Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Universal. 2008.

-review by drjeep Rammstein is one of those bands you either love or hate. They've had their share of success thanks to a few hit singles and became notorious after being cited in the Columbine High School murders. On their 3rd album (not counting the excellent Live Aus Berlin) they avoid potentially controversial lyrics and sing about bunnies and fairies instead. OK, maybe not... For those of you who's German isn't up to scratch, Mutter is German for Mother, but we'll get back to that later. Lyrically Mutter is a step up from Rammstein's previous efforts. I mention this because they've been criticized for writing "silly" lyrics in the past, mostly by people who translate it directly and view it out of context. The production on Mutter can only be described as huge. Take the pounding bass lines and grinding guitars, throw in some strings and keys here and there and mix it with industrial rhythms and you'll pretty much understand what Mutter is about. The album starts with the haunting intro to Mein Herz Brennt (My Heart Burns) and builds up to the track's explosive chorus. The next track Links 2-3-4 (German army chant for marching) contains everything down to the marching footsteps and war sirens in the background. Sonne (Sun) is my favorite track on the album and also has one of the coolest music videos I've ever seen, even by Rammstein standards. The title track Mutter is another personal favorite. The lyrics are dark and almost disturbing, but it makes for one of the best tracks on the album. Spieluhr is a haunting song about a music box and the perfect example of why Rammstein's lyrics are sometimes misinterpreted. It's filled with expressions and cultural references you can't possibly understand if you don't know German culture. Zwitter is one of two sexually-themed songs on the album (I'll leave it up to the reader to find out who or what a zwitter is) and plays out with the coolest guitar riff on the entire album. The last track Nebel, is a sad but very cool ballad in the vein of Seemann. Basically, Rammstein fans won't be disappointed with this, their best album to date. It's a great album to mosh to, but if you have some time I dare you to look a little deeper into the lyrics. A definate thumbs-up.

Remix album included work done by popular electro-industrial bands.

Trans Europa Express/Trans-Europe Express was the first Kraftwerk album to be mixed in two entirely separate versions, one in German, the other in English. In addition, a French language version of 'Showroom Dummies' entitled 'Les Mannequins' was included on French pressings of the album (which otherwise features the English mix). Most German pressings (as well as the 2009 remastered reissues) list 'Metall Auf Metall' as two separate tracks, the second part entitled 'Abzug'. Most other versions only list 'Metal On Metal', but include both tracks. The original German pressing (and many of the other editions) features a monochrome portrait by New York photographer Maurice Seymour, with the group dressed in suits to resemble mannequins. A highly retouched colour photo montage of the group by J. Stara is used for the British, American and other editions. A color collage of the group sitting at a small cafe table designed by Emil Schult was used for the inner sleeve. Most of the 2009 reissues feature a simplified monochrome 'TEE' design. The original German release includes a colour poster of the Emil Schult image.

CD

到底什么样的唱片有这种实力呢？这张唱片是德国High End音响协会的示范片第五集，前面四张都没有特殊的主题，但是这张唱片的主题是蓝调。以这张唱片的水準看来，这个协会必定找到了高手帮忙选片，因为曲曲精彩曲曲动听。 第一曲开头只有电吉他与饱满的人声，等到主歌重複出现鼓与贝斯一加入，那种庞大饱满的丰满量感就充满了整个空间，绵密的贝斯与带有弹性的鼓声能否分开，就看你音响系统低频的解析度表现了。第二曲的风格类似，要注意的则是那支活灵活现的萨克斯风独奏。 第三曲有点年纪的音响迷可能会有印象，是Audioquest录音的Doug MacLeod「Come to Find」（Audioquest AQ1027）专辑。很可惜Audioquest已经不再进行录音发行的事业了，这张唱片也成绝响。我在此把编号列出，希望大家还有机会能够找到CD来收藏。第四曲的鼓声从头强劲到尾，还配上电风琴营造出特殊的气氛，一样是音响的良好示范。 第六曲是音响迷很熟悉的Opus 3录音，由Eric Bibb演唱。这曲一开头左右两把吉他就营造出自然开阔温暖的三度空间音场，还要能够听到他缓慢充满了情感变化的嗓音才能算合格。 第十一曲单人弹唱蓝调也精彩极了，空心吉他弹奏充满了弹性与手指动作，歌手的吐气声音（一定是上了年纪的老歌手[原始简介的编辑者居然不知道这个老歌手就是Dave Van Ronk]，唱起歌来呼吸声音浊重）则清楚到让人毛骨悚然。第十二轨的木管声充满了空气感，快速演奏的时候声音不能拖泥带水，曲末飆起来独奏的时候还有人声演唱同一旋律，看你的音响能不能把这两个声音都清楚呈现出来？最后一轨现场演唱不但是鼓声、电贝斯还是人声都录得棒极了，尤其是人声忽而低迴忽而高亢，听了真想跟现场观眾一起鼓掌喝采！ 限於篇幅我只能列出几首曲子，其他的曲子录音也都是一等一的棒，会让人想去按照编号把这些唱片都买来收藏。