"Perfect Day" by Cascada
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Cascada is a singles artist. “Everytime We Touch,” “Miracle,” and “What Hurts the Most” are all great songs. However, when Natalie Horler (under the Cascada moniker) released her first album, also titled “Everytime We Touch,” it became apparent why she is a singles artist. The beat was basically the same on every song, and when the cover songs blew through (“Truly Madly Deeply,” “Kids in America”), you realized how weak some of the covers were against the original song.

With the second release, “Perfect Day,” some of the same flaws become apparent. But in a nod to this issue, the label, Robbins, made a couple of substitutions over the European release that consequently strengthened the album. Gone are unnecessary covers of “Sk8er Boi” and “Just like a Pill,” whose defi nitive versions are pretty much all that are needed. In place are two covers of more obscure songs, and suddenly we see that the producers are up to the challenge of shaking things up a bit.

The album leads with current single “What Hurts the Most.” When talking about Cascada, it has to be considered within the “Cascada sound,” which basically is the same beat and high-pitched chimes layered behind Natalie’s vocals, which are generally always first-rate. The song choice is shrewd, and Cascada manages to do the song justice; Natalie sounds like she cares.

The album then leads into the two new additions, “Faded” and “Holiday.” Neither song utilizes the Cascada sound at all, produced with a softer beat (hinted at with their holiday single, “Last Christmas,” late last year). Natalie’s vocals actually sound better under this template; the slower beat lets her vocals become more understandable. Both are beautiful songs, and are good fits for Natalie.

For better or worse, the rest of the album, which are all tracks carried over from the European release, then fall back into the standard Cascada sound. As such, it’s time to highlight tracks that shine under the Cascada sound.

“What Do You Want From Me” is a good track and gives Natalie a chance to stretch vocally. “Perfect Day,” with the “yeah yeahs” in the chorus, is more catchy than most (and avoids the synth dance break that the Cascada producers, Manion and Yanou, are fond of).

The rest of it’s all pretty much standard Cascada fare. If you’re a fan of Cascada, you probably won’t find anything to dislike here. If you’ve enjoyed the singles, but don’t like the repetitive nature of the music, stick with the song recommendations I’ve made above; you won’t be missing much by skipping the others.