I don't see why people constantly feel the need to compare the two, I love both GA and Sugababes, and yeah I prefer GA by quite a bit but it doesn't mean I'd go around slating Sugababes for no reason or vice versa.

 

If people don't like this album who cares? its their opinion and just because it happens to be sugababes fans that might not like the album doesn't mean that they are deliberatley being negative about them.

 

EXACTLY! Same for me but swap Sugababes and GA round LOL

Okay, giving this an early listen now. I'll do an actual proper review in a week or so but for now, first thoughts on each:

 

The Loving Kind > Well if we had never had 'Call The Shots' I think I and everyone would adore this. But we have had that song, and this is extremely similar, only the chorus doesn't quite have the same oomph... hmm. It may well grow. The musical side is lovely. 8

 

Rolling Back... > This I like. Again lovely melancholic feel, but it doesn't sound as much like it's actually trying to be a sad song. It's a nice mix of slight sadness and slight happiness. Does that make sense? Very good song. 8.5

 

Love Is The Key > Oh... my lord. LOL. This is a bit like Long Hot Summer in sound but the vocals are nastiii! I hope this is a may-jah grower but I can't quite see it! However 'the life and soul of the party, it's fair to say you're not!' is a genial lyric. 4

 

Turn To Stone > Love the slightly creepy electro backing track. I'll probably be singing along like a loon by tomorrow. Definitely the best so far! 9

 

Untouchable > What incredible vocals and what a backing track. How it's so cold but slightly warming all at once is very clever. Amazing. Slightly over-long which detracts just a tiny bit. The guitar bits are so, so lush. 9

 

Will do more in a few mins...

I've been listening to the CD since it leaked and it's possibly my fave GA CD. Theres only two that I don't like as much: Fix Me Up & Revolution In The Head and their still good :)

Fix Me Up > This is a bit rubbish. Actually the bit at 2mins 30secs is really good but then it goes a bit crud again, like it can't decide if it wants to be a jazzy song or a jokey one or a serious one or an electro one haha. Grower? Hmm. 5.5

 

Love Is Pain > Whilst I really like the overall feel of this, I can't really tell what the chorus is saying... 6

 

Miss You Bow Wow > Surprisingly good. It shouldn't be but it is. The chorus is smoooth and the bit straight after is totally great. Then there's that breakdown you don't expect. Rap-like verses again should be hideous but aren't LOL. Think I really like this. 8

 

Revolution... > Omg at the intro. Wacky! After that it gets a bit more 'normal' though. Nice enough song. Ace outro.6.5

 

Live In The Country > It's nice but I imagine it should be the themetune to a farmyard-based sitcom? LOL. It's a good song, just a bit ...gah. 6

 

We Wanna Party > Simple chorus but decent enough. No oomph though, where is the oomph? 5.5

 

Song rank:

9.0 Turn To Stone

9.0 Untouchable

9.0 The Promise

8.5 Rolling Back The Rivers

8.0 The Loving Kind

8.0 Miss You Bow Wow

7.0 Revolution In The Head

6.0 Love Is Pain

6.0 Live In The Country

6.0 We Wanna Party

5.5 Fix Me Up

5.0 Love Is The Key

 

7.5/10

 

Thoughts:

 

> The opening half of the album is much, much better than the closing half

> There's a couple of TU imitators - The Loving Kind is very Call The Shots and Love Is The Key is very Control Of The Knife.

> Even just from one listen it's clearly better than Tangled Up, and has a similar number of real highlights - 4 or 5

 

^_^

but im NOT? Im posting my opinion on this era, both positive and negative? Why do you always have to make it a petty sugababes vs girl aloud battle?

 

I didn't say the problem is the SB fans, I said the problem is YOU. :unsure:

 

Can everyone please stop fighting and instead get back to talking about the album.

Untouchable, The Loving Kind, Rolling Back The Rivers In Time and Turn To Stone are my huge favourite at the moment :wub:

Actually I listen to them on repeat so I have to get into the other songs yet !

 

But gosh, those 4 songs are the best songs I have heard in 2008 :o

Edited October 26, 200816 yr by Bert

Untouchable is the best song imo. I LOVE IT.

 

I'm probably alone in this but I love the fact that it's so long, it sort of takes you away like a chill out anthem or something :wub:

Why is no-one loving Love Is Pain? This song is pure amazingness. :cheer:

but im NOT? Im posting my opinion on this era, both positive and negative? Why do you always have to make it a petty sugababes vs girl aloud battle? Grow up and learn not everyone is gonna like Out Of Control and theyre not bad people because of it.

 

I think the issue is the people who quite obviously were never gona like it and its true because thats why all the GA fans are feeling the same about you.

 

I respect so many peoples opinions here because they back up what they say and make genuinely good points. You are as transparent as a piece of cling film.

Edited October 26, 200816 yr by Robintime11

Rolling back the rivers is tied with biology as being the only aloud songs i would rate as 10 out of 10. I am literally in love.

I'll give a proper review laterz. The first few listens I was like MEH. But it deffo does grow. Just like "The Promise" did.

 

Favourites so far are, "Untouchable" "The Loving Kind" "Love Is The Key" :wub:

im gonna wait for the cd to be released as its more exciting then

I think the issue is the people who quite obviously were never gona like it and its true because thats why all the GA fans are feeling the same about you.

 

I respect so many peoples opinions here because they back up what they say and make genuinely good points. You are as transparent as a piece of cling film.

 

LOL <3 Quote of the year. So the fact that i find SOME of the songs (not all, SOME) bland, generic and blurring into one is not a valid reason? GET A LIFE MATE.

The promise - well when i first heard this, i was swaying away, very catchy, lovely verses. Not GA's best song by far but just lovely. 7.5 out of 10

 

The Loving Kind - completely stunning, beautiful, heart felt, nice pet shop boys beat. The lyrics are quality and the song structure just flows like honey. I hope this is the second single. Nicola completely shines in it. No sympathy for anyone who doesnt find time for this one 8.5 out of 10.

 

Rolling back the rivers in time - ok, now this is one of those that just makes me go :o This has potential to be my fave aloud track yet. Absolutely beautiful. The music, the lyrics, just everything. The spanish guitars like something from eldorado, cheryl vocoder towards the end is just amazing and just melts me. I would only give this to one other GA song 10 out of 10 (that is major for me)

 

Love is the key - this one is a welcome upbeat one. Sounds chemistry era. Strong Western style beat, i love the strength in this song, something only GA could do well i reckon. This one could really grow on me, its very happy go lucky. I love the end with the mouth organ etc. 8 out of 10

 

Turn to stone - definately the swinging london town of the album. Its hypnotic electronica. The chorus is VERY different for GA. Gets a bit repetitive. This is not really what i like GA for. A definate album track. I wouldnt skip past it though. 6.5 out of 10

 

Untouchable - i love this one because it shows how comfortable they have got to be able to do something like this now. The start almost sounds like dire straits. Another album track. A lovely track to just chill out with, love the guitars. Another song nothing like xenomania and nothing like what they have done before. 8.5 out of 10

 

Fix me up - Love how this one slows it down. Very funky. Sounds very American. Something Sheryl Crow about the chorus and some early verses. 8 out of 10

 

Love Is Pain - Start sounds like girl overboard, a definate club track. Not my fave but its good. 7.5 out of 10

 

Miss you bow wow - I always knew this would be my least fave track. Its not bad but we've heard this before from GA. It does fit on the album though. 6 out of 10

 

Revolution in the head - Oh this one is damn good. Nads at the start is amazing. The spanish guitars and claps are fab. I could see this being released. I could see it being massive it clubs "hey hey hey - oh oh oh" This ones a GA classic 9.5 out of 10

 

Live In The Country - Well the animal noises certainly arent as bad as i thought they would be. I love GA doing drum and bass so i love this. Another highlight. What i think a lot of people wont get about this is its GA sticking their fingers up to conventionality. This has to stay on the album though. 8.5 out of 10

 

We wanna party - This is a really amazing song, great fun. 8.5 out of 10

 

 

 

Overall, their best album yet by far because they are obviously so comfortable now. Great production and a big progression. I think this will be their biggest selling studio album yet.

 

I think they should release the lovong kind next and then either revolution in the head or rolling back the rivers.

Edited October 26, 200816 yr by Robintime11

The Best album GA so far..... :o

Miss You Bow Wow is :wub:!

Slightly dissapointing on first listen, but like The Promise they're probably and hopefully growers.

Ive not listening to the album properly yet...

 

The Promise is FANTASTIC! I didnt like it when on the first listen, but since the X Factor ive been hooked :) they deffo deserved #1 (with the biggest 1st week sales this year) LMAO.

 

Untouchable is excellent, very different from their usual stuff.

 

But I think the standout track is 'The Loving Kind'.... I was seriously blown away by this one. I hope its a single... I reckon it could be up there with Call the shots, for my fave GA songs :D

 

Ones Ive not been too impressed with so far - Live In The Country, Turn to stone

Okay, so I've listened in full again. Top 3:

 

1. The Promise

2. Rolling Back The Rivers

3. Miss You Bow Wow

 

'The Loving Kind' is missing that oomph it so needs. Each listen I expect a big explosive chorus like in 'Call The Shots', but it just never comes. 'Untouchable' has some of the makings of a classic but the middle drags too long; I like the concept of a 7-minute song but the best bit is the final minute! I don't really think there's been any progression of sound either; a bit stagnant. Another reason for them to, imo, work with other producers as well as Xenomania...

 

I'd pick my top 3 as singles in that order, but I think the label will go:

 

2. The Loving Kind

3. Miss You Bow Wow / Turn To Stone (one or the other)

 

I don't think that there's a really obvious third or fourth single. It feels like an album full of album tracks... (no bad thing)