Tank Battles

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.

Interesting… I liked the orchestrations, the singing had kind of a haunting sound. It meshed together in a weird spooky way.

Pros: I laughed out loud within 10 seconds. Cons: Once you get over giggling at how stupid this album is, you realise you've still got 58 minutes of this dreadful person singing legitimately insane songs.

not on spotify

Aaack

I have no idea what the context for this is but it was kinda cool? German musical I guess?

Mad Respect, but not for me.

I poured a glass of schnapps, put on my smoking jacket, lit a Ernte 23 cigarette and listened to this on my vintage gramophone while in my sitting room. I came away a changed man. After listening to this album's 26(!) songs, I feel like I listened to the soundtrack for the fictional "Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp With Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden". Gratefully most of the songs were short.

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.

Not available on spotify

Dramatic soundtrack-like music about economy, struggle, and nationality sung by a mediocre German lady. This is a weird one. It might be okay paired with movie scenes but as a standalone is not enjoyable. Ballade von der belebenden Wirkung des Geldes is pretty at least. Und Endlich Stibt is also pretty good. This album was a bit over an hour of the same thing over and over, dragging. I couldn't wait for it to end.

Nice to get something different, even if I didn’t enjoy it. If this is the best German avent-garde has to offer then so be it. Sure this was an inspiration to Bjork which in itself is not a bad thing.

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.

The Song of the Whitewash 2.5 (I Read About) Tank Battles 2.6 You Have to Pay 2.4 Chanson Allemande 2.4 The Ballad of the Sackslingers 2.5 Mother Beimlein 2.2 The Perhaps Song 2.3 Lied von der Belebeden Wirkung des Geldes (The Song of the Invigorating Impact of Cash) 2.3 Mankind 2 Bettelied 2.1 Song of a German Mother 2 Change the World - It Needs It 2.2 Bankenlied (Banking Song) 2.3 Legende von der Entstehung des Buches Taoteking (Legend of the Origin of the Book of the Taote King) 2.1 Balad of (Bourgoise) Welfare 2 Mother's Hands 2 Berlin 1919 2.2 And I Shall Never See Again 2.1 Genevieve: Ostern ist Ein Ball sur Seine (Genevieve: Easter There is a Ball on the Seine) 2.1 The Wise Woman and the Soldier 2.3 Failure in Loving 2 Und Endlich Stirbt 2.3 The Rat Men 2.4 The Homecoming 2.2 The Trenches 2.7 To a Little Radio 2.2 Score: 2.246153846

This one is really rough. I’m down for music in a language I don’t understand, but the style, lack of availability on streamers, and length make this truly intolerable.

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.

Not on Spotify, so unable to listen :(

Non malvagio, anzi!

Vomit. German showtimes sung by a quavering imitation of better singers.

Interesting. Not something I'd listen to but glad it crossed my path.

I only listened to a bit of it but it’s not for me.

Eigenlijk 3 sterren maar dat kan ik niet over mijn hart strijken

I didn’t get it

Just, nah.

not really feeling it. maybe in another time and place. 2 stars for the slight historical interest.

Hmmm. Thought Dagmar was a male name so first surprise there. Dark and ominous, Deutschy , war torn, political, and melancholy. Certainly different than the norm, I get why it made the 1001 List; the proletariat struggle (1 pfennig for me / 1 Mark for them) songs like Ballad Of The Sackslingers, Song Of A German Mother, Ballad Of Welfare, etc. Very glad the songs are short! Zwei punct drei (2.3*s)

The album name and artist sounded promising but WOW was I in for a twist. This felt like a blind person at a really hokey German play (I hate theater, I would have rather been deaf). Parts of it sounded like bad polka, most of it was really annoying, I just wanted it to end. "Mother Beimleim" successfully freaked me out, it was like the witch from Hansel & Gretel got drunk. I also hated the one where she sang about "Too Much Coffee" and "Sackslingers." Nothing redeemed this, I don't know why it's on the list. Please don't even explain it to me, sling this sack right off a bridge. 0.60

Another odd one from the list. Sounds like a German stage play from post WWI and the rise of Hitler. Not something I would ever intentionally seek out so I thank the list for providing me the obscurity. I will not be playing this again or delving further into other works however...0.78.

What did I just listen to? I thought this might be a joke or an incorrect posting on YouTube when I first turned Tank Battles on. Nope. It was in fact nearly an hour of a German woman singing/speaking translated lullabies or fight songs or tall tales from post-war battles or something? There were occasional chuckles at some of the ridiculousness of the whole thing but overall this was rough to get through. I feel I had no reason I had to hear this before I died but maybe there is some other external reason the editors felt this belonged on the list. 1.03 stars

WTF did i just listen to. not my thing at all.

This felt like listening to Abba in a fever dream at the beginning. then it changed to german

This is like the closest to the Shaggs I've ever heard from a "real" musician. 1/10

Feel like pure shit, wish I was listening to [any album from the Rock in Opposition movement, including but not limited to Henry Cow, Slapp Happy and Art Bears] instead.

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

Definitely interesting. Sounds like the music from a WWII themed musical. Not the easiest listen but wasn’t horrible. 2/5 Probably won’t listen again

It sounded like music from German dinner theater....

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

Can't find

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

I am 15 songs deep but I already know that I won't change my mind and I need this opportunity to vent my emotions in order to be able to finish this album. This is one of the only times I have ever felt tense listening to music. I have not been able to relax a single time since I put this album on. This is genuinely one of the worst sounding pieces of music I have ever heard in my life. I despise this album. As of the time I am writing this, I am quite a few albums behind what has yet been generated but I know, if this album is the first album I had waiting for me after a long hiatus, I would probably have quit completely. If this was the first album in the project, I would have quit. This is aggressively horrible. Not a single moment of joy, not a morsel, no, not a single note sits right. Her singing is dissonant many times throughout the album and I am not sure she knows what being on key is to begin with. I genuinely expected that writing this review midway through would feel cathartic in some way but it has only served to exasperate my discomfort, as it has made me become e ven more aware of the horrors currently playing. As my response to some of the global reviews, I have to conclude mine with this: In many cases, when I have read global (or group) reviews that talk about what song they thought was their favourite, I am often so inclined to go back to check which song that specifically was; to see if I agree with them. Not this time. I refuse to even as much as open the tab from which YouTube is playing the music, for fear of learning the names and exposing myself to more elements of this album than necessary. There are but two more words that I can use to describe the feeling inside me as I near the final songs of this album. Fuck you.

Like a shitty, badly sung musical. Why is this here?

You have to be a truly sick, twisted human being to give this album a 5. 2/10

2/5

This sounds like the music for an overly earnest regional arts theatre group.

Noe spesiell, men interessant.

Das ist langweilig.

Reminds me of the Ute Lemper record this site also recommended. A lot weirder/more dramatic. This feels like the soundtrack to a really underground off broadway musical. Super theatrical but really odd arrangements and tones. Not bad but I'd never choose to listen to it.

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

This was a real chore to get through, and not just because I had to find a playlist on YouTube and sit through a bunch of ads for insurance. I bet that guy in The Divine Comedy loves this shit, though, if that tells you anything.

好像軍歌融合特別的樂器，很莊重的感覺。不是特別吸引我的專輯。

I'm not going to pretend I listened to all of this, because I could only find it on YouTube and no-one's got time for that. What I did listen to wasn't bad, per se, but it was very fucking weird.

Dagmar Krause is the operatic German Björk. Krause has a lovelier voice than Björk and isn't quite as weird, at least. But I found myself dissociating until the end of the album because Tank Battles was a lot of the same thing over and over. Low 2, but better than Björk, which counts for a lot from me.

Well this was something else. Dagmar Krause has a good enough voice, but this album is just a lot to make it through. The German language and the cabaret style of music did give me fond memories of seeing "Cabaret", but then it just made me wish I was listening to "Cabaret" instead. Anyway, Krause's compelling singing despite iffy material encouraged me to give this a 2 instead of a 1.

This is so far outside my wheelhouse I don't know where to start. I gave it a chance, but it does nothing for me. Good for you if you enjoy it, I just can't fathom how it made the list

Not available on Spotify - what a relief! I loathe avant garde.

This was weird and not in a way I enjoyed.

Wtf

Another one that can't be found on Spotify. The cover gave me a bit of Ute Lemper vibes, so was a bit sceptical coming in. This hit all the wrong spots for me unfortunately. A german composer (Hanns Eisler) writing an album about tank battles in the late 80s, it just feels so... dated and prehistoric? Granted, it was during the cold war, but still... felt like something that may have been fresh during the 30s, but late 80s? Come on. Not my thing at all, stopped half-way through.

This sounded like something from a musical. A disjointed collections of songs that were like off-brand Sondheim, Cabaret or the three penny opera. Maybe I would have like it more if there was some sort of red thread running through but it really just felt like a disjointed mess. The singer is clearly talented and the orchestra too but I just found it annoying. I was thinking it wasn't to bad after I thought I finished only to come to the dreaded realisation that there was another half to go. That amount off disinterest of having to listen more to it firmly places it in the one star category,

Take Cabaret but make it oppressing as fuck. 1* Sometimes you wish you could time travel to see what life was like (in this case to 1920s Germany), but this wasn't it. Did I need to listen to it before dying? No, but it is definitely unique.

Apparently my ill advised semester of German I took in high school left me unprepared for this. Its very dramatic and strange she has a good voice I guess but I'm just not sure what to do with this.

Found half of this on YouTube. Difficult to find, in German and it’s theatrical- holy trinity of shite

Listened a bit... Only in youtube

The singer is very talented with precise vocals and great instrumentation backup, so I have to give it cred - it's just a weird album because it's (intentionally) like 1920s Berlin. So, picture that and you'll get a good sense of what this album is like.

Just horrible

German Beerhall style Broadway musical influenced music just isn't a genre I'm especially interested in.

could not listen to it

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.

Not my thing

Weird and boring, which is an unusual combination. Exists on a YouTube playlist, so the adverts were an occasional relief. Not the wurst album by a German artist (still Nico), but not one I will come back to any time soon.

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)

I don’t get it

I've been behind on albums this week, and the only good thing about this one was I didn't have to listen to all of it because it's pure shit.

What is this? Possibly a failed rock opera? Soundtrack to a weird musical? It’s bizarre. I didn’t hate it but didn’t like it much either.

I already hate this

Meh.

OK

This album gives people a glimpse into a composer - Hanns Eisler - who not even many (West-)Germans know these days. It's a bombastic arrangement combined with the texts of a name most Germans recognize - Brecht - but few who know many of his words either. This is all about class conflict. Again, do people know? Now, the music is great and Dagmar Krause does a good job singing them. That goes for the German versions. The English songs have the problem of yet another German who can't escape their accents.

I'm completely baffled by why this album is on here. There are so many albums that could have been on here but this got on? Why? It isn't good and has no impact on anything. Just a bunch of old-timey German songs. Not even interesting ones....

This was hard to track down, and when I did I am not even sure it was the right album or playlist. Also, this was bonkers. I'll almost consider it a day off from the list. No idea why it's there to begin with.

It wasn’t worth the effort to find somewhere other a streaming platform….

Not for me

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.

Not on Spotify

Naur. 2.5/5

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

Ugh, sounds like music from a musical which isn't anything that interests me. +1 for very, very short songs and another +1 for being something truly unique on this list. 2/5

Nope. Absolutely not my tempo.

Critics can sincerely go fuck themselves

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.

Not worth the effort it took to chase it.

Wtf

Nice to learn about Eisler, but seriously what the fuck is this?

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.

I found it here. https://youtu.be/JbYmWrfNJpQ?si=OZ_S-_B36uE4XGlW It’s … not good. Not good. I’m not going to criticise the lyrics. Idiom is a thing that renders a lot of translated lyrics problematic. The arrangements and performance though. Hectoring tuneless yelling over arrangements that seem more in place in a 1980s Italian comedy. Unpleasant and inessential. 0.5. Yeesh.

Why 5? For on album I cant find? And what is this niche called “Cabaret, jazz, avant-garde”? Its music from the 1920s! The 5 is for the genre - salty dark/light style of Deutsche serious fun - its poetic dramatic themes, time, and place. I am happy and a bit surprised to find it here (and that my beloved Ute Lemper’s album is also on the 1001 list at some point!) So, the album is too hard to find. So if you really want a taster, I include suggested samplers below so you can “taste” this salty dark/light style of Deutsche serious fun. Can i do that? I do. A hugely influential genre, and very special style - I call it Kabarat - the “Weimar Republic era” in 30’s Germany - songs from dramatic plays in what one might all very progressive times, and works such as The Threepenny Opera, or Brecht-Weill's "sung ballet" The Seven Deadly Sins. We are deep in Brecht / Weill / Eisler territory and its harsher, heavier and more demanding but truer in German. Its not just music for femme fatales to sing as cameos in WWII films, across the 20th century, everyone from Louis Armistorng, Lou Reed, Nick Cave,Tom Waits, and Mariane Faithful got together to do cover versions of this stuff. The current ‘pure’ singers is Ute Lemper - superb - seen live: her voice cuts you. Robyn Archer is apparently good. There is also an opera singer who does Kurt Weill - Teresa Stratas . The core singers originally were Lotte Lenya - the original (she married Weill) Marlene Deitrecih (yes), And somewhere this Dagmar Krause inthe 80s?. P.s. This entry was supposed to be about this album you just cant find it streaming on the main two - Spotify and YoutubeMusic, except as playlists) Tank Battles (1994) reissued covers both the nelgihs and german versions (Tank Battles: The Songs of Hanns Eisler by Dagmar Krause 1988. & Panzerschlacht: Die Lieder von Hanns Eisler. Sung in GERMAN Meanwhile.... Recommended showcase albums ALBUM: “Punishing Kiss” - Ute Lemper (2000) - NOTE: this is elsewhere on the 1001 list (2010 version) Compilation” Lost In The Stars: The Music Of Kurt Weill - various artists (1985) (includes Dagmar Krause - “Surabaya Johnny” ( very good audio) . Film & CD & DVD: “”September Songs – The Music of Kurt Weill” (1994) (there is a 2015 DVD) - documentary + all star performances A weird but flawlessly done one - by industrial band from Zurich The Young Gods Play Kurt Weill (1991) Go hear Mack the Knife - Nick Cave Then listen to the The Louis Armstrong & Bobby Darin versions Alabama Song (whisky Bar) - the doors (166 on their debut album) . “Moon of Alabama (good Quality Audio)” - Lotte Leny (1930s recording I presume) Bilbao song Pirate Jenny, After all of this, the Hollywood version of CHICAGO might seem vanilla. Maybe try the older versions....

What is this doing on the list? Weimar-era art song has some enduring influence on contemporary music, but is _this_ really the example you must hear? Serialist-inspired agitprop kabaret from the second-most important song composer of the period is pretty niche, as shown by the difficulty in finding this album online. It's quite a tribute to Hanns Eisler (who, let's face it, was hardly Brecht's best known collaborator) and this is surely the definitive recording of this material. I am sure it was enthusiastically received by the 87 people who bought it on first release. I am stunned that a major record label poured as much money and effort into this record in the first place. It is, to give it all due credit, wonderfully arranged, performed and recorded. This was not an inexpensive undertaking. Dagmar Krause has a really great voice for this type of thing. But how the hell did anyone at Island Records ever think this would recoup budget? I hope that the exec responsible found other gainful employment after their inevitable firing. I found if I settled in and let it wash over me, I could listen to this record. It's OK, you know? But including it on the list of 1001 must-hear albums is either willful perversion or hubristic pretension. Not for the first time, I implore Robert Dimery to pull his head out of his arse.

#373. This wasn't on Spotify, so I had to go find it on YouTube, which is terrible because I had YouTube and all their incessant ads. Anyway I skimmed through a bit on the first few songs, and then just noped on out of there. I don't know what this is, but you can miss me with that shit. 1/5: nah, dog Song added to playlist: None at all, it isn't on Spotify I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

2.5

Niet mijn ding, misschien voor meer klassieke muziek liefhebbers

This has been on our list for almost exactly two years (it's not on Spotify) and we built up a perception of this from the name, but we were completely wrong! There's a great theatricality to it and we thought it was a lot of fun. Probably not something we'd listen to often, but it was a great experience and felt a lot more original than many of the 1,001 album offerings.

The kind of thing one would like if one liked this kind of thing. Certainly this would belong on some lists of 1,001 albums; but does not belong on this one. N/A would be the appropriate rating here. And who TF decided to classify this as jazz?

"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.

1.5

So, this isn't available on streaming, so I'm relying on a Youtube playlist. Uhh... this is a musical? At least it sounds like it. To what I understand (reading Wikipedia), this is a late-80's take on songs written some time before, which is reflective in the tunes. Is it good? Is it recommended? I don't know. I'm definitely not the target audience for this. You mention German music and I go to Teutonic thrash right away - Kreator, Sodom, Destruction, a little Tankard. It's not bad, to be sure, just not my kind of listening.

Sounds like showtunes. Not my thing. Vocals and instrumentation is performed quite well though.

Nope.

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.

Hä?

5.5/10

Tank Battles is certainly weird, but it has a compelling aspect to it that I think is very much more about the style than the substance or the music itself. Must-listen? Doubtful, but as a curiosity it's at least interesting, no higher than a 2, not good, not bad, just...weird.

Didn't particularly enjoy this, to be honest. Experimental, lightweight, not a lot to it really. Sounds like a weird musical, and not a good one. 2/5.

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 is definitely very German. She has a decent voice but not sure this belongs on this list.

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.

not available on Apple Music but found few tracks on Youtube. weird, showtunes/cabaret music. why, why, why is this on list????

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.

Her voice is good but I am not one for this type of music. Play music is not my thang.

i couldn’t even finish it </3

Interesting.

Like walking into a smoky Berlin cabaret bar… but like on a Tuesday or something. The songwriting is pure Brechtian strangeness and the orchestration is quite adventurous in places, but Krause’s performance is often restrained and bland, and clashes with the intense theatricality of the songs. This was a rare did not finish for me, though to be fair that was mainly because the album was only available on YouTube and I couldn’t stand hearing that fucking Tina Fey booking.com advert again

strange, cabaret, theatre-like

Utter pish

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.

I'm not even sure what to say about this one. On one hand, I didn't enjoy listening to it. On the other hand, this is the type of thing I would have thought there would be more of in the book, and I appreciated it for that.

Just admit you're a lazyass if you're giving it a low rating over it not being on spotify. Very stylish and classy.

You into old German musicals? This is your album. Me… not so much.

Wow, this was an unexpected album to show on the list. Learnt some history and listened to some interesting songs, but ultimately this is not something I enjoyed.

Wild theatre-kid energy

Honestly when I first started this album I was like, what the heck is this. But as I listened longer I kind of got into it. Her vocals are awesome, the music was cool. I'm not sure I'd ever be in a mood to jam out to this, but it was a great listen.

Not my taste. At all. Wondering what qualifies it to be on the list?

How do you even start reviewing and scoring this cabaret-style output? It's obviously representative of a different songwriting tradition than the vast majority of albums on here, which are all, in some way, popular music. Dagmar Krause delivers a distinct, emotional vocal, which suits the play-like compositions perfectly. Perhaps it would work better if there was some visual aids accompanying it - like a theater stage? Ultimately, the thing dragging Tank Battles down is the inclusion of too many 1-1.5 minute tracks that are basically just intermezzi, but really damages the flow of the record and make it quite clear, that this really isn't an album at its' core.

I have come a conclusion that Tank Battles doesn’t really fit this list. I just don’t get, why everyone would need to sit through this cabaret-style record in their lifetime. When that it said, I was strangely compelled by Krause’s emotional vocals and, at least to some extent, the storytelling as well. You can hear in the delivering alone, that this is an important album - maybe only to Krause, maybe because of its themes, maybe to a lot of people understanding this slightly better than I do. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. So I’ll finish this review now, before I change my mind and hand it 2 stars.

Tank Battles offers a unique blend of avant-garde cabaret, political folk, and classical music. Dagmar Krause takes on the compositions of Hanns Eisler, whose work was rooted in protest and resistance. Her intense, theatrical delivery suits the stark, socially charged lyrics, while Greg Cohen’s sharp production brings out the tension in these minimalist, cabaret-like arrangements. The musicianship is flawless, adding depth to an already weighty album. The historical relevance of Tank Battles is undeniable. The universal themes of war, oppression, and resistance still resonate, and its rarity gives the album a special allure. For this reason it fully deserves its place in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Krause brings immense gravitas and theatricality to these tracks, making the material feel both urgent and timeless. That said, the album’s length—26 tracks in total—can make it feel overwhelming. Even with many short compositions, the experience is a bit long-winded. Krause’s teutonic vocal delivery, while powerful, can also be jarring for some listeners, coming across as more confrontational than melodic. This starkness makes the album feel more like a political statement than a traditional listening experience. In the right setting, Tank Battles can be gripping and eye-opening, but it’s not a go-to album for casual or repeated listens. Despite its impressive achievements, this is more of an album you appreciate for its impact rather than one you turn to for musical enjoyment. While it’s certainly thought-provoking and historically important, it’s not an album I find myself eager to revisit any time soon. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? if the aim is to include a multitude of genres and eras then yes Would this release make my personal list? doubtful Will I be listening to it again? rarely

Not for me.This was one that I just needed to get through to get ticked off the list

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

Ret meget et wtf moment, men jeg synes det var fed! Stærkt, god produktion. Ville virkelig ønske at den oprindelige 45-minutter plade var på YouTube, for jeg hørte en 80-minutters udgave (kunne ikke engang stoppe halvvejs for tracklisten er helt anderledes!), tror det ville have været mere effektivt hvis den var kortere.

More interesting than Adele's 21 and actually old-timey, so 2+.. Germany has had one hell of a history of war....

like weird and bizzare music.. but this. nope!

Not for me. The accent just makes it too goofy. The German version is better. Too many tiny songs. Nothing is on long enough to be anything, but even being short wasn't great

Weird one

It's too bad it's a challenge to listen to this artist, because this is some strange but interesting music. Feels more like a play than an album, and it sounds far older than 1988, almost like WW2 propoganda. Some of these songs are quite cool, like You Have to Pay. Definitely unique among this 300 albums I've had so far.

Like Mickey Mouse starting smoking Crack whilst visting Europe in 1944!

I preferred it in German, the rhythm and sounds were somehow soothing and almost hypnotic. In English it's like someone set the Ladybird book of 20th century conflicts to music in an ill-conceived musical.

Somewhere, in a small cobwebbed theatre in Scotland two people with thick glasses are watching this one woman musical. In my mind there would be long costume changes where her microphone was left on and you could hear her cussing and doing herself up. Works better as an A Level history assignment than an album.

Wasn't on Spotify and took me a while to find a decent playlist version on YouTube (thanks to those who linked to it in the reviews!) Quite a strangely powerful album, took me unexpectedly.

What is this? Why is it on this list?

I'm giving this a 3 because this list could use more variety of genres, but this couldn't be the best Brechtian cabaret album you could dig up, could it?

not available

A hangover of an album. Barbed wire. Headaches. Migraine aura. Apart from that, great!

80s German music hall is a narrow genre but in the spirit of generator listening I was happy to explore it for the first time. In for a penny, in for a Deutsche Mark. Not on Spotify so I went hunting and found every track on YouTube. It was an interesting listening experience. YouTube adverts between tracks would usually be annoying but here they were light relief and the most enjoyable aspect of the overall listening experience. Thankfully some of the songs were shorter than the ads! 1001 is an odd number for the books and the generator. If they choose to round down this is a strong contender for exclusion :)

I’ve never liked musicals.. and this feels like musical music. Almost sounds like a parallel universe where Lady Gaga travelled backward in time, lost her vocal skills, and became German - which if you hadn’t guessed, doesn’t sound great. I also highly recommend looking for the 1001 albums related comments below the youtube upload - well worth the read 😆

I’m actually glad this isn’t on Spotify. Any barrier preventing me from listening to this again is a good thing.

Omituinen. Vähän liian outo mulle. 2/5

Ihan hyvä versionti saksalaisesta laulumusiikista, joka ei ole itselleni järin tuttu genre.

This should have been a Henry Cow or Slapp Happy album instead. This cabaret-inspired album does itself no favors, as it needs to be done extremely well in order to resonate at all. Otherwise, it comes across as kitschy and bad. There is potential here as the subject matter of the album is deadly serious, but it's poorly showcased in the execution. I would not recommend this.

This is bizarre. I am genuinely not sure how I feel about it. I guess I'll give it a decent rating solely due to my never having heard anything like this before. 3/5

Quite interesting. Tank Battles is an album I'll remember for its unique singing and presentation.

Not available on streaming but from what I could find, it wasn’t a very cohesive album.

So from what I understand, this is a collection of songs from a German composer encapsulating the Weimar Republic-era, sung (mostly) in English by a German vocalist. Very much theatrical or cabaret, as well as being the first record of its kind that I've willingly listened to. I can definitely appreciate the vocalist here, but I'll be honest in saying that this was a slog to listen through. I think a performance like this is more appreciated as a live offering.

Usually I am open to cabaret and musical theatre, but the melodies and hooks don't seem very compelling. Sounds like the kind of terrible thing you'd hear in an off broadway show, or rather the thing that inspired the terrible off broadway show compositions in the first place.

This album is way off the beaten path. I've never heard of Dagmar Krause. She has a great voice. This type of stuff is why I started this project. I don't need to be validated with albums I already know I like. I need albums that push my boundaries and challenge my ears.

Better than Tank Girl I suppose

What the actual fuck was this. Wasting my time. Why was this on the list. Furious

Oh no. This was nonsense. Sounded like the music from a very mediocre musical. Definitely not a banger.

(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

I really didn't dig the production on this (I was surprised to read the instruments are real and not synthesized), and the significance of the project/songs feels historical rather than entertaining; which is fine, but leaves me wondering whether there's a more historical document of Eisler-Brecht songs? And maybe we could swap out this for the Slapp-Happy album, a more interesting, entertaining use of Krause's voice?

Not my particular brand of schnitzel

German fiddler on the roof without any matchmaking

I liked it quite a bit, because it's different. I haven't really heard cabaret and avantgarde mixed together before. It reminded me a bit of 1920s Weimar Germany's music and culture, and even Nico a tiny bit. Albums on Island records never really disappoint me. 3.5 out of 5.

That was... Interesting. No lie, I wouldn't listen again, not really my style. I'm sure it served a purpose and was artful in it's way. More like a museum piece in that regard. Zwei Sterne.

Different, not your usual, not bad.

Oh sweet Jesus its like being trapped in the theatre room with the least talented musical performer ever.

I don't know what to make of this. I was thrown in the deep end of a cold pool and I know I can make something fun out of that but I swallowed way too much water.

Hmmm strangely I wasn't really up for avant-garde German classical pop today.

Not sure how I feel about Cabaret music. This isn't on spotify. YouTube has it broken up in 3 parts. Which was actually a blessing because it was kind of hard to get through. Dare I say, Act 1 was awful and made me immediately think "oh great another 1 star rating." but Acts 2 and 3 picked up a bit. Whereas Act 1 had a lot of German in it, the remainder was mainly English. Not 100 per cent sure what the story was about... I could probably place money on the War though.

I mean...it's not a super interesting listen. Strange that this is the album here and not one from like Slapp Happy or something. meh

Very unique experience

Just not really sure what to make of this one. It’s theatrical and dramatic. Not for me, but Who is it for? There’s plenty of vocal, musical, and compositional talent. I just have no desire to listen to it. Lied von der Deutschen Mutter caught my attention though.

I'm nauseous after listening to that shmaltzy shit.

This proto-kraut rock made me sour.

Classic album

More like a soundtrack to a musical than an album. -1 star for not being on Spotify.

Strange German Album

Felt like old show tunes with clunky lyrics. Nice voice. Not a fan, low 2.

Cabaret songs written in the Weimar Republic? Schmältzig! I won't lie - it's a bit of a chore to listen to. You have to pay attention, and that's pretty hard to do.

There are any number of musical cast recordings to which I would rather be listening, The Threepenny Opera for example. One seedy jazz hand.

This feels like the soundtrack to a very boring musical

A bit whacky and intense at times, German singing in an avant rock style

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.

What the actual fuck is this shit? This has to be the single worst album inclusion on any iteration of this list, I cannot believe that anyone could consider this to be “essential”. This record is indulgent, cloying, self-satisfied, frivolous, ENDLESS, and utterly impenetrable. With all the wacky instruments employed on this album, would it have killed her to at least hire a drummer? Looking at this site’s lowest rated albums, I’ve long since laughed off those who can’t get into albums by Lightning Bolt, Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubauten, etc. but THIS really should be the lowest rated album. When Frank Zappa was singing about “Dagmar, without a doubt the ugliest son of a bitch I’ve ever seen in my life” in his song “Broken Hearts Are For Assholes”, I have to wonder if he was referring to the music of Dagmar Krause. Fuck this.

C'est très bon mais je trouve pas de bon contexte pour me mettre dans l'ambiance

Could not access the album.

I can see why this isn’t on streaming. Really German and show tunesy and old.

Outo levy ja kappaleet sävelletty eri maailmassa jossa nyt eletään. Ajankuvaan mahtipontista ja kauneutta sekoittaen.

Juuri ja juuri selvisi paskan yläpuolelle.

Found it here: https://youtu.be/JbYmWrfNJpQ?si=KB05SRDULWAIWZRY It's giving me Cohen vibes weirdly. If Nico was a good singer and covered Scott Walker covering Jacques Brel. I like it. It's dark, avante-gard. Challenging, but rewarding.

Liquid ass

It's not unlistenable (well, it's literally not on Spotify) but it's not something that I want to listen to either.

Tangos e tragédias!

I'm glad this album exists but I'm not sure I'll ever need to listen to it again

Like a soundtrack from a bad Mel Brooks war movie.

Strange

It was alright didn’t really stand out to me, though aren’t the biggest fan of electro music type stuff 4/10

Listened Before? N Obscure and unavailable. Eye roll. Added to Library? Can't Songs added to playlist: Cant.

nice immersive experience, doesnt deserve to be sixth lowest rated album on the site

Definitely interesting, and something that I would not have found on my own. Probably not something I find myself going back to, but it’s not bad.

Didn’t get a chance to listen to more than one song. That was enough

This album can kiss my ass. What even was this? Sounded like a very bad off Broadway German play. 2/10.

Kind of a genre blend, so a bit hard to place. Most of it feels like orchestra music with a musical/theatre vocal to be honest. Some tracks in English and some in German. Not my cup of tea, but the musicians and singer are good nevertheless. Not on Spotify in my country, so had to get a YouTube Premium trial.

Not a fan of the stage sound. I didt like it at all but it didn’t make me angry like some of the other stuff on the list

Feel free to skip this, you’re not missing out on much

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

It is strange to me that this is an album "you must hear before you die," yet no album by Dagmar Krause's band, Slapp Happy, made the cut. If you know anything about that band, you would know it is quite a bit better than this, or at the very least deserves it a little more. This album can be daunting, as despite its average runtime, the amount of tracks in juxtaposition to the lack of variation can lead to a lot of songs whizzing by with very little to recollect later, and it leads to the majority of the album being forgettable, even to the point of annoyance by the end, but I'd be lying if I didn't say the sappier, more musically well-constructed material had me more intrigued. Krause's voice is not stereotypical, but it is technically impressive at times, and I'd say the strange delivery combined with the off-tempo instrumentation lead to a lot of moments where I think I could enjoy this in small bursts. It is hard to tell, as the songs not being on streaming means I can't quite remember a favorite or two to listen to later, but I know they were in there, and while that was bound to happen with a whopping twenty-two tracks, I still have to give it some (Stockholm Syndrome-esque) credit. It isn't a good album, and I can't recognize why many would come away from this confused and angry at what they just listened to, but I think it barely scrapes by as just weird enough for it to be barely up my alley. You won't see me recommending it to anyone else, though, and it certainly isn't an album to listen to before you pass away.

A masterful performance of music that is impossible to enjoy.

Le classement en Jazz m'étonne beaucoup ... Je ne suis pas allé au bout (aucun intérêt pour moi).

Ok- this one was some kind of crazy, German musical theater soundtrack or something. The music sounded like it was the inspiration for the final fantasy video game soundtracks which was pretty cool though

*Listening Notes* This is not currently available on spotify but is available on youtube. The 1980s meets the Weimar Republic music scene.

Sounds like it would be good as a soundtrack for a movie. Not one I want to see though.

That was unlistenable and horrible.

Couldn't find this on streaming platforms

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. :)

Saw this was one of the lowest-rated albums here, and got worried. Was expecting it to be way worse. It reminded me of the soundtrack to a weird Broadway musical. I can tell this is an intense war album, and it communicated that feeling very well even though a lot of it was in German. I also appreciate the instrumentals as a former band geek. The length is a problem; it lost its effectiveness about 40 minutes in. I enjoyed this for what it was. Although I probably won't ever find the need to listen to it again, I'm ultimately glad I did.

Really captivating album. I can't believe I waited so long to listen - I guess I saw German and thought it would be early edm, plus not being on spotify I gave up for a bit. But I am seriously impressed. Theatrical, delightfully disturbing, and there's even a truckload of clarinet content! So unique. I feel like I owe it to listen again and do my research on the lyrics too. Great stuff

Have to watch this one on youtube. This is like a one woman musical. Yea without any kind of context i have no idea what to do with this. Listening to this on youtube is rough because the time syncing sucks.

As I'm winding down the final days of my journey on this project, it's fitting that I land here. I didn't come to 1001 albums necessarily to hear all the Dylan and Beatles albums I already love. I wanted to push myself and hear new things, and for that purpose, this album delivers. Really a unique, compelling listening experience, with bold arrangements and a powerful vocal performance by Dagmar Krause. I may or may not revisit this, but I appreciate getting the chance to hear it. Fave Songs: Lied von der Belebeden Wirkung des Geldes, Genevieve: Ostern ist Ein Ball sur Seine, Und Endlich Stirbt, The Trenches, Mankind, Change the World – It Needs It

Five star simply because its had the good grace to be impossible to find so saving me time.

A German cabaret album with a Brecht/Weill undertone.

Difficult to judge really, I can admire the attempt to do something different. It's very theatrical and Brecht and Weill influenced. It's just not something I would want to listen to.

Not on Apple Music, but the full album is available on YouTube. One of the few albums I've really disliked since starting this. Sorry Dagmar, I'm sure it appeals to some folks.

This is the first album I've bailed on without finishing. Just hated listening to it. The fact it wasn't even available on Deezer and I had to use YouTube to find it is telling. Would rate zero stars if that was an option

could not find. 3 stars on principle.

Not available on spotify. Very weird music.

Tried something new. Not something good, but new.

In a nutshell: melodramatic Avant-garde albums are not my thing. I don't mind cabaret. This felt like a loose concept album, one that would have worked much better on stage, not in a studio. It wouldn't surprise me if Björk and Dresden Dolls were inspired by Krause. Overall: 2/10

This was a tough one to review…

Ya so

Ok this is a big album. I am totally in the dark as to who Dagmar is, relying instead on her wikipedia page for context. But this is musical theatre. This is really interesting storytelling.

Had to listen to a you tube version very interesting though

I don't know what the hell this is, and I don't really care for it, but I can't deny that she's doing the shit out of whatever it is 3/5

No idea why this album is on here

Why on earth is this here!? Awful.

I wanted to be able to give it two stars but just couldn't.

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.

Not my thing I guess.

I had to listen to this on YouTube and it was the English version. I came to appreciate that, though, because these songs are incredibly biting, funny, and satirical. I felt swept away to Weimar Germany by Dagmar’s voice.

Need a lot more context to make this work. Really made me think about grad school though.

WTF?!?

What a strange album. There’s some times that I quite liked. The music feels kind of like a cross between musical theatre, pop, and traditional folk music. Which on paper seems like I’d love it. But the lyrics are not that great. And ultimately, at 26 tracks, this just goes on too long. 2.5/5

Favorite Track: Song of a German Mother

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.

Listened to a couple song on YouTube, definitely not for me. Weird intersection with post war classical music.

After seeing the announcement that this album is not on any streaming services, I managed to find it on Youtube, although not sure if it's the full album. I think this is an album that will take multiple listens to fully appreciate

Unable to listen.

An audacious attempt at melding 20s music with modern sounds, Dagmar Krause cultivates a field to command her Tank Battles. One can envision the blend with a cinematic flair that can sweep the emotions of the listener and leave them dazed and swelled with all sorts of feeling. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDIxWXRU4UDqrRm_pTjpJSWXvjEzKg9U1&si=e3bBsr-uNvCpRuE6 Favorites: Song of the Whitewash, Tank Battles, You Have to Pay, Ballad of the Sackslingers, The Perhaps Song, Song of a German Mother, Bankenlied, Failure in Loving, Berlin 1919, The Trenches.

Al principio me hacía gracia. Pero luego la gracia está en que, por fin, se terminó.

Wow so bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irmn9e2O-HQ&list=PLDIxWXRU4UDqrRm_pTjpJSWXvjEzKg9U1 Hanns Eisler songs. English text. German accent

I don’t know why I gave this a 1 the first time around, I certainly don’t hate it. A powerful singer and interesting arrangements, it’s a different shade for sure but a welcome alternative to the usual.

Another one where I'm confused as to why this is included on this list. Maybe I don't know enough about her or Hanns Eisler to get why this is really relevant? She's got a great voice, that's for sure, so I really enjoyed that aspect of this record. I was kind of excited when I saw this was listed as a jazz album but it is decidedly not jazz. Showtunes for sure. I tried to find the German version but couldn't with a quick search though I'm sure it's out there somewhere. I mean if showtunes is your thing you'd probably love this, for me it's not something I ever need to hear again. 2/5.

Interesting little record containing a bunch of songs that range from old-timey jazz to some more abstract but brief avant-garde songs that makes for a pretty interesting, if somewhat unfocused, listening experience. There's definitely a German flair to this that I can appreciate above anything else.

Doesn't fit my taste, sorry :-(

wtf

Not available, so I’m moving on.

Truly a painful and confusing listen. I don't understand what I just listened to and I'm not referring to the German lyrics. Even reading about the album and it's origins did not help to make this an easier or at least more understanding experience. Some songs were somewhat enjoyable bit honestly a 1.5 star album

Okay if I'm honest I'd give this a 2.5, however I decided to round down. It's not bad, her vocals are good. But I can't put my finger on why this was so odd to me.

I do not like that very much.

very much not my thing i'm afraid

No tanks

Not available but also doesn’t sound like something I’d like.

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.

This was certainly an experience. Not something I'll revisit but I certainly had it.

Can’t listen can’t give more than 1 star

I can't say I enjoyed this, but it was certainly an interesting experience I would never have encountered without this 1001 albums project. More than anything else, this sounds like the music accompanying war-themed cartoons from the 50's and 60's. Weird, overly dramatic, sometimes unpleasant, always pompous, but also fascinating, anachronistic, and entertaining.

ok, it's different. not really a good listen for me though

Once you get over the shock that you're listening to an avant-garde cabaret album, it's really not bad. Quite lively. An hour plus of this is taking the piss a bit much. But I've heard much worse on this thing. Favorite tracks: "The Ballad of the Sackslingers", "Song of a German Mother"

Video på YouTube.. Fååk det var langt. Om det var dårligt? - Nej. Men heller ikke godt. Tyskland har åbenbart en historie om krig.🤯 En 2 timer lang historie... Ihvertfald når man skal høre historien på både engelsk, og tysk. Jeg kan godt sætte pris på de tyske sange, men de er klart mere effektfulde når man fårstår teksten. 😅

Jeg havde virkelig ikke behøvet at høre det her inden jeg dør

An odd choice - not complaining of course, that is what I have signed up for. I actually have a couple of LPs of this sort of music in my collection (Lost in the Stars, a collection of Kurt Weill songs by Tom Waits and other artists is fantastic).

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

похоже я понял, какая музыка не зависит от региона: военная. меняешь язык -- чуть меняется вайб, но глобально МАРШ ВОЕВАТЬ ВО ИМЯ ВЕЛИКОЙ <укажите страну>

Короче, музыкально - это неплохая репрезентация кабаре и военной музыки. Исторически - ну тут пиздец, скорее всего Но интересный опыт Алкоальбом: wiesebeer

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

Blah. Sorry - Dagmar seems to be a real talent, but I can't get into this.

I'm not really sure if I have listened to the right album, but somehow Dagmar Krause and Hanns Eisler made me hate tanks. The music feels very experimental and innovative, but it went completely off the scale. Dagmar sings okayish, but that doesn't even matter, when the songs are incomprehensible for most of the time. I don't know what is this album doing on the list honestly. Waste of time.

Cabaret, jazz, avant-garde. Es como un musical. Rollo. Un 2.

Cabaret, jazz, avant-garde. Es como un musical. Rollo. Un 2.

Al principio me hacía gracia. Pero luego la gracia está en que, por fin, se terminó.

Couldn't stream this one.

Here it is…. My first 0/5! Really didn’t enjoy listening to this, so that’s a 1/5. Adding in the -1 for not being on Spotify, that’s a 0/5 folks. That being said, it was a unique album. The fact that it was recorded in English and in German by the singer is wild. It’s just so far removed from my style of music that I could barely stand it.

Nothing like a dog piss album to ruin your Friday. WTF was that Mother song, wtf! Her voice was unique - You Have To Pay had a troll instrumental that i liked lol

The singer's voice gives me Nico vibes. This music is really wacky. Like I feel weird listening to it. They're almost showtunes but weirder. I don't think I can finish this. She's obviously a great singer but the music is wild.