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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The voice of the Sugababes!, June 7, 2007
With a mix of R&B, as well as the quirky sass of her Sugababes alumnus, Mutya Buena's debut "Real girl" is a pop delight. Her soulful, and distinctive voice is well suited to the diverse material at hand.
The upbeat "It's not easy" (with lyrics about being a young mother) wouldn't sound out of place on a Sugababes CD, nor would the buzzing electro-pop "Song 4 Mutya (Outa control)", the latter a collaboration with dance act Groove Armada, and set to be the second single.
Lead off single is the breezy, midtempo cathartic "Real girl" built around Lenny Kravitz's "It aint over till it's over". Currently a UK #2 hit.
"Strung out" (about dealing with a partner's drug addiction) starts out as a piano ballad with a thumping beat introduced by the second verse, building to a whirling climax. Lovely!
The horn sprinkled "B boy baby" is a retro 60s sounding fun song with hip hop beats, and harmonies from Amy Winehouse. It is a reworking of "Be my baby" by the Ronettes.
Then there are the ballads, soulful and lovely. "Suffer for love" sounds like something out of Alicia Keys songbook, while the haunting Spanish guitar tinged "This is not (real love)" features George Michael (in a slightly different version than what obtains on his last greatest hits). Mutya's in good company here as prior to her, the only other females George sang with are Aretha ("I knew you were waiting for me"), Jody Watley ("Learn to say no"), Mary J Blige ("As"), and Whitney ("If I told you that").
"Just a little bit" is a retro sounding ballad with great harmonies, "Breakdown motel" is a midtempo groovy song with hip hop beats, while "My song" (with a passionate vocal delivery) reaches out to those who have hit the lowest points of despair.
An impressive debut from the voice of the Sugababes.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
She Doesn't Need Sugababes, June 20, 2007
Let it be known: Mutya Buena has always been the soul and the attitude of Sugababes. Sure, the popular UK girl group is still carrying strong with entertaining tunes that hold well on their own, but you can't help but notice that the band is becoming far less "real" and more of a super slick, untouchable, manufactured pop product. Fortunately, the band itself has become a musical institution, instilling success to anyone who has had something to do with it (former Sugababe Siobhan Donaghy isn't doing too shabby with her solo effort either, with its ulta-sophisticated, atmospheric, ethereal pop direction).
Many critics have been too easy to jump to the fact that Mutya could have taken what she had learned from being with Sugababes and amped it up a step further. Ever since their formative debut album, you know this girl's always had a penchant for a good R&B-soaked tune, and that comes across rather gracefully in her own debut, "Real Girl." Not so say that she's lost her edge: all of the tracks feature her versatile weapon of choice (her husky, emotive voice) to full effect, showcasing a promising solo artist with an ear for tracks that also present her impressive range in performing music. Don't expect her to churn out retread Sugababes tracks though: she's made her stamp doing her own thing through pop tracks with some soul, R&B, hip-hop, and even a little electro in the mix. "Real Girl" may hint a bit of her roots, but this album is all Mutya in the present.
1. "Just A Little Bit" = Soulful first number that signals what direction Mutya wanted to take with most of the album. Not too dissimilar from the recent retro-pop sounds of those like Amy Winehouse, this is an uplifting soul-pop number that's a declaration of who she is and what she will likely become as a solo act (ergo "great").
2. "Real Girl" = Infectious first single and a quite appropriate one at that. It's straight-forwardness is a great way to kick off the vibe of the album. Sure, it may not be groundbreaking, but the funky beats mixed with some sampling and an old-skool R&B vibe, all put under a greatly-executed pop sheen makes songs like this hard to resist.
3. "Song For Mutya (Out Of Control)" = Every single professional review I've come across heralds this track as the album's standout, and it is deservedly so. Maybe because it's the only straight-up electro-pop tune, maybe it's the track most reminiscent of Sugababes edgy dance-pop gems, or maybe it's because it's so deliriously fresh (despite heavy '80s dance influences). A great track that reminds people that an awesome collaboration (with producers Groove Armada) and an awesome performance from an solid singer can make magic happen.
4. "Breakdown Motel" = Slowing things out a bit, this somber, but emotional track pulls on the heartstrings of its listeners. If anything, Mutya's got some personality to carry sentimental tracks that would have crumbled had anyone with less character sang it. It only comes to show that Mutya not only owns every single track in the album, but does it with complete dignity and finesse (a bonus).
5. "Strung Out" = One of, if not, the album's most dramatic track. Half Sugababes ballad (a la "Stronger," "Caught In A Moment," and "Follow Me Home) and half rocker track (like a poppier Evanescence at best), the fact that two different sounds are seamlessly synthesized once the song unfolds only shows that Mutya's got more tricks up her sleeve. Oh, and her urgent vocals kinda help the track shine even more too, if you consider that...
6. "It's Not Easy" = Very much like stuff from Sugababes' "One Touch," the chorus of the track is one of those hard-to-pull off subtle beauties that dig deep within your skin. Moody and atmospheric, this med-tempo track's strongest facet are its tight, but effortless melodies and harmonies.
7. "Suffer For Love" = For Mutya and her incredible, if not underappreciated (and underestimated) voice, you know it was inevitable: a big soul ballad. People who don't really like R&B would knock this off quite easily, but if you're a fan of a good ol' fashioned slow jam, this thing sizzles. Again, a yearning vocal from Mutya only further justifies the fact that she's one of the best singers in our generation today.
8. "Not Your Baby" = A catchy little ditty, reminiscent of the recent ska-pop stylings of acts like All Saints and Lily Allen, it's even got some quirky Girls Aloud pop in there somewhere. Reminds like an old gameshow tune turned into a deliriously catchy dance-pop track. Pure quality without signs of Mutya breaking a sweat.
9. "Wonderful" = Another ballad, but this time it's more of a direct pop ballad instead of an R&B-drenched one (like "Suffer For Love"). Proving that there is room for another Mariah, it's familiar and welcome melodies are sweet and quite dazzling at times (if you put down your guard and disregard the fact that a track like this is surprisingly saccharine for Mutya's more edgy persona - the girl just wants to be loved).
10. "B Boy Baby" = A fun, stomping, soulful take on a Ronettes classic, it's probably the strongest of the retro-soul vibes in the album. Of course, having Amy Winehouse back you up in this one can also help a bit. It's playful and unpretentious in all its glory. Another definite standout.
11. "This Is Not Real Love" = Not exactly keen on this one, but it's grown on me. Okay, so it's a cheesy George Michael collabo, but the fact that they tweaked the track a bit to fit the sound of Mutya's album kinda helps. At best, it shows Mutya at her sultriest, yet unconvering a new facet of her amazing voice. It's a perfect late night, smouldering tune, really.
12. "Paper Bag" = A reggae-lite, R&B track, it's pure quality as one would expect from Mutya (if her previous track weren't convincing enough to make another a believer, I dunno what would at this point). More chilled, but it's still got a killer backing to it that makes it loud and clear.
13. "My Song" = The last track in the album. Doesn't end it with a bang, but it does end it with an emotional message of redemption. Not too deep, but it's just a nice, relaxed way to end a really entertaining album.
"Real Girl" is not necessarily an immediate summer album. I mean it's devoid of club bangers or even more uptempo material that Mutya's done with the 'Babes, but it does show a promising artist that's an all-around great album act and a solid performer. "Real Girl" may not be explosive in the context that every track has to be a super hot uptempo jam, but it does provide as a great alternative: a relaxing, soulful, fun way to enjoy getting cool from the hot weather. In all the album's overall greatness, even though Mutya stretches herself to become a surprisingly versatile perfomer (one that was never quite showcased with Sugababes and one that was never expect of her...until now), she's still got that trademark effortlessness that shows how cool she is. Not compromising anything about her character as an artist, but always pleasing her listeners with pop tunes that hold their own ground just as much as any she's done with her old band, this album is a must have for anyone who likes their pop with equal parts quality, class, edge, and grace.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lil' Filipino Diva!!!, March 27, 2008
Amazing voice from the original lineup of 3some British girl group, the Sugababes. This album is exciting and the sound is so fresh. This lil' Filipino/English diva is definitely a class act!!! The stand out tracks are the first single and Brit award nominated " Real Girl ", which samples Mr.Kravitz, "It aint over till it's over", and "B-Boy Baby" with Amy Winehouse on backing vocals, and is a fresh take on The Ronettes, "Be my baby". I hope America will embrace this talent, because she is definitely worth taking a listen to. You go girl!!!! Here's to a very talented fellow Filipino!!!
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