There's something funny about the music you grew up with. I'm from the 80's generation and while I was growing up, I had a clear preference for high energy synthesizer pop. I loved it most when it was bubbly and fun and it was no real surprise that I got hooked on Stock Aitken & Waterman productions along the way while I was a kid.
Everybody else seemed to know that this wasn't necessarily the kind of music that would stand the test of time, but I had trouble listening to groups like U2 and the Simple Minds, with a few of their hits as the exception to the rule. Heck, it was pretty simple, I was a kid at the time and they were too serious.
Still, even among the synth-pop generation, there were groups I had a hard time connecting to. Depeche Mode was one of them. I only liked "I Just Can't Get Enough", but due to the low vocals of the lead singer, Dave Gahan, it just felt a bit dark and negative to me. Even their classic hit "Enjoy The Silence" never put a smile on my face when it was originally released.
But this is where it gets interesting. I've discovered that your opinion about music changes when you grow up and as an adult, there are certain songs from my youth, that I have grown to appreciate. "Enjoy The Silence" is one of them.
Depeche Mode is still not one of my favorite groups, but I am amazed that the group has always stayed around. OK, they have taken a year off here and there, but there have been consistent music releases throughout since their start in 1980.
They have now released the song, "Where's The Revolution", which for me sparks the same initial reaction Depeche Mode have always had on me. It never gets me fully excited, even though I like the message of the song. The video is a different story. I have a bit of a weak for Anton Corbijn's work.
Anton is a Dutch photographer who usually shoots black and white photos from rock stars. His portraits are not often glamorous, but more honest and authentic. They have a habit of capturing something you will not see in other portraits of the same artist. The Depeche Mode video is also black and white and tells the story of the song with images. It's not one of those fast moving pop videos, but it's also not too artsy. It's found a great balance between cinematic shots, choreography and Depeche Mode.
