The Fire Still Burns - Depeche Mode's Ultra Turns 20

Ultra, easily Depeche Mode’s most underrated album, turns 20-years-old today. For my take on the album itself, you can read my review here, but on this milestone anniversary, I wanted to share the memory of first obtaining the album on release day—which was technically April 15th here in the States—and then listening to it for the first time.

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The memory begins on the day before Ultra was released in America. My friends and I were walking around New Brunswick, just off campus at Rutgers University in New Jersey. We stopped in an indie record store. I was hoping that I might be able to score the album a day early, because A) I was an obsessive Depeche Mode fan and B) I hoped the indie store would be a little lax on the on sale date policy. Then wonder of wonders, I found the album, but the front cover had a gold foil stamp on it that said it was a promo copy and not for resale.

Fuck it, I thought, I’m buying this shit right here.

So, I bought it and greatly anticipated my first listen. Then my buddy had to go and fuck it all up for me by saying, “You know, the band won’t see one dime of that money.” (I think he was interning with a record label at the time, so he knew the ins and outs of “The Biz.”)

I struggled with my desire to hear the album and my conscience. Yes, Depeche Mode wouldn’t be hurt in the least by not receiving my money for the album, but call me crazy, I think artists should be rewarded for their work (by the way, feel free to buy my book if you’re so inclined). So, against every instinct I had, I returned the album, saying something like, “I don’t want to buy a promo,” or something equally stupid. In my defense, the stamp really did ruin the cover.

Though I felt like I’d done the right thing, I was still pretty pissed. That feeling would only get worse the next day.

The following morning, I headed down to Sam Goody, or for those who remember them, Sam Greedy was probably more appropriate—and headed over to the Depeche Mode rack. One (major) problem: Ultra wasn’t there. I asked the clerk just what the fuck was going on—okay, I didn’t really say that—and was told that the delivery truck was late. Gah! The clerk took my number and promised to hold a copy for me when—or if—the truck arrived later that day.

With my free time dwindling, I headed off to class and sat restlessly through the lecture, all while devising different ways to punish my friend for denying me the opportunity to listen to the new Depeche Mode album.

After what felt like forever, I headed back to my dorm room and found a message on my answering machine—Ultra had arrived. Now, while I ran a bit of track in high school—early in high school—and played in a town soccer league until I left for college, I wasn’t the most athletic guy at Rutgers. So, when I tell you that I ran all the way down to Sam Goody, which was several blocks from my dorm, you’ll know that I ran.

I burst into the store and breathlessly asked the clerk for my copy of the album. Finally, I had Ultra in my hands—again. I threw my money at the clerk and then, despite my lungs being on fire, ran all the way back to the dorm. Once I got back—and resisted the urge to throw up—I loaded the album into my roommate’s stereo system and let Depeche Mode take me on a trip. Wait, that’s the wrong album.

I skipped the first track, “Barrel of a Gun,” because it had also been the first single and I had already played it to death. I was more interested in the second single, “It’s No Good,” the fourth track on the album. I had only been able to hear it once on the radio and I’d been dying to hear it again ever since. After listening to the song that would later become ensconced in my personal Depeche Mode Top 5, I decided to sit down and listen to the album in full, but still skipping “Barrel of a Gun.”

As soon as the opening chords of “The Love Thieves” sounded, I was transported and completely sold on Ultra, no matter what I heard after that. While “It’s No Good” sounded like classic Depeche Mode and “Barrel of a Gun” was the typically jarring first single that the band liked to hit fans with since “Personal Jesus,” “The Love Thieves” sounded like nothing Depeche Mode had ever done before. It was beautiful and a track that I never thought they’d be able to accomplish since musical architect Alan Wilder had recently left the band. Songwriter Martin Gore’s lyrics and guitar were gorgeous and Dave Gahan’s voice sounded better than ever, which was quite a feat after his very public battle with heroin addiction. He was healthy now and sounded like it. “The Love Thieves” may not be everyone’s favorite, but that song combined with “It’s No Good” made me fall in love with Depeche Mode all over again.

Then I heard “Home.” Holy shit, what an amazing song. Gore handles the vocals on this one and still to this day, it’s the best song on which he’s ever sung. The heartfelt lyrics combined with the driving beat and strings made for an incredible combination.

I liked “Useless” right out of the gate, even though it was a rockier song than Depeche Mode had ever attempted. Like all of the songs on Ultra, the lyrics are just great. While in some parts, the music isn’t up to snuff with what the band accomplished with Alan Wilder, the songs themselves are topnotch and some of the best Martin Gore has written.

Though I love it now, “Sister of Night” wasn’t one of my favorites when I first heard it. I think it’s the harsh opening, something that the band would repeat going forward with songs like “A Pain That I’m Used To.” “Freestate” was absolutely transporting and ethereal, the guitar on it reminding me a bit of New Order. I didn’t learn to appreciate “The Bottom Line” until much later, but now it stands with “Home” as one of the best Martin-sung songs in the band’s canon. The album’s closer, the light and airy “Insight,” was a bit disarming at first, but like with “Sister of Night,” I’ve come to love it. This beautiful track is one that I feel certain is about Wilder and his departure from Depeche Mode. It comes through especially in the lyrics:

And the spirit of love

Is rising within me

Talking to you now

Telling you clearly

The fire still burns

I’m talking to you now

The fire still burns

Whatever you do now

The world still turns

When it was first released, Ultra faced a lot of criticism from Depeche Mode fans. Some couldn’t accept the band minus Wilder—and he definitely gave Gore’s songs a life they never would have had without him—while others were taken aback by such a mid-tempo affair. Not me, though. I loved Ultra from the get-go and still do to this day. It sits in my personal ranking at number three, just behind Violator and Black Celebration, and it may even have been the inspiration behind the name of a character I hope my readers will get to know a lot better later this year. It’s a very mature Depeche Mode album and I think that even with Wilder’s departure, it still has his fingerprints all over it, probably due to longtime Depeche Mode fan Tim Simenon handling the production and the fact that the band had worked with Wilder for twelve years—something had to rub off. Despite the darkness that pervades the album, Ultra has a lot of great memories for me. And as any Depeche Mode fan worth his or her salt knows, Depeche Mode’s best music comes from the darkness.

My Avengers 2 Dream Scene

San Diego Comic Con was two weeks ago and much of the buzz surrounded two films: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice—a horrible title; is Batman suing Superman for destroying his satellite in Man of Steel?—and Avengers: Age of Ultron, or to make things easier, Avengers 2.

Court is now in session. The Honorable Wonder Woman presiding.

Dawn of Justice isn’t due until 2016 and while the snippet of footage Director Zack Snyder played blew the roof off of Hall H, the film doesn’t come out until 2016.

Most of the Avengers: Age of Ultron cast at San Diego Comic Con

So, let’s focus on Avengers 2, which arrives in theaters next May. The majority of the cast turned up at Comic Con along with Producer/Marvel Svengali Kevin Feige—Writer-Director Joss Whedon was recuperating from knee surgery in London—and they brought some footage with them that will inevitably be included in a future trailer for the film this fall. Like with Batman and Superman, the place went crazy. However, what I want to discuss here today is what could happen in the film, or more specifically, what I want to happen. Call it my dream scene. It’s not much, but it would drive every audience member insane with excitement if it happens.

What Ant-Man should look like...if it ever gets made.

First, we need to talk about some of the rumors surrounding the film. Being the sequel to the third highest-grossing film of all time—not adjusted for inflation—is going to generate just a tad bit of interest. So there are a ton of rumors and scuttlebutt surrounding this film. I’ve heard Ant-Man might show up—probably Michael Douglas if it happens.

Please Universe, let this happen - Chiwetel Ejiofor as Black Panther.

I’ve also heard talk of a possible Black Panther cameo or at least his father, T’Chaka—Black Panther is T’Challa—to put the character and his kingdom, Wakanda, on the Marvel Cinematic map. Then there’s all the talk about Falcon and War Machine and how big their roles will be, if they’re officially showing up—the footage at Comic Con confirmed that Don Cheadle will make an appearance for sure.

But the character I keep hearing about, the one that keeps getting teased, is Carol Danvers, or how she’s known nowadays, Captain Marvel. This would be a good move for Marvel in their bid to beat Warner Brothers and DC to the punch at having the first solo female superhero film—although, with WB/DC’s recent announcement of nine(!) films over the next six years, you have to imagine that one of them will be Wonder Woman…right? However, nothing is confirmed on the Captain Marvel front.

Another feather in Marvel's casting cap...if they make it happen.

The actress linked most to the role is Starbuck herself, Katee Sackhoff. This would be very serendipitous casting since both Starbuck and Carol Danvers are very similar characters. Both are pilots and have had to navigate a world dominated by men. Other actresses could do a good job with the part, but I think Sackhoff would hit it out of the park.

So Carol Danvers is the lynchpin of my Avengers 2 dream scene. Here’s how it would play out:

A crowded bar. Thor and Steve Rogers walk in. Immediately, Steve bumps into Carol Danvers. As a pilot, Carol has a professional relationship with Captain America.

Steve: Carol? What are you doing here?

Carol: (Jerks her thumb over her shoulder) Oh, I’m just here with a friend.

Steve looks over her shoulder.

You got a problem, bub?

Cut to a perturbed Hugh Jackman, complete with muttonchops and chomping on a cigar. Don’t call him Logan. Don’t show his claws, just show him glaring at Steve for a few moments.

Cut back to a bemused Steve.

Steve: Well, enjoy your night.

Steve and Thor leave Carol.

Steve (to Thor): I think I know that guy.

This scene would do multiple things. The first obvious thing it would do is connect the X-Men and Avengers universes without explicitly doing so. As of right now, The Avengers and other films under the “Marvel Cinematic Universe” umbrella are produced solely by Marvel Studios, which is owned by Disney—Disney actually owns Marvel in total, comic books and all. On the other side of the street, the X-Men and all characters associated with them are licensed to 20th Century Fox. So, while in the comic books, the X-Men and Avengers all exist in the same Marvel Comics Universe, in the films, the crossing over of the properties across studio lines is a no-no. By doing a scene like this, having Hugh Jackman appear as “a guy who looks exactly like Wolverine,” but not explicitly saying so, it would show Marvel is winking to the fans and saying, “Yes Virginia, there is a Wolverine.”

Chris Claremont and Jim Lee's Uncanny X-Men #268 - You know it's good because Wolverine's wearing the brown and orange uniform.

Second, this simple interaction would go a long way to fleshing out both Cap and Carol Danvers’ characters. In the comics, Cap and Logan met back in World War II—Black Widow was also involved as a child, but we’ll ignore that part for the movies. Since Logan’s healing ability has helped him live for over a hundred years with no hint of aging and he has been involved in every war since his birth, it would make sense that he and Cap might have crossed paths in Europe.

For a while, Carol Danvers only existed in Rogue's mind. The first time the X-Men went to Genosha, Carol had to get in the driver's seat.

Also in the comics, Carol has always had a close relationship with Wolverine as well as the X-Men—ever wonder why Rogue can fly in the books and not in the movies? When she was a villain running with Mystique, she stole those powers from Carol Danvers. A scene like this would acknowledge that history and inform the audience on Carol’s past, making her a more compelling character.

The New Avengers (clockwise from top): Spider-Man, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Luke Cage, Captain America, Ronin, and Iron Man

Third, Wolverine has been a member of the Avengers in the monthly books - as has pretty much every other Marvel character; The Avengers aren't too picky. He helped launch a new title called New Avengers after Brian Michael Bendis blew up the old team back in 2004. While he's mainly been an X-Man, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for Logan to show up and fight with the Avengers.

Finally, it would just be mind-blowingly awesome to see Hugh Jackman as “Wolverine” in an Avengers film. The studios will probably never sort out the legal and financial hurdles to have Wolverine make a proper appearance with the Avengers, but this would be the next best thing. Fans love the interconnectedness of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and my dream scene would only go towards enhancing and expanding that. The odds of it happening are less than zero, but we can all dream, right?

Or maybe, not the best idea...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: How the Heck Did We Get Here?

I'm currently putting the final touches on my review of the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. In the meantime, head on over to The Retroist and read my personal retrospective of the Turtles' 30 year history!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: How the Heck Did We Get Here?

Thanks for reading!

This Shredder didn't need a giant robot suit to intimidate.