I don't know if today's space shuttles come equipped with radios for the astronauts' listening pleasure, but I do know that there's at least one loud stereo playing on the Moon. Except that with this particular stereo, the speakers, the volume, the bass and the tuning all come in the form of one neatly-packaged compact disc called "Stereo On The Moon", which is the latest in the bag of the surprise goodies to come from the Land Down Under, courtesy of my good friend Adriana. This time, the star of the show is the Indian-born Australian native Anuj, who brings forth a killer in-your-face pop/r&b sound late 90's BACKSTREET BOYS/N*SYNC style that's sure to thrill you and won't ever leave you.....that is, only if you become as addicted to the music as I have. Here we have another guy who did one great album before calling it quits on his solo career (although I've read he currently shares lead vocal duties as part of an Australian hip-hop group). Remember that list of one-album-wonder boybands I had started? Looks like I'll also have to start one for just the male pop solo acts.....and there are too many good names that are piling up on it already. That's not the only thing piling up here; the hits pouring out of this album are enough to build a mountain with.....right there on the Moon next to that loud stereo! A little deception lies on the opening title track. Just when I was prepared to be treated to a nice groove, the music cuts off abruptly; that's when I realized it was only an brief introduction to the album, but it sure would've sounded good had it been a complete song. There's no letting up (nor letting down) after that, because Anuj busts out with a series of lively dance-pop cuts that really shows what he's made of. "Dancefloor", "What You Wanna Do?" (I like these rock-inspired tunes with the suspenseful intensity that builds up through the song), "Can You Stand The Rain?" (terrific words belted out in the rap sequence), "Body" (no-holds-barred thoughts and feelings projected into the steamy lyrics of this song) and "Let's Keep The Neighbourhood Awake" are the definite party-starters while "Can't Go A Day Without You" (the light guitar and the soft melody made this one feel like jazz to me), "So In To You", "My Kinda Guy" and "Every Time (Waiting For You)" will help you chill out after the party is over. The latter four are all favorites of mine, with the beautiful slow jam "Every Time (Waiting For You)" stealing my heart more than any of them:
1. Stereo On The Moon
2. Dancefloor
3. What You Wanna Do
4. Can You Stand The Heat?
5. In My Arms
6. Remember Me
7. Every Time (Waiting For You)
8. Body
9. So In To You
10. Your Kinda Guy
11. Can't Go A Day Without You
12. Party For Two
13. Let's Keep The Neighbourhood Awake
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