Album review : Humanoid (all versions)
Alienation of the alien nation...
Tokio Hotel's third album with Universal.
They took their time to work on it, and it shows.
At first it looked far-fetched for that band to suddenly adopt a vaguely science-fictiontionnesque theme, with a robot-Bill on the CD cover, and armors and metal tentacles inside. In the end though, it is surprisingly coherent, in that the main theme is loneliness, through variations that can evoke the coldness of emotion-deprived androids, or aliens lost in space far from their home, and among a different species, sometimes fearing to get in the open.
More instruments, extended vocal range for Bill accentuated by pitch effects, a sound ranging from electro to heavier rock, with also a few soft ballads : musically this album is definitely about going behind their own walls.
The change disappointed or disconcerted some fans, but it's not that different either to lose the specificity (spirit? sound? soul?) of the band. Or maybe it stays in line with other styles that I like anyway, reminding me of Queen (for the big hymns), Depeche Mode (for the electro) or Placebo, depending on the songs.
While the first leaked excerpts had given me some fears, the overall album convinced me instantly, with the exception of a few songs. And unlike "Scweem", the English versions don't come out as much as over-simplified translations of the original in broken English. Even though they use less imagery than their German counterparts, they have a separate existence, often with different feelings or even different themes. Better lyricists, better English accent, better understanding of the language, all of it? Whatever the reasons are, it's definitely an improvement.
Track list
German version
1. Komm2. Sonnensystem
3. Automatisch
4. Lass uns laufen
5. Humanoid
6. Für immer jetzt
7. Kampf der Liebe
8. Hunde
9. Menschen suchen Menschen
10. Alien
11. Geisterfahrer
12. Zoom
13. Träumer (Deluxe edition bonus track)
14. Hey Du (Deluxe edition bonus track)
15. That Day (in English - Deluxe edition bonus track)
16. Screamin' (in English - Deluxe edition bonus track)
English version
1. Noise2. Darkside of the Sun
3. Automatic
4. World Behind My Wall
5. Humanoid
6. Forever Now
7. Pain of Love
8. Dogs Unleashed
9. Human Connect to Human
10. Alien
11. Phantomrider
12. Zoom Into Me
13. Love & Death (Deluxe edition bonus track)
14. Hey You (Deluxe edition bonus track)
15. That Day (Deluxe edition bonus track)
16. Screamin' (Deluxe edition bonus track)
17. Down on you (Itunes bonus track)
18. Attention (Itunes pre-order bonus track)
19. In your Shadow (Hot topic bonus track)
Track commentary
1. Komm / Noise
Upon having heard the entire album, the sci-fi flair makes sense, and starts here. Because that song is designed to take you away to somewhere else, with the band. They're specifically asking us to come with them to escape the world (Du und ich entkommen der Welt). And do I gladly accept the2. Sonnensystem / Dark side of the sun
Third single. For that song, the German lyrics are very different from the English ones : the German one speak of... humans as passengers of Earth, lost in the Universe and having messed up a bit. I'm not sure if they mean it as an environmentalist subtext or not. The English version, on the other side, while still speaking of the end of the world and the dark side of the sun, rather focuses on the media phenomenon that the band is. Well, that's my interpretation anyway.3. Automatisch / Automatic
The first single. According to the band, is about the fact that while a lot of automatic things in the world are designed to make life easier, sometimes automatic isn't good, especially in relationships. When reading the lyrics, cynical minds like mine interpret them as a criticism of sheep-like fan devotion going too far and based on nothing much... I wouldn't have picked that as a single, myself. In the CD version, it's far from being my favorite track, a bit too artificial, too repetitive, too... automatic.I had an epiphany, though, when hearing it live and acoustic (in Cologne for the Nokia showcase), as with that orchestration, it's a lot more spellbinding.
The video going with it cost them an arm and a leg, and features two humanoid robots falling in love.
4. Lass uns laufen / World behind my walls
A softer sound for this melancholic ballad, the second single, about the longing to go see beyond your own walls. Probably makes more sense when in context of how paranoid fame can render any artist becoming too famous for their own good. But I guess anyone can relate to the fear of getting out of one's boundaries now and then, even when you hear how great it may be... Though it's the only song in which the German lyrics are less original, mostly love lyrics.A perfect soundtrack for Avatar, if you ask me. And even if you don't.
5. Humanoid
A contrast with the next track, Humanoid... Quite gritty and dark, barely human, only humanoid, and less radio-easy than other tracks. It catches you and never lets you down until the end.6. Für immer jetzt / Forever now
Since I'm writing this review after the Humanoid City Tour concerts, I can't tell if that song gave me that feeling before already, or if it's due to it being the end of those shows... But it's uplifting. As in, "take you in a spaceship through the universe, flying on solar winds" uplifting.7. Kampf der Liebe / Pain of love
The English lyrics are, again, a bit dumbed down compared to the German ones. Less lyrical. The music is a sort of martial march rather unexpected when you hear the title (Fight for love). A good way to counteract lyrics that might easily turn cheesy otherwise, by keeping a powerful, unromantic sound.8. Hunde / Dogs unleashed
My first reaction to the techno sound intro was... less than pleased. Though it will never become my favorite track of this album, I'd like to hear it with a completely different orchestration, just to better perceive it.9. Menschen suchen Menschen / Human connect to human
The English lyrics are much more... explicit? Sexy? than the German ones, which are mostly referring to humans needing humans in a more generic way. When the English ones are more evocative of nightclub prowling. It's enthralling, no doubt.10. Alien
Bill's high notes on this one help making it very energetic. It's especially efficient live. Feeling like an alien may sound like a typically teenage angst theme, but... I'm sure some of us grown-ups relate to it too *whistles*11. Geisterfahrer / Phantomrider
Much love for this song. I first read Bill's explanation of it : "It's about being close to someone you never really met before. You want to escape from something and you want this ghost-like soulmate to come away with you because it's the only thing you have faith in. The track carries hope."Be still my beating heart : it may have been meant to touch fangirls for whom *he* is that Phantomrider, but for me it evoked someone else. My own ghost, who, in truth, is the only one who never failed me.
And far from letting me down, the song itself was an instant favorite, whether the German or the English version. It's also a great soundtrack for trips towards TH shows, especially when said trips aren't easy.
Bonus : in concerts they perform it acoustic.
12. Zoom
Ballads on piano aren't my favorites, but I'll give them brownie points on the account that it's a change in sound for them. And diversity is always good. Not the strongest song IMO.13. Träumer / Love and death
Angst. I don't know if everyone could be touched by this song? It talks about the band, obviously... They are definitely dreamers. And I figure some find it hard to sympathize with young famous people who make more money than they do. I don't. Anyway, this song is very cathartic, and it's one of those that I can't help singing along at the top of my lungs in live shows. The English lyrics are very different, and again sound dumbed down to me.14. Hey Du / Hey you
Another very science-fiction themed anthem, with its "Hey du! Kleiner Android auf deinem Satellit" (Hey you! Little android on your satellite) chorus. An hymn for aliens, to sing in stadiums. The English version is much less sci-fi, though. It's a bit reminiscent of Queen's big hymns like "We will rock you". Not a bad thing.15. That Day
A rather different sound for that title... More gritty, more produced (all the English titles / versions sound more heavily edited than German ones, and this track has no German version). Very sarcastic and dark. Maybe the closer from more established "dark" bands like Placebo, in spirit?16. Screamin'
Ouch, the lyrics hurt on this one too. "I'm physically, mentally, over-obsessed with you". You know, the common link to many TH songs is that urge behind them. "Could be I never will, could be I have to kill, that dream that makes me ill"...17. Down on you
Fast track that doesn't leave you any time to breath or think.18. Attention
Desperate tune... In case you doubted performers are by essence attention whores, Bill Kaulitz made it obvious in a song ;) I don't know if it's a good sign that he is aware of it?19. In your Shadow
A tribute to the ones who accept to let him shine in the spotlight? Sounds unusual, especially the beginning. And rather self-deprecating. "I see my soul, it's a nightmare". Awww, Bill, not to that point...
