Reviews

Members: Jonas Berggren, Malin Berggren, Jenny Berggren, Ulf Ekberg
Country of Origin: Sweden

    How do you follow up an album that sold over 19 million copies worldwide? You just can't. The result - an obvious let-down numbers- wise for their sophomore album.     The group's second release, "The Bridge" has not faired nearly as well, but still has managed to produce three hit singles worldwide. To fans, it is hardly a failure. Still, what success they have had is a far cry from 1994 in the United States when hits "The Sign," "All That She Wants," and "Don't Turn Around" ruled Billboard's charts combining to spend over 100 weeks on the Hot 100. Each three a top 5 single with the title track going straight to the top, later winning Billboard's 1994 Single of the Year award. "Living In Danger" at 20, was a disappointment. It isn't quite time to cry for them though. A new album is on the way in the fall of '97 and there remains the possibility of a world tour in the not-so-distant future. Album #3 will contain more "party" music which definitely is good news for their fans.

The Bridge - US Version [11-14-95]
    This album may be struggling in the United States, but musically, it is hardly a failure.This is one of those albums with a little something for everyone, ranging from beautiful ballads ("Experience Pearls","Angel Eyes"), to classic euro-reggae with a splash of acoustics ("Lucky Love"). This time around, the group has added some new sounds, singing with more passion, but not completely abandoning the style that gave them global success several years ago. "Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry" is an "All That She Wants" clone with its own feel, and "Beautiful Life" is yet another dance hit from the group. Whether you previously were a fan of the group or not, this is an album worth checking out.
Rating:
1. Beautiful Life 5 stars
2. Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry  4 stars
3. Lucky Love (Acoustic Version)  5 stars
4. Edge of Heaven  3 stars
5. Strange Ways  3 stars
6. Ravine  4 stars
7. Perfect World  3 stars
8. Angel Eyes  3 stars
9. My Deja Vu  4 stars
10. Wave Wet Sand  2 stars
11. Que Sera  3 stars
12. Just 'N' Image  3 stars
13. Experience Pearls  3 stars
14. Whispers in Blindness  3 stars
15. Blooming 18  3 stars

The Bridge - European Version [1995]
    This is the album to buy, considering it contains the original (superior) version of "Lucky Love" and the novelty dance tune "You and I". The European versions of "Strange Ways" and my favorite, "My Deja Vu" are both different on some releases however. The rest of the album remains the same, a solid second effort that has gone multi-platinum across the world!
Rating:
Lucky Love  5 stars
You and I  3 stars

Aced! The Unreleased Mixes
    This album is not recommended for casual fans, only the die-hard really needs to own this. The remixes are all way too long, but most of them are pretty good. "Waiting for Magic - Symbols Mix" takes the original version, and adds a techno-ish feel to it. The Round and Round Mix of "Wheel of Fortune" "urbanizes" the dance tune, complete with a strange "rap" from someone not in the group. The only awful mix is of "The Sign", which is basically twelve minutes of stop-and-go.
Rating:
1. All That She Wants - Grabbing Hands Mix  3 stars
2. Waiting For Magic - Symbols Mix  4 stars
3. Don't Turn Around - Goodbye mix  3 stars
4. Happy Nation - Multicultural Mix  3 stars
5. Wheel Of Fortune - Round and Round Mix  3 stars
6. The Sign - Eye Contact Mix  1 star
7. Voulez-Vous Danser - Paris Mix  3 stars

The Sign [1993]
    This is the album that started the mania in the US, bringing on the gigantic hits, "The Sign", "Don't Turn Around", and "All That She Wants". Each spent 30 weeks in Billboard's Hot 100, and "The Sign" managed a 6 week stay at the top. Many of the songs on this album sound similar, but it is still a great album, despite the lack of variety. This, one could argue, is what made Euro-reggae popular, and it is what many groups now seem to be trying to copy.
Rating:
1. All That She Wants  5 stars
2. Don't Turn Around  4 stars
3. Young and Proud  4 stars
4. The Sign  5 stars
5. Living In Danger  5 stars
6. Dancer in a Daydream  4 stars
7. Wheel of Fortune  3 stars
8. Waiting For Magic (7" Remix)  3 stars
9. Happy Nation  3 stars
10. Voulez-Vous Danser  3 stars
11. My Mind (Mindless Mix)  3 stars
12. All That She Wants (Banghra Version)  2 stars

Happy Nation U.S. Version [1993]
    Of the three versions of Happy Nation/The Sign, this is the best. It contains all the major hits, plus a fantastic song that received very little notoreity, "Hear Me Calling". Fortunately, if you look hard enough, this album is still lurking among music stores in the US.
Rating:
Hear Me Calling  4 stars
Fashion Party  3 stars
Happy Nation Remix  3 stars

Happy Nation [1992]
    The band's very first full-length album that gave the group great success throughout Europe. While their biggest US hits are not on this album, it is still a good one, and it is also Ace of Base's "fastest" album. What this album has that is not on the other two albums are "M&nchhausen", an excellent track, the original club mix of "Wheel Of Fortune", a great mix, and the original, lackluster version of "Waiting for Magic".
Rating:
1. Voulez-Vous Danser  3 stars
2. All That She Wants  5 stars
3. M&nchhausen (Just Chaos)  4 stars
4. Happy Nation  3 stars
5. Waiting For Magic  2 stars
6. Fashion Party  3 stars
7. Wheel of Fortune  3 stars
8. Dancer in a Daydream  4 stars
9. My Mind (Mindless Mix)  3 stars
10. Wheel of Fortune (Original Club Mix)  4 stars
11. Dimension of Depth  2 stars
12. Young and Proud  4 stars
13. All That She Wants (Banghra Version)  2 stars


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