Initial impressions - always subject to change of course, but accurate for the most part based on the past few albums...
1. HAWAIIAN ROLLER COASTER RIDE
- Cheese-tastic. This is clearly from the same stable as Kiki & Fancy etc., and for the most part it works. I do think that it will get old very quickly, but for the novelty factor it's a cute start to the album.
2. FREEDOM RIDE
- I love the melody of this one. It has a good hook to it with the repitition. The little that we could hear of the synth hook suggests that this one will have a bit more synth to accompany the trademark guitars, which makes me very happy!
3. IT'S LIKE A FIRE
- Hmmm, not what I was expecting. Sounds more like a female track from the backing, right up until the "FIIIIIIIRRRREEEE" at the very end. I'm hoping for an epic synth hook right after that word!! Unsure about this one yet...

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4. SCREAMING OUT THE POWER
- On some levels, this has a lot of the same old aspects of the old-school HRG female tracks, but there is a big more emphasis behind the beat that seems to give it more substance. A tentative approval - not sure about the synth hook...
5. ON THE TOP AGAIN
- I like the fact that there are less warped vocal effects. I really like the melodic progression of this one. It has that typical Boom Boom Dollars chord progression, so it should please drnrg!

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6. I'LL REMEMBER WHY I LOVE YOU
- There's just not enough backing up the vocals in this track - a complaint I have about most SS tracks. LOL at the "Waiting For A Star To Fall" homage just before the chorus. Unsure, it might improve in extended guise...
7. LOUDER & FASTER
- Typical key change into the chorus that only Powerful T. can do! This one has a lot going on in the background during the second part of the chorus. Old-school synths again, but OH MY GOD - that synth hook sounds immense!!

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8. FLASH & LOVE
- I really don't like this song very much at all. The melody just doesn't light my fire - it's a bit weedy, and sounds like a bad Kylie B-side from the 80's. This is the rubbish that Christine used to get...
9. HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY
- LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!! The piano riff in the background, the galloping bassline, the rich tone of the unwarped vocals. I adore this - better than It's All Up To You, but still using all the best parts from that production and improving on the overall package!
10. IN MY ARMS
- This is the kind of diva singing that Mari-San should take some queues from. This has a really strong Eurodance heritage (of course, it's a remake of a Saifam Eurodance track). The melody reminds me of a track called Memories Of You by Orlando (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9L6MCpf-eI).
11. ME & YOU
- EET'S KERRAZEE! Lol, Ace's pronounciation could use some work at certain parts of this. I really don't know what to make of the song overall. It's clearly taking a lot of influence from the pop world, just like I Won't Fall Apart did. I like it, but perhaps expected a bit more?

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12. LABYRINTH OF LOVE
- OH MY GOD!!! Bubblegum Euro comes to SEB!! This track is just soooooooo cute. Aleky sounds so much like all the classic Scandinavian Bubblegum singers (I instantly thought of a younger version of the Solid Base vocalist when I heard the first few notes of the chorus - check this video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvMmlLlF7mA). I love the twinkling arpeggios in the background, and the funky electro bassline adds a unique touch. Best sample of the bunch!
13. BOY MEETS GIRL <GO-GO'S REMIX>
- Not the biggest advocate for these J-Euro remixes on the series, and this won't change my mind. It's okay, but nothing more.
14. MUSIC FOR THE PEOPLE (Rock Mix)
- Some more self-indulgence from Grandpa Dave. He's starting to sound quite tired in these Rock mixes. This doesn't blow me away, but it's listenable I guess...
By far the top 3 from the samples are:
1. LABYRINTH OF LOVE

2. HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY
3. FREEDOM RIDE / IN MY ARMS (dead-heat)
Worst tracks:
1. FLASH & LOVE (please bring back Pamsy to save us SCP!!!)
2. BOY MEETS GIRL
3. I'LL REMEMBER WHY I LOVE YOU
Overall, this sounds like a good album. Not a groundbreaking album, but very solid. I adore Aleky's track - Dima can do no wrong for me at the moment. I'm also soooo glad to hear that the major HRG slowdown wasn't a one-hit wonder, as Michelle Rose takes probably the biggest surprise spot in my current top 3 (well, 4 but yeah

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Can't until a week tomorrow for the iTunes release
