Depeche

Perhaps one of the best Motown tributes ever done, "Policy of Truth" finds Depeche Mode embracing the same sort of late-'60s slow groove that made songs like "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" such a winner, only retooled to the band's own ends. With a sharp, stabbing beat leading the way, David Gahan's delivery of a sharp Martin Gore lyric of emotional betrayal is accompanied by deep, funky synth bass, subtle guitars, and mysterious drones and horn section-styled keyboard backing…

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.

2005's Playing the Angel proved to be one of Depeche Mode's strongest albums - the combination of Ben Hillier's production, the emergence of David Gahan as a songwriter following his initial solo effort and a clutch of striking songs that openly embraced arena-level bombast following the much more subtle Exciter resulted in wide praise and a well-received tour. As a result - especially given the return of Hillier, the first producer to work on two Depeche albums in a row since Flood's heyday with Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion - Sounds of the Universe was initially suspected of being Playing the Angel redux, something the swaggering lead single "Wrong" didn't undercut at all. After all these years, though, Depeche can still pull out surprises, and what's quite astonishing about Sounds is how they've returned to the equipment and textures of their early-'80s work…