KINDER + NARREN

Ow. This one hurt. A lot. Without Eroc's guiding hand or Mist's colourful keyboard work, the group went pretty far off-course.

This one sounds painfully 80's. Simmons drums, blaring digital-synth brass, synthesized bass, the whole shebang. And the music really isn't good enough to sustain one's interest. Wildschwein is still there, as is long-time roadie Toni Moff Mollo, now promoted to co-lead vocals. His singing is actually quite charming, rather in the same style as Roger Hodgson. There's also a new guy, Milla Kapolke (the bass-player), who sings like he constantly has a bit of food lodged in his throat.

Singing aside, there's really not much to spark your interest here. Ostensibly another concept album, the songs are so pedestrian they simply don't register on the radar. Well, except when you're overcome with nausea, as on the disco-rocker "Keine Angst" or when the children's voices appear on "Die Kinder zieh'n zum Strand" (shades of "Circus Of Heaven"). Actually, you're overcome with nausea a good deal, as Jürgen Cramer's synth tones are so in-your-face and obnoxious, much of the album is unbearable. Not even the attempt to get all anthemic on "Könige der Welt" really registers. Pretty sad.

Grobschnitt - 'Kinder und Narren' (Children and Fools) is their 10th album (including the live releases) and, shoot me down, I like it. It is yet another concept album, the inner sleeve has an in-depth story in German so I couldn't say what it's about, I ought to get it translated some day. The line-up has undergone an incredible make-over, with original drummer/founder member 'Eroc' having left the fold and keyboardist 'Mist' long gone, and they never really had a stable Bass-player, Milla Kapolke filling in the role here, and contributing vocals. Replacements seem more in tune with the 'Pop' genre than Prog, bringing us a kind of Neo-Prog-ish/Pop album with flashes of inspiration, 'Orakel' being the best example of this, with its odd-time sigs and sectioned structure - some great keys- work from newbie Jurgen Kramer is sure to excite some listeners. 'Ich Liebe Dich' is just beautiful, with a 'Tony Banksian' piano arrangement. Remaining tracks range from M.O.R. to hard rockers, with a very 80's synth-pop sound. It's an improvement over its predecessor, 'Razzia', it's worlds away from 'Solar Music', but I don't think that it fits the bill of total rubbish. I find similarities with Genesis S/T from 1983. 3 stars - generous perhaps, but as I mentioned earlier, I like it.

This "Grobschnitt" album is an absolute nightmare. But I haven't use the next key. At no moment. And I can tell you that I should be rewarded for this. To listen to forty minutes of this "music" is quite an exercise.

From the very first seconds of this disgusting album, one knows that he/she will go through very, very painful minutes if ever he/she decides to listen to the full album (which I absolutely not recommend).

From the early stages of my reviewing process, I decided to go through the entire catalogue of each band (or almost) I was writing about. This is the only reason to discuss this "Grobschnitt" one. In expectation of their many "Solar Music" live version that were produced later on.

One reviewer authorized to shoot him down because he liked this album and rated with three stars. Since he authorized to do so, I'm just shooting him down as I write (I'm just kidding of course. I have to much respect for fellow reviewers, but he wrote this sentence, so.).

This is another crappy album from "Grobschnitt". What a P.I.T.A. to have recorded this one (and the previous one, and the previous one).

One star of course. If ever you would be offered this album, Just destroy it before it contaminates your CD player.

A mix of lobotomised fish and turkey.

Grobschnitt went pop/rock and in most other directions on this album. A bit of Saga's tangents, some Accept light and a lot of Euro pop. Melody Grand Prix, here we come. Or the beer kellers where people are so intoxicated and deaf that the material on Kinder + Narren goes down as music. Who is the children + clowns here, btw ? The band who came up with this material ? The record label who unleashed it ? The general public who actually liked this album ? I don't know. The only thing I know is that this is not an album worthy of the Grobschnitt name.

100 words delivered. Nou, ai vill fekk aaff an lesten to som musek.

1 stars

Sorry for poor english. I´m from Germany. I love this album. I have to admit that this album is not a prog album. It is very 80s. It is very fun to listen. It is an album to hear, if you are in a bad mood. The new singer Toni Moff Mollo has a great voice and is a great addition to Grobschnitt, alongside with Wildschweins vocals. Wildschwein also learned to play Saxophone and you hear him all over the album. Unfortunately Eroc left the band. It is their second concept album. It´s very playful and I believe, that´s one of the albums Grobschnitt had the most fun composing and recording. If you don´t understand german, you will have less fun with this album than I did. The album starts very playful with songs like Paradox and Geradeaus. It also gets emotional near the end. Wie der Wind is a beautiful song sung by Toni and he did it very beautifully. And the final two songs Alle Kinder ziehn zum Strand and Könige der Welt are giving me goosebumps every time. I don´t mind the 80s production. I actually like it, but it´s just my personal preference. If this album was prog, the concept might not be as playful and childish as it is. This more style like Neue Deutsche Welle is more fitting for this concept and the ideas. I think this album is a masterpiece. To acknowledge that, you have to be open minded enough to listen to somethhing else than prog music. If you´re not open minded enough, remind what Frank Zappa said: "The human mind is like a parachute. It doesn´t work if it´s not open"