jay
Also, it's funny how GGM's recent songs are on an entirely different planet to the earlier gems they were pumping out just 2-3 years ago like 'Red Light & Sex' and 'Stop the Time Tonight'. You can't even begin to compare those songs with the snorefests they've been putting out recently. If GGM ever decides to go back to their roots, I'll be one happy camper.
If you ever hit the nail on the head it was on that very quote.I'll go as far as to say that I completely forgot that songs like Red Light & Sex and Adrenaline were indeed GGMs. I precisely remeber Megan correcting me when I would credit AbeatC instead of GGMs for those two songs.
but anyway, back to my review.. and we start off with a mega chart buster from HRG Attack.
05.
Garcon- On The Top Again (HRG Attack)
It's funny ,but usually HRG Attack are at their best when they showcase more than one song. AVEX thought it was TIME for a new Garcon song and I couldn't be happier with Festari's new song. The song is Aggressive style which the label excells in, but the intro itself isn't entirely form the aggressive side. It's actually kinda mellow especially with the added piano beats. almost a hybred intro from Dima world and LMS. By the TIME the riff kicks in ,you will immediately be taken back to songs like Hot Girl and Baila Pistolero. I use these examples, because the song itself is less frantic than your usual HRG Attack fare. Festari is singing in Aggressive tone, but not as angry as usual. His backup sngers are there simply for backup and not screaming at an annoying tone. All these factors actually add to the song's charm, since we are indeed feeling a mid 90s mesmerizing effect. Probobly one of the first examples that pop into my mind that isn't a TIME song ,would be
Boom Boom Sexy Lady It's nice to have an aggressive song that doesn't have to go oevr the top to get it's point accross. Don't get me wrong, I love the chaotic Aggressivness of HRG Attack songs, but this one hits the perfection level just the way it is. there is a part at the 3:55 min that plays the first part of the bridge in the old style progressive trumpets style, which I absolutely adore. It's short, but oh so hitting my Eurobeat heart. BTW, these are all still new songs that don't even appear on HRG Attack catalog, so I'm anxiously awaiting what other trick they will pull out of a hat.
10+/10
06.
Nathalie- I'll Remeber Why II Love You (Sinclaire Style)
I think Bratt is getting alot of uncalled slack for this song. It's really not as bad as some of you had me thinking. I don't recall that Pop song you guys mention, but I know I've heard that intro. Perhaps, since I don't identify it with that said song, could be the reason I accept it a bit more than others. It does have that one weak point that we all seem to agree on and that's the vocals. I don't hear an ounce of passion in that vocal delivery and for someone like me, that spells out trouble. Eurobeat needs NRGetic vocals and ,sorry to say ,but someone should have fed poor Nathalie some speed before she sang this song. The rest of the song is uplifting and bouncy and I actually think her vocals brings down the peppyness one notch lower than intended. It's a fact that in Eurobeat; vocals can either make or break a song and I really think Bratt should be a bit more demanding on vocal delivery, especially when he creates an otherwise uplifting fun song like this one. Once again at the 2:44 mark starts a wonderfull instrumental breakdown, which pushes this song up one grade level. Thank goodness for cool breakdowns.
8/10
07.
Powerful T.- Louder & Faster (Sun Fire)
So we are up to one of the most controversial songs on the cd and ironically enough it comes from one of Eurobeat's most celebrated artists. Usually artists will get slack from fans for going the pop or low BPMs road, but this TIME Powerful T. is getting slack for taking his style of music to the next level. See, to fully appreciate this song, one must remeber that R. Tiranti doesn't sing your average Eurobeat song. His songs always go that extra mile to impress. Weather it be vocals, melody or as in this case; a rather chaotic sounding riff, that I for on, think is the route his musical style would infact go if he was striving for the next extreme level. Louder And Faster is the title of the song and as far as titles go, it delivers. I'll go as far as to say that this is my new favourite Powerful T. song. Like I said, the first couple of notes remind me of
Night Of Fire, but in the off key melody. The part right before the riff tricks you into thinking you might actually get a friendlier sounding riff, but that is not the case. What you actually get is a riff so full of adrenaline that if you do not hold on tight, you will definately fall off the ride. I was hanging on for dear life on this rollercoaster of pumped up agressivneess and loved every minuite of it. Wether you want to admit it or not, this is the equivalent to that Super pumped Eurgrooves song that is missing from the cd....and really; for all the choatic, loud, and angryness it showcases, the song is pretty damn catchy as well. I say that if it didn't get you from the start, that it should grow on most of you in about a few weeks TIME. I'm really hoping Sun Fire will indeed strive to bring us Eurobeat to the next extreme.
10+/10
08.
Momo- Flash & Love (SCP)
Here is another song that is getting some rather uncalled slack. Again ,The only problem I really have with the tune is the shitty length it runs. Not even 4 mins. How good can your song actually be if it fails to hit a 4:00 mins mark. I realize SCP is notorious for making the right edits and comming up with better SEB edits than say; Time ever did, but damn this TIME they are really pushing their luck. Anyway, this song really gives me an old skool feel. Not only the melody, but also its intro and especially, outro. Someone should tell SCP that those exploding outros are a thing of the past. Not much thought went into that effect. It even sounds as if it was purposely made to sound longer with that explosion and that just spells laziness to me. What does do wonders for me, is the riff played on light piano beats, but overall the song does sound like if it just injects new vocals into a rehashed melody from another song. SCP can do way better in musical productions and I know I'm not alone in this thought.
7+/10
09.
Michelle Rose- Hard To Say I'm Sorry (HRG Attack)
We are up to one of the best songs HRG Attack has ever produced. It's amazing how after 1000s of songs a label can still come up with a masterpiece. Just when you thought every melody, soundworld and idea had been used; along comes something 100% fresh. The iceing on the cake is that it comes from one of my favourite Eurobeat labels ever created. This is exactly the same feeling I got when I first heard TIME's Touch & Go, A Perfect Hero or The New Heartbreaker. The only difference ifs that this song is 0% agressive. At least not in the same style as the next HRG Attack song uses, but it's very very powerful in melody and overall deliverance, Where to start? How about that intro? Cowbells and galloping bass galore. I always knew HRG Attack had buisy sounding songs for a reason and here at this slowed down effect ; the listener can really hear each instrument in it's own glory. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Claudio Accantino had a bit more percentage in the song's composition, than Rimonti & Festari. If any of you rember Accantino's works at Asia label, then you hear what I mean. There are a few songs that come to mind like Running Over The Night and Joy And Sorrow, but neither of those can compete with the amazing melody found in the riff. Wow! Tremonouz talent showcased by the label. Perfect 10s across the table.
10+++++
10.
Kate Project - In My Arms (Saifam)
Here is a song that I have been playing heavy, not beacuse I think it's astounding nor anything, but becuase I have been trying to force myself to accept her eurodance style of singing. The riff and meoldy are perfect Italo style taking me back to my Sophie and Rose days, but those vocals sound so out of place on a Eurobeat song. At least to me they do and it's gonna take light years for me to accept that C.O.R.O.N.A could actually do vocals for a Eurobeat song. This is mainly the reason why Mari-San sounded so unapealing to me. Poor vocal quality. Once again the song receives a point higher for melody and sweet sounding percussion and that part at the 4:30 mark hits the spot as well.
7+/10
11.
Ace- Me & You (SCP)
There really are some amazing songs on this cd and as a result some other songs suffer a great lack of replay value. The Snake, Momo and this Ace song fall in that catagory. It's not a bad entry at all and I'll just go ahead and say that the bridge and chorus are the reason I could listen to this song nonstop, but everything else just sounds so light. Once again I'll use the term Eurofriendly. Not only in Soundworlds, but also his vocal delivery play it too safe to be a certified Ace classic, like Play The Music or T.V Hero(Damn I miss that old skook sound). Anyway, for me this song also fails miserably in delivering a memorable melody in the verses. i won't even mention the breakdown, because SCP seems to think they are not needed in a song. Maybe if they put more effort in the breakdowns, they could actually acheive the 5 min mark for a proper extended. Anyway, the song has "Grow on me value", but just how long before it kicks in is anyone's guess.
8/10
12.
Aleky- Labyrinth Of Love (Dima music)
I'll be the first to admit that I gave Eternity about 2 spins before writing Aleky off as a one hit wonder...and that wasn't even a good song for me. Now comes this new Labyrinth Of Love. This song seems to have split up the Eurobeat community. Some say it's Expirmental Eurobeat, while others argue it would be better placed on a compilation with Gaga and Spears. I think it very much fits the Eurobeat style. The melody in the verses is really the only part I would concider radio , but the rest has a cool Italo vibe and I can't specify how much that intro and 4:15 mark sounds like something from Giorgio Moroder's School of Midnight Express would. Especially in the break, cuz it immediately begins after she says Labyrinth Of Love. I think even Donna Summer herself would recall one of her Disco classics. It's really giving the song that incredible Hi-Energy power that I love. The flute would also fall under the expiremental catagory. In fact is great to see Dima inserting Moogs and flutes onto his productions. I think A sytar or harp would also prove a winning step in a Eurobeat production. Every song has that one iceing on the cake and for me it would have to be the short drum intro before the chorus. It just gets me pumped up every TIME. After about a week of replay; I would have to agree; that Eurobeat or not, this Dima production is simply epic.
10/10
This pretty much ends the cd for me, since at this point ,I'll either replay one of my favs or just repeat the cd from track 2.
Dave's track isn't abysmal, but his vocals are so off, that I feel quite embarressed listening to the whole song through. The TRF song is just crap to the nth degree.
This cd is actually very good on many levels. There are not too many 10s , but overall nothing under a seven, except for that Hawiian FINAL DESTINATION Rollercoaster ride, which I hardly concider a Eurobeat song. Not to say a real song at all. All the rest of the songs; for lack of a better phrase, do their part, but I'm still really feeing the absence of DELTA and especially Eurogrooves. I'm hoping Sergio Dall Ora will dream up some 90s style TIME masterpiece for Dahny or Elena, but sooner than later.
Top 3 songs.
Michelle Rose- hard To Say I'm Sorry
Garcon- On The Top Again
Powerful T.- Louder & Faster
Bottom 3
Hawiiian Rollercrapster ridex3