t.A.T.u. Album: “200 km/h in the Wrong Lane [Argentina Bonus Track] [Enhanced”

A friend introduced me to the band yesterday evening. I took the liberty of downloading the album to check it out (Yes, I still buy my music, but I like to hear it first)...

I read up on the act on MTV's website (and checked out the photos. Nice). What you're looking at are two russian girls, ages 17 and 18, who have parents in the music business and - as the review states - a well-known and renowned producer. The girls are not confessed lesbians - they're marketed as such. They seem to take the stance that they love one another, but it remains to be seen if that love is purely friendly or if it's actually something more...

As for the music (which is really all that matters, unless you stare at album covers while you're listening): The disc is good. The beats are well wrought and the lyrics are actually pretty well done for this genre. While they catch some flack for not being native english speakers, I like the effect that their accents have on the lyrics. It adds a sensuality, I think, and that's what this group is all about.

It's definitely worth a listen. If you like to keep your techno in your clubs, then just check out some pics. If, however, you DJ or mix your own parties ... you won't want to pass this one up.

Personally, I think techno is great for keeping up my energy level when I'm doing housework and other mundane tasks. Yeah, I'm getting it.

A lot of people have tried to pass this album (and this group) off as a marketing gimmic. Sure, two young lesbian producers making an album together DOES sound like the kind of thing that would get young males (American or Russian) into stores, but that turned out to be just a lot of talk.

A lot of people also like to bash them for not speaking english, which does impart a slightly strange sound to their singing, but thats not a bad thing in any sense. Actually I think its something good, it adds another side to the sound, but even if they were just singing while beating on pots and pans this album would still be great because unlike basically any other pop-rock act in the world they actually have lyrics that are pleasant to listen to.

Its full of bittersweet imagery and jumps from manically happy to the dark depths of depression. If you like music at all then at least one song on this album is for you, and no matter what your style preferences it will grow on you until you love all of it.

Tatu should be extremely proud of their debut offering - the only way is up for these two.

The musical arrangements and production on this album are truly a breath of fresh air through the stale fug of "R&B", tired old rap, cheesey trance and the ubiquitous and empty sound of two-step.

They also give a kick in the pants to some of the rock/metal bands - so no-one is safe!

The voices are pleasing when not forced to the tops of the girl's developing ranges, where they tend to sound a little chipmonky - probably due to transposition software - and they both appear able to carry melodies. I assume that they actually wrote some of them, although it's absolutely evident that the musical arrangements and production are done by experts - very well indeed, it has to be said. The collection of music on this album is very varied - it may be a tired phrase, but it really does have something for everyone. I mean - a cover of The Smiths!

The outstanding moments are Trevor Horn's masterful reworking of "All The Things She Said", which spent many weeks at the top of the UK charts - a notable achievement these days.

None of how the music came about matters - and hasn't mattered since the Mowtown/Spector days of putting attractive girls with pleasant voices into recording studios to sell records. The girls have plenty of latent talent - and a potential for a spellbinding stage presence, if the numerous videos are anything to go by. It is a mistake to dis them as having "no talent", even if it is obvious that they did not do all of the musical work. It would be very interesting to find out how much they did write.

Whether they have longevity is uncertain - the marketing gimmick they have will only last so long, then a fickle music-buying public may well simply drop them, as they did the Spice Girls, etc. The sense of dark humour and irony that runs through the whole album is a streak they should keep a hold of - and never take themselves too seriously.

This album shows so much promise in the girls, and is a work of art in itself that goes way beyond the catchy pop hooks and studio "magic dust".

The marketing people behind them are absolute geniuses!

Buy it - it's fantastic!

One thing's for sure about certain teen-pop--it's the musical equivalent of eating a whole carton of coffee-flavoured Haagen Daz. Guilty pleasure, definitely, and I notice that the younger the artists, the guiltier the pleasure. Examples include Sweet Sensation back in the late 1980's and more recently, Play.

Then there's t.A.T.u., the Russian duo Julia Volkova and Lena Katina whose single, "All The Things She Said" (no, not the Simple Minds song) is a sweet piece of techno-pop. The title is sung in one-two double quick time, accompanied by a mixture of heavy guitars and synthesizers. They're simply the best thing to come out of Russia since Catherine the Great, Mikhail Gorbachev, and all those figure skaters. Call them a cross between Shampoo, M2M, Ace of Base, and Xymox.

Another cute pop teen-duo like M2M, except their music is more on the techno side, they are Russian, and like the White Stripes, helped promote themselves with a salacious rumour. The rumour is that they are lesbians, thanks or no thanks to a video for a song "I've Lost My Mind" which is the song "Ya Shola S Uma" The video involved the two making out in the rain.

"Not Gonna Get Us" begins with a shrill voice belting out the title lyrics with hard-driving industrial synthesizers reminding me of Depeche Mode or Xymox. The lighter moments and the softer voice reminds me of M2M.

Like "All The Things She Said," the title lyrics of "Show Me Love" are sung in rapid-fire succession with the guitar/synth backing. A starkly haunting piano, laughing girls in the background, and an M2M-ish vocal highlight the wistful "30 Minutes", another one of this album's great moments.

That is followed by their cover of the Smith's classic "How Soon Is Now?" It's not half-bad, actually, with some grinding rock guitar enhancing the original. However, nothing beats Morrissey's vocal talents.

"Clowns (Can You See Me Now)" belongs to the Xymox/Depeche Mode/New Order side of the spectrum, with its racing strings-like synthesizer and vocals. "Malchick Gay" with its rhythm guitar backing, is another quick-paced number and some lyrics gives a hint to the lesbian rumour. The title lyrics are sung in rapid-fire, then jumping up an octave, and then another.

"Stars" has an outer-space otherworldly feeling, kind of like Dido's "Here With Me" or something from Sarah Brightman's Dive. There are some distorted Russian lyrics rapped inbetween the soft voices. Lyrics here too suggest Julia and Lena's rumoured relationship: "Are we in love? Do we deserve/to beat the shame of this whole world?/And like the night we camouflage/Denial" Well, it could be something heterosexual as well, but anyway...

There are two Russian-language songs. "Ya Shola S Uma" is "All The Things She Said" while "Nas Ne Dagoniat" is "Not Gonna Get Us". I like the Russian version of "All The Things She Said" even though I don't understand the lyrics. It's phonetically superior than the English version.

So are they cute? As buttons! Julia, I think, looks a bit like Rachel Leigh Cook; Lena, resembles a teenaged Geri Halliwell. Are they lesbians? If they are, so what? And does this album go 200 km/h in the wrong lane? Well, not that much, but it's still worthwhile. Rapid-fire delivery of vocals (think Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire"), industrial synthesizers, techno, vocals that alter between sweet and soft to loud and shrill, that's "t.A.T.u. you."

I first heard tATu in early 2003 or so. I heard their first single, "All The Things She Said" on the radio, and I loved it. Then, about a half a year later, my friend got their CD and literally just raved about how awesome and addictive it was. I really wanted to hear all their other songs, so I went out and bought it. It is utterly amazing! I thought it would be good... but not this good! I kept listening to it over and over again. It is so addicting. The pop/rock sound mixed with techno influences of each song along with the unique vocal flare of Julia Volkova and Lena Katina make it incredibly addictive. Even now, months and months later, I still listen to this album practically everyday. There is much speculation as to whether or not Julia and Lena are actually lovers in their personal lives. In my opinion, it does not matter. Speaking personally as a teenage homosexual male, these lyrics are truly an accurate and honest expression of the angst, loneliness, and depression that you go through as a homosexual person. They are expressed with genuiness and honesty that no other artist has captured before. I love how poetic and respectful the lyrics are. The fact that this is being put out there for people to buy and hear is truly powerful. There are 11 tracks, but 8 of them are original, and they are as follows:

1.Not Ganna Get Us- Truly awesome song with a techno flare. It's about running away from society with the person you love... like a fantasty song. The only bad aspect is that it can get repetative. 4/5

2.All The Things She Said- Great song! It's basically expressing the general angst of being in love and no one understands your love, and it's driving you insane. Great poetic lines, and not as repetative as track 1. 5/5

3.Show Me Love- Has a very cool russian opening where Julia and Lena are talking on the phone. I love how this album incorporates some russian into the english songs. This song is a very upbeat dance track. It's about being lonely and wanting someone to show you love. It contains my favorite lines on the CD. When expressing why you're attracted to someone they sing that it's "like a game of pick-up-sticks, played by f***in' lunatics" Also, the only hardcore cuss word on the CD. Great Song! 5/5

4.30 Minutes- Very creepy! It's a ballad. There's this creepy laughter in the background that adds a very eerie feeling, especially if you're alone. It's about making decisions. wonderful song! 5/5

5.How Soon Is Now?- a cover of the Smith's song. I've heard both. I know I might get lacerated for this, but this version is significantly better. Probably the most rock influenced track. A truly honest expression of loneliness and needing love. Arguable my favorite. 5/5

6.Clowns(Can You See Me Now?)-Very techno influenced. Probably the most poetic and metaphorical lyrics. It can have 2 interpretations in my opinion. One is how ignorant people shield themselves from what they don't understand. Or, I also interpret it as an expression of wanting the object of your love to see you and that you love them, but they're so consumed with everyone around them that they can't. Can get repetative though. 4/5

7.Malchik Gay- It means "Gay Boy". Probably the most american sounding song. It's about being in love, but the person you love is taken. Incredibly relatable. It might get annoying to some though with the repitition. But, it's arguable one of my favorites just because of the topic and lyrics. 5/5

8.Stars- Truly Captivating! The girls go back and forth from verses in english to verses of russian rap. The russian sounds so awesome. I love songs in different languages, and to also have english in it is very cool. The saxophone in it provides for a very smooth melody. It's a very slow and soothing song. It's basically just about how it shouldn't have to be this hard for homosexual people in society. Great Song! 5/5

9.Ya sashla s uma- original russian version of "All The Things She Said" It's very cool to hear it in russian and go back and forth between this and the english version. Because the girls are singing in their native language, the passion in their vocals really stands out. Very cool to listen to. 5/5

10.Nas Ne Dagonjat- original russian version of "Not Ganna Get Us" Again, very cool to listen to the russian version. It makes you want to learn russian! lol. 5/5

11.Show Me Love(Extended Version)- This is the extended version of Show Me Love. If you like the original, you'll like this. It has a different opening that's more rock oriented. Awesome! 5/5

This album is truly amazing! The lyrics are very genuine and honest, and it truly expresses a soul that is tormented by the angst, depression, and loneliness that encompasses being different. It expresses the shameful shyness that homosexual people experience in their lives. The lyrics are also written in a very illusive way to where not just homosexual people, but that everyone can relate to. Regardless of whether or not Julia and Lena are actually homosexual in their personal lives, the fact that they do express it and put it out for people to hear is awesome. I encourage you to purchase this utterly amazing and expressive album. You will not be dissapointed. It is a must have!