Better known for their carefree brand of uplifting Europop, German duo Dieter Bohlen and Thomas Anders, aka Modern Talking, get to showcase their more emotive repertoire with this 2011 collection of ballads, Peace on Earth (Winter in My Heart). Despite the seasonal title and snowflake-themed artwork, its claims of being a festive album don't hold up to much scrutiny, as other than "It's Christmas," which features a children's chorus singalong uncannily similar to John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," and 1986 single "Give Me Peace on Earth," the only Top 40 chart hit featured, its selection of songs isn't remotely associated with the holiday season. Indeed, in a rather misleading and some would say rather Scrooge-like fashion, this 20-track retrospective is almost exactly the same as 2002's We Still Have Dreams (The Greatest Love Ballads), with the former In the Garden of Venus album track the only new addition. Those looking for a string of '80s synth pop yuletide anthems will therefore be mightily disappointed, but for any casual fans who don't own its virtually identical predecessor, it's a pretty handy guide to their lesser-known less uptempo back catalog, even if the glossy Max Martin-esque pop of "Don't Play with My Heart" is the only track to have aged particularly well. Indeed, with material plucked from nine studio albums, starting with 1985 debut The 1st Album ("One in a Million") right up to 2000's Year of the Dragon ("Can't Let You Go"), it's certainly a representative overview, but if overblown power ballads, Eurovision-friendly love songs, and slightly camp schlager-pop midtempo songs aren't your thing, this slightly cheeky cash-in will be the stuff of Christmas nightmares.
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