De/Vision - devolution - 2003

Somewhere in the late aughts, possibly around 07 or 08, I suddenly discovered an entirely new genre of music that I had never heard of before called Futurepop.  I would describe it as akin to Darkwave, or a hybrid of Industrial and Synthpop.  Where did this come from?  Suddenly, there are about 10 or 15 groups that I had never heard of before celebrating their tenth anniversary or releasing their sixth album...  Where had I been hiding?

De/Vision was one of those bands.  Next to VNV Nation and Covenant, De/Vision is one of the biggest Futurepop bands out there.  I personally like the other two bands a tad better, but De/Vision is nothing to sneer at.  They have a large discography stretching back to the early 90s, and enough Mode-like pop hooks to satisfy any DM fan.

Nothing enormously special about this album.  It is simply one of the many of their discography that I enjoy on a rainy day or late in the evening.  I pulled a few of the remixes from the album and a cover from one of their singles, and there you have it. 

Try it out if you like DM, Curve, Industrial, Cause & Effect, or any of the bands like them.  I'm sure you'll like this one, too.

De/Vision - devolution - 2003

Dandy Warhols - Welcome To the Monkey House - 2003

I'm gonna attribute my love for this album to the Duran2 reference primarily.  I think, after listening to the "original" version from 2009, that Nick Rhodes reworking really improved the groundwork the Warhols had laid.  Yes, NR's version was a departure from what the group had originally intended, but at the time, NR had taken his 20+ years of experience and took a mediocre album and turned it into a pophook extravaganza.

I got this album when my first son was 3 years old and played it continuously.  It got so my son started requesting the "banana songs" and we would dance and sing together while We Used to be Friends was playing loudly in the living room.  Now he only listens to Christian Inspirational Worship music, the likes of Tenth Avenue North, so I don't know where I went wrong, there....  Maybe it's his form of rebellion....

All of the b-sides are here, and it is obvious that NR hadn't worked with them.  With the exception of three of the cover songs, the rest of the b-sides are crap.  But, their version of Hells Bells really kicks ass.  Turn that MFer UP.  Best songs on the album are, We Used To Be Friends, Plan A, Call Me, Relax, Hells Bells, The Last High and Heavenly.  The Jean Genie cover really sucks, and it sounds like a demo or session.

Anyway, listen away, it's good for a party weekend or even jamming out while you're cleaning the kitchen on a Saturday morning.  Good Stuff, Lots of Fun, and Quality Listening!!!!!!

Dandy Warhols - Welcome To the Monkey House - 2003

Dave Gahan - Paper Monsters - 2003

After Exciter, I pretty much gave up on Depeche Mode.  They sounded tired and trying way too hard.  It just wasn't working anymore.  So, when I saw this album along with Gore's second solo album, I thought they had decided the same thing.  Needless to say, they've had three more albums since then, of which only one was even halfway good.

But, after listening to this one two or three times, I think he did a pretty good job.  Songs that you can sing along with, they keep you listening, none of them would get skipped.  You could definitely tell that Gore wasn't writing any of the tracks, they were of their own sound, despite having Gahan's vocals.  The only tracks that really stood out for me were I Need You and Bitter Apple.  But, for you completists, here you go...

I've put all of the b-sides on, intermingled with the album tracks toward the middle of the album.  I've also included Reload, which was a guest vocal by Gahan on a JunkieXL song that came out at the same time.  The Junkie XL track kicks more ass than the rest of the album, unfortunately. 

Never liked the cover as that stupid Paper Monsters logo looked like shit.  Simply used some Corbin photos from the same sessions, and changed up the font.  Looks good.

Dave Gahan - Paper Monsters - 2003