Rammstein - Rosenrot
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Free Music Notes for Rosenrot
Free Music Review: efing awsome
Hit: 5 Stars
this is probably one of the greatest albums to date. if you get the chance to buy this album i suggest you do so.Free Music Review: This is not Reise Reise
Hit: 4 Stars
This album is not Reise Reise, nor was it intended to be. Just thought I would clear that up.
I have been listening to Rammstein since 1997, and have been an avid fan since (I still have my original flowery cover of Herzeleid).
One thing that has always intrigued me about Rammstein is their pure feeling of energy. You can tell that when they play a powerful song like Mein Herz Brennt from the Mutter album, they knew their sound was pure, unearthly, and awe inspiring. However, their latest release, Rosenrot, does not show such emotion. Instead, you can tell where Rammstein was playing with new ideas on how to evolve their sound. But unlike Reise Reise, their sound did not evolve into something different but yet still consistent with their "sound". Instead, it seems like the Rosenrot album was more of a trial and error test, and the band was just messing around a majority of the time, then had fun with some tracks, and sometimes dragged on songs that should have been dropped.
I am not going to use numbers or anything to rate the songs, but rather let you decide on your own what the songs are like, but here is my take on the album's tracks.
1) Benzin - I never really cared much for the video or the music of this song when I first saw/heard it. And quite honestly this track took a while to grow on me. It is a fast paced song, with strong riffs, but the song stays consistently the same past the intro. The song has a very Mein Teil (second track on Reise Reise) feel to it as well. If you can get your hands on the single of Benzin, the remixes were actually really good and I found one instance where the remix was better than the original. Good song, but not my favorite.
2) Mann Gegen Mann - The song starts out with a low frequency-like bass line, and has a nice soft/mellow drum beat to kind of keep the song sounding low key. But when the guitars start to play the chorus, that it is where the song seems to go down hill. Simplicity is great at times, but the song's simple riffs and repetitive sounds have a much droned on feel throughout the majority of this song. However, towards 2:15 point of the song, it starts changing into a more "feeling" based song, and actually gets really good. If the song would have started out like this, and continued to play out like the ending of the song (very transitional and more emotional), it would have been one of the strongest songs on the album.
3) Rosenrot - The music video for this song is amazing, but unfortunately the song doesn't quite match the video's imaginative and intriguing feel. Instead, this song just stays the same throughout the whole song, and has mild peaks in sound/energy at times. To name an album from this song is kind of ironic to me because one would probably imagine that because it shares the name with the album title it would be an amazing track, but this song shows quite the contrary.
4) Spring - The song starts out with a very dark and celestial sounding intro, and then progresses nicely into becoming one of the greatest songs the CD has to offer, if not the greatest song itself. This song just makes you want to kind of sway back and forth, as it is very angelic/dark, with an over all great feel to it. The background humming/singing is great, and the ending of the song is just perfect.
5) Wo Bist Du - The intro to this song has a very interesting sound to say at the least. The best way I can describe it is it sounds like old Dick Tracey movie intro. This also is one of the better songs on the album. Not as moving as Spring, but definitely has it's industrial parts to it. It almost sounds like a song Eisbrecher would come up with, with Till Lindemann as their vocalist.
6) Stirb Nicht Vor Mir/Don't Die Before I Do - This song is not completely bad or anything, it just depends on musical preferences. I am personally not a fan of mainstream/Greenday sounding music, and this song feels very... mainstream/something I would hear over-played on the radio. I hate to say this, but if you have ever heard the song "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer (back in 1999), it sounds frighteningly similar in style and feel. But, lyrically, I have to say I like the lyrics of this song possibly more than any other words on the album. But considering a good portion of Rammstein fans don't speak/understand German fluently here in the states, this really doesn't matter.
7) Zerstören - This is a very fun, very Sehnsucht feeling song. In fact, it sounds like they fused the sounds of the song Sehnsucht with the song Kuss Mich (Furryfrog) from the Sehnsucht album to create this wonderful burst of energy past the half way mark on this CD. It is a very energetic track, and just makes ya remember the "Good ol' days of Rammstein".
8) Hilf Mir - Starts out sounding like a bad Blink 182 song, but progresses into more of a mellow track, and has a very... melancholy feeling. The song is not overwhelmingly great, but it is bad either. But it is just lacking that "must listen to again" feel. Flake shines through quite a bit in this track however, and there is a lot of synth/keyboards in this track, which I like.
9) Te Quiero Puta! - When I mentioned in the beginning of my review that it sounded like Rammstein was just having fun in a few tracks, this song is a prime example of what I meant. The whole song is in Spanish, and blends classic Mexican sounding trumpet quartets with Rammstein's infamous industrial metal sound. And if you look at this song for what it is (besides being incredibly goofy/fun), it might just be the most "Rammstein" sounding track on the album. By that I mean it is so... creative, so different than all the other music that you hear on the radio, that this song has definitely become one of my favorites. The song is also a very catchy. I am glad this song was included on this album, and I am sure you will be too if you have an open mind to it.
10) Feuer und Wasser - I really like the acoustic guitar in the intro, the song has a very soft setting to it, similar to Seemann from the Herzeleid album. Just like Seeman, it starts off very soft, then more sounds start getting added, getting a little bit louder, and then it gets very very loud, and combines the new strong electric riffs with the intro's acoustic riffs, and just has a very nice feel to it. This is definitely one of the better songs on this album, and also happens to be one of the longest songs on the album as well.
11) Ein Leid - What an interesting song indeed. The harmony of the song is great, Till's amazing deep and low voice really helps set the mood for the song, as well as the perfectly harmonized guitars. And then Flake adds an almost... Zelda (Yes, the Nintendo game Zelda) feel to it, you will know what I mean when you listen to this track and have played Zelda. But as weird as that may sound, it really flows well together. Good song to end with, but kind of also sets a peaceful/gloomy feeling mood to you when it is all said and over. The song, to me at least, is also one of those songs you just wanna hear again though. Overall it is a very peaceful track.
I did not write this review to bash Rammstein (they are still one of my all time favorite bands, no questions asked) or to scare people away from this album. Instead, it is just a mere warning that if you are expecting the creative energy and feel of Reise Reise, the popular (what made Rammstein famous) sound of Sehnsucht, the symphony and industrial feel of Mutter, or even just the raw and etchy foundation of Herzeleid, you are probably not going to find it in this album. If you have noticed, no two Rammstein CDs have ever fully sounded alike. Yes, originally this album was sort of a "B-Side" cut of the Reise Reise album, and some of these songs you can tell why they were cut from that album as well. But, hopefully this is not the last album Rammstein leaves us with, and we can all only cross our fingers that their next album will be better than this one. Originally I was going to rate this CD 3 stars, but as I was writting this review and listening to the songs as I wrote this, I learned to appreciate this album more. Over-all this CD is not bad, but it could definitely be improved.
Free Music Review: Rammstein: "Rosenrot"
Hit: 4 Stars
Following on the heels of 2004's commerically successful, but rather disappointing "Reise, Reise", we are presented one year later with Rammstein's "Rosenrot", an album of "leftovers" from the recording sessions for that album. So how does "Rosenrot" measure up? Well, actually very well, but it definitely has some MAJOR flaws...
Some of the tracks on this album are undoubtedly among their best ever.
"Mann gegen Mann", "Rosenrot", "Wo bist du?", "Zerstoeren" and "Feuer und Wasser" are all top quality work, all infinitely better than anything that was on "Reise, Reise". But that's the problem...
The fact is, that this album is literally up-and-down like a yo-yo. At least "Reise, Reise" had some structure, and although none of the songs truly shone, the whole thing flowed very nicely. Unfortunately, this is not the case with "Rosenrot", and while about half of the songs definitely do shine, others simply do not, and the intermittent moments of brilliance are ruined by equally intermittent moments of tedium.
Album opener "Benzin" is adequate at best. It's pretty loud and energetic alright, but Rammstein have done all this before, and there's really nothing new in this song. Think "Feuer Frei!" combined with "Amerika". Basically, "Benzin" lacks creativity and spark, and falls a little flat as a result. The song's execrable video certainly does not help matters either.
"Stirb nicht vor mir (Don't Die Before I Do)" is very lovely musically, and while I do not have a problem with the fact that it is about as big a musical deviation as Rammstein have ever made (at least it's fairly well done), I do have a BIG problem with whoever teamed Till Lindemann up with Sharleen Spiteri. Both are very talented vocalists in their respective, and VERY different ways, but together...ugh. As Till sings in one of the album's better tracks, "Fire and water do not come together". He really should have practiced what he preached with this one, because listening to the two of them singing in unison is about as pleasurable as listening to fingernails scraping down a chalkboard.
"Hilf Mir" could have been superb, but after a listen, one feels that something is missing, as if the song was only half-finished when it was put onto the album. Another chorus perhaps to round the whole thing off would have created something really satisfying, but as it stands it's a little unfulfilling.
"Te Quiero Puta" marks two firsts for Rammstein. One, the first song sung entirely in Spanish. Two, the first Rammstein song I cannot bear to listen to. This song simply goes too far. It is not humourous or melodic in the least, it is just deeply stupid and highly irritating. Easily the worst on the album, and equally easily, the worst of their career.
And "Ein Lied" is just plain dull, with a few nice touches, but generally the album could have gotten by just as well without it. It's like the appendix of the album: It's there, but no one would really miss it if it wasn't.
So, why the four star rating? Because, quite simply the rest of the tracks on "Rosenrot" are among the all-time greats in Rammstein's considerable roster. This is Rammstein doing what they do best, free of any tiresome "Reise, Reise"-esque experimentation, and blowing you away with their talents.
Track two, "Mann gegen Mann" is excellent, hits all the right notes and throws in some brilliant keyboards and vocals to boot. After the perfunctory "Benzin", this track really picks up the pace and restores your faith in the Rammstein that gave us such masterpieces as "Herzeleid", "Sehnsucht" and "Mutter".
The title track "Rosenrot" is simply flawless, and for one reason alone; it is just so well-structured. It is a heavily chorus-based song, and there is little to no change in the bass riff throughout. They go easy on the synth too, and there's not much in the way of solos (except a bridge that sounds suspiciously similar to "Stein um Stein" from "Reise, Reise"). But these are the exact qualities that make the song so fantastic, vocals are especially strong, and you can tell that all the band members pulled together and put in 100% for this one. A definite classic.
"Wo bist du?" almost harkens back to the days of "Sehnsucht" with it's masterly synths and melody, and a keyboard solo that is simply magnificent. It is also one of their catchier songs, but not in the annoying way that "Amerika" was catchy. It's more professional and sincere.
"Zerstoeren" is a full-on scream of an anthem, full of dynamic sound effects and full-throttle vocals and instrumentation. Like "Wo bist du?", it sounds like a pumped up version of something from "Sehnsucht". Another highlight of the album.
"Feuer und Wasser" is a ballad, but one of the band's more convincing. It is interesting in that it starts very quiet and hushed, but after two minutes, it practically explodes into a huge, competent anthem, with a great guitar solo.
The only track I'm not yet sure on is Track Four, "Spring". It's chorus is undeniably stunning, but the rest of it is a little... I don't know. Although it is definitely grows on you.
So, in summary, this is a very good album, based on the strength of six of it's songs. It's definitely worth buying, even for a casual fan, and shows that although the band had somewhat lost their way with "Reise, Reise", they haven't completely lost it. Just be ready with that "Skip" button on your stereo.
The best, in order;
1. Rosenrot (10/10)
2. Wo bist du? (10/10)
3. Zerstoeren (10/10)
4. Feuer und Wasser (10/10)
5. Mann gegen Mann (10/10)
6. Spring (9/10)
7. Hilf Mir (8/10)
8. Benzin (7/10)
9. Stirb nicht vor mir (6/10) * for the instrumentation only.
10. Ein Lied (5/10)
11. Te Quiero Puta! (2/10)
Free Music Review: Not their best, but definitely not bad, either.
Hit: 4 Stars
A year after their excellent 'Reise, Reise,' Rammstein release a follow-on album that continues their trend of a gradual evolution of their style. However, it feels like just that--a follow-on, rather than a true successor. Rammstein have typically taken two or three years between releases, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that maybe this was put out a bit too soon. That's not to say it's bad, by any stretch, but I don't think it is as good as it could have been. There's a pretty decent mix of stuff on here, some heavy, some more ballad-like. Some of, unfortuntately, seems a bit uninspired. 'Reise, Reise' was the beginning of a change in direction for Rammstein, and it allowed them to experiment a little without altering their style and sound too much. 'Rosenrot,' as another reviewer put it, feels more like a collection of experimental tracks than an actual, cohesive album. Certain groups of listeners within Rammstein's fan base will probably appreciate certain songs more than others, and there's definitely at least few tracks on this CD for everybody. While the content is nothing truly new or particularly exciting, the production is top-notch, as always. No problems in that regard.
There is usually one track per Rammstein CD that I don't particularly care for, and on this album that track is number six, "Stirb Nicht Vor Mir." I don't know what the boys were thinking with this one, but Sharleen Spiteri's voice, lovely though it is, does NOT go with Rammstein's style of music. But that's just me... I don't like it, but some fans probably will.
Overall, this album isn't Rammstein's finest (that honor going to the outstanding 'Mutter,' IMHO), but they have yet to put out a CD that's not worth buying. This is simply a smaller gem in a crown full of them. That Rammstein have managed ten years and five album releases (I'm not counting 'Live Aus Berlin') without any real let-downs is testament to how good they actually are. The American music industry should take a few hints.
Free Music Review: If this album were a sandwich...
Hit: 4 Stars
...the bread would be soft, the lettuce would be fresh, and the meat would highly discolored, possibly contianing ebola. Sound appetizing? In thoery, if you have a favorite album, you have to have a least favorite album. Although it's not really that bad, this one would have to be my least favorite Rammstein album. Ultimately, there were good things and bad things about it.
The bad things:
If I never heard the track, "Wo bist du" ever again for as long I lived, that would be just fine with me, and the song "Stirb nicht vor mir" should be banished to the gap between dimensions. Yes it's that bad. Both of those songs are so cheesy (the latter especially) and cliché, they don't sound like genuine Rammstein. The guy singing sounds more some mutant clone of Till than the Till I know and love. It seems most likely that the band had nine songs for their new album and needed two more. These songs just don't have purposeful existance.
The good things:
The artwork is incredible. I never download MP3 versions of albums for a reason and artwork like this is a prime example. It is so interesting and thought provoking, one could just gaze upon it for hours.
The songs "Hilf mir," "Rosenrot," and "Ein Lied" are just spectacular. Lyrically, the first two of those three give you all you could ever ask for from Rammstein. They twist, they turn, and they fill you with emotion. "Ein Lied" is a very interesting song because of how the lyrics fit into the music. It's a very calming song, and it can make any troubles or worries melt away in an instant.
Everything else doesn't really have a negative or positive polarity.