Neon Reviews: Tokio Hotel – Humanoid
October 6, 2009 by Adam Asher
Filed under Reviews
Tokio Hotel - Humanoid
If you’re not yet familiar with Tokio Hotel, let me break it down for you. Glam-style makeup complete with mile high hair? Check. German? Check. Dedicated following of angst ridden teenage emo fans? Check. Since 2001, the German foursome, fronted by androgynous hair product enthusiast Bill Kaulitz, has been pumping out their own brand of nu metal inspired pop and finally crossed over to the U.S. market with their 2007 English language debut Scream.
But forget about their history, on their newest album, Humanoid, Tokio Hotel is clearly preoccupied with the futuristic sounds that might make a half-decent soundtrack to a big budget, poorly written summer sci-fi blockbuster. Now lets talk tunes. If you’re expecting heavy distorted guitars on this album, good news, you’re going to get them. If you’re expecting attitude, you may want to lower your standards. Melodrama? Yes. Standout originality? Not so fast.
On Humanoid the band spins similar songs a bit darker, but are unable to mask their standard sound beyond anything but the usual. The guitars are still there, but what may have passed for edginess on their previous record is toned down by an overuse of science fiction influence, represented by echoes and synth sounds. There’s nothing wrong trying new things, but in this case, by pushing their only new element to the forefront, the boys from across the pond drown in it.
Don’t worry kids, Kaulitz’s vocals are exactly as high and theatrical as you remember them, and there are plenty of songs that recall their previous record as a safer sounding Evanescence. The banger of a title track, for example, is fast, rhythmically driving, and full of the angst that fans have come to crave. In addition, the high production value from start to finish makes for a smooth ride, despite material that strives to shake you.
Lyrically, there’s nothing lost in translation here. Elements of love and loss run rampant throughout the album as Kaulitz groans about struggles to connect in with others in the face of alienation. In “Human connect to Human†he wonders aloud “How can I connect to you? A Kiss? A touch? Never enough.†Lyrics throughout the album remain simple.
Standard teen-pop themes and well-worn musical territory combine to make a well-produced album that’s listenable, but steadfast in its mediocrity throughout. Although aiming for a more mature sound is admirable, it’s clear the band still has a ways to go before they can musically match their lead singers ability to stand out in a crowd.
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hmmm at least their look match the sound. ehh?
While you may not get them at all, I hope you realize that not everyone delves quite that deep into musical theory. Perhaps it’s just critics who do this, but I think that as fans we don’t quite disect the music as far as you might. Most of us that are fans are thrilled with this Tokio Hotel album.
yes because you are tone depth and will listen to any fad.
Its ok, Pain of Love is largely stolen from Hall of the Mountain King, in fact the outside influences are so strong in many songs that you can actually see exactly what song inspired it.
They do little to further the musical concepts expressed in their influences however.
I like TH, Bill is Gusty if nothing else, and he is a very good vocalist, Tom and Georg are unorignal, and despite what the band says I can’t help but feel that their look is heavoily encouraged by the record company.
My fav song is easily Dark Side of the Sun, an unoriginal name; stolen from the Sci-fi Genre, but a really inspired tune that leaves the others in the dust. However every song suffers from poor lyrics in English and German.
The faster TH move away from semi-Mainstream pop that has been forced upon them by Universal the better.
fuk off antiTH!!!!!
if da fans r happi wid da album den ur input is not neccessary!
darkside of the sun rocks full stop!
y u checkin TH out aniwayz!?
TH rox!
I don’t get how you think this album is mediocre. It’s so good- alright some of the techno stuff could’ve been left out, but the lyrics are AWESOME!!! And Forever Now gives me this creepy chill. It’s amazing.
This album is pure perfection. Even though Tokio Hotel has a lot of teenie-fans, there are a lot of older fans as well. I am 26, and have loved this band for 2 years now. Have only been on one concert, but I will remember it for the rest of my life. They are better live than 30 seconds to mars and Muse in my opinion.
i agree. Humanoid is great!!!!!!!!
i agree wid u…30 secs to mars an muse r ace an their lyrics r great an al…but TH live iz jus awsom…Jared Leto is very good on stage but som of da time..not as gud!
“Dont worry Kids!” seriously.. Kids? Im sorry to break it up to you but polls from their fandom says 60% of their fans are 27 above… and the german album is to die for. I can’t even say this album is mediocre or even typically strange, it’s really just Tokio Hotel. Scream is the album if you wanna hear the raw Tokio Hotel, and Humanoid is THE ablum if you wanna hear the electro side of Tokio Hotel. They always have this ability to make music their very own.
i kno rite!! jeez..these dang critics drive me insane!! i love tokio hotel 4 just being them! there awesome guys & bill’s lyrics r 2 die 4!!! im 14 and i agree that any1 no matter how old u r can b a fan! im a freak fan even learning german to keep up w/ them. bill has the heart & passion 2 bring these lyrics out n the open! and tom! gosh w/ his amazing ability to come up w/ these techno vibes and the hard core scream tract its like a total dance club comeing from the speakers of my ipod!! i cant get enough!! i say screw the critics and any1 else that wants 2 pick on tokio hotel!! let the fans do the “critsising”! we kno best b/c we kno OUR TOKIO HOTEL!!! BRING IT ON GUYS IM ALREADY CRAVING THE NEXT BIG CD!!!! ROCK ON!! XD
Thanks for the review!
Although I don’t share all of the same opinions with you about this album, I really like how this review is HONEST and judges on the MUSIC, not the band’s image. Honestly, after reading Entertainment Weekly’s Humanoid review, I started questioning if there were actually any music critics out there actually critiquing on the music.
This album is fantastic, but I definitely reccomend the Deluxe Edition, which contains 4 extra bonus songs. If you weren’t satisfied with the previous content, the four songs are BOUND to change your mind… they are just so freaking good.
Adam, thanks for the review! I admire that you actually took time to listen to the album and shared your honest opinion. However, I disagree with you. Humanoid is a huge step in the right direction for the band, and listening to their previous album Scream you can tell that the improvement is huge. Humanoid is packed with so many awesome tracks that my brain cannot even function properly while listening to it. They are still a young band and have years to continue to grow and mature, and I’m positive that by next album they will be even better!
this is quite an honest review… and its really nice to see that. seeing as how i think rolling stone is ridiculous these days. but i have to say, like all other TH fans, this album is genius. am i biased? of course. but i’ve had others listen to parts of it who aren’t fans, or have never heard of them, and many of them are blown away, particularly by the song “world behind my wall.”
but like i said, its nice to see a review that isn’t judging on appearance or style and i can tell you actually listened to this album.
“Don’t worry kids” ?
You’ve got to be kidding me. Why do people assume that the only audience for TH is comprised solely of angst ridden emo teenager girls? I’m a 25 year old guy, I work in a bank, I drive a Lexus, I wear blue suits, white shirts and ties AND I ABSOLUTELY FREAKIN’ LOVE THIS ALBUM AND THIS BAND!!!!
I discovered TH while I was vacationing in France in 2005 but haven’t given much of a thought to it back then. It was “Durch Den Monsun” and the music video was playing on MTV Europe. At first, I thought it was cute that a 15 year old boy could pull together such an amazing performance but never had it occurred to me that TH would become the bestselling artist they are today.
Compare the group’s latest effort to “Schrei” and “Zimmer 483″ and you will immediately realize that “Humanoid” is nothing but a step in the right direction.
P.S. Any other guys brave enough to admit that they like TH ?
ha! i am awesomely glad that there r true guys out there that really like tokio hotel!! its awesome 2 kno! thanks 4 being a fan!!!! <3
um. Adam? Thanks for the review. It’s definitely better than some, but I don’t share you’re opinion. And, “Don’t worry kids!” ?!?!?!?!?!?! You have GOT to be kidding me. I’m young, but there are a LOT of hardcore fans who are a LOT older than me. I think this album is genius, they went in a new direction and it’s definitely obvious that they’re not used to this sound, but it is absolutely beautiful.
As a fan of TOKIO HOTEL i will never be disapointed with what they produce.
true at first the ablum Humanoid was different to me and unexpectived, but after listening to the music and the lyrics i am IN LOVE WITH THEIR NEW SOUND.
i can’t wait to see tokio hotel in concert more than ever and i will love them till the day i die!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo Tokio hotel . !!!!!!!
this wholle article is negative and tokio hotel is the best and a real fan would follow the changes with the band instead of trash talking them. and they are the BOMB! so…leave them be.
sooo tru!!!!!
Nice…er…opinion. But I think you kind of exaggerated it. Emo fans? Not all of us are emo. You keep saying it’s all about angst, but it isn’t. Reviews should be objective, and while many fans will write “YAY nothing could go wrong” reviews, others are haters. like you.
TH forever.
hey every1!! (espeacially u critics…) dont judge tokio hotel & definetly dont eva judge their fans!!! some of us arent emo or hard core goths or anything we dont need labels and i wont label myself or any1 else. we r who we r! i just call myself a freaky TH fan!!! SO ROCK ON MY FELLOW TOKIO HOTEL LUVERS!!! and TH has a variety of fans not just “emos, or angst teens”. their just THAT GOOD!! & their more then wut this critic is saying. they r 2 me the MOST UNBELIEVABLE, HOTTEST, & TALENTED BAND I’VE EVER SEEN OR HEARD!!! plus all of them being german and undeniably sexy doesnt hurt either (wink) xoxo-BILL,TOM,GEORG,GUSTAV!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
Tokio Hotel r da most original band out there!
al their stuff iz original, their music,looks woteva!
if u find dis album 2 sci fi or sumthin jus listen 2 scream,dat is wot TH sound iz!
an yh im a teen but its not lyk i onli listen 2 TH, i listen 2 everythin, 30 secs to mars everscence..woteva! an these guys defo stand out!
tokio hotel roks!
I’m sorry 2 say that this review sounds a bit negative.Their album is really great and Tokio hotel rocks!
P.S. Bill’s voice is really really wonderful and Tom rocks too!
I absolutely luv diz album really! Theres nothing bad and yes it is a right step for this band! Tokio Hotel was already popular with their album, Scream now I think there even more popular! They also threw in some techno stuff which goes pretty good with the songs! Tokio Hotel rocks!! And as for the “angst ridden emo crazy teenage girl fans” well I’m not emo or angst ridden or depressed and I luv Tokio Hotel!! <3 TH FAN 4 LIFE!! =D