I can divide my life into pre-Violator and post-Violator eras. I first heard Depeche Mode’s “Policy of Truth” on the radio, and its dark sound highlighted by Dave Gahan’s vocals instantly struck a chord with me. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite song off Violator, but “Enjoy the Silence” is ultimately the song I keep returning to (with “Halo” a very close second).

The band’s synthesizer arrangements have never been more pristine or stylish than they are here, with Martin Gore’s guitar riffs providing a lovely accent. Meanwhile, Gahan’s performance provides ample proof for why he’s my favorite male vocalist of all time. His baritone is rich, sultry, elegant, and pensive all at once, and I still consider it to be the ideal male voice, the one singer I truly wish I could sound like.