Artist: Bratze Album: Highlight

Year: 2012
Duration: 0:0-1

Highlight of Bratze's Album - A Critical Review

If you're a fan of indie-electronic music, you should check out Bratze's newest album, Highlight. This German duo brings a unique mix of punk and electro beats to the table, creating a sound that's equal parts energetic and thoughtful. In this blog post, I'll give you a brief history of the artist, an overview of the album's music genre, the standout songs, the most innovative parts, and my honest critique of the album.

Bratze is made up of two friends, Kevin Hamann and Norman Kolodziej. They formed the band in 2007 and quickly found success with their debut album, Kraft. After a few years of touring, writing, and experimenting, they released Highlight in 2021. The album is a departure from their earlier sound, but it's still infused with their signature punk attitude.

Highlight falls into the indie-electronic genre, with elements of punk, techno, and pop. The songs feature heavy basslines, glitchy synths, and distorted vocals. The album is undeniably danceable, but it also has a melancholic undertone that adds depth to the tracks. The band writes about topics like city life, isolation, and political disillusionment, adding a layer of intelligence to their music.

Standout songs from the album include Stadt ohne Meer, Neunzig and Die Letzten werden die erstes sein. Stadt ohne Meer is the opening track and sets the tone for the rest of the album. It's a mix of electronic beats and rock guitar riffs, with lyrics about feeling trapped in a city that's lost its identity. Neunzig stands out for its catchy hook and relentless energy. The vocals are distorted almost beyond recognition, but the emotional intensity still comes through. Meanwhile, Die Letzten werden die erstes sein is the perfect closing track. It's a slower, more atmospheric song that builds to a cathartic climax.

As for the most innovative parts of the album, I'd say it's the way the band blends different genres together. They take elements of punk, techno, and pop and create something completely new. The way they manipulate the vocals is also noteworthy. They distort them so much that the lyrics are sometimes hard to make out, but it adds an interesting layer of texture to the songs.

In terms of criticism, my main issue with Highlight is that some of the songs sound a bit similar. The overall sound is consistent throughout the album, which can be a positive thing, but it also means that the songs don't stand out from each other as much as they could. Additionally, the lyrics can be a bit obscure at times, which might make it hard for some listeners to connect with the music on a deeper level.

Overall, Bratze's Highlight is a solid album that's worth checking out if you're a fan of indie-electronic music. The band's unique mix of punk and electro beats creates an energetic and thoughtful sound that's both danceable and intelligent. Standout tracks like Stadt ohne Meer, Neunzig, and Die Letzten werden die erstes sein showcase the band's ability to create catchy, emotionally intense music. The innovative blending of genres and the manipulation of vocals add an interesting layer of texture to the songs. While some tracks may sound a bit similar, the consistent sound of the album is still impressive. Overall, I'd give Highlight a solid 7.5/10.