Here is my track by track review of The Saturday's debut album Chasing Lights





01. If This Is Love - 8/10
The album opens strong with the lead single. A fun and slick electro pop number with the sampled synth riff of Yazoo’s ‘Situation’ which works really well here and gives it a nice catchy sound and along with the layered vocals and warm harmonies that builds perfectly into the chorus.

02. Up - 10/10
The perfect follow up single is next with prominent siren sounds, bleeping synths and a catchy upbeat tempo with plenty of slick production moments as it builds to an anthemic chorus with strong vocals from the group. Yes, this is definitely one of their best singles in their discography.

03. Keep Her - 6/10
This has a very angrier tone to it with its growling synth lines and deep bass, which matches the tone of the song nicely and the vocal harmonies are decent on here as-well. But overall, it’s nice but a very forgettable album filler and not something I’d go back to.

04. Issues - 9/10
This is a nice ballad awash with acoustic guitars and mellow yet catchy beats that gives this a warm sound and solid vocal harmonies. This was a nice contrast to the first 2 singles and showed another side to the group.

05. Lies - 7/10
A nice upbeat number laden with chugging synth pads with some decent vocals and harmonies. This track is decent but lacks the catchiness of some of the previous tracks.

06. Work - 10/10
A fantastic number that bursts open with bleeping synths before heading into the catchy verses and thumping chorus with plenty of flawless vocals from the girls and given plenty of time to show off their range on this cracking number. This was a stellar single choice that well and truly deserved so much more than its mere #22 peak.

07. Chasing Lights - 8/10
The title track is up next, and this is a softer mid-tempo number with acoustic guitars and soft synth soundscapes that goes with the vocal harmonies beautifully. This is a strong album track but certainly not single material.

08. Set Me Off - 9/10
Another fun upbeat track with rapid acoustic guitars and some catchy synth beats. This is a firm standout moment on this album.

09. Fall - 6/10
The second ballad on this album and it’s very paint-by numbers. This does have some warm heartfelt vocal harmonies, but this doesn’t quite standout amongst the far better tracks.

10. Vulnerable - 5/10
Another plodding mid-tempo number with simple beats and guitars, but the track feels very disjointed between the verses and chorus.

11. Why Me, Why Now - 7/10
Thankfully things pick up with this nice bouncy little number with sharp vocals and bubbling synths layered underneath which gives this a decent catchy vibe.

12. Just Can’t Get Enough - 5/10
This was added to the later editions of the album and became their official Comic Relief single. Originally sung by Depeche Mode in 1981 and probably not the most adventurous choice of cover and the only thing they do with it is they sped it up and added generic pop beats over the synths. Not the worst cover version in the world, but this feels very dated by today standards.


Avg.7.5.

Edited March 3, 20232 yr by Nina West

Does anyone know why the decision was made to have that significantly shitter album version of 'Up' on there, rather than the one we all know and love?

Whoops I completely missed that this was happening again although not really one that interests me much anyway. 'Up' is a banger though.

I went and played the single version of Up, I think for the first time. It’s much better than the album version and that’s already a string song.

My comments from the listenthrough as I couldn’t post while hosting!

 

1. If This Is Love - anyone who went to Girls Aloud’s Tangled Up tour heard this intro about 350 times before they came on stage and again 350 times after it!

 

2. Up - The single version of this is one the greatest girl group songs ever. The album version? Not so much!

 

3. Keep Her - I remember this being punchier than it actually was. Still a bop though.

 

4. Issues - I had issues with them changing the lyric from slap to leave but they were still new and needed all the fans they could get so…

5. Lies - The weakest of the first five tracks. Not terrible but not up there!

 

6. Work - Poor Mollie on Saturday Night Takeaway!

 

7. Chasing Lights - A gorgeous song and a wonderful song to name the album from!

 

8. Set Me Off - If I recall, this song leaked before the album came out, saw it had a positive reaction and so included it on the album!

9. Fall - This song was randomly included on the Singstar Saturdays package and… well my voice didn’t suit it!

 

10. Vulnerable - The weakest on the album!

11. Why Me Why Now - A gorgeous original album closer and an amazing version performed on the Work tour.

 

12. Just Can’t Get Enough - Yeah I mean, it’s okay for what it is!!

 

13. Up (Wideboys Remix) - It’s a remix so…

Poll now added!

I never realised they changed the lyrics from Slap to Leave in the single release of Issues.

I never realised they changed the lyrics from Slap to Leave in the single release of Issues.

 

Yeah, check out the video!

I didn't know the word slap was in it either :o

Yeah, check out the video!

 

On to it now. :)

I do wish they'd stop tagging the remixes on albums. Not many on any of these albums we've picked have been memorable or that stand out.

I do wish they'd stop tagging the remixes on albums. Not many on any of these albums we've picked have been memorable or that stand out.

 

Have to agree. Should be done only if the remix is a hit itself. Like Jennifer Lopez adding the I’m Real remix to JLo

I do wish they'd stop tagging the remixes on albums. Not many on any of these albums we've picked have been memorable or that stand out.

 

Agreed completely!

Slightly off topic but it’s almost 10 years since The Saturdays git their first and only #1 in 2013 with What About Us.

Yep. Unbelievable that 2013 was 10 years now. Didn't they knock or get knocked off by PJ and Duncan too? :lol:

I have to admit I had never heard the album version of Up until just now and omg what the heck was that. I can definitely see why it was mixed for single release as it lacks a polished finish on the album.

 

Issues was definitely my favourite single of the era though.

Loving all the comments on this album guys!

 

Though where were you on Thursday haha!