Good for Nothing - again, this could have been a good song but the lyrics are corny as f***... the verses are clunky as f*** and the chorus could be so much more fun!!!... A wasted opportunity here.

The whole 'Get Out!' bit could have been a great camp moment but... it sounds so cringe here. Great production though...

Undefeated Chamption - There's a moment at the end of the first verse right before the first chorus launches, that she does a little 'woop' as a back vocal. That's cute but...

This song leaves me cold as hell. We've heard this 'I will conquer and you can't break me' type of songs from her forever... it's a bit too meh...

Cashmere - Thank GOD! This is cute. I like this vibe, chill and fun. I can see it playing in some Ibiza beach parties for chill out moments. She sounds great here, I like when she sings this intimately and when she sings 'honey' it does sound like proper honey eh Even her lyrics here sound cute and inviting.

More of this vibe would be welcomed from her! More of this rather than the cringe fest that were the previous 3 songs!...

Edited Thursday at 23:422 days by Mr.X

Free To Love - Camp and fun... Not quite sure it works overall but it's a fun song. Again, the empowering lyrics are a bit too on the nose, which is a standard for her at this point.

With a bit better verses it could have been a proper camp classic but I see it playing more in dingy trashy clubs in Manchester's gay street than in proper clubs (and that's ok if that's your goal, but... girl.........)

One Track Mind - Nice, I like this a lot actually. Even her lyrics are better here and she sounds great. It's a really great song overall. A proper great album track. Not pop-single material, but an excellent song. I would like to see her doing this one live.

This atmospheric-dance production is a great vibe and she should do more in this vein, she does it well!

Edited Thursday at 23:472 days by Mr.X

Flick of the Wrist - I can't point to what this song is trying to be. I keep hearing another song here but can't figure out where the beats/production reminds me of...

Overall? It's a no for me. Usually she does great album closers (some of her best songs) but here, it's one of the worst songs on the album imo...

Again, great production but overall it is just a bit meh...

OVERALL:

Probably her 4th best album. I will give it another few listens over the next few weeks to see if anything is elevated beyond the first listen. I think the initial singles were too lame for me to properly enjoy this era, but some of the album tracks really elevate it, I think.

She would do well to release Pressure next as a promo single, and really throw it to the clubs and dance radio. Who cares if it doesnt sell - get the underground promo that it deserves!

Overall, I think she is developing into this pop-dance lane really well. The progression from Version of Me to Melanie C to this is clear and there are some really shining moments here, and kudos to her: it is a really cohesive album, and that's something that she hadnt done this well in a while. Her last album was a great step in this direction, and she does it better overall here.

I hope the rumoured Delux will bring some more experimental songs to it as she excells on those here. The most 'radio-friendly' are her worst songs here, funnily enough...

More Pressure and Cashmere, less Attitude please!

Ultimately, I will not spend money on this. Maybe if the Delux brings more exciting tracks, I will endeavour to buy a vinyl, or if there are discounted vinyls later on maybe I can buy one but for now, I am keeping my money!

Edited Friday at 00:282 days by Mr.X

46 minutes ago, Mr.X said:

What Could Possibly Go Wrong is terrible, sorry.

Maybe one of your worst posts, darling x

7 minutes ago, -Jay- said:

Maybe one of your worst posts, darling x

She sounds like she is containing a fart while singing that line. Please.. it's awful

I’m currently listening to the album via YouTube on my night shift while I wait for my physical copy(s) to arrive.

Loving Drum Machine and Good For Nothing so far! 🤘

Edited Friday at 01:072 days by Dalek Jon

Delux Version is out now on her store with two demos and a remix, for those interested:

Healing (demo)

We're Beautiful (demo)

Sweat (Guz Remix)

https://melaniec.tmstor.es/product/sweat-deluxe-digital

And now a new 3x cassette bundle!

https://melaniec.tmstor.es/product/sweat-pink-orange-yellow-cassettes

I'm going to be very quiet on the overabundance of variants for this era... it's not a great look

Everyone's at it, so really it's just a case of her playing the game!

A random difference between the artwork on streaming, vs. the artwork as shown on her physical mock-ups/the digital deluxe:

(Streaming version has the floor at a slant)

1 hour ago, Mr.X said:

I'm going to be very quiet on the overabundance of variants for this era... it's not a great look

90% of artists are playing the Variant game now. It’s really not frowned upon anymore.

Clearly it’s sold well and I’m assuming there’s a chance for a number 1 so naturally they’ll go all guns blazing.

Physical media is dying so personally the more variants the better keeping actual sales alive and allowing legacy acts to stand any sort of chance against streaming.

3 minutes ago, Mr. C. Joel said:

90% of artists are playing the Variant game now. It’s really not frowned upon anymore.

Clearly it’s sold well and I’m assuming there’s a chance for a number 1 so naturally they’ll go all guns blazing.

Physical media is dying so personally the more variants the better keeping actual sales alive and allowing legacy acts to stand any sort of chance against streaming.

No I understand this, but it is just the same fans buying everything and personally I think the industry needs to find other ways rather than constantly scamming the fans.

What good does it do to anyone to have 15copies of the same album in week 1? Nothing. It's just exploitation...

There's a big difference between this and the collectors' approach. Like, release new versions over time, but the whole massive variants game is makes me sick to my stomach.

I don't blame the fans. I also fell for it during the Spice25 campaign which I now regret buying all at once...

4 minutes ago, Mr. C. Joel said:

90% of artists are playing the Variant game now. It’s really not frowned upon anymore.

Clearly it’s sold well and I’m assuming there’s a chance for a number 1 so naturally they’ll go all guns blazing.

Physical media is dying so personally the more variants the better keeping actual sales alive and allowing legacy acts to stand any sort of chance against streaming.

Exactly all of this , its stupid that its frowned upon (more on certain artists than others) when its pretty much the norm

Do we have high quality of the spice boys cover?

Enjoyed this on first listen, yeah its no Northern Star but its still a well rounded product 🩵