While many fans consider 1986s Black Celebration to be the pinnacle moment when the band crossed over into truly dark territory, it was 1984s Some Great Reward that garnered Depeche Mode worldwide appeal, including for the first time, in the US. The breakthru hit single: People Are People, would cause a massive outcry of interest in the band and lead to another attempt at appeal in the States, that would come true. What's of course ironic today is the fact that the band, including song writer, Martin Gore, no longer particularly care for People Are People anymore, even though it is still one of their all time biggest hits. (To the best of my knowledge, it hasn't been performed live since the famed 101 concert in Pasadena, California.)

With People Are People such a huge success, the task was at hand to come out with a followup single that would be as impressive. Master And Servant would be the song chosen for that task. A song, that would take forever to record, mix and finally finish (one of the longest in recorded DM history), it would not outdo the success of People Are People, but it did do well just the same. But for Depeche Mode and Martin Gore, their third single from Some Great Reward would ultimately become one of their most controversial. That song of course is Blasphemous Rumours. Its premise is basically that universal question: "Why does God allow bad things to happen?" Christian and other religious groups were in an uproar over it, and it was banned from being played in the UK and certain other countries (none of which were the US). The song was released as a double A-side single, with the other song being, Somebody.

Somebody is, without a doubt, the best love song Martin Gore has ever written, and it continues to be performed live in concert as a fan favorite. As many already know, Martin performed the song naked in the recording studio, to give it that very vulnerable feeling that it has. It's honest and straight forward nature, without any pretension, conveys the wants, needs, and desires of a man for a woman, with heartfelt sincerity and true emotion. A wonderful highlight from Some Great Reward.

These Remastered albums of Depeche Mode's back catalog are truly remarkable and a wonderful upgrade from the previous CD editions. The sound quality is so much more clearer and crisp, especially on the DVD's DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround versions. The UK version of this Remastered album also includes an additional Super Audio Compact Disc layer (SACD) on the CD that is also a great listen (unfortunately all US Remastered editions do not include the SACD layer).

Bonuses on the DVD include the remarkable B-sides: In Your Memory (written by Alan Wilder), the catchy (Set Me Free) Remotivate Me, and the single remix of Somebody. Also included are 5 live tracks from the 1984 concerts in Basil and Liverpool, taken from the specific singles of Blasphemous Rumours, Shake The Disease, and A Question Of Lust. They give you a nice feel for what the tour was like during this era, but for a better experience, I'd recommend just picking up "The World We Live In & Live In Hamburg" instead.

And finally we have the Short Film, Depeche Mode: 1984 "You Can Get Away With Anything If You Give It A Good Tune," - A.Wilder. Included is some really wonderful archive film footage of the band working in and around the studio, with Martin explaining how the band samples certain sounds and noises to incorporate into their music (this was still fairly new even in 1984). Also of interest is the realization from the band at how much they still love Lie To Me, and how it almost became part of the setlist for Touring The Angel. One of my favorite moments is seeing Martin scream right into the camera, as he, Dave and Andy leave the studio for a while, to go on holiday. Lots of fun and interesting stories are told, though this time the interviews come less from the band members and more from other contributors, such as Mute's Daniel Miller, and exec. producer, Gareth Jones. That being said, it's still a lot of fun to watch, with additional clips from the music videos for People Are People, Master And Servant, Somebody, and live footage from the Hamburg concert included. Overall, a great 2 disc package.

Some Great Reward (Remastered) - the new romantics who would later become dark gothic techno Gods!

Stay Devoted!

"It Doesn't Matter If This All Shatters. Nothing Lasts Forever. But I'm Praying, That We're Staying...Together." - M.L.Gore

Speak and Spell was clearly Vince Clarke's album; it had some nice catchy melodies and funny vocals, but was all in all very happy-go-lucky and light-hearted, good for a dance or laugh, but nothing really substantial or long-lasting. A Broken Frame was Martin Gore trying his luck as a songwriter; it had some decent moments (like Leave in Silence), but was overall a too patchy and 'juvenile' effort (most songs being written by Martin at the age of 16). Construction Time Again saw Depeche Mode growing in darkness and maturity, and with the addition of Alan Wilder also improving in sound and production values; I only find it a bit too one-sidedly moralistic or 'political'.

With the release of Some Great Reward, the real Depeche Mode were taking shape for the firs time; it had already the DM characteristic cynical introspective lyrics, dark brooding music and aggressive industrial noises.

"Something to Do" starts off the album very well; it has a relentless driving drumbeat, aggressive sounding synthbass and desperate vocals about boredom and frustration (there are similarities to Soft Cell here and with the quirky lyric 'I'd put your pretty dress on' pointing to something Martin would really do in the not to distant future).

"Lie to Me" is less desperate and aggressive, being more laid-back and cynical in tone (and also offering a glimpse of hope with lyrics like 'Make me think that at the end of the day some great reward will be coming my way').

"People Are People" was released as the lead-off single and granted Depeche Mode with their highest chart position to date. I like the cool break beats, synthbass and various industrial noises, but find the lyrics a bit too moralising, untypical for Depeche Mode/Martin Gore (this being more in vein with the songs on Construction Time Again).

"It Doesn't Matter" sees Martin Gore taking lead vocals. It seems lighter in tone musically and lyrically (but nevertheless brings about some cynicism or self-rejection with lyrics like 'The respect you have for me - I don't deserve any').

"Stories of Old" is dark and sarcastic again musically and lyrically, singing about love that has 'been wrecked' (though the third stanza seems of a bit of a turning point here, or showcasing Martin Gore's lyrical ambiguity that he often referred to in his interviews).

"Somebody" again sees Martin Gore take lead vocals. Apart from the piano and Martin's incredible vocals, it's a very stripped down affair, only accompanied by some tape recordings in the background. The lyrics and atmosphere are well-conceived, warm and introspective (I find it a little bit odd though that this was released as a single; "Lie to Me" would surely have been a cleverer choice, at least in commercial terms).

"Master and Servant" was released as the second single, also quite successful. It shows Depeche Mode from a very aggressive and uncompromising side, musically (electro-industrial) and lyrically, singing about no less than 'Treat me like a dog' and 'Forget all about equality', this song being about BDSM practices essentially (but also offering the sarcastic inference that these sado-masochistic acts of violence and repression are 'a lot like life').

"If You Want" turns out to be musically quite similar to "Master and Servant", but written by Alan Wilder, it's lyrically much more obscure. What I really like is the initial sequence (the first stanza): it's very dark and foreboding, with some stomping beat, 'evil' sounding synthbass, some scary noises in the background and Dave Gahan's voice sounding strangely altered (maybe this giving a hint of Alan Wilder's certain 'misanthropic' side that Martin Gore once referred in an interview). "If You Want" may not be the best track on the album, but it's a far cry from being a filler as some reviewers degradingly classified it

"Blasphemous Rumours" concludes the album in a very sinister and fatalistic tone, being even darker than many tracks on Black Celebration. It has a stark sampled slash-hammer beat, EBM/industrial synths and noises. And of course those extremely gloomy lyrics, singing about no less than things like 'Slashed her wrists, bored with life', or 'Hit by a car, ended up on a life-support-machine'. It's relating the fatal stories (failed suicide attempt and fatal accident) of two young girls (or is it the same girl?), all this accompanied by a bigoted religious believe (which didn't prevent the girl's dead). With the cynical line 'I think that God's got a sick sense of humour' in the chorus, this song clearly shows Martin Gore's deprecating (or at least highly ambiguous) view towards religion.

All in all I find Some Great Ward a satisfyingly dark album, showcasing the real Mode sound and topics for the first time.

The 2006 reissued collectors edition comes with some decent remastering, insightful liner notes by Daniel Miller (the booklet also containing all the lyrics for the first time), and a fully loaded bonus DVD containing an informative short film, a 5.1 stereo mix of the album, a few live tracks and the three album's singles b-sides.

I only find it a shame slightly that all those bonus material was put on a DVD instead of a CD, being somewhat detrimental for more conventional listeners like me (I at least would have wished the b-sides on CD as well, there would have been enough space).

Anyways, this 2006 collectors edition is certainly a worthwhile purchase which I firmly recommend (even worth a re-purchase if you own the album already in one form).

I own every DM, Gore and Gahan album. This is my favorite. It edges out Music For The Masses and yes, Violator.

This is the perfect album to get someone into DM and a must for even the casual fan.

Hell, one of the songs on the album was almost my wedding song (inside joke for those who know this is also known as 'The Wedding Album'!

The evolution of Depeche Mode hit stride when they tackled their fourth album. Instead of the thinly structured synth-pop of the two follow-ups to

, "Some Great Reward" took the plunge into the heart of darkness. They'd gotten caught up with technology, giving the sound a fuller feel, and the lyrical content became more mature and cynical. The Dominance/Submission roleplay of "Master and Servant" (which was the second single) and the sociological blast of "Blasphemous Rumours" picked and cut deeper than before.

This was also the album that made Depeche Mode in the states. "People Are People" got into the American Top 20, and according the liner notes by producer Daniel Miller, the first thing recorded for the album. Egalitarian in tone, DM apparently even tried to darken the sound of the song lest it be construed as too pop. Those three particular songs make "Some Great Reward" on a par with

and

for consistency.

Like all the reissued back catalog of Depeche Mode, the 5.1 remix of the bonus disc is terrific. It fills the room with both the arena ready music that the Mode was growing into, but emphasizes the industrial samples the band was adding to the music. The clanging metal and factory wheezing leaps from the mix and shows just how ahead of the curve the band was. As for the mini-movie, "You can get away with anything..." chronicles the band working on the LP. I doubt I'll watch it more than twice. A pair of B-Sides and a remix of the lovely "Somebody" round out the package.

Given that Depeche Mode would next reach their emotionally darkest music by the next CD and then blast to superstardom ("Black Celebration,"

), this is the CD where you can here it drop into high gear. The remastering alone is worth the extra bills.