So sorry for being late to the party, glad I got to catch the last couple!

 

Thank you for hosting, i'll definitely be catching up.

 

My second favourite album of theirs next week!!

Sorry I'm late, starting my solo listening party now!! :cheer: :cheer:

Edited April 12, 20232 yr by One_For_Sorrow

Reach:

 

What a start to kick off the album! Pure pop perfection. It's such a shame that they were starting to fall of of favour in Australia at this time, as just scraping into the top 40 is a crime!

 

I know I said this about a song or two last week but this has everything you could want from a great pop song. Joyous, Cheerful, catchy and a great chorus!

Natural:

 

I've never got a high amount of love this song seems to get. Is it good? Yes, but great? I don't overly think so. I like it though and I like that Rachel got her moment to shine. However there are other songs I'd have chosen as a second single to this.

I'll Keep Waiting:

 

Am I right thinking this is Bradley on lead vocals? I like this quite a bit, the chorus is very sing-a-long which a quite like. it's very pleasant and a great start to the album tracks.

Bring The House Down:

 

The single that should've been! I'm guessing this would've been a single if they didn't release Never Had A Dream Come True? I've always really liked this one, I felt the episode it was featured in for L.A & really lifted this for me.

Best Friend:

 

I always forget this one, and listening to it not I kind of see why. I'm not the biggest fan of this one sadly. Bradley sounds great, however it's probably my least favourite so far.

All In Love Is Fair:

 

I've always like this one, it always seemed like a more mature sound for them. It's one I took to straight away and haven't every really gone off. Not as good as Reach but I'd say on a par with I'll Keep Waiting, both very strong album tracks.

 

Loved the 'she must've been a big exception if you're not the cheating kind' line in this song.

Love Train:

 

Lifting my drink high for this one! I liked this from the moment I saw it on L.A 7. That episode of the clever camp and this songs performance sticks in my mind. I think as well as being a good song it was mainly to Paul being on lead vocals, and well given that's my name I was mighty impressed. :lol:

Cross My Heart:

 

This for me is similar to 'All In Love Is Fair'. It has that slightly more mature sound to it that I started to like at the time. It's fallen in my affections since then, probably sitting alongside Best Friend as the weakest two songs on the album for me.

The Colour of Blue:

 

I really like this one, so I was a little surprised to see the less than warm reception to this. Whilst it does feel like it'd slot perfectly on S Club (probably straight after I Really Miss You) I do feel that it does fit on her to. Whilst I couldn't see this working as a single it is probably in my top half of the album.

I'll Be There:

 

Love this song and love that Tina got her moment on this. Along with Love Train this performance in L.A 7 sticks with me the most. It's such a pleasant and lovely song.

Two In A Million (Boyfriends & Birthdays Version)

 

I really like this song but I just don't associate it with this album in anyway what so ever. It'll always be an S Club (album) song for me. Still just as brilliant as it was last week though.

Lately:

 

I don't ever remember hearing this, so I'm going to assume I haven't. I see the song title and my mind immediately goes to this being a Samantha Mumba cover. Sadly I'm not really a fan. Was this on anything other than the re-issue of 7?

Never Had A Dream Come True:

 

I must admit I'm surprised this wasn't released as a single here in Australia, especially after it did well in America. I know Reach & Natural didn't do anything chart wise and the album missed the top 50 but I feel like this would've done better than those two. I really like this song though and it's close to their best ballad for me. I'm also one that views this as a Sunshine song and not a 7 song.

My rank:

 

1. Reach

2. Never Had a Dream Come True

3. I'll Keep Waiting

4. The Colour of Blue

5. Bring the House Down

6. All in Love Is Fair

7. I'll Be There

8. Natural

9. Love Train

10. Cross My Heart

11. Best Friend

12. Lately

 

I've decided to not include Two In A Million as for me it's an S Club track. (Though I will include Never Had A Dream Come True next week).

 

I also left off Stand By You & Spiritual Love. Hopefully we can do a B-Sides and others listen through if they come to streaming soon.

Joseph, thanks for hosting and I'll be here next week for the Sunshine one. Well late again but here in spirit for the actual one.

 

Also I posted in the correct thread this week. yay!! :cheer:

Final thoughts:

 

Before starting this listen today I’d have penciled this in as my favourite albums of theirs. Upon listening to it tough there are parts were I’m left underwhelmed and it does feel a bit patchy or not quite as cohesive as it should. The omission of Stand By You and to a lesser degree Spiritual Love don’t help it’s cause. Stand By You is incredible and the sooner it comes to streaming the better.

 

I may have told this story but I can recall being in the massive HMV in the lead up to Christmas 2000 and they had both the Australian and UK edition of this album, the Australian one just having the first 10 songs. My mum was a little hesitant at paying for the UK one at first, but thankfully she came around once I showed the difference on the bank and said it could be a Christmas present. Thanks Mum. :heart:

I picked up the special edition of this in a charity shop today for 50p. Realised it was time I stopped relying on YouTube to listen to Stand By You and actually acquire the track, seeing as it's still missing from streaming. I love Tina's shoutout for the song at the start of her 'thank yous' :lol: "I want to thank Simon for suggesting 'Stand By You' as a duet with Hannah"

 

Bless her, they really didn't get enough to do and she knew it.

Hahaha I never knew that. I never read the thank you’d much when I was younger.

 

I’m guess that part was taken out of the versions that didn’t include Stand By You.