Das Sind Die Herrn Vom Andern Stern

AMG Review of Das Sind Die Herrn Vom Andern Stern

Frank Eisenhuth
All Music Guide

After his three phenomenal albums Alles Klar auf der Andrea Doria, Ball Pompös and Votan Wahnwitz critics and fans were wondering alike what Udo Lindenberg would be up to next. His sixth album Das Sind Die Herren Vom Anderen Stern was a sort of science fiction revue which was impressively brought to stage at the accompanying tour. It left critics and fans, however, deeply divided -- the latter claimed it was another masterpiece by their hero whereas the former complained of a certain level of superficiality and a lack of ideas in the songs. The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle of these extreme views. It was definitely no superficial failure as many songs will prove -- hilarious, for example, is Lindenberg's cover of the Beatles' "When I'm Sixty-Four" with Lindenberg-specific German lyrics "Wenn Ich 64 Bin"; his satirical ridiculing of soccer business in "Bodo Ballermann" which was banned from airplay because of some sexual innuendo, or the gentle allad "Nina" about a 14-year-old girl who fancies an older man. On the other hand, the album leaves the impression that Lindenberg tried hard to top his previous masterpieces by doing a concept album and decorating it with all this science fiction outfit, but somehow just couldn't because the material on these previous albums was just nearly perfect. What remains today upon listening to this record is an impressive effort and still an essential milestone for Lindenberg's career.