#20.
Thus begins a new Bobbo List. Over the next several months, I'll be chronicling my 20 Favorite Bands. This one may be moot as everybody knows what #1 is. Hell, some people even know the entire top 5 as I've proclaimed it on a number of occasions. But still, it should be a good time pegging them and reviewing them. At any rate, here we go.
#20
Rammstein
Formed: January 1994
Genre: Hard rock - Industrial
Members:
Till Lindemann - vocals
Richard Zven Kruspe - lead guitar
Paul H. Landers - rhythm guitar
Ollie Riedel - bass
Chris "Doom" Schneider - drums/percussion
Christian Lorenz (aka: Flake) - keyboards
Studio Albums:
Herzeleid (1996)
Sehnsucht (1998)
Mutter (2001)
Reise Reise (2004)
Rosenrot (2006)
Band Bio
Rammstein is a sextet from Germany, obviously. Their name translated means "stone ram". The band came together back in the mid-90s from the remains of Kruspe's old band. They invited the timid Till Lindemann, who was working as a basket weaver at the time (anyone else find that mildly funny?), to join the ranks. As a quartet of, they entered a battle of the bands competition and won. This attracted the attention of the other two now current musicians, Flake and Landers. The band was complete, ready to work on their debut. Herzeleid was the outcome. Rammstein is the very essence of a hard-working band, churning out albums nearly like clockwork with literally hundreds of jaw-dropping concerts in between. Because of their immense international popularity (sources have claimed they have a bigger international following than even Metallica or Guns and Roses), they play a variety of shows all over the globe. They're most rabid fanbase belongs to Russia and Germany (obviously). It's in my opinion that Rammstein are one of an extremely rare breed; a band that has been around more than a decade and has maintained their band lineup the entire way. You don't see that anymore. There's nearly always some sort of differences between bandmates, or certain side projects that divide the band, or whatnot. But it's been the same six guys for 13 years. And they sound as sharp as ever. I've heard Rammstein were called a "scary" band to listen to. And many American and other nationality activists alike have claimed that they're spreading Nazi propoganda. However, the band vehemiantly denies it. What's a good rock band without any controversy?
First Song I Heard: "Du Hast". No surprise, I'm sure; Played a couple times on the radio during the autumn of 2001 (back when I actually listened to the radio).
My Take
My Rammstein history begins back in the summer of 2003. I was up at the high school for Senior Celebration for my friends. I was sans a car, so I asked for a ride from Ethan. He obliges. He popped in the Triple-X soundtrack, the first song being played was "Feuer Frie". I was floored by it. It was the most infectious thing I had heard in a long time. The moment I got home, I downloaded it and loved every time I heard it. It wasn't until a whole year later that I decided to persue their other music. I skiddishly bought Mutter, fearing it was about a 50-50 shot it would be just as good. Well, I definitely got the good stuff. Mutter is a stellar album. My interest piqued again months later, downloading and eventually buying Reise Reise in January of '05. Rosenrot was in my grasp by this past July.
As a band, they're as awesome as they come. You can't argue their infectious riffs or heavy vocals. They are a crass combination of hard rock and industrial metal, creating heavy distortion-driven bombshells. I know of some detractors of the band saying that the band is only working off a gimmick of their German sung lyrics. How wrong these people are. Most American bands don't even come close to the intensity that Rammstein emits. That's one word on how I'd describe Rammstein: intense. But Rammstein is far more than just super duper hard rock explosions. They're a very versatile band, showing some real powerful emotion in songs like "Nebel" and "Wo Bist Du". Hell, they even have a true blue love song in "Stirb Nicht Vor Mir (Don't Die Before I Do)" (a duet with an American female vocalist, singing her part in English. The song is awesome with that contrast of German and English). I think the German aspect helps, but it's not everything. It's the way it's delivered. Which means that Till Lindemann would deliver the same venom in his voice if he were singing in Swahili. Till is definitely up on my list of favorite vocalists. And lyricists. Translated to legible English, a lot of the songs are so deep and thoughtful, it's amazing. Songs take on so much more meaning when you know what he's singing about. I liked the song "Stein Um Stein" before. But when I read the translated lyrics and gained an understanding of what was trying to be put forward, it just took on a whole new meaing. Now it's one of my favorite Rammstein songs. So many people dismiss them as a thoughtless, gutless nu-metal band. I pity them. Because Rammstein is a downright spectacular band.
Favorite Album:
Reise Reise
10 Favorite Songs
10 - "Stirb Nicht Vor Mir (Don't Die Before I Do)"
Shocking that this could come from a band like this.
9 - "Amerika"
Possibly their greatest single.
8 - "Keine Lust"
Orgasmic grinding guitar and drum intro.
7 - "Mein Herz Brennt"
"My heart burns" whenever I hear this song.
6 - "Mutter"
Sensational quasi-ballad.
5 - "Ohne Dich"
Goddamn beautiful.
4 - "Nebel"
One of the only ones I can recite completely in English. An amazingly sad song, at that.
3 - "Feuer Frie"
BANG BANG!
2 - "Los"
A German metal band. Playing jazz. And acoustic guitars. I submit to you, awesomeness.
1 - "Stein Um Stein"
Till's greatest vocal performance to date.
Band site.
Lyric translations.
(Note the new Rammstein icon. NOTE IT!)
#20
Rammstein
Formed: January 1994
Genre: Hard rock - Industrial
Members:
Till Lindemann - vocals
Richard Zven Kruspe - lead guitar
Paul H. Landers - rhythm guitar
Ollie Riedel - bass
Chris "Doom" Schneider - drums/percussion
Christian Lorenz (aka: Flake) - keyboards
Studio Albums:
Herzeleid (1996)
Sehnsucht (1998)
Mutter (2001)
Reise Reise (2004)
Rosenrot (2006)
Band Bio
Rammstein is a sextet from Germany, obviously. Their name translated means "stone ram". The band came together back in the mid-90s from the remains of Kruspe's old band. They invited the timid Till Lindemann, who was working as a basket weaver at the time (anyone else find that mildly funny?), to join the ranks. As a quartet of, they entered a battle of the bands competition and won. This attracted the attention of the other two now current musicians, Flake and Landers. The band was complete, ready to work on their debut. Herzeleid was the outcome. Rammstein is the very essence of a hard-working band, churning out albums nearly like clockwork with literally hundreds of jaw-dropping concerts in between. Because of their immense international popularity (sources have claimed they have a bigger international following than even Metallica or Guns and Roses), they play a variety of shows all over the globe. They're most rabid fanbase belongs to Russia and Germany (obviously). It's in my opinion that Rammstein are one of an extremely rare breed; a band that has been around more than a decade and has maintained their band lineup the entire way. You don't see that anymore. There's nearly always some sort of differences between bandmates, or certain side projects that divide the band, or whatnot. But it's been the same six guys for 13 years. And they sound as sharp as ever. I've heard Rammstein were called a "scary" band to listen to. And many American and other nationality activists alike have claimed that they're spreading Nazi propoganda. However, the band vehemiantly denies it. What's a good rock band without any controversy?
First Song I Heard: "Du Hast". No surprise, I'm sure; Played a couple times on the radio during the autumn of 2001 (back when I actually listened to the radio).
My Take
My Rammstein history begins back in the summer of 2003. I was up at the high school for Senior Celebration for my friends. I was sans a car, so I asked for a ride from Ethan. He obliges. He popped in the Triple-X soundtrack, the first song being played was "Feuer Frie". I was floored by it. It was the most infectious thing I had heard in a long time. The moment I got home, I downloaded it and loved every time I heard it. It wasn't until a whole year later that I decided to persue their other music. I skiddishly bought Mutter, fearing it was about a 50-50 shot it would be just as good. Well, I definitely got the good stuff. Mutter is a stellar album. My interest piqued again months later, downloading and eventually buying Reise Reise in January of '05. Rosenrot was in my grasp by this past July.
As a band, they're as awesome as they come. You can't argue their infectious riffs or heavy vocals. They are a crass combination of hard rock and industrial metal, creating heavy distortion-driven bombshells. I know of some detractors of the band saying that the band is only working off a gimmick of their German sung lyrics. How wrong these people are. Most American bands don't even come close to the intensity that Rammstein emits. That's one word on how I'd describe Rammstein: intense. But Rammstein is far more than just super duper hard rock explosions. They're a very versatile band, showing some real powerful emotion in songs like "Nebel" and "Wo Bist Du". Hell, they even have a true blue love song in "Stirb Nicht Vor Mir (Don't Die Before I Do)" (a duet with an American female vocalist, singing her part in English. The song is awesome with that contrast of German and English). I think the German aspect helps, but it's not everything. It's the way it's delivered. Which means that Till Lindemann would deliver the same venom in his voice if he were singing in Swahili. Till is definitely up on my list of favorite vocalists. And lyricists. Translated to legible English, a lot of the songs are so deep and thoughtful, it's amazing. Songs take on so much more meaning when you know what he's singing about. I liked the song "Stein Um Stein" before. But when I read the translated lyrics and gained an understanding of what was trying to be put forward, it just took on a whole new meaing. Now it's one of my favorite Rammstein songs. So many people dismiss them as a thoughtless, gutless nu-metal band. I pity them. Because Rammstein is a downright spectacular band.
Favorite Album:
Reise Reise
10 Favorite Songs
10 - "Stirb Nicht Vor Mir (Don't Die Before I Do)"
Shocking that this could come from a band like this.
9 - "Amerika"
Possibly their greatest single.
8 - "Keine Lust"
Orgasmic grinding guitar and drum intro.
7 - "Mein Herz Brennt"
"My heart burns" whenever I hear this song.
6 - "Mutter"
Sensational quasi-ballad.
5 - "Ohne Dich"
Goddamn beautiful.
4 - "Nebel"
One of the only ones I can recite completely in English. An amazingly sad song, at that.
3 - "Feuer Frie"
BANG BANG!
2 - "Los"
A German metal band. Playing jazz. And acoustic guitars. I submit to you, awesomeness.
1 - "Stein Um Stein"
Till's greatest vocal performance to date.
Band site.
Lyric translations.
(Note the new Rammstein icon. NOTE IT!)