Ace of Base - The Bridge

Ace of Base is definitely one of my favorite groups. I was fascinated by their hits, The Sign and Beautiful Life back in the 90s. I recalled buying this album with my senior high school mate at the only one record store in my hometown. The album is entitled The Bridge and it contains 16 tracks.

1. Beautiful Life

Its the most beautiful song in this album. They put this on the first track, hmm clever, and it grabs my heart so much! A great mixture of the upbeat dance rhythm, a bit of gospel, and the lyrics. Its sort of giving energy to your life, a great inspiration for me! Definitely the highlight of this album.

2. Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry

Another upbeat tempo which is wonderfully written by Jonas. However, I found that it quite resembles All That She Wants. Yet, again its an inspirational song about self-acceptance.

3. Lucky Love

Love the tunes! The lyric is just for fun but the melody, its great!

4. Edge of Heaven

A kind of ballad, and the first Ace of Bases ballad Ive listened to. For me, its only worth listened to when the mood allows. I mean, I expect fun, upbeat melody when playing Ace of Bases CD, and surely this song doesnt qualify that. But I respect them in making a new different kind of music.

5. Strange Ways

Keyboard and some Middle East influences are the strength of this track. The lyrics are not that catchy, but the tunes are okay. A little bit different from the other upbeat songs, and I personally think that Ace of Base has tried a new taste in their music. But whether this is a good thing or not, Im not in the position of judging that.

6. Ravine

A piece of slow melody by Ace of Base which is sung by Jenny. Love the chorus, and the lyric is about self-understanding. Jenny should take the credit for it.

7. Perfect World

The lyric is good, the dance is still here, but with slower tunes. Not much of my fave, though.

8. Angel Eyes

This song speaks about love at first sight, a mellow yet fabulous song. I think I might recall something like Aquas piece when listening to this. I couldnt remember the title of the song, though.

9. My Dj vu

Its kind of Latin or Spanish influence on the music but I enjoy it, though I cant enjoy the lyrics.

10. Wave Wet Sand

Another piece of slow beat song performed by Jenny. I think I liked it at first, but now I realized I dont like it much. Maybe because of the slow tunes, or the lyric that bothers me, I dont know.

11. You and I

The upbeat tunes sound promising for an Ace of Bases song. I personally think that this song shouldnt be compared by those like Beautiful Life or Lucky Love or Never Gonna Say Im Sorry. It somehow lacks something that those three I mentioned above have. Love the tunes at first, but I lose my grip on this song afterwards.

12. Que Sera

Again, Ace of Base proves that they can also make a mellow song. This mellow song is added with tecno slow dance background music, and apart from the lyric, I like this addition.

13. Just N Image

Probably the right song to be played on a club. I like it the way I like Sophie Ellis Bextors Blood on the Dance Floor. Lyric is not catchy, but the strength of this music is the tunes and its background music.

14. Experience Pearls

A quite unique song because of the deeper meaning in the lyrics. The tunes are ordinary but when listening to it, I guess I focus more on the lyrics. A good song to listen to.

15. Whispers in Blindness

For me its just ordinary and nothing is special in this ballad. The lyrics are also ordinary, and everything in this song is just ordinary. The non-catchy tunes and repetitive lyrics make the ballad even boring at times. I usually skip this when playing the CD.

16. Blooming 18

I love the last piece of the album because of its mid-tempo beat and the lyrics. Probably a good way to close the album with this marvelous song.

The Bridge is surely an album I should count on when my mood turns like having fun. Although the ballads are still hanging there, I think that they tried every different path to make this album sounded wonderful. Whatever it takes But hey, not all their ballads are bad, I like some of them. So, Ace of Bases efforts should give appreciation for offering some different new ideas to change their sticky techno dance music. Bravo Ace of Base!