I'm in a
writing mood. Let's get this review going shall we?
01. Wilder Faster Louder / Dejo (SinclaireStyle) [5:15]
One of the first track we've got to hear at the beginning of the year and boy, it started the year well! Very engaging track from the very first second, it also has a wicked riff, a catchy melody, rhythm and vocal flow. You can feel the emotion and effort poured into the track. It's an amazing track and one heck of a title to start the new compilation with.
9¾/10
02. Showdown / Hotblade (SCP) [4:13]
Again, the energy keeps flowing! Hotblade's back with another catchy tune written by the crew at SCP. What can I say? The melody is pretty cool, vocal flow is nice and catchy chorus. I can add nothing else. When you can't complain, what else can you say? "It's an amazing track!". Only that.
9¾/10
03. Crazy And Free / Pamsy (SCP) [4:03]
The track I bought this compilation for! And God, I'm not disappointed! Pamsy's vocals are still top notch. The riff is probably the song's weakest point, to be perfectly honest. I like the progression from verse, bridge and chorus. Melancholy to happiness. Still, an amazing track. Great comeback!
9½/10
04. Manga Style / Manuel (GGM) [4:11]
A song that makes some kind of sense? Yep, and it's slower than expected too. Manuel's second composition and was revealed (the title) in an interview of AnimeNewsNetwork and it does not deceive. Amazing melody, vocal work & flow. Catchy chorus too. The riff is very imaginative too, more in-line with the pre-SCP sounding GGM. Also kudos on that keytar solo. We love Manga Style!
9¾/10
05. Whenever I Dream On / Tipsy & Tipsy (Asia) [5:33]
That's where the train starts to be unstable. I had good vibe when the song was released on Juno. While I dig that guitar intro and riff and most of the melodies, the chorus and the subsequent riffs (with the "uh-woah-uh-woah woah-eh") and the chorus are the weak points of the song. The riff would be cooler without it. Good track with a guitar solo. But, seriously, put Tipsy & Tipsy to rest for a while, seriously.
8/10
06. I Wanna Run Away / Gordon Jim (Hi-NRG Attack) [5:13]
This song... it has a good intro. However, the riff is so disappointing and not that entertaining. However, the vocals brings so fun in the song. So, it's a mixed bag for me. I can't bring myself to like this one too much.
7½/10
07. Something Beautiful / Luke & Cherry (Delta) [5:10]
Delta without his star continues the trend of... sub-par tracks. This one isn't as bad as the next track but I still feel that it's incredibly generic. I can't say anything else... the word "generic" is the right word for this track. Everything sounds so-so. No standout whatsoever.
6/10
08. One Shiny Day / Eliza (Delta) [5:23]
There was the "generic" track and then there's "mediocre generic". The riff is extremely boring. It sounds like a more watered down version of "Something Beautiful". "We must be happy"? We must be bored, sound more like it.
3/10
09. Too Tan / Billy The Butcher (Hi-NRG Attack) [5:08]
Two mediocre tracks later, we got something totally amazing. With a new vocalist and writter, we got a new theme! Egypt and mummies. Like Russia, Vodka and cows, this theme goes hand in hand with Eurobeat. This is what Hi-NRG does best. This song is so fun and brings some fresh air. This song is extremely addicting and has an amazing sing-along vibe that goes for it. Too tan tan tan!
10/10
10. Take Me Into Your Golden Dream / Norma Sheffield (SunFire) [4:12]
*grumble grumble*
First there was Eliza. Now, there's Norma. What can I say... Well, you know what... I'm not even going to bother. BORING.
3/10
11. Only One / Martina Dry (Hi-NRG Attack) [5:15]
Martina Dry. It has been a while since we've seen this alias. SEB 172 if I recall. I must say, while it's not a greatest hit, I rather enjoy this track. The riff is rather different than usual Hi-NRG stuff. The vocals are fine and the highlight is definitely the chorus performance. Especially the din-don-dan moment. Pretty good track!
8½/10
12. Money Money Money / Dave Rodgers (SunFire) [4:11]
Galopping bass? Count me the fuck in! I simply adore that kind of bass. It's why I love the track "Tonight Tonight" by Kevin Johnson so much. We got a great intro, very reminescent of older Dave tracks. The riff is pretty darn good and DAT GALOPPING BASS. Great vocal performance with great melody and DAT BASS. Did I mention that I love galopping bass? I think I didn't so, I love galopping bass. Too bad that this song is so short, though.
9½/10
13. One More Night / Futura (SunFire) [4:02]
When I saw Futura on the final tracklist, I was like "Oh God...". I was waiting for another mediocre song. However, to my surprise, it turned pretty darn good. The loud vocals works so well. The highlights of this song, for me, are the verses. They are so catchy. I'm not saying that the bridge and chorus are bad, far from that. Just giving credit where it's due. I just hope that Futura can make more songs like that in the future. The higher BPM does fit her very well!
9¾/10
14. Far From The Light / Leo River (GGM) [4:04]
Oh wow... This, guys, is probably my favorite track of the album with Too Tan. The serious/melancholic mood going for this track... I love it. The old GGM synths to back up the riff? Even better! The vocals are so good, the trancey melodies. I love, love, LOVE it!
10/10
15. Been A Bang / Fastway (SCP) [4:12]
The few last Fastway tracks were disappointing in my opinion and I was looking forward to see if, this time around, he would make some kind of come back. Of course, he will! The intro is very inviting backed up with a good sabi. His vocals are as entertaining as always. Melodies are not the most original, but works very well for this track. Very content with this track. In fact, it's pretty darn good!
9½/10
Overall thoughts:
Wow. I haven't been as satisfied Eurobeat-wise since SEB 195. It's not better than SEB 195 (this volume is still the king of the compilations - it's far from being dethroned!) but it makes my top 5 of the best SEB album of all time! There's a load of amazing track in those 15. Nine, to be exact! On the last volumes, If I had five worth listening over and over, that'd be good. But, NINE?! That's an amazing score!
Hi-NRG Attack never so much of a spotlight is such a long period of time. Three tracks! And, a new vocalist to top it off too! And, as surprsing it is for Hi-NRG Attack to have three tracks, it's surprising to see that Dima was completely wiped-out the chart for this album. I'd totally take a Dima song over that Eliza or Norma track any day.
The return of Pamsy in studio was another huge highlight for me. She did not deceive. In fact, it's one of the nine amazing tracks of this album. Talking of return, Leo River did return too and it was an amazing return too!
The only Sinclaire entry was an amazing one too, let's NOT forget about it.
Sunfire is very polarizing. On one hand, Dave does those amazing track. On the other hand, there's these totally filler tracks like Norma's. However, in this album two bull's eye out of three is pretty darn good if I say so myself.
However, Delta... what are we going to do with you? Geez... there's barely any good tracks (two in fact - Don't Forget and Fairy Tale). The departure of Newfield is still weights a lot even though it's been years. Unless they bring some fresh composers in, I can't see them making a lot of hits in the near future. Or at least change the sound world a bit.
Asia is gonna Asia. They are almost absent. There is one track that is pretty much forgotten when the next volume is out. Bring back the old Asia! The Factory Team, Bombers, Lupin, Laurie, etc!
Hi-NRG Attack, SCP, SinclaireStyle and Go Go's Music are totally on a roll lately! Don't drop the ball!
Overall rating: 9/10
Top 5
Too Tan / Billy The Butcher
Far From The Light / Leo River
Crazy And Free / Pamsy
One More Night / Futura
Money Money Money / Dave Rodgers
Top 3 Honorable Mention (because one isN't enough for this album)
Manga Style / Manuel
Showdown / Hotblade
Been A Bang / Fastway
The Hall Of Shame
Something Beautiful / Luke & Cherry
One Shiny Day / Eliza
Take Me Into Your Golden Dream / Norma Sheffield