German band, Tokio Hotel, may not be as popular in the U.S. as they are in their home country, but that does not mean their music deserves to be overlooked. Released on October 6, 2009, the band’s second English studio album, “Humanoid”, is a departure from their stateside debut, but still stays true to the sound the group is known for. With three singles released from the project, the album reached their highest position, 35, on the Billboard Top 200. The album contains music that could fall under the alternative rock and pop categories, but it is the vocals and instrumentals that makes the record a must listen.
With a sexy, sultry voice, lead singer Bill Kaulitz gives a great performance of the opening track, “Noise”. As an artist does in their everyday life, the song tells people to not stay quiet but express themselves with the voice they have, exactly what the band is doing with this album. While slow in the verses, the tempo and attitude get amped up during a chorus to create a spectacular listen and a great start to a promising album. “Darkside of the Sun” is a track that would fit on any modern day rock band’s album, but the vocals that are present are ones that many cannot provide. The song does have a foreign feel to it, the band being from German, which gives a new, fresh sound that many have not heard before. The instrumentals mixed in with the vocals give another beautiful addition to the project. The first single off the album, “Automatic”, is a combination of punk rock and pop done to a point where it is successful without being cheesy like most. The voice of Kaulitz again brings the song to a higher level of quality where vulnerability is felt. The beats and production are pulled back a little to allow the raw talent that the band has to really shine through, which it does. Released as the second single, “World Behind My Wall”, has to be the best moment in the band’s short career. The band is at its best when they perform soft, ballad-type, pieces that show off immense emotion. Everything about the song works and just shows how the band has grown over the span of only one album. The lyrics are very well written and the performance is haunting in the best way possible. The delivery on the title track, “Humanoid”, takes on a darker tone that proves to be just the right match for the lyrics and vibe that is being sought. There are some similarities that I find in the song that can compare it to an early Linkin Park track, which is a great accomplishment in my opinion. The song carries a higher rocker feel than the rest of the track list and the band shows that they can pull it off very well. The vocal range gets picked up for “Forever Now”. The song is a good one, there is no denying that fact, but I feel that coming after such amazing, memorable tracks, this one will unfortunately get forgotten by the audience just a bit. As always, the vocals that are present on this track actually get an emotion out of whoever is listening which really adds something extra to the meaning of the song. As soon as “Pain Of Love” makes its way through the speakers, it is clear that the lyrical material will be deeper and darker than the other songs that have come before it. The best part of the entire track is the vocal range that is experimented with throughout. The production that is present is an example where it actually helps take the song to a greater level. The song is a dark song of love and works for the album. The synthesized beats that begin “Dogs Unleashed” was a surprise to hear at first for the fact that it is so different than anything the band has done before. I praise the song for the change of pace and sound and I think to a certain extent it works very well. The song does have some flaws as well though. I do not the lyrical content is as strong or hold any meaning as the other tracks off the album, but it is still done very well. Surprises keep coming as the sexually charged track, “Human Connect To Human” begins. The song balances the soft and sultry vocals with the loud, rocker performance very nicely. The meaning behind the song is one that I was not expecting to hear, but I am glad that it was included on the album. All rock bands have a naughty side to them, and even though the message is strong, it works to my liking. The band takes on an 80s rock vibe with the loud and powerful “Hey You”. The foot stomping and clapping heard throughout gives the track a more authentic sound that would take anyone back in time. The song’s purpose is to get anyone pumped up and on their feet and I think it accomplishes just that. It is a fun, head banging, hard rock track that shows the band’s variety in music. “Love & Death” seems to have everything that would result in an amazing song. The great vocals, instrumental performances, and well written lyrics are all there, but somehow the track never seems to reach the full potential that I was waiting for. The song is good, but it was kind of hard to enjoy fully when I was thinking about the other directions the song could have gone. Not my favorite moment off the album. Another highlight off the project is saved for the very end as the album closes with the beautifully haunting and vulnerable track, “Zoom Into Me”. Everything about the song works perfectly. The piano driven track is a success mainly because of the heartfelt vocals that come pouring out of Kaulitz’ mouth. I was blown away by the performance given and I thought it was the best way to end the album, on a great note. The album is a step up from the band’s previous English effort and growth is clearly present in many aspects.
“Humanoid” is an album that Tokio Hotel should be extremely proud of. Even though the band does not reside from the states, they have created a piece of work that would resonate with any music lover around the world. The album moves through amazing, heartfelt ballads, to loud rock songs that really come together to provide a wonderful listening experience for anyone who comes across. The band has not had as much success as they deserve, but it is clear that they have the talent that will stretch their career out for many years. For amazing vocal performances, beautiful tracks, and a different sound, the album receives a strong 87%.
Tracks to Hear: “Automatic”, “World Behind My Wall”, and “Zoom Into Me”
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