Rachel Stevens Album: “Funky Dory [Bonus Track]”

After almost 5 years of S Club (7), the group breaks up and from it rises pop star Rachel Stevens with a brilliant debut album. Funky Dory is great for all music fans with different genres of music.

1. Some Girls - a great first track, really gets the album going. With Richard X writing and producing this great song, Rachel manages to get to #2 on the UK charts. Some Girls is really the pop anthem song of the summer. Very catchy and great to dance to. 10/10

2. Sweet Dreams My LA Ex - Rachel's first single, also go to #2 in the UK charts. This song is truly a gem, written by Cathy Dennis, the songwriter behind Kylie Minogue, S Club, S Club 8 and Britney Spears' Toxic. Sweet Dreams truly is a dream. 10/10

3. Funky Dory (Single Version) - Yes that's right, this is the single version of Funky Dory. Some trivial info for you, FD's guitar was taken from David Bowie's Hunky Dory. Interesting word play. Anyways, being the title track of the album, this song is great, has almost a latin flavor to it. Unfortunately, this song is mid-tempo, not the best to dance to. 9/10

4. Fools - Woo hoo! Let's get this party started. This song is one of my favorites, with a sound that makes you wanna dance. It has a sound that makes you think there should be a line dance for it. This track has a different vibe than all the others, truly a gem. 11/10

5. Breathe In Breathe Out (Swat-team Version) - This version of Breathe In Breathe Out was originally planned to be released as Rach's 3rd single, but was swapped for Some Girls. This song was supposedly said to sound S Club-y but I don't think so at all. True, she does go back to her roots, but if anything, this is Rachel at her best. A power ballad that's lyrics shine. 10/10

6. Glide - Does the music sound familiar? Well that's because Christina Millian had to steal the music to Glide, rework the lyrics and chorus to be named I Need More. See even huge USA stars steal from our Rachy! Anyways, from the first listen, Glide stands out. With attitude and fast beats, Glide makes you dance. The track's only downfall is the lyrics. They don't make any sense! 8/10

7. Heaven Has To Wait - The ballad of the album, led by piano chords and Rachel's beautiful voice, Heaven Has To Wait is great! With soul-capturing lyrics, this song is a slice of heaven. 10/10

8. More More More - A cover version of the classic More More More that everyone sings while doing housework, this song is great, really showcasing Rachel's voice. The only bad part of this song is it's repetitive lyrics and chorus. More More More is going to be released as her 4th single. 7/10

9. Blue Afternoon - When you go for a drive, put the top down and turn this one up all the way as the wind goes through your hair. That's the vibe this song gives off. BA is a bit jaz-y and has great lyrics. The most differencial song on the album, next to Fools. 10/10

10. I Got The Money - This is the only song of Funky Dory that sounds like a filler. Fortunately, that's the only bad part of it. Mostly, this song is full of attitude and good lyrics, the only problem is the instruments. 6/10

11. Little Secret - The b-side to Sweet Dreams My LA Ex, this secret of the album really isn't one. It's great. With more musical depth than the other songs, this is a favorite from the start. 10/10

12. Solid - This song sounds very oldies-ish. It's great. Contradictory to the rest of the album, Solid stands its ground in greatness. 8/10

13. Silk - This track should be called Sexy not Silk. It sounds as if it had a Beyonce vibe to it. One of my favorites, and a little darker than the other songs. 10/10

14. Some Girls (Rhythm Masters Vocal) - a truly great remix 9/10

This album is great all the way through. It is sophisticated, catchy, and diverse in its tracks. My personal favorites are "Some Girls", "Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex." (written by Cathy Dennis who also wrote Britney Spear's "Toxic" and Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head"), "Funky Dory", "Breathe In, Breate Out"-Swat Team Mix, and "Little Secret". Rachel Stevens proves that pop is art. Definatley worth the money to ship from the UK. Be on the lookout for her sophomore release sometime 2005.

This is the new Rachel's Cd after S Club split in May 2003

This are the songs, all of this songs are amazing:

1. Sweet Dreams My L.a-Ex: An excellent song, this is my fave song in the album

2. Funky Dory: It sounds like a latin song for me, it is so cool!

3. Fools: Pretty

4. Breathe In Breathe Out: One of the best songs on the album, love it

5. Glide: This song is so rare, but it have a sound ver cool, "Oh Glide"

6. Heaven Has To Wait: A ballad song, pvery pretty and romantic!

7. Blue Afternoon: This song makes you relax

8. I Got The Money: A cool R&B song, it sounds if S Club were singing in it!

9. Little Secret: cool

10. Solid: This song is very cool!

11. Silk: The song sounds like a castle or comething like that, lol, in the middle of the song it has a very cool sound, like a horror movie

Sweet Dreams My LA-Ex. 10-10

Funky Dory. 10-10

Fools. 10-10

Breathe In Breathe Out. 9-10

Glide. 10-10

Heaven Has To Wait. 10-10

Blue Afternoom. 8-10

I Got The Money. 10-10

Little Secret. 10-10

Solid. 10-10

Silk. 10-10

Sweet Dreams My LA-Ex (Bimbo Jones Remix). 10-10

When I first heard Rachel's album, I thought 'What the...' - it is as far away from S Club 7 as you can get! She has left her pop roots well and truly behind.

This album is a bit confusing the first time you listen to it, but after a few listens you'll start to appreciate it. It makes you think.

Track rundown:

1. Sweet Dreams My LA Ex (5/5)

You can't doubt how ace this song is. She should have gotten to No.1 with this! It's soooo catchy! The song has a good message and it's very funky with great music. A fantastic debut single, that deserved that No.1 spot, but was robbed.

2. Funky Dory (5/5)

This is really odd, but still great. It has very clever lyrics and a great beat. This will take a few listens to grow on you, but it will. It was the follow up to Sweet Dreams, and it only reached No.26 or some silly number like that - very undeserved!

3. Fools (4/5)

This song sounds kind of countryish, and it's very catchy! This song is kind of S Club like, and it's the closest you'll get to her original sound on this album. The chorus is very catchy!

4. Breathe In Breathe Out (5/5)

Another song that took a few listens to grow on me. The music is ace! This is slower, but it's still wicked. The chorus is really catchy and 'breathe in breathe out' bits are great.

5. Glide (5/5)

This is one of my favourites. It has such ace music at the beginning! The chorus is really catchy and I love the bit where Rachel sings 'wanna slide, baby wanna glide' - it sounds wicked! This would make a great single.

6. Heaven Has To Wait (5/5)

The token ballad of the album, this is fantastic! Rachel shows what she's got in that voice of hers. This is an amazing song, with superb piano at the end and a strong chorus.

7. Blue Afternoon (4/5)

Like past reviewers have stated this song is really jazzy and not very Rachel like. The music kind of reminds me of a music track from The Sims! Rachel's voice is very strong and the chorus is really catchy.

8. I Got The Money (3/5)

For some reason I don't like this song as much as the rest of the album. The first time I listened to it I got distracted. The beginning is great, but when it gets to the chorus I lost interest. Not one of the stronger tracks on the album.

9. Little Secret (5+++/5)

This is my favourite on the album! Again, it has great music. The chorus is soooooo catchy, and again this has a very S Club feel to it. But at the same time it's RnBish, and I find myself singing along to it. I loved it on first listen, and you will too!

10. Solid (3/5)

This song is very cheesey, and the most poppiest on the album, and it's not one of my favourites. For some reason, I find this song bland and uninterestiting. It's unluckily sandwiched between two great tracks.

11. Silk (5/5)

This song is reeeeeally sexy! It's ace! The music is ACE. Rachel sounds sooooo wicked on this, and the lyrics are so naughty and sexy. The chorus is is really slinky, and the music makes it so much better. This is great closer to the album!

Top 5 songs:

01. Little Secret

02. Silk

03. Heaven Has To Wait

04. Sweet Dreams My LA Ex

05. Glide

Overall, this is a fine departure from S Club 7 for Rachel, who was always one of the best members. She can sing, her album is sophisicated and ace, she's ace! Go Rachel!