Review of Super Eurobeat 167
Posted: 22 Apr 2006, 19:06
Since there's a lot of discussion flying here and there about 167, I thought I'd subject it to a review. There's a lot of hits and a lot of misses on this album, generating an interesting contrast.
1. Chemical Love - Kevin & Cherry - Delta
9/10
This song's a great way to start of the album. Fast and catchy, Chemical Love has a really interesting structuring of the lyrics in the A-Melo. The small snippet of this song featured in Intial D certainly doesn't do it justice. Personally, I think the volume levels on the male vocals need to come up a bit as Clara drowns them out too much... but that's a preferential thing, really, I think.
2. Yeah! - Christine - SCP
7/10
I didn't think too much of this song fromt the Hinoi Team cover and the small sample on the avex site... but after hearing the final full product, it reveals itself to be a fun, upbeat and more importantly, catchy song. Christine has a nice, unique voice, but it's very rarely showcased these days. She's certainly not my favourite SCP artist, but this song is produced really well and I still enjoy it.
3. Ding a Ling 2006 - Jilly - Time
7/10
I only vaguely remember the original of this song, but from what I can recall, this remix does it justice. It's not as thorough a remake as previous '200X' series songs, but I still think it's a nice addition to 167.
4. Sun in the Rain - Manuel - ABeatC
10/10!
A. Beat. C. Power. This song is simply dripping with it. If this song doesn't make you want to dance, you are indeed a soulless creature. I think it's quite possibly one of the best songs Manuel has ever performed in. The backup vocals (Gobbi?) also contrast very well with Manuel. Not since "Shock Me" have I been this enthused by a Manuel song. Absolutely top notch.
5. Disco Energy - Bombers - BBB (Saifam)
10/10!
"Disco, disco energy... wooo!" Like someone mentionned in another review, this song takes us back to songs like "Virtual Love", though I feel this song is better. (and I voted Virtual Love for my #1 choice on 160) This song screams out a combination of Saifam's uniquely sounding male-powered songs with a distinctive splash of old disco funk. The combination is certainly a winning one and for me, completely justifies BBB's return in this one song.
6. Listen to My Heart - Lolita - ABeatC
8/10
A clear sounding, nicely paced song that has a very positive feeling to it. Almost overshadowed a bit on this album by some of the larger hits, but it still stands out as a typically solid Lolita song.
7. Get Up and Move It - 70's Queens Feat. Annaline & Virginelle - ABeatC
10/10!
Wow! Feel that disco power! The guitarwork in this song is really awesome and the disco samples are absolutely everywhere. It also lays down a really solid and moderately fast beat, for a great song filled with disco energy! I'd almost call this EuroDisco, but I'm in no way opposed to seeing this or further songs like this on SEB. If anything, the song is so busy with the synths, that it drowns out the vocals a bit. This is a new favourite for me.
8. Sex Gun - Joe D. Toaster - Hi-NRG Attack
7/10
This was another song that needed a few more listens before being finally judged. At first, I found it a little boring and unremarkable, but overall it's got a feeling like a lot of older HRG songs used to.
9. Walkin' In the Shadow - Pamsy - SCP
8/10
The song's really catchy and it's a great example of the newer trance-inspired SCP style eurobeat that is used for most of Pamsy's tracks. Of course, deviating from the standard feel of eurobeat makes the song feel much more dreamy using synths with a longer duration and tons of reverb. Tracks like this are a nice change once in awhile, but I still prefer the less trance influenced stuff from SCP.
10. Don't You Break My Heart Tonight - De Leo - Time
5/10
The song is a little bit bland and I think the vocals need a boost. Doesn't particularily offend or impress either way... it's distinctively Time, though. The thing I really don't like about this production is the odd vocal filter that's being used.
11. Lost in the World - Karen - ABeatC
6/10
I normally like Karen's songs, but I don't this song really showcases what she can do, very well. It's a very dreamy, light song and not altogether that bad, but I think Karen can be placed in better productions.
12. Heart and Go - Priscilla - Delta
3/10
I find I can't even really listen to this song without drifting off, it's that unremarkable and boring. I can't find much to like about this song. It's definately skippable.
13. Give Me Another Chance - Susy - BBB (Saifam)
7/10
It took a couple of listens to see the charm in this track. The lyrics are really catchy and and the song has a slightly lower BPM than most Saifam tracks tend to. Not bad, but not even close to the earlier Disco Energy.
14. Idol - Idol - Time
4/10
It's a very interesting song, that's for sure, but I'm not a big fan of Time, so it just doesn't work for me. It was putting me to sleep as I listenned to it.
15. Remind Me To Forget - Madison - Delta
3/10
This song has problems. There's very little redeeming about it. Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't like anything about it. Remind me to forget this song.
16. Harajuku Girl - Mad Cow & The Harajuku Angels - Hi-NRG Attack
6/10
With the last japanese influenced production by Rimonti, Maid Attack, I was expecting a lot from this and unfortunately, my expectations were not met. Maid Attack was very catchy, lyrically and I don't get that same feeling here with Harajuku Girl. Quite frankly, I think the song suffers from not having and good percussive synths. The beat is bland and there's nothing for the synths to fall back on. Unimpressive.
17. Love Me Or Leave Me - Dave & Nuage - ABeatC
7/10
It's a very solidly produced love song and it shows off Nuage's vocals very well. It's no "Car of Your Dreams" but it's not bad, especially in contrast to a lot of tracks on the album.
18. Music Come On! - Go 2 - SCP
7/10
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UPTNVKGJ
This is what I think the song should've sounded like.
It's certainly a change of pace for Ennio... Christian has done these kinds of slower ballads before, though. It's a very nice song, too... but to go from their hard-assed powerful tracks like "Looka Bomba" and "Not For Sale" to this, is a dramatic shift. It's hard to think of Go 2 as anything else... but it's still a good song. I'd just much rather have them not deviate from their usually great stuff.
Album Score: 7/10
Best Songs:
Sun in the Rain - Manuel - ABeatC
Disco Energy - Bombers - BBB
Get Up and Move It - 70's Queens Feat. Annalise & Virginelle - ABeatC
Worst Songs:
Remind Me To Forget - Madison
Heart and Go - Priscilla
Idol - Idol - Time
Honourable Mention:
Walkin' in the Shadow - Pamsy - SCP
Conclusion:
Again, we get a few really awesome songs and the rest of the album just falls apart. Personally, I really love some of the new tracks and I'm thankful just to have them and would rather not complain about the quality of the other tracks. I haven't rated three songs as 10's in a single album since the mid-150's. I wish they could all be hits.
1. Chemical Love - Kevin & Cherry - Delta
9/10
This song's a great way to start of the album. Fast and catchy, Chemical Love has a really interesting structuring of the lyrics in the A-Melo. The small snippet of this song featured in Intial D certainly doesn't do it justice. Personally, I think the volume levels on the male vocals need to come up a bit as Clara drowns them out too much... but that's a preferential thing, really, I think.
2. Yeah! - Christine - SCP
7/10
I didn't think too much of this song fromt the Hinoi Team cover and the small sample on the avex site... but after hearing the final full product, it reveals itself to be a fun, upbeat and more importantly, catchy song. Christine has a nice, unique voice, but it's very rarely showcased these days. She's certainly not my favourite SCP artist, but this song is produced really well and I still enjoy it.
3. Ding a Ling 2006 - Jilly - Time
7/10
I only vaguely remember the original of this song, but from what I can recall, this remix does it justice. It's not as thorough a remake as previous '200X' series songs, but I still think it's a nice addition to 167.
4. Sun in the Rain - Manuel - ABeatC
10/10!
A. Beat. C. Power. This song is simply dripping with it. If this song doesn't make you want to dance, you are indeed a soulless creature. I think it's quite possibly one of the best songs Manuel has ever performed in. The backup vocals (Gobbi?) also contrast very well with Manuel. Not since "Shock Me" have I been this enthused by a Manuel song. Absolutely top notch.
5. Disco Energy - Bombers - BBB (Saifam)
10/10!
"Disco, disco energy... wooo!" Like someone mentionned in another review, this song takes us back to songs like "Virtual Love", though I feel this song is better. (and I voted Virtual Love for my #1 choice on 160) This song screams out a combination of Saifam's uniquely sounding male-powered songs with a distinctive splash of old disco funk. The combination is certainly a winning one and for me, completely justifies BBB's return in this one song.
6. Listen to My Heart - Lolita - ABeatC
8/10
A clear sounding, nicely paced song that has a very positive feeling to it. Almost overshadowed a bit on this album by some of the larger hits, but it still stands out as a typically solid Lolita song.
7. Get Up and Move It - 70's Queens Feat. Annaline & Virginelle - ABeatC
10/10!
Wow! Feel that disco power! The guitarwork in this song is really awesome and the disco samples are absolutely everywhere. It also lays down a really solid and moderately fast beat, for a great song filled with disco energy! I'd almost call this EuroDisco, but I'm in no way opposed to seeing this or further songs like this on SEB. If anything, the song is so busy with the synths, that it drowns out the vocals a bit. This is a new favourite for me.
8. Sex Gun - Joe D. Toaster - Hi-NRG Attack
7/10
This was another song that needed a few more listens before being finally judged. At first, I found it a little boring and unremarkable, but overall it's got a feeling like a lot of older HRG songs used to.
9. Walkin' In the Shadow - Pamsy - SCP
8/10
The song's really catchy and it's a great example of the newer trance-inspired SCP style eurobeat that is used for most of Pamsy's tracks. Of course, deviating from the standard feel of eurobeat makes the song feel much more dreamy using synths with a longer duration and tons of reverb. Tracks like this are a nice change once in awhile, but I still prefer the less trance influenced stuff from SCP.
10. Don't You Break My Heart Tonight - De Leo - Time
5/10
The song is a little bit bland and I think the vocals need a boost. Doesn't particularily offend or impress either way... it's distinctively Time, though. The thing I really don't like about this production is the odd vocal filter that's being used.
11. Lost in the World - Karen - ABeatC
6/10
I normally like Karen's songs, but I don't this song really showcases what she can do, very well. It's a very dreamy, light song and not altogether that bad, but I think Karen can be placed in better productions.
12. Heart and Go - Priscilla - Delta
3/10
I find I can't even really listen to this song without drifting off, it's that unremarkable and boring. I can't find much to like about this song. It's definately skippable.
13. Give Me Another Chance - Susy - BBB (Saifam)
7/10
It took a couple of listens to see the charm in this track. The lyrics are really catchy and and the song has a slightly lower BPM than most Saifam tracks tend to. Not bad, but not even close to the earlier Disco Energy.
14. Idol - Idol - Time
4/10
It's a very interesting song, that's for sure, but I'm not a big fan of Time, so it just doesn't work for me. It was putting me to sleep as I listenned to it.
15. Remind Me To Forget - Madison - Delta
3/10
This song has problems. There's very little redeeming about it. Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't like anything about it. Remind me to forget this song.
16. Harajuku Girl - Mad Cow & The Harajuku Angels - Hi-NRG Attack
6/10
With the last japanese influenced production by Rimonti, Maid Attack, I was expecting a lot from this and unfortunately, my expectations were not met. Maid Attack was very catchy, lyrically and I don't get that same feeling here with Harajuku Girl. Quite frankly, I think the song suffers from not having and good percussive synths. The beat is bland and there's nothing for the synths to fall back on. Unimpressive.
17. Love Me Or Leave Me - Dave & Nuage - ABeatC
7/10
It's a very solidly produced love song and it shows off Nuage's vocals very well. It's no "Car of Your Dreams" but it's not bad, especially in contrast to a lot of tracks on the album.
18. Music Come On! - Go 2 - SCP
7/10
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UPTNVKGJ
This is what I think the song should've sounded like.
It's certainly a change of pace for Ennio... Christian has done these kinds of slower ballads before, though. It's a very nice song, too... but to go from their hard-assed powerful tracks like "Looka Bomba" and "Not For Sale" to this, is a dramatic shift. It's hard to think of Go 2 as anything else... but it's still a good song. I'd just much rather have them not deviate from their usually great stuff.
Album Score: 7/10
Best Songs:
Sun in the Rain - Manuel - ABeatC
Disco Energy - Bombers - BBB
Get Up and Move It - 70's Queens Feat. Annalise & Virginelle - ABeatC
Worst Songs:
Remind Me To Forget - Madison
Heart and Go - Priscilla
Idol - Idol - Time
Honourable Mention:
Walkin' in the Shadow - Pamsy - SCP
Conclusion:
Again, we get a few really awesome songs and the rest of the album just falls apart. Personally, I really love some of the new tracks and I'm thankful just to have them and would rather not complain about the quality of the other tracks. I haven't rated three songs as 10's in a single album since the mid-150's. I wish they could all be hits.
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