Jion's Review Of Super Eurobeat Volume 161

[Jion]

01. HI HI MAZINGA / BOMBERS (Asia Records/Boom Boom Beat)

The return of Mauro and his crew to Super Eurobeat is a great and strong one. While the lyrics leave a little to be desired, the music is really strong and quick. The way the lyrics are set up is nice it's mostly a gramatical problem. Overall a great package and if anyone is familiar to the Speed Eurobeat style of 3B, you got a real treat here

4 out of 5

02. REVOLUTION / FASTWAY (Stefano Castagna Productions/SCP)

Previously on Initial D 4th Stage D Selection +, it was a wonderful song then and still is. You have great lyrical work, powerful music with some trancey elements mixed into it. Fantastic work. Only problem I see is the fact that this song has been on a few other CDs which makes it's appearance on SEB rather diluted.

5 out of 5

03. MONEY FUNNY DOLLARS / BAZOOKA GIRL (Live Music Studio/HI-NRG Attack)

Previously on Bazooka Angels - Mooo & Cool, it's the first official single appearance Bazooka Girl on SEB. My biggest gripes with HRG with their females has been their constant using of the similar instruments. While the singing is great, the fact that similar instruments have been used in this song from other songs gives it that "have heard it feel". However I will say that this song is amazingly good. Her voice is great and the music as a whole is great. Not gonna get into the lyrical work haha... But a great song by HRG.

4 out of 5

04. LIVE FOR YOU / DAVE SIMON (SYM Music/Time Records)

Simone Valeo is back with this name; a siginificantly better song than Disco Music. It harkens back to the SEBs from 100 - 120 with some new elements. The whole song flows extremely well and the background vocals are done fantastically well. Just a beautiful song!

5 out of 5

05. ON MY WINGS / MANUEL (A-Beat C Productions)

Slightly changed from its previous release. I'm guessing they took the actual intro compared to the one from Initial D Best Song Collection 1998-2004. The speed is rather consistent compared to other Manuel songs. The trance elements are used extremely well to give a different style for A-Beat C, which began to suffer from a stagnant style. The singing is spot on and just hard hitting. Amazing song then, amazing song now!

5 out of 5

06. MAKE YOUR MOVE / VAN T.K. AND KIKI & FANCY (Stefano Castagna Productions/SCP)

I'm gonna go on a limb and say this was one of the most anticipated titles on this CD because of the odd pairing. I have to say though, no one
has anything to worry about. The trio works fabulously and music is incredible. Discobeat mixed the Happybeat produces quite an interesting combo! The synths seem to come from a tranced up version of Kiki & Kika's old stuff while the bassline seems to be taken from Van's disco stuff. Just breathtaking! Go Go SCP!

5 out of 5

07. LOVE COLLISION / NORMA SHEFFIELD (A-Beat C Productions)

Now I will admit, I've never been a huge fan of Norma's stuff. The tranquil music though is really impressive and works well with Norma's voice. Her voice is actually great to listen to this song. They seemed to find the niche where Norma really works well. Extremely smooth and impressive!

5 out of 5

08. LOVE IS BURNING / ALEXIS (SYM Music/Time Records)

I'm gonna say it, Time knows how to do an song introduction. It was a pop rockish intro that works extremely well with the music. Again like Norma above, they really seem to be finding the niche where Elena Ferretti's vocals work extremely nicely. Excellent song though it doesn't really seem to rise above the 4 level, but it's still quite a ride nontheless!

4 out of 5

09. MAID ATTACK / FRANZ TORNADO AND THE AKIHABARA MAIDS (Live Music Studio/HI-NRG Attack)

The most shocking song on the CD. It really doesn't sound like their typical music! They totally changed the instruments and seemed to have eliminated some vocal synths on Franz's voice for some clairity. Guitars are blazing in this song (It has a guitar solo and a crazy one at that!). It's also the first time I can recall not seeing Nick Festari's credits in a song but Girabudo is there. The speed is perfect with the music that their using and just so much of this song works so well. It's extremely different and extremely refreshing!

5 out of 5

10. HOT HOT / DONNA (Delta Corp.)

Yes! This is what I'm talking about! Delta is here with such a strong song. It sounds like such a dance track with such energy. The vocals are intense and powerful. The whole lyrical style is just so beautiful. You'll find yourself repeating this song just to listen to it's style! Very well done Delta!

5 out of 5

11. FIRE / MAD MAX (Delta Corp.)

Hopefully with every new song on SEB by Mad Max they won't use similar elements from Tsunami Comes. They used quite a few of the same sound effects from Tsunami Comes which kinda seemed to minimize the importance of keeping each song different but it does work well with this song. It's a great dance track with Mad Max putting quite a vocal showcase. Whats really nice is when the song seems to have ended all of a sudden and starts up again. Great job!

5 out of 5

12. HUG ME / KASANOVA (SYM Music/Time Records)

Giordano Gambogi hasn't impressed me this much with his vocal skills since Music Fever (which I consider to be the pinicale of his vocal expression on SEB). This song works extremely well as a whole. The synths used are similar to the ones from John N Mary Dance which were rather different for a Time song so you know that this song is gonna be pretty good! Again not perfect but a rather great song nontheless! Time is really shining again!

4 out of 5

13. TIC TOC / LEILA (Delta Corp.)

The digital clock sounds great and really makes this song unique. Of interest too, which not many people will notice is the way the cymbal sounds are used. Much faster yet silent when compared to the rest of the music. So its more of a compliment to the song. I'm guessing they redid the drum machine or recorded new drums for this song. It's rather splendid and I found myself searching this song for new things to pick up on! Take a listen and find something new!

5 out of 5

14. YELLOW BUTTERFLY / MILK AND COFFEA (Asia Records/Boom Boom Beat)


Yay for new Milk & Coffea! (Well I never heard it =p) It's such a great speedy song but the soothing vocals balance out the speed and power to make it a great song all around. Defintatly a great style for 3B!

5 out out 5

15. BANG BANG BOOM BOOM / G.CARIA (A-Beat C Productions)

I love Giacomo's voice. It's clearer and more powerful than his fathers (at least my opinion). The music is similar to his fathers in that the synths repeat in the intro which helps make it catchy. Punchy and direct, the music is a blast also. The boy can do no wrong it seems! It has some slight trancey elements which round out the whole package rather nicely.

5 out of 5

16. MY WISH / MELISSA WHITE (Stefano Castagna Productions/SCP)

I've wanted the full version of this song ever since I heard a sample of it. This is amazing! Melissa's voice is incredible especially when the song starts up. Wow! The trance elements mixed with the voice just make such a treat for everyone to listen to. I love it!

5 out of 5

17. TRY TO BELIEVE ME / DIGITAL PLANET (A-Beat C Productions)

Digi's style was always the somber style. Well here he doesn't seem quite so sad now does he? His voice is so versitile! I love how it transitions from the intro to the Melos with the effects and different tone. The whole song was just a perfect package of just how versitile A-Beat C is. The dance/trance effects pulled on this song have to be heard. This was what all of 150 seemed to be going for. The transition age has ended and this is the fruit of that era!

5 out of 5

18. SPACE INVADER / DAVE RODGERS (A-Beat C Productions)

And just as we move forward, we have a slight blast to the past. The best way to describe this song is a mix of Make A Movement!! and Space Boy. Though it's a song in itself with it's own elements. Everyone was so worried about it sounding too much like Space Boy, but it really becomes its on song using those elements to introduce new ones such the middle eastern influences. Impressive song by Dave ending a phenominal album.

5 out of 5

CD Score - 5 out of 5/Buy it now!

Not since the public was met with 141 has an SEB introuduced so many new things. It's fantastic, it's fresh and it shows all the work the 150s did wasn't in vain but to push forward this new style. I feel like A-Beat C and HI-NRG Attack finally are making new things that are really gonna wow a lot of people. The addition of 3B was interesting and actually makes the SEB series a lot more well rounded. Fantastic!

Jion

[clubraf]

Wow, your review of 161 really makes my glad I ordered this one! Hopefully I'll get my copy in a few more days...

It's nice to see 3B getting some more songs on SEB again, as I'm a major fan of Saifam music. You said "Maid Attack" sounds pretty fresh and different, yet still hasn't gone bad? Fantastic!

One-sixty-one: Bring on the fun!

[Bore]

11. FIRE / MAD MAX (Delta Corp.)

Hopefully with every new song on SEB by Mad Max they won't use similar elements from Tsunami Comes. They used quite a few of the same sound effects from Tsunami Comes which kinda seemed to minimize the importance of keeping each song different but it does work well with this song. It's a great dance track with Mad Max putting quite a vocal showcase. Whats really nice is when the song seems to have ended all of a sudden and starts up again. Great job!

5 out of 5

Isn't Fire way older than Tsunami Comes? Or at least I think the song was in the catalogue for a really long time before Tsunami Comes was added.

[Ricfiam]

Hmm.. great review.
I can't wait my copy, it arrived to my country on29th! Why I cannot have it?
So, I have a note for you Jion and all the others:
BBB (Boom Boom Beat) is not active anymore, just few vinyls release under this label with old tracks. Compilation vinyls.
Story is:
There was "Asia records" in the golden years, from 1988-1994. In 1994 they suddenly stopped releases. Nobody knows why.
And not just "Asia records", the same styled "F.C.F.", "Radiorama production" and "Eurobeat records". These labels all are under SAIFAM SRL. (Saifam has about 40-50 labels with more music styles)
They back in 1996 with "Boom Boom Beat" and with an amazing song Ken Martin - Virtual love.
On Eurobeat Flash's era and Euromach's era (on Euromach - till vol.10)
we can heard much more beautiful released an unreleased songs.
The unreleased songs were under "BFC" label, like "Tracy - Lovers", "The Wonder-Girls - Prison of love" or "Emy - Another love".
Boom Boom Beat and BFC stopped when they're lost from Euromach series.
The new "Asia records" started in 1998 and today still the only one Eurobeat style label under Saifam Srl.
So finally, today we have only "Saifam Srl./Asia records" in Jion's style.

I hope I wasn't too long, but a story is a story...
Bye,
Richard

[Ricfiam]

11. FIRE / MAD MAX (Delta Corp.)

Hopefully with every new song on SEB by Mad Max they won't use similar elements from Tsunami Comes. They used quite a few of the same sound effects from Tsunami Comes which kinda seemed to minimize the importance of keeping each song different but it does work well with this song. It's a great dance track with Mad Max putting quite a vocal showcase. Whats really nice is when the song seems to have ended all of a sudden and starts up again. Great job!

5 out of 5

Isn't Fire way older than Tsunami Comes? Or at least I think the song was in the catalogue for a really long time before Tsunami Comes was added.

yeah "Fire" is an older song.

[taQ]

Hmm.. great review.
I can't wait my copy, it arrived to my country on29th! Why I cannot have it?
So, I have a note for you Jion and all the others:
BBB (Boom Boom Beat) is not active anymore, just few vinyls release under this label with old tracks. Compilation vinyls.
Story is:
There was "Asia records" in the golden years, from 1988-1994. In 1994 they suddenly stopped releases. Nobody knows why.
And not just "Asia records", the same styled "F.C.F.", "Radiorama production" and "Eurobeat records". These labels all are under SAIFAM SRL. (Saifam has about 40-50 labels with more music styles)
They back in 1996 with "Boom Boom Beat" and with an amazing song Ken Martin - Virtual love.
On Eurobeat Flash's era and Euromach's era (on Euromach - till vol.10)
we can heard much more beautiful released an unreleased songs.
The unreleased songs were under "BFC" label, like "Tracy - Lovers", "The Wonder-Girls - Prison of love" or "Emy - Another love".
Boom Boom Beat and BFC stopped when they're lost from Euromach series.
The new "Asia records" started in 1998 and today still the only one Eurobeat style label under Saifam Srl.
So finally, today we have only "Saifam Srl./Asia records" in Jion's style.

I hope I wasn't too long, but a story is a story...
Bye,
Richard

sorry for quoting the whole thing.
Avex still calls them BBB/Boom Boom Beat, so I think it's fitting that we do too.

[drnrg]

Wow this cd really seems to impress you. I especially dig your graet commrnts on TIME's song. They are always great, but it is nice to see that someone else admires themas much. Your review is very fair to all labels and I like the descriptions you give of each song. Either comparing to older songs or praising the use of new ideas . I wish all reviews would be like this one. Graet job. It definately makes me want to get my copy. I will probobly go broke, seeing I must also buy seb 157 and 159. I downloaded some torrents, but its just not the same as owning the cd, besides it has my favorite song by Overload....TERMINATOR!!!!!

[Ricfiam]

To Taq:
So, Avex needs to learn some history, not the first mistake from them.
Don't let Avex lead you. I'm a fan of Eurobeat (and Asia records is Eurobeat too!).
I know about my lovings.
I just wanted to inform you all, nevermind...

[Jion]

11. FIRE / MAD MAX (Delta Corp.)

Hopefully with every new song on SEB by Mad Max they won't use similar elements from Tsunami Comes. They used quite a few of the same sound effects from Tsunami Comes which kinda seemed to minimize the importance of keeping each song different but it does work well with this song. It's a great dance track with Mad Max putting quite a vocal showcase. Whats really nice is when the song seems to have ended all of a sudden and starts up again. Great job!

5 out of 5

Isn't Fire way older than Tsunami Comes? Or at least I think the song was in the catalogue for a really long time before Tsunami Comes was added.

Both songs were recorded in 2002 so both could have been made at the same time.

[DJ Mike]

Hmm.. great review.
BBB (Boom Boom Beat) is not active anymore, just few vinyls release under this label with old tracks. Compilation vinyls.

Very old-school sounding synth at the beginning of Hi Hi Mazinga - overall I love that song tho Very catchy - especially the instrumental bit (I'm not actually that up on the Eurobeat "terms", so forgive the lack of the proper name)

Honestly, though, I think you're being very soft on this album in your review. On a listen through, there's very little that stands out to me - I really really enjoyed Hi Hi Mazinga, and for once Norma Sheffield got quite a nice song in Love Collision.

Space Invader sounded better in the flesh than the preview clip, which didn't do it any favours, but it's still a poor rehash of Space Boy. To be frank, there are better male Eurobeat artists than Dave Rodgers whom I far prefer - you might swear allegiance to DR through some old school faith, but honestly I fail to see what is so magical about his songs. Then again I always did far prefer the female side of Eurobeat

Definitely NOT a 5 out of 5 album.

M;.

[Cosmic_Bard]

Cosmic_Bard's counterreview of 161!

1.
Hi Hi Mazinga - Bombers - Boom Boom Beat/Saifam

"Hey, Hey, Zinga!" The return of Saifam does not disappoint! Saifam gives us an amazing song, with their classic style and perhaps maybe a bit more modern twist, too. Lyrics are powerful and compelling and the vocals are great, as usual. I think Saifam's style fits in nicely in this era of eurobeat. While I'll miss having Vibration songs, this is certainly just as good if not better. Boom Boom Beat is back. All is right with the world.
10/10

2.
Revolution - Fastway - Stefano Castagna Productions

Again, we see another mediocre Fastway song. I'm starting to lose faith in you, SCP. These things should be getting nines and tens, no problem. What happened? Anyhow, about the song, I find it droning and the vocals sound a little out of place, I mean, for Ennio, it's a little lower than he's used to singing. But, it has its good points. The problem is that it's not 'Fastway' good to me. I think this seven is generous.
7/10

3.
Money Funny Dollars - Bazooka Girl - Hi-NRG Attack Studios

The first ever appearance of Bazooka Girl on SEB, as a soloist. I'd say this is a great intro for her. Fun and powerful like her songs on other albums, very high quality HRG production value, too. I find myself wanting to sing it. Though, it does suffer from a bit of HRG predictable features, such as that synth they use in most of their songs. Plus, the lyrical style is much like all the other songs. Overall, good, though.
8/10

4.
Live For You - Dave Simon - Time Records

You'd probably recognize him from his most popular performance, "I Need Your Love" which was a hit. Even has a sort of similar style. It's a nice song. Score a partial hit with Time for this one, I say.
7/10

5.
On My Wings - Manuel - ABeatC Studios

Manuel pumps out another crazy-ass hit here, used in Initial D, I beleive. With Manuel, it seems he only gets better each time. The Sabi is the place where this song truly shines, but the melos accelerate to it in such a good way. I like it.
9/10

6.
Van T.K. and Kiki and Fancy - Make Your Move - Stefano Castagna Productions

I didn't quite know what to think when I heard the start of this one. I think Van's singing is the focal point of this song because he just sounds more appropriate singing this kind of song. We're used to songs like Jam Jam Jam and Easy Busy for Kiki and Fancy(Kika)... their cheerful demeanor don't really fit well in my eyes, here. Though, without them, the song wouldn't sound nearly as good, as Van is contrasted nicely against them.
8/10

7.
Love Collision - Norma Sheffield - ABeatC Studios

Wow, this is really nice. Norma's soft spoken vocal style works really well in this dreamy sounding yet funky ABeatC production. It's pretty well written too and it has a clever title. The Sabi's really catchy too.
8/10

8.
Love is Burning - Alexis - Time Records

Time's unique style shines through again in this interesting and compelling song. Time always has a nice surprise once in awhile and I think with their creative use of an accoustic guitar, I think this is it. I really like this one.
8/10

9.
Maid Attack - Franz Tornado and the Akihabara Maids - Hi-NRG Attack Studios

Yes, yes! HRG is finally getting it! Guitars rock and HRG knows how to use 'em! This is such a fresh new angle for them. Franz' voice is also powerful and everpresent due to an increased clarity... I think they're using fewer synths and that's the reason. The guitar solo was really fun, I might add.
9/10

10.
Hot Hot - Donna - Delta Dance Studios

Holy crap, this is DELTA? This is a fast, powerful song with awesome lyrics and a great vocalist. Wow. I'm quite surprised. Maybe they've learned something from SEB159's "Pilot is the Hero". This is much more like the older (and in my opinion) better Delta, that brought us awesome stuff in the past.
10/10

11.
Fire - Mad Max - Delta Dance Studios

Hmm. Well, when the songs that precede you are songs like "Tsunami Comes", people expect a lot. I don't think this delivered. Quite bland. I'd skip this in a playlist.
5/10

12.
Hug Me - Kasanova - Time Records

"Hug Me"? Okay. Strange. Very dramatic song, but it's also a little bland and a very typical Time production, too. I think this is the same artist who sang "No Reason To Cry - Mr. M" a few SEBs back. I really loved that song, but this seems pretty mediocre by comparisson.
6/10

13.
Tic Toc - Leila - Delta Dance Studios

Delta surprises us again with another creatively catchy song. Use of the beeping noise is really nice and fits in quite well. Also, the rest of the song is quick and flighty. It's a really great sound. I can picture para para routines already for this. ^_^
9/10

14.
Yellow Butterfly - Milk and Coffea - Boom Boom Beat/Saifam

Saifam's second new stab at SEB is by the artists who performed the popular "Oh Baby Do It". Sounds almost like a conglomeration of HRG and BBB, due its happy and flighty nature. Still, it encompasses BBB's usual style in a new way, keeping all the hard synths and nice percussion work in. A success, but not as good as the earlier song, "Hi Hi Mazinga".
8/10

15.
Bang Bang Boom Boom - G.Caria - ABeatC Studios

Hmm. Well, I don't particularily like the style of song. It's slow, uninspiring... I'm at a loss to see what's really redeeming about this song.
It's a shame, really, because ABeatC's been doing so well lately.
4/10

16.
My Wish - Melissa White - Stefano Castagna Productions

What an odd but soulful intro. Well, this certainly isn't among Melissa White's best stuff, that's for sure. It's not a particularily bad song but it's a little bland... there are some nice new synths in it and they add some nice elements, but I don't think it's enough to save this song. If I had to use a word to describe the song, I'd use "Uninspired".
5/10

17.
Try to Beleive Me - Digital Planet - ABeatC Studios

Digital Planet is back but sadly, this is his weakest work. It's too dreamy and doesn't plow at us with hard, fast and powerful synths and lyrics like he normally does. The trance-y elements in this song are everpresent, giving it a bit of a different edge but I don't think that this is a good turn for Digital Planet, at all. Not that's really a bad song, just that the wrong artist is singing it.
6/10

18.
Space Invader - Dave Rodgers - ABeatC Studios

Giancarlo brings it on home with what almost seems like a sequel to "Space Boy", but it's so much more than that. Dave proves that he can still crank it out, over all these years. While I wish his vocals were maybe a bit more forceful, it's still very impressive. A nice way to end the album.
8/10


Well, this was supposed to be the album that broke the curse of the 150s... I'm not sure it did that, but it least BBB is back and we have two 10 scores.... more than the average 150 album ever got from me. Delta's really kicking it up a notch, it seems, while ABeatC declines in quality a little bit. This better not be the shadow of things to come on the 160's. This, so far, isn't much better than the average 150 album... but enough to warrant noticing.

Album score: 7.5/10

Best Songs:

Hi Hi Mazinga - Bombers
Hot Hot - Donna
On My Wings - Manuel

Worst Songs:

Bang Bang Boom Boom - G.Caria
Fire - Mad Max
My Wish - Melissa White

Honorable Mention:

Maid Attack - Franz Tornado and the Akihabara Maids