Music transcends the language barrier: melody and instrumentation make music easy to enjoy without knowing the context of the lyrics. Sadly, Americans often let their listening habits remain comfortably at home, while other countries (willingly or not) listen to music of all languages and cultures.
I found Wir Sind Helden (German for “We are Heroes”) in a foreign exchange program of sorts. Wir Sind Helden and +44 (an American band that includes two Blink-182 members, Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus) swapped covers of each other’s best known single—”Guten Tag” and “When Your Heart Stops Beating,” respectively—for an iTunes promotion.
Wir Sind Helden’s third full-length album, “Soundso,” is interestingly their least commercially successful, both in their native Germany and in Great Britain, where Wir Sind Helden has a modest foothold. Unlike other pop-rock bands, Wir Sind Helden does not try to take itself too seriously. The band’s name and wit present in its songs—despite the lyrics being in German—contribute to a sense of playfulness.
The one song with a refrain in English, “The Geek (Shall Inherit),” is comical, even without a complete understanding. When not focused on a message or lyrical wit, you’re free to listen to the rhyme of the words and, of course, the music itself.
“Soundso” is an album full of surprises. On a mostly pop-rock album, the first song “(Ode) an die Arbeit” brings a groovy saxophone that echoes the early American jazz-scene. Other songs, like “Endlich ein Grund zur Panik,” are pure pop-power, with steady beats and catchy tunes.
Wir Sind Helden is most reminiscent of American pop act the Scissor Sisters, sharing a similar style and a willingness to experiment. The band plays with the tone of each song while still clutching on to fundamental pop elements.
Judith Holofernes, who also writes all lyrics for the band, delivers strong female vocals across the album. The only significant male vocal is heard in the duet “Für nichts garantieren,” which has a slow pace compared to the near jitter found in the rest of the album.
Wir Sind Helden’s “Soundso” is a perfect delight and a fun break from American pop.
