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Artist: Marie Fredriksson
Label: EMI Int'l Category: Music Average customer rating: Format: Box set Media: Audio CD Number Of Discs: 6 UPC: 724354019920 EAN: 0724354019920 ASIN: B000069HHR Release Date: 2002-06-13 |
Karlekens Guld
Tracks:
Album Details
Digitally Remastered 5cd Collection of the Roxette Half's Solo Albums in Swedish. 'kärlekens Guld' Translates as 'love's Gold'. It Comes Packaged in a Hard Slip Cover and Each of the Five Original Albums Has Been Remastered Using State-of-the-art Equipment for the Best Sound Possible. Includes with the Live Recording of the Stockholm 'Äntligen' Concert that was Previously Included as a Bonus in the Dvd Package. Each of the Five Albums Includes Bonus Tracks.Customer Reviews:
The best of her best with Bonus tracks.......2003-07-30
Terrific...........2002-12-23
I sometimes can't help but compare Marie to Annie Lenox and the likes. Indeed, one has to hear her solo efforts to appreciate her incredible interpretive skills, and she sounds so much better singing in her native language than she ever could in English (with Roxette). Her vocals are expressive, emotive and has sublime finesse. This box set also tracks how she has evolved and matured in her musical style. I shall try to review a little of each album...
Het Vind (1984) / Den Sjunde Vågen (1985)
Marie began her solo effort in 1984 with Het Vind followed by Den Sjunde Vågen a year later. As with the pop era of the time, the albums are quite the standard fare; arena-scaled pop, synth-laden tracks and big, histrionic ballads, somewhat similar to the likes of Pat Benatar, Scandal, etc. In fact, Het Vind contained an interesting Swedish cover of Cyni Lauper's "All Throught the Night" - "Natt efter Natt", which sounds real similar to the original. These albums are ultra-commercial, nonethless, the songs are still good to listen to.
Efter Stormen (1987)
Compared to the first two albums, Efter Stormen was more introspective. Her partnership with Per Gessle as Roxette the year before probably influenced the course of direction in this album. Rather than repeating her previous albums commercially oriented sound, the music in this album was jazzy ("Intro", "Bara för En Dag"), slow, methodical ("Aldrig som Frälingar, Även Vargar Måste Välja)and generally bluesy... A second favourite of mine, next to....
Den Ständiga Resan (1992)
This album is in every way opposite to what is Roxette. And it's also the album I love most. Dark, melancholic and heavy, the songs are subtle, poised and elegant. The album is hauntingly beautiful and has an ethereal aura. The album's intro sets the mood perfectly to what is to be expected next as it flows perfectly to the next track, the cool "Det Regnar Igen". It goes on to subtle jazzy, disco beats ("Så Länge Det Lysser Mittemot"), haunting, eerie tracks ("Medan Tiden Är Inne, Den Där Novembedan")and meditative tunes. It is an album best suited during autumn and winter...
I En Tid Som Vår (1996)
I was actually a little disappointed by the album, after hearing Den Ständiga Resan, I was hoping to hear an album of the same calibre. Nonetheless, the songs are well-crafted and reflects the maturity of Marie's music. Best loved tracks are the haunting title track and the last track "Tro" - pure, understated elegance...
It is quite a shame that Marie's solo efforts aren't recognized since Swedish is, after all, a small language. Judging by the standards of her work, it is something that deserves recognition.
The Whole Enchilada.......2002-10-13
The sixth "bonus" disc was recorded live in concert. Those fortunate enough to have heard Marie in concert know that she is one of the select few performers who can sound better, more dynamic and inventive, onstage than in a studio. It's interesting to listen in on this concert as she becomes progressively more energized by the audience.
These discs have apparently been carefully remastered, and the sound is crystalline. And while $80US is a hefty price to pay, it's cheaper than a trip to a record store in Sweden.
Music Album:
Music CD
In Her Own Sweet Way ~ Ali Ryerson
Have Tenor Sax, Will Blow/Live at Small's Paradise ~ King Curtis
Fred Sokolow Jazz Quartet ~ Fred Sokolow
When Night Calls ~ Ken Navarro