Super Eurobeat Vol.207 -Everlasting Dance Trax-

[Vadim]

I just called to say: I Bigga Boom.

BIGGA BUM

[Megan188]

Wow, after listening to this album a fair amount, I can definitely say that it's probably the best release of the 200's decade thus far. There are so many tracks here that I just love, and even Morris Capaldi's presentations are both surprisingly great. Stay With Me is even probably in my top 3 for the compilation, if not #1. It's just sooooo good!

Probably the weakest songs for me are the Hi-NRG Attack ones. Both of them are still quite good, it's just that they aren't truly impressive, and the rest of the album is too consistently excellent for them to stick out in front of the other tracks.

Koishisato Setsunasato Kokorotsuyosato (Eurogrooves Remix) is easily my favorite J-Euro cover this decade. While it is true that I'm desperate for another original Eurogrooves production, the source material here is quite excellent, and so it's therefore no surprise that I love their high-quality rendition of it.

I didn't think I would enjoy All About You and Wonderwoman Dream based on the samples, but both songs are actually surprisingly great. Wonderwoman Dream is just so soothing, and I adore the new vocalist's soft, yet beautiful tone delivery. All About You is definitely on the slower spectrum of David Dima's performances, but it's probably one of his most effective tracks in this style to-date. The melody flows extremely smoothly throughout the song, yet is steady enough that it progresses well, too. In comparison to I Can't Stop Lovin' You, which somehow just doesn't come together effectively for me, this song, along with Wonderwoman Dream, are definitely aishu eurobeat at its best.

[Gorgia_v]

ok, my first comment on the album may have been a little hasty with even more airtime, i have grown to like some of thetracks i didnt, but sometimes when i am reading the comments i am like "was i really listening to the same cd"

Wonderwoman Dream is pretty much the slowest and most boring song to be released this decade, i just dont get any good vibes from the song, the intro was great and i was all excited, but then let down.

All about you has grown on me, but i still dont think its his best work, due to it not being 100% original and fresh feeling.

Bigga Boom has strangly grown on me, and at work people who have heard it on the stor radio (parents and adults) have said that they liked it and wanted to know where to get it (i work in a toystore) haha strange parents....

and the HRG songs have grown on me as well, i ahev had them stuck in my head for the last 2 days and woke up this morning and they were in my head......get them out!!...haha nah i love them i am really loving this less moronic style of HRG almost reminds me of Euromach and the glory days of eurobeat and Para Para.

GV

[the_ditz]

Time to start my review - I may have to do it in parts just due to time restrictions (and for the fact that I go waaaayyy in-depth with some of these tracks!)

Anyway, here goes...

01 MANUEL / LIMOUSINE (Go-Go's Music) [04:40]
Considering Manuel is now officially a Dima Music artist, this could quite possibly be his Go-Go's Music swan-song. I was more than a little concerned after hearing the sample that we were going to get an incoherent mess of ideas with no melodic flow or progression and fairly "safe" production, but within just 11 seconds of this track starting I already knew my ears were in for something special! Manuel was always at his best when he was shouting operatically and flamboyantly in the same tone as he uses during the intro of this track - the "BAAAAAA-BYYYYYYYYYYY!!!" and "GO!" really explode out of the speakers along with the crisp, sharp synth and kick drums blasts. This is a fairly short intro by GGM standards, but the track is all the better for it as it fits in with the sense of urgency and speed present throughout the rest of the song. The hook has a bit of extra bite compared to most of the GGM 190's tracks, although I'm sure that the heavy critics of GGM's newer production will still find faults in the tone and overall sound. Throughout the vocal sections of this song, I am mesmerised by the sheer depth of the layering that Oliva has created with the synths, backing vocals and effects - everything is crafted to give a rich and varied soundscape but it never overshadows the star of the show - Manuel's unique vocals. He gets to shine especially during the chorus - he may not have as mature a sound as the likes of Powerful T. in terms of the operatic stylings that they both possess, but what Manuel has that Powerful T. lacks sometimes is a great likeability and raw power. I also adore the subtle key change that is employed halfway through each of the main synth hooks here - melodically, GGM are really becoming the most experimental label of those currently on the SEB series and I for one love them for that. This track is my most-played from SEB 207, and it will fight it out with the almighty Good Love & Mystery for the best GGM track of the decade. A very fitting end to Manuel & Go-Go's partnership, and dare I say it my favourite track that he's ever released at the label. An awesome, flamboyant and explosive start to this album!
Score: 10/10

02 CHRISTINE / BIGGA BOOM (SCP) [03:58]
Thank god for this track being under the 4 minute mark, that's all I can say! In stark contrast to the last track, we now have a reject C-side from SCP's female archive that really should have been left on the shelf. It's not the style of this track that turns me off - I've really enjoyed Kiki & Fancy tracks in the past that have had a similar childish, happy-go-lucky bounce to them. Indeed, I don't even think it's Christine's vocals that irritate me the most here - although they by no means help the situation, especially considering the fact they have been hyped up even higher than normal to the point where she sounds like a helium-filled teddy bear cover in candy floss (bizarre image I know, but that's the image I get when I hear her woolly and soft vocals). No - I think the major problem here is just the fact that SCP have written a really bland and uninspiring song. The vocal stuttering in the intro does its best to make thing interesting (yawn!), but this track was doomed the moment it was written. It's dated, yes, but so are most of Sinclaire's tracks and he at least still manages to pen a classic every now and then (I'm looking at you Toy For Love!) I hate the melody, I hate the lyrics (don't even get me started on the pronunciation issues between "Boom" and "Bum") and I especially hate the really watery and half-hearted production put in by the SCP team. Now, a lot of you who know me may well dismiss this review as sour grapes because of my general dislike for Christine anyway, but the fact of the matter remains that even if my dear Pamsy had been given this song to sing, I would still feel this sense of great emptiness and nothingness towards it. Worst track on the album by a long shot, and still to this day the only track that I cannot listen to from start to finish without skipping.
Score: 1/10

03 DEJO / 1.2.3.4. FIRE! (SinclaireStyle) [05:03]
I've decided that Sinclaire should be banned from releasing any new tracks with lead female vocals, as it's clear to me that his style and passion comes alive when writing and producing for a male vocalist. I adore the warped, wailing guitar riff that we have in the intro here. I also chuckled to hear the creepy Toy For Love grunt-man making a cameo appearance counting in Dejo's "FIRE!!!" There is a nice sense of progression and a gradual build-up to the main hook in this track as more layers are added bit by bit. The hook itself is one of the best that I've heard since Sinclaire's return of the series - I love those running ascending scales used to create a sense of further progression. The vocal sections are what we have come to expect from SinclaireStyle of late. Rhythmically, they are pretty safe and they pretty much stick rigidly to the 4th notes (on and offbeat) with 8th note connectors. This gives the track a steady pace and rhythm and makes this track a good workout song in my opinion. The lyrics also somehow reinforce this sense of a steady rhythm with the repitition in lines such as "Go please go train, please go faster". Another nice touch comes in the shape of the "oooohhh-ohhhhh" sections during the main synth hook - I love when tracks are given little crowd-pleaser quirks like this as it makes me think of a massive Eurobeat concert with Dejo raising his microphone to the screaming fans to hear the chorus of voices mimicking his "ooooohhs". The one part of this whole song that really offended me (and still does to a certain degree) remains the gratuitous use of unnecessary key changes in the synth hooks. They serve no purpose at all - whereas in the Manuel and Marika tracks, they are used in such a way as to progress the core melodic flow of the song, here they just serve to jolt the listener from one listening level to another without so much as a prior warning. Sinclaire needs to avoid using these tricks just for the hell of it, as his tracks are strong enough to stand on their own. Overall, this is a very good track that mixes just of the right amount of classic Eurobeat with a slightly more modern twist. Toy For Love remains the benchmark however...
Score: 9.5/10

04 DESTINEE / WONDERWOMAN DREAM (Dima Music) [06:09]
Enter the first of a trio of new vocalists making their debut on this SEB - here we have perhaps what is needed more than anything... a new female vocalist from Dima! Destinee sounds like a fairly accomplished and professional vocalist, and she definitely has a nice clear tone to her vocals, but sadly she has been locked a 70's disco timewarp by Dima with no clear means of escape. The organ used in the beginning makes me think of the Phil & Linda tracks from Time, which I was never a fan of, and then when that overdriven flute chorus synth comes in, I honestly thought I was suddenly listening to this song through big balls of cotton wool rather than my big DJ headphones. For me, this is all about the atmosphere and soundscape (or soundworld as most other people seem to say) that a song creates for me, and I'm sorry to say that this track just doesn't spark my fire. It would be wrong to say that I dislike the track - it's pleasant and has some aspects that appeal to me (being a Dima fan, that's no real surprise). However, the overwhelming impression I am left with after listening to this song would have to "is that it?" Even compared to Dima's aishu offerings of late, this track comes off sounding like it is lacking a sense of excitement and that spark that seems to come from every track produced by the label. The melody is pleasant with the rise and fall like the gentle rocking of a boat (particularly noticeable in the chorus), but the real thing that keeps me coming back to Dima's tracks again and again - that X-Factor normally given off from the backing guitars or synth bursts or effects - is sadly missing from this song. A decent performance for a debut, but I'm hoping for a track with just a bit more punch in the future!
Score: 5/10

Review continued - tracks 5 to 9

05 DREAM FIGHTER / ALL ABOUT YOU (Dima Music) [06:22]
Awwww, everyone get your lighters out! I'd probably say that this song demonstrates the spark that I was referring to in Wonderwoman Dream's review better than any other Dima track as essentially without the guitars and the slightly raspier synths and beats, this track could easily have been the male sequel to Destinee's song. We start with those melancholic guitar arpeggios with the gentle string layers shimmering in the background, before we get the spoken intro. There's something about this part of the track that always makes me think of Linkin Park for some weird reason - it's nowhere near as angsty or in your face as their tracks, but the style and sentiment is like a very watered-down tribute to what they do. The hand claps throughout this section sound a little out of place, but that's a personal preference (something deeper and with a more natural "live" feel would have sounded better). When the beat drops and we have the simple synth and guitar in unison approach to the synth hook, I already feel that this track could actually be quite special. The lyrics are melancholic, and the delivery has a great sense of reflection especially in the gentle verses. There is a noticeable stirring in the layering of sounds throughout the verse and chorus, with more and more instruments joining the party until the tom-toms herald the start of the chorus. It's true that the first few notes are identical to "Dream" by Krystal from SEB 198 (a fact I highlighted way back when the samples were posted) but after hearing the chorus in the whole context of the complete song, I am satisfied that this track is not just a lazy copy-and-paste job. I adore the guitar arpeggios during the intro and breakdown, as they give a quite intimate and tangible feeling to the song - very different from the electronica surrounding it. Overall, this is probably my favourite Dream Fighter track to date, and a very welcome addition to an ever-growing set of classic tracks from Dima Music.
Score: 9.5/10

06 JOE D TOASTER / FEEL THE POWER INSIDE (Hi-NRG Attack) [05:47]
The re-invention of this label continues with Joe D Toaster's latest offering (probably one of the more ridiculous Eurobeat aliases still in use today!) What has really set Hi-NRG Attack's tracks apart over the past 6 months or so has been shift to more meaty synths and an overall beefing-up of it's entire soundscape. The punctuating synths throughout the second half of the intro for example sound bright and alert, and really give the song a zesty kick that continues into the hook and vocal sections. Speaking of vocal sections, there has also been a slight change in approach to the way the vocals are handled by the team, as they sound nowhere near as cartoony or warped as they used to. For me, this is probably the change that has made the biggest difference to the overall feeling that a Hi-NRG Attack track gives me nowadays. The classic italo melodies are still in evidence here, as are the tried and tested chord progressions (particularly during the chorus). Underneath all of the advances in production and execution, I actually hear a song that I could easily have overlooked a few years ago under the old worn-out Hi-NRG Attack production methods. What they have done is inject some new life into their existing writing to bring them into the new decade. They are still essentially the old Hi-NRG Attack, but now they have better clothes and more modern haircuts - a bizarre analogy perhaps, but that's probably the best way that I can describe it! Other parts of this specific track I enjoyed were the piano parts during middle breakdown section - we need more acoustic Eurobeat!! Another strong showing from Nu-HRG (as I will now refer to them) and long may it continue!
Score: 9/10

07 CLAUDIA VIP - LUCKY STAR (Hi-NRG Attack) [05:42]
And here we have it ladies and gentlemen - the biggest surprise package of the whole album for me without a shadow of a doubt! After hearing the fairly mundane sample of the chorus for this track, I believed that we were in for another faceless HRG female track that would blend into the mish-mash of all the other HRG female tracks from the past 50 odd releases. Then of course, I heard the intro of the full version. WOW!! Those thick, raspy saw synths layered one over another, each singing their own melody and yet somehow coming together in a hypnotic fusion of electronic beauty - this is own of the best intros that I've ever heard from Hi-NRG Attack (and believe me when I saw that this is a big deal for me - normally a Hi-NRG Attack for me is pretty much just a 24 second chance for a nap until the synth hook kicks in!) This intro in itself could probably turn around my initial scepticism about this track, but thankfully it keeps getting better. The raspy synths are ever present backing up a fairly youthful sound Melody (if that's who it is) and the overall energy of the song is just immense - in a bizarre way, it has mainstream appeal - the raspy synths used could actually appeal to the urban music fans of today (considering the sounds employed by the likes of RedOne in songs such as "Fire Burning" by Sean Kingston) - but ultimately, it stands to further develop the new sound that Nu-HRG has found for itself. The kick drum seems much more prominent now in their productions - like a cross between Delta's Capaldi-style sounds and Dima's kick drum - and their is a greater sense of depth and musicality in each individual layer that makes up the complex tapestry of the track. Lyrically, the song does quite well too, steering clear of the "fire", "desire" pitfalls that the label too often stumble into, and it's something I can easily sing along to without feeling like I've sung it a million times before. I never expected that I'd be saying this about this track, but I love it and were it not for the extremely tough competition on this album, it would easily have taken a top 3 place.
Score: 9.5/10

08 MARKO - I NEED A REVOLUTION (Delta) [04:55]
Delta sure know how to announce their return after a short hiatus! This track is pure and simply classic Capaldi. The intro could easily have been constructed from warped remnants of "Dangerous Speed Cars" and "Mira La Luna", but in a way I like the fact that we finally have a Delta sound that is instantly recognisable and instantly catchy again. The bubbling arps throughout the intro combine with the kick drum to raise the adrenaline fairly quickly in this track, and it's not long before those rich polyphonic synths trumpet their anthemic melody in the synth hook. The vocals are a source of great interest considering we have another new artist on our hands here. Marko doesn't sound quite as unique or Manuel, nor quite as mature as Powerful T., but he has that kind of mid-life cool uncle sound about him (a sound that Delta seem really good at finding for their productions considering they already have Paul Harris on their books). One thing that I would say is that the vocals and backing track don't seem to support each other quite as well say the Nu-HRG tracks preceding this song. In the verse for example, I feel like we have very little attention paid by the music to what the vocals are doing until the very last phrase before the bridge, which leaves a whole section before that without any real interplay between the music and the vocals. Now this may seem like a farily pedantic point to bring up, and in the grand scheme of things it's not really important, but I feel that the Super Eurobeat series is at a stage now where musically it should be as tight as ever, and I just feel that perhaps there were a few magic elements missing from this production that stopped it from reaching the dizzying heights that other tracks have reached. I definitely think we'll be hearing a lot more from Marko after his strong and assured delivery (I also love the distorted final phrase at the very end - a very cool way to finish off the track!) but as a new Capaldi track, this one only just falls short of being up their with the best.
Score: 8.5/10

09 MR. MOOG / STARDUST (Dima Music) [05:31]
Most of what I had to say about this truly awesome track has been said already by people in this topic already, so this review may not be as long as I was originally expecting. From the approaching storm in the intro (those deep trancey loops give off a great vibe) to the awesome synth bursts that really remind me of a lot of Time productions from the past, Dima is going back to his roots. To cap it all, we have that truly awesome sounding hook that uses a synth sound that hasn't been heard much since his days producing at Vibration. The vocals that Magnani provide have a really tender and vulnerable quality to them, which is really nice to hear in this fairly energetic production. The vocal melody is faultless, the production is top-notch and even the ending springs an excellent surprise with the final triumphant "STAR-DUST!!!" echoing through my speakers. I adore this track as much as I expected I would, and my sincere hope is that we will be treated to some more classic sounding Dima in the next SEB - his new stuff is great, but the very sounds used in this track are what made me such a massive fan so I'm thrilled to hear them back in action!
Score: 10/10

[Jay]

"Bigga Boom" has grown on me somewhat. I don't think it's particularly innovative though, which is probably why it took me a while for this Christine song to warm up to me. At the end of the day, I would much rather listen to something like "Pararappa Dance." Still can't get into Manuel or David Dima, which are the only two songs off the "normal" part of the album that I dislike.

Overall, though, I'd say this is easily the best album of the decade so far.

[drnrg]

the_ditz

The bubbling arps throughout the intro combine with the kick drum to raise the adrenaline fairly quickly in this track, and it's not long before those rich polyphonic synths trumpet their anthemic melody in the synth hook.

Pretty much agree 100% with the second half of your review. Just wondering what you mean by the word "arps" since it's basiaclly the first TIME I see it in a review?

the_ditz

Speaking of vocal sections, there has also been a slight change in approach to the way the vocals are handled by the team, as they sound nowhere near as cartoony or warped as they used to.

I also noticed this with Festari's vocals. A good develpement, but You still gotta agree that songs like Go Nakata, Beautiful and Everybody Go would only have worked with his trademark warped vocal style. Infact, I think that style gave the songs their charm.

[DarkSky]

Arp is an abbreviation of ''arpeggio'', which is a musical term.

[ryosuke63]

Alright so 206 sucked, here comes 207, let's give it a fresh start.
It's got a pretty striking cover, but then, I don't think anything could ever top the cover of the infamous Volume 77. Milk. Milk everywhere.
So anyway, I think this is an awesome album, but to be honest... I found a few songs that were so good, their play counts have completely overshadowed all the other tracks' on this album.
That doesn't happen often, and is an indicator that greatness has arrived in the form of musical genius.
And this review is an indicator that incompetence has arrived in the form of a jackass in front of his keyboard. This is his review!


01. Manuel - Limousine
Rating: 8.5/10

Ok, so this volume starts off with a new Manuel song. Considering his energetic style, that's a nice move.
And this song doesn't disappoint, either. He shows off some wicked vocals in the verse, and even the bridge covers a few different styles nicely.
The chorus is great, but it's composed a bit strangely (at least in the chord progression.) That's not a bad thing, though, in this case.
Manuel's flaunting some of his best vocals ever in this song. A perfect way to start the album.



~~~

02. Christine - Bigga Boom
Rating: 9.75/10

WOW.
The moment I heard that synth riff, I blasted this song at full volume. It's absolutely amazing, and we need more of it in eurobeat today.
This song is such a throwback to so many different styles of eurobeat, from the late '80s to the late '90s sound.
It's not too fast, but certainly not too slow. The percussion is nice and tight, and the bridge follows into the chorus very nicely.
Speaking of the chorus, it's totally amazing. Everything seems to come together in it all. The drums and everything, it's all perfect. The melody is so catchy, and the background vocals are brilliant.
On top of it all, it's so bright and full of energy. The only gripe I have about this song is that it's far too short, at 3:56.
Easily one of the best songs this year, I love it.



~~~

03. Dejo - 1.2.3.4. Fire!
Rating: 7.75/10

Ok, so Niko-- I mean "Dejo" has a new song! And he sounds great in it! It's right up his alley, as far as style is concerned.
The verse and bridge are great, and the chorus has that special "catchy, but in every awesome way possible" touch to it that most of his songs always had (Speedway, for example.)
I don't know why I don't have more to say about this song, but it's definitely a great one. It's great to see his songs still have that "touch" to them.



~~~

04. Destinee - Wonderwoman Dream
Rating: 10/10

The first time I heard this song, I almost had a stroke from awe.
The first time I saw the mixed reviews for this song, I almost had a stroke from rage.
I mean, sure, the "lounge-y" intro was a bit risky, but it's not that bad at all, and how could that ever distract from what a beautiful melody this song has?
I don't say this much, but this song is perfect in every way possible, from a production point of view. That is to say, there isn't one thing about one sound in this song that I would change one bit.
Every synth, bassline, drum beat, note, could not have been executed any better, in my opinion.
The synths in the riff have just the right amount of raw, "saw-like" grain to them (as opposed to the slightly softer sound used in most aishu-style songs) and it sounds amazing.
The verse sets a nice easy mood right away, and the bridge takes it somewhere amazing, with some nice nuances like the acoustic guitar. The chorus is epic, and it's got some of the most fantastic chord progressions I've ever heard.
This is by far one of the best songs Dima has ever produced, and that's saying something.



~~~

05. Dream Fighter - All About You
Rating: 6.25/10

Listening to the intro, I thought I was listening to a soft rock song. A bit odd, but that's ok, since the rest of the song is nice.
It's got a good mood to it, and fits the "Dream Fighter" name well.
I don't have much more to say here, sadly. It's a decent song, to be sure.



~~~

06. Joe D. Toaster - Feel The Power Inside
Rating: 7.25/10

"Mmm, toast. Wait, shit, here comes HRG."
I won't even make one pun on this name. Mainly because I can't think of any right now.
Anyway, thanks to their songs on the last few SEBs, I actually wasn't worried about this song at all.
So this song sounds great. Cool synth riff, really cool bridge, and the chorus is excellent. I really like the background synths in it.
Another great example of "controlled chaos" from HRG Attack. Keep it up, and don't crumble, Mr. Toaster. Hey, I thought of one!



~~~

07. Claudia VIP - Lucky Star
Rating: 6/10

Well, I haven't liked any of her songs this year, and this is just marginally better.
The chorus is pretty cool, but there's not much else that stands out to me. Too generic-HRG-sounding, I guess.



~~~

08. Marko - I Need A Revolution
Rating: 7.5/10

Now here's an awesome song!
I'm glad to see the "Marko" name back, and it's back with a vengeance. Ok, maybe not, but it's still a great song.
Great bridge, and the chorus is very catchy, like most of Delta's songs this year. Excellent vocals, too.
I'd love to hear more songs like this from Delta's aggressive-style side.



~~~

09. Mr. Moog - Stardust
Rating: 7/10

Pretty interesting intro. Creative use of techno elements.
The synth riff is composed nicely too, and Mr. Moog completely nailed the vocals. Even the title alone gives the song a cool mood.
It's a great song I would definitely want to hear every now and then, maybe on a megamix, even?
PS, I want some of this "stardust" he's talking about.



~~~

10. Marika - Stay With Me
Rating: 5.75/10

This is interesting. Delta's try on a slow, dark sounding song is a bit odd, to me.
I think it's ok. There really isn't anything wrong with the song, but it's not quite my style, for some reason.
I do like the synth riff though, but I won't be listening to this one much, unfortunately.



~~~

11. Jay Lehr - Hi Love
Rating: 7.5/10

So I was excited to hear this song, since Little Little Star was such a great tune, and I was delighted to see this track is almost as impressive!
In the verse, it's as if the vocals themselves are shaping the sound. Very nice use of echo, there.
The bridge is decent, but the chorus is pretty epic, and the synth riff is very cool and nice sounding.
I wouldn't expect any less from Jay Lehr at this point on. This is a wonderful song.



~~~

12. Dave Rodgers - The Race Of The Night
Rating: 5/10

Here lies Dave Rodgers' voice, 1981-2010. A moment of silence, if you please...
What the hell happened, man? This doesn't even compare to "The Race Is The Game."
Seriously, it's night and day between these two. The synth riff is just freaking weird, and the whole thing sounds like what I can only describe as muddy.
The chorus is great... in theory. I really love it, but I just think it could - no - should sound much better than it does.
I will say, however, that the intro is quite creative. I really love the "car-guitar" work done there.



~~~

13. m.o.v.e - &#24651;&#12375;&#12373;&#12392; &#12379;&#12388;&#12394;&#12373;&#12392; &#24515;&#24375;&#12373;&#12392; <Eurogrooves>
Rating: 7.25/10

m.o.v.e eurobeat remixes have always been hit-or-miss. This is certainly a hit.
Admittedly, I have not heard the original, but I can tell this has been remixed well. Good job to Time Reco-- I mean Eurogrooves for this.
As a side note, I am glad to see MOTSU still has it. GET CHANCE AND LUCK, AND DON'T STOP THE DANCIN'! Wait, that's not right.



~~~

14. Ace - Take My Breath Away <Healing>
Rating: 7.5/10

It's good, but it's no "Don't Stop The Dance." That's all the needs to be said.
But I'll say more, anyway. You would think that this song would sound pretty good, orchestrated - and you'd be right, but then again, you could probably also think of a few other songs that would sound better with the "healing" treatment.
At any rate, this is a great soft version of a great eurobeat song. I'd love to hear more healing tracks from SCP, as they're doing an amazing job with them, so far.




TOTAL SCORE - 103/140

Best Song(s): Christine - Bigga Boom, Destinee - Wonderwoman Dream
Worst Song: Dave Rodgers - The Race Of The Night


Final Thoughts:
Well, I never thought I'd have to say that my least favorite song on an album is from Dave Rodgers, but here I am.
Anyway, I really don't care if SEB only has 3 mind-blowing songs out of a batch of 14 or so terrible ones. I'd be happy with even that, but we are getting so much more right now. There's such an abundance of great songs, I'm sure I'll be proud to be able to look back on this year in eurobeat.
Here's to looking forward to what I'm sure will be an exceptional last three albums of the year!

[drnrg]

ryosuke63

Here lies Dave Rodgers' voice, 1981-2010. A moment of silence, if you please...
What the hell happened, man? This doesn't even compare to "The Race Is The Game."
Seriously, it's night and day between these two. The synth riff is just freaking weird, and the whole thing sounds like what I can only describe as muddy.
The chorus is great... in theory. I really love it, but I just think it could - no - should sound much better than it does.
I will say, however, that the intro is quite creative. I really love the "car-guitar" work done there.

just wondering? Do you hear your cd on a stereo home system or just on p.c speakers? Abeatc songs sound way better blasted through powerful home systems or earphones. At least to my expirience they do.

[Bore]

Gotta say I love your reviews Ryosuke... Although I haven't really had much of a chance to listen to the past 3 (or 4) SEBs, I'm interested after looking through yours.

But yes as I stated before, Bigga Boom = Pure awesome. Definitely one of the better songs I've heard during the last year.

[463028625]

I find

04. Wonderwoman Dream by Destinée Dima
Uggghh. This song screams US pop ballads. I don't say that this isn't Eurobeat, it's Eurobeat. But, damn, aishu stuff never got me and this song is clearly shows it. Next.

5/10

&#8594;have lack two sentence lyrics in album art pic
Which good guy could hlep me.
coz i can't hear clear.

[drnrg]

463028625

I find

04. Wonderwoman Dream by Destinée Dima
Uggghh. This song screams US pop ballads. I don't say that this isn't Eurobeat, it's Eurobeat. But, damn, aishu stuff never got me and this song is clearly shows it. Next.

5/10

Is that it? What did you think of the other 13 songs? At least tell us if you liked any of them

[WNight]

ryosuke63

Here lies Dave Rodgers' voice, 1981-2010. A moment of silence, if you please...
What the hell happened, man? This doesn't even compare to "The Race Is The Game."
Seriously, it's night and day between these two. The synth riff is just freaking weird, and the whole thing sounds like what I can only describe as muddy.
The chorus is great... in theory. I really love it, but I just think it could - no - should sound much better than it does.
I will say, however, that the intro is quite creative. I really love the "car-guitar" work done there.

just wondering? Do you hear your cd on a stereo home system or just on p.c speakers? Abeatc songs sound way better blasted through powerful home systems or earphones. At least to my expirience they do.

I really think this question should have a thread on its own because I personally share your sentiments, Not just for Sun Fire though. The differences between listening to eurobeat (Or other music for that matter) on a stock setting pc/laptop vs something like great earphones + HD sounds or 5.1/7.1 Surround sound etc are enormous. Especially for songs that emphasises heavy use of instruments.

[Jay]

04. Destinee - Wonderwoman Dream
Rating: 10/10

The first time I saw the mixed reviews for this song, I almost had a stroke from rage.
I mean, sure, the "lounge-y" intro was a bit risky, but it's not that bad at all, and how could that ever distract from what a beautiful melody this song has?

I wouldn't get worked up about this if I were you - this song has just fallen victim to the aishu vendetta that quite a number of people seem to have around here. If you've read people's reviews about this song or seen people's top 10s, you'll find that those who really enjoy aishu will praise it to death, but those who don't will quickly dismiss it as bland and boring. It's one of those songs that totally bifurcates the listeners.

I try to remain objective when it comes to judging eurobeat based on the 'style', as there's an even split of aishu and aggressive songs that I really enjoy and really hate. As for 'Wonderwoman Dream' though, I personally think it's one of the best aishu songs I've heard in a long time.

[ryosuke63]

ryosuke63

Here lies Dave Rodgers' voice, 1981-2010. A moment of silence, if you please...
What the hell happened, man? This doesn't even compare to "The Race Is The Game."
Seriously, it's night and day between these two. The synth riff is just freaking weird, and the whole thing sounds like what I can only describe as muddy.
The chorus is great... in theory. I really love it, but I just think it could - no - should sound much better than it does.
I will say, however, that the intro is quite creative. I really love the "car-guitar" work done there.

just wondering? Do you hear your cd on a stereo home system or just on p.c speakers? Abeatc songs sound way better blasted through powerful home systems or earphones. At least to my expirience they do.

Yes I do use headphones somewhere between cheap and pro, but -- don't interrupt me! -- I can safely say that's not the reason, because all the other songs' sound quality is great. And ABeat usually sounds good on those same headphones, it's just this new SunFire stuff from this year that sounds weird. I believe it has something to do with Dave selling ABeat's old gear and getting new stuff.
And thank you Bore, I'm sure you'll enjoy the songs in this decade of SEB you haven't heard -- they're almost all exceptional so far.