Crash-Landing

by Jim HarperDie Toten Hosen's third English-language album is a collection of covers and tracks taken from their German-language albums, with a few originals thrown in, too. Most of the material comes from 1996's Opium Furs Volk, although the songs are translated into English. Unfortunately, this makes Crash Landing a little inconsistent. Some of the tracks are career high points for the band -- "Bonnie & Clyde" being the best song on the album. Other tracks are not so essential -- "Viva la Revolution" is simply annoying and you have to wonder what possessed them to record "I Am the Walrus." "I Fought the Law" is played by the numbers and works much better, but there's too much filler material here. Die Toten Hosen is fine when they're energetic and passionate, but the slower songs simply grate.