Not only is their music cool, they're fun to read about. Here we've
got a German Punk band which in and of itself is noteworthy -- at least
from a barrier breaking stateside standpoint -- yet they sound like the
typically English street Punk dirt dealers from days of yore. And
there's a very Clash-like youthful upstart sneer in a wholly embraceable
sort of despicable way. Actually if you listen hard enough there are
accentual distinctions to be made, but they're easily brushed aside in
favor of good old fashioned Rock and recklessness.
By the fourth song
in, "Man," I'm convinced this is a hybrid of The Damned meets Falco.
"Man" and "Pushed Again" are terrific back to back approaching the
halfway point, both utilizing the best measures of shot-chugging,
arm-flailing sing along qualities among edgy riffs and near excitable
melody lines.
Apparently done back in '98 originally, this release,
done in full English incidentally, might normally recall the throwback
years of the gutters, guts and glory, but in fact Die Toten Hosen were
there all the while. Having arrived at what probably was the tail end
of the short-lived but forever fashionable Punk movement of the late
'70s, early '80s, they got their start around '81 and have done their
thing across the sea for most of that time. Let's get another one in
here -- after some drippy sounding children's book style lay off called
"Big Bad Wolf" they come crashing through with more of their big-time
gang tackle choruses and catchy Ramones-like rhythm for "Bonnie and
Clyde." Sedation anyone?
I feel further compelled to shed a little
more light in what for many might still otherwise be this dark, empty
room that's all of a sudden being inhabited by."The Dead Trousers!"
They've toured with the likes of Bad Religion, Faith No More and Green
Day though they sound like none of them. Social Distortion and Therapy?
is definitely more their speed. and I'm going to forget about this -- it's
not a bad cover, just a goofy song -- The Beatles' "I am The Walrus" which
in all its pointless seriousness sounds alright but I prefer their "I
Fought The Law" cover by who else. Then again, maybe this was their song
since we're going back about that far to begin with?
Die Toten Hosen's
been around the block a few times and there's no question they sound
like it, which is a good thing cause we don't need anymore of this
Pop-star wanna be top 40 stuff disguised as worldwide mutiny or
something. As their producer so proudly proclaims on the earlier
introduction, "Perfect tunes for the final ride." Indeed, the audio
equivalent to Germany's famed autobahn in every imaginable stretch.