The Circus [IMPORT]

Take That

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 9, 2008)
• Original Release Date: December 1, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Polydor UK
• ASIN: B001IA46D8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #98,048 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
2008 album from the mega-selling British boy band. UK edition includes one bonus track, 'Here'. After successfully effecting one of the greatest Pop comebacks in history, Take That release their fifth studio album, the second after their return. Led, as ever, by the songwriting talents of svengali Gary Barlow, this release is similarly epic and romantic to its predecessor (2006's Beautiful World), with songs such as 'What Is Love', 'How Did It Come To This' and the single 'Greatest Day' standing out most. Producer John Shanks returns for a second collaboration with the boys, repeating the success of his work with them on Beautiful World. Universal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable pop music for grown-ups., January 5, 2009

By	jazz_in_my_gloves (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circus (International Edition) (Audio CD)

Their latest album shows how the 90's heart-throbs, after hitting on a winning formula for their 2006 comeback "Beautiful World", are able to memage the transition from "boy band" to man band with music-hall razzamatazz and soft-rock balladry.
Their follow up is more of the same, in spades.
Like its predecessor, "The Circus" boasts one killer track.
The hit single "Greatest Day" is as pop-perfect now as "Patience" was back in 2006. With its passionate vocals and sense of tension and release, it's easily one of the best songs here.
Musically, there is not that great a difference between Take That and Coldplay, despite the differing gender balance of their fanbase.
Gary Barlow is more old-fashioned than Chris Martin in his songwriting approach but, like Martin, he knows exactly what buttons to push for maximum mainstream appeal.
A professional songwriter for hire, Barlow knows how to follow a trend. Where once he emulated George Michael's smooth soul, he has switched allegiances to Chris Martin's epic indie, rubbing off any abrasive edges.
"The Garden" might pass for pastiche, with its abrupt shifts between intimate and overblown, delicate piano-led verses followed by swollen choruses with fragile falsetto vocals. It even throws in apocalyptic intimations of mortality, which are unconvincing from such eager-to-please showbusiness troupers. Perhaps the truth is that, stripped to their essence, Coldplay and Take That follow the same McCartney-esque template, crafting superior singalongs with twee philosophising.
On the other side of the coin, Mark Owen contributes more cheerful good-time tunes and adorable upbeat pop songs, offering the vaudevillian "Hello", a sort of 60's take on ELO's "Mr Blue Sky". It may be a little irritating, but annoyingly likeable after a while.
Elsewhere, "Up All Night", which has a bass-line parped by a tuba, recalls Simon & Garfunkel's sell-out era, while "Hold Up A Light" has the makings of a stadium singalong amid its sawing strings.
"Here", an unlikely songwriting collaboration with Turin Brakes, with with folksy verse, subtle harmonies, soaring chorus, cascading strings and a rocking guitar break shipped in for the climax, provides the requisite big end in a Beatley crescendo of sound.
"With its giddy highs and orchestral flourishes, musical glitter balls and assorted baubles, "The Circus" is skillfully stage-managed theatrical pop which succeeds in emphasising both individual personalities and their newly-established group democracy"- Mirror
Highlights: "Rule The World", "The Garden", "Hold Up The Light", "Greatest Hits" and "Here".

Beautiful World
Out Of The Blue

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where's Barlow...?, December 25, 2008

By	A. McLellan "Mister. Melodic Perfectionist" (Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Barlow lends his voice to only a few songs, which is the first thing wrong with this album.
Also, it doesn't seem that John Shanks has written a single song on this. I follow Shanks' music endeavors because the songs he writes are so good, such as "Patience" by Take That a few years ago. There doesn't seem to be any of that here.
While the album is still good, my favourite track being "Where Is The Love", it doesn't seem to hold the same style of song as "Beautiful World", which is disappointing. There's no real stand-out songs on this.

But still, it's an enjoyable album.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars ...they phoned this one in..., December 29, 2008

By	Derek J. Laber "The Goodnicks" (Pompano Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I feel this CD from a songwriting point of view sounds uninspired. None of the songs with the exception of Greatest Day and How Did It Come To This really pop in this batch of songs. Beautiful World was a fantastic CD with so many stand out great songs that could easily have been singles (one missed opportunity was "Like I Never Loved You") - I can just about listen to Beautiful World from start to finish without skipping any songs.
In my opinion, the biggest problem with this disc is not just bland songwriting but the "overuse" of Mark Owen as a lead vocalist...the least "quality" vocalist in the group. I find his voice to be grating and it's the polar oposite to Gary Barlow's very pleasent mid-tenor. I enjoy the voices of Howard Donald and welcome Jason Orange as a lead vocal contributer...but please, limit the lead vocal attempts of Mark Owen. As a fan of Take That...I really did try to like his voice but just could not get past his unpleasant vocal tone...sorry Mark Owen fans.
I give this CD 2 stars as compared to Beautiful World which I give a perfect 4 stars to! I eagerly await the next attempt and hope they take their time (take two years if necessary) and deliver a quality release next time.