Ace Of Base Cruel Summer CD

Japanese digitally remastered edition contains two bonus tracks: "Dr. Sun" & "Into The Night Blue."

The third album by the Swedish quartet features energetic, harmonious vocals backed by palatable techno beats and a unique pop-Reggae sound. Sisters Jenny and Linn Berggren share lead vocal duty, with their brother Jonas "Joker" Berggren and Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg contributing songwriting, producing, arranging, and varied musical talents. High points include "Always Have, Always Will," which puts a novel spin on the '60s Motown girl group sound; the ballad "Everytime it Rains," with its delicate Spanish guitar trills, and the contagious rhythms of the danceable "Travel to Romantis." The title track, a reworking of Bananarama's 1980's pop hit, perfectly captures the album's vitality and spunk.

Ace of Base's music is never about diversity. Their first two records mined infectious Euro-disco beats to great effect, and the first, at least, illustrated they had a knack for writing big, irresistible pop hooks. Cruel Summer, their third album, attempts to capture the carefree, stylish charm that drove "All That She Wants" and "The Sign" to the top of the charts, and while it has its moments, it fails to rival their previous pop pinnacles. It's a little disappointing that the melodic high point is the title track, a cover of Bananarama's new wave classic. Also, it's a little disappointing that Ace of Base haven't chosen to vary their Euro-disco rhythms, since the relentless thumping makes Cruel Summer sound a little too similar its predecessors -- only without as many hooks. There are almost enough solid tracks to make the album enjoyable as it plays, but there's nothing really memorable about it once it's finished. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Japanese 24-bit K2 remastered reissue of the Swedish dance-pop act's third album, originally released in 1998, includes one bonus track, 'Into The Night Of Blue'. BMG. 2003.

Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg.

Producers include: Cutfather, Joe, Ole Evenrude, Jonas "Joker" Berggren,

Engineers include: Joe Belmaati, Eivind Skovdahl, Douglas Carr.

Ace Of Base: Jenny Berggren, Linn Berggren (vocals); Jonas "Joker" Berggren,

Additional Personnel: Mads Johansson, Jonas Karg, Ulf Bandgren (guitar); Magnus M. Johansson, Per Johansson, Nils Landgren, Leif Lindwall (horns); Tue Roh (Fender Rhodes); Joe Belmaati, Tommy Ekman, Per Andebrat, Douglas Carr, Peo Haggstrom, John Amatiello, Johnny Jam, Delgado (keyboards, programming); Desi "Dezrock" Caruso (keyboards); Sasha, Bas-Berra (bass); Bjarne "Spiff" Johansson (drums, percussion); Eivind Skovdahl, Borje "Buller I Bang" (percussion); Joakim Stiren, Thomas Siqveland, Stonestream, Dave Lee (programming); Suzanne Carstensen, Marian Lisland, Marianne Bundevik, John Ballard, Nana Hedin, Marit Bie, Birthe H. (background vocals).

Entertainment Weekly (8/14/98, p.80) - "It's clear what Ace Of Base Svengali Jonas Berggren is aiming for--the iridescent sonic symmetry of Swedish forebears ABBA....[Ace Of Base] actually attain[s] ABBA's perfect pop-Euro-disco balance on this third outing. There isn't a note out of concordant place, no potential hook overlooked..." - Rating: B+