e_burrell's Full Review: Paper Monsters by Dave Gahan
The world thought he was dead, but Dave Gahan just keeps getting better. The opening track and first single from Gahan's solo debut "Paper Monsters" makes it clear that he's lived the life of excess and learned from his near death experience. "Dirty Sticky Floor" propels the album from the get-go with a beat and hook better than anything Depeche Mode have released in years.
Recently, Gahan told Spiegel Magazine "Whether there is a future for Depeche Mode very much depends on whether Martin is willing and open enough to change. All I know is it won't be going on as it was, I want to be involved more in working on new songs." Martin Gore is the primary songwriter for the band, and has been for years. If "Paper Monsters" is any indication, Gahan is more than up for the task. The melodies are fresher, the voice is smoother and the vigor is back.
"Paper Monsters" is unsurprisingly dark in mood - Gahan keeps the sound somewhere between Depeche Mode and the chattering of his own twisted psyche. "Hold On", the second track is a slow, pleading tune - tenderly forceful and poignant. "A Little Piece" is another heart wrencher, while "Bottle Living" explores the seedy life again with a familiar "People Are People" era swagger. Even obvious lyrics like "He's a ship without a sail / Call before you drown" can't keep this song down.
"Stay" is another major highlight. Heavy synth orchestration, sparse piano and Gahan's begging, tender voice make this one irresistable. "Hidden Houses" is a rave of meshed guitars, heavy bass and lazy-paced rock.
I've always had a soft spot for artists who have lived the hard life and then let me in on what it's like. I wouldn't ever necessarily want to inhabit those shoes myself, but the curious voyeur in all of us is touched by people like Dave Gahan. Overdoses, breakdowns, addictions - it's the stuff of headlines and legend until you hear someone like Dave Gahan set the glamour down and tell it like it is. You can practically hear the sobriety in his voice - you know the guy's clean and working with a level head now and that's refreshing. Sometimes this works for artists with checkered pasts - Gahan makes it obvious that you don't need that stuff to be extraordinary.
A few tunes, most notably "Bitter Apple" and "I Need You" (with its 80's synthesizer) seem to go nowhere, and are disappointing asides on an otherwise charming album. The closer, "Goodbye", seems to go in the same direction before an orgy of drums, bass and guitar send it into the stratosphere and save the whole darn thing.
Dave Gahan definitely has a future on his own. Whether or not Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher allow him back into the fold with open arms, hearts and ears remains to be seen. I can tell you with complete certainty that "Paper Monsters" is every bit as good as most Depeche Mode albums, and may even appeal to those who weren't fans of the band before.
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