Classic Rock Bottom

The 42nd album in the series I thought up all by myself was something I wasn't going to post this week, but due to unwanted outside influences, I had to switch around some albums on my high-priced scheduling software as well as reformatting, re-charting and re-graphing my colorful charts and graphs. We sure don't want to be accused of collusion by a certain someone, do we?

MUTTER, released in 2001, is the third release from Rammstein and it's the followup to 1997's platinum certified (in the U.S.) Sehnsucht. That album featured the song "Du Hast" which I'm sure you saw on MTV (when it mattered). 

While Sehnsucht reached #45 on the U.S. charts, MUTTER topped out at #70 and received no certification. However it was a top ten album in many countries and also reached #1 in a few while also earning platinum or gold status.

While I kind of enjoyed Sehnsucht, I REALLY enjoy MUTTER. Some might complain that all the songs sound alike and that is totally false. Some might complain about the lyrics since they're not in English, but music is the universal language so who cares what language they're singing in, AM I RIGHT??? Some might complain abut the album cover, and that I can agree on. 

Maybe it's just me, but this is a fine listen while stuck in rush hour traffic. People will avoid you as long as you have the volume turned up. Also helps to drown out that cRap music in traffic jams. Works while cutting the grass, too. 

Allmusic.com review (and they don't like it as much as I do, but who does?)

With the first Rammstein album you hear, it's hard not to be slightly amazed by the sheer chutzpah of it all. The German lyrics, the prog rock tendencies, the classic metal guitars, and the ridiculous basso profundo vocals -- you either fall for it, spurn it, or are utterly bemused by the extremeness of it all. Unless you're a fanatic, it wears a little thin the second time around. And for most listeners, MUTTER, the group's third album and sequel to their inexplicable commercial breakthrough Sehnsucht, will be the second time around since it's their first release since becoming a high profile act. Thing is, if you've heard that record, you've pretty much heard MUTTER, since all the trademarks are in place, without much noticeable variation. Yes, there are slight differences, chief of which is the cleaner production, which streamlines everything so the guitars don't seem as heavy, the songs not as epic, and the whole enterprise not as ridiculous. That's not the same thing as stripping the group to the basics, however; it's more like wrapping up the music in nice, shiny paper and putting a ribbon on it. That's not really good for a group like Rammstein, but it doesn't dilute their impact, either, because they are what they are and no amount of polish will make them mainstream (nor will it make it possible to take them seriously). So, that does mean that MUTTER isn't as good as Sehnsucht, but it isn't a stumble either -- and if you liked the first, you'll like this (not the same thing as being amused by the first -- in that case, this will try your patience). That still doesn't answer the question whether anybody outside of diehards needs more than one Rammstein album, but that's just a question of personal taste.

MUTTER

1. Mein Herz Brennt
2. Links 234
3. Sonne
4. Ich Will
5. Feuer Frei!
6. Mutter
7. Spieluhr
8. Zwitter
9. Rein Raus
10. Adios
11. Nebel
12. Hallelujah*

Availability: A used copy runs around $8 and I believe that is the single disc edition. The edition I have is a double-disc (which appears to be OOP and expensive) with the second disc a CD Rom and includes a *bonus track which I included here since you can't have enough of Rammstein today!

 

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Replies to This Discussion

DAMN SKIPPY!!!!!

Forget Brennt, mine hurts too!  Holy moly, what am I listening to...

Its more of this Euro-Nu-Metal but with a cult like feel to it.  Get a weird feeling this guys going after critical mass with an eye towards world domination.  Theres some sort of mid control going on here.  Cut to the chase, you knew this was going to be nowhere near my wheelhouse, and you knew this was likely going to irritate me.  And to some degree you are laughing about that because its part of the plan!  

All is not lost, there are fleeting moments of melodic goodness but even in those moments I have no idea what subliminal message (transmitted in German) is being fed into my brain!

Why does 99 Luft Balloons come to mind!  Thats freaky random, other than the fact that it was in German there should be no reason why that came to my mind.  Well, maybe because the singer gal was cute, there's never not a good time to think of things like that...

Feurer Frei was apparently a hit single?  I recognize the lyric Bang Bang and I know the title means to fire at will, so not much of a reach to guess what this is about.  More brainwashing I suppose, someday when the I hear someone scream "Feurer Frei", who knows what will happen!!

Much like Sixx AM this is getting very repetitive and I'm drifting in and out of hearing it.  I also get a Rob Zombie-ish feel, though I think Zombie has the edge in interesting and songwriting.  Does Ramm, can I call him that?, sing?  Seems to be talking his way through every song.  And where are the guitar solos?  Everything feels like its written to get audience response...  And then he throws in a wrench like Adios?  Not that its better, just didn't expect a Spanish title on a German album.  There's no hint of Latino anything on the song...

Will Ich buy this?  Nein!!

Well, this is the first Rammmmmmmmmstein album I've ever listened to.  One thing that I can tell you is that the beginning of each song is pretty interesting.  Right up to the point where the singing starts.  Maybe music is the universal language, but I still don't understand it if it's no in English.  So this is no good for me.

I really can't even get into the music because of the singing.  This is not something that I would ever grab off of a shelf to listen to.  If we were giving a thumbs up or down, mine would definitely be down.  This is not entertaining to me. 

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