Damn, I hate to hear that. Can't be worse the $4 can it?

Try it before you buy it


(this site is actually pretty good for streaming new releases for a week)

thanks.

between this and 30 Rock Season 1 + 2 combo pack for 30 bucks, (no good pricing for the X-Men bluray releases ) I might have to trek on over to Target come Friday.

My Wherehouse.com order shipped, but it said it may take up to 3 weeks to get to me. That's what I get for being cheap, I guess.

Not my Target. I was just there. The regular CD is $9.98. The CD/DVD is $17.98.

Oh baloney. This album does not "suck". It might not be the same as "Playing the Angel", but it certainly doesn't make it a bad album. The reviews by the music critics have been mostly positive. Such as the following from AllMusicGuide:

Review by Ned Raggett
2005's Playing the Angel proved to be one of Depeche Mode's strongest albums — the combination of Ben Hillier's production, the emergence of David Gahan as a songwriter following his initial solo effort and a clutch of striking songs that openly embraced arena-level bombast following the much more subtle Exciter resulted in wide praise and a well-received tour. As a result — especially given the return of Hillier, the first producer to work on two Depeche albums in a row since Flood's heyday with Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion — Sounds of the Universe was initially suspected of being Playing the Angel redux, something the swaggering lead single "Wrong" didn't undercut at all. After all these years, though, Depeche can still pull out surprises, and what's quite astonishing about Sounds is how they've returned to the equipment and textures of their early-'80s work in particular while reworking it to match both Gahan and Martin Gore's current lyrical and songwriting techniques. On balance, Sounds is one of Depeche's lower-key albums, but not without explosive or dramatic moments by any means, though. "Come Back," one of Gahan's three songwriting contributions, captures a sudden sense of vast space right from its start, the deep-chugging percussion and reverberation perfectly contrasting the soft chimes on the verses, while "Peace," with an opening bassline straight out of the days of the band's pop-industrial phase, and a stellar vocal turn from Gahan, is an absolute high point. But "In Chains," the slow-building start to the disc, sets the tone best for Sounds as a whole, with a hushed keyboard introduction, Gahan's swoon-worthy vocals (showcasing some of his best falsetto work yet), Gore's compressed funk guitar blasts and, above all else, the sense of older styles and sounds — classic drum machines, early synthesizers, a rumbling bass undercarriage — serving new purposes. More overt nods to earlier days appear with songs such as "Fragile Tension" and "In Sympathy," both featuring keyboards and beats sounding beamed in from A Broken Frame days but also with beautiful vocals that the younger Gahan could never have so easily done and guitar textures that the younger Gore had yet to fully embrace. "Perfect," meanwhile, almost reaches back to Speak & Spell thanks to an opening keyboard line that immediately calls the song "Puppets" to mind, but again it's more of a launching point for the current band's sound rather than a simple exercise in retrospection. Gore's sole lead vocal appears towards the end of the album on the enjoyable if understated "Jezebel," but his uncanny knack for harmonizing with Gahan throughout remains intact, with stand-out performances including the understated clatter and chime of "Little Soul" and his bravura turn toward the end of "Wrong." On the whole, Sounds of the Universe is a grower, relying on a few listens to fully take effect, but when it does, it shows Depeche Mode are still able to combine pop-hook accessibility and their own take on "roots" music for an electronic age with sonic experimentation and recombination — not bad for a band with almost three decades under its collective belt.

Rating: 4/5

Other reviews.

Washington Post:

SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE

Depeche Mode

"Sounds of the Universe" is everything you could want from a Depeche Mode album in 2009, in that it sounds nothing like an album from 2009. The gloomy synth-rock pioneers seem comfortable with the fact that they became gloomy synth-rock pioneers for a reason, and the resulting lack of industrial clang or forced club beats means the focus remains where it belongs -- on Martin Gore's synth symphonies, hopelessly romantic lyrics and Dave Gahan's dramatic delivery of the latter.

"Fragile Tension" scoots along with "Legend of Zelda" sounds sneaking out from every corner while Gahan does his very best to sell the vague ("There's something magical in the air/Some things so tragic we have to care") as a matter of life and death. Gore has never been the most inventive lyricist, and that doesn't change in the slightest on "Universe." He's still one of the premier "guess the rhyme" writers (Strong? Wrong! Proof? Truth!), but subtlety and cleverness have rarely had a place in Depeche Mode's universe. Gahan's steely voice works well with big issues -- love, lust, betrayal, fear -- and his simple intensity suits the songs better than any unnecessary wordiness.

Gore also keeps things relatively uncluttered musically. A chunky keyboard riff drives lead single "Wrong," and warm sounds wash over "Peace," even if it's hard to believe Gahan as he moans, "There is no space for the regrets. . . . Peace will come to me." After all, we've heard similar sentiments before. Good thing they still sound so good.

And YahooUK Music:

Depeche Mode - Sounds Of The Universe
(Tuesday April 21, 2009 3:58 PM )

Released on 20/04/09
Label: Mute

Rating: 8/10


Pitch black electronica and a scuffed up baritone, dollops of self loathing served up with queasy romanticism and off-key mysticism, songs called "In Chains", "Wrong", "Jezebel" and - cough - "Hole To Feed". Yes, it can only be a Depeche Mode album, and it's a lot more enjoyable than it sounds. Scraping off some of the guitar scuzz from the preceding "Playing The Angel", "Sounds Of The Universe" reveals some of the buffed up shine that made "Music For The Masses" and "Violator" such masterpieces, though without surrendering all the rawness of more recent years.

Of those rawer songs, lead single "Wrong" and "Come Back" are the most effective. The former may be written by Martin Gore but, as is often the case, he seems to be doing so from somewhere deep inside Gahan's head. "I was marching to the wrong drum with the wrong scum", the former addict singer spits with the righteous fury of a street preacher, backed by sawing analogue synths, and it's impossible not to think of his past, epic drug addictions. The Gahan-written "Come Back" is a stranger beast, with a beseeching melody and lyric, but an underpinning of clanging metallic percussion and smears of grimy guitar.

At other moments the band sound as gentle and poppy as they have in some time. On "Fragile Tension", they dig back into the bouncy synth pop that first made their name, though Gahan adds a vocal of far greater authority and depth than he could have mustered back when he was a Basildon teen mag puppy dog. "Peace", on the other hand, is something strikingly new in the Depeche Mode songbook: not only a straight duet between Gore and Gahan, but bathed in warm, velvety keyboard washes and an apparently irony-free optimism.

Elsewhere the band revisit old themes and sounds (the moody, murkily sexual electronica of "In Chains", the down-in-the-dirt nastiness of "Hole To Feed") but with much more conviction and energy than you could fairly expect from any band on their 12th album. There are only a couple of misfires. On "Jezebel", Gore once again takes over balladeer duties, with the usual slightly cloying results, while the instrumental "Spacewalker" - all dated squiggles and retro plinky plonking - seems unnecessary and misjudged.

Of course, the fate of all Depeche Mode records (in this country at least) is to be dismissed as a little bit preposterous, a little bit over-wrought, a little bit un-English. There's some truth in these accusations. But "Sounds Of The Universe" also happens to throb with sonic originality and dark, complex humanity, and is a fine addition to one of the richest, most intriguing back catalogues in pop.

by Jaime Gill

I'm just finishing my first listen and I'm pretty underwhelmed. First off, the 5.1 mix is pretty pointless and does not take advantage of the technology at all. Second, it is very Depeche Mode by numbers. Which is fine, but it seems pretty pointless.

They seem to have fallen into what I think of as the Prince trap - they're both putting out perfectly serviceable records at this point, but all listening to them makes me think of is past glories so I'd rather listen to those instead.

[That said, "Oh Well" from the "Wrong" single and boxset is amazing and the Trentemoeller remix of "Wrong" is one of the best things I've heard all year.]

it's a terribly lazy effort and quite embarrasing...with little heart and soul (and even worse lyrics)....Gahan and Gore need to call it a day, it's over

there's so many better bands out there these days.

what's unfortunate is that on the short film, the band really gushes over the "sound" of the album, to where it sounds like I'll be underwhelmed by it from what other here have said otherwise. (sorry I know that seems like a run-on sentence, but you get the gist). That video for 'Wrong' is flat out fucked up.

that's very disheartening to hear, hope it doesn't sound as bad as say, the Keane 'Hopes and Fear' SACD 5.1 soundmix.

I only really love Peace and Wrong

Right, the CD is $9.98 but the CD/DVD is $14.99 on the Target web site, currently shows out of stock. I would think it would ring up for that price at the store.

On my first listen through I liked it, I think "sucks" is too harsh. I think it's not as good as Playing the Angel but it's not too bad. In comparison, I think it's much better than the new U2 album.

Guess it depends on your system. Giles, I think it sounds as great as "PTA" in 5.1 So I'm very happy.

I just hear the samples from an interactive web ad and I must say I'm also unimpressed; practically each song follows the same formula of a drone sound for an intro. It sounded like there were trying to update their older electronic sound into a mesh of industrial beats but past songs like "Oberkorn" illustrate that they did it right the first time.

Exciter was pretty good though, "Goodnight Lovers" was awesome and "When the Body Speaks" was amazing.

This album is a grower, so I recommend you guys give it a few more listens.

I got the official CD today, and I'm actually liking "Hole to Feed" now.

Yes, it is a grower. And you must give this album a listen or two with headphones on. Because you will hear music, sounds, even a harmony or two you won't hear on just your stereo.

To gmanca...."Goodnight Lovers" and "Condemnation" were the two worst singles in DM history. And both were the most un-DM like songs they've ever done. I'm not saying they are BAD songs and it's wrong to change things up. Just that they were horrible choices for singles. And even though I wouldn't say they are terrible songs, I personally can't stand either.

You're right daytripper, I was going to qualify it but decided not to. I really do like "Goodnight Lovers" but for reasons other than the bridge, because IMO it ruins the song. But the breathy pads, intro, and lyrical cadance sounded much like "Somebody" so I don't agree that it's completely "un-DM." But it's not People are People, Leave in Silence, or Personal Jesus.

Whoa where do I get these? The only Bsides I got are remixes!

I bought the DVD CD combo for $10 at BBy! I think they made an error or something but Im not complaining.

I LOVE Depeche Mode. Everything from Speak to Ultra. Especailly Songs of Faith. But I really hate Condimation. Exciter and beyond has not really impressed me at all.

Holy cow.

I just received the limited edition of the album. This thing is incredible! First of all, it's HUGE. Comes with a full size hardcover book. A secondary smaller hardcover book detailing the making of the album. Randomly selected art cards, two pamphlets, pins, a poster, and 4 discs (the album, bonus tracks, b-sides, and remixes, demos, and the DVD). Oh, and a certificate of authenticity. THIS is how you do a special edition. Take note U2!

Ravenous Those tracks (The B-Sides) are on the Sounds Of The Universe-Deluxe Box Set "disc 2".

I have listened to Sounds Of The Universe a total of 15 times and I think it's great I love it enough said(My second Fav Cd next to Pet Shop Boys Love Etc).

got the box set today... this is what a box set should be.

and the price was really reasonable. u2, pearl jam, etc. should take note!

when i shell out this much money for a set, i want there to be substantial MUSIC value in it, in addition to all the bells & whistles. books are nice too, but having all the bonus tracks + a DVD of the album is of fantastic value. cheers to DM for making it worth my while to fork over the extra cash.

my box finally shipped today... can't wait to dig into it (he said as he tracked it on usps.com)

anyone else notice how "Peace" sounds like a song in the NES version of battletoads?

just a thought