Roxette

Formed 1984 in Halmstad, Sweden

Group Members:
Marie Fredriksson, Per Gessle

It's tempting to write Roxette off as nothing more than a shallow pop/rock band, but their shameless hooks are precisely what makes them so enjoyable. Roxette has a knack for writing extremely catchy and simple hooks and melodies that are sweet but not saccharine; it's radio-friendly pop, but the hooks don't wear thin with repeated plays. The duo of guitarist Per Gessle and vocalist Marie Fredriksson released an album in 1986 that didn't display much of their talents, but the infectious follow-up, 1988's Look Sharp!, brought them to the top of the charts in America and England; 1991's Joyride was almost equally successful. After a couple years off, Roxette returned with a new album, Crash! Boom! Bang!, in 1994; Baladas en Español followed in 1997, and two years later the duo returned with the EP Stars. In 2000, Roxette signed to Edel and released the greatest-hits collection Don't Bore Us Get to the Chorus and began work on their next album.

Discography:

Album
2002 Roxette Ballad Hits
2002 Room Service [Japan Bonus Tracks]
2001 Room Service
1999 Have a Nice Day [Spanish Bonus Tracks]
1999 Have a Nice Day
1997 Baladas En Espanol
1994 Crash! Boom! Bang!
1992 Queen of Rain
1991 Joyride
1988 Look Sharp!
1986 Pearls of Passion