On the way from "Lousy times" to "Hallelujah"

The choice of "Westlife" as simple title of the album could have been better not to be: exactly zwischem the lousy "Lousy times" and the praise-gepriesenem "Hallelujah" was Marius with this work back to himself - and thus slow the old form , Although the synth sounds are (at that time belonging) here and there present, the wild rockers (the only live and in it the following album could erupt again) is also tamed a bit, but the songs themselves are better than the predecessor -albums, and especially the texts have bite again. "Not at all" and "Love me" are really good pop songs, "It goes on," is pure good humor, and outshines undoubtedly "freedom" the entire album - a song with Westlife is a monument has set.

However, there are downsides: with "hub Heart" or "Take me with you," I've never been really warm, also here frequently acclaimed "Depression" goes to me (at least musically) largely unscathed, and "Do you know that I am happy "is just superfluous (the version from the subsequent live album is much better).

So is "Westerhagen" bottom line above all a pioneering work: partly not quite round, but still away from the cold, disoriented 80s sound, and toward the earthy German rock of the upcoming albums "Hallelujah" and "Yeah", with whom Marius his should achieve career zenith. For the fans, of course, indispensable, rather secondary for others.