You can get off to a fast start. You can sustain your opener with the main course, not filler. But can you end on a high note? Sometimes I wonder if recording a strong closer is the most difficult thing to pull off when it comes to album rock. When it comes to the cream of the crop in music, I can think of more strong openers than strong closers. Nonetheless, I still have my favorites which I’ll be featuring on Mental Jukebox all month.
Violator is considered by many fans to be Depeche Mode’s greatest album – and it’s hard to argue with that. While there are at least three other albums that deserve this accolade – Black Celebration, Music For The Masses and Songs Of Faith And Devotion – Violator chronicles a band at the height of their powers. DM achieved massive commercial success in the U.S. with three of the album’s singles – “Personal Jesus”, “Enjoy The Silence” and “Policy Of Truth”. But they also stayed true to their dark, ominous persona throughout Violator, which is celebrated best in the final track on the U.S. release: “Clean”.
“Clean” is a huge fan favorite. A song that sounds equally great on headphones and big speakers, but truly comes alive in concert. The synth bass prowls. The drone sounds swarm. The drum machine mimics relentless nails in a coffin. The synth notes are estranged in one part and symphonic in another. As for the lyrics, this is Gore to the core. And then there’s Gahan’s vocals. His low, baritone range fits perfectly within the zone of “Clean”. What a way to end an album. And what a way to leave fans wanting more.
“I've broken my fall, put an end to it all. I've changed my routine. now I'm clean.”