THE BATES - Pleasure + Pain 1995

At home in the north of Hesse, we visit again the bubblegum punx from Eschwege. Pleasure + Pain is the fifth studio album by the Bates and this was the band's breakthrough in the mid-1990s. Unfortunately I almost want to say, I think they lost a little identity thereby. And the useless MTV videos didn't do them any good either, only financially and Punx with a lot of money produce a lot of shit. Well, Vergnügen + Schmerz offers the typical Bates style and contains mostly quickly played three-chord numbers, which branch out with melodic highlights and smooth ballads. A special feature is the cover version Donna Clara, an old hit from the 1920s. It is the only German song on the record and Bela B. & Farin Urlaub (under the pseudonym "Kill Kill Gaskrieg") from die Ärzte took over the background vocals. The lyrics of the slab are relatively simple. No political slogans were used, instead the punk attitude was tried to be implemented, and the magic of love also appears again and again. The Bates were here: Zimbl (vocals/bass), Michael (lead guitar), Thomas (rhythm guitar) & Frank (drums). Records by the four bring fun because they dig out pop pearls in order to roast them in their unmistakable way.

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