Continuing our trip through the back catalogue, next up is the wonderful and triple platinum Angels With Dirty Faces!

 

 

After being dropped by London and Siobhan fleeing through a toilet window in Japan, Keisha and Mutya wasted no time picking themselves up and moving forward. Recruiting Heidi Range, formerly of an embryonic Atomic Kitten, they set about recording a new album. Getting signed to Island Records, the label that would remain their home for the remainder of their commercial releases, Islands A&R helped finalise the album and at the last gasp Freak Like Me passed across their desk and straight into the hands of the Sugababes. The rest as they say, is history. Armed with the storming electro banger mixed and formulated by Richard X at the peak of his career, Freak flew to number 1 and ushered in a new era of British pop music. The Sugababes early work with Xenomania laid the groundwork for a decade of mould shattering pop excellence.

 

You can listen to this superb album, rediscover is beauty or enjoy it for the first time on your choice of streaming channels below.

 

until the next time x

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll never understand why Just Don’t Need This and No Man No Cry weren’t on international or the Australian edition of the album.

I could live without the Alternate Mix of Round Round but both Just Don't Need This and No Man No Cry are absolutely essential

 

They are great. The title tracks is the weak link for me on this album.

 

Saying that I haven’t listened to this in years, so I think a listen through is in order. I did listen to One .touch a few days back so it’s only fair. Haha

I am spinning it currently (No Man No Cry is on)!

 

Angels is defo a weak spot for me too, but I have always really hated Shape :ph34r: which is a bit controversh an opinion in the Sugababes world :lol: I love the verses but the chorus is borderline unlistenable. I would love one day to hear a Sting-less version.

I always liked Shape, not as much now though. I think it was because I read the music video was filmed in Australia, not sure if that’s true. Oh and yes a Sugababes only version would be nice to hear

It was! It was filmed in Sydney.

Ah that must explain partly why I like it.

 

As you said though, the verses are great.

I’m listening through this now, currently on No Man, No Cry. It’s a really solid albums but I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite.

 

Listening to I can’t help but think Angels With Dirty Faces should’ve been track one on the album. Purely for the introduction of Keisha. Mutya. Heidi.

Then move every other track down one.

 

I’d also swap Angels With Dirty Faces and Supernatural as the double a to Stronger.

 

Also maybe Breathe Easy with Shape as the fifth and single.

Finished listen to it and it’s a very enjoyable album but not as good as One Touch for me.

 

1. One Touch

2. Angels With Dirty Faces

I’ll never understand why Just Don’t Need This and No Man No Cry weren’t on international or the Australian edition of the album.

 

Same with the European edition. I actually had no idea about them for the longest time as the concept of UK only bonus tracks were pretty much unheard of.

 

Groove Is Going On (b-side to Round Round) was rumoured to be a 1.0 reject since only Mutya and Keisha were listed as writers. I don't know how true that is, but it was probably at least written in the brief time before Heidi joined the group, maybe along with Low (which has a session singer filling in for the "third member")?

Edited May 21, 20214 yr by tommie

Same with the European edition. I actually had no idea about them for the longest time as the concept of UK only bonus tracks were pretty much unheard of.

 

Groove Is Going On (b-side to Round Round) was rumoured to be a 1.0 reject since only Mutya and Keisha were listed as writers. I don't know how true that is, but it was probably at least written in the brief time before Heidi joined the group, maybe along with Low (which has a session singer filling in for the "third member")?

 

It wasn’t the last time either, but that can be a discussion for the Three thread when it arrives.

 

Now you mention it Groove Is Going On sounds like it could be a 1.0 song. It does feel a little out of place compared to the other songs from the era.

I think the biggest fault of the album is that some of the lyrics feel a bit like a step down from One Touch to be honest (looking at you Virgin Sexy) - you can really tell that Siobhan's influence is gone and that it feels like they're struggling a bit. Thankfully, it does turn around on Three, which is where I feel they found their footing properly as 2.0.

The Angels with Dirty Faces music video remains iconic, I used to love seeing that on the music channels.

The Angels with Dirty Faces music video remains iconic, I used to love seeing that on the music channels.

Yeah it's really nostalgic for me as I was a young child who was really into PowerPuff Girls, so I loved the tie in :lol:

 

What a killer singles run on the whole although I do agree that 'Shape' is the weakest link.

 

I haven't listened to the album in so long but I remember really liking 'Blue' and 'More Than A Million Miles' from the album tracks. Must revisit!

 

I think this was the first Sugababes album I ever heard - my parents had both this and 'Three' on CD, taste!

I think the biggest fault of the album is that some of the lyrics feel a bit like a step down from One Touch to be honest (looking at you Virgin Sexy) - you can really tell that Siobhan's influence is gone and that it feels like they're struggling a bit. Thankfully, it does turn around on Three, which is where I feel they found their footing properly as 2.0.

 

I have to agree Virgin Sexy just didn’t and still doesn’t really feel like them.

 

Three was a big step up in this sense, you’re right, it’s like they found their groove with it. The b-sides for Three were also flawless.

The Angels with Dirty Faces music video remains iconic, I used to love seeing that on the music channels.

 

lol, I kind of hope that if that new Powerpuff Girl series is picked up that they'll end up using Angels with Dirty Faces in their promos. Probably won't happen, but still.

I have such fond memories of this era, they were still so fresh and everything was incredibly exciting. For some reason I never bought the album back in the album, so only know it from streaming, but it' s a strong piece of work (although, like some people already mentioned in here, Virgin Sexy and the lyrics to that one were a choice...).

This was the era where I realised who they were after seeing 'Stronger', proper fell in love with them from there :wub:

 

I remember sat waiting for hours to watch the Shape video on the Box for the first time.

I think Stronger is the jewel of the album, funny how it was paired with Angels, which is easily my least favourite of the album.

I also do love Shape, but always liked the Sting original even when it flopped and no one knew about it.