From the Vault...

08/06/2000
#693

info
Savage Garden
"Affirmation"


© Columbia Records

Rating:

track listing
  • Affirmation
  • Hold Me
  • I Knew I Loved You
  • The Best Thing
  • Crash And Burn
  • Chained To You
  • The Animal Song
  • The Lover After Me
  • Two Beds And A
    Coffee Machine
  • You Can Still Be Free
  • Gunning Down
    Romance
  • I Don't Know
    You Anymore

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    Savage Garden related sites:
    Savage Garden Website
    Wikipedia
    Previous Review: #692
    Collective Soul--Hints Allegations And Things Left Unsaid
    Next Review: #694
    Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band--The Fire Inside
    Savage Garden
    "Affirmation"



    Savage Garden is best known for their Adult Contemporary love ballads, such as their #1 from their first self-titled album, "Truly Madly Deeply" and their most current #1, "I Knew I Loved You," from this week's review, Affirmation. The duo of Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones has the qualities of another famous duo, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley (Wham!), yet Savage Garden's music tends to the soft-rock sound, as compared to Wham!'s upbeat dance rock. So the question is: Is Savage Garden the next Wham! ? That answer remains at the end of this review...


    The opening track is anything but a soft-rock ballad. It's very energetic and fast. "Hold Me" has the same Adult Contemporary sound as their #1's, having a medium beat, and could be a contender song for the Backstreet Boys. Speaking of which, "I Knew I Loved You" is one of those dreamy pop soft-rock ballads Adult Contemporary radio formats thrive on. It's a great song, and is also a good song for romantic atmoshpheres.


    "The Best Thing", like the title track, is upbeat, and has some definite rock guitars. "Crash And Burn" returns Savage Garden to their regular Adult Contemporary sound. "Chained To You" is more of an upbeat rock sound; this one definitely has a different sound than the standard sound heard on their two #1's -- a definite "rocker."


    "The Animal Song" is a good upbeat dance number, and the youngsters of today will like this one (especially Backstreet Boys fans). With a title like "The Lover After Me," it has the same atmosphere as the dreamy #1's as heard in "I Knew You Loved Me" and "Truly Madly Deeply;" another good Adult Contemporary contender.


    With an "unusual" title such as "Two Beds And A Coffee Machine," this one is also another dreamy (and possible future #1?) as in "The Lover In Me," and many other songs on this album that fits the same sound. (If this song doesn't get enough radio exposure and popularity, this song is then definitely overlooked.) Likewise, "You Can Still Be Free" is another possible future popular song, and should not be overlooked. Darren Hayes' vocal is simply beautiful on this one.


    "Gunning Down Romance" -- upbeat song for an upbeat title? Not exactly. It's a simple song, having some upbeat tempos, yet it can be a good B-side for such songs as "I Knew I Loved You," "You Can Still Be Free" or "Two Beds And A Coffee Machine." This one has a somewhat eerie atmosphere about it. "I Don't Know You Anymore" is the album's closing song, and like many other dreamy songs on this album, it easily fits this type of sound.


    Affirmation defines the sound of Adult Contemporary, having dreamy pop ballads, and a few upbeat numbers. Comparing to Wham!, Savage Garden's music tends more popular towards dreamy pop songs, as heard in today's music. Savage Garden will appeal to young and old alike; where Wham! appealed to the youngsters of the day, so can Savage Garden. The dreamy pop numbers are featured more in Savage Garden's music, having a more appeal towards older music listeners. All in all, Affirmation will be enjoyed by the common Adult Contemporary listener, and if you enjoy dreamy soft-ballads, then Affirmation will be perfect for you.


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    Previous Review: #692
    Collective Soul--Hints Allegations And Things Left Unsaid
    Next Review: #694
    Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band--The Fire Inside