Fireworks

ROXETTE: “Fireworks” (EMI)

Roxette are more fatally car-obsessed than James Dean ever was. ‘Sleeping In My Car’ is worth one listen just to have a good belly-laugh at the sheer abundance of driving clichés in the lyrics. Witness “Driving all night just to get close to you,” and “I’ll call down tonite to take you for a ride” as prime evidence. It has apparently escaped the attention of these Swedes that the definitive driving song – Jonathan Richman’s ‘Roadrunner’ – was cut 23 years ago. If you’ve ever wondered why the Swedes regard ABBA as great artists, you should listen to this stuff.