- Audio CD (2 Jun 2003)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Mute
- ASIN: B00009IC1U
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 143,917 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Dirty Sticky Floors |
| 2. Hold On |
| 3. A Little Piece |
| 4. Bottle Living |
| 5. Black And Blue Again |
| 6. Stay |
| 7. I Need You |
| 8. Bitter Apple |
| 9. Hidden Houses |
| 10. Goodbye |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Paper Monsters marks the solo debut of Dave Gahan, frontman of Depeche Mode and a hedonist of some distinction. It's been a long time coming, so you'd expect the album to be brimming with ideas, messy even, a testament to Gahan's frustration at having to sing Vince Clarke and Martin Gore's songs for all this time while his own were filed away for future use. Yet strangely it's wholly consistent, not the wild work of someone newly liberated, as if Gahan had written it in one go rather than utilising the best of 20 years' worth of unrecorded tunes.
There are basically three types of track here: There's powerful, Depeche-style glam ("Dirty Sticky Floors", "Bottle Living"), quiet urban mood-music ("A Little Piece", "Bitter Apple", "Stay") and rumbling industrial atmospherics, usually rising to an impressive crescendo ("Black and Blue Again", "Hidden Houses", "Goodbye"). Lyrically speaking, it's autobiographical, dealing with Gahan's trouble with relationships and intoxicants and, though it lacks Gore's sense of drama and perversity, it does have a maudlin charm. Occasionally it becomes samey in mood, needing a touch of Gore's pervy spice, but all in all Gahan, along with co-writer and performer Knox Chandler, does a fine and tasteful job. Hopefully Paper Monsters will give him the confidence to really let rip. --Dominic Wills
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I didnt quite know what to expect from this album - having heard rumours that Gahan was creating this project - I wasnt sure he had it in him !!
WRONG - This for me is a real improvement on Modes last album ..the opener Dirty Sticky Floors is a real stomper - with trace elements of mode's rockier sound in the background. I was surprised at the variety of sounds on this album - quiet mood music - plus some stormers - including the personal jesus style "Bottle Living ". My favs are the mentioned plus Hidden Houses which is fantastic. Overall this album grows with each listen....roll on his follow up !!!
WRONG - This for me is a real improvement on Modes last album ..the opener Dirty Sticky Floors is a real stomper - with trace elements of mode's rockier sound in the background. I was surprised at the variety of sounds on this album - quiet mood music - plus some stormers - including the personal jesus style "Bottle Living ". My favs are the mentioned plus Hidden Houses which is fantastic. Overall this album grows with each listen....roll on his follow up !!!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've been a Depeche Mode fan for years - always loved the sexual undertones of their lyrics wrapped up in the bed-sheets of their very provocative music...and of course Dave's amazing voice delivers the sensuality that hypnotises the senses.
Of course, like many DM fans I felt obliged to buy this album - to say it's Brilliant is a gross understatement. When I'm not playing the album I have 'I need you', 'bottle living' and 'Dirty Sticky floors' in my head, driving me to distraction.
Of course, like many DM fans I felt obliged to buy this album - to say it's Brilliant is a gross understatement. When I'm not playing the album I have 'I need you', 'bottle living' and 'Dirty Sticky floors' in my head, driving me to distraction.
Dave - I'm addicted, I'm aching for the next album....I NEED MORE!!! Whatever you do, Don't stop - you're too good.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It has been a long time coming, but at last Dave Gahan finally has something Depeche Mode fans can look forward to. 'Paper Monsters' is the debut solo album from the Depeche Mode frontman, who for the last 22 years of his life, was singing songs written by Martin Gore and Vince Clarke. In a nutshell, the album is Gahan's own memoir to what has been a rollercoaster ride, battling through his near-fatal drink-drug addiction in the 1990s to the breakdown of his previous relationships. This album sees Dave reborn and ready to unleash his 'monsters' as well as his long-awaited songwriting talents.
The energetic 'Dirty Sticky Floors' opens up this storybook of an album, presenting to us a different side of Dave we have longed to see - a side that has broken free from the wildchild we all knew from Depeche Mode. Indeed, the feelings are ever present in his lyrics - 'Ask me what I want/Easy, that's just more/How long will I wait for you?/Twice as long as I did before' - this presenting his more relaxed and optimistic outlook on companionship and life. Then again, this message is virtually omnipresent throughout the album.
Emotions galore, the album remains a marvel, from the powerful guitar crescendos of 'Bottle Living' to the mystifying and maudlin sounds of 'Stay', 'Goodbye' and 'Black And Blue Again, and finally to the subtle and mellow sounds of 'I Need You' and 'A Little Piece'. The album is a tour de force in its own right artistically as Gahan is able to mobilise his own emotions through song and present an eclectic blend of rock, synth, deep strings and vocal harmonies that bring out the best in a rock artist.
Whereas all other singer/songwriters jump on the commercial bandwagon and write the same type of songs over and over again (Avril Lavigne on teen angst, Ja Rule on justice for rap, So Solid Crew on life in the 'ghetto'), Dave Gahan is streets ahead here. Based on personal experiences, he indulges us to take a look at life as it really is, the importance of friends, the ability to revitalise oneself and basically for him to say (and I quote from an old DM song!) 'Let me show you the world in my eyes.'
A fanstastic songwriting debut, Dave Gahan has clearly done justice. 'Paper Monsters' is out on general release.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
armchair psychiatrists.
To be fair I only recently purchased this CD on a whim. I should really stop doing that.
The wanna be iconic front man of Depeche Mode, Dave Gahan has lived the... Read more
The wanna be iconic front man of Depeche Mode, Dave Gahan has lived the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by P. Frizelle
Gahan Without Gore
I gave Dave Gahan's two solo albums a listen (this and the follow-up 'Hourglass'), having recently got back into DM via their excellent recent release 'Sounds Of THe Universe') and... Read more
Published on 7 July 2009 by Jellybean
Good beginning
Buy this for its fascination rather than expecting a killer Depeche Mode album. It does however, contain some nice surprises- such as the beautiful Bitter Apple which has a... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2007 by A Reader
Fascinating ! Must have !
As a Depeche mode fan, I didn't know what to expect from Dave's solo album, but i have to say "IT'S AMAZING", Dave explores his voice in each song, I almost did not recognise him... Read more
Published on 22 July 2006 by A. Zantingh
Confused?
Some reviewers seem a little confused. This doesn't sound like Depeche Mode because it's not by Depeche Mode. It's a solo album from their vocalist. And a great album it is too. Read more
Published on 10 April 2006 by Coincidence Vs Fate
NOT depeche mode!
Having been a fan of Depeche Mode since 1981, I was really looking forward to Dave's solo project. Oh dear! Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2006 by M. Vango
A monster of an album!
A must buy! Paper Monsters is perhaps one of the best rock electro albums around. If you are Mode fan, then this album should be a staple in your music collection - you will not be... Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2006 by J. Bradshaw
Dave at his best
Fantastic - go out and buy it!
Seriously, if you are a fan of Depeche Mode, this album is for you. Read more
Published on 27 Jan 2005 by "giantfriend"
The lead singer's album..not amazing..not even good
Before the die-hards want to hurl abuse in my direction, can I say two things?
Firstly, what if SOME UNKNOWN had released this album, how would you feel about it... Read more
Published on 3 July 2004 by Mr. S. R. Dhain
A tear came to my eye
Having been a Depeche fan for some 16 years, I rushed out and bought this album ASAP.
It was such a relife to find that it was truly fantastic, a must have for any fan of this... Read more
It was such a relife to find that it was truly fantastic, a must have for any fan of this... Read more
Published on 16 July 2003
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