Roxette - The Ballad Hits

From 1989 to 1991, Roxette dominated the charts with a string of super-dramatic hits. "Listen to Your Heart," "It Must Have Been Love," "Fading like a Flower"--classics all, and they're all here, along with much else. Their ballads don't always follow the duo's comic dictum—Don't bore us, get to the chorus." "Queen of Rain," with its moving oboe breaks, takes time to grow, as does the string-laden "Crash! Boom! Bang!" There are misses here, too, notably "You Don't Understand Me," co-written with hit-maker Desmond Child, and "Salvation" sounds like a collage of other people's work. Fortunately, the two new tracks--"A Thing About You" (sung by songwriter Per Gessle) and "Breathe"--are sweet and strong enough to repair the damage. --Dominic Wills Amazon.com

The wheel of talent!

After the appearing of Simon & Garefunkel and the Carpenters - between the middle sixties and the middle seventies - exception apart of other not less remarkable duos like Zagger & Evans (In the year 2525) on the international stages, the musical world had to wait (fortunately not so long) for three duos that literally cornered the last two decades due its imposing personality every one of them from a different perspective. Hall & Oates, Air Supply and obviously Roxette, who knew impress a set of diverse innovative proposals through their singular charisma and undeniable talent.

They are part of the musical history that is still expecting for a risky biographer, capable to face the huge challenge and display the project to resume the musical evolution in the second half of the XX Century.

Your invaluable collection will be unfinished unless you acquire this remarkable CD.
September 25, 2008

Something to slow dance to

If you have a date that you like to slow dance to or romanticize this is the disc to listen to. March 20, 2006

ULTIMATE ROXETTE PART ONE

DEFINITIVELY THE BEST SONGS OF ROXETTE ARE THE BALLADS, THIS ALBUM CONTAINS ALL THEIR GREATEST HITS FROM THIS GENERE, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS CD IS A REMASTER BUT SOUNDS VERY GOOD, AND IF YOU WANT THE TOTAL ROXETTE HITS GET THIS WITH "THE POP HITS" ALBUM, THERE ARE "THE LOOK","DRESSED FOR SUCCES","JOYRIDE","DANGEROUS", AND MORE, IT SOUNDS VERY GOOD TOO, TOGETHER MAKE THE ULTIMATE ROXETTE, VERY RECOMENDABLE. February 22, 2006

A masterpiece for fans; a great intro for Roxette virgins

This album does exactly what a greatest hits package should do -- showcase a group at its best. Roxette fans already know the material here, so seeing the songs that ended up on this collection of ballads will come as no surprise. If for some reason you were on Mars for the past 15 years or so (or maybe you weren't old enough) and missed out on even the relatively brief U.S. infatuation with Sweden's dynamic duo, here's a great chance to see what Europe has loved for more than a decade.

The earlier stuff is classic, of course -- name someone over the age of 30 who doesn't remember "It Must Have Been Love" or "Listen to Your Heart" -- and the later tunes reveal that Marie and Per didn't lose their touch. "Milk and Toast and Honey" sounds like a lame title, but then you hear the song and it's a perfect piece of mellow pop.

The two new cuts -- "A Thing About You" and "Breathe" are perfect bookends to this collection, with the latter being perfectly American radio-worthy for when this collection came out in 2002.

Of course, there's always something missing in a compilation like this. My one vote goes to the song "The Rain" (not to be confused with "Watercolours in the Rain," "Waiting for the Rain" or "Queen of Rain") from "Tourism." If not for its repetitiveness, the song could be a top 30 U.S. hit for them today.

The other hope is for an "Essential Collection" or ultimate hits package where they combine this album with "The Pop Hits." Guess we'll have to wait a few years...but the wait should be worth it. November 7, 2005

What becomes of the broken hearted??

Roxette writes songs for us, that's what happens dammit!!! As a proud wearer of two tattoos of broken hearts(damn scoundrels!!!); I can attest that this cd is perfect for making you feel melancholy. It's Roxette at it's best; moody, dark, and also just the right amount of tenderness. This is something you want to listen to alone for the first few times; alone in a darkened room, cd playing, glass of wine or beer nearby, and the memories of the good or bad relationships you've had. Then you'll be able to share it with your current significant other. October 16, 2005

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