More Than Alive

Though I only got my hands on this two days ago, I think I can already call it their best production to date. Also bought without any other than casual listening just for the sake of it, this album showcases unparalleled intensity and solidity. This could well be the best studio album I own, even better than any single Steps one! That's something I can answer with certainty after some time. Gold, of course, remains in its own category. If before this it wasn't clear enough what was my favourite band after Steps split, now it should be.

#1 Alive 10

I don't know if I'd be submitting to temporal influences if I declared this as the best track of all of their first three albums? 'I just know that' it's unbelievably good. The A parts are different from their usual, less melodic, but they work really well. The D part starting at 2:39 is so very good that it gives me strong feel-good feeling time after time. If they don't score their biggest success to date with this, I don't understand.

#2 Tonight Is the Night 10

Now I totally confused. Could it be the CD player is randomizing tracks without saying anything because these seem to come in strange orders every time? Even if it wasn't for the title, comparison with This Night I'm in Love would be appropriate.

#3 Wanna Love You Forever 9

Another Wonder Where You Are, with even more latin instruments.

#4 Can You Feel the Same Way Too 10

A very good modulation and a D part comparable to that of Alive lift this already otherwise very good song up all the way to 10.

#5 I Need Your Love 9½

First of Pier's compositions (as opposed to Per's, whose they usually are). What, the fourth 10 already? Am I really generous today or is this just that good? Maybe I'll make it 9½ instead.

#6 Stop! Look! Listen! 9½

They probably dropped the exclamation marks from the title for this album to avoid Roxette associations but I like it better that way. But why did they resort to someone's else's work as their Melodifestivalen entry? Surely, this is not bad at all, but not something you'd love on the first listening, unless you're a fan. There are many tracks on this album that would certainly have done better. Of course their stage performance (and styling) was a bit apathetic but still...

#7 Heaven 9½

Refreshingly something different for a change. The differentiality doesn't turn out to be so dramatic in the end but refreshing anyway.

#8 I'll Give You All the Love 10

Major chords surprisingly arise after a short intro in minors. Someone tell me what a "lovelight" is? I've heard it somewhere before and now it's in Annika's eyes. Maybe it's what comes after love has shone a light. One of my definite favourites.

#9 You And I 8½

Another Wanna Love You Forever, but weaker.

#10 Fantasy 8

There had to be one more or less pointless track and it's this. They seem to have adopted some new attitudes in their rhythms because even this has an up-to-date feel to it.

#11 Don't Ever Say Goodbye 7½

I think I still prefer Out of Words as the token slow track. I'm so glad they haven't done the Aika mistake and filled their albums with this stuff. One is okay, as long as it's not too long.

#12 Wonder Where You Are (Remix) 8½

So they decided to break the magic eleven as the number of tracks by including an unnecessary remix...