Anthem Alert [CD/DVD Combo] (CD) by Soda Club

0030206042221. New condition. CD. Soda Club are pure pop -- the dance music equivalent to the Britney Spearses and Ushers of their age, except even more saccharine. The group is comprised of four drop-dead gorgeous young women, and the songs on their debut album, Anthem Alert, are all solo showcases. Granted, this gives the album a sense of variety, but it also gives you four times the eye and ear candy to appreciate, an especially welcome asset once you get to the second (and more recommended) disc of this double-disc affair: an entire DVD of videos, with as many as six different ones for a single song (the big single, "Keep Love Together"). The other standout songs on Anthem Alert happen to be covers of '80s pop hits: "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" (originally performed by Belinda Carlisle) and "Take My Breath Away" (originally performed by Berlin) -- both of which also had been very popularly covered recently (the former by DJ Sammy in 2002, the latter by Jessica Simpson in 2004). Musically Soda Club fit neatly into the progressive trance niche. That in itself may be enough to send a good percentage of potential dance music consumers running for the exit circa 2004, given that style's passé and much-maligned reputation in most techno/house circles. But then again, anyone who enjoys sticky-sweet pop songs à la trance will find plenty to enjoy here. Because, face it, this isn't music for critics -- it's not cutting-edge, it's cheeky pop music, plain and simple, and should be taken at face value. So if the superficiality of Soda Club indeed doesn't bother you, bon appétit! And besides, like them or not, it's hard not to take note of these four young ladies, if not for their music then because of their gorgeous looks, their tranced-up covers, and their commercial wrappings. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi