Your cat has a terrible name

Now, here's a record you've probably never heard of from a band you've probably never heard of. At least, if you're not from a German-speaking area...

In the early 2000s Germany had a worthy Emo-scene, though it was quite basically a local scene. All those bands hailed from Western Germany and most of them were somehow connected to the then pretty active label Defiance Records out of Köln. The most popular one was a band called PALE. Around the commercial peak of the Emo-sound they were surprisingly succesful with records like "Razzmatazz" or "How to survive Chance". The small scene was completed by bands like AMBROSE, THREE MINUTE POETRY, RENO KID or... ONE MAN AND HIS DROID.

They originated by 1999 in Northern Germany, making them an exception to the "German movement". Nevertheless, they got signed by Defiance Records and released their debut album "Ou est le magnetophone" in 2001. I'd say this record was heavily influenced by JIMMY EAT WORLD. Just like they did it on "Clarity", ONE MAN AND HIS DROID blended sensitive, mellow Indie/Emo with some anthemic moments and Pop-Punk-ish stuff. It was a good record to start with, no doubt. 

But it's here -on their second album "Partypeople"- where they really came into their own. It was a surprising and also very harsh turnaround for them. They incorporated Post-Hardcore-elements (think THURSDAY or RECOVER) into their sound, they were louder, they were faster and they most definitely were more catchy. Where some of their older songs were loose and cranky, the songs on "Partypeople" are clearly structured. They rode the vers-chorus-vers-formula like the best of them. And damn, it worked, as it's hit on hit on fuckin' hit.

They get right at it, with the noisy "Indianapolis", a fabulous opener that leaves nothing to be desired, despite running its course in 71 slim seconds. What follows is a mix of Pop-Punk-flavoured tracks ("Counting on Five Fingers", "Drop that Beautiful") and quite noisy, Postcore-tinged tracks ("Chet Baker and me", "Vs."). They mix it up with the cute campfire ballad "This is Training" and the solid Electro-track "Read the Manual first", 'til they get to their most well known song, the slightly iconic "You could give your Cat a Better Name", featuring Holger, the singer of PALE, on guest vocals.

20 years later, 20 years older, I'm still spinning this record. It's a testament to the promising German scene back then. It's an album without a flaw. One with many timeless songs. And most importantly, "Partypeople" was very bold. And that's what I always loved about it...