Customer Reviews

All Saints

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

this is one of those cd's when u know the artist isn't humongous and u wonder why . . . i mean with such a great cd i wondered the same about this one. "never ever" is a well put together song with out your typical "i'm heart broken" lyrics. it's chorus is extremely catchy and i'ts lyrics are somewhat frighteningly true. "bootie call" hmm . . . this one is somewhat naughty fun but none the less a great song. this is also well put together and just a song to blast at a party. "under the bridge" has to be one of my most favorite songs ever. this remake (like the cd) appeals to more of r&b and pop fans. it's one of those mellow songs that gets the message accross and still sounds wonderful at the same time. another one of my most favorite songs has to be "lady marmalade" it's one of the phattest dance songs ever and this one to is naughty fun . . . (if only you could translate that french they're speakin . . .) but more than that it's a great song and this original song is much better than the timbaland remix that appears on the dr. dolittle soundtrack. i was amazed (me being a hip hop rap and r&b fan) that i love this cd so much. but one of the hugest reasons is because the beats, rythms, and phat sounds appeal to me in the same manner that a dmx song would. a very versatile cd with many great styles.

All Saints, largely considered a pop paradox of two talented musicians and two pretty blonde sisters-come-media-whores who couldn't sing for peanuts, were the epitome of the late nineties UK R'n'B/pop. And 'never ever' did they get it more right. Smooth harmonies, silky melodies, and the right balance between booty-shakers and cool R'n'B slowjams.

Their debut album, the somewhat uninspiringly titled 'All Saints', showcases why these four girls were the hottest thing on the 'credible' side of pop in 1998. Whilst the Spice Girls were off romping around in their platforms, the cargo-wearing, laidback girls Shaznay Lewis, Mel Blatt, and Nicole and Natalie Appleton managed to achieve the same sort of success but do it with a bit more dignity than their popstar counterparts. From the smooth yearning 'Never Ever' to the bump-and-groove 'I Know Where It's At', the album is a largely quality release. They offer two delicious covers, a rap-infused reworking of 'Lady Marmalade' and a gorgeous version of Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Under The Bridge', and positively shine on the dirty 'Bootie Call' and Spice Girls disco spin 'If You Want To Party (I Found Lovin')'.

Admittedly there are a few weak spots. 'Trapped', 'Beg' and 'Heaven' are nice enough songs, but not up to the standard of the singles. However, considering the mileage the girls got out of the seven (!) singles they managed to release from this record, that's only a minor misstep in a very listenable album.

Cool, fresh and just as funky six years on.

Often thought of as the Stones to the Spice Girls' Beatles, All Saints offered up a more expressly "adult", R&B-styled sound with their debut album. The huge hit "Never Ever" purred in heartbroken penance, but "Bootie Call", along with many other tracks, showed that these girls weren't the kind to mope. Shaz, Nic and Nat, and Melanie Blatt, along with an all-star roster of producers like Nellee Hooper and Cameron McVey, crafted tracks that meld hard beats with pure Meox Mix vocals, leaving songs as darkly glittery as nightlights reflected on a windshield. This ride jets from booty-wagging abandon ("I Know Where It's At") to steely, get that man on his knees resolve ("Alone"), sometimes in the same song, as with their scrumptious, did-it-better-than-Christina-Mya-etc. remake of "Lady Marmalade." "I Know Where It's At" shows the Saints at their most exuberant, with its pitch-perfect choice of "get your groove on" lyrics and commanding bassline. "If You Want to Party" continues the Spice Girls' noble tradition of reinventing disco; "Beg" showcases the Saints' male-humbling powers. The cover of "Under the Bridge" is especially provocative, converting that alt-rock chestnut into a thumping dance-pop epic with, paradoxically, a strong sense of melancholy. And the melancholy really gets cinematic in the sweeping "War of Nerves", a chilling and thrilling ballad that closes out the record. Note too the Appleton-sisters-penned "Heaven", another powerful tale of yearning. Yes, these party gals know how to cry. And they know something about constructing memorable pop. The eponymous All Saints album is another classic in the wave of British pop that stormed the world in the late 90s, proving the great strength and vitality of what girls in a studio can do.

Maybe Not In America But In Europe They Do. I got this 4 years ago and still listen to it today. The Best "Lady Marmalade" Version Way Better Than The 4 Whores Mya, Christina Aguilera, Pink and Lil Kim. Never Ever Is Also Good And I Love "I Know Where It's At" They Have The Best Voices. I wish they were more here like they are in UK. But I still love them.

i bought this great album about 3 years ago, and i'm still enjoying listing to it. it's very hard to name the album's musical style- it contains pop, rap, r&b and soul. and it's all combined very well, and in a very interesting way. but i must say- don't judge the album by the singels that were released out of him (never ever, i know where it's at...) that was pretty much pop songs, and doesn't really represent the album's general style-the songs that weren't singels are less catchy, and they're mostly soft r&b and soul. but when you get used to the album and it's weird style (and that's not too hard...) i'm sure you'll love it!

The All Saints are one of London's best groups. The harmonies are tight and the lyrics are on point. What do I mean by "nasty"? For example Bootie Call, War Of Nerves, & Lady Marmalade are the freaky songs on the album. The others are either fast paced or sentimental ballads. Cop this album today!

I have to admit if I was reading this review I would be like, "I have never heard of all saints so im not going to buy their CD" Thats my mistake, as well as yours if your thinking that right now. All Saints aren't a really popular group (I think they split up) but I love their CD. I've had it for a while now, and its great. Its a typical British band but something about their style is drawing your attention to this CD.

Overall: Amazon.com is the perfect place to buy this CD. Or if you see it in another store buy it and you won't regret it. :)

I'm surprised by the lack of reviews- and good ones- for this album, seeing as other pop records by Dido and Craig David get billions of reviews. Anyway this record is much better than you would think, I'm not usually a big fan of pop music, my brother got this CD back in 1997, after leaving it behind when he left for university I sampled it and was pleasently surprised by the music actually.
The All Saints are very local for me - Nicole Appleton used to live in my road, but unfortunately has since moved away from Belsize Park-
Although they have been compared to the spice girls, that comparison is out of order- they're actually a lot more like Oasis being part of the mid-nineties cool Britannia movement . Firstly, the spicegirls are from the North of England, not London. The Spice girls are well ugly, whereas the All Saints are very fit. And finally the All Saints music is alright, the spice girls music is not alright.
About the music, as I said I was pleasently surprised.Being a piano player with perfect pitch,at college at the moment, I usually listen to 'serious music' -modern jazz, classical music a little rap music, I was impressed by the album. It uses some interesting harmonies in some places, the drummer lays down -more cool than in most pop music- beats, and the singing is high quality and the song writings ok especially on 'Never Ever'-which is the best cut is more like a poem at first evolves into a very nice song which uses the chord progressions of 'amazing grace'. I found a website on this actually:
I've only heard there most recent album-Sinners and Saints on MTV but it sounds even better actually so I recommend it as well.
To conclude, the All Saints -unfortunately recently split- deserve much more respect and attention than they get, as far as pop music goes they are the most musically sophisticated and also the best looking band there is.

This one of those CD's I can't live without.I first heard All Saints in 1998 when their song "Never Ever" hit the radio.I was instantly addicted to their music.I got this cd for Christmas 1998 when I put it in my discman I fell in love with the CD.I don't understand why they weren't as big here in America as they were in the UK.This CD is amazing and is one that everyone should have.

I HAVE NOT ONLY PURCHASED THIS CD AND ENJOY LISTENING TO IT, BUT I ALSO PURCHASED THE VIDEO TAPE THAT IS A CAMPONION RECORDING OF THE CD. THE CD AND VIDEO BOTH BELONG IN EVERY MUSIC LIBRARY. THESE LADIES ARE MULTI-TALENTED, HAVE GREAT VOICES ARE ARE BEAUTIFUL. IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THIS CD, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?