About two dozen Depeche Mode fans were treated to an unforgettable experience Monday when the band’s label bused them to a New York studio to watch — from just feet away — as the group played a 40-minute set in preparation for the upcoming Global Spirit Tour.

This week’s new releases include a brand-new studio album from Echo & The Bunnymen (‘Meteorites’), plus audiophile vinyl reissues from Depeche Mode, a new They Might Be Giants compilation, a 7 Seconds studio record, two Suzanne Vega reissues and a new compilation of Factory Records acts.

Depeche Mode announced this weekend that it will embark on another full-catalog vinyl reissue campaign this year, this time re-releasing each of the band’s studio albums on 180-gram platters, beginning this week with Some Great Reward, Black Celebration, Music for the Masses and Songs of Faith and Devotion.

Last week, Depeche Mode offered up a sneak peak of its recording studio being set up, and now frontman Dave Gahan reveals the band already has demoed about 20 new songs for its as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2009’s ‘Sounds of the Universe’ — and already is making plans to take the new songs on the road next year.

Being a Depeche Mode collector can be a serious financial burden, as longtime fans no doubt can attest: Over the years, the synthpop giants have […]