I was just so pumped about this that I had to post something. I've already preordered the album online, but I really wish this was getting a domestic release so I could be a good little fanboy and have it in my grubby hands on the 30th. For now, just a few EXTREMELY brief preliminary opinions on the tracks that have leaked up to this point. I of course reserve the right to completely change my mind about these at a later time.
01.
The Show
Yes, this is still amazing. RCQS 9
02.
Love Machine
I believe I was pretty clear with my thoughts on this one as well. RCQS 9
03. I'll Stand By You
The first of four covers on this album. On the bright side, most people won't be familiar with at least two of them. Definitely far and away the worst Girls Aloud single to date. Not altogether horrible though and it is slowly growing on me. Besides, it's for charity. RCQS 6
04. Jump
I don't get it. First of all, it's another cover. Second of all, it was released as a single way back in 2003. Third, they already included it on the rerelease of
Sound of the Underground. What gives? Still... RCQS 7
05. Wake Me Up
This was supposed to be one of the more amazing tracks on the album, but I'm not feeling it to quite that extent at this point. Nasty (in a pop way) guitar scorcher not too far off from the kind of screeching electro punk that modern day Primal Scream's been aiming for. I think this one is pretty much all about the joy of noise and the "margaritas" line. My thoughts of this may improve once a higher quality version leaks. RCQS 7
06. Deadlines & Diets
Another cover. For the full story, see my previous
posted explanation of "Here We Go". I'm quite liking this. They do these sweet, light-hearted laments as well as anyone. Bonus points for the mischievous, derisive "wah-wah" solo in the middle. Paced just right and the sentiment is certainly on the mark as always. RCQS 8
07. Big Brother
Current speculation is that this is the song written by Cheryl. I'm a little saddened by this as she's one of my favorites. While similar in spirit and agenda to "Androgynous Girls", it lacks the same sort of driving big bass that kept that song on track. The worst part though is the clumsy Manics style lyrics. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about, trying to cram those unwieldly, somewhat nonsensical lines into an otherwise perfectly natural melody, the song writer's equivalent of square peg, round hole. Oh well. RCQS 5
08. Hear Me Out
This is lovely. It's the first original big ballad on this album and it's surprisingly really, really great. Everyone who's heard this says it sounds like "Never Be The Same Again" and you know what? All those people are right. Eerily similar. "Never Be The Same Again", however, was just this big emotional road to nowhere, a decent song at best. "Hear Me Out" is massive. I can't get over that impassioned, pleading chorus, or just the general sense of pretty All Saints style melancholy that permeates the song. That shivering "oooo-oooo-oooo" preceding the first chorus is wonderful as well. And fuck, Sarah wrote this? In a clean 4 minutes, she's validated her entire existance in this band. RCQS 9
09. Graffiti My Soul
HAHAHAHA! One of those deranged pop experiments that end up getting your band critically lauded to the moon or slammed so hard they're calling out for volunteers to help scrape your brains off the pavement. According to an article in the Guardian a few months back, this track was originally offered to Britney Spears for
In The Zone, but her people were too gutless to accept. I'm really going to need more time to evaluate this properly but in the meantime... RCQS 9
10. Real Life
Not yet available. B-side to "I'll Stand By You" if that means anything.
11.
Here We Go
I've probably heard the other various incarnations of this song at least a hundred times by now. The problem with that kind of familiarity is that it's hard to determine exactly where a slightly tweaked version like this stands. I'm going to have to get to used to all the new vocal nuances in this, as well as the fact that it's five singing it rather than one. This is probably amazing live. RCQS 8
12. Thank Me Daddy
Not yet available. Interesting title. I'll guess that this is Nicola's.
13. I Say A Prayer For You
Not yet avaialable. Maybe Kimberley's?
14. 100 Different Ways
Not yet available. Popjustice loves this. And Nadine supposedly wrote this so I'll probably love it too.
Bonus Track?: Androgynous Girls
This was the b-side to "Love Machine", but it may turn up on the final album if the first album is any indicator. Probably too good to be a b-side. Kind of saucy and irreverent, though it's that slinky bass line that really sends this home. RCQS 8
