Depeche Mode

Playing The Angel

[4/5] Depeche Mode have been keeping their electronic pop fizzing for the better part of 30 years-around the half-life of the Rolling Stones’ livers, if you’re keeping tabs-and in the process, they’ve stayed more relevant than 60,000 bands described by socially retarded internet dweebs as “scene.” On Playing The Angel, their first album since 2001’s Exciter, DM are seemingly drawing from the vibes emanating from such classic Mode moments as Violator and Music For The Masses. But while the angst and alienation of Mode-past might be dismissed as the trappings of ’80s youth, tracks like “A Pain That I’m Used To,” “Damaged People” and “The Darkest Star” exhibit a greater melodic sophistication, while planting a seed of doubt in 30-somethings. (Yes, your world is much scarier now than it was when you were dancing to “Black Celebration” in your college years.) It’s DM’s ability to make you dance and look over your shoulder-sometimes simultaneously-that makes them relevant in an age of dirty bombs, inept governments and environment-destroying religious zealots. (SIRE/REPRISE) Jason Pettigrew