Roxette's Finest Album Overall

This is the BEST album Roxette released. Dance-floor worthy "Crush On You", fantastic first single "Wish I Could Fly" and 60's inspired "Waiting For The Rain" being the true standouts. The entire album failed to get a US deal -- not a huge shock considering the duo's last charting single was "Sleeping In My Car" (#50) in 1994 -- which is unfortunate since this album is strong on sound. Roxette was never a group for deep and meaningful lyrics, but that is totally irrevelant. "Wish I Could Fly" got some minor US play when it was included on "Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus", issued through lesser-known label Edel America Records. An absolute must for EuroPop fans.

Shows them to be one of the most underrated bands.

In Denmark, it is generally regarded as lack of musical insight to like (Swedish) Roxette - it's regarded as something only kids listen to, and which you are supposed to put away "when you grow older and wiser". And whenever someone are going to express how great some new singer is, they do it by stating that "she has a voice that makes Marie Frederiksson from Roxette sound like a sick goat".

Now really, one should think there would be a limit to how stupid people should be, but (re)listening to this album, I start having my doubts. Roxette had their major breakthrough with Look Sharp, and seemeed to reach the peek of their succes with Joyride, but regarding the quality of their music, HAND is by far the culmination - even dwarwing the excellent Joyride!

This album has the perfect blend of about 25 % power-pop hits, as only Roxette can do them, complete with silly lyrics and an absolutely irresistable charm - Crush On You, You Can't Put Your Arms Around What's Already Gone and Stars. Let me quote from Crush On You:

"I'm freezin' in the summer / I'm sweatin' in the winter / No middle in the centre / No colours in the printer / No treatment at the pharmacy / No lessons learned from history / No future in the factory / No meaning in the poetry / No changin' in the weather / No Elvis in the leather / I want you now or never.

Good God I thiought the first time I heard this, but believe me, for all I tried to resist, it was impossible: This song is superb! And even better is Stars - I can't believe anyone can sit still to that song!

Next ingredient: 25% plain rock ear-catchers - 7Twenty7, Pay The Price and Staring At The Ground. One might ask what makes these songs special, and I suppose nothing does really, but ... nobody does it better. It's not sofisticated, there's nothing new, but damn - it works! And if it works, why fix it?

And then the final ingredient, which does the difference - 50 % power balads, as nobody else can do it. And this album features none less than 8 of them - of which at least 7 of them are at least as good as any of their earlier love songs! From an end ... Wish I Could Fly, Waiting For The Rain, Anyone, It Will Take A Long Long Time, I Was So Lucky, Salvation, Cooper and Beautiful Things. It might be unfair to mention any of them specifically, because they are all very different and all very perfect ... from the dreamy sound of Wish I Could Fly, featuring up-to-date, silent drumpatterns; to the perfect Motown-sound-a-like Waiting For The Rain - has anyone made a better Motown-sounding song since Phil Collin's remake of You Can't Hurry Love?; to the chilling Anyone, featuring all the pain of a broken heart:

"Anyone who felt like I do / Anyone who wasn't ready to fall / Anyone who loved like I do / knows it never really happens at all / It's over when it's over / What can I do about it / now that it's over."

Then, falling in love again on I Was So Lucky and Salvation - both among the most beautiful love songs I know. But, though it is hard to believe, considering the quality of the other songs, Roxette are saving the best for last with Beautiful Things, which is, well, undescribable ... so pained and lonely, and at the same time so tender.

"Beautiful things are comin' my way. Beautiful things, I want them to stay. But after a while my beautiful things don't seem beautiful at all. Terrible things like when you wake up and all of your dreams Seem to crack up. Like things you have done like breakin' my heart. For you it don't seem terrible at all. Is there someone I can talk to? Someone on the line? Does anybody want to hear What's on my mind?"

this one kicks a**

this is by far the best roxette album since joyride. many roxette fans consider this to be a sellout album or not necessarily one that would be noteworthy...i find this album to be awesome. i was initially intrigued by "wish i could fly" and "stars" 2 of the songs that found their way to the american release of their greatest hits. however, the more i listen to this album the songs that really stand out for me are "i was so lucky", "beautiful things", "7 twenty 7" and the ever infectious, album opening "crush on you". i think this is a must have for any roxette fan and am certainly glad i paid the money i did to have this gem of an album imported to me. i say let the "joyride" continue with this album...