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Blimey. Another Eric Saade post. Well don't roll your eyes just yet - just stick with me, because there is some amazing pop in this young man's debut album that deserves a massive audience. I've become quite smitten (musically) with young Eric - i think because he just embraces pop music so thoroughly and clearly demonstrates a huge love for the material he is doing. He has also been tirelessly promoting his new music across his native Sweden and building his fan base as he goes (Manboy is now the top selling single of the year in Sweden)... now certainly this isn't a pre-requisite for pop genius (quality counts too) but it helps and lets face it - the work ethic of Girls Aloud (for example) wasn't exactly exhausting on their last album, was it? I'm thrilled that I'm so taken with the album and hope that some of you will at least check out some of his fine fine tunes :)

MASQUERADE:

For an album whose title alludes to the shadowing of the real self, Eric is ebulliently upfront with his pop declaration and launches instantly into bombastic, grandiose tunes that are instantly catchy and magnificent. Despite being an array of writers contributing to the album, Eric manages to make each track his own, giving the album a consistent feel and vibe. For example - the title track is penned by Anton of Le Kid and is easily recognisable in the melody as one of their tunes. However, the production takes it away from the sound of Mercy Mercy and Telephone and goes for a more dramatic, crashing drums, power pop sound which sets out the stall for what you can expect from this opus. Next track Upgrade is a doozy. It's a ferociously fast moving, beat ridden track with a great chorus about how if Eric's lady friend doesn't get her act together pretty sharpish he will be trading her in for a newer, hotter model. Oh dear. There is some lovely production values within this track too - a little sample of a string laden vignette layered with an operatic female vocal that just adds a lovely little frisson to the song. What I really appreciate is how great it sounds stripped back - check out the video above. As a gently guitar driven acoustic strummer, it's rather lovely and places the song in a whole different genre. Plus hello hunky guitarist :P And pianist!! (Down boy...)

Next up is the album's third single (following Sleepless and Manboy), Break of Dawn. I don't have a problem with this track at all. In fact it's a rather lovely ballad that any boy band would be proud of. And it's a fine single choice - just not yet. Last year I suggested that Mans Zelmerlow could really have an intense marketing campaign for his album MZW - first single Hope & Glory would set up the album in March, follow that with an intense slew of dance-pop orientated singles such as Home (June), Forever (August) and Rewind (Oct). Then for the Christmas market, his delightful A Stranger Saved My Life would have topped the album campaign off nicely. Eric really should be doing the same - Break of Dawn will make a lovely Christmas single release and his voice sounds just heavenly on it (see stripped back version just below). The next single should actually be (as I mentioned in the June playlist, and other wise folks have also pointed out) the near flawless pop genius of It's Gonna Rain. Totally exuberant, almost bonkers production and utterly fist pumpingly good, this schlager gem deserves it's time on a world wide stage. As a follow up to Sleepless (see review here) and Manboy (review here), it's a natural progression and surely must have a doozy of a dance routine to go with it. And that's all that matters really...

There are plenty more uptempo gems on the album such as blindingly addictive Radioactive. It's clear that Eric is more than comfortable belting out this astonishingly good pop stompers and will no doubt pull together an ace stage routine to go with it. In a similar vein is Why Do We Need Fashion. Oh Eric, have you seen yourself in the yellow winklepickers/clamdiggers/storm pants?! Though, actually and almost shamefully, they are growing on me each time I look at them... For proper pop star looking Eric, check out his sleek, elegant look in the clips above. But back to the song - some club remixes of this would be rather amazing thank you very much and on it's own it's an entirely enjoyable addition to the albums plethora of disco magic.

If that's all getting a bit much for you (and I can't imagine why it would be), there is a definite change of pace in some songs. It's slowed down a little for It''ll be Alright which is driven by some funky guitar and bass - my favourite bit is the middle 8 where Eric decides he's going to grab a tambourine and work it like he's never worked it before. Which works rather well as an instrumental aside or you own personally dictated Eric-tion fantasy ;) And aside from boyband ballad Break of Dawn, there's also the very heavenly indeed album closer, It's Like That With You. It's just Eric and a piano (some occasional strings) and it's very restrained, lush and delightful. There must have been a tempation to pour on the choirs and orchestras, but it works just lovely as it is. Marvelous.

All in all, a pop sensation of an album - a delightful listen and one that bodes well for the future of young Eric Saade...
Proposed singles: Sleepless (Nov 09); Manboy (Mar 10); It's Gonna Rain (Jun 10); Masquerade (Aug 10); Upgrade (Remix) (Oct 10); Break of Dawn (Dec 10)