikaika69]

There is not a bad song on Violator. It is a masterpiece. My fave of theirs

[@boris_ev]

Wow, that is one of your best videos for my taste! You really did shed new light on this record for me, I've revisited the songs themselves as you went along to grasp more. Thank you very much, and that I am saying as an aspiring artist looking for the finer details of the craft, and, surely, as a fan too - dig your passion, mate.

[@baroqueandbeyond]

Someone I knew gave me their "Enjoy the Silence" cassette single, with "Memphisto" on the b-side. I played it incessantly. It gave me chills to discover this sound and the lyrics that spoke to my soul. Later, my best friend at the time lent me her Violator cassette. It did change me as a thirteen year old. It's hard to put into words how important this masterpiece was in my youth, and how I still appreciate it today.

[@ashtaleadance521]

Hi Vaughn! Love your channel! You've been a delight to watch and listen to. I really appreciate and admire your love for Depeche Mode. On the topic of sampling, I remember when I first heard "Clean" the first thought that came to my mind was that the bass at the beginning made my think of a song by Pink Floyd called "One of these Days".

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you so much that is so good to hear !! Thank you for being here !! VG 😎👍🎹

[@ashtaleadance521]

@Trianerito I can see that as well :)

[@Soul_In_Isolation]

It'll be nice to review "Behavior" by PSB after since Pet Shop Boys were highly influenced by "Violator" when they were making their album

[@djigor]

Great idea! Another musical masterpiece!😎

[@jdbovee4181]

Thx Vaughn. BRILLIANT! Many thx to those who named the interlude 'Crucified'. The day the album came out I have only heard 'Juicy Bite'. Annoying.

[@anitaklisovic7782]

your imagination and retorics are divine, Vaughn...just go on forever

[@mitchellb.8933]

Another neat fact re: the Crucified interlude. From what I understand, in addition to Fletch doing the vocal, Dave plays the guitar on it if I’m not mistaken. Not sure if anyone’s already said that.

[@stevenlewington553]

Those visuals of the dynamic range of Enjoy The Silence vs A Pain That I’m Used To showed very clearly to a zero technically minded person like me just why those later albums sound too overwhelming. I love the space and freedom in Violator and other DM albums of that era. Really enlightening. Thank you, Vaughan. Fascinating as ever.

[@ivanoleg054]

I was listening to violator the first time and then for round about one month as I made the renovation of my flat as a student of architecture. It was when it was fresh released in 1990. Especially while doing the stonefloor, the room was empty and had much reverb. I sang all the time while working. As I was renovating it again last year (30 years later 😳) to turn it to an AirBnB Apartment, we removed some walls to make the rooms bigger. When I extended the granite floor tiles to the new areas created by merging rooms, I of course put Violator back on....

[@MartinidM]

41:38 POT is fantastic my fav song from this album and I think that remixes of this song are top work too - ‘I’m not a Politician… I’m a Businessman’ from The Long Good Friday movie.

[@joseca7509]

Your impression of Anton is on point.

[@szigetilaci4276]

Fletch shouts "CRUCIFIED!" between Enjoy The Silence and Policy Of Truth.

[@papaquonis]

I have a great interview, I would have recommended to add to this Violator review series, but unfortunately it's in Danish. Our national radio here had a 7 hour Depeche Mode marathon show a few years ago, including a visit to Puk Studios and a long interview with one of the sound engineers Peter Iversen (who ended up owning the studio later on). He was there for both the Music for the Masses and Violator recording sessions and had a lot of great stories to tell about the band.

[@lovepulse]

Where can you find this?

[@JohanOttossonONSET]

Yes we need a link 😁

[@papaquonis]

Here you go www.dr.dk/radio/p7mix/p7-maraton/p7-mix-maraton-depeche-mode

[@simbarella15]

It's 1:11am and I am settling in to watch this! 🤟🏻🤟🏻

[@VaughnGeorge]

Do enjoy!! VG :-)

[@yumanets]

The first channel and person on youtube for a very long time that I don't skip/rewind the video every 2-5 sec to find some substantial and interesting stuff. Instead, I catch every single word and melody and waiting for new episodes just like kinds wait for new episodes of Disney cartoons )

[@nocturnalmix]

I don't know about anyone else but music to "Clean" always feels like the music to a futuristic old-school American Western or even spaghetti Western type film. So one if a kind and brilliant!

[@shawnheap2936]

I was at that appearance. Warehouse Records. My friend got his arm broken during the melee. It was great!!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Wow, amazing to hear from someone who was there !! VG 👍😎🎹

[@pewburrito]

DM gave away "Something to Do - Metal Mix" on tape from KROQ as an apology. My friend got one.

[@ericlavallee]

Thank you Vaughn!!!!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Anytime Eric!! VG :-)

[@chochkoooo]

OMG I WAS LISTENING TO HALO IN THE BACKGROUND AND YOU AND THE MELODY SYNCED PERFECTLY AT 23:56

[@FredrikAndersson597]

Clean is definitely on my top-5 of all time DM-songs. So powerful, beautiful, dark, atmospheric, mysterious, add with an brutality and aggressiveness in it´s rhythm. Just love that song, combine with the Flood/Wilder production to it. This is DM when it´s the best.

[@chrisabbott683]

Loving this series!

[@samborn7120]

The voice and word used in the transitional piece between ETS and POT is Fletch saying “Crucified”. Rammed through an pitch effect of course 👌

[@jimspace]

Great series, thanks for the work!

[@jameskimball8159]

Great video Vaughn! I really enjoyed going through all the tracks. I have to say, like most of the DM fans out there that I love all the tracks on this album (there are only a select few DM songs that I don't care for on the albums Songs Of Faith And Devotion to Speak & Spell [A different story going from Ultra to Spirit] it just seems to me that it all came together with Violator really well, musically and lyrically... and all of the in-between track's music is so cool (I wish they would have blended all the tracks like that, but still very cool!). Looking forward to the next part and the play-through on Patreon!

[@nashf5925]

Excellent discussion and observations. Where do I begin?? The obsessive attention to detail is ever-present, as well as those Martin Gore hooks / change-ups. I just love how this album breathes, nobody is rushed and feels confident and poised. The intros could go on forever before the vocals start. Also, there are lots of John Barry Bond moments/turns on this album with dangerous mystery and intrigue. Thank you Sir for taking us on this trip around the world and back, cheers

[@anitaklisovic7782]

the way you hug that album says it all, you crave to touch them in a way

[@MUSiC-world-20986]

37:26-37:27 That's actually Fletcher saying "Crucified" at the end of "Enjoy the Silence" (on the first interlude from this album, which is called ... "Crucified")

[@chrishuggett3697]

Another great review! This really is a perfect album. The only thing for me that could of made it even better (if that's even possible haha) is including the song "Dangerous" on the actual album. I think it would of fit quite nicely and in my opinion is one of their best songs. But yea, this album is a masterpiece 10/10 :)

[@baroqueandbeyond]

I agree with you, I have always felt it could have been included on the album proper, even as a "bonus track."

[@adammartin8608]

Songs that do not get Depeche Mode recognition, Clean, One Caress and Insight. Can’t wait to hear you discuss the last 2 favourites of mine. Cheers

[@ReginatorNet]

I heard the last bit of "Enjoy The Silence" was Fletch saying C R U C I F I E D!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Yes, I have only learnt that myself !! VG :-)

[@platetec4636]

I'm right there with you when you go off on a tangent, I know exactly what you mean and I'm sure there's a lot of us who do. What an album and I'm sure you had a difficult decision just thinking where to start. And the sounds used, how do you describe them. The answer to all of this is simple, it's unique. There is no comparison and even the samples DM used have been tweaked out of recognition with time stretching/reducing shifting up/down scale joined with other found sources. As you say "where to begin" I've always loved the sneaky Kraftwerk samples used in World In My Eyes. Violator surprised everyone when it was released, it is a masterpiece woven together with such attention to detail that even today, you can hear something you've never heard before which has always been there under the layers which makes this the onion of all albums in it's straightforward appearance which is so deceiving. I love this album and when I hear a track in isolation I'm always expecting the waving into the next track which digitally can be a bit brutal in it's cutoffs. You can put this album on and from the first be taken on a magical journey or should I say trip.

[@kennlubbers5963]

Spot on Vaughn!! I love all the sounds you make with your mouth!! We don’t really need all the synths and technology, do we...??🤓

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hahahaha cheers !! VG :-)

[@andersfrend5365]

Really enjoy your channel, Vaughn. Always nice to hear your take on something you love yourself. Keep up the good work 👍🏻🎹 Btw - Violator is DM’s finest hour without a doubt! 🎹

[@raytostado5268]

Vaughn, have you seen the KZbin videos of Flood breaking down Personal Jesus & Enjoy the Silence at Mutes Short Circuit Festival? It’s really interesting to listen to how the songs were developed (with some humor).

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hello Ray !! Yes I have!! Interesting stuff!! Flood is such an inspiration to me!! VG :-)

[@niklasandersson9084]

The opening sound in "Sweetest Perfection" sounds like a printing press to me. (I worked in printing production for many years). Thanks for another great video!

[@murrynathan]

Hey Vaughn! Would love to hear a cover of Violator, where you do all the instruments with your voice!

[@JackHekler]

Hey Vaughn, just a thought on the individual song videos: one may want to label them part one in case there are new discoveries, interviews or information that would require an additional video. I, as a fan of yours and Depeche Mode would always look forward to them. Thank you for all you do

[@sinusweb1015]

I agree, this album is as perfect as it can get. My favourite DM album. I often use it as a reference for mixing and mastering. In my teens I would play along those songs on my little Casio keyboard. And I remember I was quite dissapointed that I could not reproduce just a single sound like it was on the record. When you listen to it there are many parts where you wonder if it really originated on this planet, because the sonic structures therein are so strange and unreal, but appear natural at the same time.

[@MartinidM]

17:00 tremendous exposure screwed by the MUTE records and the band. They could easily milk the album by releasing Halo / Clean next singles, record and release live album and video, extend the tour next year to visit the world all round and back. Look what G’n’R or U2 did at that time with Use Your Illusion, and Achtung Baby, Metallica or Faith No More. Of course we know how hard such a long touring had the influence on these bands, but for sure they’d have sold out the locations touring spring and summer of 1991.

[@anitaklisovic7782]

You are right, I hear something new every time, a sound, atmosphere, perception, we are all older now and have another perspective. Anyway, magnificent

[@danywilde1907]

Another great video, well done! Looking forward to the inevitable Pink Floyd reference on Clean.

[@garywalker7493]

The interlude that follows Enjoy The Silence is called "Crucified", and that's what the voice (which I believe is Fletch) says. What's interesting is in my sheet music book for Violator, both Halo and World In My Eyes are transcribed a semitone lower than they're played - probably because D minor is an easier chord to play on a synth than Ebm ;)

[@nsford7651]

In the 'Singles 86 - 98' sheet music book it is back to Eb minor :)

[@vincentdelmot8310]

I heard that interview of AW speaking over the loudness war, and I must say that some records tend to be "too much" in that way, even when listened to at lower volume, they still kinda "saturate" the ears... This dynamic range story would deserve some deeper analysis imo... With AW (🚨) as guest consultant of course ! 🤤

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hey Vincent bro!! I will contact Alan Wilder and get him to come and discuss this with us !! VG 👍😎🎹

[@vincentdelmot8310]

@@VaughnGeorge DO IT !

[@Nephilim-81]

Sunday morning in my living room with a coffee in hand taking this all in. :) What a great start to my lazy day. :) Also. What I love most about DM is that they have intellectual property. We’re never really gonna know how they developed some of their sounds. :)

[@motr1912]

Enjoyable video again. Regarding EtS, I haven't read all the comments but it got to number 6 in the UK charts so People are people was still their highest chart position at number 4. Then BOAG got to number 4 in 1997 but in terms of sales numbers, would have been a fraction of a people, EtS and others.

[@d_vibe-swe]

Violator is one of my all time favourite albums, not only when speaking about Depeche Mode or electronic music in general.

[@simonbarnes8303]

Unrelated to this but have you thought about doing a version of Violence by Alan Wilder. I think it was unreleased so it would be good to try.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Interesting idea!! VG :-)

[@alexismccourt7712]

Thanks vaungh, very enjoyable.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Cheers Alexis !! VG:-)

[@olivierrabet5822]

I think that I'm going to watch this video many many times !!!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Bless you Oliver !! Full respect and thanks to you Sir!! VG :-)

[@patrik3083]

Thank you for another great video! You are so generous making this content. And to think you will make a video per song... My comment on Waiting for a night. I had never noticed the different speed on the bassline but i always thought it was quite mesmerizing. Listening now with one ear it sounds as if it is 1/4 notes in my left ear and 1/8 notes in my right ear but the same sequence (?).

[@johnbarrett5268]

Great video as ever Vaughan. Violator has been my favourite album since I first brought the cd back in 1990. Great songs, superb production, mixing everything came right at the right time. It took DM into the stratosphere. World in my eyes techno very kraftwerk influenced, kevorkian mixed electric cafe by kraftwerk too. Sweetest perfection for me the weakest track on the album but still a haunting track, personal Jesus wow the stomp the guitar the video still another face of mine, Halo to me the greatest track that should have been a single, the baseline, the synths, the words wow, waiting for the night, again very kraftwerk influenced mr wilder is a big fan of them, enjoy the silence again superb from quite demo to brooding dances groovy song, still great, policy of weird the wonderful all in one, blue dress the waltz track great sounds and the way it moves into Clean, one the greatest dim tunes ever, the thump thump the odd noises, glitches, electronics, still the greatest end to an an album ever

[@andreymalov9602]

Great review! As for the rocky sounds of Violator and even more so, SOFAD, that's what I love about DM. They are always different, each album is like no other, and the rise of grunge of course heavily influenced their music too. Some of the songs from these two albums remind me of my other favorite band - Alice in Chains, but that's of course another story after all😃

[@ModeUK]

Nice part 2 VG...Enjoyed it... And a shame if you can't secure Flood for an interview, that would be amazing. The starting points of all those sounds eh, always wondered, especially the WIME "snare" effect - loved it then and love it now... Another sound unique to DM Roll on part 3 😎🎹 RP

[@TFHats]

@Vaughn, Playing the angel in CD or digital format sounds awfully mastered. I still maintain though that the 5.1 surround version is also very great to listen to.

[@anitaklisovic7782]

My God, what a gem Enjoy the silence is.

[@murrynathan]

Don’t know if anyone else, here, has listened to Violator on the LSD, but I believe it’s one of the greatest psychedelic records ever made! It takes you on a trip around the world and back, and you don’t have to move, you just sit still...

[@ninawildr4207]

Love your comment!

[@murrynathan]

@@ninawildr4207 Love your comment of love!

[@mindmutebutton]

I did a laaawwwwt of acid, a load of acid to this album and listening to it with cans on just takes it to another level. Waiting for the night is one of my favourite launch songs and on acid I was able to pick up on subtle sounds and effects that I wasn't able to sober. WFTN and Clean were the two heavy hitters where the sound would travel through your head. The two different tracks running left and right was some of the best production I have ever heard. The funny thing was that I'd be able to pick out the sounds again when I was sober. Once I caught them while under the influence, there was no erasing them from my brain. This album hasn't aged a day. Nothing about it says 1990. Nothing about DM from 86 to 94 sounds dated. I cannot say the same since Alan's departure. Still such bitterness about him leaving. Andy shouting out Alan was meant to antagonize and I will fight anyone that says otherwise. I digress. This album sounds as fresh today as it did the first day I brought it home from the record store. While it's not my favourite album, that title goes to Black Celebration, it's the one that got a lot of people into DM. That was a good and bad thing for long time fans. We are deeply protective of "our" band. This was "my" band and suddenly every asshole who ripped on me for being a fan was singing enjoy the silence like DM was "their" band. A lot of people jumped on the bandwagon then and I always kinda sneer at people who say Violator got them into DM. The only good thing about that, is that once they were on the wagon, they never really fell off. Not until Alan was forced out by Andrew...this album is an important one for the band and important for the late bloomers. This was also the first your to see Anton doing their set and screens and Holy shit, I wish they had recorded that instead of SOFAD. Nobody wants to watch Smacky Brown do his thing for 90 minutes. I'd much rather have a world violation dvd than a SOFAD one. You mentioned the amount of sampling that was done for this album, but you also need to remember that Violator is the most samples album they've done. Janet Jackson sampled it and many other bands. I can respect the use of a DM sample here or there.

[@Linder40]

Great for us nerds:-) What version of Enjoy the Silence is that playing in the beginning of the video (the intro part)?

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hello Klaus !! I produce all the music for my album review series. I call that track "A Remix Violation". I am glad you like it !! VG :-)

[@mikesteinbach9722]

If you need some behind-the-scenes information about the so-called "Wherehouse-Riot", I recommend you the biography-book of Richard Blade

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you Mike !! Much appreciate bro !!VG :-)

[@Reprodestruxion]

Remember flood and alan sampled the guitars and added filters

[@VaughnGeorge]

That is correct!! VG :-)

[@Reprodestruxion]

Maybe influenced by Ministry or it was the last thing to sample next to the kitchen sink

[@agentblue52]

I used to extract and compare the wave forms of some of my original issue CD's versus their remasters. I would say DM remasters up to SOFAD is very good and not much brick walling. I don't have CD's from "Ultra" up to "Spirit" anymore, I find them hard to listen to then. Now I saw the brick wall on the wave form of "Barrel of A Gun", it was a Eureka moment hahaha. Thanks Vaughn! A 5 star review again! ;)

[@BiserAngelov1]

Vaughn, where were you, when the acid kicked in? A spiritual joyride caught on video. boom-boom-pow

[@awildermode]

The dynamic range visuals is fascinating. Never too much Violator. Why not just make 2021 all about Violator? :)

[@ninawildr4207]

Yes all year!

[@louisj2256]

I find it so hilarious when you imitate the sounds. I would annoy my classmates with that shit.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hahaha you should have seen me back in school !! VG :-)

[@chaitanrao1979]

Fletch says Crucified after Enjoy The Silence

[@ms.blackcat]

I bought Playing the angel from a recycled record store. Didn't know how it was going to start. Imagine walking from the store, sticking the 💿 in my portable player. I was walking with my mom in a wheelchair and almost falling off the sidewalk because that song scared me because it was that loud. Makes a great alarm sound.

[@igorlevch7968]

I laughed so hard at times watching another album review, seeing someone being that much of a freak about this band as myself. Thanks Vaughn

[@szigetilaci4276]

Between BLUE DRESS and Clean :)