Tokio Hotel

As the title suggests, Humanoid is as sci-fi inspired as singer Bill Kaulitz's immaculate hairdo. Lyrically the German boys talk heartbreak, blaming their woes on emotionless souls -- they're the humans, girls are the androids ("Your heart is like an engine"). Though the industrial-tinged "Humanoid" has them stating they're "done with feeling," they have a hard time backing that up when they sing so much about connection and braving the "Pain of Love." But that identity crisis seems to push them musically -- less teen-pop and more knob-twiddling hints at a healthy diet of Depeche Mode.

What did Bill Kaulitz do with his charisma? With his over-the-top goth-pop vocals — and even
more baroque hairspray-and-mascara styling — the 20-year-old singer has made this German
band one of Europe's most popular and irresistible groups. But on Humanoid, he sounds
strangely reduced. In part, it's a question of hooks: With the exception of "Hey You" and
"World Behind My Wall," the album is melodically anemic and strangely low-key.... More >