The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits Review

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(More customer reviews)Four years on and already time for a greatest hits disc? If Britney Spears could pull it off after only 40 months, then Girls Aloud's thirteen top 10 singles certainly qualify them for such an offering. Yes, the hype every music magazine in Britain has been making is true- the tracks this group puts out are insane. Name one other pop act who had the audacity to mesh three songs into one and proclaim "you can't mistake my biology" as if we were stupid all along to disagree? Or, for that matter, name their comeback single "Something Kinda Oooh"? The risks taken by Girls Aloud and their production-team extraordinaire, Xenomania, are ones not common among the lazy bits of top 40. To see such livelihood and originality from a band created by reality television is an irony if we ever heard one. Simply put, they're the finest mainstream singles act of this decade and the soldiers of futuristic pop. Ballads withstanding, every one of these hits sparkles with a ferocity and sauciness that are impossible to not fall in love with. Anyone who doesn't snap their fingers to the billyrockin' "Love Machine" or strike a pose to the positively sexy electro romp "The Show" is more likely dead, and to not gawk at the genius of "Biology" is a perfect insult. Even the much-maligned "Long Hot Summer" is destined for the pop hall of fame. The music press has proclaimed for the past three to four years now that pop is dead, but with Girls Aloud leading the pack, not only would it be alive and kicking, it would be better than it ever was. And we can overlook the limp cover of "I Think We're Alone Now" (particularly unnecessary) if it meant skipping over to something like "Sound Of the Undeground". Ready for a crazy night out, stilletos and all? You've just got the perfect soundtrack.

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2006 compilation featuring the very best of this female quintet, who found their first taste of fame on Popstars, the UK's version of American Idol.After three hit albums and 12 Top Ten singles (including two number ones), Girls Aloud are one of the very few reality TV acts to achieve continued success. The Sound Of Girls Loud features 14 tracks including the newly-recorded single 'Something Kinda Ooooh'. Polydor.

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Out of Control Review

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(More customer reviews)Without a doubt, Out Of Control has received the most mixed reviews of GA's career to date. Half the fans love it, half the fans hate it.
But there's no doubt that is looking to be GA's most successful album yet - it recently reached #1 in the UK album charts, GA's first studio album to reach the top.
My opinion of the album? It's one of GA's best albums yet. I know I say that about every album they release, but this time I mean it. In the ranking of their albums, it would be their second best after Chemistry.
Out Of Control opens with the lead single from the album, "The Promise." This was GA's fourth #1 single, and one of their biggest sellers to date. It's also a very good song. The first time I heard it, I thought it was really weird but it quickly grew on me. The catchy 60's feel of the song was infectious and soon I couldn't get it out of my head. When you hear it on OOC, it's a bit out of place, and not one of the better songs on the album. But on it's own, it's awesome.
Track 2 is "The Loving Kind." This song is famous because it was produced by the Pet Shop Boys. GA fans all over rave about this track, but I don't get the hype. I find this song really boring. It's going to be GA's next single, but I don't agree with the choice. This is not up to GA's usual standards in my opinion. I hardly ever listen to it.
The next track is "Rolling Back The Rivers In Time." On my first listen through of the CD, this was a favourite. And it still is, but I have to be in the right mood, otherwise it bores me. It's got this really cool retro feel to it, and the chorus is really catchy. It also has this interesting acapella opening done by Nadine.
Track 4 is "Love Is The Key." This is one of the other 'meh' songs on the album for me. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. It's just average, like "Control Of The Knife" was on Tangled Up.
Things start to really pick up with the next track, "Turn To Stone." This is one of my favourites! I didn't like it much on the first couple of listens, but once I listened to it a bit more, it's greatness just hit me. I just love the dancey feel to this track! Some may say it's a bit repetitive, but I think the repeated chorus lines really work.
Next is "Untouchable" - this is my ABSOLUTE favourite song on the whole album!! I just love it so much, it's one of GA's best songs to date and definitely the standout on OOC. Some may be put off by the song's 6 and a half minute running time, but trust me, it's worth it. This song is stunning, magical, hot and just plain amazing. All the girls sound fantastic on this track, especially Nicola. The lyrics are also stunning, some of the best lyrics written for the girls so far ("like beautiful robots, dancing alone"). A beautiful song and the standout!!
"Fix Me Up" follows, and unfortunately it can't live up to "Untouchable" - it's better then "Love Is The Key" but still quite a 'meh' song to me. It's catchy though.
"Love Is Pain" is next, and it's another dancey track. This song is really catchy and quite dancey and has cool lyrics. Cheryl's end vocals are really awesome. Another favourite of mine.
"Miss You Bow Wow" is track 9, and yet another favourite of mine. Some people think this song is too weird, but if you say that, you must not be that big of a GA fan, cos they have lots of weird songs. This song is soooooo catchy! I love the chorus and the "I'm living that dream" part that Sarah sings, cos she sounds awesome. One of the best upbeat tracks on the CD.
"Revolution In The Head" is next, and yet another highlight. This was my favourite song on the first listen, and it's still a fave now. With one of the catchiest hooks on the whole album in Nadine's "gimme da ting, gimme da ting, gimme da oh oh oh" this is just a fabulous track. So catchy and fun. Cool lyrics too.
"Live In The Country" is the album's last official track and it's a bad way to end. This song is HORRIBLE. I hate it. It's one of GA's worst tracks to date. Well, ok, it has cool lyrics and a catchy chorus but the animal noises make me cringe and the whole idea of the song is really tacky. Not a good track at all.
The UK bonus track is "We Wanna Party" - originally done by Lene from Aqua on her solo album. This song is pretty good, it's way better then "Live In The Country" and it has good lyrics.
Highlights:
Untouchable
Miss You Bow Wow
Turn To Stone
Revolution In The Head
Rolling Back The Rivers In Time
Minus a couple of bad songs, this is a stellar album. GA seem to be getting more successful as time goes by with a #1 album and a #1 single, I hope they last for a long time yet.
I just have one request for the girls - Untouchable for a single, please!!
5 stars for sure. Buy this now!

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UK edition includes one bonus track, 'We Wanna Party'. 2008 release from the UK's premiere girl group, who continue to take Pop music to places it's never been before. Five albums into their career they are trailblazers who have consistently raised the bar and changed what it means to be a girlband in the 21st century. Working again with the Xenomania team, Girls Aloud have been constantly challenging themselves in the studio.The lead single, `The Promise' sees the girls explore the lush sounds of the '60s. It's a sound that has already proved to be a winner. Even before release the single is already one of the most played Girls Aloud songs on radio. 12 tracks. Polydor.

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Humanoid Review

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(More customer reviews)EXCELLENT album! The band manages to mix a number of different styles and yet it still flows so well from song to song! There are songs you can head bang to, songs that make you want to cry, songs that you can just jump around and dance to. It's a little of everything. This entire album is so well written, produced, and performed. The sound is so dynamic on Humanoid because the band has really added so many more elements to their music and made it much more complex. Bill's voice is stronger and he has more vocal control. He also uses a much wider vocal range than previously and his English has greatly improved so his pronunciation is much better. The musicians in the band make greater use of their own abilities, whipping out electronic drum sets, pianos, and keyboards to add to their usual drums/bass/guitar setup. Add in some synthesizers to all of that and you've got some VERY powerful, very rich sounding songs.
The songs, for all of the added electronic elements (of which I'm a huge fan), still sound like Tokio Hotel and you can rock out to great guitar riffs, pounding drums, and a great bass beat. Tokio Hotel's sound has matured to the point where I really feel this is an album designed for young adults like me to enjoy instead of one intended for a teen crowd that just happens to be enjoyable for an adult. Their new sound is more accessible to the average listener without losing the elements that make Tokio Hotel unique. Everyone of all ages can enjoy this very easily because it's so easy to jam along to the songs!
I'm extremely impressed with this album and I'm very proud of how much the band has grown. They took a risk by changing things up and going in a slightly different direction but I'm glad they did it and decided to develop their sound instead of keeping the same sound album after album. It's still Tokio Hotel, it's just Tokio Hotel for an older crowd. I'm extremely pleased with this and can't wait for them to tour here in the US! :)
I thought Zimmer/Scream was great but Humanoid is LIGHT YEARS ahead of it in every way. From the complexity of the music, to the strength of the vocals, to the lyrics and production, everything is just better and more developed.

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TOKIO HOTEL - HUMANOID [DELUXE EDITION] - INCLUDED 4 BONUS TRACKIt's been a long year for the army of Tokio Hotel followers. But come October, the visually captivating German-born international rock idols plan to pay back their fans' dedication--with interest. Humanoid is the highly anticipated follow-up to the platinum-selling, MTV VMA-winning group's 2008 US debut, Scream. "We took our time with this album until we had the perfect feeling about the songs and the entire production," singer Bill Kaulitz said. "We're totally in love with Humanoid and hope it will make up for the fans' long wait!" The first single, "Automatic," clocks in at just over three minutes but feels like an epic, thanks to the growling, layered guitar work of Tom Kaulitz, 19, and his twin brother Bill's anthemic, heartfelt yowl. In the opening verse, he sings, "You're automatic and your heart's like an engine/I die with every beat." The contagious words and melodies are only highlighted by the honed, mechanical precision of 22-year-old bassist Georg Listing and 20-year old drummer Gustav Schafer. It's one of their best ever slices of driving desperation destined to become fans' favorite scream-along. The biggest act to come out of Germany in 20 years, Tokio Hotel has gone 10x platinum, scored four #1 singles, sold out arenas and stadiums across Europe and played to 500,000 people at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in 2008. Along the way, they picked up MTV's Best New Artist VMA and a nomination for Best Pop Video for "Ready, Set, Go!" among other accolades. Already an established international sensation, the musicians hunkered down for months with longtime producer David Jost with the goal of releasing 13 science fiction-inspired, timeless tracks to the entire world all at once. The new record secures a place for Tokio Hotel as one of rock's most enduring groups.

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Tangled Up Review

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(More customer reviews)Album points received/max = 57/60 = A+
12 trax: 5x12 = 60.
60/5 = 12, 12 stars = 1 letter grade.
57 stars, another spot on A+
Breakdown:
Call the Shots *****5
Close to Love *****5
Sexy No No No *****5
Girl Overboard *****5
Can't Speak French *****5
Black Jacks *****5
Control of the Knife ****4
Fling *****5
What You Crying For *****5
I'm Falling *****4
Damn ****4
Crocodile Tears *****5
End thoughts: At the age of 30, girl groups are not my thing anymore. However this group still remains the only group I listen to. Not only that, but they now are one of my favorite artist of all time, the group continues to surprise me with classic modern edgy pop, wait is that even possible? Being these girls are adults 23,23,25,27,27 years old, I don't feel so guilty listening to them. Its a great CD, yet again by GA.


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2007 album from the successful UK girl-group produced by long-standing collaborators Xenomania. Tangled Up is the girls' fifth album overall. The high-octane rush of `Sexy! No No No!', the album's first single, has already become a 21st Century Pop classic. `I Can't Speak French' sounds like a contemporary take on the classic girl-groups of yester-year while the famous Girls Aloud attitude is present in force on `Blackjack' and `Fling' which deliver the girls in full-on raucous mode, synths, bass and sassy lyrics turned up to the maximum. 12 tracks. Polydor.

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