Ultra compared with SOTU

daveirl · 12-23-2009, 03:30 PM

So is Ultra the best album post Alan..?How come Dm have not reached the heights of Ultra...or maybe they have??I like sotu especially Comeback,Peace and Wrong but its missing something. The songs tend to drift after starting or sounding great..What do you think?

headstar1969 · 12-23-2009, 04:16 PM

From a commercial point of view, the first two singles off Ultra got alot more press. Both singles went top 10 in the UK. This was mostly because of the press the band were getting at the time. Dave was talking about his drug problems, the world wanted to know if they could manage without Alan and the tales of the Devotional tour were starting to come out.

SOTU is a brilliant album, as was Ultra but they won't ever get the press coverage again that they recieved during that period.

I really love SOTU. Still playing it to death. Loving the remixes, concerts and singles. Still hoping it hasn't all tailed off completely. There was mention of more songs (Fletch said the total was 20-22 I seem to remember), more studio sessions (Think they said they'd recorded 10 songs) and hopefully another single in Febuary when the next dates come around.

DeMo fan · 12-23-2009, 04:52 PM

It's all from your own point of view what's best. Album sales aren't even close now (i.e. itunes) from the days of Ultra, the audience has changed as well. DM works best on a set of headphones when you first hear the albums, only when we congregate as fans and make the album come alive is it better for me. Now that the North American concerts are over I can put my headphones back on. One day this album is my fave, and another day that album is. I'm such a flip-flopper, as the politicians would say. Sue me.

Edge 31 · 12-23-2009, 05:46 PM

It's no surprise to me(as well to other fans of "Ultra") that Alan favors the album post his departure. "Ultra" is the last DM album that takes you on a journey from beginning to end; like a great DJ that takes you through a complete journey on the dance floor.

It's always sounded "Alan-esque" to me, and somewhat similar to Recoil in some ways at the time. I can listen to it from beginning to end without skipping a track, and the instrumentals are great as well. Martin wrote some great songs and his and Dave's voice are flawless.

Sure they were getting a lot of press because of the events that surrounded Dave, but they have received more press and marketing for SOTU/TOTU here in the USA than they ever have since 1997. "Ultra" sold well, and a lot of fans probably doubted and questioned the album at first since Alan left.

SOTU is great but only because of "Ghost", "Wrong", and "Corrupt." Creepy sounds with haunting instrumentation with Dave's deep baritone. The other songs sound too poppy and Top 40 for me.

"Comeback" is great as well, but the studio session is best. It actually sounds like it got the "Ultra" treatment.

spikeyannie · 12-23-2009, 07:27 PM

Edge, I agree about "Comeback"; it does sound kinda similar to what you'd hear on "Ultra". I've been alternating between "Ultra" and "SOTU" recently because I own a Juno 106 and an Alpha Juno 1, and they used each of these synths on those albums (you can hear the 106 A LOT on "Ultra". I'm assuming it might have belonged to Tim Simenon...anyone know?). So for me, it gives me "synth homework" and is definitely inspiration. Plus, I tend to be one of those "I miss Alan" whiners, so this forces me out of that, and into the newer material. :-)

I kinda feel like SOTU is a sign of things to come as far as the band's direction. In other words, I'm hoping they continue in that direction (analog synths, a more contemporary/loose structure), because I think it splits the difference between going back to their roots, and adapting to the aesthetics of music nowadays. The album basically sounds like what I would expect them to sound like now...it's a very current sound despite its retro/analog feel.

The same goes for "Ultra". You get a sense of departure, a change of direction, when you listen to it, not to mention it made me very curious about Tim Simenon's other work. So, I don't know. I have to admit that "Ultra" seems like it has a little more substance to it, but again, maybe it also has to do with when the album came out and everything happening around it.

Nightlife616 · 12-23-2009, 10:59 PM

I think that "ULTRA" did get better media coverage... but there's also one thing that matters; nowadays, people normally don't listen to good music like DM a lot... i mean there's a lot crap that is popular... DM is certainly one of the best Britain has ever produced but i think that they're aging now... and may be there Golden Time is over... though it's very hard to say for a die-hard fan like but that's how i feel... although they still have enormous and loyal fan-base...
whatever they've produced; it's accepted by us a but later... look at "Exciter."

Womble · 12-24-2009, 04:50 AM

Ultra all the way. I´ve been listening to SOTU maaaaaany times by now, been to the concerts and I have to say that SOTU is one of the bottom line albums together with Speak & Spell and A broken frame.....In my opinion only In Chains and Corrupt stand out as good songs. DAVE HAVE NEVER BEEN AND WILL NOT BE A GOOD SONGWRITER. Sorry folks but that´s a fact!

Barrel of a gun is classic, epic DM as it´s best.

MacroMode · 12-24-2009, 05:35 AM

For me SOTU is the best. The 18 tracks are great, Ultra is a good album but I rarely listen to "Love Thieves" and "Freestate" for me they are kinda boring (please don't hate me) in contrast I can listen to every SOTU song and I don't get bored. For me the highlights of Ultra are "Barrel of a Gun", "It's no Good", "Home", "The Bottom Line", "Insight" and "Painkiller", but in SOTU I have like 15 highlights, Actually I feel like SOTU flows better than Ultra as a whole.

Mode Emu · 12-24-2009, 07:14 AM

Ultra is better from my point of view. The songs draw you in and you want to keep listening, for me, that just doesn't happen on SOTU. I suppose it helps that Ultra was my first DM album and BOAG my first DM song, it will always have real memories and meaning. For me, the real difference is one is interesting and one is dull, though. I like some of the SOTU songs, but they don't really make me feel anything like Ultra still does.

halozue · 12-24-2009, 07:19 AM

Love ULTRA! ULTRA is more rock-ier IMO...SOTU is in my bottom 3 list...Like most of the songs but it doesn't compare w/ULTRA

12-23-2009, 03:30 PM	#1
daveirl DMMB Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Ireland Posts: 254	Ultra compared with SOTU So is Ultra the best album post Alan..?How come Dm have not reached the heights of Ultra...or maybe they have??I like sotu especially Comeback,Peace and Wrong but its missing something. The songs tend to drift after starting or sounding great..What do you think? __________________ "I don't have a home..."

12-23-2009, 10:59 PM	#6
Nightlife616 DM Fan Forever@!! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pakistan Posts: 61	I think that "ULTRA" did get better media coverage... but there's also one thing that matters; nowadays, people normally don't listen to good music like DM a lot... i mean there's a lot crap that is popular... DM is certainly one of the best Britain has ever produced but i think that they're aging now... and may be there Golden Time is over... though it's very hard to say for a die-hard fan like but that's how i feel... although they still have enormous and loyal fan-base... whatever they've produced; it's accepted by us a but later... look at "Exciter." __________________ ~Let Me Show You The World In My Eyes!~

12-24-2009, 07:19 AM	#10
halozue always wrong Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,145	Love ULTRA! ULTRA is more rock-ier IMO...SOTU is in my bottom 3 list...Like most of the songs but it doesn't compare w/ULTRA __________________ ♥if I only had a potion, some magical lotion♥

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12-23-2009, 04:16 PM	#2
headstar1969 Proud to play 'em loud Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wiltshire, England Posts: 613	From a commercial point of view, the first two singles off Ultra got alot more press. Both singles went top 10 in the UK. This was mostly because of the press the band were getting at the time. Dave was talking about his drug problems, the world wanted to know if they could manage without Alan and the tales of the Devotional tour were starting to come out. SOTU is a brilliant album, as was Ultra but they won't ever get the press coverage again that they recieved during that period. I really love SOTU. Still playing it to death. Loving the remixes, concerts and singles. Still hoping it hasn't all tailed off completely. There was mention of more songs (Fletch said the total was 20-22 I seem to remember), more studio sessions (Think they said they'd recorded 10 songs) and hopefully another single in Febuary when the next dates come around.

12-23-2009, 04:52 PM	#3
DeMo fan The mode always burns. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hesperia,CA Posts: 41	It's all from your own point of view what's best. Album sales aren't even close now (i.e. itunes) from the days of Ultra, the audience has changed as well. DM works best on a set of headphones when you first hear the albums, only when we congregate as fans and make the album come alive is it better for me. Now that the North American concerts are over I can put my headphones back on. One day this album is my fave, and another day that album is. I'm such a flip-flopper, as the politicians would say. Sue me.

12-23-2009, 05:46 PM	#4
Edge 31 DMMB Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 174	It's no surprise to me(as well to other fans of "Ultra") that Alan favors the album post his departure. "Ultra" is the last DM album that takes you on a journey from beginning to end; like a great DJ that takes you through a complete journey on the dance floor. It's always sounded "Alan-esque" to me, and somewhat similar to Recoil in some ways at the time. I can listen to it from beginning to end without skipping a track, and the instrumentals are great as well. Martin wrote some great songs and his and Dave's voice are flawless. Sure they were getting a lot of press because of the events that surrounded Dave, but they have received more press and marketing for SOTU/TOTU here in the USA than they ever have since 1997. "Ultra" sold well, and a lot of fans probably doubted and questioned the album at first since Alan left. SOTU is great but only because of "Ghost", "Wrong", and "Corrupt." Creepy sounds with haunting instrumentation with Dave's deep baritone. The other songs sound too poppy and Top 40 for me. "Comeback" is great as well, but the studio session is best. It actually sounds like it got the "Ultra" treatment.

12-23-2009, 07:27 PM	#5
spikeyannie Synth Pop Is Still Cool Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 223	Edge, I agree about "Comeback"; it does sound kinda similar to what you'd hear on "Ultra". I've been alternating between "Ultra" and "SOTU" recently because I own a Juno 106 and an Alpha Juno 1, and they used each of these synths on those albums (you can hear the 106 A LOT on "Ultra". I'm assuming it might have belonged to Tim Simenon...anyone know?). So for me, it gives me "synth homework" and is definitely inspiration. Plus, I tend to be one of those "I miss Alan" whiners, so this forces me out of that, and into the newer material. :-) I kinda feel like SOTU is a sign of things to come as far as the band's direction. In other words, I'm hoping they continue in that direction (analog synths, a more contemporary/loose structure), because I think it splits the difference between going back to their roots, and adapting to the aesthetics of music nowadays. The album basically sounds like what I would expect them to sound like now...it's a very current sound despite its retro/analog feel. The same goes for "Ultra". You get a sense of departure, a change of direction, when you listen to it, not to mention it made me very curious about Tim Simenon's other work. So, I don't know. I have to admit that "Ultra" seems like it has a little more substance to it, but again, maybe it also has to do with when the album came out and everything happening around it.

12-24-2009, 04:50 AM	#7
Womble motorhead Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 22	Ultra all the way. I´ve been listening to SOTU maaaaaany times by now, been to the concerts and I have to say that SOTU is one of the bottom line albums together with Speak & Spell and A broken frame.....In my opinion only In Chains and Corrupt stand out as good songs. DAVE HAVE NEVER BEEN AND WILL NOT BE A GOOD SONGWRITER. Sorry folks but that´s a fact! Barrel of a gun is classic, epic DM as it´s best.

12-24-2009, 05:35 AM	#8
MacroMode DMMB Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador Posts: 767	For me SOTU is the best. The 18 tracks are great, Ultra is a good album but I rarely listen to "Love Thieves" and "Freestate" for me they are kinda boring (please don't hate me) in contrast I can listen to every SOTU song and I don't get bored. For me the highlights of Ultra are "Barrel of a Gun", "It's no Good", "Home", "The Bottom Line", "Insight" and "Painkiller", but in SOTU I have like 15 highlights, Actually I feel like SOTU flows better than Ultra as a whole.

12-24-2009, 07:14 AM	#9
Mode Emu DMMB Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Luxembourg Posts: 351	Ultra is better from my point of view. The songs draw you in and you want to keep listening, for me, that just doesn't happen on SOTU. I suppose it helps that Ultra was my first DM album and BOAG my first DM song, it will always have real memories and meaning. For me, the real difference is one is interesting and one is dull, though. I like some of the SOTU songs, but they don't really make me feel anything like Ultra still does.