Depeche Mode - Black Celebration

Black Celebration, Depeche Mode's fifth album not counting compilations, is one of their best. Martin Gore's lyrics are less strident and more personal--even the politicized "New Dress" is couched in humanistic detail instead of slogans--and his mostly minor-key melodies have a certain dark majesty.

The production and arrangements move further into the atmospheric, somewhat industrial realm first tentatively explored on the preceding Some Great Reward, with more impressive results. "Fly On the Windscreen," a song previewed in a much different arrangement on the singles compilation Catching Up With Depeche Mode, sounds more convincing in this form, and it's one of the band's best-ever efforts. As a whole, Black Celebration is one of the better Goth-pop records of its time.

Dave Gahan - Hourglass
Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame
Depeche Mode - Violator