Ace Of Base

Cruel Summer

Here's your sign!

Review Score:

(10/10)
Ace of Base didn't turn around after their exquisite first set, and all I have to say is...thank goodness! This last album is perhaps the best Ace of Base feat accomplished thus far. It is professionally crafted through-and-through, sounding like a divined inspiration, but after "The Sign" and "The Bridge", I suppose it is not so far-fetched to see how AOB could create such a work of pop splendour. There is only way to describe "Cruel Summer": IRRESISTIBLE. While it lacks the intimacy of 'Whispers in Blindness' (*my favourite AOB track!*)and the ruff edge of 'Young and Proud', it compensates with its mesmerizing degree of stick-in-your-brain catchiness. This CD is impossible to shake once you take a listen. Why? Well, let's look closer. Number one: It mixes old and new. It digs down to the fifties roots of pop via 'Donnie' and 'Always Have, Always Will', hints at 60's and 70's flavour with 'Whenever You're Near Me' and 'Cecilia', deliberately waves to 80's kitsch-pop on 'Adventures in Paradise' and 'Don't Go Away', and soars to nouveau club~heaven with such tracks as 'Tokyo Girl', and 'Cruel Summer'. Number two: The whole album is upbeat, with positive, universal messages of love, desire, and loneliness, all of which are hard to deny, esp. when laid inside a sometimes soft, sometimes vigorous groove. Number three: It's still Ace of Base people! Nothing has changed, they're still original as ever and hitmakers 4ever! The only difference is, they've refined their skills to a spotless, imbeccable mastery, and this new album neither diminishes or contradicts their previous offerings. Rather, the versatility exhibited in a number of styles proves, once and for all, that Ace of Base deserves to be ranked among the best pop groups of our time. Number four?: IT JUST SOUNDS GOOD! My recommendation is to go out and buy it today :o)

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