Imposter (album)

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This article is about the Dave Gahan and Soulsavers album. For the Kevin Max album, see The Imposter (album).

Imposter
Studio album by
Dave Gahan and Soulsavers
Released12 November 2021
RecordedNovember 2019
StudioShangri-La (Malibu, California)
GenrePop rock[1]
Length46:42
LabelColumbia
Producer
Dave Gahan and Soulsavers chronology
Angels & Ghosts
(2015) 		Imposter
(2021)
Dave Gahan chronology
Angels & Ghosts
(2015) 		Imposter
(2021)
Soulsavers chronology
Kubrick
(2015) 		Imposter
(2021)
Singles from Imposter
  1. "Metal Heart"
    Released: 8 October 2021[2]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.6/10[3]
Metacritic67/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Clash9/10[5]
laut.de[6]
Musikexpress[7]
musicOMH[8]
Mojo[4]
Record Collector[9]
Rolling Stone (de)[10]
Uncut[4]
Under the Radar6/10[11]

Imposter is the third collaborative studio album by English singer-songwriter Dave Gahan and electronica producer Soulsavers.[12][13] It was released on 12 November 2021 by Columbia Records.[14] The album also produced one single.

Background[edit]

This is Gahan's fifth studio album and Soulsavers' seventh. Imposter was recorded live in Malibu, California in November 2019, consisting of cover versions of various rock songs.[14] Dave Gahan has said of the album: "When I listen to other people's voices and songs—more importantly the way they sing them and interpret the words—I feel at home. I identify with it. It comforts me more than anything else. There's not one performer on the record who I haven't been moved by."[14]

Reception[edit]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 67, based on six reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[4] At AnyDecentMusic?, which collects critical reviews from more than 50 media sources, the album scored 6.6 points out of 10, based on seven reviews.[3]

Ben Hogwood of musicOMH wrote, "In a wide range of interpretations, we are reminded of the extremes of this recognisable pop music voice, but are also given access to his vulnerable side. The singer himself will be 60 next year, and it is fascinating tracking the development of his voice over that time."[8] Clash rated it 9 out of 10 and said that "an album that will become—in time—as significant and important to Gahan's career as Johnny Cash's 'American' series was to his enduring legacy."[5] Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic commented, "The resulting effort is mostly introspective, contemplative, and relaxing, but taken in another context, can be low energy and wearily sedate... While Imposter doesn't get the blood pumping as much as 2015's Angels & Ghosts, fans in need of a soundtrack for brooding will find this to be an ideal outlet."[1] Lily Moayeri writing for Under the Radar mentioned, "In a way, the gravity and commitment to these appropriated songs makes them even more the property of Gahan & Soulsavers than their own original material. Be prepared for your heart to be wrenched out of your chest."[11]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Original artist(s)Length
1."The Dark End of the Street"
James Carr2:35
2."Strange Religion"Mark LaneganMark Lanegan3:53
3."Lilac Wine"James SheltonEartha Kitt 4:14
4."I Held My Baby Last Night"Elmore JamesElmore James3:35
5."A Man Needs a Maid"Neil YoungNeil Young4:11
6."Metal Heart"Chan MarshallCat Power4:46
7."Shut Me Down"Rowland S. HowardRowland S. Howard4:20
8."Where My Love Lies Asleep"Gene ClarkGene Clark4:22
9."Smile"
Nat King Cole recorded the first version with lyrics3:28
10."The Desperate Kingdom of Love"PJ HarveyPJ Harvey2:55
11."Not Dark Yet"Bob DylanBob Dylan5:20
12."Always on My Mind"
Brenda Lee3:18
Total length:46:42

Personnel[edit]

Band
  • Dave Gahan – harmonica, vocals
  • Kevin Bales – drums, percussion
  • Travis Cole – vocals
  • Tony Foster – guitar, pedal steel
  • Ed Harcourt – piano
  • Martyn Lenoble – bass (electric), bass (upright)
  • Rich Machin – guitar, synthesizer
  • Janet Ramus – vocals
  • Sean Read – organ, piano
  • Wendi Rose – vocals
  • James Walbourne – guitar
Production
  • Geoff Pesche – mastering
  • Kaushlesh Garry Purohit – engineer
  • Marta Salogni – mixing
  • Eric Weaver – engineer

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Imposter
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15] 11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[16] 119
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[17] 11
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[18] 42
French Albums (SNEP)[19] 151
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] 12
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[21] 27
Italian Albums (FIMI)[22] 27
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[23] 6
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[24] 28
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25] 25
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[26] 20
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 9
UK Albums (OCC)[28] 65

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Imposter - Dave Gahan, Dave Gahan & the Soulsavers, Soulsavers | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ Krol, Charlotte (4 October 2021). "Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan announces new album 'Imposter' with Soulsavers". NME. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Imposter by Dave Gahan & Soulsavers reviews | Any Decent Music". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Imposter by Dave Gahan & the Soulsavers". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b Smith, Mat (11 November 2021). "Dave Gahan & Soulsavers - Imposter". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  6. ^ Schuh, Michael (2021). "PJ Harvey, Elvis und Nina Simone im Knebelgriff des Dunkelfürsten" (in German). laut.de. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  7. ^ Boße, André (12 November 2021). "Dave Gahan & Soulsavers: Imposter". Musikexpress (in German). Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  8. ^ a b Hogwood, Ben (15 November 2021). "Dave Gahan & Soulsavers - Imposter | Album Reviews". musicOMH. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  9. ^ Harley, Kevin (6 December 2021). "Dave Gahan & Soulsavers | Imposter - Record Collector Magazine". Record Collector. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  10. ^ von Lähnemann, Frank (22 November 2021). "Dave Gahan & Soulsavers: "Imposter" – einfach herzzerreißend". Rolling Stone (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  11. ^ a b Moayeri, Lily (24 December 2021). "Imposter". Under the Radar. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  12. ^ Barker, Andrew (12 November 2021). "Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan Talks About His First Covers Album, the Aptly-Named 'Imposter'". Variety. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  13. ^ Trendell, Andrew (8 October 2021). "Dave Gahan covers Cat Power and tells us about his "liberating" new album and the future of Depeche Mode". NME. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  14. ^ a b c "New Dave Gahan & Soulsavers Album IMPOSTER to be Released November 12th". Columbia Records. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021 – via PR Newswire.
  15. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Imposter" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Imposter" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Imposter" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 46.Týden 2021 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Top Albums (Week 51, 2021)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Imposter" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 48. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Imposter". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Imposter". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Imposter". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Imposter". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
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