Are the three new Depeche Mode reissues worth buying?
ORIGINALS
Speak & Spell, the band's 1981 debut featuring singles ''New Life'' and
''Just Can't Get Enough''; the moody Music for the Masses (1987), with
hits ''Strangelove'' and ''Never Let Me Down Again''; Violator (1990), the
band's most commercially and artistically successful effort, boasting
''Personal Jesus'' and ''Enjoy the Silence.''
REISSUES
Each edition includes the original album, plus a DVD featuring a
half-hour documentary, bonus tracks, and the entire album in 5.1
surround sound. The separation on the 5.1 mix is impressive, but the
rest of the audio extras — many of which are merely instrumentals — are a
bit skimpy considering the ridiculous number of remixes this band has
churned out over the years. The documentaries are more engaging, with
the best being Speak & Spell's, even though the 1981 departure of
original band member Vince Clarke is almost entirely glossed over.
VERDICT
For fans interested in the stories behind the songs, these upgrades are
a nice reward...as opposed to Some Great Reward, which, hopefully, is
next in line.
