Looking at the cover again, I think Heidi is the only one who looks perfect overall. Amelle's shoulder looks ridiculous -_- and Keisha's boobs just look wrong :blink: like WOAH where did they come from :lol: just think it's a bit too much for an album cover? t*ts plonked in the middle of the picture, bit FHM :(

I can totally see where you're coming from Jake, but I do think there are a couple of things which should be taken into consideration.

 

I think the Sugababes suffer from bad management. Management who are known for being utterly stingy and making basic mistakes time and again. Ultimately the artwork etc is out of the Sugababes hands - clearly here they're trying to re-create the Taller In More Ways cover style even down to the font choice, which is a grave mistake when each era boasts a new sound and should therefore have it's own identity in terms of cover design.

 

Musically, they certainly have gone more mainstream, a lot more, but they're still doing something right. A lot of fans feel Change is too safe but equally a lot absolutely love it and find the slight grime of Angels With Dirty Faces and Three harder to get into. As the 'Babes have got older, their music has become more polished, but of course it would change as they did - they started out as teens who threw strops because they could and dressed in an urban style showing off skin and never smiling. Now they're all smiles and sophistication, and it might seem to some as if they've lost edge, but at least they're being who they are and not forcing some faux image upon themselves.

 

I think the creative spark is still there, and always will be whilst Keisha is still calling the shots because it's blatantly clear she is the heart of the group. Songs like, as you said, Easy, are adventurous, and if Change is a middle-of-the-road mis-step why not call it an experiment gone slightly wrong? At least they're changing things up, which is always good even if it doesn't end up being for the better. I also think there's plenty of other evidence for them being creative - getting Harvey B Brown in to direct Denial and the result being a fabulous, edgy music video which is the best of their career. The video for Follow Me Home being based around the honeytrap women of the Czech Republic post-Cold War, and the use of little-known producers on the new album.

 

It'll be easier to say for definite if the apparently-lost edge is gone for good, once we've heard Catfights & Spotlights in full. Popjustice did say Girls was 'a total red-herring', after all. I for one know it's the album I'm most anticipating of what's remaining in 08.

Isn't that Amelle's elbow and not shoulder? :lol:

Isn't that Amelle's elbow and not shoulder? :lol:

:lol: It looks like shes wrapping her arm around her neck don't it? But no, it's her shoulder.

That is one strange shoulder then. :o :lol:

Terrible album cover :/ Talk about bland and unadventurous. Where's the ART in all of this?

 

I'm trying to hold on to any shred of a Sugababes that did anything creative, unusual or interesting. Album art has the potential to be brilliant when done right and with some thought. That cover is just 'a picture of the girls looking nice'. And 'Girls' is a nice song. Nothing more and maybe a bit less. It's the same as the last era. It's all 'nice' and very 'safe' and very middle of the road. Where's the edge gone? It seems to me they're readily maligning themselves toward mainstream ubiquity.

 

What do they have these days? No real personality is exuded through their artistic orifices (i.e art/photoshoots/music/clothes). The odd writing credit here or there. It's almost as if they've become the female Westlife without the covers but similarly existing merely because they have to. When once upon a time they existed to give something and do something ENTERTAINING.

 

'Easy' may not have been their best musical moment but it DID something. I just wish they'd find that ooomf again because I know it's there somewhere and it's oh so frustrating seeing the Sugababes become this cavernous middle-of-the-road nonplussed monstrosity. COME BACK GIRLSS

 

 

I can totally see where you're coming from Jake, but I do think there are a couple of things which should be taken into consideration.

 

I think the Sugababes suffer from bad management. Management who are known for being utterly stingy and making basic mistakes time and again. Ultimately the artwork etc is out of the Sugababes hands - clearly here they're trying to re-create the Taller In More Ways cover style even down to the font choice, which is a grave mistake when each era boasts a new sound and should therefore have it's own identity in terms of cover design.

 

Musically, they certainly have gone more mainstream, a lot more, but they're still doing something right. A lot of fans feel Change is too safe but equally a lot absolutely love it and find the slight grime of Angels With Dirty Faces and Three harder to get into. As the 'Babes have got older, their music has become more polished, but of course it would change as they did - they started out as teens who threw strops because they could and dressed in an urban style showing off skin and never smiling. Now they're all smiles and sophistication, and it might seem to some as if they've lost edge, but at least they're being who they are and not forcing some faux image upon themselves.

 

I think the creative spark is still there, and always will be whilst Keisha is still calling the shots because it's blatantly clear she is the heart of the group. Songs like, as you said, Easy, are adventurous, and if Change is a middle-of-the-road mis-step why not call it an experiment gone slightly wrong? At least they're changing things up, which is always good even if it doesn't end up being for the better. I also think there's plenty of other evidence for them being creative - getting Harvey B Brown in to direct Denial and the result being a fabulous, edgy music video which is the best of their career. The video for Follow Me Home being based around the honeytrap women of the Czech Republic post-Cold War, and the use of little-known producers on the new album.

 

It'll be easier to say for definite if the apparently-lost edge is gone for good, once we've heard Catfights & Spotlights in full. Popjustice did say Girls was 'a total red-herring', after all. I for one know it's the album I'm most anticipating of what's remaining in 08.

 

These seem to me like two well illustrated views so i'm basically quoting them so the ppl who can't be bothered reading all the pages get a chance to see them!

 

I totally know what you mean Jake, the babes do seem to be becoming so pedestrian, and i laughed at your female westlife comment, while also worrying slightly that you're right. I can only hope the popjustice and Taio Cruz comments mean the album will maintain the smartness of their music, because while i like what the babes have done with the original version for their song Girls, it is the kind of thing you can also see your mum liking and dancing to, which may widen their market but does not make me feel very cool :arrr:

 

That said, they are going for a different sound again, which is one of the things they do so well. I didn't like AYN when i first heard it (ok sugafans don't throw things at me!) as i felt it was very straightforward pop and the babes sound was usually more sophisticated, but i sort of realised coming back with something like that was smart in itself as it's probably the last thing people expected them to do.

 

A lot of comments are being made about Easy, which on one hand is one of the best examples of their electro-pop sound, as they were getting to the point of perfecting it (despite the dismal sales at a high-volume time of year) but was very disappointing to me for what can only be described as crass, whorey lyrics. Where is the intelligence and sass of a relationship song like Hole in the Head? Instead we just get thinly veiled sex references. They have a lot of teen and pre-teen fans. Not a great look being so cheap, they're better than this IMHO.

 

On the note of the cover, nice pic, the girls look great, but poor as an album cover and font needs a revamp as has already been said ad nauseum I'll say it again- Pedestrian!

I'll respond properly to both your's and Jark's points tomorrow/today whatever. But just one thought on my mind. How in God's name does a title 'Catfights and Spotlights' muster a cover of the three of them (for the most part) looking happy?! It doesn't fit the title AT ALL.

 

They had such a good brief for the arts people to work with. Could have been brilliant but instead played it safe <.<

 

Oh and PJ forumers have the right idea i.e. the cover:

 

http://i36.tinypic.com/jidxmh.png

 

LOLOL. It's actually good imo? Very fitting...

Im sorry but I refuse to believe this is real! It really is truly awful. The more I look at it the worse it get's and I keep noticing little things. It's just terrible!

 

-Why the f*** are Keisha's t*ts smothered across the page? and what is she wearing?:blink:

 

-Amelle's shoulder/ elbow, whatever tis! stupid idea, can't work out what it is!

 

-What's going on with Keishas eyes? she looks posessed or something.

 

-Also, Heidi's hair, why is it wrapped around her neck :unsure:

 

-And WHY WHY WHY would they have that font? and the placing of it is ridiculous! Why is the album name over Amelle's head? should be in the middle underneath the Sugababes part!

 

Just cannot believe this is real :\ and like Jake said, how does the pic fit the album name in the slightest? I know the cover doesn't have to reflect the album name, but talk about opposites!

 

Pissed off! -_-

 

And anyone who says this is a good album cover is f***ing thick or beyond deluded! -_-

 

 

The KeishaBoobs really aren't THAT prominent LOL...

The final tracklist:

 

1. Girls

2. You On A Good Day

3. No Can Do

4. Hanging On A Star

5. Side Chick

6. Unbreakable Heart

7. Sunday Rain

8. Every Heart Broken

9. Nothing's As Good As You

10. Beware

11. Sound Of Goodbye

12. Truce

*

13. About You Now (Acoustic) [uK Bonus]

14. She's Like A Star [uK Bonus]

 

Presumably AYN is a studio recording of the acoustic version, since before we only had a live recording. And She's Like A Star is probably just the Sugababe/Busta remix...

 

Nice bonuses though.

random putting them 2 songs on but I'm not complaining, the cover is very average though

:o I actually love the cover.

Covers nice - not horrid - not amazing

I'm starting to love the cover more and more! But the font is disgusting.

I've only just noticed the Amelle shoulder thing :lol:

 

It's not amazing to be honest.. but saying that i cant think of one sugababes album with an "amazing" cover... but i just agree it doesnt suit the title AT ALL :(

This era is such a HUGE mess so far. Bad single, bad video, bad single cover, bad album cover, bad everything... it's almost as if they're doing this deliberately. :lol:

 

I for one most certainly hope the rest of the album's content makes up for all this. :(

Why do people say that Girls is bad? It's fantastic! Here is my favourite Sugababes lead singles:

 

1. About You Now

2. Girls

3. Push The Button

4. Easy

5. Freak Like Me

6. Overload

 

I dislike:

-Amelle's shoulder - wtf?!

 

it looks like someone's about to knee her in the chin :rofl:

 

worst album cover since Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Shoot From The Hip

 

I must add though that I'll still be buying the album...

 

I'm disappointed with Girls but there's still potentially 13 great tracks on the album

Keisha and Heida look great. The other girl looks okay.

 

I don't like the fonts, though. I think they could have done something more creative with the cover.