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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chemistry, June 15, 2006
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.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Without a doubt, their best album yet., January 28, 2006
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!
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
C6H12O6, January 28, 2006
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
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