Dave Gahan, lead singer of Depeche Mode, has branched out on his own and seems hellbent on exorcizing whatever demons he's carrying around. I don't know much about him except that he's been a major drug user at times and has survived at least one suicide attempt. The performance he gives in Live Monsters shows a sort of reckless abandon that could come from the darker places that Gahan seems to inhabit. The fifteen songs here (taken from a 2003 show in Paris) cover his entire career, both with Depeche Mode and solo, and display his flair for brooding, rich rock. But even though he's backed by a sharp band, the key element to Live Monsters is Gahan's wiry stage presence, something that puts singers decades younger to shame.

Adding a touch of The Cure's jangly sweep to his newer material, Gahan shows himself to be a mature musician. He doesn't rely on any Onyx Hotel nonsense here, just a black stage and his band. He loses his shirt quickly, showing off a lanky, tattooed body that he contorts and flings around like he's trying to punish himself. Songs like "Hidden Houses" and "Black and Blue Again" have throbbing grooves that back up Gahan's deep baritone voice. He has a real connection with the crowd, which makes sense since his fans probably tend a bit towards the obsessive, absorbing his pain and relating it to their own.

But he can back up such melodrama with talent and presence. Depeche Mode songs like "A Question of Time" and "Walking in My Shoes" gain an aggressiveness from the live setting and the singer's commitment to expressing his internals on the outside. By the time the sweaty singer reaches the Depeche Mode monster hit "Personal Jesus" he's flailing like a tent-top evangelist, selling his brand of faith. The brooding "Goodbye" is an atmospheric way to end the show, with the encore of "I Feel You" and "Never Let Me Down Again" coming off as odes to his fans. They know every word to every song and love it all. This simple performance was made for them and it delivers.

VIDEO:
The non-anamorphic widescreen video is gritty and dingy, which matches the atmosphere. The transfer and compression are a little on the crunchy side, however, with a bit of pixellization visible. Not bad but not great.

AUDIO:
The audio is available in 5.1 surround and PCM. The PCM track sounded a bit blaring for my tastes, while the 5.1 track was smoother. Both were acceptable, however, with the instruments clear sounding and the bass pumping pretty well.

EXTRAS:
A documentary on the tour is probably of interest to fans. The band members are obviously in awe of Gahan, so it's cool to hear their perspective as fans as well as bandmates. There's also a three song acoustic set from a radio show. The versions here are stripped down somewhat from the full live versions and sound very good. They're also available in 5.1 and PCM tracks.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Gahan is a talented singer who also uses his voice to express a range of real emotions. His lived-in qualities should remind viewers in the age of American Idol that musicians are supposed to be about more than just technical skill and a nice smile. He brings the depth of experience to his show while still creating accessible music. For fans it's a no brainer. But folks who've never heard him before might find themselves getting into it as well.

SET LIST:
Hidden Houses
Hold On
Dirty Sticky Floors
A Question Of Time
Bitter Apple
Black andiBlue Again
Stay
A Little Piece
Walking In My Shoes
I Need You
Bottle Living
Personal Jesus
Goodbye
I Feel You
Never Let Me Down Again

ACOUSTIC SET LIST:
Dirty Sticky Floors
Bitter Apple
Black And Blue Again