The Sugababes just keep getting better and better. This is their 5th studio album, a massive feat for a pop group. Despite the member changes, they've never lost their sparkle or their catchy tunes. I did think they fell down a bit with their Greatest Hits compilation, but have definitely redeemed themselves with this CD. "Taller In More Ways" is my favourite Sugababes album, but "Change" is ranked 2nd equal with "Three."
I would usually list my favourite song on the album as the first song I mention, but I can't decide on a favourite since I have so many.
But I guess I'll go with "Surprise" first - this is a definite favourite of mine. I actually didn't like it so much on the first couple of listens, but suddenly it just hit how amazing this track is. Clocking in at only 3 minutes 5 seconds, it packs a lot into a small amount of time. A song about an ex boyfriend calling you up out of the blue wanting to get back together, the Babes tell him to get lost. It's really catchy and 'oh oh oh' bits at the end of the choruses courtesy of the lovely Heidi are fun to sing along to.
Another favourite is "Never Gonna Dance Again" - I really hope this is going to be a single. Described as a ballad, but not really, it's more midtempo. This song is incredibly sad, about a boyfriend breaking up with his girlfriend during a slow dance, and the girlfriend decides she can never dance again because it reminds her of her ex too much. All three girls put in a strong showing in this track and I love the lyrics.
"Mended By You" is yet another highlight, another gorgeous ballad from the girls. I find the Babes have two types of ballads - they're either amazing or boring. This is the former, absolutely amazing. Despite the sad feel, the song is actually positive, about a relationship that has changed somebody for the better. One of the girls' best slow songs to date, I love Amelle's verse and the chorus.
"Denial" is a quirky little song and another favourite. I actually don't know what this song is supposed to be about, but I like it. With interesting lyrics about nature and a cool backing beat, this is a song that you'll either love or hate. I am definitely a lover of it!
"My Love Is Pink" reminds of me of a Girls Aloud song (my other favourite band), it's just like "Graffiti My Soul" or "Fling" from their new album. A song about nothing at all, this is funky with really cool lyrics and great vocals from all three girls. The chorus is loads of fun to sing along to.
"Back Down" is yet another standout track (see, there's so many!). I love this track because each Babe gets a long verse to sing and it shows off their distinct voices and personalities. The girls sing about their boyfriends in this track and what they love about men. It's extremely catchy and I adore Heidi's verse.
"About You Now" was the album's lead single and was another #1 hit for the girls in the UK. Rightly so, this is yet another favourite. I think this is possibly my favourite Babes single to date. It's sooooooooo catchy and I love the lyrics. The girls all sound amazing and the overall feel of this track is just infectious. A great comeback for the ladies.
"Open The Door" is rather like "Denial" - slower with an interesting backbeat and lyrics. It's chilled out with cool lyrics. I didn't like this at first but over time I grew to like it. I love the chorus.
The remaining tracks are good, but not outstanding. We have "Change" - the 2nd single from the album and Christmas release. I wanted "Never Gonna Dance Again" to be the 2nd single over this. But it's a nice little track, but doesn't seem to go anywhere for me. "Back When" is in the same vein, a cute track that sees the girls reminiscing about the past, but when it reaches the chorus it goes nowhere (except when they sing 'back when' - it sounds cool!). I like Heidi's parts though. "Undignified" is the same, it's the album's closer but is kind of bland - I wanted a "2 Hearts" (from Taller In More Ways) kind of ending, big and orchestral. The UK bonus track "3 Spoons Of Suga" is similar to another Babes track, "Angels With Dirty Faces" from the album of the same name - self referential and in the same style. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as good. This song is your usual party track.
My favourites are:
Surprise
Never Gonna Dance Again
Mended By You
About You Now
Back Down
(with Denial, My Love Is Pink & Open The Door close runners up)
Overall, another strong showing for the girls and it shows that Amelle fits in nicely with the group on her first full length outing with the band. They do keep getting better, I like every song on this album, some more then others but I wouldn't skip any tracks if I listened to the album in full. Keep it up girls, you're going strong!
This is a great cd nad not missing Mutya, Amelle is a good addition to the band. If you like girl bands and pop music this is a def for you. They have a rather mature sound but these girls can def sing
Going through personnel changes every few years can often wear or tarnish the shelf life of your average pop group. U.K. pop outfit the Sugababes seem to be the exception to this rule, having now lost two of its' original members(Siobhan Donaghy in 2001 and Mutya Buena in 2006), leaving Keisha Buchanan to shoulder on with v2.0 replacement Heidi Range and latest member Amelle. The "change" is minimal here, as the girls still get top shelf production and co-writing assists from various and sundry sources. Lead off single "About You Now", from the estimable Cathy Dennis, is a definite departure from the group's typical mix of pop/R&B--it's far more akin to a Kelly Clarkson/Pink hybrid of crunchy guitar pop, and doesn't even settle in until repeated listens, at which point it becomes one of their very best singles yet. Two Xenomania tracks, "Never Gonna Dance Again" and "My Love Is Pink", sound like Girls Aloud outtakes, but are still two of the best tracks here, in addition to the excellent title track and another Dennis contribution in "Surprise". While no track here could be classified as a misstep, the reggae-lite of "Back Down" and the syrupy ballad "Mended By You" are two tracks that are at the very least skippable. Vocally, Amelle ably steps in for Mutya(minus the snarky charisma) and Heidi's overly mannered singing stiffens up the joint on more than one occasion. Still, I'd rank this above the overrated ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES and on an even keel with both THREE and TALLER IN MORE WAYS. High recommendation.
Thankfully the girls are veering away from those insipid mid-tempo, urban-tinged beats. This is a solid, if lightweight, pop package. Nothing especially memorable, but certainly more melodic than a lot of the contemporary music out there. Here's hoping a few of these tunes get good remixes instead of the uninspired versions from previous albums. A recommended purchase.
