Album of the Day

Depeche Mode were still a few years away from conquering the world in 1984, but with SOME GREAT REWARD, the band was turning the tide - in their native U.K., the set reached #5, and it broke the Top 100 in the U.S, a first for the group. As critics were quick to note, Dave Gahan had made dramatic strides forward as a singer, and with “People Are People” and “Blasphemous Rumours,” songwriter Martin Gore served up two of the quartet's most enduring anthems. The pairing of synth-pop bounce with industrial despair that would soon endear the band to millions of teens can be heard to excellent effect throughout the nine originals, all intensely emotional songs colored by Alan Wilder's adventurous arrangements. A mandatory purchase for Depeche Mode fans, SOME GREAT REWARD remains a rewarding listen for anyone who enjoys '80s new wave and dance music.