WAIST HIGH: 30-Day Depeche Mode Challenge

2/10/2012

30-Day Depeche Mode Challenge - Day 10.

A song from the album you think is the most underrated

@thewaisthigh #30dayDM Day 10 - song from album most underrated "The Sun & The Rainfall" from A Broken Frame - a perfect album

I have never hidden my love for my favorite Depeche Mode album A Broken Frame and just assumed that everyone else loved it just as much. HOW WRONG I WAS. 10 days into the 30-Day Depeche Mode Challenge, (which is being tended to by the world's most serious DM devotees by the way), and I now know that not only is A Broken Frame one of DM's most underrated albums but one of their most unloved as well.

The album was the band's second studio release and their first following the departure of Vince Clarke. Clarke's departure thrust Martin Gore into the position of chief songwriter (the duty previously held by Clarke) for A Broken Frame which one reviewer said was the birth of the real Depeche, "but it's an ugly birth..." I believe this new position produced some of Depeche Mode's all-time greatest songs, BUT even Martin Gore disagrees with me; in 2006 he called A Broken Frame "our worst album."

Might I add that the videos for A Broken Frame ("See You," "Leave In Silence," "The Meaning of Love") were promotional only and never commercially available, possibly hindering exposure for this breathtaking synth-driven album.

Great art, said Roy Adzak, is "what it does to us" and for me one of the most important features of great music is its profound ability to imprint a precise set of emotions in our memories; we remember the places we were, the people we were with, and the feelings we were experiencing when we first listened to the perfect album or the perfect song. A Broken Frame, for me, is perfect. A Broken Frame is perfect because of the emotional charge I get when I hear it. A Broken Frame takes me to the places that I was and to the beloved people that I was with when I was 14 years old. What A Broken Frame does to me is make me feel really good.

Photo: The Waist High Collection

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE KERN COUNTY DRUNKARD
Everything at Waist High is a long story, and the story of The KCD is no exception. After this individual told Waist High in December of 2003 that she was going to kill her, "Waist High" the blog was born. Please do not tell Waist High the person that you are going to kill her or she will create "Waist High" the blog and write nasty things about you! Including the time you stunk up the bathroom at The Alley Cat. The "Kern County Drunkard Watch" detailed the drunken comings and goings of the live-in love interest of one of Waist High's most cherished male friends. Never has Waist High met anyone who drank as much as or as often as The KCD. The KCD, because she was an insecure drunk, hated Waist High for most of her decade long relationship with Waist High's most cherished male friend. She hated Waist High for the obvious reason: Waist High is hot. A one time source of much of the material for Waist High the blog, The "Kern County Drunkard Watch" was permanently retired in March 2005 when Waist High's most cherished male friend finally came to his senses and kicked her ass to the curb.

RAMPART
Rampart is the first ex-husband of Waist High. She refers to him as her first ex-husband because she knows there will eventually be a second. Rampart grew up on the mean streets of Bakersfield and claims to have been the co-discoverer of the well known 1980s dirt field party spot known as "The Place." Rampart's 1987 directive to Waist High, "Drink this six pack before I get back!" made both Waist High and Rampart parents at age 20. Rampart currently resides 4.5 miles from Waist High in the wilds of Oregon and is an enduring fixture at their local Cigs For Less shop. Once a Bakersfield Del Taco associate, Sail Thru Hamburgers drive up dude, and Wible Road AM/PM graveyard worker, Rampart claims to now net $49,000 per month. But only to impress people, not when required.

(THE FORMER) LOVELY TEENAGED DAUGHTER
Not your average 35 year old. Born to Waist High as a "Miracle on 34th Street" in Bakersfield Memorial Hospital on 34th Street, LTD is on the board of MAC cosmetics. Not really, but she swears allegiance only to them. When LTD's mother once purchased LTD some eye shadow from Target, LTD threatened to call the police. Sweeter than Tupelo Honey, with the attitude of a feral cat, LTD is disgusted with most things. Including being forced to live with Waist High from 1988-2005. The child at one time even had her own blog, "Living With Waist High," which detailed her misery. A graduate of the oldest institution in the Oregon University System, LTD kept her promise of not getting knocked up at age 20 like Waist High did.

THE STRANGER
Oh God bless The Stranger. The Stranger was one of Waist High's most loyal confidants during some of the darker periods of the blog. Although his fierce allegiance to really bad music was a great source of aggravation for Waist High, The Stranger gave her a much needed look at life. Through the eyes of someone not yet bitter. The Stranger was almost pushed out of a moving vehicle when he revealed to Waist High that not only did he not know who Barry Manilow, Captain & Tenille, or Spandau Ballet were, but that he literally had no clue what Trail Mix was.

"TRI-TIP"
Special Correspondent to Waist High, and one of Waist High's most cherished friends. Used to live with The Kern County Drunkard. Was a Special Correspondent to Waist High for 9 months before knowing it. Long story. This individual coined the ultimate mid '80s Bakersfield drinking phrase, "Lock hubs. Party!"

DESI
Waist High's former work spouse. Cares about Waist High so much that he once took Waist High with him on a smoke break the very next day after she spent $250 for hypnotherapy TO QUIT SMOKING. Was the first person in conversation to introduce Waist High to concepts like "The Dirty Sanchez," "Dog In A Bathtub," "Tea Bagging," and "The Shocker." Reminds Waist High as often as possible that if women "neglect the balls," their men will leave them.