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Review: Jack Foley
YOU could be forgiven for thinking that Girls Aloud are trying
to seduce their way into forcing young listeners to embrace them
as the new Sugababes.
With lyrics such as 'should have hung around the kitchen in my
underwear' (on The Show), 'we're gift-wrapped kitty katts'
(on Love Machine), and 'it's 3am and you still look gorgeous,
my morning after feeling's kicking in' (Deadlines and Diets),
not to mention skirts and outfits skimpy enough to make their
mothers' blush, they seem intent on dazzling their way to the
top.
But strip away the glossy veneer and the picture isn't quite
so rosy.
Girls Aloud still sound like the manufactured pop princesses
of the moment, born out of the Pop Idol/Stock Aitken generations,
who place throwaway pop songs above anything of any enduring quality.
I was unfortunate enough to catch their recent performance at
the Smash Hits Poll Winners' Party, at Wembley (on TV), when they
mimed to their hearts' content in a succession of skimpy outfits.
Once more, the look tended to overshadow the quality. They look
great, but merely sound ok (even when miming).
Having got that off my chest, it should come as little surprise
to find their album, What Will The Neighbours Say?, is
a similarly throwaway affair.
Supposedly catchy pop singles such as Love Machine and
The Show sound hopelessly generic, in a sort of post-Spice
Girls sort of way.
While meatier fare, such as Deadlines and Diets, merely
have the girls sounding like wannabe Sugababes, without the maturity
to make it count.
Recent cover version, I'll Stand By You, does, at least,
suggest that they could transcend the pop genre if they put their
minds to it, courtesy of some stronger vocals.
But for every assured moment, there's more lightweight pop fare
waiting in the wings, such as the flat Big Brother, or
the supposedly funky Graffiti My Soul.
If they continue like this, their careers might just be as short
as their skirts and dresses.
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Track listing:
1. The Show
2. Love Machine
3. I'll Stand By You
4. Jump
5. Wake Me Up
6. Deadlines & Diets
7. Big Brother
8. Hear Me Out
9. Graffiti My Soul
10. Real Life
11. Here We Go
12. Thank Me Daddy
13. I Say A Prayer For You (UK bonus track)
14. 100 Different Ways (UK bonus track)
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