In the bestselling DM canon, this is one of their very best--mature, Euro-elegant, smartly contemporary (thanks to producer Tim "Bomb the Bass" Simenon), honest ("Insight"), edgy ("Barrel of a Gun"), and armed with at least one killer single in "It's No Good." --Jeff Bateman

What can I say about Ultra that hasn't been said before? First off, just that DM recorded this album was an achievement in itself. I remember when I bought it back in 97 I was highly pessimistic that it wouldn't live up to past classics due to their recent problems and the departure of Alan Wilder (who I still miss!). Boy, was I wrong!

This album is simply stunning and I rate it as my third favorite DM album behind Black Celebration and Violator. I think Martin's writing here was really inspired from all of the stuff that was pulling the band apart. The opener Barrel of a Gun was like it was almost written for Dave as we know was still having drug issues. The other songs are just as strong if not stronger. It's No Good is probably in my top three favorite DM songs of all time and Home is arguably the greatest song that Martin has ever sung (right up there with Somebody).

Other standouts include Sister of Night and Useless. But the closer Insight is just about perfect. I love the ending as Martin sings a wonderful backing vocal. To date the band has never sung this live but i sure wish they would. It's very inspiring. And as the song says "you gotta give love."

it was a long and hard road for depeche mode to come back and release this album and to me they succeeded with leeps and bounds, spawning 4 hit singles in the process.

fav. songs: it's no good, insight, barrel of a gun, home.

hell, the whole things great.

DM certainly went through a dangerous hiatus... but they returned with form and style. This album shuffles amid powerful, affecting ballads, and 'punch-in-the-face' laments, always written over Martin's superb minor-chord styling and pop sensibility. A definite must-have for any Devotee.

Ultra is a nice cd to listen to in a mellow mood on a quiet day. With the exception of "Barrel of A Gun" and "Useless", Ultra remains for the most part moody and ambient. While it isn't Violator or SOFAD, it is still great. The standouts on this album are Barrel Of A Gun (you absolutely MUST see this video), Sister Of Night, which is startlingly beautiful, The Bottom Line, sung by Martin Gore, who sounds sensual and absolutely flawless, and Home. Home, also sung by Gore, is a gorgeous, heartfelt, honest song. I literally sat in the car and cried upon hearing this song for the first time. It is a surreal and moving experience.

I would definitely suggest buying this album...though if you are new to DM, buy The Singles 86-98 first. That was my starter album, and now I own every single DM cd.

I love this CD. I listen to it a lot, even 10-12 years later. The sounds and melodies are very simple, but melodic. Most importantly, they groove. The whole groove of this cd makes you relax and almost melt into a euphoric & heavily relaxed state of conscious without losing its cool.
Another interesting fact about this album is that they hire Living Colour/Tackhead bassist, Doug Wimbish to lay down the bass lines. He adds a groove and ambient element to this cd that has never been captured by any other Depeche Mode cd...before or after. I wish they would hire him again for their next cd.