.: ALBUM REVIEWS . (2001) Pearls of Passion: Actually I don't think much of it. It was quite exciting to listen to it when i first got hold of one of the bootlegs. There are very nice songs like "Call Of the Wild" or "From One Heart To Another". However, I think the little experience Marie and Per had together is shown in one way or another in their way of singing. However, this also shows the energy they were anxious to give Roxette and so maybe gives the album a special touch. Look Sharp! A very good start for a career, but the order of the songs in the album. I think that the best of the album is really towards the beginning. "The Look", "Dressed For Success", "Paint". Songs like "(I Could Never) Give You Up" and "Half a Woman, Half A Shadow" make the some funny feelings arise. While the first is in a way a sort of sad song where a man shows his love to her girl, the other is more lively, and if you only concentrate on the music and forget the lyrics, you will get the opposite meaning of the song! Joyride: Definitely the best and my favourite! Not one single song that shouldn't be in the album. "Watercolours" however, I tend to skip, though there are times when playing it makes me see the reason for it being there. if it weren't there, there wouldn't be a song to contrast with the rest, and therefore make the as good as it is. An incredible combination of uptempo guitar with both "Joyride" and "Hotblooded" to get the album started and then an alternate of ballads and fast songs which make it an incredibly powerful rock-pop album. Don't you agree? Tourism: A peculiar album I think. Not as an album, but as a concept. It isn't a live album, nor a regular one. It is a tour album! Ok, so it features live performances, one or two bsides, an oldie and then some new ones which I suppose were first recorded as demos for "Joyride". I've actually got a crush for this album as it was the first I got to know of Roxette..."How Do You Do!", "Keep Me Waiting", "Cinnamon Street" and "Come Back (Before You Leave)" and "Silverblue" and...ok, maybe most of them :) Crash! Boom! Bang!: A new Roxette. More powerful I think. The difference between uptempo and ballads increases. Before there was some kind of a mixture within the songs. Now, ballads are purely that, and uptempo have a real sense of powerpop as shown by "Harleys", "Fireworks" and "Lies" for instance. "Vulnerable" and "Crash! Boom! Bang!" are the most representative ballads. "I'm Sorry" sung by Per I think is one of his greatests. Rarities: Unfair to have released it only in certain parts of the world, but at least it joined all of the bsides which were part of different Maxis. Nice to have it though. Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus! Just the Greatest Hits album. You normally wouldn't like an album like this, but the four new songs and two non-albumtracks then make it more interesting. It was a relief to read that it wasn't a "goodbye" album though it was difficult to believe at times when rumours said the contrary. Hey! "June Afternoon" is me! Energy, life, happyness and confusion all in one! I don't think much of "You Don't Understand Me" with "I Don't Want To Get Hurt" there. Great to hear Marie singing this one. It's the kind that makes your heart beat faster and grip inside you. At least you've got "She Doesn't Live Here Anynore" to relieve the pressure and go mad! Baladas En Español: Definitely their worst album! Not only is a cheap way of getting money out of it, and trying "to make friends" with Spanish speaking fasn (don't see why if they are already)... but also a way of trying to break their silence after DBGTTC. They hadn't worked at all, and thought that it would be easier to release a new album which would sell and that needn't be worked on except for the lyrics... two words for it :"no comments" Have A Nice Day: I think people will agree that although it is a great album, for a fan it has some mistakes. Firstly, the amount of ballads. Too many! And all sung by Marie. Actually, and I've said this before, Per doesn't seem to take much part in the album. And of the five songs he leads, non were released as singles which isn't actually wise nowadays, as a masculine voice showing some power in lyrics together with powerpop sounds help an album to reach higher. They're all great songs as ever, but maybe (as I said before) the excess in ballads make "Staring At The Ground" and "Beautiful Things" songs difficult to listen to after listening to the whole of the album. Best to enjoy these from the beginning. "Crush On You" and "7Twenty7" are great compositions, though the dance attempt could've been exchanged for ordinary guitar melodies. However, "Crush On You" now can't be thought of in another way. Can it? Have A Nice Day - Spanish Release "No comments" :-) Room Service Here, here. It seems Roxette have woken up! Room Service is what Have A Nice Day should've been like. Anyway, because of this, it is far better than "Have A Nice Day". All songs are superb but maybe as a whole the album is a bit too quick and short. One or two songs more would've satisfied the fan. However, it isn't at all a bad idea having it that short. That way you HAVE to listen to it several times and not get bored that easier. it seems promotion this time is being taken more seriously... good job Roxette!