Tank Battles

Great Songs: Song of a German Mother, The Homecoming Good Songs: The Song of the Whitewash, (I Read About) Tank Battles, Chanson Allemande, The Ballad of the Sackslingers, Ballade von der belebenden Wirkung des Geldes (The Song of the Invigorating Impact of Cash), Mankind, Change The World - It Needs It, Bankenleid, Ballad of (Bourgeois) Welfare, Mother's Hands, Berlin 1919, And I Shall Never See Again, The Wise Woman and The Soldier, UUnd Endlich Stibt (Hanns Eisler), The Rat Men - Nightmare, The Trenches (Hanns Eisler) Mid Songs: You Have To Pay, Mother Beimleim, The Perhaps Song, Bettellied, Legende von der Entstehung des Buches Taoteking, Genevieve Ostern ist ein Ball sue Seine, Failure in Loving (Hanns Eisler), To A Little Radio Bad Songs:

Important songs—beautifully sung by Krause. So good.

I'll never listen to this again, but, it's a very unique album. I did love the strangeness of it.

Man, I understand why others don't like this, but I thought it was great. To be fair, I briefly went to school for vocal performance and had a focus on german opera. Even the accompaniment is fun to listen to on it's own, these songs are classics. The lyrics have a sardonic humor to them that really tickled me.

wow that was really not my kind of music but it was worth listening to it and i mean LISTENING to it. War sucks. Lied Von Der Deutschen Mutter [Song of a German Mother] hits different. Also to that one guy here that gave 1 star because this album is in german: r/USdefaultism

Unexpectedly enjoyable despite being a style I've never really explored. Impeccable vocals and instrumentation. Interesting historical perspective as well.

Fun and weird album, but it did start to show its rough edges by the end. I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it were only half as long, or maybe just the first half of the tracks (the songs are already only 1-2 minutes). That being said, any artist that gives me those vague Danny Elfman vibes is great. 3.5/5

Some of the lowest rated albums on this generator are so perplexing to me, and this is one of them. People hate this? Is it because it's hard to find? And somewhat in German? I just don't get it. It's theatrical. Krause's voice is amazing. Made me wish we had some Broadway albums on here, but based on this I bet those would be rated very low. It's not my favorite thing ever, but her voice is phenomenal, the songs are still timely, and it's avant-garde but not in an off-putting way. I'd gladly have more of this on the list than British electronica. It's unique and definitely something I'm glad I heard before I died.

For those looking for this. While album is on YouTube

This is a lot more enjoyable than I would've guessed.

I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would

Album is not on Spotify, listened to some via YouTube.

Spennende! Liker veldig godt hvordan de har inkorperet nye lyder i en orkestersammenheng. Lydene høres intergrert ut i sounden, selvom de til tider er ganske out there. Liker dette veldig godt, men det mangler bittelitt mer edge før det får femmeren

Couldn't listen to it on Spotify. There is a version on YouTube but it's quite unlistenable because it glitches every few seconds. From what I heard, it sounds like an impressive feat.

vond ik boven alle verwachtingen goed.. beetje soort kruising van Nina Hagen en Diamanda Galas met cabaret als achtergrond

wtf guys this rocks! weirdo takes on Weimar-era German pop standards. kind of brilliant despite being a covers album. i suppose when you have the Henry Cow connection, you're not gonna be the type to play these songs straight. but very nice and rather good at fitting in the Waitsian niche of jaded reimaginations of cobwebbed and time-yellowed pop music. the one where she sings Brecht is probably even better tbh. deserves to be one of the 1001? ehhh... maybe a different thing in this vein. deserves to be one of the bottom 20? i suppose something has to fit down there. a shame all the most interesting ones fall into the abyss but hey! this website hates fun!

very artistic and very, unapologetically... german art music. even as it's sung in english. the music was originally written by hanns eisler, who wrote the east germany national anthem. it's like a musical from a hellish, otherworldly planet, flames and castles surround the actors wearing versailles masquerade party ensembles... thankfully it's not pure audio nonsense or sludge, it's still very listenable but it IS avant-garde in the truest sense of the word. VERY perplexing and enthralling listen to me, maybe you'll be thrown off at least a dozen times but you won't be able to turn it off. it's too weird for music streaming services, i guess.

Not available on apple music

- Interesting to hear from a historical perspective. is it something that i would put into regular rotation? probably not. Does it have value? Absolutely. It's a high quality project that is probably not for everyone but important is important to hear and acknowledge. -

I love Dagmar Krause's voice and this style of Weimar songwriting. I'm not sure the songs are supposed to be packed in like sardines into one collection like this. If I get access to it other than on YouTube I'd pick away at it piecemeal. My only real quibble is I'd like a Dagmar era Henry Cow album on the list. In Praise Of Learning probably.

The whole album is here - https://archive.org/details/0627_dagmar_krause_tank_battles_1988__mlib/09+-+Mankind.flac As someone living at the end of America’s Weimar Republic this shit hits close to home.

What a surprise to hear a cabaret style album with a great voice. I really enjoyed listening to this.

What a nice surprise! Was wondering why her voice sounded so familiar, turns out she was in Slapp Happy. I used to listen to their record "Slapp Happy or Slapp Happy" a ton many years ago so this was a nice way to revisit a record that I had forgotten about. I can see a lot of people absolutely hating this, but I personally love it. Music itself is quite different than what is present in her other projects. What I understand is that this is Dagmar performing a bunch of standards by Hanns Eisler. Entertaining album but very dark, and just like everything else associated with the cantterbury scene, outspokenly leftist. Reminded me a lot of the Jun Togawa and Koji Ueno project Guernica. Need to revisit that sometime.

SO much fun. SO camp. Loved the wistfulness of Failure in Loving and Und Endlich Stibt.

Such an impressive vocalist backed by expert instrumentation. So strong and smooth and inspiring. Unlike anything I’ve heard.

this was cool!! exactly what this project is for: finding weird albums that i never would have heard of/listened to without it. i’m playing drums in the upcoming production of Urinetown at my college and a lot of this was very reminiscent of the score. wouldn’t be surprised if this inspired the composers a good bit

A good album, I liked the songs The Song OF The Whitewash, I Read About Tank Battles and The Trenches.

Why is this album so hated here? Seriously, what's wrong with it exactly? I had a good time listening to this.

WTF? I had never heard of the artist or album and always get excited when this is the case. This album was...interesting? Confusing? I honestly didn't vibe with the avant-cabaret (is this a thing?) on my first listen, but on my second listen it started to grow in me. You can definitely hear the influence on people who I love like Tom Waits and Nick Cave. Dagmar Krause, who I now know best know for her avant-rock work with bands like Slapp Happy and Henry Cow, was obsessed 1920's cabaret. This album was her rethinking such work composed by Hans Eisler. Krause has an undeniably beautiful voice. Eisler was among the great composers of his era, so the songs were well structured, albeit run through an experimental rock sieve. The result was something genuinely unique, especially for its era and I can absolutely appreciate it as a work of art. Sometimes art is great precisely because it is unique, even if it isn't entirely comfortable. For me, this album was a reminder that sometimes I need to give unique music time to breathe, approaching them later with a fresh and open mind. My initial notes were pretty damn harsh, yet during my second and third listens the next day I started to get it. This is a tough one for me to rate. I reserve 4* for albums that I definitely want to revisit and I'm not sure I will in this case, but it did already cause me to explore her avant-rock work, which I enjoyed a little more. For me, it is a 3.5* record. I guess I'll wait a couple of hours to see which way I go with my final rating. Overall, an interesting listening experience.

I’m dismayed by how much this site seems to hate this album. It’s clear, interesting music, well-performed and well-produced. It was intended for popular consumption. I don’t think it’s objectionable. I believe everyone has an obligation to understand and engage with the past. This is good art, it's clearly better than Kid Rock, it's clearly not a one, and I'm sorry if you need everything spoon-fed to you by the algorithmic hand of the Culture-Industrial Complex. Spotify is an exploitative business with no regard for art. Its owner is a war profiteer. You can find this album on YouTube, or elsewhere with just a bit of effort.

How interesting is this!! I like the music and I like its confrontational presence on this list. I was hovering between a 3 and 4 (it's certainly not an everyday album, but it was a delight today). It's bonkers that this has such a low average rating on this site, so 4 it is. (And for all y'all griping about this album not being on Spotify: 1, cancel Spotify, 2, it's on the Internet Archive for free.)

This was unexpected and interesting. I loved the theatricality of it, and some of the quieter songs were beautiful. I can see how it would not be to everyone's taste, however. I listened to this on YouTube.

3.5

At first I was, I am not in the mood for this crap. But after a few songs I realized I was actually enjoying this. It's masterfully done. I feel like the original German flowed better (as it should). Translation always changes the feel.

Moondog meets Siouxsie and the Banshees. Insane.

hullut sakemannit! Kansallissosialistinen Saksa eli natsi-Saksa, joskus myös Kolmas valtakunta (saks. Drittes Reich) ja vanhemmissa lähteissä Hitler-Saksa, tarkoittaa vuosien 1933–1945 aikaista Saksan diktatuuria, jota hallitsi Saksan kansallissosialistinen työväenpuolue NSDAP johtajanaan Adolf Hitler. Valtion virallinen nimi oli Saksan valtakunta (saks. Deutsches Reich) vuoteen 1943, jolloin siitä tuli Suur-Saksan valtakunta (saks. Großdeutsches Reich). SAKSA SAKSA SAKSA SAKSA!!!!!!!! VITUN NATSI PASKAT!!!!!!!!!! en koskaan anna anteeksi, joojoo unohtakaa kaikki muut.. meikä kulmassa pitää yllä MUISTOA! muistaa... ballad of the sackslingers

Very intriguing. Without the feeling of deep connection to the source material, I'm left with mostly appreciating the songs on an intellectual level. Dagmar's singing and the arrangement of these songs is amazing. I will listen to this again.

Zaskakująco dobre. 4/5.

I found this quite enjoyable. Her voice is just great and feels like a wonderful story teller. Standouts for me: song of a german mother, balad of (bourgoise) welfare, the wise woman and the soldier

This, my final album of the project, is currently the 5th* lowest ranked album on the site, which seems unfair. I guess being Weimar cabaret-esque AND apparently quite difficult to stream combine to make folks want to give a punishment rating. 🤷 Maybe some misogyny in the mix, too - Like, if Tom Waits did something like this, I don't think it would cop nearly as much flak? Anyway, yeah - an engaging listen. Storytelling and drama. I didn't mind giving it a second spin at all! Fave tracks - "Mother Beimlein", "Ballad of (Bourgoise) Welfare", "The Rat Men – Nightmare" * Real shame it wasn't the third lowest rated, 'cause then I coulda used "Antepenultimate" again! 😆

Hear me out: This was a banger. I wish this were streamable so I could listen to these socialist anthems more.

Very good though probably not going into my daily rotation. Songs translated to English, but sounding very 1920s Berlin cabaret. Like an influence on Tom Waits if time wasn’t linear.

Talent is obvious. Not interested in music at all.

‘And now you all know how things can become, don’t you ever forget how it all began.’ Still so apt for today. If only it were translated to a modern sound. If only people still listened.

Call me crazy, but I actually enjoyed this one. Quite different from almost all the albums on this list. I was entertained the entire time. (Aber vielleicht mag ich diese Musik nur wegen meiner Liebe zur deutschen Sprache und Kultur)

Someone has put a pretty good playlist on youtube for this one, so it's twenty-odd snatches of Eisler German cabaret songs from the twenties and thirties. Pretty good. Her voice is amazing, completely authoritative.

Glad I found this on YouTube because it is so unlike almost anything I’ve heard before. It reminded me at times of the Sparks musical Annette, of Eurovision, of circus/carnival adjacent films like Dr Parnassus and Nightmare Alley, and even a little of Kate Bush and Marianne Faithful. Obviously deeply political, with heavy hitting lines like “now you know how things can become, don’t you ever forget how it began” that sadly feel as relevant now as ever, I was captivated throughout. I don’t think I’d ever listen to it again but I’m really glad I did today because it was surprising and confusing in a thought-provoking way, like pondering a complicated painting or watching a multifaceted documentary.

Very interesting. It felt like I was listening to a musical, but with far more dissonance.

Different sound and unique vocals.

What did I just listen to? I'm down with German opera but would need to listen more closely to really follow what was going on.

I'll start directly with my grade, just as I've just done yesterday for k.d. lang,'s debut, also released in 1988. Musical competency: 5/5 (as for 99% of the records listed here) Production values / groundbreaking aspect : 0.5/1. Given the sort of album that this one is -- i e. a "recital" of songs composed by a Bertolt Brecht accomplice in his usual "distanciated" / expressionist fashion -- it would be surprising that the required professionals called for the production of such a specific endeavor could ruin the performers' efforts. The "recital" aspect doesn't give a lot of groundbreaking quality to the tracklist, though. Those were songs written in the first half of the 20th century, and you have the feeling that they're most of the time sounding just like they must have sounded back then. Maybe they don't, actually, but it's hard to find something striking enough in the record to help a non-expert make up their mind on the matter...See also "Personality" below. Vocal performance : 1/1. Well, that singer knows how to perform such weird stuff. And the strange German inflexions in English only add to the weirdness of the subject matter Personality: 0/1. Once again, the "recital" aspect muddles the picture. On the one hand, Hanns Eisler's songs show TONS of personality, but on the other hand they could be performed by a radically different, yet equally apt personnel, and they would probably sound the same in broad strokes, if not *exactly* the same. There's a reason "classical music" isn't included in this book (it would actually deserve to have its own 1001 albums list, albeit with a totally different set of requirements). The "modern album" format implies that artists bring something on the table that only *they* can pull off ,(which is why in the field of orchestral music, albums under the names of Arvo Pärt, Steve Reich or Philip Glass *should* have been included in Dimery's work!). This is not what happens here. Hence that 0/1 grade, not about the personality of the music, but about the personality of the *album* presenting the latter. Compositional work: 1/1. You just can't deny the musical imagination that has been put into those compositions. Is this musical imagination easy to digest in large spades? Nope. *Tank Battles* surely feels like a *long* album. But there are enough gems along the way to reward active listening (one example among my favorites: "The Perhaps Song"). Thematic impact or lyrics that would be particularly striking...: 1/1. Here the "récital" aspect is an asset, as you obviously have a treasure trove of themes and other things to catch in the lyrics, as well as a strong artistic impact overall. So that's 8.5/10 for *Tank Battle*, but if we are talking about *essential* albums here, only the last five points matter (musical competency is a given for acts reaching those heights, is it not?). And this is how I interpret the five stars grading system in this app. Which gives us 3.5/5 mark, rounded up to 4. Next, please. Number of albums left to review: around forty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 460 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 272 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 334

This was a weird one. Very unique, incredible vocal performance. I would not have given it the jazz tag- much closer to modernist orchestral music, though with modern arrangements. Not something I would listen to regularly but an interesting idea to take old German compositions and turn them into something new.

Non malvagio, anzi!

Found a YouTube playlist that pulled all the tracks together in one place! I gotta say, I 100% was not expecting this when I hit play. Very theatrical/showtunes-y but with a very bleak feel. Makes total sense that it's a bunch of Weimar-era Cabaret songs. I like the tracks in German better than the ones in English. The whole point of this project was to introduce myself to new-to-me music that I wouldn't come across or seek out naturally, and I think this album is a great example of that. It's weird and dramatic, but I'm into it.

Nein es ist kein Main Stream. Musik muss auch kritisch sein und anecken. Die Interpretin geht ihren eigenen Weg und bleibt diesem stilistisch und inhaltlich treu. Dies z er ihr das Album, dass schwierige Musik und anstrengende Texte durch die Kraft und die Markantheit ihrer Stimme zu einen angenehmen Hörerlebnis macht. Ich will es nochmal durchhören.

ud fra coveret troede jeg at det ville være noget Sheryl Crow-agtigt adult alternative fra 90'erne haha, tog helt fejl i mit vibe check. Virkelig positivt overrasket! Det hjælper nok, at jeg er glad for musicals og den teatralske måde at synge på, men synes også arrangementerne var virkelig smukke. Marlene Dietrich vibes! Jeg tænkte dog ret ofte, at oversættelserne lød lidt unaturlige

(Listened on YouTube). Sounds like the soundtrack to a German musical play. Not that that's bad in itself... I honestly can't figure out how I feel about this. Like, it's kind of fun and oddly comforting, but it's also just... weird? xD Idk... I THINK I like it? My first instinct is to give it 3 stars because I'm so hot and cold on it, but because it has me so confused about how I feel... I think that deserves a bump to 4. xD

Politics and commentary in a cabaret style. This is an excellent reminder that music and songs have an embedded and often implied social structure and are part of social ideas as a whole. We are constantly building and re-enforcing a world view with our music and songs.

1920s German songs, words by Bertold Brecht and several other contemporary German writers, music by Hanns Eisler. Great arrangements, carefully stylised staccato vocals. Melancholic and powerful. This edition has the lyrics in English Translation. I also listened to some of the German language edition - despite not understanding the words, it sounded even better to me in German

8/10. I love the unique vocals, and strong messages. It was a delightful and unique experience to listen to this album. However, the album could have been slightly shorter. :)

A German cabaret album with a Brecht/Weill undertone.

A nice discovery. I wanted to like it a lot more than I did. Intriguing mad cabaret feel, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find that this influenced Tom Waits’ Black Rider, The Legendary Pink Dots, divine comedy, and a lot of other late 80s theatrical avant-garde acts. I will definitely give this a few more listens To catch things that I might have missed. Difficult to find these days, but very deserving of a spot on this list.

A fascinating listen, musical theatre essentially. Very interesting. I only listened to the In Our Time episode on Brecht the other day, serendipitously. Obviously also maintained an interest through Bowie's work also. Whitewash, Sackslingers, Bourgeois Welfare, Trenches. Striking tracks all. It's probably necessary for me to seek out some Art Bears to get more of that voice.

With the album released just prior to the Berlin Wall coming down, Tank Battles is a late 80's recording of music composed in the 1920s by a frequent collaborator of playwright Bertolt Brecht, Hans Eisler. Some songs are sung in English, some in German. This is about as early modern as you'll probably get as far as compositions - it's an eclectic mix that brushes cabaret, jazz, and 20s popular music. It's indeed very evocative of interwar Berlin, with chronicles of the descent into madness prior to the Nazis taking over. This feels like very important music - at times absurd/dissonant, and others very elegiac. Not an easy listen for someone whose ears have not heard much before classic rock or early rock & roll. The astute among you will recognize the last song of the album repurposed by Sting as The Secret Marriage on ...Nothing Like The Sun. It's well produced and sounds mostly era-appropriate, with a little bit of chorused guitar creeping in with it's 80s sound Favorites are The Perhaps Song, Ballade von der belebenden Wirkung des Geldes, Song of a German Mother, Bankenlied, Mother's Hands, and To a Little Radio.

I ended up finding this on YouTube and it's pretty rad. Spooky cabaret.

Альбом не вписывается в какие-то классические критерии оценки. Тут что-то слишком историческое и слишком уникальное...

This is already weird. 🤣track three has my attention. The rest so far sounds like the weird stuff in “yes man”. This feels like it should be a musical of some sort. I might enjoy this more if there were visuals. There is some good stuff on here. I think I can give this a three. Oddly I like the German lyrics better than English. Something about the way those melodies flow. This was way better than I expected it to be. It took me on a journey.

3.8 mostly for originality

7/10, kinda fun I guess? sorta questionable why this is in the book tho, not that amazing

Wasn’t sure what to expect of an album that was almost impossible to find, and that had a lot of 1 star reviews, but it was markedly better than expected. Krause has a wonderful voice, and the whole album has a haunting beauty to it.

I don't know quite how to rate this. I think it's well executed and her voice is so perfect for this style of song. But the album is very long. I am not sure if I was supposed to listen to songs sung in both English and German, but I couldn't find a version that only included English .... hence, most of the songs twice. That said, I enjoyed this. It's such a particular style from a particular time, and quite specifically a product of the dire political environment of Weimar era Germany.

I think I liked this? It was giving Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and I enjoy that musical so.... It certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I didn't really listen too closely to the lyrics but the lyrics I did hear were... interesting. 4 stars!

Pleasantly surprised

That's one of the most bizarre things that I've ever listened to in my life. It was like the feeling of existential dread you get deep in your soul the day after an intense session on the whiskey. It was like listening to the soundtrack to an oddly macabre musical which doesn't exist. It was like listening into an alternative timeline and hearing something you shouldn't. Yet, it was strangely compelling. Once I'd got my ear in, I was kind of hooked and dragged along for the ride. What an odd thing this is.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Lied von der belebenden wirkung des geldes, Bankenlied, The trenches

Just excellent.

En syret udgave af soundtracket til Cabaret sunget af Kate Bush klonet med en østtysk steroide-atlet . Vild oplevelse.

So weird, but in the best way possible. Can see why it would not be everyone's cup of tea.

This was a bit of a journey to search out for it, and was able to find it on YouTube. But this was a rewarding listen. Very weird and out there music at a time brimming with political turmoil and change in Germany. I really enjoyed this, and if it was easier to find these, I'd probably listen to the German version as well.

Very Berlin 1920. I can't figure out if I want to listen with a score, so I can really follow what is happening, or if I should just listen for the shape of the line. I also don't really know enough about Germany to fully understand the deeper meaning.

As basically everyone has written, it’s a pain to have to listen on YouTube, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I had zero expectations but I ended up kind of loving this!? If nothing else, this is so historically significant with the Eisler / Brecht combo and includes some great compositions and politically interesting lyrics. With that said, I do have a degree in German literature, so I may have a slightly higher tolerance for this, but give it a chance! Also, Bankenlied is an absolute BANGER.

The friction in resorting to Youtube to listen to Tank Battles: the Songs of Hanns Eisler is not as delicious as hoped, and accidentally switching halfway between English and German versions banjaxed me, but this record has impressed me: it’s an icy, slightly boozy flash of 20th century modernism that forces home the brutal clatter, aggressiveness and sardonicism of many of the movements and manifestos, a fit to the century's dizzying rush of social change, technological progress and broadcast horror. Appropriate testament to Eisler, who appears to have had a heartbreaking life of exile piled on betrayal piled on exile. I see that Dagmar Krause's voice is divisive - are the opinions split between "she's pretty great" to "she's a genius"? Her enunciations punch, tickle, keen and beguile, even when I have no idea what she's singing about. This is music as cinema - it demands attention, so I may never return to it - this busy life we have! But I am grateful for being brought to this record. Time for a coffee Brecht.

This was a bit of a sharp - ahem - left turn for a Monday morning. I found it hard going in places, but it was interesting to listen to songs where the lyric is the key. The voice does what it needs to do, and that is not always easy. This feels like no-frills music that nobody makes any more. I am not sure I would play this often, but more like this, please.

i found this a fascinating listen. it's clearly something i would have not ever listened to, or even found out about. i could barely even find a copy of this album to listen to, but thanks to youtube, i was able to find it. i found myself really intrigued by the music. obviously a little challenging but reminds me a lot of other similarly european torch-music-esque stuff, like edith piaf. what i found most fascinating was taking the time to read about the composer of all the songs, hanns eisler, who was exiled from nazi germany to come to the united states, where he was once again facing persecution from HUAC. this music really put this into context for me. seems like a very fascinating person and wrote very interesting music. will i go out of my way to listen to this one again? probably not. am i happy to have listened to something that exposed me to something i ordinarily would not have with an interesting backstory? absolutely

Randomly picked this up on vinyl as it intrigued me. Very eclectic.

Maybe the only album with “fennec” in the lyrics

Fascinating instrument work and the Weimar style is very interesting. The voice doesn't work for me after half a song. In spite of musical accompaniment that could be a lighter tone, the gravity of her vocal styling hefts the tone down.

What a surprise to hear Operatic music. Great unusual vocals. Great composition by German composer by Hans Eisler. Great album title as well. Quite a late discovery for me.

Couldn't listen

Oh, I have several albums on which Dagmar Krause appears - but I've never listened to this, nor have I even heard of it! The album consists of renditions of songs composed by Hanns Eisler, for a time an associate of Brecht, and who had something of an eventful life it seems. The album itself it pretty much as you might expect. I couldn't find it on my streaming platform (Qobuz) and had to play it on YouTube Music. I think this is a pretty worthy album, but it's not one that I'd really play very often! I was wondering what the German language version (Panzerschlacht: Die Lieder von Hanns Eisler) would come across like.

Interesting - we likee

Never heard of this. Had to track it down on some cobbled together little YouTube setlist, so the 1-2 ads for lawn care products every couple songs affected the flow and immersion. I’m conflicted. I greatly appreciated the chance to peek into this weird little niche, and I think the execution was quite good. I respect the hell out of their passion and their creation of something highly unique. That said, I couldn’t wait for it to end and I will never listen to again. That said, I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. That said, if I do forget it maybe I’ll accidentally listen to it again. That said, I’m going for a beer, I’ll debate this more later. Or, that said, maybe I won’t.

This wasn't objectionable to listen to. A little weird, and not something I'll ever be in the mood to listen to again, but I'm glad it's out there. It's unfortunate that the Wikipedia article is so thin and I had to go on a scavenger hunt to find out the pretty interesting history of the music and composer. ⭐⭐.51

6/15/26. Perhaps one of the more unique and avant-garde albums I've listened to so far. Really great vocals that warrants another dedicated listen.

интересно необычно как для спектакля какого-то

It was ok

Not at all what I expected when I saw the genre listed as jazz. But it wasn't boring!

Very haunting, but incredibly interesting. It has a strangeness that makes me want to understand it more.

Context helped a lot here lol. interesting concept and great performance 3+

I had a fairly interesting experience listening to 'tank battles.' Atmosphere of theater, tension, drama, avant-garde touches. I won't listen to it a second time, but it's definitely worth checking out

Dagmar Krause has a beautiful voice, and it does fit in with the grand style of this music. Wikipedia says this is cabaret, and that sounds about right. It was interesting, certainly different.

I honestly don't know what to think. Liked it for a few songs, but then it lost it's magic.

This album gets a bad rap on this site, but I enjoyed it! I think I would've preferred something from one of Dagmar's bands, be it Slapp Happy or Henry Cow, over this. As it is, though, I'm glad they have this here if for nothing else than to represent the pre-war/inter-war period of German cabaret & art song that's on display here. There are some really powerful compositions in here, and also some really funny ones like the one about being rejected from rat society for not eating enough garbage. All the complaints on this site about "theatre kid energy" are missing the point HARD, since this is, in fact, an album of actual Brecht-Eisler compositions from the early to mid 20th century. Also, Dagmar Krause as a theatre kid would be terrifying and awesome. Where are our revolutionary communist theatre kids at?

Insane album. Best enjoyed as if you are watching a bunch of variety singers come up one after the other. Was nice to see what her voice can do but this is one of those incredibly niche productions that is not for me.

Didn't mind it.

So, this was not on spotify. I had to listen to the album on youtube with ad breaks inbetween songs. Undoable. I read up on the album and on Dagmar Krause. Listened to some of her other work as well. No doubt she is a fascinating artist and this is an interesting album. Does it warrant a place in the 1001 albums list? Unlikely, but you can’t have Ziggy Stardust every day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbYmWrfNJpQ

Completely new to me; very different. Found it on YouTube. It's not really my thing, but I'm not going to scoff: it's in the fabulous tradition of cabaret, theatre and even circus, and it even reminded me a bit of Evita here and there. If I had to complain, it's difficult to judge as an album, because there are many different composers. Not unenjoyable.

Not really my thing but I respect it. There is more artistry here than some of the shit on this list.

Going to admit that it was difficult to assess this record. I could only find a series of videos on YouTube, which meant I needed to check for the song titles. Shame on me: I failed to seek out the names in my two listens. One other failure on my part was not listening close enough to understand if there was a theme to "Tank Battles." I assumed that the title and her German background meant some sort of commentary on war, but I cannot cite a lyric to point in any direction. My simplistic take is that the album echoes the German cabaret singers as well as Marianne Faithful's updated version of that style from "Broken English." Unlike that record, I did not hear anything too radical in Krause's take on the traditional approach. Her voice had enough gravel in it, and the music itself had the swing menace, or menacing swing of the Brecht-Weill catalog. My apologies, Fraulein Krause.

It's fine.

it's strange but it's not classic rock and I kinda like the vibe as a whole

At first, I was like "oh this is kinda chill" because it reminds me of the soundtrack to my favorite anime, Attack on Titan. But after awhile, it just got repetitive and grating. I feel like fewer songs that are longer and more complex would be more interesting than these 20 something 30-60 second songs. She has a cool voice though

Unavailable on Apple Music

Album pas trouvé Babble

Impossible to 'rate' - one is not sure if you're rating Krause herself, Eisler-Brecht, or the instrumental backing - Tank Battles isn't so much acquired taste as it is a submission to a history lesson. There's nothing to get used to here: no one, I imagine, listens to this 'genre' on a regular basis. So the question becomes: what do you do w/ a record like it? Krause's vocals are impressive but not particularly memorable, there is a gathering sense of atmospherics, but I'm not immersed in a world, I understand the desire for historical interpretation, but I'm not thoroughly moved. Knowing that the album arrived a year before the Berlin Wall fell does add an interesting wrinkle, tho that makes me want to read more Brecht. As for Krause - meh.

Ok its different and powerful kind of scary and yet beautiful.

Theatrical and dramatic. Interesting. Good for a one-off listen but I won't be revisiting it. Three stars. Side A 1 "Song of the Whitewash" (3/5) 2 "(I Read About) Tank Battles" (3/5) 3 "You Have to Pay" (3/5) 4 "Chanson Allemande" (3/5) 5 "Ballad of the Sackslingers" (3/5) 6 "Mother Beimlein" (3/5) 7 "The Perhaps Song" (3/5) 8 "The Rat Men – Nightmare" (3/5) 9 "Mankind" (3/5) 10 "Bettellied" (3/5) 11 "Song of a German Mother" (3/5) 12 "Change the World – It Needs It" (3/5) Side B 1 "Bankenlied" (3/5) 2 "Failure in Loving" (3/5) 3 "Und Endlich Stirbt" (3/5) 4 "Ballad of (Bourgeois) Welfare" (3/5) 5 "Mother's Hands" (3/5) 6 "Berlin 1919" (3/5) 7 "Genevieve: Ostern Ist ein Ball Sur Seine" (3/5) 8 "The Homecoming" (3/5) 9 "The Trenches" (3/5) 10 "To a Little Radio" (3/5) Total - 66 Average - 3 305/1001 166/305 albums reviewed were new to me

There's something about the songs that sounds rigid, like attending mass, but without any choreographed prayers, nor being led by a priest. A hippie mass performed by a woman in a suit. It has class, but at the same time it has no class at all.

It may be amazing. Although the reviews suggest otherwise… Sadly it’s not on Spotify, so it will remain something that I won’t have listened to before I die.

A reason why I adore concept albums is because some try to emulate this musical esque format and this album has that vibe super hard. MY favorite track was Mother Beimen.

Weimar-era art song has some enduring influence on contemporary music, but is this really the example you must hear? Serialist-inspired Marxist kabaret in English is pretty niche, as shown by the difficulty in finding this album online. 2.5⭐️

This one felt fringe all the way through. Difficult to find and a little hard to follow once I got into it. It feels a bit more like the soundtrack to a musical than a fully formed stand alone album but it does have something somewhat charming to it. Feels totally from a different time and really captures a specific vibe.

This is a fascinating one! I was wondering why this was seemingly never released in the US, until I got to "The Ballad of the Sackslingers." There's some really powerful tracks here, along with a few that don't work quite as well. Favorite track: "The Trenches," probably

Had to settle for a YouTube rip, which was the Voiceprint release that includes 10 tracks from the German version. Krause reminds me of a less theatrical Ute Lemper. I'm not familiar with Eisler as much as Weill, but this record may lead me to redressing that; there is definitely something I like about German Cabaret.

I don't really know what to make of this one. There's a lot of craft here but it doesn't really grab me.

It's giving "Sound of Music" but darker.

No Dagmar Krause albums available other than ‘Babble’ w/ Kevin Coyne. Overall it was good but I think Dagmar alone would be a cross between Susan Sarandon’s ‘Janet’ from RHPS and Ana Gasteyer’s Bobbi Mohan-Culp music teacher character.

Not bad, but this is added to the ever-growing list of how did this get added 1001 albums? ★★★

Whilst I’m not convinced this should be on a list of ‘pop’ albums- this feels very much in the classical tradition it is worthwhile. The arrangements are in turns traditional and hugely modern and her voice is challenging but haunting. Also songs about how the rich will lead people into war and about the rise of fascism feel quite timely

This was interesting. Certainly good to get something a little unique on this list, after a period of blandness with a gem few and far between. I like her voice, and reading about her other output (Henry Cow, Art Bears) I can imagine her stretching out further than on here (these are Hanns Eisler songs) Enjoyed this though. Annoyingly, had to listen via YouTube which is never great.

Sure, why not. Something entirely different to anything I've listened to before.

Love inclusions like this. A bit long, but interesting.

Rv

Pretty cool--I always liked Brecht songs and this is a nice collection. I'm not sure if it's essential though!

Very interesting, but I don't think I'd listen to it more than once.

Curious

what the hell is going on here, kinda cool to listen to the one time Will I listen to again: 0%

I’m really not sure how to rate and review this. This is a collection of pre-war German songs written by Hanns Eisler that were largely translated into English and recorded in the late 80s by Dagmar Krause for this recording. Eisler worked closely with Bertolt Brecht; both of them were banned by the Nazi party and went into exile, with Eisler ending up in the United States, where he later was blacklisted and deported by the House Un-American Activities Committee. This all feels very relevant at the moment. Musically, and I’m not an expert here, but this sounds a lot like how I’d imagine cabaret music to sound, and while that’s far out of my field of musical comfort, there were a few moments that I liked on an initial listen. Krause is an excellent singer, and the recording is nicely atmospheric and evocative with some avant garde flourishes to keep it from feeling overly anachronistic. Part of my listening to these 1001 albums is to hear things that I wouldn’t otherwise come across, and this very much fits into that, and I’m appreciative of it. I’m not sure this is something I would find myself frequently listening to, and that it’s not available on any streaming services means that this possibility is pretty much closed anyway, but it broadened my musical horizons.

what am I listening to? Kind of Kurt Weill... ah, right, Eisler: kind of.

Bizarre avant-garde

3/5

While I completely understand why people can’t stand this record I just find this to be one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever heard. Is it going anywhere near my all time favorite albums? No, absolutely the fuck not, but the avant garde musical style made its presence known to me. And when a record does that, it’s at the very least not something that I can call one of the worst albums of all time.

I have a soft spot for this kind of German cabaret music. Maybe it's because the songs by Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weill were popularized by Bowie, Scott Walker and likes. This also reminds me of Tom Waits also, which is not a bad thing at all.

What a bizarre and surprising record. And I mean that in a good way. It came out in 1988 but sounds like something from an imagined, dystopian future. Or past, maybe? Whatever. I can't work this record out at all - it's left me completely baffled, and that's great. Do I like it though? I really don't know. I think after a few listens, I'm either going to love it or hate it, which again, is a good thing. Certainly a record (and artist) I will be returning to.

An enjoyable listen of something quite unexpected. Not something I know much, if anything, about. A Brechtian kind of music hall performance? This is one of those things which when it pops up on the list I am keen not to read anything about before I listen to it and then plan to have a dive into just who is Dagmar Krause? It's not something which I will return to, perhaps ever, but glad I have listened

I can respect thsi as a reference to and for a specific culture, but I can't see how it should be on this list or how it touches or affects the larger musical landscape, unless maybe some composers and writers of musicals consider this a "hidden gem."

ciekawy experience ktorego nie powtorze.

(It's on YouTube if you're looking). Strangely compelling, cold war Marxist torch songs.

Putting this on the glad I heard it, get why it's on the list, won't be listening again category

I actually really enjoyed Dagmar Krause’s Tank Battles. I don’t know enough about German history or the genres she blends to understand it within it’s context but I enjoyed that it went to so many different places, had some very interesting rhythms and melodys and very arresting vocals Going high 3 on this surprisingly

Before: Here's something I have never heard. I have no idea what to expect. Based on the album cover, I'm guessing some kind on German opera? During: Was hard to find this but did find it on YouTube music, so I had to listen to ads. After : Well, that was interesting. I'll give it a 3.

This album needs a movie!

Not necessarily my thing but good for what it is. Remember that game Tanks on Wii Play?

listen im as big of a fan of the weimar republic as anyone but some things I wonder if they're best left in the past

Overall: 6/10 I don't understand why this is so hated. It's not a masterpiece by any means, but she has a nice voice and it's a good change of pace from the usual stuff we get from this list. I had a nice time with it. Fav Song: The Ballad of the Sackslingers

Hm. This is interesting. Absolutely BIZARRE album to have ended up on this list (like, seriously, WHY is it here...) but I'm kind of into it... I want to hear this woman sing to me some more, and the instrumentation here really is great. Glad to have been given a reason to listen

Quite revolutionary. This music isn't my cup of tea but sounded pioneering for its time (1979). Respect.

Interesting album. I think it deserves to be on this list based on the bizarreness of the whole concept alone. Some it is hard to listen to, but it gets extra points for its creativity and themes. 2.5/5.0: Mixed

Really interesting, kind of reminds me of Bjork on some tracks. I have never heard of her but I really liked it and would listen again. The music is different seems kind of theatrical but it's really good and I enjoyed it very much. It's really interesting that I can get exposed to music that I have never encountered or would not have given a chance even if it was available. These are the kind of albums that I look forward to hearing on this list.

this album was not on Spotify so checking it out on youtube...What is this a play? I'm liking the German in it. I miss learning German. hmm it kinda grown on you.

This is a collection of songs written by Hans Eisler and sung by Dagmar Krause. Eisler was a long time associate of Brecht in Berlin in the 1920s and early 30s, and the subject matter is mostly working class life from a socialist perspective. Not surprisingly the Nazis hated it, and both Brecht and Eisler were forced into exile in 1933. I mostly enjoyed these songs, but the English versions sounded a bit stilted and I think I preferred the German language originals on Panzerschlacht: Die Lieder von Hanns Eisler. The YouTube playlist seems to have a mix of both.

Unfortunately not available, but rated 3 just to complete

Review - Now this is an interesting album I never would've listened to without this list. I like her voice, I like the vibe of the instrumentation and the history of looking into the composer. It's not an album I'd reach for on a regular basis though, and it's annoying I had to listen on YouTube Rating - 7/10 Need to hear? KINDA

Why not add something from Art Bears or Henry Cow at this point? This is a great album, but I really don't see how it deserves a place on this list.

Non c’era

Didn’t get to listen to the whole album but I listened to the club’s episode talking about it. Theatre musical and reminds me of the French policewomen in the Madagascar film that was going after the animals, even though the person was from Germany/Prague. Might give it a listen in the future.

Wonderfully bizarre, cheekily fun, and incredibly well sung. Not my usual cup of tea, but pretty good stuff for an auld kraut

Sort of found this on YouTube, as it's not available via Spotify. Sounds like German musical theater. She can sing, and there are orchestral flourishes, but it didn't really interest me.

Astonishing, not by any means an easy listen but I'm glad I've been exposed to it.

Feels unfair to rate when I had to listen to a disjointed YouTube playlist; half in English, half in German. I liked the concept of it.

I’m not sure what to make of this. A few interesting moments. The lyrics are interesting (no surprise, having been written by Bertolt Brecht). I might appreciate the music more if I were better versed in 20th century opera, but I didn’t find it that enjoyable.

Really not my thing

The cabaret style is going to be tough to stomach for a lot of people. I find it very interesting but since it's a style that I don't listen to, it's difficult to have a reference point to know if it's good or bad. Ultimately, it sounds like she is accomplishing the task she has set out to do and her voice sounds good. I can respect the effort.

I liked the German songs much better, but I guess an album full if German song would be too much for 1001 albums.

Proletarier aller Länder vereinigt euch. Hat sicher seinen Platz in der Zielgruppe, mir war es etwas zu sehr "Arbeitskampf"-Folklore und "20er Jahre"-Sound

Was war das? Interessante und teilweise verstörende Reise.

5/10

Quite entertaining, she has an incredibly distinct voice. I struggled by the end - could feel an attack of the jazz hands. I don't think I've ever listened to an album like it - I would again, but it doesn't take away the bizarre experience. Some songs felt like I was stuck down a well, and a lady and accordion were shouting at me from above.

You Have to Pay

I feel like I'm missing critical history or context that I can't find which explains why this album was included on this list. In the absence of that information, I don't feel I can rate it higher or lower than middle of the road.

I love a show tune, I took A-level German and I gave the Young Gods album four stars because I liked that there was an oompah/Kurt Weil-ish tinge to their industrial metal. So I feel like I should be the prime target for this but somehow I can’t see myself listening to it again.

Congrats on the Hat Trick, Prince!

German music that sounds like it comes from a showtunes future universe.

Nice album! My gen

Too bad this isn’t available on streaming services. I trotted over to YouTube and there it sits as a rather cumbersome listen if you have to suffer ads. I enjoyed its overt German-ness. It sounds like a pre-WWII cabaret. Some of the songs are super short, so as a new listener it is easily digestible but the project is, of course, entirely too long. Based on vibes alone, I feel like I’d come back to some of this if it were more readily available.

Despite spending my last highschool year as a musical theatre nerd (if I joined MT in grade 10, I would have been a WAY less miserable young man), I'm lukewarm on any musical I didn't grow up with. On the other hand, I have more time of day — at least in theory — for this sort of interstitial early-20th-century-vaudeville fusion that owes a tremendous amount to Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel and probably a German tradition I'm completely unaware of. I'm done with it, but it makes me want to watch WWII documentaries in an abiding desire to better understand a pivotal moment to our present world, and a mighty determiner in my family's history.

I listened to the 1994 re release with extra tracks. The sound quality was great, the energy and vocals were great. I think something like this belongs on the list, but I probably wouldn't seek it out again. I found it enjoyable, but my mind would often drift with the tracks not sounding that different. This would probably be better consumed with some sort of visual element.

The lyrics should not be English, and why each song is that short?

It's not terrible so far. Some interesting musical moments and lyrics of course. But it's not great. A bit worried. Only 9 minutes in a hour long record. I do enjoy her voice quit a bit i must say. 5 and 7 my favorite so far. 11 strong as well. First part is behind. Will come back later Okay I'm back. A weird German song to start the second half. It's hard to explain but this songs have an effect on you. Mother's Hands is special. The wise woman special as well. The rat man is crazy. This generator gives one the opportunity to listen to albums here would never hear about otherwise, for sure not listen to otherwise, and perhaps never listen to again. I was very skeptical about this one But it deserves a 2.5. It surprised me, made me think, and thrilled me almost all the way through. But I don't think I'm coming back to it soon;-). So it's 2.5 but a special one. Because I'm going to give it a 3. That's what I want to do and it's my life.

Kinda cool

Interesting but not for me (found on youtube, not in Spotify)

I feel like I'm listening to Cabaret lol. Dagmar Krause has a beautiful, expressive voice. It's not often that we get featured solo alto voices. Interesting songs: Chanson Allemande, The Perhaps Song, And I Shall Never See Again, The Trenches. Song of a German Mother was an extremely haunting and sad ballad. I was not expecting nor ready for the saxophone that showed up on The Homecoming, but it definitely added an interesting element to the song. I'd be curious to see what she sounds like in her groups Slapp Happy and Henry Cow.

A strange and interesting musical curio, the German language version of the album sounds better.

Interesting interpretation and story behind the songs. Touching, but didn't make me feel anything musically-wise other than respect for the singer and the composer.

I really don’t feel this style works as something simply to listen to. It’s theatrical and dramatic and cabaret style and needs to be experienced in that context. No doubting that her voice and the musicians are great but it’s not something I would ever choose to listen to out of context again. 2.5

This is the kind of stuff that I wanted to discover through this project. A beautiful orchestration with theatrically performed Marxist lyrics. Hell yeah! It helps that it was both harrowingly beautiful and emotionally touching throughout.

26.03.26 klo 10, toimisto, earpods, qobuz tän takia varmaan jäi haaste kesken. nyt taas korvat alkaa olla kondiksessa ja vastaanottavaisina. levyn innoittamana wikipedian kahluuta itäsaksasta, hanns eisleristä, schönbergistä yms. hyvä seikkailu!

This style of music inspired the musical Cabaret, which I genuinely like. I couldn't get into this album though. I think it'd work better with more full instrumentation or if I heard it live in a small venue. I also bet the German version of this album sounds better. It's almost there.

Holy hell this is weird. And I am here for it. I am not sure I would put this on my regular listen list or anything but I really love how off the wall this is. It's almost like what I would assume Klingon opera would actually sound like.

Fascinating. Fascinating...

I am reminded of Punishing Kiss which I first heard three years ago at album #55. Tank Battles is not something I would normally come across in my casual listening but I was engaged in the songs and the performances throughout.

26 songs by German composer Hanns Eisler sung by Krause in English. 80s Jazz. Very theatrical. Very strange.

Interesting.

Like it, not love it

Reviewed - 17th Oct 2025 The guy who said this is better than Let England Shake might be the smartest dude on here. Ah yep, their favourite album is Aja. Fucking legend.

I wouldn’t put this on again but I didn’t hate it. Felt like I was listening to a musical. Not sure what it was about though, definitely war?

im not sure if i know how to appreciate this

Passada a estranheza inicial de se estar diante de algo não convencional, comparado a música que estamos habituados a consumir, nos deparamos com belas canções magistralmente arranjadas e com interpretações poéticas (e até teatrais) de reconhecido mérito. Vale sim, conhecer, mesmo que não seja um daqueles discos que ouviríamos voluntariamente.

this is not music that i would choose to listen to in my own time but i can appreciate it for achieving what it clearly set out to do. kind of exhausting to listen to the way a lot of musical theatre is exhausting to listen to.

ok so that was kind of nuts...it wasn't bad but it was a bit too theatrical for me initially. once i let go of the expectation of it being a regular album and treated it like i was listening to a musical theater soundtrack, i was less irritated than at the start. certainly she is a talented vocalist and conveys a lot of emotion, but the only time i really registered the lyrics was when she was singing about germany and hitler in "song of a german mother". i'm sure most of this went over my head in terms of its cold war / german nationalist references besides the aforementioned explicit one. i think i just don't have the cultural knowledge to understand the significance of this album. betellied had bassoon in it and i liked that though.

This is a tough one. Not sure why it's on the list over some others, but that's going to be a common refrain from me over the next 400+ (fml) albums. I could only find 24 minutes of it on Youtube. I didn't hate it, and I thought it was kind of interesting. I could tell it was telling a pretty emotional story, but half of it was in German, so I couldn't follow. The song she sings to her son, who becomes the one kind of good Nazi (a dead Nazi) is pretty sad when putting yourself in her shoes. Overall, I thought it was fine and interesting. I'll never listen to it again, but it makes more sense as an "adventure" than yet another Frank fucking Sinatra album, or a tenth David Bowie.

Drôle d'album, je vais lui donner ça. Je suis pas fan des pièces «Music Hall», mais j'apprécie le storytelling derrière

Not found.

Interesting.

Got halfway through but I really need this on streaming or on local download so I’ll edit this if I feel different, but I like the lyrics and subject matter a lot, the presentation got me excited cus it looks all Metal Gear, but it’s a tad bit too theatre for me.

Honestly it was fine but it was just SO LONG

It's funny that this is even in the book. Not available on most streaming platforms and doesn't come with loads of critical acclaim based on the Wiki article. I listened on YouTube with the odd toothpaste ad, and I'm not sure it's the right version because Wiki says this was recorded all in English, and there is some German singing. It was enough to get an idea however So anyway on the actual music, it's not my kind of thing at all and I really wanted to hate it, but do you know what? I didn't. The singing is good and there's a jolly bounce along to some of these songs, musical-theatre style. I didn't really follow what was going on but I'm guessing these songs were composed longer ago than 1988 as she's singing about Hitler and brownshirts at times. It's better than I thought though, in summary

Bueno, comenzamos este viaje visitando estos 1001 discos. Voy a hacer, si tengo paciencia y consistencia, una pequeña crítica de cada uno, solo para dejar mis pensamientos asociados a ellos. Creo que ya debo haber escuchado la mayoría, pero comenzamos con uno que no conozco. Siempre es injusto juzgar un disco desconocido, el trabajo de un artista, a partir de un par de escuchas, especialmente cuando uno no está familiarizado con el género que hace. Si conozco el trabajo de Dagmar Krause en el proyecto inglés alemán Slapp Happy. Esperaba encontrar algo similar a eso, pero nada que ver. Todo el disco parece haber sido compuesto por Hans Eisler con música de Bertold Brecht y tiene ese sonido cabaretero que mucho no conozco. Otro problema (mío) es que el disco tiene MUCHAS canciones (más de 20) y al no estar familiarizado termina sonándome todo muy parecido, con una producción similar en las canciones y la voz de Krause que tal vez no sea la indicada para el género (me suena muy aparatosa una alemana cantando en inglés para este tipo de música, como cuando escucho discos de la gran Nico, pero que parece aprovecharse de esto). Las últimas canciones del disco parecen ser más interesantes, en mi humilde opinión, que la primera parte. Algo que le puede interesar a alguien (si le muestro estas pequeñas revisiones a alguien más) es que este disco tiene músicos que participaron en Frank's Wild Years del enorme Tom Waits.

This reeks of Germanic classical music influence. It didn't wholly appeal to me but can see how it took the world by blitzkrieg.

Well there is most certainly an audience for this music. I'm not sure who it is, but some people really dig this stuff. Its weird, creative and avant-garde. Which.. is.. great? For Dagmar. Its really great for Dagmar. I'm glad she did this.. I guess. And now I know about it. And its basically broadway tunes, but not really.

Good singer. Probably good music, but I can't say that I enjoy it, particularly.

For the most part, I enjoyed this. The random YouTube playlist I found had songs in both English and German und die Lieder auf deutsch sind natürlich viel besser. Super interesting Wikipedia reads on both Dagmar Krause and Hanns Eisler as well.

I am not sophisticated enough to judge this beyond my personal level of enjoyment. But it's different... campy... theatrical? Apparently these are translated lyrics from a Weimar-era composer. As I listened more, I leaned into the theatrical vibe and rolled with it. Not bad but not one for regular rotation.

Given the poor rating and reviews I thought I'd hate this. I actually quite enjoyed it. I think a few people need to learn that decent music can be produced by people who are a) not men; and b) don't play rock.

The Pink Panzer.

i think you can break down the 1001 albums like this - obvious classics that would be weird if they weren't on the list - influential but not big albums - significant artists' entire discographies - small samplings of significant genres/subgenres - genuine oddball/left field shit that you would never possibly stumble across no matter how hard you tried this album is obviously in the final category, and one of only three or four on this list that falls into that category. through reading other people's reviews, i find a lot of people who really thought this list was only going to be things that fell into the first category and turn their nose up whenever they get outside of that comfort zone. i think it kind of defeats the whole purpose of this exercise, why bother committing yourself to listen to 1001+ albums if you're just expecting to find more of things you already know and like all this to say that this music is like a 7/10 for me. not my bag, not the best thing i ever heard, but not bad at all. however i would take it over the inexplicable 300 byrds or neil young albums on this list

I can't really tell if I actually like this or not. Its's certainly different, I can't imagine there's anything remotely close to this one the rest of the generator. It does appeal to me in a way though, Weimar Germany is fascinating to me and was the focus of my dissertation. It captures the uneasiness of the Weimar period. Song of a German Mother portrays the extreme division and tragedy of the period really well There are some quite jarring and odd moments though, for example Mother Beimleim is very strange I think saying I like or enjoy this album isn't right, but I do appreciate it. I think I would enjoy the German version more, I the German vocals were a bit more fitting and worked for me better I listened to the English version since that seems to be the version in the book. It's not a fault of the album but because of the short track lengths, I was constantly getting ads on YouTube ruining the flow and atmosphere Highlights: Lied von der Belebeden Wirkung des Geldes (The Song of the Invigorating Impact of Cash), The Ballad of the Slacksingers, Chanson Allemande

Та самая сложная эстрада, бытовавшая в Европе. Альбом нашел с трудом и в плохом качестве.

Good album if a little odd, nothing awful, just not quite my speed

Great voice!

As an American in 2025, I am living through Weimar Germany, I don’t need to listen to it. 🙃 truly this reminds mostly of the Original Broadway Cast recording of a Cameron Macintosh produced mega-musical like Les Miz or Cats. I think it’s the instrumentation and the production. And I half expect the to hear Colm Wilkinson singing about redemption. I feel like this is a hackier version of Cabaret or Oh! what a lovely war. It’s a stage musical without a stage.

To start with, for anyone having trouble find this album, try these links: Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbYmWrfNJpQ&t=1s Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwEqjE4D4iE "Tank Battles" sees Dagmar Krause bringing the music of composer Hanns Eisler into a modern context. This is going to take some researching... Krause is an avant garde German singer, who has played with a collection of bands you probably haven't heard of. The biggest claims to fame that I can identify are that Faust acted as the backing band for one of her projects called Slap Happy, and that she's done some work with and tributes to Robert Wyatt. She seems to have a strong interest in "Weimar-era cabaret". It is fair to say that Dagmar Krause is a niche act. What about Hanns Eisler? A socialist composer who was first exiled from Nazi Germany and then later kicked out of the United States by the House Unamerican Activities Committee who called him "the Karl Marx of music". Upon leaving the US, he said "I leave this country not without bitterness and infuriation. I could well understand it when in 1933 the Hitler bandits put a price on my head and drove me out. They were the evil of the period; I was proud at being driven out. But I feel heartbroken over being driven out of this beautiful country in this ridiculous way." He wrote the national anthem of East Germany and lots of lefty songs, and then fell into depression and alcoholism. It makes for a good story, albeit a sad one. So what to say about "Tank Music" as an album then? It's maybe a slightly interesting novelty record. If you like the musical Cabaret but wish it had less sex and more socialism, you'll probably enjoy it. Of all of the amazing German artists on this list, Dagmar Krause is one that I don't think really needed a spot on this list. But I'll give it a few points for being different.

Full album on YouTube

It feels like going to a college senior showcase for a (v talented but of course a little annoying) theater kid friend who is hyperfixated on Weimar Germany. The vocals are good, the compositions are energetic and interesting. Not what I'm into but glad to have given it a try.

ok, this is different. kind of bizarre and scary, but I respect it. I don't think I know of what cabaret music is outside of the Broadway musical, so this definitely helps give a sense of wtf it is from someone who composed this generations before.

Who doesn't enjoy some Cabaret every once in a while? They give you their charity with pious Christian prayers. They look after the unwed young mother, for they need every prole they can get. They'll also provide the coffin.... (when he dies). Proletarians! Don't fall for this swindle! They owe you more than you give. They owe you everything: The land, the mountains and the factories ..... They owe you happiness and life. Take what you fight for. Don't take their lies. Think about your class! And be tough!

Wow, credit to 1001 albums for picking an album I never would have picked out in a million years. A revival of 20s communist cabaret music from Weimar Germany was not expected. But did I like it? It's certainly the type of music I'm prone to convince myself I like when I don't, so I'm trying to be careful here. But yeah, this was cool. My Germanophile tendencies make this (I expect) a hot take. The vocals are a unique blend of intentionally grating and pretty. I found this stuff pretty interesting. Reading about it, it's got some intriguing aspects. Hans Eisler is a contemporary of Bertolt Brecht, who was notable as a poet (I find most of his work to be heavy-handed, but his writing on exile is quite good). Also 1920s Germany is an absolutely fascinating era to me (though the refusal of communists--like these writers--to collaborate with social democrats to prevent totalitarianism rankles). Anyway, I'm glad to have listened. 3 stars

I'm not really sure what to say about this album. It isn't for me, but I guess I understand its historical significance of trying to extend the reach of 1920s Wiemar music and can appreciate why it is on the list. But again, it's not bad - just not for me.

It's fine, don't know how I must hear this before I die but there's some cool stuff here

Very interesting record, quite inaccessible for some - probably. Still worth listening.

Här är det dramatik på hög nivå.

Not available to stream. not going looking

I was unfamiliar with Dagmar Krause, and as soon as this album began I thought "wow, holy Kurt Weill influence!" And then I learned that Krause was a known interpreter of Weill's music. This was an enjoyable discovery and a good listen.

I might have been prepped more for this since my father played piano as part of a cabaret duet that toured Germany in the 90s. I grew up on a lot of Marlene Dietrich and related acts, and I could understand the influence for the music. With that in mind, I actually found this oddly intriguing.

Ha, unusual, interesting, I guess. Great voice

Interesting, singing to songs composed more for a symphony? She's got a decent voice and the instrumentals are pretty strong. It's a completely different genre for me (for most people?) and I assume that's why it's on this list. I'm okay with that. I don't think I'm really coming back to it but thanks for the education and a not awful listening experience.

Weirdly interesting

Definitely not one of the worst albums in this list. There have been other albums with low ratings that I thought weren't bad, but at least I understood why they were rated so low. This album is fine.

I prefer Slapp Happy!

Interesting mix of more classical/folk compositions with some contemporary instrumentation included.

Weird and interesting and sad.

I'm not gonna listen to it again but it does NOT deserve all the hate it gets

Odd album, not bad. I dug the orchestra and the singer was interesting, but nothing really wowed me. Solid 3

Uhhh fair enough

Had a tough time finding (which was noted), I eventually found a Youtube upload, so I think I listened to the album. It was fine.

I'm conflicted. It's a weird album, but I can tell it's really clever. Does it make it enjoyable? Not really.

Interesting, made for decent background music. Not for casual listening, though.

I didn’t pay much attention while driving..but I could still get the world war ii theme, so it appeared not too bad for me? I like their simple yet dramatic arrangement. But there’re really nothing outstanding or memorable..2.5/5

i actually enjoyed this one a bit more than I thought I would. when I first queued it up, I thought "oh boy we got a slog to get through today", but Krause's unique vocal style actually stuck with me. She sounded really beautiful, and it was enjoyable to listen to. I do try to listen to music in other languages sometimes. My usual go to's are Spanish and Japanese, German usually doesn't make the cut. I thought it was really cool to hear some German songs mixed in with these English versions. I probably wouldn't seek this album out again to listen to... but I am very glad that it came our way.

One of my favorite parts of history is studying about what it was like to live through different eras for the common person, instead of what it was like for leaders and the decision-makers. This album is an excellent look into the lasting effects of all-out warfare on the home front and recovering from that, physically and psychologically. Keeps an ominous tone throughout, with some tracks being some of the most haunting songs we’ve had on the list. Probably won’t come back to this album, but I am glad I listened to it.

Huh, a lot of these lyrics seem a little too relevant living in 2025 America. "When I saw your arm raised high son, in a Hitler salute, I didn't know all those arms son would wither at the root." "When you told me our country was about to come into it's own, I didn't know all it would come to was ashes and blood". "The [money's] gone 10,000 times into foreign pockets. The board of management has fixed the return and is ready to give you yours. You get the soup and they get the [money]. The authoritarians, don't accept their lies my friends. They owe you more than they give you. Take what is yours, but don't take their lies". "They care for the pregnant women when they need a class to work". 2/5 for the music. 4/5 for the lyrics and subject matter.

Since the album on the list wasn't available from my streaming provider, I listened to another album of hers. Unfortunately, this says very little about the album listed, but I didn't like her voice. Therefore and out of ignorance 3/5

Bjork meets… Cabaret? Still better than yesterday’s Rolling Stones album.

J'espère avoir eu accès à la bonne version, j'ai écouté une vidéo de 58 minutes sur YouTube. Ça m'a paru un exercice de vulnérabilité, loin de la prouesse d'exécution, tout dans l'interprétation et la nuance. Arrangements très cinématographiques : on se sent transporté dans un film de Marlene Dietrich.

★★★⅙

Dramatic to the point of being confrontational, and unique among the list. "Bombastic" would be an appropriate description. I don't think I'll revisit, but I appreciate it as a kind of document. These songs are clearly difficult to sing and I think Krause has the chops for it. I don't necessarily enjoy most of the melodies, but I'm impressed by her performance. Not cacophonous or anything, but not an easy listen. I'll round up my score for at least being interesting. (I certainly couldn't pay attention to anything else while this was on.)

Interesting

I didn't listen to all of it, because listening to it on YouTube is a pain in the arse. I don't think it deserves to be one of the lowest rated albums of the website. I like her voice and the music behind it, but it got repetitive and is probably too long

wasnt available :(

**Dagmar Krause’s *Tank Battles: The Songs of Hanns Eisler*** is a bold reimagining of Weimar-era political cabaret, blending avant-garde experimentation with the biting socio-political commentary of composer Hanns Eisler. Released in 1988, the album revives Eisler’s collaborations with Bertolt Brecht and other writers, offering a haunting bridge between interwar Germany and Cold War anxieties. Krause’s gravelly, theatrical delivery and Greg Cohen’s meticulous production create a soundscape that is as challenging as it is historically significant. Below, we dissect the album’s lyrical depth, musical innovation, production choices, thematic weight, and enduring influence, alongside its strengths and limitations. --- ## **Lyrics: Political Satire and Human Tragedy** Eisler’s lyrics, often written with Brecht, are steeped in socialist critique, dark humor, and stark depictions of human suffering. Krause’s bilingual performances (English and German) amplify their urgency: - **War and Capitalism**: Tracks like *“(I Read About) Tank Battles”* [1][2] juxtapose militaristic imagery with grim irony, while *“Bankenlied”* (Bank Song) [1] lampoons financial institutions with Brechtian wit. - **Personal Anguish**: *“Song of a German Mother”* [1][2] captures a mother’s despair as her son enlists, reflecting the cyclical trauma of war. - **Surrealism and Absurdity**: *“The Rat Men-Nightmare”* [1] uses grotesque metaphors to critique societal decay, echoing Kafkaesque paranoia. The English translations, though faithful, occasionally dilute the visceral punch of the original German. Listeners note that Krause’s German renditions, such as *“Ich werde nicht mehr sehen”* [1], carry a raw emotionality lost in translation [1]. --- ## **Music: Cabaret, Jazz, and Avant-Garde** The album’s instrumentation mirrors Weimar-era cabaret while injecting modernist dissonance: - **Jazz and Chamber Music**: Piano, brass, and strings dominate, evoking 1920s Berlin nightclubs. *“The Song of the Whitewash”* [1][2] opens with a prancing piano motif reminiscent of Kurt Weill. - **Avant-Garde Textures**: Greg Cohen’s arrangements incorporate discordant guitars and anxious rhythms in *“The Trenches”* [1], mirroring the chaos of war. - **Theatricality**: Krause’s vocal delivery—alternately snarling, mournful, and sardonic—elevates the material. Her performance in *“Mother Beimlein”* [1] channels Brechtian alienation, distancing the listener to emphasize political messaging. However, the album’s 26 tracks (many under two minutes) create a fragmented listening experience. While this mirrors Eisler’s episodic style, critics argue it disrupts momentum, making the album feel “more like a playlist of vignettes” [1]. --- ## **Production: Nostalgia and Modernity** Cohen’s production balances period authenticity with 1980s studio techniques: - **Acoustic Warmth**: Live instrumentation (accordion, clarinet, upright bass) evokes pre-war cabaret. *“Ballade von der belebenden Wirkung des Geldes”* [1] benefits from lush, jazzy arrangements. - **80s Stylings**: Subtle chorused guitars in *“Berlin 1919”* [1] nod to post-punk, creating a bridge between eras. - **Vocal Clarity**: Krause’s voice—described as “a cross between Nico and a Weimar-era siren” [1]—is foregrounded, emphasizing lyrical potency. The 1994 reissue added 10 German-language tracks from *Panzerschlacht* [2], enriching the album’s cultural context but exacerbating its already daunting length. --- ## **Themes: Echoes of Weimar and Cold War Tensions** Eisler’s work, written amid rising fascism, resonates with 1980s anxieties: - **Anti-Fascism**: Tracks like *“To a Little Radio”* [1] mourn the loss of intellectual freedom, mirroring East German censorship. - **Class Struggle**: *“You Have to Pay”* [1] critiques economic inequality, its message amplified by Krause’s snarling delivery. - **Existential Dread**: The album’s pervasive bleakness—e.g., *“And I Shall Never See Again”* [1]—reflects Eisler’s exile and disillusionment. Krause’s decision to record these songs in 1988, as the Berlin Wall crumbled, adds meta-commentary on Germany’s divided identity [1][2]. --- ## **Influence: Reviving Eisler’s Legacy** *Tank Battles* reintroduced Eisler to a new generation: - **Artistic Impact**: Sting repurposed *“The Secret Marriage”* for his 1987 album *...Nothing Like the Sun* [1], highlighting Eisler’s cross-genre appeal. - **Cabaret Revival**: Krause’s work influenced artists like Ute Lemper and post-punk acts embracing theatricality (e.g., Dead Can Dance [1]). - **Academic Interest**: The album spurred renewed scholarly attention to Eisler-Brecht collaborations, particularly their socialist critiques [2]. Yet, the album’s obscurity—largely absent from streaming platforms—limits its reach [1][2]. --- ## **Pros and Cons** | **Strengths** | **Weaknesses** | |---------------|----------------| | Krause’s virtuosic, genre-defying vocals [1][2] | Overwhelming tracklist disrupts cohesion [1] | | Historical significance of Eisler’s rediscovery [1][2] | Inaccessibility (limited streaming availability) [1][2] | | Cohen’s evocative, era-blending production [1][2] | English translations lack German’s emotional heft [1] | | Lyrical relevance to both Weimar and Cold War eras [1][2] | Niche appeal; alienating to mainstream listeners [1] | --- ## **Conclusion** *Tank Battles* is a demanding yet rewarding listen, marrying avant-garde audacity with historical preservation. Krause’s performances breathe new life into Eisler’s work, offering a visceral reminder of art’s power to confront oppression. While its fragmented structure and limited accessibility hinder broader appeal, the album remains essential for those interested in political music, Weimar culture, or vocal innovation. As one reviewer noted, it’s “a time capsule that refuses to stay buried” [1]—a testament to the enduring relevance of dissent.

It's very dramatic. And it's definitely an 'interesting' listen. It's like a soundtrack to a theatrical wartime production rather than a standalone album. I'm definitely not revisiting, but I kind of like that this is in the list. 2.5 rounded up.

For this review, I listened to the mostly English version of this album referred to as Tank Battles, as opposed to the full German version called Panzerschlacht. Alright, we have another difficult album to unpack on your hands. Strap yourselves in. Dagmar Krause is a German singer best known for her work in various art-rock groups like Slapp Happy, Henry Cow, and Art Bears. Alongside that venture, she had a fascination for cabaret music that came out of the Weimar era, a period of post-World War I Germany where the country suffered economic hardship and the rise of political extremism up to the point where fascism took over. In particular, Dagmar admired the works of playwright Bertolt Brecht and his musical collaborators Kurt Weill and Hanns Eisler. This interest was piqued to the point where she recorded two solo albums covering the compositions of Weill and Eisler. Tank Battles is the latter of those solo efforts, focused primarily on the works of Eisler. I will admit, cabaret music is not my forte here, where I can appreciate the elegance on display even if this is not what I normally seek out. It's apparent from the translated lyrics when this music was written, likely done in response to the political turmoil that Germany went through at the time. I can appreciate this perspective brought into the limelight when Germany was going through another tumultuous time with the separation of East and West by the Berlin Wall, and updated with newer instruments such as electric guitar. Also, I can tell this comes from a place of passion as Dagmar did her best to sell the emotion in her husky alto range that suits this music. Even if I can't fully connect to this music, and if I feel that Tank Battles is rather long, I don't regret listening to it. Instead, I can appreciate the historical significance preserved for the next generation from such a potent voice.

Mad Respect, but not for me.

January 16, 2025 HL: "(I Read About) the title track", "Ballade Von Der Belebenden Wirkung des Geldes", "Song of a German Mother", "Berlin 1919", "And I Shall Never See Again" I have a little context for this, as I had a professor in uni who often brought up Bertolt Brecht in theatre history. We'll see how this translates to a full listening experience I had written that Ute Lemper was the first cabaret-esque artist on this list; only true if you don't count Swordfishtrombones & Rain Dogs. Yet clearly I overestimated the amount of cabaret albums I would hear over the next two years. This is definitely one of the big wild cards of the project, so naturally it's among the lowest rated albums. The short runtime of many tracks forced an absurd comparison to grindcore band Napalm Death, who is right there next to Tank Battles in the lowest-rated. I particularly enjoyed the instrumentation, the mix of discordant guitars and quirky woodwinds providing a kind of surreality to the dark and political lyrics. The version I found online is the reissue, which contains more OG German versions of Eisler's songs. Songs like "And I Shall Never See Again"/""Ich werde nicht mehr sehen" sounded better in German, but I wasn't put off by the English lyrics either. Since many of the songs are fragmented, it was sometimes hard to concentrate on those song's structures, and I can see how a full hour of this can be too much. Since I did take theatre in university (and resultingly will soon have to start selling my organs), I accept that my tolerance for theatricalism in music may be higher than the average listener; for example, take the scratchy, sinister vocals in "Mother Beimlein". I think my own feelings fall around a 3.5/5, as once I got past the alienating songwriting of a different time and culture, I started to dig it.

The weirdest album I've ever heard in my life so far. It's got a jazzy vibe but the concept also is like dark and political too.

If Maria Von Trapp was unable to escape to Switzerland and forced to tour with the family and then gave all the kids a different instrument and immediately set out to record an album, this is probably what it would sound like. With that said, it is an important album and East Germany must have really sucked.

Tyska chansons, en självmotsägelse så klart men inte helt tokigt ... Trea

This seems quite powerful and intense and a bit like hard work.

This is bonkers. Why did they do an English version? I really don't know what to do with this album. I mean, it isn't boring. None of it is exactly likable; some songs are compelling and pretty interesting in their own way, but other songs are grating beyond reason. Am I glad I heard it? Kind of? One of those baffling albums that is simultaneously one star and five stars.

Marching tunes, Scott Walkerlike singing. Can't quite tell what it reminds me of. Every theatrical singing grandma reminds me of Pugacheva, but this time the nostalgic vibes are stronger, sounds a lot like older soviet music. Maybe it's the movies about WWII. Oh, maybe Bella Ciao? Either way, it's nice music. Wouldn't mind hearing it again

Noe spesiell, men interessant.

Olipa vituttavaa kuunnella, eli experiencestä puhutaan. Siitä respekt 3 star.

Interesting.. mini operas in German and English about interwar Germany … what could go wrong? Not much really it was surprisingly listenable but given I’m not fluent on German I’m not to sure I’d like to play this out loud in public… although reading about it it’s quite fine in terms of content.

very dramatic! Was very middle of the road, nothing to get you going but not much to hate either

Very thoughtful, the instrumental arrangements are intruiging, I do love the combinationg of the german military music elements and folk songs in this one. The structure is more like musical theater than pop music album? The songs are often too short to be a song but rather a fragment or a motif. 2.5-3, I didn't enjoy it much musically but I appreciate the concept.

The Sorrow and the Ditty* With respect, this is genuinely, crazily, bleak. Thanks to whoever uploaded the source material. It's not a suite of music I'm likely to seek out again, but I am glad to have made the effort to listen through it all. It's quite impressive in its scope. *Review headline if I were a sarcastic Melody Maker sub-editor (which, tbf, might have been a dream job)

Definitely one of the stranger, bizarre albums I've heard here so far. Quite a theatrical performance with a cabaret, show-tunes, avant-garde styling that transports you back to post WW1 Germany, sounding like a cross of Marlene Dietrich and a female Tom Waits. That accent and her incredible voice adds to the drama and over-the-top songs that is hard to ignore. I can't decide if I like or hate it. It was a challenging listen, but at least it got my attention and discovered this kind of music is still being recorded, at least in 1988.

OK.

I‘m having a hard time rating this. Historically it’s fascinating. Lyrically it’s moving. Musically it’s interesting. But an enjoyable listen it also really wasn’t.

Interesting album, and a wonderful voice. Not my usual jam, of course (are there people who's usual jam this is? 😅), but much better than its rating here.

Fav: Ballad Of The Sackslingers Least Fav: Mother Beimleim Had too many short songs that affected the pacing, but the lyrics and overall feel of life in Germany in and out of war was done very well. Flawed but worth the listen

This feels like one of those albums that’s on the list to represent its pre-album-era writers (Eisler/Brecht in this case) as much as its performer. Two birds with one stone and all that. I'll admit it: I can’t see a situation where I’d stick this album on again, if I’m being honest with myself. But I also don’t want to mark it harshly. Why? Because it’s something different from the normal fare, something a bit challenging. Because it doubles up as a lesson in early 20th century German social history. Because there’s some powerful, haunting songwriting, but also an absurdist vignette about rats. Because most of the tracks are short and to the point, not outstaying their welcome. Because ‘Ballad of (Bourgeois) Welfare’ is an absolute banger.

Can't find this on Spotify, but she looks cool.

"Tank Battles: The Songs of Hanns Eisler" is a solo album by German singer Dagmar Krause. The album is a collection of songs by German composer Hanns Eisler sung by Krause in English and German. Cabaret, jazz and avant-garde are the Wiki-genres. Eisler is best known for composing the national anthem of East Germany. "The Song of the White Wash" opens the album. Prancing piano, horns and strings. Very cabaret. "(I Read About) Tank Battles" is ominous with the horns and talks about war. Krause uses a haunting voice in "Mother Beimlein" as she describes a woman taking a guy home to her room. In "Song of a German Mother," a mother sees her son in an army uniform and realizes she'll never see him again. A melancholy piano carries "Mother's Hand." An ode to all mothers. An anxious piano and strings enhance the paranoia of "The Rat Men-Nightmare." I don't really want to know what this is about. "The Trenches" has marching drums and horns. Dramatic and as you can imagine, they've come to take him away to the trenches. This album plays like a musical or opera. Krause sings and talks as she tells stories of plagues, war, life during war and immigration to the US. Most of these songs come in between one and two minutes long and they are more painted scenes than stories, taking place in Berlin circa the 1920 to 1940's. That reminds me to catch up on the tv show "Babylon Berlin." Krause's strong and dramatic voice fits the music perfectly. Strong production and arrangments. If you're a fan of musicals, this album is for you.

Interesting, sounds like a musical. Couldn't listen to much as YouTube is ridiculous but I think it was interesting and I'll have to check out the rest sometime.

5.5/10

A lot of interesting folksy sound. A few of the songs were hard to make out, being more tales than full rhythms, but was enjoyable. Notable song: Ballad of the Sackslingers 3.8/5

This was at least interesting. Wish it was streaming somewhere other than YouTube but what can you do. Lots of gravitas and theatricality to it, honestly wished she had done it all in German, think it would've sounded better. If it was like 45 minutes long it would get a 4 but it's almost an hour and I'm tired of albums being uber long.

It’s totally fine, but it’s way less interesting than a lot of other weird albums with low ratings. Also it’s not on Spotify which is really annoying.