Depeche Mode vs Dire Straits CLOSED

Love Over Gold gets regular play on my commutes

 

Having the electronic music background and having seen Depeche Mode eight times between 1981 and as recently as 2009 they get my vote every time.

Dire Straits have produced some of the most mind-numbingly dull fodder in history. Is there any feeling in Romeo and Juliet or Brothers In Arms in general ... nope not a bean. Knopfler came close with Sultans of Swing but it all went , for me , downhill big style after that.

The Mode .... where do I start , main songwriter leaves , main musician leaves , coke all round , lead singer nearly dies , dries out , hates on other band members , they tour without even talking with each other AND STILL ..... produce stuff like Personal Jesus , I Feel You , Enjoy The Silence and best of all In Your Room which is as soul-searchingly angst ridden and coke addled as anything that any electro band could produce.

Their live shows , for "guys that stand behind synths" even now , feel like events. Their Violator tour show in London circa late eighties/early nineties is still the most awesome live show I have ever seen.

To boot , Martin Gore who is the Mode's songwriting force is one of the nicest guys its been my pleasure to meet in the pop world ; all round good bloke and very smart.