Nena "Oldschool" (2015)

Oldschool

release date: Feb. 27, 2015

format: cd (Deluxe Edition)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]

producer: Samy Deluxe (aka Samy Sorge)

label: Laugh + Peas - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Oldschool" - 2. "Lieder von früher" - 3. "Genau jetzt" - 4. "Ja das wars" - 7. "Berufsjugendlich" - 8. "Sonnemond" - 11. "Magie" - 12. "Kreis" - 14. "Peter Pan"

12th studio album by Nena following a little more than two years after Du bist gut (Nov. 2012). The standard issue contains 13 tracks with a running time of 43 minutes, whereas the Deluxe Edition comes with an additional four songs - not collected at the end but scattered here and there all over the album, and it comes with a total running time at approx. 58 minutes.

Stylewise, the album is a bit of a turn to more electronically-based compositions and at the same time with a fresh incorporation of elements from songs of Neue Deutche Welle of the 1980s without sounding 'oldschool'. The title obviously both refers to the lyrical content as well as the new take on older styles. Surprisingly, the album comes with several great songs, the whole album being a fine uptempo diverse collection, and in general, this is actually turns out as one of Nenas all-time best studio albums!

Recommended.

Nena "Du bist gut" (2012)

Du bist gut

release date: Nov. 2, 2012

format: 2 cd (Deluxe Edition)

[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,06]

producer: Derek von Krogh

label: Laugh + Peas - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Das ist nicht alles" - 2. "Schmetterling" - 3. "Lied Nummer eins" - 5. "Freiheit" - 8. "Wo ist mein Zuhause" - 15. "Du bist gut"

11th studio album (not counting her many releases with music for children) by Nena following three years after Made in Germany (Oct. 2009). Disc 1 contains a total of 15 tracks with a running time surpassing 71 minutes - this is also released as the standard album. Disc 2 contains 8 live recordings of some of her most familiar songs, four of which are new studio live recordings and four recordings from a live concert in Berlin.

Nationally, the album made it as high as to number #2 on the albums chart list but critics didn't meet it with a warm welcome, in fact, the album is regarded as one of her weaker solo albums, and critics mostly found that it failed to showcase anything new from an artist who was caught on repeat. I admit that it sums up much of her previous work, and the best thing here is Disc 2 and especially the Berlin live recordings.

The front cover art is credited Nena's daughter Larissa Kerner and her son Sakias features on vocals on a few tracks.

Nena "Made in Germany" (2009)

Made in Germany
release date: Oct. 2, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,35]
producer: Derek von Krogh, Uwe F.-Petersen, Reinhold Heil, Nena Kerner
label: Laugh + Peas / BMG - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 2. "Du bist so gut für mich" - 3. "Ich bin hyperaktiv" (4 / 5) - 5. "Geheimnis" (live) - 6. "Du hast dich entschieden" - 7. "Wir sind wahr" - 9. "In meinem Leben"

10th solo studio album by Nena (released after Himmel, Sonne, Wind und Regen, a 2008 album made for children) but viewed in her pop / rock discography, it follows her double album Cover Me (Oct. 2007). The album is her second to be released on her own established label Laugh + Peas (the first being the 2008 album with children's music), and it comes out as a fine combo of her 2001 and 2005 releases, meaning primarily German pop / rock with synthpop and / or electropop elements. The album is her first to include her twins Larissa and Sakias both featuring on additional vocals on three of the songs. It appears that Nena is the so far only artist to have had 14 singles charting on the German singles hit list - the most recent entry being the single "In meinem Leben" peaking as number #4. The album was a new successful release in Germany going as high as number #3 on the albums chart list.

Nena "Cover Me" (2007)

Cover Me
release date: Oct. 2007
format: 2 cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,54]
producer: Derek von Krogh, Philipp Palm, Nena; Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
label: Warner Strategic Marketing - nationality: Germany

9th solo album by Nena is a 2 cd and 31 tracks covers album.
Disc 1 are all songs of German origin, which is produced by von Krogh, Palm and Nena, whereas Disc 2 are of foreign (meaning primarily English) origin, all produced by Fahrenkrogh-Petersen, and these generally count the least favourable compositions as they are also the most familiar songs, e.g. The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love", Bowie's "Heroes" (here: "Helden") and "Starman", Rolling Stones' "The Last Time" and "She's Like a Rainbow", Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" and "Blowin' in the Wind", Neil Young's "After the Goldrush", and Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi".
Initially, I found it superfluous, but it's actually quite fine once you dig into the material. It's really a huge blend of sources, representing songs from all eras and various original styles, but Nena has handpicked the songs, claiming them as personal favourites, and she mostly manages to make them her own with her own personal interpretations. Now, Nena doesn't possess the strongest vocal instrument and you would perhaps believe her hardest parts would be to cover Joni Mitchell or Mazzy Star, but these are actually fine personal songs that add new dimensions to the original versions. Generally, the more difficult covers here are the ones where the arrangements come too close to the originals, e.g. the songs originally performed by Rolling Stones, Moby, Air, and T. Rex.
All in all, it's a fine collection, which both include fine interpretations as well as mildly unneccessary inclussions, but Disc 1 definitely saves the whole album.

Nena "Irgendwie, Irgendwo, Irgendwann" (2005)

Irgendwie, Irgendwo, Irgendwann (compilation)

release date: 2005

format: cd

[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

producer: various

label: Sony BMG - nationality: Germany

Compilation album by German neue-welle band Nena released somewhat simultaneously with the release of Nena, the solo artist's eight studio album Willst Du mitt mir gehn (Mar. 2005). The background to this is probably given the fact that Nena signed with Warner in 2002, when she released the album Nena Feat. Nena, an album of old songs in new versions but previously issued by Polydor (now owned by Sony BMG) and also the compilation Irgendwie, Irgendwo, Irgendwann mostly concentrating on Nena the soloist's career but also containing tracks by Nena the band. I guess, Sony BMG were provoked to show they owned the rights to release the band's original songs, so they simply used the title used by Warner, which they could rightfully claim is taken from one the band's biggest hits - originates from Feuer und Flamme (Jun. 1985).

Anyway, this is a decent compilation, which also proves that the band was much more than the 'Ballons' song.

Nena "Willst Du mit mir gehn" (2005)

Willst Du mit mir gehn

release date: Mar. 21, 2005
format: 2 cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,46]
producer: Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
label: Warner Music Group - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: Disc 1) 1. "Willst Du mit mir gehn?" - 4. "Liebe ist" - 6. "Immer weiter" - 7. "Ohne Liebe bin ich nichts (Berlin Version)" - 8. "Vitamine" - 9. "Wir fliegen" - - Disc 2) 5. "Hey Pauli, ein neuer Ton" - 7. "Das verträgt sich nicht mit uns"

8th solo studio album by Nena, or so it's often filed, but fact is: Nena has released several albums with childrens music making it her 14th or 16th album since she started in the band Nena. Anyway, this is a double cd released on Warner and it's produced by former keyboardist and one of the primary composers of the band Nena, (Jörn-)Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, who is also credited as co-composer on most of the songs. Disc 1 is labelled "Rot" and contains what appears as the actual studio selection, whereas Disc 2, labelled "Orange", contains jam sessions made on the Spanish island of Majorca during a recreation holiday with the band.
The album is a fine follow-up to two 2002 'comeback' albums: the compilation Nena feat. Nena with old songs in new versions and Irgendwie, Irgendwo, Irgendwann covering both the time with Nena the band as well as her solo career. The first of these two was her first album since ? [Fragezeichen] from 1984 to make it to the top 10 on the German albums chart list. In 2005, another (different) album also titled Irgendwie, Irgendwo, Irgendwann was released (by another label), only this exlusively contains tracks from the band-period, mind you.
Just like the 2002 album this went as high as number #2 on the national sales list, but in most other countries (except for Austria and Switzerland where it topped the charts) it was totally ignored by the media. I think the album is really good and Nena, in general, deserves much more recognition than is paid her. No matter what she does, it seems that she must live for the rest of her time with an image of the one-hit wonder with “99...”, which is so wrong. Albums like Made in Germany (2009), Chokmah (2001), Wunder gescheh'n (1989), and this one all prove this, but mass media has spoken and “one-hit wonder” is the verdict not to be tried at higher court. Anyway, I like much of what she has released and this album is one of her best and as such a very interesting release.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Nena "Chokmah" (2001)

Chokmah
release date: Oct. 29, 2001
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: Florian Sitzmann
label: Eastwest Records - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Chokmah" - 2. "Heute hab' ich die Sonne mit dem Mond verwechselt" - 3. "Carpe Diem" - 9. "Silbermond" - 12. "Leuchtturm" - 14. "Carpe Diem (Söhne Mannheims Dancehall-Mix) [incl. hidden track]"

6th studio album as soloist by Nena is her first major stylistic change into electropop. The album follows a live album, and an album with music for children, thus making Wenn alles richtig ist, dann stimmt was nich (Jul. 1998) her last 'real' studio album.
Chokmah was met by mixed reviews - according to wikipedia, mostly positive. Internationally, Nena's popularity may not have grown much after she went solo, but in Germany this album seems like a stepping stone to greater fame. The album peaked as number #18 in Germany, which was a clear improvement to her previous solos as well as to the final album Eisbrecher (1986) with the band, which 'only' made it to number #45.
Although, I don't find the album entirely great, as it contains both highs and lows, I find it quite refreshing, and it's undoubtedly one of her albums that I have played the most.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Nena "Wenn alles richtig ist, dann stimmt was nich" (1998)

Wenn alles richtig ist, dann stimmt was nich
release date: Jul. 6, 1998
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: Philipp Palm, Lukas Hilbert, Tony Bruno
label: Polydor Records - nationality: Germany

5th solo studio album by Nena following Jamma nich' (Apr. 1997) sees a move away from the synth-pop and new wave influence of the (not so successful) predeccor and stylistically, it's one of her boldest pop / rock-founded albums with focus on traditional rock unlike her more subtle story-telling and softer solo albums, and in that respect this one is closer to her releases with the band Nena, only without the synthpop and (German) Neue Deutsche Welle elements that also characterized those albums. Despite being an interesting album clearly above the mediocre, the album was more or less unnoticed in Germany, where it only reached number #42 on the national albums chart list.
I find it one of her better mainstream releases with several fine songs, although, it doesn't bring much new to the table.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Nena "Wunder gescheh'n" (1989)

Wunder gescheh'n
release date: Apr. 5, 1989
format: cd (2010 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Walter Keiser, Phil Carmen
label: Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Wunder gescheh'n" - 2. "Du bist überall" - 5. "Weisses Schiff" (4 / 5) (live) - 6. "Im Rausch der Liebe" (maxi version)

Solo studio album debut by Nena [Gabriele Susanne 'Nena' Kerner] following the disbandment of the band Nena in 1987. Several tracks are written with former bassist Jürgen Dehmel from the band.
Musically, it's is a more laid back soft rock version of pop / rock, which basically suits Kerner's voice well.
Prior to this release, and while pregnant, Nena experienced the loss of an 11 months old boy, but during the recording of the album, she also experienced the happy news of expecting twins. Not surprisingly, the album is much about existentialism. In Germany, Nena seems closely associated with the track "Weisses Schiff", which is a fine composition about dreams and loss.
Both "Du bist überall", "Weisses Schiff", and "Im Rausch der Liebe" are of a high quality, but the overall sensation is still one of a first draft and a learning process of being a solo artist. Some tracks are just not strong enough and colour the overall impression.
Following this, she released her first of several albums with music for children, her artistic successor Bongo Girl from '92, followed by her third album Und alles dreht sich (1994). Then followed another album with music for children, a live album, an third album for children, and then she released her fourth 'real' studio album Jamma nich' in 1997.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Nena "Eisbrecher" (1986)

Eisbrecher
release date: Nov. 24, 1986
format: cd (2010 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,95]
producer: Nena, Klaus Voormann
label: Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Engel der Nacht" (tv performance) - 2. "Mondsong" - 4. "Schön wär es doch"

4th and final original studio album by the band Nena. Despite making it to number #2 on the national albums chart list, the previous album Feuer und Flamme was seen as a considerable step back for the band in Germany (the two first albums both topped the national album charts), as the band's concerts to promote the album didn't fare that well. Perhaps the German public wanted more change?
Eisbrecher is styled as a bolder mainstream pop / rock album without much of the Neue Deutsche Welle attitude, and on a stronger negative side it comes out as Nena's closest attempt to make their Pat Benatar album. It 'only' reached number #43 on the national albums chart list and the band Nena broke up the following year. Lead vocalist and songwriter Gabriele Susanne 'Nena' Kerner then initiated a solo career keeping to the band name.
This is not really the band's worst effort but it doesn't point to a new golden style and mostly just feels quite anonymous. Compared to the band's previous two albums, I actually like the production sound on this better, but it really doesn't contain evident great or memorable compositions.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Nena "Feuer und Flamme" (1985)

Feuer und Flamme
release date: Jun. 24, 1985
format: vinyl (26 546) / cd ( 2010 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,82]
producer: Reinhold Heil
label: CBS Records / Sony Music - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Utopia" (English version) - 2. "Haus der drei Sonnen" - 3. "Jung wie du" - 8. "Du kennst die Liebe nicht" - 10. "Irgendwie, irgendwo Irgendwann"

3rd studio album by Nena. With this the band makes no big differences from its first two albums. Perhaps there's a tendency to introduce a stronger funk rock rhythm section, which doesn't improve things. Uwe-Fahrenkrog's keyboard and Jürgen Dehmel's bass feel too dominant, perhaps much as usual with music from this period, but it turns out as a more anachronistic release than its too predecessors - there's simply too much Level 42 about this to my liking. The album was simultaneously released in an English version as It's All in the Game, with the same track list, only translated. The band previously made an attempt with the English-versioned album 99 Luftballons released shortly after their second album consisting of an A-side with tracks from the debut and a B-side with tracks from the second album. That is basically a compilation but in any case it was released to promote the band outside Germany. However, this was to be the last attempt to conquer the English-speaking countries 'cause (t)here they remained one-hit wonders. Nena was a German band singing and playing in German.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Nena "? [fragezeichen]" (1984)

? [fragezeichen]
release date: Jan. 27, 1984
format: cd (2010 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,28]
producer: Reinhold Heil, Manfred Praeker
label: Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Rette mich" - 2. "? (Fragezeichen)" (live) - 3. "Das Land der Elefanten" - 5. "Küss mich wach" (live '84) - 6. "Lass mich dein Pirat sein" - 7. "Ich häng' an Dir" - 12. "Der Anfang vom Ende"

2nd studio album by the German new wave and pop / rock band Nena, actually only titled ? but commonly referred to as 'Fragezeichen' [German for 'questionmark']. Stylistically, the album just continues where the debut ended. It's the same pop-rounded new wave or Neue Deutsche Welle, and it's also the same producer-duo as on the debut.
The album doesn't include a hit single like "99 Luftballons" but it contains several fine compositions primarily written and composed by guitarist Carlo Karges and keyboardist Jörn-Uwe Fahrenkrog Petersen, making it a general improvement to the promising debut. A few tracks, like the title-track have lyrics (and / or music co-written) by Nena Kerner, and not seldom, these actually work as the better songs.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Nena "Nena" (1983)

Nena [debut]
release date: Jan. 4, 1983
format: cd (2010 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,12]
producer: Reinhold Heil, Manfred Praeker
label: Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Kino" - 3. "Vollmond" - 4. "Nur Geträumt" (4 / 5) - 6. "99 Luftballons" (4 / 5) - 8. "Einmal ist keinmal" - 9. "Leuchtturm"

Studio debut album by German band Nena consisting of Gabriele Susanne 'Nena' Kerner on lead vocals, Jörn-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen on keyboard, Carlo Karges on guitar, Jürgen Dehmel on bass, and with Rolf Brendel on drums. The band plays German pop / rock in a mix of synthpop and new wave, which may be labelled as Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW) or new German wave, but with its focus on a pop and synthpop sound with less focus on the punk rock element (art punk, post-punk) and political or cultural criticism like Ideal, D.A.F., Nina Hagen, and Spliff. The producer-duo Reinhold Heil and Manfred Praeker were both members of Nina Hagen Band and later in Spliff (which was formed by the former members of Nina Hagen Band as she pursued her solo career) as keyboardist and bassist / vocalist, respectively, and Heil in particular has become regarded as one of the leading forces to the style of NDW with his contributions to the music of Nina Hagen Band, Spliff, and Nena.
Unfortunately, Nena's hit single "99 Luftballons" became more of a burden as the band soon were labelled "one-hit-wonders" and were only associated with that particular song. However, Nena is much more, and this debut contains several fine songs to prove that. Both "Nur Geträumt" and "Leuchtturm" were well-received in Germany but failed as international singles, perhaps because most songs except "99..." have a more dominant and special style of NDW, which didn't succeed that well outside Germany. The album is a bit of an anachronism. The sound and the production are restricted to a specific time, and the band comes out as a German blend of Blondie, Pretenders, and... Pat Benatar. The album contains fine songs but also lesser compositions, which makes it a difficult listen.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]