When Jeff suggested we get this cd for review I was like "Um ok. Who the hell is that?" So I got the cd and gave it a listen. Since then, I haven't doubted Jeff's suggestions once. This cd would be one of the better CDs this year if it weren't such a great year for music. Closest I could compare them to would be Badly Drawn Boy and Death Cab for Cutie but neither pinpoint who the Notwist are. Electronic drum beats are the backbone to singer Markus Acher's soothing voice.
The cd starts off with "One Step Inside Doesn't Mean You Understand" which is a very laidback track. Starting off with acoustic guitar, keyboard, and Markus' vocals, in come a shuffling beat played on the snare rim. Almost immediately afterwards, the electronics kick in and you aren't sure what to expect for the rest of the album. The next track, "Pilot", is definitely one of the stand out tracks of the album. It's a lot more upbeat than the previous track and you'll definitely find yourself singing along to this while driving down the freeway, as I found myself.
The only problem with the cd would be the last three tracks that were added for the domestic release. While they are a nice addition, they contain no vocals and find themselves to be lost on the cd. After the track "Consequence" the record really should end. If these tracks could have been intertwined into the tracklist as opposed to thrown on the end, they might have been more enjoyable.
