Rammstein – Benzin [2004; Universal Music]

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The first of this single’s four mixes is the album version, establishing a rather limp industrial rock base spruced up by harder bass swings and vocal excitement in the chorus, while the keyboards come and go with little engagement.  What follows are remixes by Meshuggah (with the bass mixed much more prominently), Ad Rock of Beastie Boys (working in hip-hop backing beats), and Apocalyptica (integrating some of their cello).  Though the twists are appreciable, none of the remixers can actually salvage the song from its own dullness, and the whole affair ends up feeling like a waste of time for listeners, and a waste of effort from the contributors.

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