Pitchfork

So you splurged on the Depeche Mode vinyl back in the day, and those new-fangled cassette things, and the CDs when those came out, plus like all 22 greatest hits/singles collections, the Gahan and Gore solo stuff, and even-- during a Saturday afternoon lapse of judgment in 1992-- a minidisc of Violator. You are the supreme Depeche Mode fanboy/fangirl, and we tip our hats to you.

You've of course also been all over the recent spate of remastered reissues, spanning DM's illustrious catalog and repackaging classic albums from the Essex quartet-turned-trio with DVDs, bonus tracks, deluxe gatefold cases-- the works. Today's news may then strike you as bittersweet, as Depeche Mode have announced the final two reissues in their ambitious remasters campaign: 1997's post-rehab set Ultra, and post-millenial comedown disc Exciter, from 2001. Those holding out for a deluxe Playing the Angel remaster, we feel your pain. Maybe next year.

Both discs hit stores July 24 via Rhino and come bolstered with the usual extras, including a DVD with 5.1 Audio/Enhanced Stereo of live tracks, alternate versions, rarities, and B-sides. Specifically, Ultra also includes singles collection standout "Only When I Lose Myself", and B-sides "Painkiller", "Slowblow", and "Headstar", plus three tracks recorded live in London. Exciter, meanwhile, bundles a cover of the Stooges' "Dirt", B-side "Zenstation", alternate versions of "Easy Tiger" and "When the Body Breaks", and a bunch of live jams from Paris. Both DVDs also include video featurettes and interviews.

In other Depeche Mode news, Dave Gahan hopes to release his next solo album-- the followup to 2003's Paper Monsters-- in October 2007. Superfans, let the quest for a pre-order link begin!

Ultra:

01 Barrel of a Gun
02 The Love Thieves
03 Home
04 It's No Good
05 Uselink
06 Useless
07 Sister of Night
08 Jazz Thieves
09 Freestate
10 The Bottom Line
11 Insight

DVD:

12 Barrel of a Gun (Live 1997)
13 It's No Good (Live 1997)
14 Useless (Live 1997)
15 Painkiller
16 Slowblow
17 Only When I Lose Myself
18 Surrender
19 Headstar

Exciter:

01 Dream On
02 Shine
03 The Sweetest Condition
04 When the Body Speaks
05 The Dead of Night
06 Lovetheme
07 Freelove
08 Comatose
09 I Feel Loved
10 Breathe
11 Easy Tiger
12 I Am You
13 Goodnight Lovers

DVD:

14 The Dead of Night (Live 2001)
15 The Sweetest Condition (Live 2001)
16 Dream On (Live 2001)
17 When the Body Speaks (Live 2001)
18 Breathe (Live 2001)
19 Freelove (Live 2001)
20 Easy Tiger (Full Version)
21 Dirt
22 Zenstation
23 When the Body Speaks (Acoustic Version)