My Jukebox

Because I'm so picky, only a few artists get my attention. So, you could say, only the best of the best gets on this page. (Ignore last part, it's another piece of twisted logic)

The best songs are divided in:

1st place: Damn good, can't be better. Ultimate MUST-LISTEN.
2nd place: Also very very good. A very firm 2nd place is deserved.

Alanis Morissette
who ?: She's a born Canadian starting out in the early nineties. Releasing two albums in Canada only (hint, hint, I'm NOT in Canada, hint, hint) With her third album, she'd finally break through all over the world. Maybe it's because she's only one a the very few ladies that really kick ass. Maybe it's because her third album finally got it's own flavour instead of the early albums with a bit of pop and ballads. On her fourth album, she's going a bit too alternative for my taste, but luckily, it contains 17 songs, so there's still enough songs that I do like and enjoy.
music : while the music sounds nice, and the mouth-organ she plays herself, her voice does all the work, as proven with her "Space Cakes" (1996), where 6 songs where taken from "Jagged Little Pill" and put in an acoustic jacket.
conclusion: She kicks ass, her album kicks ass. You gotta love her.
links: A nice page, http://www.alanismorissette.net
album: Jagged Little Pill (1995)
1st place: Hand in my Pocket, You Learn, Head over Feet, Ironic
2nd place: Not the Doctor, Right through You*, Mary Jane
album: Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998)
1st place: Thank You, That I Would Be Good
2nd place: Unsent, One
album: Unplugged (nov 1999)
1st place: Ironic, You Learn, Head Over Feet, No Pressure over Cappuccino
2nd place: Princes Familiar, King of Pain
other: Uninvited (OST "City of Angels")
status: mar 2000: On tour.

Matchbox Twenty (Formerly known as Matchbox 20, with its wellknown abb, MB20)
who ?: This group has gotten totally no attention in Holland, sadly enough. They are very popular everywhere else in the world, which is very well deserved with their latest album.
music : This is what I call rock. The guitar work is exceptional (whether it's the acoustic, electric or bass), and the lead singers voice is very nice, for shouting or just ballads, high or low. Also, the occasional background vocals work damn fine too.
Most songs have a deeper personal meaning, and have a different meaning from person to person. This is also one of the many strengths of MB20.
In concerts you can expect new songs, unreleased before, and you can also expect new or added lyrics to some old songs.
conclusion: Put on this CD, and you'll feel better, guaranteed.
links: http://www.matchbox20.com who would've thought eh ? http://mb20.ohr.gatech.edu/mb20.htm
album: Yourself or Someone like You (1997)
1st place: Real World, Push, 3 AM, Long Day, Hang, Kody, Shame
2nd place: Argue, Back 2 Good, Busted, Girl like That
album: Mad Season (May 2000)
1st place: Bent
2nd place:
other: Tired ("Push" CD-single), You and I and I (concert only), Heavy (concert only), Rest Stop (concert only), Time after Time (concert only, original by Cindy Lauper)
status: April 2000: The first single of their upcoming new album is hitting the airwaves ! Also, they supposedly changed their name to Matchbox Twenty, for some strange reason.

Goo Goo Dolls
who ?: I have no idea.
music: Doesn't match Matchbox 20's style and genius, but it definitely rocks, and this album sets aside a sound of their own, just like Matchbox 20 does for its own. The older albums have some harder rock (almost punk rock) on it, and the even earlier ones have to be taken lightly as the band seems to be mainly joking around (for instance, the songs James Dean, Up Yours, Don't Beat My Ass with a Baseball Bat and more).
conclusion: They actually make two kinds of sounds, one more sounding like noise with a lot of screaming, and one more subtle rock, and I happen to like only the last catagory, so, I got a somewhat divided opinion.
links: I really don't care, go search for yourself.
album: Dizzy Up the Girl (1998)
1st place: Slide, All Eyes on Me, Black Balloon, Iris, Broadway, Name, Hate this Place, Bullet Proof
2nd place: Acoustic #3, Dizzy
album: A Boy Named Goo (1995)
1st place: Long Way Down, Burnin' Up, Naked, Ain't That Unusual, Eyes Wide Open
2nd place: Impersonality, Flat Top, Only One, So Long, Somethin' Bad
album: Superstar Car Wash (1993)
1st place: Girl Right Next To Me, We Are the Normal, Another Second Time Around
2nd place: Fallin' Down, Already There, On the Lie, So Far Away, Cuz You're Gone, Stop the World
album: Hold Me Up (1991)
1st place: Just the Way You Are, Two Days in February
2nd place: Never Take the Place of Your Man (feat. Lance Diamond), Hey, You Know What I Mean, 22 Seconds
album: Jed (1988)
1st place: James Dean
2nd place: Out of Sight, Up Yours, Down on the Corner (feat. Lance Diamond)
album: Goo Goo Dolls (1987)
1st place:
2nd place: Beat Me
other: I Don't Want to Know (Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours), I'm Awake Now ("Freddy's Dead" soundtrack), Nothing Can Change You ("Name" CD-single)
status: mar 2000: Unknown.

Hanson
who ?: Three brother from Tulsa, Texas, they not only play there own music (Zac, drums, Taylor, keyboards, Ike, guitar), they also write their own songs. They also took a shot at producing their 3 latest CD's. After releasing two independent albums their third would make a big hit. The album has a big variaty from rocking songs to nice ballads. With Taylor doing most vocals, it's proven on their first two albums both the other brothers can sing pretty well too. Their 5th album "3 Car Garage" will contain songs from their first two albums. Their 6th album already, is a live album, so we're really waiting for some new stuff. "Live from Albertane" is a live registration of one of their gigs in the States. On this tour, with 3 additional band members (2 guitars, 1 keyboard), they've shown they are quite capable performers. Making Zac the only one playing without back-up, he proves himself a solid drummer capable of leading the whole show.
music : Though most songs just have the drums, keyboards and the guitar, it's still a nice combination, and can quite rock indeed. Their first album had a more standard synthesizer/keyboard sound, because they didn't play their own instruments yet. While most songs are about love, you'll still think, wow this rocks ! This goes even for their first two albums
conclusion: Being young doesn't mean you can't write and perform songs. While "Boomerang" is a good debut album, later albums would be even more mature and sensitive and deep. And all albums have some astounding songs on it.
links: Kinda official page, http://www.hansonline.com, and some fanpages http://HansonHouse.com, http://hansonweb.simplenet.com
album: Boomerang (1995)
1st place: Boomerang, Lonely Boy, Don't Accuse, More than Anyting
2nd place:
album: MMMBop (1996)
1st place: Two Tears, Sometimes, MMMBop, Thinking of You, With you in Your Dreams
2nd place: River
album: Middle of Nowhere (1997)
1st place: MMMBop, Thinking of You, A Minute without You, With you in Your Dreams, Yearbook, Madeline
2nd place: Where's the Love, I Will come to You, Weird, Speechless, Lucy
album: Snowed In (1997)
1st place: Merry Christmas Baby, What Christmas Means to Me, At Christmas, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),
2nd place: Christmas Time
album: 3 Car Garage: The Indie Recordings '95-'96 (1998)
1st place: See "Boomerang" and "MMMBop"
2nd place: See "Boomerang" and "MMMBop"
album: Live from Albertane (1998)
1st place: See other albums
2nd place: See other albums, Money, Gimmie Some Lovin'
album: This Time Around (may 2000)
1st place: If Only, Runaway Run, Save Me, I Wish I Was There, A Song To Sing
2nd place: This Time Around, Can't Stop, Love Song, Sure About It
other: Cry (CD-single "I Will come to You")
status: apr 2000: With a new single (the US gets the more mellow album title track "This Time Around" while outside US gets the more upbeat "If Only"), and a new album ready to storm the charts, a new world tour is also being planned.

The Corrs
who ?: Three Irish sisters and a brother. All playing their own instruments and writing their own music. Started with a helping hand from producer David Foster, but they've also produced and arranged their own albums by now.
music: Almost all songs sound a bit happy in the core, usually affected by a bit of old Irish Celtic influence.
conclusion: They definitely make their own music with their own kind of distinct sound, and most of the songs are just upbeat and happy.
links: I'm too lazy, search for yourself.
album: Forgiven, Not Forgotten (1995)
1st place: Love To Love You, Toss the Feathers
2nd place: Closer, Erin Shore, Leave Me Alone, Heaven Knows
album: Talk on Corners (1998)
1st place: So Young, I Never Loved You Anyway, Queen of Hollywood
2nd place: Dreams, No Good For Me, Don't Say You Love Me, Love Gives Love Takes, Runaway
album: Unplugged (nov 1999)
1st place: Radio, At Your Side, So Young, What Can I Do?, Queen of Hollywood, Everybody Hurts (R.E.M. cover)
2nd place: Little Wing, Old Town, No Frontiers, Lough Erin Shore
other: On My Father's Wings ("The Magic Sword" soundtrack)
status: apr 2000: Unknown.

Natalie Imbruglia
who ?: Imbruglia is pronounced without the "g". This Australian lady has been offered a deal with a record company at age 14. She choose acting first and would make it to Ozzies most popular soap "Neighbours", where she started with as a guestrole. Due to popularity, she'd stay there for 2 years. After moving to London, she began writing her own songs and scored a deal with record company BMG. Her debut single "Torn" is a cover, but with her own twist, it is an undeniable hit all over the world.
music : her music is a bit standard rock/pop, and her voice is nice. But she sings some of the songs with real depth and feeling, which sounds very good.
conclusion: It's a nice debut album, very promising. One irritating fact is, she always releases several version of a single, all with different new songs.
links:
album: Left of the Middle (1997)
1st place: Torn, Smoke, Pigeons & Crumbs
2nd place: Wishing I was There, Intuition
other: Something Better ("Big Mistake" CD-single)
status: apr 2000: Unknown.

Tina Turner
who ?: Her history speaks for itself, and I wouldn't do it well to tell it all here. She's a truly powerful lady, starting out with a troubled past (Ike Turner), she'd come back and made it sure she's a real superstar that can't be denied
music: She has done good ol' rock songs to nice ballads, but it's her powerfull voice does it all
conclusion: She's been around as long as I remember, and she will be around for a long long time
links:
album: Wildest Dreams (1997)
1st place: Missing You, On Silent Wings
2nd place: Dancing in my Dreams
album: Twenty Four Seven (nov 1999)
1st place: When the Heartache is Over, Whatever You Need, Talk to My Heart, I Will Be There
2nd place:
other: Cose della Vita/Can't Stop Thinking of You (duet with Eros Ramazzotti)
status: apr 2000: Her really really last world tour accompanied by old friend Lionel Richie.

Lionel Richie
who ?: Lionel Richie started out with the famous The Commodores. He would later be the most popular of his motown songs and later his love-songs. Making a winning streak of albums, he'd take a break in the nineties because of personal problems. His comeback album would be filled with greatest hits and 3 new very good songs. His latest album, with help from producers in the R&B world, would be a mix of all sorts of music, from R&B to soul to jazz. He also learned to play some new instrument for his latest album.
music : While most songs have a nice tune, it's his voice and sweet lyrics that do the job.
conclusion: Love songs = Lionel Richie, that's a rule.
links: No links yet.
album: Back to Front (1992)
1st place: Do it to me, Destiny, Love oh Love
2nd place:
album: Louder than Words (1996)
1st place: Don't wanna lose you, Ordinary Girl, Can't Get over You, Still in Love
2nd place:
album: Time (1998)
1st place: Time, Closest Thing to Heaven
2nd place: Everytime, I Hear your Voice
Other: Truly, Penny Lover, Hello, Easy, Stuck on You
status: apr 2000: A new album (supposedly more in the direction of dance, called "Rennaisance") is being finished. Released somewhere in the summer a tour will follow the release.

Faith Hill
who ?: Country star, married to another country star (Tim McGraw).
music : Moving from her earlier country, she's got better writers more in the direction of poppy country style.
conclusion: If country is too much for you, this might just win you over. Blessed with a nice voice, she can go many directions with her music.
links:
album: It Matters To Me(1995)
1st place: It Matters To Me
2nd place: Bed of Roses
album: Love Will Always Win (1999)
1st place: Me, This Kiss,
2nd place: Piece of My Heart, The Secret of Life
album: Breathe (1999)
1st place: Breathe
2nd place:
status: apr 2000: Unknown.

Ilse DeLange
who ?: Dutch lady goes country, in her own more accessible way, that is.
music : From the rhythmic sing-alongs, to the moving ballads, she makes it somehow special with her silky yet rough country trained voice.
conclusion: Country has more variety than you thought it had before (there are still some pretty boring songs between her repetoire though).
links:
album: World of Hurt (1998)
1st place: I'd Be Yours, When We Don't Talk, Flying Solo, Flying Blind, Tapdancing on the Highwire, What Does Your Heart Say Now
2nd place: Just Like the Moon, If You Had the Heart
status: apr 2000: Unknown.

Savage Garden
who ?: Huge and popular down under in Aussie, their point of origin. One lead singer and one on the keyboard dubbing as backing vocals.
music: Nice synthesizer sound, the kind of the popular 80-ies pop, but then a bit updated. Some songs feature some nice pinging on the guitar. Overall, it has a nice beat to it.
conclusion: Their debut album is certainly strange and unbalanced (only 11 songs on their album ?!) (another (not shared by me) point of view could be that it's a versatile album) but there are enough good solid beautiful songs on it, indicating a chance their next album might be really good.
links: I really have no idea. Cant's you go search yourself ?
album: Savage Garden (1997)
1st place: To the Moon and Back, Truly Madly Deeply (this is a cover, by the way), Universe
2nd place: Santa Monica, Promises
album: Affirmation (nov 1999)
1st place: I Knew I Loved You, Affirmation, Crash & Burn, The Lover After Me, Two Beds & a Coffee Machine
2nd place: I Don't Know You Anymore, Hold Me, The Best Thing, The Animal Song, You Can Still Be Free
other: Mine
status: nov '99: New single and new album have been released.

Skunk Anansie
who ?: British band headed by the bald lady with the strange name Skin.
music : Soft rock and hard (very hard) rock. I only like the soft songs.
conclusion: Nice written songs with a lot of feelings in it. Personal experiences seems to make up the most topics for the songs.
links: No links found yet (or rather, I'm too lazy)
album: Stoosh (1996)
1st place: Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good), Brazen (Weep), We Love Your Apathy
2nd place:
album: Post Orgasmic Chill (1999)
1st place: Secretly, Lately, You'll Follow Me Down, I'm Not Afraid
2nd place: Cheap Honesty, We Don't Need Who You Think You Are, Tracy's Flaw, Good Things Don't Always Come To You
other:
status: dec '99: Last seen participating in charity Children's Promise music video "It's Only Rock 'n Roll But I Like It" (old Rolling Stone song, and the old guys are in it too).

The Cranberries
who ?: The Cranberries' lead singer is the most rich lady in Ireland. Though having a low profile here, she made some serious big hits with songs from their "No Need to Argue" album. And that's mainly the cause why they are mentioned here. Later work from them isn't really something to write home about.
music : Soft rock, too soft for my taste, but the hits from their album are very nice.
conclusion: Some deep songs, though I have no idea what they sing about, it sounds good. Other songs tend to be a bit monotonous.
links: No links found yet
album: No Need to Argue (1995)
1st place: Zombie, Ode to my Family, Linger
2nd place: Twenty One, I can't be with You
album: Bury the Hatchet (1999)
1st place: Animal Instinct, Promises, Shattered, Saving Grace
2nd place: You and Me, Just My Imagination, Fee Fi Fo,
other: Go Your Own Way (Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours)
status: dec '99: Last seen participating in charity Children's Promise music video "It's Only Rock 'n Roll But I Like It" (old Rolling Stone song, and the old guys are in it too).

Jennifer Love Hewitt
who ?: Jennifer Love Hewitt may have started with acting, or may have started with singing, who knows ? She received most recognition for her role in Party of Five and subsequently her I ... Know What You Did Last Summer movies. It didn't stop there, because she would even score the role as Audrey Hepburn. After that, she'll produce her own written movie. On the music side, her first album dates back when she was 12, so, you won't be able to find that album, unless you break into her personal vault. Her second album got help from Sheila E. and still a was Japan only release. Her third album would show improvement, but still was a Japan only release.
music : She definitely has something to make her a great singer. And you can't complain listening to her singing her gospellish happy kinda sound.
conclusion: The album I've listened to (see under) is a good all-rounder, but it certainly isn't refreshing. I'd say, open a new can of writers and producers, and can assure you of a world hit.
links: No links found yet
album: Jennifer Love Hewitt (1996)
1st place: It's Good To Know I'm Alive, Last Night
2nd place: I Believe In..., I Want a Love I Can See, Don't Push the River, Never a Day Goes By, Cool With You
Other: How Do I Deal ("I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" soundtrack)
status: jul '99: Unknown. She's currently working on her own series, a "Party of Five" spin-off.

Solid HarmoniE
who ?: New female group (4 members, for a change). Fun, happy, dance music.
music : Nice music, though a bit standard. Nice voices. Lyrics aren't that deep.
conclusion: Good produced album, with loads of influences (dance, pop, R&B) mixed well and subtlely together. And their voices are in good harmonie. It's a good and happy album to put on any time any day.
links: Official page, http://www.solidharmonie.com, doh
album: Solid HarmoniE (1998)
1st place: I'll be there for You, I Want You to Want Me, I Wanna Love You, Walk Away
2nd place: He's Playing Hard to Get, Come and Get it, I Gotta Get my Groove on, To Love Once Again
status: apr '99: Breaking up. Everybody's going their own way. Pressure and busy schedule is reported to be the reason for the break-up. And also reported is that Mariama has joined UK R&B group Honeyz. The rest may go solo.

2 Unlimited
who ?: Founded in 1992 by Belgian producers Wilde and De Coster, Ray and Anita would make it to world wide popularity for the next 4 or so years. Starting a new kinda music, that was then hard to describe (techno-pop, eurodance, etc), electronic music combined with a nice voice and some rap, it would stand out between all the usual rock and ballads in the charts. Scoring hits after hits, the musical style changed with it, to avoid similarity and stay ahead of other people copying this type of music. Later on, the music would tend to the side of happy hardcore and instead of setting the trend, they would follow it. After the group resolved, a new group was formed with two ladies in 1998. The producers tried to continue the success of Ray and Anita, but with their first single of the 2nd 2 Unlimited, it seems a futile course of action, due to the fact that is sounds the same of what they made earlier.
music : Besides the dance music, vocals and lyrics played a big part too (it would improve later on, a bit). They also made ballads that sounded nice because of the different beat in the background. Later, faster dance music and a monotone beat would overrule the other nice songs. Another thing very nice about the old 2 Unlimited were the remixes. There was always one on the singles that would top the original.
conclusion: While the group set a new trend, it wore thin after a few years. Some of the remixes really kick ass, best dance ever written. Trying it all over with a new group wasn't smart.
links: They're dead, accept it.
album: Get Ready (1992)
1st place: Get Ready for this, Twilight Zone, Desire, Eternally Yours
2nd place:
album: No Limits (1993)
1st place: No Limit (Automatic Breakbeat Remix), Mysterious, Faces (X-OUT Remix), The Power Age, Throw the Groove down, R.U.O.K., Let the Beat Control Your Body (X-OUT in Trance mix), Invite me to Trance, Where are You Now, Get Ready For this (Wilde Mix)
2nd place: Tribal Dance, Break the Chain, Shelter on a Rainy Day
album: Real Things (1994)
1st place: The Real Thing (Trance Thing mix), Do What I Like, Here I Go (X-OUT in Club mix), Sensuality, No One (Unlimited RMX-Extended), Nothing like the Rain (Rainy Remix)
2nd place: Burning Like Fire, Hypnotised, Tuning into Something Wild, Face to Face, What's Mine is Mine
other: Jump for Joy (Digidance Happy Hardcore Edit), Spread your Love (Digidance Happy Hardcore Edit), Do What's Good for Me (X-OUT Remix)
status: apr '99: Still making crappy music. After one half of the new formation has been dumped already, they're still searching for a second member two make the 2 Unlimited format complete. Good luck, coz it will fail. 2 Unlimited is dead, accept it. Former member Ray is producing and still singing (latest material is "When it's My Turn" by his formation called VIP Allstars). Former member Anita is also back with a somewhat amateuristic single "Universe".

T-Spoon
who ?: Following 2 Unlimited, T-Spoon is also Dutch. The lead rapper/singer is from the States, but liked Holland so much, he decided to stay. Success has been limited in the Benelux only.
music : The type of music 2 Unlimited set a standard for. Some of the songs stand out bacause of the female guest vocal (Jean Shy, BB Queen a.o.). After this debut album, they scored occasional hits. But not as strong as the first ones.
conclusion: Though this album has many nice hits, it's also very experimantal and has loads of mix sounding the same as the original, later released CD would also be mostly the same as the first, a bit too much of the same, and it has to do with only one or two hits. Some of the occasional covers put in a new jacket are nice.
links: Dunno
album: Joy Life and Pain (1994)
1st place: Where R Y Now, Mercedes Benz, Take me 2 the Limit, No Time 2 Waste
2nd place: Open up 2 U
album: Lexicon of Melody (1996)
1st place: Part of my life, Someone Loves You
2nd place: Keep on Smiling
status: oct '99: A new member has been found. And a new so-so unimpressive single has been released called "Got 2 Get You Back". After that, they released even more so-so songs.