DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THESE YOUNG WOMEN! (One Touch - Sugababes)

Member Name: 150983

Product:	One Touch - Sugababes
Date:	13/08/01 (343 review reads)
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Well I did say they had what it takes and after a little crisis last year, due to a change of line up and being dropped by their record label London Records, the Sugababes have hit the top spot with their Bootleg single 'Freak Like Me'.

Well what can I say! I thought I should update a little and bring this album to your attention because it truly is a great start to an ever blossoming career for the girls!

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I cannot stress to you how amazing and surprising this album is! The Sugababes are no regular girl group, with the average age of 16 Mutya, Siobhan and Keisha formed when they were 12. Things just started from there. In 2000, the girls found a manager and they began the foundations of a great debut album. Apparently, the girls name came from the fact that they always were sucking on lollipops and eating sweets. The girls have great vocals and they also co.-wrote the album which is a great achievement for someone their age and seeming it was a debut album.

* The Single and Album Releases
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So far off this album, the Sugababes have released 4 songs. The First single 'Overload' was a huge hit and peaked at number 6 in the charts and stayed around the top 40 for weeks. The follow-up single (the Christmas release) was 'New Year' it managed to reach about number 12 in the charts. The next single, 'Run for Cover' reached number 13 and recently (July 16th) , their newest single 'Soul Sound' got to number 30. These chart positions may not seem very good to you, but they certainly do not reflect the quality of the music that far surpasses the positions. If you think of it, having a good song, isn't all that's needed to make a single successful. The Sugababes, because of their age, have certain restrictions enforced upon them which mean they can only promote their releases to a certain extent. I believe that they have done really well with
the releases and soon enough they will get the recognition they deserve. Their album ?One Touch? has sold about 200,000 copies so far and has got to 26 in the top 40 album charts hopefully this opinion will persuade some more of you to part with your cash and get this great album.

* The Tracks
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1. Overload [4:37]

This was the debut single from the girls who's infectious chorus got me first interested in their music. The song begins with great beats and a good sample which is like an indented tunnel sound. Siobhan's voice on this track is just great as it works well with the song, she uses her voice with an edge to it thus creating another texture. The chorus is the catchiest part of the song with includes great accompaniment from the other girls in harmony and also from the guitar part. There is a great riff in the song which is evident throughout the song played by the bass guitar. There is also a great electric guitar solo which gives the instrumental break and then leads the song into the middle eight. There is a great climax with whirring which leads into the chorus which eventually fades out. This is a great track and is much more than just a pop single, it is mature and also the singing is great. A catchy track. 9.5/10

2. One Foot In [3:25]

This song again has a good intro with more higher pitched whirring then accompanied but a base riff. There is then a great guitar accompaniment in the song when one of the girls sing which picks up on the major chords in the tune. The girls again accompany the lead well in harmony. The song is a real grower and soon it will have you singing along. The song is more of a rock/pop and urban track with various samples and guitar riffs. A good song. 8/10

3. Same Old Story [3:03]

My absolute fave off this album! I cannot get enough of this song. When I first heard this song, I was so amazed by it because it was nothing like the other songs on
the album. This song is a strong garage type track that has a great fast tracked intro which has great syncopation between the beats and other instrument. The accompaniment is played by synthesised strings playing pizzicato and various soft drum beats. The chorus is also played by more convincing strings and again is very very catchy. The vocal accompaniment is really good in this song and it finished it off. I don?t want to say that much more about this song because 1, I will just keep on writing and writing and 2, I don?t want to make it too predictable. I really hope that if the Sugababes release another song that this would be the one they release as this would be a very popular track and should get them more fans. I am surprised they haven?t released it so far! Great stuff. 10+/10

4. Just Let It Go [5:01]

This track is again adding a different texture to the album. It is mellower than the rest and is more RnB in feel it also reminds me of a slightly Spanish song as the acoustic Spanish guitar provides a great accompaniment. The song has great voices from the backing singers and the lead and it really shows off their voices well. The song basically is on about letting go of someone such as a loved one and the emotion is showed through the singing and the song itself including the lyrics. Again, this song is well worth listening to and is a grower. I particularly like the middle eight of this song where the pace seems to change and different beats are introduced. 9/10

5. Look At Me [3:57]

Beginning with a real eerie feel for the tinkling of the piano keys, the song introduces yet another influence to the album and also a new texture. The song has great beats and a great chorus. You need to give this song time to grow on you as it certainly does. What I have noticed from the album tracks is that the backing vocals are just as important in a track as the vocals and instruments are and the girls do each song so well. The lyrics
are a message to parents saying to let us grow up and learn from our own mistakes and not your own, basically meaning let us experience our own lives. Another worthwhile track. 8.5/10

6. Soul Sound [4:30]

The latest release off this album, this is a rather upbeat and mellow track. It gives you a good feeling to listen to it and again the singing is superb. I like the guitar accompaniment tot his song and the various beats that are included in the song. To me, the song seems to edge towards the RnB side of music as it is very reliant on the beats but also uses the vocals very well. The song is well put together and is a great calming and reflective song. 8/10

7. One Touch [4:20]

This song bursts open with a sharp guitar chord and then leads into the verses. The song is more acoustic in nature and does demonstrate the girls voice's well. The song is about love 'One touch of love, that is all it took my dear and I'm never gonna let you go'. I like the middle eight of this track, I think it is well thought out and leads into the repetition of 'I can't let you go' which then goes to the final chorus. The song has a nice beat and is good to listen to. 8/10

8. Lush Life [4:28]

Lush Life was a B-side to their debut single Overload. In my view, this is the worst song on the album but I still like it. It is catchy in places but I found it a bit dull. The song does have more nice beats and good vocals once again. The song does pick up in the chorus which ,manages to make the song better. It seems much more urban in feel with the effect used on the vocals as well as the dry beats and whoops in the background. Not the best song on the album and it could probably be improved. 6.5/10

9. Real Thing [4:04]

This song again is different to the others. It has more bass to it and has loads more tunes in it including a nice keyboard melody. I like this song quite a lot. Again it is a real
grower which deals with the theme of love once more questioning 'is this the real thing?' Backing vocals are once again vital on this song and they pay off as this song is very funky and groovy. 8.5/10

10. New Year [3:51]

This is a nice melodic song that has influences from RnB where the beats are concerned. The song has a Christmas feel but on another level it also has more to tell in the lyrics and tune. The song is one about loosing someone close around Christmas time. These girls are definitely older than their years! A catchy tune which should have done better as a Christmas single. 8/10

11. Promises [3:16]

This is my second favourite off this album. The song is just great. It has a great intro which includes a sample which reminds me of the sound that a submarine radar would make, the beats are good. The song relies heavily on harmony also which really make this song, Especially in the chorus where it is great to hear. I cannot stress how cool this song is. The harmonies and the vocals are really good and demonstrates the girls maturity for song writers as well as singers as well. I have heard them sing this song live and they really can sing live. This song deserves to be listened to. 10/10

12. Run For Cover [3:48]

This, the last song on the album has a great introduction to the song with great orchestral accompaniment and piano melody, the intro is played similar to a call and response. The vocals again make this song really good and Mutya?s voice suits it well. This song tells of when we all want to just get away from it all when things go wrong or when we want time alone 'Keeping to myself',
'I'm always on the outside'. This song as it deals with suffering with emotion and so on, it is portrayed through the use of the vocals and melodies in the song. This song is a real grower and the instruments work really well also complimenting the single. Well worth being on the albu
m. 9/10

* The Verdict
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This album is an amazing debut for girls of such a young age. What makes it even more special is the fact that the girls helped to write each track. What I have learnt from listening to this album over and over again is that promotion is just equally as important as a good song for both need to be evident to give a top chart position. This album is crammed full of hits which the charts do not represent well and also I have learnt that backing vocals are just as important in making a song and complimenting it. Each song is different from the rest and as well as the usual pop and RnB influences you would expect from a girl group, there are loads more influences in this album. The maturity in the girls voices as well as in the writing makes this an unforgettable debut album. I just can't wait for the follow up! I hope the time I have spent on writing this album has paid off and I hope it does this album justice as it is one of my all time favourite and I still haven?t tired of it even though it has been out since November 2000!

I am looking forward to their new album which will feature the new hit single but I hope the next album will no loose the edge the girls had in this one as many more music groups tend to go all mainstream and loose the zest that got them there in the begining.

:) Mike.

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