Scott, Karl, and Trent discuss Depeche Mode's 1990 album Violator, a synth-pop smash. Featuring nine tracks of synthesizer dominant grooves, this English electronic music band created what Trent calls "a perfect album."  The trio discusses how this highly stylized exploration of the dark side of human emotion became a mainstream, chart-climbing album.  Scott says, "I think this shows a sinister, dark worldview and a yearning for some sort of intense experience that those Gen X kids had."  Still, there seems to be growing interest in this music outside the core goth audience. Trent says, "It's really this artificial world that Depeche Mode is creating and asking you to step into. It has a mechanical heartbeat that's a little alienating, a little dark. I think that is a key part of this album's aesthetic."  Tune in for more music and ideas, brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.