When I see the name "Pleased To Meet U," I inevitably think of hardcore or MTV/VIVA bands. This is probably because the two mentioned groups like to have such "sentence" band names. I am curious about what awaits me and listen intently to see which theory might be correct... although I naturally hope that I have stumbled upon a HC band. I can't really get into the other tinkering. So I patiently wait for the end of the copying process and keep my fingers crossed.
Shit, bad luck! Does a "Herbert Grönemeier, Eugen (singer) from the Skeptikern and MTV/VIVA clean guitar tinkering" accidentally count in any of the mentioned categories? I would lazily just say "yes," because it somewhat sounds like the second mentioned group.
The overall picture is distorted, and I don't know what to think. The singer sounds very unusual, but somehow not really repulsive, rather interesting. He really "sings" in the style one is used to from the Skeptikern, who achieve success through a mix of vocal style and hard riffs. With the difference that certain "Grönemeier" elements keep shining through, making one think that the dear "Mr. Old Guy" himself is at work. However, that's not the only thing, as the text deliverer sometimes makes an effort for "scream" inserts (e.g., "Feiertag"), which sound somewhat off-key but still somehow sympathetic. Suddenly, I also think of "Muff Potter" because the style has some parallels as well. Did the inmates of the hotel "Plagiata" perhaps get extra time out, or why do I suddenly have so many associations with other artists? Well, whatever. Otherwise, there is also a visit from a lady (more precisely, from the bassist), who supports the song "Staunen" to such an extent that it would have been quite unthinkable without her. So far, so good.
But somehow the mood doesn't quite switch on. The reason for this is quickly found: The music itself! While I like the singer, who oscillates between singing, familiarity, and typical off-key screaming (although I find the choir at the end of the song "Oben" terrible!!) and otherwise knows how to convince, the beautiful experience is marred by the background music. The same boring TV music clean guitar tone is played continuously, which pushes hard against one's pain threshold, although there are of course one or two exceptions ("Staunen," "Mittlere Hitze") to which one could still dance live. So anyone who is not a fan of constant clean sounds and nearly unchanging string tinkering will have a hard time here.
A bittersweet note is represented by the lyrics, which do not necessarily convince through their content (which is seriously personal) but rather through the choice of words and the style of writing lyrics: "I stay in place, in the right spot, and simply have no opinion. I just execute. For example: The dog. Power plug. Plug in. Red switch. Switch on. Three feet too high. A tad too beautiful." The way it is presented invites interpretations, and I gladly participate. There is simply something fascinating about it.
It's a shame; the record could have been really good! There is a lot of energy in it, which, however, completely dissipates due to the wrong execution. The voice is really the only factor that truly adds "pressure" and emotion; the instruments merely splash along in the background. They are just "there." Like bottle deposits that no one really wants to return.
It's quite strange. On one hand, I really like the CD, but on the other hand, there is just so much that bothers me about it. At times it sounds beautifully sick, while at other times so poppy that it could storm the charts in the clubs.
Therefore, I find that the 5 points as a "compromise of two extremes" are quite acceptable. I would recommend everyone to give it a listen, but I believe opinions will likely diverge here – just like the topic of "beer: bottle or can?" – quite a bit. But that's a matter of personal willingness to endure.
Conclusion: Not really "average," but rather marked by highs and lows.
