Showing posts with label girl band. Show all posts
Showing posts with label girl band. Show all posts

Out of Control Review

Out of Control
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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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Love & War Review

Love and War
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Since releasing their self-titled debut in 2004, Rebecca, Alyssa and Lauren Barlow have continuously inspired fans with such intimate portraits, as with their sophomore set, "Another Journal Entry" and with such bold challenges as 2007's, "How Can We Be Silent". For BarlowGirl the focus is always on sharing what God has placed on their hearts. They continue to do just that with "Love & War". According to Becca Barlow: "I think there are two continuous messages that we are trying to get across on this album: One is that time is short and we don't have time to not follow the Lord. We don't have time to do the things we desire to do. It's time to be bold and follow the calling God has in your life. The second message is that it's all about being in love with the Lord and about that relationship with Him. If we don't have that relationship with Him, we can't have the boldness."
The first several songs build on the love and war theme with the upbeat opener "Come Alive" with the cry to "wake up, get out there's no time to waste now" which really gets to the heart of the matter including the charge to "be the change we've all been waiting for". "Open Heavens" keeps the theme of waking up going with the lyrics "can you feel the Spirit move you, calling all hearts to wake". Both songs really grab me and fire me up to stand up for God and for my beliefs. Then, first single "Beautiful Ending" hit me even harder with the challenging "it scares me to think that I would choose my life over You, My selfish heart divides me from You, It tears us apart". The song is beautiful and encourages me to live for God. If you are looking for this album's "Never Alone", "I Need You To Love Me" or "Here's My Life", this is it.
"Stay With Me" keeps the theme of love going with the encouragement that "all I need is Your love pulling me". "Our Worlds Collide" is also about love and the girls share how God has filled their hearts with love. The personal nature of the songs really draws me in as I have 3 daughters and want nothing more than for them to know the Love of God. "Love Is Marching" is another call to action with the very convicting lyrics "so when we breathe our last...... can we say we have lived for more and did we live to die for love".
"Running Out Of Time" brings back the war theme and makes me think about the choices I make and how I spend my time. "Time For You To Go" is the most rocking song on the album and possibly one of the most challenging songs with the lyrics "Isn't it nice to know, That the media will sway our votes, cause seriously we've got to see, that they choose what we know, our morals get thrown away, for the next big thing we've got to see". The song finishes with the bridge reminding us that we've got to think for ourselves. "Sing Me A Love Song" is another personal love song that really paints a picture of BarlowGirl's spiritual walk with the bridge "cause You are what I need, all that I want is You with me". The most challenging song for BarlowGirl to write was "Tears Fall." The beautiful ballad focuses on BarlowGirl's pro-life stance. "Tears Fall" is extremely moving and is filled with emotion including the cry "God forgive us now". The album ends with "Hello Sunshine" with an upbeat melody and optimistic cry to "let my eyes see the beauty".
From opening song "Come Alive", I was hooked by the theme and catchiness of this album, the best overall album by BarlowGirl in my opinion. From the standout first single "Beautiful Ending" to the gorgeous "Tears Fall" and the rocking "Time For You To Go", this album delivers with BarlowGirl's signature blend of excellent harmonies and great musicianship. "Love & War" has been in heavy rotation for me and is one of my top 5 albums of 2009.

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10-time Dove Award nominated BarlowGirl, returns with their 3rd release Love and War. While Love and War seems contradictory, it perfectly embodies thehope and love we have for God and those around us with difficulties. Sonically the sounds of this record more closely align with earlier BarlowGirl while still remaining true and strong with their lyrical content. Featuring mega hits like 'Beautiful Ending', 'This Is Not Forever (Stay With Me)' and 'Our Worlds Collide'. A must-have for all BarlowGirl fans!

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Tangled Up Review

Tangled Up
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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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