Paper Monsters is the latest from Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan.
Surprisingly, given the 22 years he's spent in the frontline of rock, this is the first time Gahan has recorded any of his own songs - written here in collaboration with Knox Chandler. The result is slightly softer than the sometimes angular Depeche Mode (that's the latter version, not the bright and poppy Basildon boys of their youth). But while Gahan does a good job of creating a strong, moody atmosphere, few of the songs light the blue touchpaper. Bottle Living and single Dirty Sticky Floors are highlights, and the album is spruced up with a sprinkling of humour to go with the darkness, but this doesn't reveal Gahan as a song-writing genius-in-waiting.
Updated: 16:12 Thursday, June 05, 2003
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