Thoughts on Songs of Faith and Devotion

Songs of Faith and Devotion was one of the first two albums I REALLY started listening to in high school, as my mom let me basically take her copies of Songs of Faith and Devotion and Violator. Which, being an idiot tween, I don't believe I took good care of at all. I did promptly copy them to my Xbox 360 (BUT ONLY LIKE HALF THE SONGS FROM EACH FOR SOME REASON???) and I would often bring them with me to school to listen to on my cd player during lunch/waiting around after school at rehearsal. I even had a Songs of Faith and Devotion t-shirt I managed to snag at Hot Topic! I love the religious tone of the album, and like half the songs feel downright dirty which is great! Walking in my Shoes steals the show as my favorite, and my least favorite is probably Get Right With Me (which is still good!). At any rate, my thoughts on each track:

• I Feel You Fun fact, I was actually conceived to this song! You'd think I'd be more fond of it as a result, hahaha. It has a fun beat and is definitely a good intro song for the album as it really gets you acquainted with the very distinct sound of SOFAD. The little interlude before "I feel you, each move you make" is probably my favorite part of the song. Probably tied with Judas for weakest song on the album for me, which says a lot about the strength of the album since both of these songs are solid. Favorite line: where angels sing, spread their wings, my loves on high
• Walking in My Shoes Oh man oh man. Easily my favorite track on the album, probably tied for my favorite song period. It also easily takes the cake for my favorite music video, it's easily Corbjins opus in my opinion. The scene where the sky flares with color, the beautiful bird masks, fuck I love it so much you should go watch it RIGHT NOW. I actually have a cd of the single since the artwork is just so gorgeous. It's also an absurdly beautiful song live, as they tend to have the pretty bird lady walking around on some sort of projection and it feels so otherworldly. And the song itself? Fucking OUTRAGEOUSLY phenomenal! The melody is wonderful, the themeing is 11/10, the vocals are moving, I LOVE THIS SONG!!! Long outro but it's so fucking pretty that I can't complain, and they use it to haunting effect in the music video. Favorite line: Morality would frown upon, decency look down upon. The scapegoat fates made of me
• Strangelove Another absolute treat of a song, the sheer pleading but defiant tone in Dave's voice here is soooo hot. Probably the single most religious sounding track on the album, which is high praise for an album titled Songs of Faith and Devotion. It feels like the song that lyrically has the most in common with Sacred which I think is cute. Also, the way he says feel elation always sounds like fellation to me, which I presume to be intentional and find charming. Favorite line: if you see purity as immaturity, well it's no surprise. If for kindness you substitute blindess, please open your eyes
• Mercy in You Probably the "hardest" song on the album, if that makes sense? This was probably my favorite in 9th grade, and it's easy to see why. A memorable and unique sound, and a theme that feels like a plea for atonement akin to To Have and To Hold (boy, this album sure has a lot of songs that feel like thematic evolutions of Music for the Masses songs huh?), what's not to love? It's always had a feeling of a struggle against addiction with the support of an unendingly patient partner to me. I actually named my white crocolisk Mercy in WoW as a kid after this song, and I still use that name frequently in games. Great outro I have fallen asleep to many times. Another fun fact, the chanting voices in this song are so ingrained in my head that I've subconsciously panted to their cadence after nutting, which I found extremely amusing. Favorite line: I would lose my way again, be led hopelessly astray again, just so I could pray again for the mercy in you
• Judas What an overwhelmingly tranquil song! Martin really utilizes the contrast of his voice with Dave's here, the song really feels like a soft-spoken sermon that just wouldn't work as well from Dave. Of course, despite the soft tone of the song it feels sexily manipulative as he goads a partner into proving they want his love, and I find that contrast very pretty. Probably one of my top 3 on the album in high school, it's still great but the entire album is just so packed with phenomenal songs that somebody has to hold the bottom (just like the Walking in my Shoes music video hahahaha). Probably the most egregious outro in my opinion, I enjoy a long outro but Judas's feels like it overstays just a touch too long for my tastes. Favorite line: so open yourself for me, risk your health for me, if you want my love
• In Your Room What a pretty fucking song. The ballad is hopelessly perverse and gives Condemnation a run for its money with the sheer pleading tone. God this song is just so DISGUSTINGLY horny and I am all fucking here for it. The beat itself also captures this desperate feel to me, it really feels like a representation of being at the complete mercy of something greater. Which pulls a great double duty for the religious themes of the album and the pervert themes of the song. In a lot of ways, it feels like a sibling of Dressed in Black and Master and Servant from Black Celebration and Some Great Reward respectively. The outro here really evokes the feeling of the lover in the song leaving you in their room as they head out for their day, having had their way with you in the night. Pretty cool. Favorite line: I'm hanging on your words, living on your breath, feeling with your skin, will I always be here?
• Get Right With Me Okay I was crazy before, this is easily the weakest of the album to me. Not that it's bad, mind you! But it really feels like a version of Judas that's more in line with Dave's voice, and while it still rules Judas is *right there*. The chanting and choiresque backing vocals are exceptionally charming though, and the melody beneath is gorgeous. If Judas is a soft and reverent sermon, Get Right With Me is like one of those megachurches where they get everyone out of their seats singing. The hidden interlude is alright, but I prefer Crucified. Favorite line: Friends, if you've lost your way, you will find it again someday
• Rush And I'm proven wrong once again, this is the hardest song on the album no questions asked hahaha. The frenetic energy of this song is excellent, and the way it slows down in the middle before resuming is awesome. The themeing on this one also rules, really feels like a song of both faith and also devotion. It feels so distinct from any of its peers on the album which already feels so distinct from their other albums which I think is neat. And oh man the lyrics, they feel simultaneously demanding and begging, if that makes sense? Which rules, if you ask me. Favorite line: Open your sensitive mouth and talk to me, hold out your delicate hands and feel me
• One Caress Martin back at it again with some hauntingly beautiful crooning. The melody of this song is so beautiful and such a wonderful match for Martin's performance and lyrics that it can genuinely move me to tears (which admittedly a lot of their songs can do but still!). It also has a wonderful music video, ironically it was probably the one I watched most on Depeche Mode Dot Com in high school as my appreciation for Walking in My Shoes hadn't exploded to what it is these days quite yet. It feels like an ode to being led astray by a scary lady and being healed by the experience, which is a pretty damn wonderful theme for a song I'd say!! Truly a "she can fix me (by making me worse)" sort of song. Favorite line: I'm shying from the light, I've always loved the night, and now you offer me, eternal darkness
• Higher Love The intro to this song always makes me think of stained glass for some reason, which feels fitting all things considered. Another song that just sounds so fucking desperate (is it any wonder this is one of my favorite albums lmao), it also absolutely knocks the religious feel out of the ballpark. I always thought the moved in "moved, lifted higher" was "girl, lift it higher" as a kid. It's always funny how we mishear songs I think, it's one of the funnest parts of listening to music I'd say. All in all, a sexcellent note to end a kickass album on. Now go watch the Walking in my Shoes music video, I mean it. Favorite line: I surrender all control, to the desire that consumes me whole. Leads me by the hand to infinity, lies in wait at the heart of me
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