Healthy Living Books Music

Rating: - Just good, wholesome fun
A cracking modern pop album that doesn't take itself too seriously or try to be anything it isn't - no po-faced deep and meaningful "message" here and all the better for it. Think somewhere between a Roxette that isn't trying so hard to be cool and a grown-up high-school musical without the schmaltz and you're about there. Don't think you don't like pop because you can't stand the bubblegum warbling that infests the charts - this is how it should be done.

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Rating: - Good for a debut album!
A good album very much a grower but the more you hear it the more you will love it...wasnt too impressed on first listen but now i love it....although i prefer the first 7 songs to the last 3 - not so good - bt yeh gd album for a gd band!!!

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Rating: - Very good indeed.
It's a brave band that tries to recreate that mid-90s indie sound. Infact, if you think back to recent years, most bands would rather hark back to the 80s, so when Alphabeat came along, basically trying to reproduce the feel of 90s Scandanavian indie (which let's face it, gave us brilliant bands like the Wannadies and the Cardigans), I have to admit I was very excited.

Thankfully, the album lives up to the obvious hype it generates. 'Fascination' could easily have been a Wannadies song, right down to the slightly punky 'the word is on your lips' chant in the middle. 'Boyfriend' is very reminiscent of the Cardigans around the time of Lovefool, and Stine's voice is just lush. Elsewhere, 'What is Happening' sounds a bit like Blur collaborating with the Young Knives, and 'Fantastic Six' could have been plucked right out of a Bis record. Hell, even the cover of 'Public Image' is wrecked in such shameless style that you can't help but love it.

It works. Every track is great, and more importantly, every track links into each other very well. I agree with some reviewer's comments that this European release doesn't sound quite as punchy as the first version, but it's still excellent, and I still think people would be mad not to buy it, because the only criticism you can honestly have, in my opinion, is that it could do with a couple more tracks.

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Rating: - Did they drop from space?
This "band" dropped from space, or have been trapped somewhere for over 50 years, these is the only logical reasons i can think of that they must have travelled many many miles from their home planet still thinking that everyone on earth still dress like a 1950's sitcom. Then try and set a style when they land with some of he worst music i have ever had the misfortune of listening to.

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Rating: - Alphabeat = Amazing
Debut album from Danish group Alphabeat. I have seen them perform live twice now, they would have to be the pop band of today. Great songs, great live performers!! Fascination is pop at it's best, along with the new single Boyfriend. Great 80's influenced band. One group to watch out for!!