By Megan King

With artists like Britney Spears and N*Sync dominating airwaves in the late 90s, listeners were hard-pressed to find any artists who had the ability to combine both a typical pop song with any kind of musical substance. Finally, the Australian duo Savage Garden burst onto the scene to produce just that. After the success of songs like “I Want You” and “Truly, Madly, Deeply,” Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones decided to go back into the studio in 1999 to record a follow-up to their multi-platinum first release.

The songs on the duo’s sophomore attempt, Affirmation, are pure, catchy pop tunes, but with enough passion, emotion and intelligent lyrics to keep the listener captivated. The album begins with the fun and uplifting title track. As the title suggests, it is a declaration of several universal beliefs and values. Additional songs like “Hold Me” and “Crash and Burn” are classic Savage Garden songs. Although track three, “I Knew I Loved You,” was a monster hit, it is possibly the worst song on the album. “The Best Thing” and “The Animal Song” are up-tempo, danceable tracks with great drum beats. “Gunning Down Romance” displays a more aggressive and darker rock sound, but is as enjoyable as any other lighter tune on the album. The ballads on Affirmation, though, are the real standout tracks on the album. “Two Beds And A Coffee Machine” and “I Don’t Know You Anymore” not only display some of the most amazing lyrics on the record, but are also supported by beautiful piano lines and Hayes’ soothing and effortless voice.

Both Hayes and Jones have crafted tunes that are appealing to a vast number of people, but are also solid pop/rock gems. The entire album is well arranged, with an ample amount of guitars, keyboards and stunning vocals that sound as if U2 collided with the Backstreet Boys. Singing about love, loss, desire and hope, Savage Garden’s Affirmation will remain a solid pop album for years to come.