Firstly a quick moan (if you don't want to read a moan, go to the last two paragraphs). It seems our descrition author is not as informed as one would like, but then, hey, you can't win 'em all. The reason for this statement is that the tracks refered to as "rare" are all from albums from which there are other tracks on the "non-rare" CD. And, if I may carry on, the tracks I would be inclined to describe as "rare", are tracks like "World Now" and the tracks off "Fearless" / "Angstlos" (tracks 10 to 13) as "World Now" has, in it's original format, to my knowledge, only, and rarely, been available on single (and a couple of compilations) and "Fearless" / "Angstlos" has been impossible to find, although I know it has been available. And the tracks off "Fearless" / "Angstlos" which are on this compilation are on any other Nina Hagen compilation.

But: If you can not find any other Nina Hagen compilation, and a compilation is what you would like to have, I could recomend this Dev. Col. It only goes up to music from 1985, so don't expect to like it if you only know or like the newer stuff. If you are a serious Nina Hagen fan I would recomend that you make an effort and get the originals. The very serious Nina Hagen fan could put it at the end of their Nina Hagen Wish List....

In short: Nina hagen is great. If you only know or like the new stuff don't expect to like this. If you like the old stuff, get the originals.

I don't know what it is that I find about Nina Hagen that is so ultra-inspiring. Maybe it's her creativity, maybe it's her weirdness. Maybe it's just the fact that I really enjoy Germanic oddballs. At any rate, if you enjoy the strange, the unusual, or just The Nina, buy this... Many of the songs are in the original German, which is far preferable, because it makes the music even stranger.

This 2-CD set is excellent to replace your worn vinyl with. All of Nina's classics are here: early gems like Unbeschreiblich Weiblich, her version of the Tubes' White Punks On Dope, her operatic rock excursions Natürträne & Heiss, the catchy Wir Leben Immer Noch and the magnificent African Reggae. Other favourites include Rangehn, New York New York, Auf'm Friedhof and Auf'm Bahnhof Zoo. The spark of creative innovation in her late 70s/early 80s work burns brightly here. She performs with enthusiasm, the playing is tight and the arrangements are just the right side of quirky. Highly recommended.