Savage Garden's self titled album is one I have owned (and not owned when the original owner decided to take it back) and owned again for many years. I originally remembered hearing SG's singles on pop radio in my early teens and fell in love with them. They were poppy, upbeat, danceable, fantastical, electronic and sensitive to name just a few. Singles such as "I Want You" and "Truly Madly Deeply" brought me to this CD but the hidden gems are what keep me coming back.

Although radio friendly, many of the songs also possessed a higher quality of lyricality than much of today's pop, an attribute possessed by much of 90s pop and somehow lost over the last decade. While common subjects such as love (as in "To The Moon and Back"), sex (which Hayes and Jones tackled beautifully in "Universe") and betrayal (the theme of "10,000 Words") were the focus of many of SG's songs, Darren sung about them in a way that was neither juvenile, tacky nor angst ridden.

Speaking of Darren, his voice is a sweet falsetto which works wonders with the upbeat tunes and slower pop ballads like "Santa Monica". It's always smooth and sexy, often fun and portrays a level of genuineness many of today's pop stars lack.

Lyrics and vocals are not the only thing that set this pop duo apart from many others. The music itself was far more creative, often `failing' to use many clichés that are oh-so common in pop music. While you can pinpoint the verses and choruses in SG's music, you will also find unique characteristics from Australia's harder pop (the guitar riff in "Break Me, Shake me") and Britain's electronic pop sound ("I Want You" is a good example of this). The particular pop sound of SG, especially on their self titled album, is a harmonious blend of American, Australian and British pop.

Although not every song on this disc was released as a single, most of them had single potential which is apparent by how close to the hearts of the fans many of the non-singles are. However, even though each song may stand well on its own, the disc as a whole is put together and produced at a far higher quality than I've seen in many albums. Each song paves the way for the next easily starting with "To The Moon and Back" opens with crystal clear vocals and eases into a much edgier pop song, following are the tunes we know and love, a few unknown gems ("Universe" and "Ultraviolet" are both wonderful) and the album ends on a soft note with "Santa Monica." It's as though SG and their production team set out to make a CD that follows the classic literary plot technique (exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution).

Overall, Savage Garden's self titled album is wonderful. There isn't a song I don't like and I'm sure many devoted fans will agree. Fans of pop and 90s pop in general will love what SG brings to the table in terms of lyricality, song variation, and album production. If you want to enjoy a few popular songs, this is also the album for you; it's a pleaser for everyone. I could not recommend it more.