Customer Reviews

Chemistry (Bonus CD)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's a shame that the finest pop act of this decade by far is not even known here in the States. After twelve consecutive top 10 singles in Britain and the unlikely praise of respectable rock critics who normally wouldn't even consider TV-made music groups as a sloppy after-thought, it's near rude to say that the UK's Girls Aloud deserve to go unnoticed. Their third album, Chemistry, is their finest effort yet, and no other record on the current pop map better illustrates a group with more personality and more edginess. The tracks here defy the rules of your typical pop song, and Girls Aloud's producers, the acclaimed production house Xenomania, do anything they possibly can to toss every concievable musical genre into the mix. And they succeed on all accounts. Everything from sultry electro ballads ("It's Magic") and snappy numbers that sound like they came straight from the '60s ("Waiting)", to the A-Ha-esque bounce of "Models" and the jangly guitars on "Long Hot Summer" make this a tour de force of how genius pop is made when it is both accessible and experimental. The crowning achievement, by far, is lead single "Biology". An unprecedented combo of three different songs packed into one furious package, it vamps, glides, and sasses along like no other mainstream pop track in recent memory. That track alone is well worth the purchase, but another surprising element of the Girls Aloud formula is the overwhelming lack of filler material. The ballads, as to be expected, are well worth skipping, but when it's back to the uptempo numbers and the musical mayhem begins to ensue all over again, you'll be sorely disappointed that they have yet to make their mark on America.

I don't understand the other reviewers of this album. What is wrong with you? 90% of Girls Aloud fans have agreed that this is their strongest and best album yet. And I agree.

Chemistry is Girls Aloud's 3rd album, released just over a year after What Will The Neighbours Say?. Chemistry opened it's run in the charts at No.11, their lowest peak yet, but it sold highly and has already gone platinum not even 2 months after it's release. This says to me, a successful album. The album has gotten sparkling reviews from pretigious magazines and newspaper and has many GA fans claiming that is their finest moment so far. And it's all true. My rundown:

1. Intro (10/10)
Now it was kind of hard to rate this, as it's only 42 seconds long, but I'll say this would be brilliant if it was a full length track. Even in only 40 seconds, this intro manages to be better then half the songs released in the UK in 2005. Each member gets a little verse to sing, over a rocking beat. A brilliant intro to the album.

2. Models (10/10)
This song is soooo good. Each girl shines on the track - whether it be the chorus (Kimberley), the verses (Cheryl and Nadine), the bridge (Nicola) or providing steady backing vocals (Sarah). This song is about a man who likes to stalk models, and is obsessed with them. Very, very catchy, upbeat and a lot of fun. One of my favourites!

3. Biology (10/10)
The second single from Chemistry, this has the album's highest peaking single, reaching No.4. And rightly so. This song is one of GA's finest singles yet. It's very upbeat with strong vocals provided by Nadine and Cheryl, and a catchy bridge and chorus. The song is about nothing in particular, but still works fantastically well. A winner.

4. Wild Horses (9/10)
Rumoured to be the 4th single from the album, but then shelved, this song is still cool anyway. Opening with a verse sung by what sounds like a choir (is actually Kimberley and Cheryl singing it), before launching into a cool RnB pop inspired song, with a rap from Cheryl and brilliant vocals from Nadine. It loses a point for having a repetitive chorus at the end, with only Nadine singing. Very funny 'whoo whoo' noises are provided by Nicola in the chorus too!

5. See The Day (10/10)
Now, I may be a sucker for a love song, but this is one of my favourite GA singles. The group's lowest chart placing came Christmas week 2005 with this song, which reached No.9. Nonetheless, it is an amazing song with vocals from Nadine, Cheryl, Sarah and Nicola. Nadine shows off her voice and the girls harmonise together perfectly on the chorus. A cover of D Cee Lee's song from 1985, this is a perfect ballad for the Aloud. Another favourite.

6. Watch Me Go (10+++/10)
This song may have too much of Nadine singing, but it's still my favourite song on the album. Indeed, Nadine does lead the majority of the song, apart from a rap by Cheryl and some vocals from Sarah at the end, but it's still a brilliant song. It's very hip hop influenced, but with a pop edge. Slightly naughty, especially Sarah's vocals at the end, but very very cool. Definitely my #1 song.

7. Waiting (10/10)
The array of fantastic songs continues with the 7th track, "Waiting." Another song with a lot of Nadine vocals - this song is heavily her, but features vocals from all 5 girls. A song about nothing in particular, with peculiar lyrics and very catchy bits, this is another winner (it sounds slightly like "Real Life" from their 2nd album).

8. Whole Lotta History (10/10)
The 4th single to be confirmed from the album, this is out in March. It's a ballad, and people are concerned this could be a death wish for GA, releasing two ballads in a row. I, however, don't believe that, and am sure this will be another hit for the girls. A beautiful song, with steady vocals from all 5 girls. Kimberley opens the song, sounding gorgeous. Nicola, Cheryl and Nadine all sing on and off throughout the song until Sarah closes it. A tearjerker, that looks sure to be big.

9. Long Hot Summer (10/10)
I could never understand the hate for this song. It's fantastic, AND it charted higher then "See The Day." The lead single for Chemistry, this reached No.7, but had it been released on a different week, would have gone top 5. With catchy vocals from Nadine and Cheryl, and a brilliant chorus and lyrics, this song should have been a winner. I like it, anyway...

10. Swinging London Town (10/10)
This song took ages to grow on me, but now I love it. It reminds me of Graffiti My Soul from WWTNS, an unique and quirky song. I know it will never be released, but it's still pretty darn cool. Again, every girl gets to sing, and the whole song is about London, and all the things that encompass it. Very strange, but such a cool song.

11. It's Magic (8/10)
This is Chemistry's only weak point. Every other song is strong, except this one. It is Nicola's solo song, and even though she does a good voice, it doesn't show in this track. I find this bland and uninteresting, but it does have some catchy bits and the music is cool, therefore the 8/10 rating.

12. No Regrets (9/10)
The 2nd solo song of Chemistry, this is Nadine's turn. This is much better then "It's Magic," and I don't even like Nadine that much (she is probably my least favourite member of GA). This song is cute though - I adore the music, it's very cool, especially the end. Nadine's vocals are strong and the song keeps your attention.

13. Racy Lacey (10/10)
They keep one of the best songs of the album right till the last track! This song is very naughty, about a prominiscous girl who sleeps with loads of men. The lyrics are very cute and funny, and the chorus is so catchy you'll be singing it straightaway! A great end to the album, and one of my favourites.

Top 5 tracks:
01. Watch Me Go
02. Racey Lacey
03. Models
04. See The Day
05. Waiting

With only dud track (that isn't actually that bad, just not as good as the rest of the album), this is a winning album, that should have charted in the top 10. It's looking set to go on to be one of GA's bigger selling albums. Brilliant, brilliant and once again BRILLIANT!

If you remember your chemistry, C6H12O6 is the formula for Glucose, the simplest of sugars. So it is with this album, which is quite simply, a simple, sweet pop album from British girl group Girls Aloud.

Girls Aloud was formed in 2002 as a result of a TV talent show, but unlike many other reality TV performers, they have been very successful with eleven Top 10 singles in the UK, and all three of their albums hitting the charts on release. This one is their third album, with huge first single "Biology", and second single "See the Day" (a cover song) both going UK Top 10. "Whole Lotta History", a heartstring-tugging slow ballad may be the next single released. "Wild Horses" has a great intro, then switches into a bouncy dance number, and is one of the songs where they sound like the Spice Girls. No filler material here, but many of the songs sound alike.

With this kind of Chemistry, the new formula is:
Glucose(Pop) = Nadine + Sarah + Nicola + Cheryl + Kimberly (Girls Aloud)

Be sure to play it loud!!!

Amanda Richards, January 28, 2006

What is it with the water across the big pond? While USA may dominate the world with hip-hop-inflected mainstream music, UK and Europe have something the US can never quite master as cunningly as they do (their own secret weapon, per se): awesome pop music. Even though pop's been in a state of decline since the waning of the teen pop boom of the early '00s, ironically there have been acts that have pushed the boundaries of pop even more. Sugababes are one of them. Another great UK act is Girls Aloud. A sort of anomaly not only in pop world but also in reality TV, having been a totally manufactured girl group that rose to the ranks to become of UK's most credible and most successful mainstream acts today.

The scary thing is that within every new release, they only keep on getting better, as evidenced by this latest, greatest release. What makes "Chemistry" so amazing? Everything: it's an all-around good album. Even the ballads, Girls Aloud's main weakness, sound decent this time around. The Girls themselves have grown as entertainers, somehow magically gaining a boatload of charisma all of a sudden to back up their already explosive brand of day-glo pop. With stronger, more unpredictable dance-pop, "Chemistry" puts many recent pop releases to shame and dares to challenge the legitimacy of even the year's most praised albums. Here's a track-by-track review of the awesomeness that is "Chemistry":

1. "Intro" - Best intro I've heard in a while. Sounds like it could have been taken from Sugababes' "Red Dress," which only shows how much more awesome it could have been had it been a full-on rockin' dance-pop track.

2. "Models" - Very '80s, yet very contemporary-sounding quirky pop masterpiece. Off-kilter mainstream pop doesn't get as delectably sweet, yet as sassy and devious as this. Frenetic, bombastic, and unstoppable, and this is only the beginning.

3. "Biology" - Now THIS is what a 21st century pop track should sound like. It was recognized as one of the most critically acclaimed singles of 2005 not because it introduced a totally new sound. It actually borrows from A LOT of things, but that's what makes it extra special. The fact that it takes influences from jazz, ragtime, punk-pop, electro-pop, and bubblegum pop and mixes it all together into an awesome sonic orgy makes this one of the most ingenious pop tracks to grace the Earth in a while. Its unconventional multi-chorus song structure also helps with the unpredictability factor, making this stylistic evolution an even worthier one. Where else can you find a chorus this rousing (even though it takes nearly 2 minutes to finally explode to it) in 2005?

4. "Wild Horses" - After a few brilliant tracks past, why stop here? "Wild Horses" takes from a past hit, "Love Machine," and turns it upside down, adding chamber chorus vocals, train noise adlibs ("woo, woo"), extremely busy drumming, country Western noises, and even a slight videogame-esque feel to it all in another amazing track of pure pop brilliance.

5. "See The Day" - Okay, so after 4 extremely addictive uptempo tracks, it's time to take a breather with "See The Day." You can't help but take deep breaths with this one because even this slow track has overdramatic production: it's got crashing drums and a full backing vocal ensemble for a chorus. Now who would contest the fact that this track is a perfect, darker Christmas hit? Girls Aloud may still have a long way to go until they match Sugababes with being truly all-around pop greats, but for now their improvement in ballads is always welcomed.

6. "Watch Me Go" - A very naughty and cheeky pop track, aside from its lyrics, its feel is raw due to the clanking of the drums in the background. The quirky production in this makes this track even sassier and raunchier than it seems.

7. "Waiting" - More straightforward punk-pop track, but its a breath of fresh air coming from a totally manufactured dance-pop act. The Girls sing this with unmatched sass and attitude: a testament to their invincible camaraderie.

8. "Whole Lotta History" - Sweet-sounding, almost retro pop track from the juke joint eras. Probably a stronger ballad than "See The Day" just because it doesn't try to be sassy: in fact, its the opposite, showing that its out to melt hearts everywhere and be as gushy as anything being sent out to adult contemporary radio.

9. "Long Hot Summer" - Underrated lead single from the album, this sounds even better when grouped with a consistently strong batch of songs. The Bangles-esque feel to it mixed with the trademark crunchy electro-pop the Girls are so praised for makes this sound as addictive as ever. It's never too late to start liking a track this good all over again.

10. "Swinging London Town" - Probably one of the edgiest tracks on the album, if the other tracks only hinted at their attempts to be sexy, sultry, and sassy (try saying that 10 times in a row!), this one seals the deal by building itself all around those themes. The crunchy electro of the track sounds like if their past hit "Wake Me Up" would be more suited to a snobby socialite club atmosphere.

11. "It's Magic" - One of the most devilish tracks from the album ironically comes from one of its supposedly most innocent, quiet members, Nicola. Fronting the track, she proves that its the quiet ones that might be the naughtiest. With her soft, vulnerable, breathy vocals sashaying on top of an addictive skittering bubblegum beat, it all makes it sound almost too coy and lolita-ish: so bad, yet so good.

12. "No Regrets" - Probably the weakest ballad, it's pretty much seen as Nadine going solo. A Latin-esque feel combined with ambient atmospherics add a sense of wonder, romance, and mystery, and Nadine's strong vocals handle it pretty solidly. It's good, but it just doesn't stand out among the other innovative pop tracks that cram the album.

13. "Racy Lacey" - To end an album with a quick bang, Girls Aloud decide to bring out one more stomper. Just as though we thought the album was losing steam by the end, they bring this fun, bubbly, even naughtier track about a girl who's good at nothing but sex (hence the provocative lyrics - you gotta listen to them for yourself). A fun, extremely fast pop track that'll stay in your head until it stops abruptly, ending what is one of the best pop albums of 2005.

Every time I talk about this album, I get so worked up. I'm not alone: many UK critics have already put this album in the top spots of their favorite albums lists because it's just that damn good. Don't believe the hype? Go get it from yourself. If you truly love pop because of ability to be unabashedly anything it wants to be, then get this album. The world needs acts as vivacious and as interesting as Girls Aloud, even when they are this contrived and manufactured.

Being from the UK where Girls Aloud are THE best thing at the moment I thought it was about time that someone told you lot in the U.S. just how damn good these girls are.
Created in 2002 from a tv programme (usually the kiss of death over here) Girls Aloud have escaped falling into oblivion by producing brilliant track after brilliant track. The 1st single 'Sound of the Underground' went straight in at number 1 and made 3 UK chart records, Quickest no.1 from creation of a group to actual no.1 (3 weeks), The first all girl group to debut at no.1 and the first girl group to have a xmas no.1 with their 1st release (even the Spice Girls didn't achieve that but the less said about them the better).
The second single 'No Good Advice' was even better and the video- with it's James Bond style visuals- made this go straight in at no.2 and made a lot of people start to take notice and realise that they were more than just one hit wonders and how they've proved it..'Life Got Cold', 'Jump', 'The Show', 'Love Machine'(Which despite being over 2 years old is guaranteed to fill any dance floor over here and is ALWAYS played at least once a night in every nightclub) each release has been better than it's predecessor. 'I'll Stand By You' is a stunning version of the old Pretenders hit and blows the original out of the water and I urge you to see the stunning video it came with, all 5 girls look absolutely beautiful and this track was played at my mothers funeral so holds a special place in my heart.
'Wake Me Up', 'Long Hot Summer', 'Biology'(even non Girls Aloud fans loved this one), 'See the Day' and now 'Whole lotta History' have convinced even the most sceptic of reviewers that Girls Aloud are the best Ever British girl band, knocking out more hits than the Spice Girls (Ha Ha, never did rate them!) and coming out with 3 outstanding albums as well. 'Sound of the Underground', 'What Will The Neighbours Say' and now 'Chemistry'. All 3 have gone platinum in the UK.
The rest of Europe now seem to be falling under their spell and rightly so.
Fantastic songs, stunningly beautiful girls (Cheryl, Sarah, Nadine, Nicola and Kimberley) and amazing production values on everything they've done so far have elevated this lot from being mere chart regulars, all 5 are instantly recognisable over here and with their in-your-face approach to everything they do it's endeared them to people of all ages - see them live and the audience is made up of people of all ages and both sexes, even die hard punk rockers who shouldn't be listening let alone liking them turn up!
Girls Aloud have survived because they don't just chuck out the same stuff over and over, they've matured and 'Chemistry' see's them at their peak (until album 4 knocks this one sideways), there's not a duff track on this and should convert even more people into fans.
Already boasting 4 top 10 UK singles with at least another 3 tracks screaming out to be singles this is a fantastic album from an amazing group who have gone from strength to strength and deserve every second of their success.
Full credit to them - simply put this is British pop at it's best
Buy this album - you will not be disappointed.

Man, when I look at acts like Girls Aloud and Rachel Stevens, I ask myself, why can't American pop be this fun and energetic (our pop scene is very meidocre these days). After listening to the new Girls Aloud album, "Chemistry" I can safely say that this is not only their best work yet, but this is one of the best albums of 2005 and this is how pop should be, fun, energetic and one to get you on the dancefloor and pumping to that groove.

This album is so sweet, much better then the girls' last offering.

"Swinging London Town"-With it's brilliant lyrics describing one of the best cities in the world and a techno-pop beat rocking in the background, one of the album's best tracks. Slows down a bit in the middle to give you that feeling of London's sexiness, then blasts you away with going back to the bassline and the hot beat.

"Models"-'Girls girls girls girls girls...the girls got style legs for miles, see them walk all over you, you get your kicks like flies to s#@t, buzzing 'round the model zoo...' A very very catchy and uptempo track with a fast beat that will have you jumping up and down. One of the best pop beats ever and the girls' accents on this song are strong and will have you hot and bothered for sure.

"It's Magic"-The beat for this song is addicting. The girls voices lift you into an almost eatheral trance as a resonating club beat keeps you in time to the hot chorus. 'Let your body receive...what I can give.......let me set you free...it's magic...'Indeed that's what this track is.

"Waiting"-Almost has the fittings of a R&B track mixed in with a bit of garage. But another very very catchy track that will have you humming every word...'Te candy lady said..knock knock knock..who wants to come to my candy shop? I'll give you something to take back home...to give you shivers that you didn't even know....If every guy's a dog then baby throw me to the wolves..I'll never get to heaven with my glass half full..' The girls aren't just all sugar and spice and everything nice.

"Racey Lacey"-The girls' most provactive track yet. It tells all about a girl who's quite the expert in bed. A kind of doo-wop sort of song with the British pop you've come to expect from these beautiful English (and Irish) gals.

Other great tracks include such songs like "Wild Horses" which starts off with the girls' sounding like they're going Christmas caorling then hooks you with a raunchy beat and snappy lyrics. There's also the main single off the album "Biology" and this summer's "Long Hot Summer". This album delivers so much great songs and should be noted by all these dull American pop stars that this is how pop music should be.

I love Girls Aloud!

Album points received/max = 57/60 = A+
12 trax: 5x12 = 60.
60/5 = 12, 12 stars = 1 letter grade.
57 stars scores "A+", High Marks!

Breakdown:
Models *****5
Biology *****5
Wild Horses ****4
See The Day ****5
Watch Me Go *****5
Waiting *****5
Whole Lotta History *****5
Long Hot Summer *****5
Swinging London Town *****5
Its Magic *****5
No Regrets ****4
Racy Lacey ****4


End thoughts: Strong outing by the Girls, every song in one way or another is done perfectly, whether it is a ballad, mid tempo or upbeat track. Nothing misses the mark. No disappointment here.

Yet another fantastic album from Girls Aloud. Definitely Pop music at it's greatest. Although "Chemistry" admittedly doesn't live up to their second album, "What Will the Neighbours Say", it's definitely worth your buy.

1. "Intro" - 9/10 Short, but upbeat, catchy, and a great way to start off the album

2. "Models" - 5/10 Arguably the weakest track on this album. The melody and lyrics would be utterly forgettable if they weren't so bad. I was actually disappointed with this one.

3. "Biology" - 10/10 Absolutely wonderful, probably my favourite song on this album. The melody's a sort conglomeration of pop and a million other styles, while the lyrics I thought were very catchy and clever.

4. "Wild Horses" - 7/10 I'm sort of indifferent about this one. I suppose it takes some warming up to. Not the best on that album, and a little lackluster.

5. "See the Day" - 8.5/10 I always enjoy it when Girls Aloud slows down there songs, and this ballad is done very well. The lyrics could use a little bit more oomph, but I'm not complaining.

6. "Watch Me Go" - 10/10 If "Biology"'s not my favourite track, than this one certainly is. It took a little warming up to at first, but the grunge/rap/hip-hop part in the middle is absolutely get-up-and-dance AWESOME. The lyrics are a little risque, but that only contributes to the song. (Especially the last few stanzas)

7. "Waiting" - 8.5/10 Fast-paced, good beat.

8. "Whole Lotta History" - 10/10 I love this song. The ballad style is better done with this song than with "See The Day". The lyrics were pleasant surprise to me, and the melody is overall fabulous.

9. "Long Hot Summer" - 9/10 The first song I listened to from this album, and the one that got me hooked. Another up-tempo song that makes you want to get up and dance. (Or, at least me).

10. "Its Magic" - 8/10 Not the best that this album has to offer, but still pretty good. Pop song with a softcore techno accompaniment.

11. "No Regrets" - 9/10 Another great slower song. A little departure from the norm, with almost Spanish undertones. Interesting lyrics. Excellent vocals.

12. "Racey Lacey" - Great song to end it on. Bubblegum pop, energetic, great beat. Implied risque lyrics always make it more fun.

I will review all these songs for you.

01. Intro
Just the intro, but it is so cool!

02. Models
The first song where Girls Aloud swear, but it isn't bad. My favourite song!

03. Biology
This was a single and my dad loves it.

04. Wild Horses
Poor boy Peter didn't know how... I think this has something to do with Narnia.

05. See The Day
A D C Lee cover, but you'll get into it!

06. Watch Me Go
I love it. I love all the timesthat they say! And I like the part where they go:
Strippers and the kickers in the back,
Postman crack,
Jump on the mainline track
I love this song!!!!!

07. Waiting
Can't stop singing this either!

08. Whole Lotta History
Ooo, a tear dweller!

09. Long Hot Summer
I think that in this video Nadine looks like me.

10. Swinging London Town
I love London Town!

11. It's Magic
Nicola sings all of this and Nicola is cool !!!

12. No Regrets
NADINE SINGS ALL OF THIS!!!!!!!

13. Racy Lacey
My mum calls this unsuitable, but she can't stop me singing it!

Hope you enjoyed that

Love Fleur

I'm not surprised to read a lot of kid reviews on this CD.
This reminds me of what I used to listen to when I was 13 and didn't have much expectations for my music. These are 5 girls who a producer to make them a hit single which made them superstars overnight. They make music for the masses and probably will rank high as they already have accomplished a fanbase (consisting mostly of young girls I would assume) as they choose safe songs, but if you're looking for quality music with well-written and meaningful ("good love will always come from me" "we're in fashion don't you know" "summer in the city and the sun is high") lyrics you should be listening to something else. This is also the reason they will not break throgh in the US with this album.

The CD starts off with a cool intro, followed by an up-tempo tune (which will get stuck on your brain after enough listens)about the shallow girls on the street (referred to as MODELS, but the lyrics are amazingly poor. Next is the mid-tempo much-raved-about BIOLOGY (about their act/appearance/biology), but I can't see why; other than the fact that if you listen to a song enough you will end up liking it. Wild horses follow in the same lead.. (a past relationship which was hard to get out of, but now wild horses can't make her go back) it's just OK. SEE THE DAY is a catchy mid-tempo ballad about trying to convince a guy she's worth a try and not like everyone else he's dated before. WATCH ME GO is a naughty up-beat tune about doing her thing and giving it all to her man. The tune reminds a lot of something that could be on a Sugababe album which means you can dance to it; one of the better songs on the album. WAITING is (!) about a girl waiting for the boy she wants and the pain she had to go through. The song is mid-tempo, but there's no catchy tune and is basically just an album filler. WHOLE LOTTA HISTORY is IMO the best track on this CD. It's a catchy, heartbreaking ballad ("is she really that beautiful?") about breaking up and the boy finding a new love. LONG HOT SUMMER is a poor up-tempo track about a (!) long hot summer and that's pretty much it. SWINGING LONDON TOWN is not really a song; it sounds so electronica with loud music and some weird vocals in the background about the queen of england and other london stuff that make no sense. IT'S MAGIC is a (very) boring mid-tempo tune about love that you've heard a dozen times before "you're in my thoughts all the time". NO REGRETS is a safe ballad that you have heard a million times before, this time with a spanish feel to it, but yet again no lyrics to back it up. To finish off the CD they've chosen RACY LACY; a mid-tempo song with lyrics about this girl who makes spreading her legs into a sport. This is 10th grade locker-room chatter, but seems a bit too childish to have on this CD and the melody does not do the lyrics any justice. This would only work as a power song and sadly it isn't.

I will give it two stars for Whole Lotta History and Watch Me Go.