Audio CD review:
Einstürzende Neubauten - Strategies Against Architecture II

Einstürzende Neubauten - Strategies Against Architecture II

Band: Einstürzende Neubauten Title: Strategies Against Architecture II Rating: Release Date: 21 May, 1991 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Scorching Off! 2: Partynumber (Live) 3: C.N.S. 4: The Electric (Merle) 5: Intermezzo/Yu-Gung (Live) 6: Seele Brennt 7: Blood Poisoning 8: Sand 9: Kangolicht 10: Armenia (Live) 11: Ein Stuhl In Der Holle 12: Vanadium I Ching 13: Sorrow And Misery 14: DNA-Water Tower 15: Armenia II (Live) 16: Fackeln! 17: It's Me 18: Bainlego 19: Wardrobe 20: Picture Description 21: House Of Lies (Live) 22: Sell Out 23: Kein Bestandteil Sein (Alternative Ending)

Customer Reviews How I was converted I was a nerdy, quiet, respectable 17 year old and I'd heard of Neubauten, their Haus der Luege stuff was being played on the local community radio station but I didn't pay too much attention. It was around May 1990. Then they played my town. I actually went because one of my best friends was the vocalist in the support act (Toxic Airborne Event). Little did I know what a night it would be. Neubauten came on and did their thing. An hour later my life was changed forever, totally changed. The next day I went and bought this album. It was more or less the only thing playing on my CD player for a long time. I lost friends who couldn't cope with me playing Armenia all the time. I almost dropped out of school because suddenly nothing much else except Neubauten seemed to matter anymore. I took up drinking beer and smoking marijuana. I dyed my hair black and started wearing black eyeliner. I begged my parents for black leather pants. I even wrote a fan letter to Blixa Bargeld telling him he was God. Then I went to Uni. and majored in German just so I could sing along with Blixa. Anyway, you get the picture. If you don't know Neubauten, you need to try this. Who knows? It might just turn your life upside down too. The concept seems plausible, but the end result is less than desirable Kraftwerk did music concepts with electronics. This is a German group who seem to be just the opposite of "Kraftwerk". Blips, snaps, pops, clicks, bleeps, etc. I really loved Kraftwerk for their uniqueness. However, Einstürzende Neubauten, are more into what is not electric. Metal, sticks, grinding rusty things together, concrete, jackhammers, sledgehammers, and various other implements of destruction. They are trying to make sounds and rhythms out of solid uncomplicated raw materials. If they can get a rhythm going, that's great. But, what is their greatest selling point, isn't implimented enough. Plus, their vocalist screaming angrily in German doesn't help sell itself to non-Germans. I truly enjoyed only about 9% of this whole double CD. Most songs were just not that interesting to an American listener like myself. Although that wonderful 9% would have been great if there were so much more. I can't believe that they did Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood's song "Sand". What compelled them to do that? Anyway, there is a DVD called "Liebeslieder" which is a documentary on Einstürzende Neubauten. Most all of the dialogue is in German. There is some performance footage, and some interviews (with English sub-titles). I was hoping that this DVD would help shed some more interesting visual entertainment about this "de-construction noise making" band, but again, there just wasn't enough to justify their claim to fame. And what's more, these guys are actually uglier than The Rolling Stones. I didn't think that that could be possible. But, their ugliness does support their angst. If I looked like them, I'd be angry too. . Outstanding Compilation of EN's Middle Years...... I didn't discover EN until they released Strategies III so at first I didn't care too much for this record due to it's a lot more raw than their later work. A superb compilation of the bands middle years. . . however, once I gave it a few listens it didn't take long to realize just how brilliant this band's entire career has been. Strat II has been in regular rotation in my cd player now for about three months. . . . If your a fan of experimental music this one is a can't miss. . You can see a complete list of all Einstürzende Neubauten discography, or go back to the Einstürzende Neubauten tabs