REVIEW TIEM LAWLZ
1. Super Eurobeat by Dave Rodgers ft. Futura
It only features Futura insofar as Caballero With Sombrero featured Bazooka Girl: she barely gets a word in... That aside, it's quite frankly an exciting song, if somehow 'shallow'. In fact, I'd say it has the opposite problem of most Sinclairestyle songs... Sinclaire has his cranked up to 11 whereas Rodgers seems to have it at 1. It's an exciting composition everywhere but the riff, which isn't lacking in energy either. Not Dave's best but certainly worthy of note. It sounds like Dave's trying to mix in a drop more 'artistry' into his popular style, which has its benefits and its less successful moments. Solid.
A-
2. Power of My Love by Ire-- err, Yo Shine
TRAAAAANCE INTRO. SCP can't seem to get enough of this kind of track... intro isn't quite gripping, per se, until the riff hits... which isn't entirely gripping either. Is Irene singing through her nose a bit more in this track? Something about the track reminds me a great deal of American Pop Stars, except Yo Shine has some natural talent... Chorus is VERY clearly the very best part of the song for me. This is the kind of track I could play comfortably in the company of friends... provided they don't mind trance. Solid production but it doesn't hook me as it probably should.
B+
3. Rock Beatin' Wild by Fastway
Did someone switch me to decaf?? Something sounds simultaneously like loosely produced Eurobeat and fantastic rock 'n roll on this track. Can't say I'm impressed by the riff by any means (It sounds like The Snake couldn't let go of one more track...) it's not a bad SONG per se, and I'd LOVE to hear a rock-only version of this song, but... something's lacking in terms of the Eurobeat-ness of the track, if I may use a loose term. Sorry Fastway, you're an awesome Eurobeat artist, but they can't all be hits... this one's proof. Bonus points for EXCELLENT guitarwork and lyrics that are pretty interesting.
B
4.10,000 Lovers by Mirka
Wow, this is so very much a Sinclaire track, with the ups and downs that entails. WE'VE CREATED A MENTAL ATMOSPHERE is actually a funny touch... the synth riff doesn't grab me much, but Ms. Gatti sounds cute-ish in this track. Why do the lyrics strike me as dirty...? At any rate, above-par production for 90's Sinclaire, and a nice flashback to ABeatC. A little shrill sometimes, but hey— that's how the 90's were. P: Also, I've written Extendeds that were only moderately longer than this one... Sinclaire's really taking us on a journey instead of the short trips that most SEB cuts give. Bonus points for longer song. (Did I hear some of those sounds in the most recent Charlie the Unicorn???)
B
5. Nightrain by Manuel
The intro gets me all Initial D hyped--! Manuel's back in all his glory, did it finally happen? Then the riff hits... and it sounds like GGM actually made a couple modifications to their synth riff sound, so, yes, I'm really enjoying this track in a way I don't enjoy most GGM tracks! And WOW, what chord changes~! What a blast! What a track, I'm hooked from verse to chorus to riff! It's everything Rock Beatin' Wild was trying to be (and, in Fastway's defense, he came VERY close. In fact, in most cases I tend to give SCP the benefit of the doubt), but executed with juuuuust that much more. Mr. Oliva, Mrs. Gatti, Mr. Caramori... you have my first BEST OF ALBUM track. Kept me amped the entire time.
A+ (BEST OF)
6. Never Ending Love by Tipsy & Tipsy
Starts in a way that's undeniably SAIFAM... cute in its own way but you know it's gonna build up sweetly too. Aww... I sort of want to give this song a hug... and while I usually find riffs like these boring, I actually like how dreamlike this one is. Chord progressions are pretty neat too. It never gets too exciting, but it's all very easy on the ear in a way that keeps me listening. It's odd; I tend to like more "aggro" tracks but this one's just plain pleasant. I give this track an "A" for being a surprise joy. I can hear that token "Gabrielli" feel in this one, too... just... yes.
A-
7. You Are My Wonder by Queen 26
An entry from the undefeatable Luka Torchiani and Matteo Rizzi! Let's see what they've cooked up with the help of Morris Capaldi... so far it's the usual flavorings and styles, which is pretty nice... I gott'a say, the synth riff is a drop disappointing from some of the exciting fare we've heard from this team before. Queen 26 sounds awesome as always, and the lyrics are really quite well done, and the music is at least compositionally solid. The riff is still a bit disappointing... the only letdown from an otherwise solid and enjoyable track. With a little more going on in the riff, their next track together could be phenomenal.
B+
8. Say Goodbye by Mr. Moog
LOL, SYNTHESIZER REFERENCE. Composed/arranged/mixed by the infinite Davide DiMarcantonio and written/sung by the omnipresent Claudio Magnani, this track really does have a lot to live up to... LOVE the way the song swells in all jungle-like. Dima can always whip up a great soundworld and this song is no exception. Riff is typical Dima-label fare, which is a good thing for those keeping score at home. Is that Krystal backing him up? Solid, gripping, entertaining, and hearing Claudio's voice over a Dima track really does sound good. (Though, I gott'a say, Claudio's lyrics really do reveal his time with Live Music Studio...) Fantastic work and WILL be replayed.
A
9. In Your Car by Claudia Vip
Intro uses some Garageband loops, which is cool because that's something I use too! A little bit just before the riff is actually pretty catchy... and given how "slippery" the riff here is, it would've served as a better riff. Claudia Vip sounds great here... is it that she's not pitched here? Every time I hear that GB clip it makes me a little giddy as a musician... I'm not alone~! Another solid HRG production that's only hampered by the synth riff... HRG was my first favorite label and it's my hope, as a fan, that they abandon the "slippery 16ths everywhere" synth riff style and focus on being catchier. The crew at LMS is a collection of masterminds, and I eagerly await when their riffs reflect that.
C+
10. Wonderlover by K. De Leo
The intro reminds me of previous Helena/Sophie entries. Then the vocals kick in and I remember who the heck we're dealing with. This ain't gonna be some pansy entry. Riff sounds actually somewhat different for Eurogrooves, which is good. The song is just outright good— produced fantastically, sung wonderfully (Mr. DeLeo really does sound like he's enjoying himself on this track), and it all comes together well. It's not really my kind of track, but I can put that aside for this song. The ONLY reason it doesn't get an A+ is due to personal taste and pure corniness of the lyrics, which is really just my own pettiness. The song in and of itself really is nothing short of professional and successful work.
A
11. Live It Up! by Nathalie
Sinclaire had no trouble with the "back to roots" sound here, haha! Nathalie sounds like she's been waiting for this for a while, and Sinclaire brings out his better synths for the riff. It seems that Sinclaire learned a great deal from his first few tracks back on the earlier SEBs, as this combines his better moves of "now" with his ever-present sounds from "then". One complaint is that Nathalie does occasionally get buried in the sounds. Apart from that, the track is fun fun fun! (Bits of the synth riff remind me of some of the music to Touhou, for some reason). The weird intermission isn't always in tune but it's definitely interesting.
A-
12. Blah Blah Blah by some Californian
I can't read what they typed here about me in the booklet! I dunno what it says... ;~; (Also, they gave me a production credit??) (STEBBINS not "STABBINS"...)
D- (SEE ME AFTER CLASS!)
13. Climber's High (Dima Remix) by GIRL NEXT DOOR
Intro's sort'a ethereal... wouldn't suspect it to be Eurobeat at all. Actually, I tend to enjoy J-Euro because I don't have to focus on the lyrics at all, and can listen solely to the music, which Dima handles masterfully. Autotune in some places actually enhances the feeling until the riff... which HITS YOU IN THE FACE! What a great riff for the song! Dima nailed the translation into Eurobeat. I've never heard the original but I'm now worried that Dima spoiled me for the original... all-around excellent track.
A+ (another Best-Of!)
14. Wild Reputation (Rock Mix) by Mr. Rodgers
The song translates well into rock, and were it not for some of the Eurobeat-isms that remain in the song, it'd actually be even more pristine. Dave really does need to do more rock music, it seems to make him very happy and it just sounds good coming from him anyway. That's not to say his Eurobeat work isn't good by any means; it's good, but he seems to enjoy rock a lot and it's my belief that a musician should never lose touch with the style that gives him joy. (THOSE ARE MY CHOIR SOUNDS DARNIT! D:< )
B+
What a great album! Apart from some occasional hiccups and some Californian punk, there are no "bad" songs on the album! The move to "the roots" was a VERY good idea and it is worthy of praise on 7A's and avex's part.
OVERALL SCORE:
A-
These songs stood out to me:
NIGHTRAIN by Manuel
SAY GOODBYE by Mr. Moog
CLIMBER'S HIGH (Dima Mix) by GIRL NEXT DOOR
I look forward to improvements on songs like:
ROCK BEATIN' WILD by Fastway (Maybe a bit more catch to the riff...)
IN YOUR CAR by Claudia Vip (same problem as above.)
ADDENDUM: I'm happy for Dima, Newfield and Mr. Rimonti, and I'mma let them finish, but... Ken Blast had the best SEB Release/Studio pictures of all time. (BIIIIG pictures!)
http://www.eurobeatblog.com/wp-includes ... MG4162.JPG
http://www.eurobeatblog.com/wp-includes ... MG4163.JPG