My Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Here it is, the ninth studio album of the Berlin-based alternative band. The band is celebrating this release with two sold-out shows in the Wuhlheide in Berlin, on June 28 and 29. And while I am writing this, I am listening to the live broadcast of the first show, where I actually planned to be. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a babysitter for tonight, so I have to take care of the kiddo. My wife took a friend with her to the concert. However, I had the chance to listen to the album today. The band (of course) promoted it as “back to the roots.” But is it?
In 2002, when I was in Berlin for half a year for an internship, I had a pre-iPod MP3 player with an integrated radio. When I was tired of my 64 MB playlist, I loved to listen to the Berlin radio station Fritz. At this time, they played the Beatsteaks song “Summer” pretty often. I was deep into electronic music at this time, but the vibe of the song totally got me. And just while writing this paragraph, the band is performing this song live in Berlin… That gives me goosebumps, and it‘s hard to concentrate on writing.
However, “Summer” was my first contact with the band, and somehow the tune triggered the sleeping punk in me. Ever since, I followed their music and started to listen to their older stuff, too. So when I think of their roots, I think of “Summer,” I think of “Let Me In,” I think of punk, ska, hardcore, and alternative.
No matter how the band evolved, their music always was and is always about fun. That‘s what makes them such an incredible live band. Even their weak songs really grow big when played live. And not to forget, singer Arnim Teutoburg-Weiß is a great entertainer. I don‘t know how many times I‘ve seen them live, maybe 5 or 6 times, but in every show, they seem to put in some new elements, whether it‘s new songs, old songs, covers, breakdancers, or guest stars. In this way, every concert feels fresh.
Also, the band is important to me and my wife. We were both fans of them, but while she saw them live several times before we met, I watched my first, and every further Beatsteaks concert until today, with her. I am glad there‘s a live stream, and I can be there audibly at least.
Nevertheless, with every album, the band seemed to drift farther away from where they came from, and my fandom got some scratches. The peak of my Beatsteaks alienation was the co-production with the German hip-hop/dance band Deichkind. There are many Beatsteaks songs I love and plenty of Deichkind songs I love, too. And as good as both fit together, the joint result is neither Beatsteaks nor Deichkind. And even worse: it‘s not good.
On a first skip-through of the new album, I was even disappointed with the anticipated long-player. But after a first complete run, my disappointment decreased. The sound feels familiar and strange at the same time. The first single, “Detractors,” is just nice, but not an instant hit like “Summer.” It takes a few more runs to really get into the new songs. And I really wonder which of these will be a future classic. Maybe “Dead Man”?
“Against All Logic” was the first song on the album that really got my attention. And when I remember the discography of the band, yes, the album is kind of back to the roots. Not to my roots, but each of the songs sounds like they could also fit on one of the 8 albums before. At the same time, the album is a step forward, or rather sideways (and a little bit forward), compared to its predecessor “Yours.” The last seven years were not easy for the band, but they are still together, and the new album says, “we‘re still here, and we were never gone.” And referring to the album title “Please,” I say: “Thank you.” Thank you for still being around. Thank you for still making new music for 28 years now.
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