Sweetbox // The Next Generation (Japanese Release)

Buy @ CDJapan | Buy @ YesAsia.com

The Next Generation is the 7th studio album from Sweetbox, while at the same time being the first album to feature the vocal talents of Jamie Pineda.

The album has a more an RnB feel compared to previous albums however, this release also maintains the groups signature musical style;  fusing modern sounds with classical sampling [We Can Work It Out, Crash Landed, Magic]. There’s also ballads [In A Heartbeat, With A Love Like You, When Will It Be Me], upbeat songs [Blue Angel, Everybody Come Out In The Sunshine] as well as some dancey sounding songs [Love Forgets, Crash Landed]. There is also a brand new version of the group’s signature song, Everything’s Gonna Be Alright as well as a remix of the same track by Yasutaka Nakata (a bonus for this version of the album)

As previously said, this album has a more RnB feel to it, making feel a little more ‘Western music’ feel. However, what should be remembered is that with every new singer, something new has been brought into the group. The one complaint that people seem to have is that Jamie has only co-wrote on the songs on the album, however, if we look at some of the more popular/successful artists out there, we may be surprised that to find that most of them have no input with their songs. And while yes, this is being used to compare Jamie to previous front woman, Jade Villalon, this is not to say that on future albums, Jamie won’t have more of a strong presence with writing.

Overall, given that this is a new combination of vocal talent and a new producer, the album is alright. The track order doesn’t produce a feeling of disjointedness and seems to contain the right mixture of styles. It will be interesting to see how the album is accepted by old and new fans alike

Rating: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. We Can Work It Out
2. You Don’t know What You’re Sorry For
3. In A Heartbeat
4. With A Love Like You
5. Everything Is Nothing
6. Crash Landed
7. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (Next Generation 2009)
8. Blue Angel
9. Magic
10. Everybody Come Out Into The Sunshine
11. These Dayz
12. More Than You’ll Ever Know
13. When Will It Be Me
14. Coming Home To You
15. Love Forgets
16. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (Next Generation 2009) [Yasutaka Nakata Remix]