I've had this a while now and it needs introducing to a wider audience as it is a joy.
After a ten year break in which they pursued solo projects Roxette are back with a vengeance with an album to charm the pants off you. There's nothing new here in terms of production or musical styles and they stick to the same formula that has always been Roxette, therefore they will forever remain untrendy and probably never have another hit until the world wakes up and decides we need an early nineties pop revival.
The songs are near to flawless though, and instantly memorable enough to have produced at least five big hits had this been released twenty years ago at the time of Joyride. First single, the imaginatively titled She's got nothing on (but the radio), is catchy enough and should have been a hit, although it's probably one of my least favourite tracks. It was second single, Speak to me, that really..... spoke to me. Although I didn't think it was an obvious single choice it is definitely a grower.
Album opener, Way out, kicks the album off with a bang, Joyride/How do you do style. This is followed by the tender, No one makes it on her own which is typically sublime Roxette balladry. For me the three major highlights come right at the end of the album, starting with the moody After all, there are shades of James' She's a star here in the music and the song is all the better for it. The marvellous Happy on the outside follows and the album closes with what I consider to be one of the best and most endearing, heartfelt ballads they have ever done, and that is Sitting on top of the world which is where they should be after this effort. 8.5/10
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