Andreas Johnson – The Collector

Number of tracks: 16 

Duration: 62:46

Best song: Sing For Me

From having been considered by many as somewhat of a one hit wonder Mr. Johnson, whose room according to the title of his latest studio album was on fire, got his second breakthrough at last year´s Melodifestivalen when he set a lot of hearts on fire with the fantastic Sing For Me. The entry was the juries´ favourite but it only finished 3rd after the televotes had been counted. However, the song went on to become a smash hit and topped almost every chart possible for months on end.

This year Andreas went one place better in Melodifestivalen when he - all dressed in leather and allegedly performning without any underwear – came 2nd with A Little Bit Of Love.

As is always the case with greatest hits collections it is quite difficult to judge the contents. Some of the songs were released several years ago and the different tracks were not intented to complement each other.

The quality of the songs is somewhat uneven and spans from the ingenious to the downright boring. It is obvious, though, that a lot of Andreas´ songs have been heavily underrated. The great Show Me Love and The Games We Play are certainly well worthy of a reminder.

There are also two brand new tracks on the album. The upcoming single Go For The Soul is bound to be a minor summer hit. The other new song Do What You Want is a nice enough rock song, but it lacks a hook so it does not really stand out.

However, it is the hits Glorious, Sing For Me and A Little Bit Of Love that are the real highlights of the collection.

Personally I miss the ballad Drop In The Ocean which in my humble opinion is one of Andreas´ best and most beautiful songs ever.

Although Andreas has said that he will take a break from Melodifestivalen next I hope he will change his mind and give it another go with the song of his life.

Grade (0-5):

   

The Collector can be bought at CDON.com

Andreas´ website can be found here

The first Queerovision chart is here

Thanks to 81 voters the very first Queerovision Chart has been compiled.

Click here to see the top 10 and the new challengers. And do not forget to cast your votes for next month´s chart.

Marija Serifovic – Bez ljubavi

 

Number of tracks: 13

Duration: 45:32

Best song: Bol do ludila

Molitva & Marija was a magical and unique fusion of magnificent music and an awesome artist.

None of the songs on Marija´s second album from 2006 reach the same wuthering heights as Molitva. But that does not mean that Bez ljubavi is a bad album. Far from it!

The 13 tracks are middle-of-the-road Balkan pop of the kind that first and foremost Vanna has made hugely popular in the former Yugoslav countries. However, several of the songs lack the melodic hooks that have become one of the Croatian superstar´s trademarks.

Although it would be impossible – and perhaps not even something to wish for – to make an album made up entirely of power ballads like Molitva I would have preferred a little less R´n´B influences in the musical arrangements and a little more emotion and drama in songs that make use of and show Marija´s full vocal abilities.

Ironically the best songs on the album are the three bonus tracks. The ballad Bol do ludilo which won Marija the 1st prize at the Budva Festival 2004 can perhaps be seen as an indication of what was to come for Marija, but it does not play in the same league as the Eurovision winning song.

It seems highly unlikely that Marija will be able to conquer Europe with her most recent collection of songs. I think, however, that Marija grew several sizes as an artist on the stage in Helsinki and therefore I am looking very curious to see and hear what Marija will do next. She definately has the voice to make it big but she urgently needs a truly great album in English to make sure that she will not fall into the category of Eurovision winners who were never able to build a solid career after being triumphant in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Grade (0-5):

   

Marija´s website can be visited here 

Marija´s album can be bought at Yu4You.com

Roger Cicero – Männersachen

Number of tracks: 15

Duration: 48:54

Best song: Frauen regier´n die Welt 

Despite finishing in a rather disappointing 19th place in the Eurovision Song Contest I sincerely hope that German Roger Cicero will try to make a name for himself in the rest of Europe.

The album Männersachen (Male matters) is a classy mixture of modern and good old-fashioned swing music. Roger´s style of music makes you think of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Robbie Williams, but he is never just a mere imitation of his idols. Mr Cicero is a great entertainer and singer in his own right and never has the German language sounded more beautiful than when the sweet syllables are flowing from Roger´s mouth. And the lyrics are mostly witty and very clever.

Apart from the smashing Eurovision entry the best songs are the hit single Zieh die Schuh aus, the ballads Ich Atme ein and Fachman in Sachen Anna, the cosy and bossa novaish Wenn sie dich fragt and the bonus track So geil Berlin.

There are, however, a track or two that could have been left in the desk drawer. For instance the I am not a man for one woman-track Kein Mann für eine Frau which, when it comes to the lyrics, is a little too reminiscent of Lou Bega´s Mambo No. 5 and therefore seems a little outdated.

But in all Roger´s album is just outstanding. I warmly recommend it to everybody who liked – or even loved – this year´s German Eurovision entry.

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Visit Roger´s website here

Männersachen can be purchased on Amazon.de

The Ark – Prayer For The Weekend

Number of tracks: 11 

Duration: 42:53

Best song: Absolutely No Decorum 

It seems pointless (!) to keep on trying to figure out what went wrong for Swedish band The Ark in the Eurovision Song Contest. Maybe it suffices to simply say that Ola Salo and Co. could not deliver what Europe wanted this time around.

When listening to The Ark´s recently released album it becomes more than evident that the band has no reason to feel depressed by the “Eurovision failure”. As always The Ark delivers a briliant mixture of catchy easy-to-so-sing-along-to rock songs and lyrics that make you rethink a lot of things that you have always taken for granted. Title track Prayer For The Weekend and the first hit from the album, Absolutely No Decorum, both show The Ark from the band´s very best side.

And however much I appreciate this year´s Swedish Eurovision entry I cannot help getting the feeling that The Worrying Kind does not really fit the rest of the songs on the album. The rest of the new material seems more genuine and somehow more honest. Just to illustrate what I mean: The Worrying Kind is currently used in a commercial for men´s clothes and in fact it is quite suitable for that purpose. Something which none of the other songs would have been.

Prayer For The Weekend may not be The Ark´s best album but it is undoubtedly the most easily accessible musically and by far the one with the greatest hit potential. Eurovision may not have been ready for The Ark, but I think that Europe is.

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Prayer For The Weekend can be bought at CDON.

The Ark´s website can be found here.

Måns Zelmerlöw – Stand By For …

Number of tracks: 14 (the acoustic version of Cara Mia is included as a “hidden track”)

Duration: 50:26

Best song: Dreaming 

Melodifestivalen bronze medalist and recent winner of the National Final Song Contest, Måns Zelmerlöw, has released his eagerly anticipated debut album. Among the contributors to the album Henrik Wikström, Fredrik Kempe, Niklas Edberger, Robin Mortensen Lynch, Niklas Olovson and Måns himself can be found.

Apart from the Melodifestivalen entry the best songs on the album are Dreaming which can be described as Cara Mia´s cheery sibling and the upcoming single Work of Art (Da Vinci) which is a contemporary and charming flirt with the musical styles of the 70s.

Unfortunately the rest of the album leaves a lot to be desired, both when it comes to the music and the lyrics. A majority of the songs are the kind that you can easily listen to on the radio but once they end you have as easily forgotten them.

The track The Prayer which was one of the best tracks on Danish ESC participant in 2005 Jakob Sveistrup´s second album Fragments is included here as well, but Måns´ interpretation of this fabulous song is oddly uninteresting - probably because he is not as good a vocalist as Jakob.

Another problem with Stand By For … is that it gives a somewhat unpersonal impression. Some of the songs sound a little like Robbie Williams while others lead the thoughts to Bono/U2, Pet Shop Boys and Alcazar. Hopefully Måns will develop a more personal sound on his next album.

Grade (0-5):

   

Stand By For … can be purchased at CDON.

Måns´ website can be found here.

Marie Lindberg – Trying To Recall

Number of tracks: 11

Duration: 33:49

Best song: Trying To Recall

The 31-year-old school teacher Marie Lindberg came out of nowhere and sang her way into our hearts with the haunting Trying To Recall in this year´s edition of Melodifestivalen. It was a fairy tale come true for the shy and inexperienced singer. But the big question in everybody´s minds was whether she would be able to build a long lasting career on her Melodifestivalen performance that truly touched people to tears.

Based on the debut album which bears the same name as her Melodifestivalen entry I would say that the answer to that question is definately yes. Trying To Recall is a great collection of eleven melodic and melancolic songs in the true singer-songwriter spirit. Marie has clearly been inspired by artists like Lisa Loeb and The Corrs and her music is a great illustration of the saying that less is more. She refrains from wailing and overproducing and in fact the simplicity is also the beauty of Trying To Recall.

Apart from the title song the best tracks on the album is the kind but catchy Revolt, the beautiful Bound To Die and the uptempo opening track Leona (Under Her Skin).

A strong melody never goes out of style and this is probably the reason why Trying to Recall gives a timeless impression. But although the album has no expiration date I still hope to hear more and new material from the musically gifted Marie Lindberg soon. I believe that her fairy tale will continue in many, many years to come.

 Grade (0-5):

    

Trying To Recall can be purchased here: http://www.cdon.com/

Marie´s website is to be found here: http://www.marielindberg.com/

Sonja Aldén – Till dig

 

Number of tracks: 13

Duration: 46:56

Best song: För att du finns

Multitalented artist and songwriter Sonja Aldén follows up her success in this year´s Melodifestivalen with one of the most beautiful and popular albums in Sweden this spring.

The fact that Sonja is one of Sweden´s most interesting and versatile artists became obvious to a lot of Eurovision fans already last year when she performed fan favourite Etymon in the second Melodifestivalen heat in Karlstad. On that occassion Sonja failed to qualify for the final, but this year she got her big – and well deserved - breakthrough with the beautiful ballad För att du finns.

Sonja´s entry for this year´s Melodifestivalen is included on the album, in both the original and an acoustic version, alongside eleven other melodic and well-composed songs written by Sonja, Bobby Ljunggren, Henrik Wikström and Ingela “Pling” Forsman.

Sonja´s personal and expressive voice fits the ballads that she so obviously loves to sing like hand in glove. And when she performs the wedding favourite Du är allt in a duet with best friend Shirley Clamp I for one get the chills. Other favourites include the folk music flirt Vila tryggt and the cosy and soulish Egen tid.

For all Eurovision fans it would have been a big bonus if Etymon and Sonja´s version of Invincible had both been included. But in fairness it should be said that the songs that did make it onto the album are all of the very highest quality so there is actually no need to complain. 

Till dig is an absolute must for everybody who loved För att du finns and for those of you who adore schlager goddesses Jill Johnson and Shirley Clamp.

Grade (0-5): 

    

Till dig can be purchased here: http://www.cdon.com/

Sonja´s website is located here: http://www.sonjaalden.se/

Sonja even has a Myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/sonjaalden

You can listen to excerpts of all the songs on the album on Sonja´s record company Lionheart International´s website: http://www.lionheart-int.com/sonya(2).asp

Hanna Pakarinen – Lovers

Number of tracks: 11

Duration: 39:23

Best Song: Leave Me Alone

The first words that come to mind when listening to Hanna Pakarinen’s third album is solid craftsmanship.

Lovers doesn´t contain a single bad song, but apart from the Finnish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, Leave Me Alone, and Hanna’s second song from the Finnish preselection, Tell Me What To Do, it does not exactly feel like the album contains a lot of potential mega hits either. One beautiful exception is the wonderful last track, Hard Luck Woman.

And the more I listen the more I realise that Lovers is full of well-composed choruses and interesting lyrics that make you listen attentively. The eleven songs complement each other well without becoming an uninteresting pulp.

Hanna is a phenomenal singer and in my opinion she is an artist who deserves a long carrier far beyond the Finnish borders, no matter what the Eurovision Song Contest has in store for her.

The only tiny reservation I have towards Lovers is that, as is often the case with me and rock music, I would actually much prefer to be at a concert listening to Hanna performing the songs from the album live. Because quite frankly I feel like swaying to the music and enjoying a beer or more when listening to this kind of melodic rock.

Grade (0-5):

   

Lovers can be purchased from: www.cdon.com

You can also visit Hanna’s homepage at: www.hanna-pakarinen.com
or Hanna’s MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/hannapakarinen

Edsilia Rombley – Meer dan ooit

Number of tracks: 15
Duration: 56:20
Best song: Hemel en aarde 

In less than a week from now, nine years after the 4th place in
Birmingham with Hemel en aarde, 29-year-old Edsilia Rombley makes her comeback in the Eurovision Song Contest. In connection to her second participation she is also releasing her third album, the first one entirely in Dutch. The new material is mostly written by Edsilia´s husband Tjeerd Oosterhuis. The album is promoted as souly, but unfortunately it soon turns out to be rather soulless.    

All the entries performed by Edsilia in the Dutch preselection, Nooit meer zonder jou (the winning song in its original Dutch version), Een keer meer dan jij and Meer dan ooit, have made their onto the new album. The same goes for her first Eurovision entry which is included as a bonus track.    

Unfortuately the inclusion of the old Eurovision classic mainly serves one purpose namely to make it perfectly – or rather painfully – clear that although Edsilia still sings like a goddess the new songs are too middle-of-the-road and predictable. The heartfelt ballad Over en uit, which never got the chance to represent the Netherlands in Helsinki, although it may actually have been a better and more exciting choice, is a beautiful exception.   

But I would still like to give Edsilia a + for her voice, a + for the fact that it is always nice to hear the beautiful Dutch language and a + for the fact that Hemel en aarde still is one of the best and most catchy songs in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.  

Another funny fact is that saxophone player Candy Dulfer, who had a monster hit with Lily Was Here together with Dave Stewart in 1989, but hardly been heard from since then, is featured on one of the tracks. 

Grade (0-5):

   

Meer dan ooit can be purchased at the Free Record Shop:
http://www.freerecordshop.nl/pages/productview.asp?productid=1193858&navid=2   

Evridiki – 13

 

Number of tracks: 13
Duration: 52:20
Best song: Les ki ise mazi mou

Ever since Evridiki made her first grandious entrée on the Eurovision stage in Malmoe in 1992 with the dramatic Teriazoume the 39 year-old Cypriot has held a very special place in my beating Eurovision heart. In 1994 she reinforced her position as one of the brightest shining stars in the Eurovision sky when she delivered the song Ime Anthropos Ki Ego with a pathos that must of us would die (or kill) for.

Subsequently I must admit to being very surprised and a little disappointed when I first heard her third attempt top win the Eurovision Song Contest. Comme Ci, Comme Ça lacks the distinctiveness and seductive qualities of her two previous entries. And even if this year´s entry is more than alright in its genre I cannot help feeling that Evridiki´s vast talent and vocal resources are not being used as well as they ought to be in this year´s Cypriot entry for the Eurovision.

Therefore the newly released album 13 was a very pleasant and positive surprise. I have calming news for all great fans of Evridiki, the rest of the songs sound a lot more like what we expect and want from an Evrdiki album – less electro and much more ethno-pop. The best songs are the intense power ballad Les ki ise mazi mou and the beautiful Ela ligo which is also the 13th and last track on Evridiki´s 13th solo album, 13.

After having heard the entire collection of new Evridiki songs I almost wish she would have chosen any of the other songs for Helsinki next week, but once that has been said I would like to wish one of my all-time favourite artists the very best of luck.

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13 and several of Evridiki´s other albums can be obtained from Greek City:

http://www.greekcity.com/music/music5cont.taf?_function=detail&gcvvideo_uid1=2145894187&gcvvideo_uid2=DEKATRIA%2013