Dangerous and Moving - T.A.T.U. (CD 2005)

I have been a long-time Tatu fan. I first downloaded Ya Soshla S Uma - the original Russian version of All The Things She Said - months before the english album was released, and I immediately fell in love with the strong, raw sound they produced. Then I bought 200km/hr In The Wrong Lane. I didn't entirely liked the album and gave it an average rating...

This CD is different.

Gone is some of the harsh bitterness which is found in most Russian music, and some of their edge would go with it as well if the aforementioned edge wasn't so integral in everything Lena and Yulia do. Taty has changed and matured since their schoolgirl uniform days - Yulia's had a beautiful daughter, and Lena has matured particularily on her own. Some of the naivete of the first album is gone.

1. Dangerous and Moving - Intro - 10/10. It's merely the main background music of the title track repeated and then faded away. It serves its purpose as an intro and nothing more, though it made me curious as to what it led to. Anyway, this music is a great way to start the album.

2. All About Us - 10/10. When I first heard this song, I hated it. I was hearing a really bad radio recording, but nevertheless I thought, my god, they've lost it. Once I had the real version, though, my opinion changed. All of the instruments in the background blend together with the girls' voices to create a really, really good pop song, in my opinion. Granted, the verses are second rate and only contain 10 words max, but they actually get the point across well ("if they hurt you, they hurt me to", while containing some of the naivete I commented on earlier, actually hit me, which I never expevcted). Lena especially shines in this song during the high-pitched part. It was a good choicfe for the first single.

3. Cosmos (Outer Space). 8/10. An average song. I don't quite like it although a lot Tatu fans say they love it. A little too off of the mainstream to be a single, but an good song nevertheless.

4. Loves Me Not - 10/10. The reason I love this song is because it reminds me a lot of the old Taty - the crazy woman-loves-woman-loves-man triangle is just an awesome idea, and I love the lyrics. The chorus is wonderfully angsty, if a bit repetitive. But the music is great. You'll definitely love it the first time you hear it.

5. Friend or Foe - 10/10. Another song that reminds me of the old Taty. Suffice to say, this is an excellent song, with good lyrics and a strong beat. It's not as catchy as Perfect Enemy or Sacrifice, but it's up there on my favourites. It's also supposed to be Tatu second single. Anyway, they already shot the video in America.

6. Gomenasai - 10/10. This is easily favourite song on the album. Yulia didn't want to sing it, but her produces convinced her it was a good song. Well, they were right. Gomenasai means "I'm Sorry" in Japanese. They supposedly wrote this song to apologize to their Japanese fans for cancelling a lot of shows there. Maybe that's why the released All About Us two weeks before in Japan than the rest of the world.

7. Craving (I Only Want What I can't Have) - 9/10. The way Lena sings the chorus just makes me melt. That throaty sound and everythuing just brings the song up 100%. A lot of fans were disappointed by this song, but I happen to like it, personally. The beat is especially good and the lyrics are better than average as well.

8. Sacrifice - 11/10. I'd give it infinty/10 if I could. This is easily my favourite song on the album. I prefer Lena overall, but the way Yulia sings that chorus just isn't imitable. This is an amazing song with the best english lyrics the girls have ever had. "Can you tell me, softly/How you'll always haunt me/Can you help me, hold me/Come to me now, slowly./You caress me smoothly/Calm me fears and soothe me/Move your hands across me/Take my worries from me." Gorgeous all the way through. And when Yulia sings "I will sacrifice all I have in life to clear my conscience" it just hits something inside of me. This is one of the best songs I have ever heard. I am in love with this song and really hope they release it.

9. We Shout - 10/10. Gorgeous. There's no other word for it. The lack of a real chorus is what really makes this song stand out. Lena shines again on this one, but Yulia has her amazing moments as well. It's one of the top four songs on the album.

10. Perfect Enemy - 10/10. My other favourite song on the album, apart from Sacrifice. The beat is EXCELLENT. I love the percussion in the background, and the opening is amazing. when Lena starts to sing "Why should I welcome/Your domination" it just sounds perfect, and the way she sings is amazing. Both of them just shine on this aong, and vocally it's one of their best. They have a lot of emotion in their voices throughout the whole song, and Yulia belts out that chorus like a pro, sounding amazing. If I could change one thing, though, I would have Lena sing the chorus with her - only an octave lower (Lena easily has the bigger range). I think that would push this awesome song even higher. My other biggest problem is the loine "Things I loved before are not for sale." My sister makes fun of it every time and I have nothing to say to contradict her :-P

11. Ol'byzanka Nol - 10/10. One of the only russian song on the album. It is a good song but i'll give it 9/10 as I don't understand a damn of what they're singing.

12. Dangerous and Moving - 9/10. Their 3rd single from the album. I think there are much better candidates for singles - all of the songs I gave 10/10, for example. The chorus is the best part of this song, like All About Us. They sound great together in this song, and that's what I like most about it.

Overall, I'd give the album 10/10. There was one big miss, a bunch of 9's and a few standouts that blew me away. Lena and Yulia are amazing vocalists. I hope this album does as well as it should in the charts, and even if it doesn't, I will always be a Tatu fan.