Playing the Angel

Playing the Angel is the first Depeche Mode album to feature writing contributions from lead singer Dave Gahan.{{cite web |last=Quan |first=Denise |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/12/depeche.mode/index.html |title=A Sobering Interview with Depeche Mode |publisher=CNN |date=13 May 2009 |access-date=10 January 2017}} He wrote the lyrics to "Suffer Well", "I Want It All" and "Nothing's Impossible", while Christian Eigner and Andrew Phillpott wrote the music. Gahan is the lead singer on all songs except for the instrumental "Introspectre", and Martin Gore-sung tracks "Macro" and "Damaged People". Gahan also sings backing vocals on "Macro". Tracks recorded during the Playing the Angel sessions that did not make the album include "Martyr", which was originally planned to be the lead single but was eventually deemed too poppy for the album and saved for The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1. Other songs include "Free", which ended up on the "Precious" single and the Japanese version of Playing the Angel.

Lyrically, some of the themes that appear quite often are faith, sin, pain, and suffering. Gore said that the track "John The Revelator" talks about faith but claims that "It also denounces the belief in a god who punishes and damns".{{Cite web|title=Depeche Mode, storyteller angel|date=16 August 2023 |url=https://www.lalibre.be/culture/musique/depeche-mode-ange-conteur-51b88c2de4b0de6db9acf42b|website=Lalibre.be}} Gahan explained that the origin of the track "Suffer Well" has to do with when a friend of his told him to "suffer well" (likely during his time as a substance abuser in the 1990s) and the line stuck with Gahan.{{Cite web|title=Depressed Mode|url=http://www.thewavemag.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=25575|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216085427/http://www.thewavemag.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=25575|archive-date=16 December 2006}} Another subject that Gore wrote about was his divorce from his wife. The track "Precious" was written about how Gore's children were coping with their parents' divorce. Gore stated that "[t]he song ends with the verse 'I know you've learned to trust / keep faith in both of us'. All of our songs, even the most depressive ones, contain hope".{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksta.de/|title=Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger - Aktuelle Nachrichten aus Köln und der ganzen Welt|date=18 October 2024|website=Ksta.de|access-date=18 October 2024}}{{Failed verification|date=June 2022}}

Musically, the album has a much more raw and gritty sound than its predecessor. Gillian Telling of Rolling Stone described the album's sound as featuring "the band's classic blend of synth-pop beats, heavy guitar riffs and dark lyrics".{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/depeche-mode-lift-angel-112115/ |title=Depeche Mode Lift Angel |last=Telling |first=Gillian |date=6 July 2005 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=22 January 2020}} The album has been called a more organic record for using more analogue synths than digital ones. In addition, most of the soundscapes presented are harsher and groovier than the more mellow Exciter. Producer Ben Hillier said that the verses on opening track "A Pain That I'm Used To" were extremely difficult to get right and Gore believed that the intro was also extremely difficult. According to Hillier, the choruses came together very well.{{Cite web|url=https://depeche-mode.com/2005/09/13/exclusive-interview-ben-hillier/|title=Exclusive Interview: Ben Hillier « Home / a Depeche Mode website|website=Depeche-mode.com|access-date=18 October 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/A_Pain_That_I'm_Used_To|title=A Pain That I'm Used To - Depeche Mode Live Wiki|website=Dmlive.wiki|access-date=18 October 2024}} Gore also told Keyboard Magazine that he had been listening to a lot of gospel music and that it directly inspired the track "John The Revelator" though the track strays far from its inspiration. Hillier also recalled that the tracks "Suffer Well" and "The Sinner in Me" were massively changed from their original demos.{{Cite web|title=Depeche Mode - Facebook| website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/depechemode/posts/10157116526725329?comment_id=10157118741780329&reply_comment_id=10157120066600329&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D}} "Nothing's Impossible" was also massively changed from its demo and was transformed into one of the heaviest and more distorted songs on the album. The demo version of "Nothing's Impossible" appears on the deluxe edition of Sounds of the Universe.

In mid-July 2005, the unfinished video for "Precious" was leaked online. It is believed to have been leaked through the website of the production team that helped make the video.

The album was released as a Copy Controlled CD and a deluxe SACD/DVD version (CD/DVD version in the United States) which includes the album on hybrid multi-channel SACD as the main disc and a bonus DVD featuring an exclusive studio performance of "Clean" (from Violator), the video for "Precious", a photo gallery and a 5.1 mix of the album. There is also a documentary on the making of the album. All ten of the earlier Depeche Mode albums were re-released in similar format to Playing the Angel, a CD/SACD hybrid (in the US simply a remastered CD) with a DVD featuring a 5.1 mix of each album and a documentary, though Playing the Angel's documentary is far less extensive and also shorter than the classic ones. The album was also released on vinyl as double LP housed in gatefold sleeve.

The iTunes deluxe edition of the album has several bonuses, including another "bare" version of a Violator track, "Waiting for the Night", and the music video for "Precious". People who placed the album on pre-order were eligible to participate in a ticket pre-sale for most Touring the Angel concerts, the first time such an offer was made by iTunes and Ticketmaster.

{{Album ratings

| MC = 78/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/playing-the-angel/depeche-mode |title=Reviews for Playing the Angel by Depeche Mode |website=Metacritic |access-date=28 October 2015}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Kellman |first=Andy |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/playing-the-angel-mw0000176163 |title=Playing the Angel – Depeche Mode |website=AllMusic |access-date=21 June 2011}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2Score = B{{cite magazine |last=Fiore |first=Raymond |url=https://ew.com/article/2005/10/24/playing-angel/ |title=Playing the Angel |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |issue=847 |date=28 October 2005 |issn=1049-0434 |access-date=18 August 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108001645/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C1120793%2C00.html |archive-date=8 January 2007}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/oct/14/popandrock.shopping1 |title=Depeche Mode, Playing the Angel |work=The Guardian |date=14 October 2005 |access-date=16 December 2016}}

| rev4 = The Independent

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |last=Gill |first=Andy |title=Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel |newspaper=The Independent |date=14 October 2005 |issn=0951-9467}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Buckley |first=David |title=Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel |magazine=Mojo |issue=144 |page=104 |date=November 2005 |issn=1351-0193}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 5/10{{cite magazine |title=Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel |magazine=NME |page=45 |date=12 November 2005 |issn=0028-6362}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 7.0/10{{cite web |last=Abebe |first=Nitsuh |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2285-playing-the-angel/ |title=Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel |work=Pitchfork |date=19 October 2005 |access-date=21 June 2011}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Mulholland |first=Garry |title=Black Magic |magazine=Q |issue=232 |page=127 |date=November 2005 |issn=0955-4955}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Edwards |first=Gavin |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/playing-the-angel-205623/ |title=Playing The Angel |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=20 October 2005 |access-date=25 January 2019}}

| rev10 = The Times

| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |title=Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel |newspaper=The Times |date=15 October 2005 |issn=0140-0460}}

}}

Playing the Angel received generally positive reviews. E! Online and Entertainment Weekly gave the album high scores. Pitchfork gave the album a positive review, but criticized its lack of innovation. However, there are some negative reviews; Rolling Stone magazine rated the album two-and-a-half stars out of five, lower than the score received by Exciter. Playing the Angel performed relatively well on several year-end lists such as Q magazine and Playlouder. The album was ranked number 20 on E! Online's "Top 20 Albums of 2005" list and number 68 on WOXY's "Top 97 Albums of 2005". In a positive review, Pitchfork described the album as "one of those signature artifacts of the Adult Band: an album we hardly even need to review. Depeche Mode's core fans will flip for it; it's the best thing they've released in a long while".{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2285-playing-the-angel/|title=Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel |website=Pitchfork}} The Red Book version of the album is considered by numerous fans to be poorly mastered,{{cite web |url=http://brianstagg.co.uk/p_t_a_clipressed/ |title=Depeche Mode – Playing The Angel – Another victim of the loudness race |website=BrianStagg.co.uk |date=20 October 2005 |access-date=10 August 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sharoma.com/loudness_war.htm |title=The Loudness War |website=Sharoma |access-date=10 August 2011}} relying on heavy compression to intentionally and artificially boost the output, especially when compared with the vinyl version that was mastered differently.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

Playing the Angel debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart, selling 32,505 copies in its first week.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/sales-dip-despite-big-debuts/034320 |title=Sales dip despite big debuts |work=Music Week |date=24 October 2005 |access-date=26 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202105716/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/sales-dip-despite-big-debuts/034320 |archive-date=2 February 2014}} In the United States, the album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 98,000 copies.{{cite magazine |last=Whitmire |first=Margo |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/simpson-strikes-back-ashlee-scores-2nd-no-1-60926/ |title=Simpson Strikes Back: Ashlee Scores 2nd No. 1 |magazine=Billboard |date=26 October 2005 |access-date=16 June 2022}} Both peak chart positions were improvements on the band's previous album, Exciter, which charted at number nine and eight, respectively, although Exciter attained higher US first-week sales of 115,000 units. Playing the Angel had sold 418,000 copies in the US as of November 2007.{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047283/ask-billboard |title=Ask Billboard: Tick, Tick, Tick |magazine=Billboard |date=16 November 2007 |access-date=21 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925034527/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047283/ask-billboard |archive-date=25 September 2015}} By January 2007, the album had sold 1.6 million copies worldwide (excluding the US and Canada), according to EMI.{{cite web |last=Cashmere |first=Paul |url=http://www.undercover.fm/news/1275-emi-share-price-drops-on-restructure-announcement |title=EMI Share Price Drops on Restructure Announcement |website=Undercover.fm |date=13 January 2007 |access-date=21 March 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616090624/http://www.undercover.fm/news/1275-emi-share-price-drops-on-restructure-announcement |archive-date=16 June 2013}}

{{clear}}

All lead vocals by Dave Gahan, except where noted

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| extra_column = Lead vocals

| total_length = 52:16

| all_writing = Martin L. Gore, except where noted

| title1 = A Pain That I'm Used To

| length1 = 4:11

| title2 = John the Revelator

| length2 = 3:42

| title3 = Suffer Well

| writer3 = {{hlist|Gahan|Eigner|Phillpott}}

| length3 = 3:49

| title4 = The Sinner in Me

| length4 = 4:56

| title5 = Precious

| length5 = 4:10

| title6 = Macro

| length6 = 4:03

| extra6 = Gore

| title7 = I Want It All

| writer7 = {{hlist|Gahan|Eigner|Phillpott}}

| length7 = 6:09

| title8 = Nothing's Impossible

| writer8 = {{hlist|Gahan|Eigner|Phillpott}}

| length8 = 4:21

| title9 = Introspectre

| length9 = 1:42

| extra9 = instrumental

| title10 = Damaged People

| length10 = 3:29

| extra10 = Gore

| title11 = Lilian

| length11 = 4:49

| title12 = The Darkest Star

| length12 = 6:55

}}

{{track listing

| headline = iTunes Deluxe Edition

| total_length = 89:00

| title13 = Free

| length13 = 5:13

| title14 = Waiting for the Night

| note14 = Bare

| length14 = 4:19

| title15 = Newborn

| length15 = 5:34

| title16 = Newborn

| note16 = Foster Remix by Kettel

| length16 = 5:28

| title17 = Better Days

| length17 = 2:30

| title18 = Better Days

| note18 = Basteroid "Dance Is Gone" Vocal Mix

| length18 = 7:13

| title19 = Better Days

| note19 = Basteroid "Dance Is Gone" Remix

| length19 = 7:12

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Limited edition bonus DVD

| total_length = 121:10

| title1 = Playing the Angel (In 5.1 and Stereo)

| length1 = 52:40

| title2 = Making the Angel

| note2 = short film

| length2 = 8:25

| title3 = Precious

| note3 = music video

| length3 = 4:04

| title4 = Clean

| note4 = Bare

| length4 = 3:45

}}

• The bonus DVD also includes a photo gallery. The UMD release of the album contains the same material as the bonus DVD excluding the "5.1 and Stereo" mix of the album.

{{track listing

| headline = iTunes pre-order bonus track

| total_length = 56:35

| title13 = Waiting for the Night

| note13 = Bare

| length13 = 4:19

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus track

| total_length = 57:24

| title13 = Free

| length13 = 5:13

}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Playing the Angel.{{cite AV media notes |title=Playing the Angel |type=liner notes |others=Depeche Mode |publisher=Mute Records |year=2005 |id=CDSTUMM260}}

• Andy Fletcher
• Dave Gahan
• Martin Gore

• Dave McCracken – programming {{small|(all tracks)}}; piano {{small|(track 12; miscredited to track 7 in the booklet)}}
• Richard Morris – programming
• Christian Eigner – original programming {{small|(tracks 3, 7, 8)}}
• Andrew Phillpott – original programming {{small|(tracks 3, 7, 8)}}

• Ben Hillier – production, mixing, engineering
• Steve Fitzmaurice – mixing at Whitfield Street Studios (London)
• Richard Morris – engineering
• Nick Sevilla – recording assistance
• Arjun Agerwala – recording assistance
• Rudyard Lee Cullers – recording assistance
• Devin Workman – recording assistance, mixing assistance
• Kt Rangnick – recording assistance, mixing assistance
• Emily Lazar – mastering at The Lodge (New York City)
• Sarah Register – mastering assistance

• Anton Corbijn – art direction, photography, cover design
• Four5one.com – design

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Playing the Angel}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|certref={{cite web |url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?AnoFiltro=2005&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP&ACCION=+Buscar+ |title=Discos de Oro y Platino |language=es |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |access-date=10 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004453/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?AnoFiltro=2005&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP&ACCION=+Buscar+ |archive-date=27 September 2007}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|relmonth=10|certyear=2005|date=24 October 2005|access-date=15 October 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|date=23 November 2005|access-date=21 March 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|certref={{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/pladebranchen08-offentligg%C3%B8res-i-dag |title=Platin til The Four Jacks |language=da |publisher=IFPI Danmark |date=2 December 2005 |access-date=27 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001002126/http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content%2Fpladebranchen08-offentligg%C3%B8res-i-dag |archive-date=1 October 2011}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|access-date=21 March 2011|salesamount=16,777}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2005|certyear=2006|certmonth=10|source=archive|access-date=10 January 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2005|certyear=2006|access-date=14 May 2009}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Greece|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|certyear=2007|id=20071027160549|access-date=20 November 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hungary|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2005|relmonth=10|certyear=2005|access-date=22 February 2013}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|relyear=2005|salesamount=168,000|nocert=true|note=sales in 2005|type=album|salesref={{cite web |last=De Luigi |first=Mario |url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/mdonline/6937.pdf |title=Riscossa nazionale |work=Musica e dischi |language=it |date=January 2006 |page=10 |access-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526212820/http://www.musicaedischi.it/mdonline/6937.pdf |archive-date=26 May 2015}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2005|relmonth=10|certyear=2006|date=5 July 2006|access-date=10 January 2017|salesamount=32,000|salesref={{cite web |author=Wiadomości |author-link=Wiadomości |url=https://muzyka.interia.pl/wiadomosci/news-sprzedaz-plyt-w-2005-r-rok-zaby,nId,1627424 |title=Sprzedaż płyt w 2005 r.: Rok Żaby |website=Interia |language=pl |date=25 January 2006 |access-date=24 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324055526/https://muzyka.interia.pl/wiadomosci/news-sprzedaz-plyt-w-2005-r-rok-zaby,nId,1627424 |archive-date=24 March 2021 |url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|relmonth=10|certyear=2006|id=20064|access-date=27 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917235749/http://artistas-espectaculos.com/topafp/pt/20064.htm|archive-date=17 September 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Russia|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Platinum|type=album|number=3|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|access-date=12 December 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2005|relmonth=10|certref={{cite web |url=http://promusicae.es/files/listassemanales/albumes/historial/TOP%20100%20ALBUMES%2006_06.pdf |title=Top 100 Albumes – Lista de los títulos mas vendidos del 06.02.06 al 12.02.06 |language=es |publisher=Productores de Música de España |access-date=27 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505083906/http://www.promusicae.es/files/listassemanales/albumes/historial/TOP%20100%20ALBUMES%2006_06.pdf |archive-date=5 May 2012}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|date=18 November 2005|access-date=21 March 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|id=5127-1745-2|date=14 October 2005|access-date=16 June 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|nocert=true|type=album|salesamount=418,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Playing the Angel|award=Platinum|type=album|certyear=2005|access-date=10 January 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|type=album|salesamount=1,600,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

• List of European number-one hits of 2005
• List of number-one albums of 2005 (Poland)
• List of number-one electronic albums of 2005 (U.S.)
• List of number-one hits of 2005 (France)
• List of number-one hits of 2005 (Italy)

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|type=album|21165|name=Playing the Angel}}
• [http://archives.depechemode.com/discography/albums/19_playingtheangel.html Album information from the official Depeche Mode website]

{{Depeche Mode}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2005 albums

Category:Albums produced by Ben Hillier

Category:Depeche Mode albums

Category:Mute Records albums

Category:Reprise Records albums

Category:Sire Records albums