Punk rock in big band soundscapes - A review of Die toten Hosen's Alles ohne Strom

German punk rock veterans Die toten Hosen have always been on the brave, creative and innovative side which helped them stay successful, relevant and energetic for four decades in a row. A punk double album, a single with French lyrics criticizing former French President Jacques Chirac, a greatest hits record only released in Japan, a Christmas album under the Die roten Rosen banner, an acoustic live album, a compilation for the Argentinian market, a compilation for the Polish market, exclusive concerts played in their greatest fans' living rooms and a concert with a symphony orchestra covering music prohibited in Nazi Germany are only some of the experiments the band has done since its inception in Dusseldorf in the early eighties. 

Alles ohne Strom is the release of an acoustic concert with a big band playing accordion, cello, clarinet, melodica, percussion, piano, saxophone, sousaphone, trombone, trumpet, viola and violin. The concert took place on July thirteenth and fourteenth in the band's hometown and was released only three and a half months later on October twenty-fifth last year. This makes me wonder why certain bands take two to three years to release their live albums.

The German punk quintet reinvented its own repertoire creatively. The lyrics for energetic single ''Strom'' where changed to be more appropriate for the occasion of an acoustic show. ''1000 gute Grunde'' has a danceable, energetic and joyful vibe despite dealing with a bitter, sarcastic and serious topic lyrically. ''Hier kommt Alex'' was turned from an atmopsheric punk classic into a vibrant folk tune with polka and ska elements. As strange as these experiments might sound, they actually work out really well.

The already legendary concert also featured three quite unusual cover songs. The band transformed Rammstein's epic ''Ohne dich'' into a much more intimate song that sends shivers down the spine. Funny von Dannen's ''Politische Lieder'' focuses on simplistic acoustic guitar instrumentation while the lyrics deliver a thoughtful message. Foo Fighter's ''Everlong'' sounds more diversified than the gloomy original tune in its acoustic soundscapes.

The band also performed four new songs on this album. ''Kamikaze'' is a melancholic anthem with thought-provoking lyrics. ''Schwere(-los)'' is a sinister tune dealing with the haunting memories of a Holocaust survivor. ''Sorgenbrecher (Auf euch)'' on the other side is an uplifting ode to the band's fans and their support. ''Feiern im Regen'' is an ode to life with wonderful guitar melodies.

In the end, Die toten Hosen offer seventy-eight minutes of perfect entertainment with a creative reinterpretations of their own material, unusual cover songs and four strong new tracks that deserve more attention. Any fan of rock music with lyrical depth should purchase this gem of an album. Punk rock doesn't need angry bass sounds, ferocious drums and distorted guitars to work out. These twenty-one acoustic big band sound experiment are actually more relevant than many traditional punk albums in recent memory. Even in the thirty-eighth year of its existence, Die toten Hosen are still by far Germany's best punk band ever.

Final rating: 90%