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Posted by: pippa Aug 22 2019, 03:33 PM

In Melanies 17 year solo career she has presented us with 7 solo studio albums.
What are your opinions on these albums?
Please vote for both the best and worst solo album from Melanie.

Posted by: Lukuzz Aug 22 2019, 03:43 PM

I went for Beautiful Intentions as my best although Northern Star is pretty neck and neck with it.

Worst would easily be Stages

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 22 2019, 03:55 PM

Northern Star is easily my favourite
Stagesis my least favourite, I like a few tracks but in general it’s a total miss.

Posted by: ThePensmith Aug 22 2019, 03:58 PM

'Northern Star' is my favourite - although 'The Sea' runs it a very close second. Brilliant and underrated album that was. 'This Time' was the worst for me purely because it was the least engaging.

Posted by: pippa Aug 22 2019, 06:15 PM

Best: Reason (Beautiful Intentions very close followed by Northern Star)
Worst: This is easily Stages.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Aug 22 2019, 11:42 PM

Best : Northern Star

Worst : Stages

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Aug 22 2019, 11:59 PM

I love reason and I'm shocked but has 3 votes for worst, its by far her album I listen to the most. Stages gets worst as it does nothing for me.

Posted by: vibe Aug 23 2019, 07:00 AM

Stages is not a studio album. Shouldn’t really be included .

NS best
Reason worst (nice album but there are not hits here)

Posted by: pippa Aug 23 2019, 09:22 AM

I dont understand the hate for Reason when it has such wonderful songs such as:

Here It Comes Again
Lose Myself In You
On The Horizon
Lets Love and
Melt.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 23 2019, 09:47 AM

It is, after all it's recorded in a studio! Christmas albums count as studio albums too.


Best: Northern Star
Worst: Stages

Posted by: Mr.X Aug 23 2019, 09:59 AM

All of those songs are part of the reason why that album is demonised. Those songs are particularly bad, only better than Soul Boy imo. The only good songs are Reason and Home. The rest is pish

Posted by: pippa Aug 23 2019, 10:08 AM

It most certainly is down to different tastes but Reason is just enjoyable throughout.
Northern Star is a great album too but has a variant of sounds going through it which takes from the album.
Beautiful Intentions is my second choice as it has a together sound to it but i like the songs less than those on Reason.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 23 2019, 10:19 AM

I've never really joined other fans in believing Reason is mostly bad. For the most part I quite like it actually, the only song I don't like is Soul Boy. Lose Myself in You is the best album track imo.

Posted by: Blond 2.0 Aug 23 2019, 04:14 PM

I love reason too but some of the b-sides are much better than some of the album tracks

Posted by: hermespice Aug 23 2019, 05:49 PM

Isn’t it 20 years?? Anyway... I voted for Reason because it’s the one I listen more frequently. The songs didn’t age as bad as some from Northern Star (my opinion). And the worst has to be Stages... sorry, but only bought it because it was Melanie.

Posted by: SouthernStar88 Aug 23 2019, 10:10 PM

Best: Northern Star
Worst: Stages

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 23 2019, 10:31 PM

Aaah Jay

I'm with you I never understood the intense dislike for Reason I think there are some great tracks on it, could do with a bit of a re-working of track order and boot of Soul boy and Do I for Love you without trying and Love to you instead. Something like this:

1. Here it comes again
2. Yeh, yeh, yeh
3. On the horizon
4. Reason
5. Lose myself in you
6. Let's love
7. I love you without trying
8. Positively somewhere
9. Love to you
10. Melt
11. Water
12. Home

My favourite album track is probably Reason although I love Home and Positively Somewhere too

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 23 2019, 11:22 PM

I think I was tired earlier, I meant to say... Positively Somewhere is my favourite album track! I do like Lose Myself in You though!

Posted by: dachiki Aug 24 2019, 02:56 AM

Best: This Time
Worst: Stages

Posted by: vibe Aug 25 2019, 11:22 AM

Is it recorded in a studio ?
It is a covers album not created in a studio. It is a concept album.

Madonna for example does not include her gh , her remix album or her soundtracks as ‘her albums’ .

Posted by: sammy01 Aug 25 2019, 12:29 PM

Best Nothern Star, worst Stages.

Tbh This Time is an utter damp squib too. Beautiful Intentions has aged like Milk.

The sea and VOM combined would be 1 great album if you dropped the worst 5 tracks off each.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 25 2019, 02:43 PM

A covers album: covers of songs recorded in a studio and released as an album - therefore it's a studio album. That's all there is to it! It doesn't matter about the creation (i.e. writing) or concept. The fact that it comprises of covers of songs from musicals doesn't detract from that definition.

Emma's My Happy Place is still a studio album despite the fact that 80% of it is covers! Cher's Dancing Queen is her 26th studio album. Google "Cher" "26th studio album" and you'll get a lot of articles/reviews/blogs about Dancing Queen.

Greatest Hits & Remix albums count as compilations, soundtracks are soundtracks.

None of this is my opinion on how to define albums, these are standard definitions regarding how they are classified.

Posted by: Jamesy Aug 25 2019, 02:56 PM

Basically this.

Posted by: JosephAvery Aug 25 2019, 03:01 PM

Jay's spot on, of course covers albums count! The only difference is perhaps a footnote saying "covers album" if you want. While I regard Believe as Justin Bieber's second proper studio album, Under the Mistletoe is undoubtedly his actual second studio album despite being a Christmas album.

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 25 2019, 07:34 PM

Positively somewhere I do really like Lose myself in you though, alot of her fans hate that one

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Aug 26 2019, 02:10 AM

Let's love from reason is my fave mel c track of all her solo material.

Posted by: pippa Aug 26 2019, 02:07 PM

Northern Star and Stages the big winner and loser in the poll.

Posted by: vibe Aug 26 2019, 09:21 PM

So a musical theatre inspired album is different from a soundtrack ?

Gh hits , remix albums , soundtracks are also made in studios.

You can’t compare stages with her other albums.

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 26 2019, 09:39 PM

Greatest Hits and Remix albums are not recorded in a studio though. They are compilations albums devised of tracks previously recorded and put onto an album, hence not a 'studio album.' A musical theatre's album is recorded in a studio hence is a studio album.

Posted by: JosephStyles Aug 26 2019, 10:36 PM

Yes. Stages is not the soundtrack to anything, so therefore it is different to a soundtrack album.


GHs and remix albums are generally compiled from stuff that already exists. That's why they're not the same as studio albums, which refers to new material recorded in the studio.


It's a different premise but it's nevertheless her sixth studio album regardless, so when talking about Melanie C studio albums, it's essential to be included.

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 26 2019, 10:40 PM

Totally off topic but... I've never been a massive fan of Harry Styles looks wise but that picture of him looks WOW!

Posted by: vibe Aug 27 2019, 12:33 PM

Stages is not a studio album.

Posted by: Mr.X Aug 27 2019, 12:59 PM

Technically it is. It is a studio album of never before released cover songs.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 27 2019, 01:14 PM

Melanie C physically entered a recording studio. She sang into a microphone in a studio. Her vocals were recorded in a studio. Production work occurred in a studio. 12 songs were selected and were formed into an album. Her sixth.

Stages is a studio album!

Posted by: vibe Aug 27 2019, 06:48 PM

Ok

Well it is a studio album but all albums are sung in a microphone in a studio.

However it shouldn’t feature in this type of poll . I love the album btw !!

Posted by: vibe Aug 27 2019, 06:54 PM

Be far more Interesting result of ‘her’ albums were featured . She doesn’t even count it in her total most of the time .

Posted by: JosephStyles Aug 27 2019, 08:01 PM

You're ignoring the point though - it's one thing to say it shouldn't be compared to her albums of original material, it's another to say it isn't a studio album.

Posted by: Mr.X Aug 27 2019, 09:06 PM

Exactly.

And also, I don't really consider 'Stages' one of her 'main albums' tbh. But it does count as her 6th studio album!

Posted by: vibe Aug 28 2019, 11:49 AM

All albums are studio album based on they are made in a recording studio

Posted by: sammy01 Aug 28 2019, 12:26 PM

Well no, Greatest hits, remix albums aren't studio albums as these sorts of releases can often be released without any input from the actual artist.

Studio album means a collection of new (whether they are covers or brand new songs) released by said artist with the artist having actual involvement in the making of it by going into the studio to record them.

Just because Stages is a pile of shite doesn't stop it being Melanie c's 6th studio album.

Posted by: JosephStyles Aug 28 2019, 01:53 PM

You're simply being stubborn and ignoring everyone else's points now... :')

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 28 2019, 08:40 PM

Diplomatic as always I think stages has a few nice tracks on it, the first three are ace... the rest not so much Annoyed that she ruined Tell me it's not true

Posted by: vibe Aug 29 2019, 11:26 AM

She did ruin the blood brothers tune !!!!

Posted by: sammy01 Aug 29 2019, 02:22 PM

Speaking of stages do you remember that awful cover of her sitting in a chair they released as its artwork, then when everyone hated it they relegated it to the digital release. Then I think quietly ditched it altogether for the red dress pic.

Stages tracklisting is absolutely awful, so many classic theatre songs and she picks some of those tracks.

Posted by: sammy01 Aug 29 2019, 02:22 PM

Also fun fact Stages is the only solo album I dont own.

Posted by: tommie Aug 29 2019, 02:37 PM

Posted by: vibe Aug 29 2019, 04:58 PM

I remember that cover . Then in Denden everyone said how shite it was and it quickly changed.

Posted by: sammy01 Aug 30 2019, 04:08 PM

That is the one, still as hideous as I remember.

Posted by: Mr.X Aug 30 2019, 04:51 PM

I actually prefer that to the one we got

Posted by: pippa Aug 30 2019, 06:28 PM

The art sleeve is boring.
Many of the art works for her singles could be much better.

Posted by: sammy01 Aug 30 2019, 09:56 PM

I'll never ever get why she wasn't on an actual stage (I mean it's called stages) belting out a note down an old classic mic stand with a nice stage curtain back ground on the cover.

Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 30 2019, 10:17 PM

Would certainly have made more sense than what we got! If she was going to record a themed musicals album like that then she really should have gone all out with the accompanying imagery.

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 31 2019, 08:19 AM

Totally agree, after The Sea I was expecting something really fitting the theme again

Posted by: Spiceboy Aug 31 2019, 08:19 AM

I have to agree with this, the tracklisting choices are really poor.

Posted by: pippa Sep 16 2019, 04:51 PM

Very decisive result for both best and worst.

Posted by: JosephStyles May 25 2020, 10:19 PM

This is a bit of a bump but I've finally heard all of Melanie's albums! This is my rank:

1. The Sea (some really strong album track discoveries on this!! The one I'm most likely to revisit)
2. Northern Star (a smart, inspired debut, really strong!)
3. Beautiful Intentions (cohesive and strong, though I think I'd need a relisten to pick out favourites beyond the singles)
4. Version of Me (would potentially be higher but the production lets it down just a bit!)
5. This Time (this has some of my favourite singles on, but as a whole it doesn't gel quite as much)
6. Reason (I like the vibe of this, it's very Natalie Imbruglia - White Lilies Island era, but it's unfortunately more one-note than that)
7. Stages (okay this wasn't ever going to be my thing really, but it had some cute moments!)

Posted by: Jay ☆ May 26 2020, 02:34 PM

Always great to see someone discovering all of her albums A nice pick for your favourite album! I haven't heard The Sea in a long time, I'll very overdue a listen.

Posted by: isanka May 28 2020, 07:30 AM

1. The Sea
2. This Time
3. Beautiful Intentions
4. Northern Star
5. Version of Me
6. Reason
7. Stages

Posted by: vibe May 28 2020, 05:04 PM

Northern Star
The Sea
Beautiful Intentions
Reason
This Time
Version Of Me
Stages

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever May 28 2020, 05:46 PM

Reason really doesn't click with many of the fans

Posted by: Spiceboy May 28 2020, 09:07 PM

1. Northern Star
2. The Sea
3. Beautiful Intentions
4. Reason / This Time / Version of Me
7. Stages

I find it really tough to rate Reason, This Time and Version of Me as there are songs I adore on all three and then two on each album I'm not keen on (soul boy, do it, I want candy, this time, dear life, our history) so I find it hard to rate them lol.

Posted by: Mr.X May 28 2020, 09:15 PM

This Time is definitely the worst, but Reason is just a bit too meandering in quite substancial places.

It's got great songs like Home and Reason, and I am also a fan of some of the uptempos and Water.

Songs like Do I, Soul Boy and Love Myself in You though, are just a bit too bland.

Posted by: Spiceboy May 28 2020, 09:19 PM

I have made my own version of Reason and took those three songs out and the album is SO much better (although I have a soft spot for lose myself in you, it's too slow on an already slow album). My tracklisting is:

1. Here it comes again
2. Yeh, yeh, yeh
3. On the horizon
4. I love you without trying
5. Reason
6. Water
7. Let's love
8. Living without you
9. Positively somewhere
10. Home
11. Knocked out

I'd include Wonderland at the end but I find the summery upbeat knocked out ends it really upbeat. If this had been the tracklisting it would be my second favourite after Northern Star (possibly my favourite).

Posted by: schizo_spice May 28 2020, 09:42 PM

Beautiful Intentions is a quality album lyrically but I feel its let down a bit by the production.

If it had had a production similar to Kelly Clarksons Breakaway I think it could've almost topped Northern Star.

I still really enjoy it though. Little Piece of Me and You Will See would've made excellent singles.

Posted by: vibe May 28 2020, 09:48 PM

Little Piece Of Me was screaming to be a single !!

Posted by: vibe May 28 2020, 09:48 PM

Little Piece Of Me was screaming to be a single !!

Posted by: Spiceboy May 28 2020, 10:17 PM

I really agree with this, the production just needs a bit more of a polish to it, I love it though

Posted by: slowdown73 May 28 2020, 11:21 PM

Northern star is the strongest but the sea is very good. I like reason too!