Depeche Mode

The fourth, fifth, and sixth box sets dedicated to compiling all of Depeche Mode's single releases were put out in 2004, 13 years after the first three originally appeared. All of these sets provide a convenience for hardcore fans since they provide each single in its own slim jewel case. Needless to say, those who bought the original singles as they were released will be flustered once again. The fifth set, covering 1990 through 1994, includes the "Policy of Truth," "World in My Eyes," "I Feel You," "Walking in My Shoes," "Condemnation," and "In Your Room" singles. As usual, numerous live excerpts are provided, and remix duties are performed by the likes of Butch Vig, Brian Eno, François Kevorkian, Portishead, Jon Marsh, and William Orbit.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth box sets dedicated to compiling all of Depeche Mode's single releases were put out in 2004, 13 years after the first three originally appeared. All of these sets provide a convenience for hardcore fans since they provide each single in its own slim jewel case. Needless to say, those who bought the original singles as they were released will be flustered once again. The sixth set, covering 1997 through 2001, includes the "Barrell of Gun," "It's No Good," "Home," "Useless," "Only When I Lose Myself," and "Dream On" singles. Remixes come from Dan the Automator, DJ Shadow, GusGus, Plastikman, Dave Clarke, Kid 606, Bushwacka!, and Kruder & Dorfmeister.

Though probably nobody fully appreciated it at the time – perhaps least of all the band! – Depeche Mode's debut is at once both a conservative, functional pop record and a groundbreaking release. While various synth pioneers had come before – Gary Numan, early Human League, late-'70s Euro-disco, and above all Kraftwerk all had clear influence on Speak & Spell – Depeche became the undisputed founder of straight-up synth pop with the album's 11 songs, light, hooky, and danceable numbers about love, life, and clubs…

The full addition of Alan Wilder to Depeche Mode's lineup created a perfect troika that would last another 11 years, as the combination of Martin Gore's songwriting, Wilder's arranging, and David Gahan's singing and live star power resulted in an ever more compelling series of albums and singles. Construction Time Again, the new lineup's first full effort, is a bit hit and miss nonetheless, but when it does hit, it does so perfectly…

Consider this a primer, because there is no way a career spanning 25 years can be summarized justifiably within the cramped space of an 80-minute disc. The Best of Depeche Mode, Vol. 1 takes a very selective skip through the group's past, and it leaves no room for anything off Black Celebration - an album many fans (albeit the most depressive ones) cite as a favorite. While the relatively thorough Singles 81>85 and Singles 86>98 can be seen as the proper entry route, they don't have the benefit of covering 2001's Exciter or 2005's excellent Playing the Angel, so this disc - as of 2006, at least - is very nearly the best possible way to get a feel for the whole daunting discography. Tending to stick to the singles that made the greatest impact on the mainstream and club charts, the selections do signify that the group hasn't lost any traction…

The third box, covering 1985 through 1987, includes the "Shake the Disease," "It's Called a Heart," "Stripped," "A Question of Lust," "A Question of Time," and "Little 15" singles. Across the six discs included, there's a wealth of alternate mixes and decent excerpts from the Birmingham stop of the group's Black Celebration tour. Each single is packaged individually in a slim jewel case, providing a convenience for hardcore fans.