Customer Reviews

Studio 1 (Hk)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How unfortunate that this gigantic flop by the All Saints turns out to be their greatest album ever. There is absolutely no justification for the dismal performance this scored on the charts, especially considering that this is by far their most musically diverse, and consistently engaging record since their two huge hit singles from 2000 ("Pure Shores" and "Black Coffee").

Chances are, that if you loved both those landmark singles, you will end up loving this album as a whole. They all have some of the same qualities these singles possessed, coupled with some excellent harmonizing from all four members. Shaznay, who is the most unusual of the four vocalists, continues to hog the limelight, though this isn't a bad thing - even though all the All Saints members are older and hopefully wiser, the songs are still as light and carefree as ever, with common themes such as love, life, dating and relationships taking center stage.

Lead single "Rock Steady" is probably what led this album to obscurity. It's a nice-enough track, but there is absolutely nothing special about it other than the sing-along chorus that you'll find yourself remembering after one listen. "Rock Steady" isn't the weakest track on the album - that award would go to "Chick Fit", a two-step number that sounds like it belongs on a totally different record. For reasons best known to the producers, this track was released as the official second single, and it disappeared the very week it was released.

Pity, because real stunners such as "On and On" (which is very reminiscent of "Pure Shores"), and "Fundamental" (which capsulates the best of their work in one three minute track), highlight what works on this album. "One Me and U" sounds very much like what their first record sounded like, while the rest of the tracks are a definite progress over much of what they used to churn out.

Whats pretty great is that every track here is a standout, and any one of these could be a radio single. Whats even more wondrous is that the girls actually sound better here than they did on their last record "Saints and Sinners" (which had about five great songs and a lot of filler).

Lets face it - this album is going to go down as a spectacular flop, and probably is the last thing the All Saints will ever release. Ironically, its also the best, most realized work they've recorded, and is a stupendous achievement any way you look at it. I mean, the quality of music is much better than what the Spice Girls did when they got together on "Forever" (their comeback CD).

If you like great girl-group harmonizing, sunny happy melodies, and choruses you won't soon forget, this is definitely the album for you. Don't read the other reviews, just get this!

All right, got this at a great price, and having dug their earlier singles, and Nick & Nat's Appleton album ("Fantasy" is one of the 00's best singles bar none), I caved...

Good thing, as this record is pretty ace...it's like Lily Allen's record in girlgroup form...

The songs are well written pop tunes, but the production and arrangements are what make this stand apart unexpectedly...the dub/ska/reggae influences...VERY British...it wouldn't have caught on in America anyway unfortunately...most Americans don't even remember their 2, maybe 3, US hits!!!

The fact this record tanked and they are all mums anyway...their kids are top priority (and their friendship as well), over music...chances are this will have been All Saints' last hurrah...

Hopefully, history will be kind to 'em...cuz these ladeez are great...love the DVD and interview BTW...

All Saints started getting notice in the U.S. around 1998 when "Never Ever" was big, but they were also easily compared to Spice Girls. After that it seemed like both groups were trying to outdo each other, but soon they both broke up. Well, All Saints got back together back in 2006 and released their third studio album, Studio 1.

The reason why I'm now comparing the ladies to Destiny's Child is because this album feels like DC's The Writing's on the Wall in that there are a lot of songs about trifling men. But the problem here is that the lyrics aren't that exciting. "Not Eazy" and "Scar" are skippable, "Too Nasty" is hard to relate to, and "Hell No" took the words right out of my mouth.

The only song really worth hearing on here is "On and On". And "Fundamental" is passable. I doubt All Saints will gain any new fans with Studio 1, and given that it wasn't released in the U.S. anyway, you can probably do without it.

Anthony Rupert

All right, I have no real complaints here. At first listen, "Rock Steady" seemed to be the only worthwhile track. The following few tracks really disappointed me. I put the album on a playlist on my iPod and gave it a few random spins along with some other material. Some of the latter songs on the album began to creep into my ears ("Flashback", "Fundamental"), followed by some of the songs in the middle ("Scar", "Not Eazy", "Oh Hell No") and I was surprised how much I was digging them. "Chick Fit" was still bugging me, but the Kissy Sells Out Excellent Adventure mix took care of that, and now I am a huge fan of the entire album.

The reviewer who pointed out their inability to grow with the times has a valid point, but I would also like to say that as women, and as a pop group, they still are very much "young", and this is dealing with more mature issues than their previous albums. I feel this album has a whole lot more of a personal feel to it than their previous efforts, and while songs like "All Hooked Up" really made me love All Saints, Studio 1 has made them a staple on my future playlists.

This album will not disappoint, long term, is I guess where I am going with this. You may listen to it and go "WTF?", but keep in mind that it doesn't have to be pure pop to come from a pop group, and just because it is coming from a pop group doesn't mean it is bad. In fact, this is one of the most entertaining albums I've heard this year.

I really like the All Saints. My favorite singles are the three that they produced with William Orbit -- Black Coffee is one of the greatest recent pop productions ever.

This album is overall stronger maybe than their previous efforts, but then there are no super-strong standout singles. Chick Fit is very cute. One Me And U has a strong melody and arrangement. I like the sentiment of In It To Win It. In Fundamental, Shaznay is trying to stretch. She'll get there, she has great talent, but it was a little too obvious where this one was targeted, and she doesn't have the *richness* (yet?) for a serious soul/gospel track. But only a few do. Why listen to Joss Stone when you can listen to Aretha herself? In the opening, more quiet, parts of Fundamental, Shaznay points to where she might explore further.

But what is sad, and maybe an indication of what this generation is going through, is that there are only two poles in the range of love: adolescent adoration, or betrayal. It's one or the other in every song.

This reflects an age when "human institutions" are no longer trusted. There is no song in here about building a home, sticking with your lover through hard times, or children. The girls write all sorts of giggly liner notes about their respective discoveries of motherhood -- but none of that made it onto the album.

If the All Saints are now 30-somethings, they need to leave the bubble-gum behind and move on up like Madonna.

As a reunion album this is nice "additional material" for those of us who were disappointed when they broke up. Hope it leads to a real Grammy winner on their next effort.

I used to really like what all saints did a few years ago. This however is not their best effort. Their strength lied in the vocal harmonies and you do not get to hear them as well here. The song Rocksteady is catchy though

I heard one song on the radio and bought the album (at import prices!). I enjoy about half of the album, others aren't too bad either. If you like rocksteady, you are going to enjoy the album!

I can't stop listening this album, Pop from the 90's is the Best. I'm looking forward for more music by All Saints.

The music of the group All Saints will stand the test of time. A great music collection of songs here on Studio 1. The good songs include "Rock Steady," "Chick Fit," "Headlock" and "In It To Win It." These really good songs are just classic for dance floors. The group All Saints gained international fans with the song "Neva Eva" back in the 1990s and now they are back with Studio 1. If you like Sugababes and Girls Aloud you will enjoy the music on Studio 1.

What a flashback, All Saints are back with their first album
since "Saint's And Sinners" from 2000 and third album overall. For those of you that don't know All Saints, let me introduce them. They're a UK based girl group containing Shaznay Lewis, Melanie Blatt and sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton that debuted in 1997 with the excellent eponymous album "All Saints" and a few years later "Saints and Sinners". They band would have huge hits in Europe like "Never Ever", "Lady Marmelade". "Pure Shores" that was soundtrack to Leonardo Di Caprio's film the Beach, "All Hooked Up" and "Black Cofee" to mention a few. Apart from Spice Girls that was a manufacted pop group where all the 5 girls had diffrent charachters and style, All Saints were more of a R&B group that worked as a unit rather then undividually. They were also much tougher without the use of "Girl Power", intelligent and songwriters on their own. They were huge on the UK charts and were the only other girl group that could challenge Spice Girls, but unfortunately they would split up in 2001 and try solo careers that never really worked. Thus, Should we be surprised that they decided to come back and release their third album 5 years later in 2006?. A little yeah, when girls and boy bands split up it often means the end, But Take That are also coming back with a new album this year so why not?. The reasons why they come back are unclear, lack of money?, fun thing?, adrenaline kick? Who knows, but they are back and that's what matters.

The album called "Studio 1" seems to pick up where the left off. Many songs are simular to the music they once recorded which is good, but they also do some ska/reggae which is fun. In pop terms, this album is excellent. I'm sure All Saints can give Girls Aloud a run for the money. The best two songs are the first two, "Rock Steady" already a single release. A uptempo with a little Ska/Reggae sound and infectious hook. "Chick Fit" is my favorite, and it's really catchy with synthesizer beats backing it up. It will also be their second single. "On and On" is a great semi-ballad that grows on you. "Scar", "Too Nasty" and "Not Easy" further stresses the ska/reggae genre. "Hell No" is more Hip Hopish with a sample of what sounds to be a Jay-Z laugh? ditto with "Headlock". "Only Me and You" is a "In it or Win It" are both midtempos and "Fundamental" is a powerballad. "Flashback" is the typical party song. A pretty good mix of a few diffrent genres. After such a long time outside of the studio that itself is a welcomed comeback to a band that always was good. While, I think their first two albums both may have been better, this album isn't far after and is in my oppinion among the best albums I've listened to the last few months.

Overall, Back after 5 years with their third album and they do pick up where left off. This time they also flirt a little with Ska/Reggae genre but the album is pretty diverse with several genres and tempos involved which is good. If you liked All Saints back in the day and if you like good and catchy pop, this is for you. I think it's an exellent album with really good pop, someting that we miss these days. Welcome back girls!