Paper Monsters
Encyclopedia
Paper Monsters is the solo debut album
by Depeche Mode
lead singer Dave Gahan. It was released by Mute Records
on June 2, 2003 in Europe
. The album was produced by Ken Thomas, who is best known for his work with Iceland
ic band Sigur Rós
. Upon its debut, critic
al reception was generally mixed; while many complimented the album's personal subject matter, others described it as lacking depth. Paper Monsters became a modest success in the UK where it debuted at number thirty-six on the albums chart, but it was a big success in the German
, Swedish
and Swiss
charts, reaching there the Top 10. In North America
, the album was released on June 3, 2003; however, it failed to make much of an impact on the mainstream charts, although the tour "Paper Monsters Tour" had some impact, especially on Depeche Mode fans. One concert of the tour, the one on 4-5.07 in Paris at the Olympia, was recorded and released on a DVD called "Live Monsters".
From this album, four songs were released on three singles: "Dirty Sticky Floors
", "I Need You
" and "Bottle living" / "Hold on" (the last was a double A-side
, so two album songs were released on the same single: "Bottle living" and "Hold on"). The three reached the UK Top 40.
Gahan first played with the idea of releasing a solo album after the release of Depeche Mode's Exciter
in 2001, but approached the project slowly. It was not until he began writing music with friend and musician Knox Chandler
that he gained the self confidence he needed to begin to consider working on an album of his own material.
.
The album was released in two versions: a single disc version, and a double disc version which included the regular album and a bonus DVD
. The DVD contains a short film, music videos, and live performances by Gahan filmed in New York City.
, Kate Lawrence called Paper Monsters "an assured debut" with "surprising depth". She was impressed by Gahan's vocals on the track "Hidden Houses", which she called "deliciously devilish and angelic in equal measure" and said that it "demonstrates a vocal range rarely seen in the Mode back catalogue". Slant Magazine
echoed Lawrence's review for the BBC, calling the album a "competent solo debut" with "with murky rock grooves and throaty vocals". However, Pitchfork Media
reviewer Michael Idov was less impressed with the album and wrote that its personal subject matter made for a "faintly embarrassing listen". Idov criticised Gahan's lyrics stating that his "vocal can still elevate the dumbest lyric to the level of a cathartic mantra, a skill that comes handy in the absence of Martin Gore
". Allmusic reviewer Don Kline called Paper Monsters "a mix of swampy blues-injected rock, slick urban electronica, and atmospheric balladry" and gave it three out of five stars. He also stated that "although it doesn't stray too far from the Depeche mould, Gahan does manage to put his own stamp on the songs".
", the lead single
from the album, became Gahan's most successful solo release, where it reached #18 on the UK Singles Chart
(and the Top 10 in Germany
and Italy
). Its remixes were also promoted in U.S.
dance clubs, and peaked within the top five of the Billboard Dance Chart. This first single had two b-sides: "Stand Up" and "Maybe".
The second single "I Need You
" was a ballad based around a synth and drum arrangement, which reached #27 in the UK and #5 on the U.S. Dance Chart. The second single also had two b-sides, "Closer" and "Breathe".
The third and final single was "Bottle Living" / "Hold On"
, a double A-side
. meaning that two songs were released on the same single. The single also contained a remix of another album track, "Hidden Houses", as a B-side. The single continued the album's string of top-forty singles reaching #36 in the UK.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
lead singer Dave Gahan. It was released by Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
on June 2, 2003 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The album was produced by Ken Thomas, who is best known for his work with Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic band Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
. Upon its debut, critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
al reception was generally mixed; while many complimented the album's personal subject matter, others described it as lacking depth. Paper Monsters became a modest success in the UK where it debuted at number thirty-six on the albums chart, but it was a big success in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
charts, reaching there the Top 10. In North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, the album was released on June 3, 2003; however, it failed to make much of an impact on the mainstream charts, although the tour "Paper Monsters Tour" had some impact, especially on Depeche Mode fans. One concert of the tour, the one on 4-5.07 in Paris at the Olympia, was recorded and released on a DVD called "Live Monsters".
From this album, four songs were released on three singles: "Dirty Sticky Floors
Dirty Sticky Floors
"Dirty Sticky Floors" is the first solo single by Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan and is the lead track on his 2003 debut album, Paper Monsters. It was released in late May 2003 as the lead single from that album, reaching #18 in the UK Singles Chart . The song would also reach #5 in Billboard...
", "I Need You
I Need You (Dave Gahan song)
"I Need You" is a song by Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan and is the second single from his 2003 debut album, Paper Monsters. It was released in late August 2003 after the first single, "Dirty Sticky Floors", and reached number 27 in the UK Singles Chart...
" and "Bottle living" / "Hold on" (the last was a double A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, so two album songs were released on the same single: "Bottle living" and "Hold on"). The three reached the UK Top 40.
Gahan first played with the idea of releasing a solo album after the release of Depeche Mode's Exciter
Exciter (album)
Exciter is Depeche Mode's tenth studio album, which was released on 14 May 2001 in the UK and May 15 in the US. It uses more digital music technology compared to their other albums. It was produced by Mark Bell of Björk and LFO fame...
in 2001, but approached the project slowly. It was not until he began writing music with friend and musician Knox Chandler
Knox Chandler
Knox Chandler is mostly known as a session guitarist and cellist, he has worked with such acts as Depeche Mode , Lori Carson, The Golden Palominos, The Psychedelic Furs, Ultra Vivid Scene, The Creatures and R.E.M....
that he gained the self confidence he needed to begin to consider working on an album of his own material.
Track listing
All tracks written and composed by Dave Gahan and Knox ChandlerKnox Chandler
Knox Chandler is mostly known as a session guitarist and cellist, he has worked with such acts as Depeche Mode , Lori Carson, The Golden Palominos, The Psychedelic Furs, Ultra Vivid Scene, The Creatures and R.E.M....
.
- "Dirty Sticky FloorsDirty Sticky Floors"Dirty Sticky Floors" is the first solo single by Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan and is the lead track on his 2003 debut album, Paper Monsters. It was released in late May 2003 as the lead single from that album, reaching #18 in the UK Singles Chart . The song would also reach #5 in Billboard...
" - "Hold OnBottle Living/Hold On"Bottle Living" and "Hold On" are songs by Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan and were released as a double A-side single, besides being the third and final single from Gahan's 2003 debut album, Paper Monsters...
" - "A Little Piece"
- "Bottle LivingBottle Living/Hold On"Bottle Living" and "Hold On" are songs by Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan and were released as a double A-side single, besides being the third and final single from Gahan's 2003 debut album, Paper Monsters...
" - "Black and Blue Again"
- "Stay"
- "I Need YouI Need You (Dave Gahan song)"I Need You" is a song by Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan and is the second single from his 2003 debut album, Paper Monsters. It was released in late August 2003 after the first single, "Dirty Sticky Floors", and reached number 27 in the UK Singles Chart...
" - "Bitter Apple"
- "Hidden Houses"
- "Goodbye"
The album was released in two versions: a single disc version, and a double disc version which included the regular album and a bonus DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. The DVD contains a short film, music videos, and live performances by Gahan filmed in New York City.
Bonus tracks and footage
All bonus tracks and footage appear on the United Kingdom and North American edition of Paper Monsters.- A Short Film
- "Dirty Sticky Floors" music video
- Exclusive b-roll footage from the "Dirty Sticky Floors" video shoot
- "Hold On" (exclusive New York acoustic performance)
- "A Little Piece" (exclusive New York acoustic performance)
- Exclusive b-roll footage from the New York acoustic performance
- Photo Gallery
Critical response
Upon release, the album received mixed responses from international music-critics. In a review for the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, Kate Lawrence called Paper Monsters "an assured debut" with "surprising depth". She was impressed by Gahan's vocals on the track "Hidden Houses", which she called "deliciously devilish and angelic in equal measure" and said that it "demonstrates a vocal range rarely seen in the Mode back catalogue". Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
echoed Lawrence's review for the BBC, calling the album a "competent solo debut" with "with murky rock grooves and throaty vocals". However, Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
reviewer Michael Idov was less impressed with the album and wrote that its personal subject matter made for a "faintly embarrassing listen". Idov criticised Gahan's lyrics stating that his "vocal can still elevate the dumbest lyric to the level of a cathartic mantra, a skill that comes handy in the absence of Martin Gore
Martin Gore
Martin Lee Gore is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, remixer and DJ. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode and has written the vast majority of their songs...
". Allmusic reviewer Don Kline called Paper Monsters "a mix of swampy blues-injected rock, slick urban electronica, and atmospheric balladry" and gave it three out of five stars. He also stated that "although it doesn't stray too far from the Depeche mould, Gahan does manage to put his own stamp on the songs".
Singles
"Dirty Sticky FloorsDirty Sticky Floors
"Dirty Sticky Floors" is the first solo single by Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan and is the lead track on his 2003 debut album, Paper Monsters. It was released in late May 2003 as the lead single from that album, reaching #18 in the UK Singles Chart . The song would also reach #5 in Billboard...
", the lead single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album, became Gahan's most successful solo release, where it reached #18 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(and the Top 10 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
). Its remixes were also promoted in U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dance clubs, and peaked within the top five of the Billboard Dance Chart. This first single had two b-sides: "Stand Up" and "Maybe".
The second single "I Need You
I Need You (Dave Gahan song)
"I Need You" is a song by Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan and is the second single from his 2003 debut album, Paper Monsters. It was released in late August 2003 after the first single, "Dirty Sticky Floors", and reached number 27 in the UK Singles Chart...
" was a ballad based around a synth and drum arrangement, which reached #27 in the UK and #5 on the U.S. Dance Chart. The second single also had two b-sides, "Closer" and "Breathe".
The third and final single was "Bottle Living" / "Hold On"
Bottle Living/Hold On
"Bottle Living" and "Hold On" are songs by Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan and were released as a double A-side single, besides being the third and final single from Gahan's 2003 debut album, Paper Monsters...
, a double A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
. meaning that two songs were released on the same single. The single also contained a remix of another album track, "Hidden Houses", as a B-side. The single continued the album's string of top-forty singles reaching #36 in the UK.
Release details
- All editions released by Mute and Reprise Records.
| Release format | Country | Cat. No. | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular album | United Kingdom | STUMM 216 | June 2, 2003 |
| Regular album | North America | 48471 | June 3, 2003 |
| Special edition CD/DVD album | United Kingdom | LCDSTUMM 216 | June 2, 2003 |
| Special edition CD/DVD album | North America | 48492 | June 3, 2003 |
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums chart | 5 |
| Swedish albums chart | 5 |
| Swiss albums chart | 10 |
| Italy albums chart | 10 |
| UK albums chart | 36 |
| Austrian albums chart | 43 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 200 albums chart | 127 |
Credits and personnel
- Lead and backing vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
— Dave Gahan - Backing vocals — Dee Lewis
- GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
— Knox ChandlerKnox ChandlerKnox Chandler is mostly known as a session guitarist and cellist, he has worked with such acts as Depeche Mode , Lori Carson, The Golden Palominos, The Psychedelic Furs, Ultra Vivid Scene, The Creatures and R.E.M.... - DulcimerAppalachian dulcimerThe Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. It is native to the Appalachian region of the United States...
— Knox Chandler - CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
— Knox Chandler, Jane ScarpantoniJane ScarpantoniJane Scarpantoni is a classically trained cello player who has played on a number of alternative rock albums.She was a member of Hoboken, New Jersey's Tiny Lights in the mid-'80s, then went on to play with other musicians especially those associated with the Hoboken underground rock scene of the... - Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
— Knox Chandler - PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
— Doug Petty - ViolaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
— David Gold - KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
— Knox Chandler, Dave Gahan - VibraphoneVibraphoneThe vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
— Knox Chandler - GlockenspielGlockenspielA glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
— Dave Gahan - ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
— Maxim Moston, Antoine Silverman, Joan Wasser - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
— Paul Garisto, Victor IndrizzoVictor IndrizzoVictor Indrizzo is an American session musician, primarily known for playing the drums, as well as a songwriter and producer.Indrizzo was born in Freeport, Long Island, New York...
- Electric pianoElectric pianoAn electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented...
— Dave Gahan - HarmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
— Dave Gahan - TambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
& Tom-tom drums — Jolyon Thomas - String arrangementsString instrumentA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
— Knox Chandler - Programming — Knox Chandler, John Collyer
- EngineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
— Jonathan Adler - Mix engineer — Jack Clark
- MixedAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
by Jack Clark, Ken Thomas - MasteredAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
by Mike Marsh - PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
by Anton CorbijnAnton CorbijnAnton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade... - Art directionArt directorThe art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
by Anton Corbijn - Art design by FourFiveOneCreative
External links
- DaveGahan.com — official website.