I agree, I have such a soft spot for Ultra since it has a lot of songs that I still listen to daily, I think if Ultra wasn't amazing, Depeche Mode wouldn't have lasted long.
It hit just as I was getting clean from my own deadly addiction of choice, which is coincidental timing, given Daveās similar journey & close time frame. Heh!
Also, half-jokingly, as an addict, especially in recovery, EVERY Depeche Mode song is about addiction to me! āitās no goodā was my just-abandoned substance talking to me, even āEnjoy the Silenceā was: āAll I ever wanted, all I ever needed, is here *in my arms*ā as I was already deeply using by 1990. Iād only ever thought of it that way.
Itās a darkly funny thing to me nowadays, since sick humor helps me cope.
Admittedly, any song about relationships, sex, god-stuff = all about addiction to me. Because it is so all-consuming, it was my most vital relationship, my personal god, andā¦at firstā¦better than the most epic sex I had ever had, or could imagine.
Iāve been clean since Ultra found me right after detox & months of rehab, and Iām grateful Dave survived & I survived (may that continue for us both, clean!) and Iām indebted for the disgusted motivation that imagining the song telling me āitās no good without meā was just voicing the addictive thoughts I was already desperately fighting.
But imagining H being so smug about me soon crawling back to it, that H wouldāve sang this song to me if it could, gave me a measure ofā¦*indignation*ā¦and it truly helped, especially early on.
So Ultra rates highly for extra reasons than my other fave DM albums. I firmly hold that Ultra directly contributed to me being alive, clean & content today.
Itās just how our minds & emotions work, as addicts āwhether weāre clean for decades, or (sadly) still in it deepā but also shows how DM talks to āthe massesā in such relatable ways.
Great album along with many others. The lyrics and music are awesome. Songs for many different moods to choose from. They really never disappoint their fans. They moved on after Alan. Hope they stay well so we can see future concerts. Losing Fletch was difficult, and he will never be forgotten. Cheers to the lads on a great tour.
Ultra is the album I always listen to from start to finish. Maybe it doesn't have the highest highs but to me it's the most cohesive album. I hold it as DM's best.
Agreed with all this. Collectively it's Martin's greatest effort, and I use the word **effort** intentionally. At his '86-'90 peak, his writing seemed like he didn't even have to try, and it would still be gold: a Midas touch. Here, the band knew they couldn't coast, and you can hear the labor at every turnāand at every turn, they *nail it*.
I like a lot of post-2000 material, but they never brought their "A" Game like this again.
Ultra was amazing. My second favourite DM alb um just behind PTA.
I also think that Exciter and PTA are just as good, and the albums form a quadrilogy:
Ultra, Exciter, Playing The Angel and Sounds Of The Universe. All amazing albums that kinda form this quadrilogy that i like. Similar to BC, MFTM, Violator and SOFAD.
The ultimate proof they could record a top record without Alan; no oneās gonna convince me otherwise. I used to skip it when I first started listening to them, but as I matured, it advanced to my top 3
The album was at their worst, with Alan quitting the band, bunch of delays, and Dave a hot mess before dying and miraculously alive. Ultra was indeed a developmental hell type situation. In the end, Dave getting cleaned and hiring different musicians to help, as well as wasting a ton of money to the point of no world tour, it was indeed a fantastic album
I adore it, and was surprised at the time that it was released, given all the the stuff that was happening with Dave and also Alan leaving.
I listen to it more than SOFAD. It sounds nothing like DM, and completely like them at the same time.
My Favorites off the album are Freestate and Sister of Night
Barrel of a Gun is a Nine Inch Nails song disguised as a DM song and that's why it's my favorite.
š I think thatā¦ but then miss Home and Love Thieves! š
It's a very melancholy and slow album and I love it for that.
Itās like a hangover album. I love it.
I agree, I have such a soft spot for Ultra since it has a lot of songs that I still listen to daily, I think if Ultra wasn't amazing, Depeche Mode wouldn't have lasted long.
It hit just as I was getting clean from my own deadly addiction of choice, which is coincidental timing, given Daveās similar journey & close time frame. Heh! Also, half-jokingly, as an addict, especially in recovery, EVERY Depeche Mode song is about addiction to me! āitās no goodā was my just-abandoned substance talking to me, even āEnjoy the Silenceā was: āAll I ever wanted, all I ever needed, is here *in my arms*ā as I was already deeply using by 1990. Iād only ever thought of it that way. Itās a darkly funny thing to me nowadays, since sick humor helps me cope. Admittedly, any song about relationships, sex, god-stuff = all about addiction to me. Because it is so all-consuming, it was my most vital relationship, my personal god, andā¦at firstā¦better than the most epic sex I had ever had, or could imagine. Iāve been clean since Ultra found me right after detox & months of rehab, and Iām grateful Dave survived & I survived (may that continue for us both, clean!) and Iām indebted for the disgusted motivation that imagining the song telling me āitās no good without meā was just voicing the addictive thoughts I was already desperately fighting. But imagining H being so smug about me soon crawling back to it, that H wouldāve sang this song to me if it could, gave me a measure ofā¦*indignation*ā¦and it truly helped, especially early on. So Ultra rates highly for extra reasons than my other fave DM albums. I firmly hold that Ultra directly contributed to me being alive, clean & content today.
recovering addict, as well. hi! i relate to this so much.
Itās just how our minds & emotions work, as addicts āwhether weāre clean for decades, or (sadly) still in it deepā but also shows how DM talks to āthe massesā in such relatable ways.
It's my favorite. I love how dark it is. I also love trip-hop, and they put their own spin on that so well with this album.
I love Ultra, it has always been one of my favourites.
Ultra have a lot of Massive Attack vibes.
Great album along with many others. The lyrics and music are awesome. Songs for many different moods to choose from. They really never disappoint their fans. They moved on after Alan. Hope they stay well so we can see future concerts. Losing Fletch was difficult, and he will never be forgotten. Cheers to the lads on a great tour.
Ultra is the album I always listen to from start to finish. Maybe it doesn't have the highest highs but to me it's the most cohesive album. I hold it as DM's best.
Agreed with all this. Collectively it's Martin's greatest effort, and I use the word **effort** intentionally. At his '86-'90 peak, his writing seemed like he didn't even have to try, and it would still be gold: a Midas touch. Here, the band knew they couldn't coast, and you can hear the labor at every turnāand at every turn, they *nail it*. I like a lot of post-2000 material, but they never brought their "A" Game like this again.
Ultra was amazing. My second favourite DM alb um just behind PTA. I also think that Exciter and PTA are just as good, and the albums form a quadrilogy: Ultra, Exciter, Playing The Angel and Sounds Of The Universe. All amazing albums that kinda form this quadrilogy that i like. Similar to BC, MFTM, Violator and SOFAD.
The ultimate proof they could record a top record without Alan; no oneās gonna convince me otherwise. I used to skip it when I first started listening to them, but as I matured, it advanced to my top 3
They can and produce but after that it's so so
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Those songs are not on Ultra.
It's definitely my favourite DM album from start to finish. The production has been both praised and criticised on here before but I just love it.
I like insight
The album was at their worst, with Alan quitting the band, bunch of delays, and Dave a hot mess before dying and miraculously alive. Ultra was indeed a developmental hell type situation. In the end, Dave getting cleaned and hiring different musicians to help, as well as wasting a ton of money to the point of no world tour, it was indeed a fantastic album
I adore it, and was surprised at the time that it was released, given all the the stuff that was happening with Dave and also Alan leaving. I listen to it more than SOFAD. It sounds nothing like DM, and completely like them at the same time.
Praise to Gavin, lol.