A Viennese snapshot from 1988.

It's been years since I first purchased this album. I did so while I was an exchange student in Vienna, Austria in the Fall of 1988. Austro-pop is quite different from anything that American's have, but one can also draw a simmilar compairison with the beer and the women that one find in Austria, verses the ones you might find in the United States (sorry for the MALE point of view). During that Fall term I spent in Austria during 1988, this album was just one of the many things with which I became instantly smitten. But enough about me....Falco was an artist who embodied all things Austrian. He encompased their herritage, their culture, thier political ideology (the liberal one's), thier kitch-y tastes, and of course thier trendy nature. From the first cut off of this album ("Wiener Blut" - which is pronounces "VEEN-er BLOOT" - it means "Viennese Blood"; it's the nickname of Vienna's local maffia sindicate), one get's a splendid taste of the late 1980's Austro-pop scene. All of the following tracks are equally good, and are a window into Viennese youth culture of that era. With that in mind, I've always thought of Falco as a cross between Billy Joel and New Order (scary thought). At that time most Vienese were nuts over Falco (save the Austria girl that I was dating at the time; she thought he was a "complete idiot". But she was a huge exception to the rule). This is by far my favorite album by Falco. And unfortunately we'll not see any further work from him; as that he died in a car crash a few years ago while vacationing in the carribean. However, if one really wants a taste for the youth-scene in Vienna just prior to the end of the Cold War, "Wiener Blut" is a GREAT place to start!!!!

Brilliant and banal


Wiener Blut contains two things very rarely heard on a Falco CD: a belch and a cover of someone else's hit single. More about them later.

Before you read any farther, consider that this review is being written by a Falcophile, and immediately knock one-half star off the rating if you are not. I can think of two reasons to buy this CD. Wiener Blut is a cold grey day on the Southern California coast. The few places where the sun breaks through are special. The second reason is the unfortunate reality that there will never be new Falco music again, and when some of us crave new creations to explore, even this album has its fascination.

Here's what you get in this CD. Wiener Blut, the title track, is classic Falco, and promises great things for this CD. Those high expectations are dashed with the next track, (Falco) Rides Again. How desperate for material was Falco to produce these regrettable lyrics and music? Untouchable delivers, but the song unfortunately reminds me of Angel in a Centerfold by J. Geils Band. Just when I was beginning to despair of this CD, Tricks comes along which brings us back to the humorous touch, rhythmic lyrics, and bright pop flourishes of which Falco is master. Following Tricks is Falco's tribute to Garbo. She would not have been flattered if she ever heard it. Garbo ends with a belch, which could be Falco's editorial comment on that tune....it certainly would be mine. Satelite to Satelite is interesting, and is one of the few tracks on this album that echo with any real passion. Read a Book catches in the mind. Walls of Silence, Solid Booze and Sand Am Himalaya are pleasant pop tunes, worth listening to but not very remarkable. The CD ends with the cover of Steely Dan's Do It Again, which is one of the CD's few surprises. Falco makes the song his own, with a version at least as good as the original.

Weiner Blut is an interesting experience. It holds up well today when compared to current hip-hop infected pop. The production is more sophisticated and smoother than early Falco efforts. However, after listening to Wiener Blut, just slide into the CD player the great Falco classics such as Falco 3 and Emotional, and by comparison this collection seems self-absorbed, less alive and just not nearly as much fun.