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Release Date: April 21, 2009
Rating: 4 out of 5
Number of Tracks: 13
Number of Tracks worth listening to: 8

It only seems right to start off the review with a warning. In case you missed it, Depeche Mode has changed; it’s whether or not it is for the better or for the worst that’s debatable. Old Depeche Mode fans consider the all of the albums between Formation and Violator to be the band’s best work. New Depeche Mode fans have based their love on Ultra, Exciter, and Playing the Angel. This album is a mixture of the both; the first half finds DM in classic “old fan” mode, and the remainder of the album is given to the new fans.

The opening song, “In Chains” is nearly a 7 minute reminder of why you love them and flaunts everything that is wonderful about New Age music. What’s so great about “Wrong”? It’s simple! Everything!!! The lyrics are well written, the beat is nothing sort of genius, and it supplies an intensity that is evenly matched by Gahan’s vocals. “Hole to Feed” is one of three songs written by Gahan and Eigner, unfortunately its positioning between “In Chains” and “Wrong” (the two best songs of the album) does it no favors, you forget it almost immediately. The two other band-written songs are “Come Back”, Gahan’s vocals on this song are oddly touching, and “Miles Away”, on which everything but the chorus get drowned out by an awesome beat. There are some letdowns, one that stands out is “Jezebel”, within the first minute of the song, boredom consumes you.

So overall, it starts out strong and then fizzles toward the end. But, that could just be the signs of an ODM (Old Depeche Mode fan) talking. Sounds of the Universe will definitely make you look forward to what the band will cook up next, and shows promise that the band will return to their pre-Violator days.

Below are links to a few songs:

"In Chains"
"Wrong"
"Come Back"
"Miles Away"