Released on 24 September 1984, "Some Great Reward" was the fourth studio album by Depeche Mode, the album was a huge success in the UK and the United States, spawning three singles "People Are People", "Master And Servant" & "Blasphemous Rumours"/"Somebody".
The album is considered a landamark on the bands career, using samplers much like they did in their previous album, and this would mark the path to follow in their forthcoming albums, additionally it also saw the band addressing more personal themes such as sexual politics "Master and Servant", adulterous relationships "Lie to Me", and arbitrary divine justice "Blasphemous Rumours".
This was the first album where they achieved chart success in the US with the single "People Are People" which reached No. 13 on the charts in mid-1985 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was also the first album that peaked
at a higher position on a chart that was not from the band's home
country as it peaked at No. 1 in Germany.
Considered one
of the best electronic music albums yet recorded, Some Great Reward
still sounds great, with the band's ever-evolving musical and production
skills matching even more ambitious songwriting by Martin Gore.
The brilliant "People Are People" was the first classic for the band unfortunately it was outclassed by some
of Depeche Mode's undisputed classics, the moody,
beautiful "Somebody," the ballad that mixes its wit and emotion skillfully; "Master and
Servant," an amped-up, slamming dance track that conflates sexual and
economic politics to sharp effect; and the closing "Blasphemous Rumors,"
a slow-building anthemic number supporting one of Gore's
most cynical lyrics, addressing a suicidal teen who finds God only to
die soon afterward.
Other cool tracks are
"Lie to Me" and the weirdly dreamy "It Doesn't Matter" with a brilliant Alan Wilder arrangements and of course the singing style by Gahan on "Master And Servant" that will stick and use for the next ten years.
The critics loved the album and considered a truly remarkable development especially on Gahan's voice, also it was considered it a great record to feel the balance of powerful music and personal lyrics as well, making the combination of the bands strenght on vocals an delicacy sound as a trademark, on the other hand, there were some negative reviews considered the record as an under-rated Depeche Mode turn out, in which the real strenght on the singles rather than the album, even though, the album remains as the first real intention to conquer the world with consistent and perfectly crafted singles.
Some Great Reward Track List:
1. Something To Do
2. Lie To Me
3. People Are People
4. It Doesn't Matter
5. Stories Of Old
6. Somebody
7. Master And Servant
8. If You Want
9. Blasphemous Rumours
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