Some days before the release of Travelling, the The Daily Roxette team “got together” again to do another (hopefully) classic review of Roxette’s new and highly anticipated album. Travelling is a follow-up to the 1992 album Tourism. Will it hold up? Is it awesome? Does Per wear black nailpolish? The questions are many, and there are actually some answers! Scroll down to the bottom to read our final verdict. Enjoy! (Or feel free to hate it.) The reviewers are Judith Seuma, Kai-Uwe Heinze, Colin van der Bel, Paul Belben and Thomas Evensson. Oh and by the way, click the track titles to hear Roxette's comments about the songs.
1. Me & You & Terry & Julie
Thomas: Per said “This is the craziest song we've recorded in ages - and maybe the best?” Crazy: yes, the best: no. Strange choice for an album opener. But I like it, it’s no “Cadillac,” that’s for sure! Wonderful but weird keyboard solo from Clair. Kudos to Clair for hating “Cadillac.”
Paul: Hey, I still love “Cadillac”! As I have mentioned to you before Thomas, I love this too. The verse with Per & Marie’s voices harmonizing is superb! I think it’s a brave move to open the album up with a song like this, but I think it works. It works because it shows that this is a ‘new’ Roxette. Roxette: ‘The Band’
Thomas: You're nuts. Yes a fresh move so to speak. The more I hear it the more it grows on me. The chorus is a bit like “Soul Deep,” at least the beat.
Kai: This solo has a touch of GT to it. Starting off with a tune that very much reminds me of the middle eight of “Wish You The Best”... later, turning into a “Shopping With Mother” kind of crazy blend of instruments. What a mix, fitting the constantly altering themes of the song! Which to me creates the illusion of a small town train station platform. Calm atmosphere, from time to time interrupted by trains passing through, arriving, people rushing by. Just close your eyes...
Colin: It’s crazy to start an album with a song like this, all quiet at the start and then kick in the drums! It’s really upbeat and uplifting. I can see them start a live show with this one?
Thomas: Not unless it’s a world hit, ha ha!
Paul: Gotta agree with Thomas - can’t see them opening concerts with this. However, it would make a nice change to “Dressed For Success!”
Kai: Word, Paul. Much better would it have fit to the end of the album. It’s more like a reprise. Not melody-wise, rather it sounds like a summary of this very unusual album. Yet I think we have a much better album closer with “IMHBL”, more about that later maybe.
Does anyone else hear a tad of Gessle’s “Hold On My Heart” demo in the chorus?
Judith: I don’t see a big issue with this song being the opener of the album. But I’ve never been picky on this, I look more at the middle and end of the album, some albums tend to get boring to the extent that you press the “replay album” before it has even finished. I must confess it happens to me sometimes with a couple of Rox & related too. My summary: great start! Makes me want to go on listening. I like the "hidden" sounds.
Paul: Big yawn anyone...??
Thomas: Nope.
Paul: I was referring to the yawn in the 2nd verse...!
Thomas: Ha ha! Duh!
2. Lover Lover Lover
Kai: Ah, this is my train! Steam train, I’d say. Laid back but strong.
Thomas: What a song! I hear Jeff Lynne and George Harrison in this. The guitar solo is sweeeet. A mid-tempo track which I would say sounds a tad like “Church of Your Heart”... if you know what I mean, or rather like the Traveling Wilburys. One of my favorites.
Paul: The production of this song is superb, along with another fine example of Per and Marie’s voices harmonizing wonderfully.
Colin: The first time I heard this song I wasn't convinced, but like some of those songs do, it grew on me and eventually found myself humming the melody.
Kai: A tune that will stay in your head for a while. Good old guitar pop. The campfire kind of song. Worth being played in a loop.
Thomas: Indeed! This song sticks in your mind...
Paul: The instrumental section is fantastic. Can imagine this will be added to the concert setlist, especially has Per has mentioned several times that this is his favorite on the album.
Thomas: Yes, Per also says he expects it to show up live.
Kai: Oh, another nice sing-along-song in this case.
Judith: When I heard the 30-second snippet I thought “Beatles!”. I still do after having heard the full song. I have a thing with this album: I still haven’t made up my mind which song (of the new ones) I like best. As Kai says, very much of a campfire-sing-along feeling with this one. Nice!
3. Turn of the Tide
Colin: One of those elusive songs from way back. Most of us knew the title but had never heard the song. I always thought the demo sounded a bit too high for Per’s voice, happy to hear Marie performing this one. Still, for some reason the song doesn’t really do it for me - I rather skip to the next one!
Thomas: I like it! It’s like “I’m Glad You Called” from Charm School only better I guess. Acoustic guitars (“steadily” played by Per, Chris and Clair) with strings, drums and Marie’s voice. Clarence plays around with his ancient keyboards in this as well.
Paul: I got those goosebumps when I heard this song for the first time. I’m guessing this is the track that Per was talking about when he said that Marie has just recorded her best vocals since 2000. The voice sounds amazing! A very typical Roxette ballad, which could have been recorded in 1991, 1999 or 2001. In other words: timeless!
Kai: A ride on the bicycle through the fields. Sunny, airy, slightly windy, relaxed. It’s the way they produced ballads during CBB times. Strings, hi-hats, supported by gently weeping guitars. Dreamy mood with a lot of power thanks to Marie’s voice.
Thomas: Yes!
Judith: I had to gasp for air when I heard the song for the first time. Imagine: my mouth open, goosebumps and tears. “What has she done here?” Marie at her best. One of Roxette’s big ballads, but fresh, different. Excellent.
Thomas: What I like most about it is that it starts like “I’m Glad You Called” but grows and explodes almost like “Listen To Your Heart.”
