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I've been bobbing around a lot to Depeche Mode's Violator myself.

OMG, I've loved that album for so long that I don't even own it on CD, only on cassette! That album made me "bob around" even in the days when I was convinced that I couldn't dance to save my life! In fact, you've just inspired me to listen again. I'm playing it right now.

Explain this to me: why is it so many people think Violator is Depeche Mode's best album? Speaking for myself, I feel they have two other albums that stand head and shoulders above it lyrically and musically.

I must concede, though, that Violator is nonetheless the most bob-able of their LPs, due to its generous use of 12/8 time signatures (Personal Jesus; Blue Dress; Sweetest Pefection; Clean) and general analogue-y squelchiness.

Ok that's my 2 cents of music geekery. Ker-ching!

It would be easier to reply if you named the other 2 albums, Don. :)

I can't say it's their best album, because I haven't heard all of them, only Music For The Masses, Black Celebration and Some Great Reward.

I know you didn't suggest it's their best album, but I know a lot of people think it is. I say this based on such varied (and sometimes dubious) sources as the Rolling Stones Encyclopedia, fansites and Q Magazine.

Yes, Black Celebration is one of the two; the other is 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion.

Useless personal trivia: DM is one of the only four acts with sizeable repertoires for which I can actually claim "I have heard all their albums". The other are the Beatles, the Pet Shop Boys and Kraftwerk.