Nena Album: “Willst du mit Mir Gehn [Holland Bonus Tracks]”

The first, called "Red" is a proper studio record that has spawned several hits in Europe (especially her native Germany). It's loaded with some very clever, fast moving and melodic pop tunes that would get anyone singing along (if you know German). Despite not knowing what she's singing, her incredibly sultry voice raises any song a few notches and keeps my Alzheimer's-like attention span focused. Even the slower songs are rich and melodic.

The second CD called "Orange" was quite a surprise. I was expecting a disc of throw-away B-rated alternative takes, but instead found something with much more depth, moodiness and sophistication. The lyrics and instruments are much darker and would feel right at home next to my Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen records. I wasn't expecting this so it came as a very pleasant surprise.

Since purchasing this record two months ago I've hardly gone a day without listening to it.

What a great album! Nena has shown yet again her ability to reinvent herself. This is a two-CD set, the Red CD being more conventional, the Orange CD is what I would call "experimental," the result of a Mallorca jam session. But wow, the Red CD! Nena has always had the power of the draw in her songs, but here she has perfected it. Almost every song starts with a tease of some sort, a tension of expectation where you think that the song is really going to go somewhere, and on virtually every song on the Red CD, that is the case. Her quasi-rave Vitamine is excellent, you could call it Madonna-esque, except that it's better than Madonna. The best songs on this CD are Nena's own compositions. Nena has managed to express a yearning and passion in these songs which are usually the reserve of hungry young people half her age; when you listen to the music, you feel like you're 18 and in love again. The lyrics are, well, simple, but like most good rock n roll, you buy the music for the the beat and the passion and the way it makes you feel, not for the lyrical content. This is a no brainer, one of the best albums of 2006, in any language.

This is a wonderful collection of Nena at her best: German Neue Welle of the 80s. Her songs are simple, direct, and real in content and are well-supported by tight arrangments and her energetic band.

The bonus CD contains songs going in other directions. Not my cup of tea.

Well so this is Nena's latest album...and it is really not that bad at all. OK to some degree it is still very typical of some european poppy new wave stuff from the 80's but it is still very fresh somehow.

not great ,but o.k. i guess? she should have stuck to 99 luft ballones!and i understand german!