149. The Tough Alliance - A New Chance (2007)

I figured it wouldn't be long until the nostalgia factory that is modern indie music got around to early 90s dance pop--stuff like Dee-Lite, Haddaway, Real McCoy, etc. Granted this album doesn't exactly copy those (there aren't any rap bridges performed by deep-voiced bald men, for example) but it's pretty close. The operative word here on this record is fun--everything's uptempo, upbeat, and happy. The group tosses in a reggae groove ("Looking for Gold") and a minimalistic dance number ("Miami") but this is happy European pop music, not so far removed from something like Eiffel 65. The best thing about this album is that it's short--not that it's bad, but too many groups seem to feel like they're required to pump out at least 40 minutes or it isn't a proper record. This album is 30 minutes exactly--not a minute too short or too long. It won't change the world, and I'm a little confused as to why it's on such a list, but it isn't bad at all, and if, like me, you have a soft spot for Londonbeat or Bizarre Inc., this is more of the same.

MY RATING: 7.6

The Tough Alliance - "The Last Dance"