Search - Sugababes :: Taller in More Ways

DANCE-POP AT IT'S BEST

Hernan Igot | Maryland, USA | 10/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Remember when Sugababes were thought of as a more R&B-leaning pop group? That would have beent he possibility had they completely had it their way when they were recording their debut album "One Touch." Keisha and Mutya would have wanted to do straight up R&B, but thanks to producer Cameron McVey's influences, they became a really experimental pop act.



Four albums in, they've pretty much changed. With the supposedly fiest Sugababes Mutya Buena saying that "Taller In More Ways" is the best album they've done, it pretty much proves that point because it's their poppiest effort yet. The notions of them being an R&B/pop band have almost been completely obliterated by their more dance-pop leanings.



...But who's to say this kinda dance-pop is vapid and just plain dumb fun? Sugababes are three smart chicks that know to make really good pop records (so they have an army of record makers backing them up - it still takes some talent or at least something to be cranking out great tunes with such commendable consistency for pop music is unforgivingly one of the most volatile genres of mainstream music today). Whew, so rest assured, you're gonna be getting something worth your money if you love pop.



No fillers here (if there are, they're disguised well enough with interesting production that shrouds them from being eye - or ear - sores). Here's a track-by-track breakdown of the gist of the album:



1. "Push The Button" - I really thought this was the weakest Sugababes lead single yet...Heh, guess they got the last laugh because it's ironically their biggest UK single yet (#1 for 3 weeks and it's still in the top 3 as I type this review). It gets insanely catchy after a while.



2. "Gotta Be You" - Quality crunk sound that's not really so gritty crunk as it's more a classier take on the edgy genre of music. Sugababes don't sound amazingly convincing being edgy street divas, but they sound good with this lone hardcore R&B track in the album.



3. "Follow Me Home" - Another piece of moody balladry. Probably less impacting than "Stronger" and "Too Lost In You," but better than "Caught In A Moment," it's a welcome ballad (well, it's like totally obligatory for a pop record, good or bad - it worked out for the better this time around).



4. "Joy Division" - Mystical-sounding cyber-ragga track that's cool, but not too instant.



5. "Red Dress" - Amazing dance-pop track that sounds like "Round Round" and "Hole In The Head" before it, but rivals them too because it's just that good.



6. "Ugly" - Catchy pop/rock-ish track that's in some ways anthemic of the opporessed-by-jealousy types. Uber catchy and sometimes preachy, but nice to the ears nonetheless.



7. "It Ain't Easy" - Shows off who the Sugababes are anc can be. Pure class against a gritty, beat-driven electro backdrop with almost no melody...But you know Sugababes are amazing enough to make this a really catchy track (damn "oh, oh, oh"'s in the chorus as infectious like a good disease).



8. "Bruised" - One of the poppiest Sugababes songs ever, but one of the classiest (especially that ending - almost day-glo Baroque-ish). The chorus - just that one second or so of glorious harmonies - can make any pure pop fan's ear melt with delight. It's just those harmonies that make you quiver with excitement on how much Sugababes' musical how really lends to their vocals as well...Otherwise, the backing track ain't really all that (but still catchy though).



9. "Obsession" - Catchy remake that's '80s, but with a bit of "Round Round" to it too. Dark and devious, yet sly and sexy. Noice track.



10. "Ace Reject" - One of the most sincerely heartfelt performances Sugababes have done. Catchy pop/rock track. Gorgeous melody. Xenomania, never quit working with Sugababes.



11. "Better" - Pop/rock that resembles the beat to Natalie Imbruglia's torn, yet with quirky melodies. Okay.



12. "Two Hearts" - This track almost had the danger of being overproduced, but knowing Sugababes getting slicker and slicker every time, they handled this quite well and with class. Any other pop act would have been killed trying to fit in the production of this kinda bombastic, yet subtley cool funky, orchestrated track, but Sugababes barely raise their voices trying to fill its cool. Such a great way to end the album (it couldn't have ended better and have found a better place to be in in the album).



In totality, "Taller In More Ways" may not be the absolute most exceptional Sugababes album, but it is definitely one of their most solid, consistent, and catchiest yet."

Quite possibly their best yet

Weather Warden | Auckland, NZ | 01/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is battling to become my favourite Sugababes album. It is in competition with Three, which is magnificent.



This album, the last with Mutya, has some of their finest songs to date and some brilliant production and lyrics. At only 11 tracks long (12 if you have the UK bonus track, which I don't), it seems short, but packs a lot into those 11 tracks. My rundown:



01. Push The Button (9/10)

The lead single of the album, this was No.1 in the UK for 3 (I think?) weeks. It's immediately catchy and very easy to sing along to. Keisha leads most of the song, with Mutya and Heidi singing the verses. Fun, upbeat with a saucy video.



02. Gotta Be You (9/10)

Another upbeat song, this is really catchy, with a repetitive chorus that you would expect to get boring, but somehow it doesn't. The first time I played this, I was like 'Boooooring' but now I love it, it's a lot of fun to sing along to. The girls share vocals out throughout the song.



03. Follow Me Home (10/10)

This ballad is reminscient of songs from Three like "Caught In A Moment", "Too Lost In You" and "Sometimes". That, my friends, is a very good thing. This song is beautiful and moving - I absolutely love the chorus, it's amazing! Heidi is absolutely brilliant on the middle 8, and Mutya and Keisha do the remainder of the song well. One of my favourites!



04. Joy Division (9/10)

Another upbeat song, this song is slightly strange with peculiar lyrics music. It's catchy with singable bits throughout. I don't know why it's called "Joy Division," they don't mention those words anywhere in the song. Anyway, a good song, if strange.



05. Red Dress (7/10)

This is the Babes new single and first single with Amelle. I wish it wasn't and that they had chosen something else, this is one of my least favourite tracks on the album. I don't know why, but this song is bland and uninteresting to me. The chorus is slightly catchy though, and Amelle does improve the song somewhat.



06. Ugly (8/10)

This song is probably my other least favourite. The Babes Christmas single, this reached No.3. I loved it on the first listen, but after repeated plays, it has gotten boring. "Ugly" has a brilliant message behind it about accepting people as they are and not judging people by their looks, but to me, it's bland and boring. But it's Mutya's last single with the group, so good on it.



07. It Ain't Easy (9/10)

The shortest track on the album, clocking in at 3:05, this is fast paced and upbeat. The chorus is really catchy, and gets caught in your head instantly. Before you know it, the song is over! But that's a good thing, it keeps your attention with it's short length.



08. Bruised (9/10)

This song is incredibly cool, it's very chilled out and relaxed, until Keisha starts singing the bridge. This song is another catchy one, and I like singing along to the chorus, which Heidi leads. Another very cool track.



09. Obsession (10/10)

I didn't even know this song was a cover until recently. But even if it is, it's brilliant! The lyrics are kinda random, about being obsessed with somebody, but the girls' vocals are really cool. Very catchy with great music.



10. Ace Reject (10/10)

This song is wonderful! Heidi's middle 8 is absolutely brilliant, her vocals and the lyrics are just amazing. The song takes almost 2 minutes to get to the chorus, it's a different format of song then just verse-bridge-chorus-verse-bridge-chorus-middle 8-chorus. Very cool song, with a catchy chorus (when it finally kicks in).



11. 2 Hearts (10++++/10)

This is it! The very last track on the album is my absolute favourite. This song is absolutely, utterly amazing. Heidi leads the majority of the song, singing the first verse, first bridge and leading the chorus, whereas Mutya sings the second verse and Keisha sings the middle 8. This song is so beautiful - full of amazing instrumentals (especially the ending) and a wonderful chorus with great lyrics - "2 you's, 2 me's, 2 minds to please" is just one line. I absolutely "

A Killer Album In All Ways

Mark Davis | San Francisco, CA United States | 12/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow! Wow! Wow!....I really really truly freakin' LOVE this album....such a shame how different the U.S. and U.K. music industries are, as I truly believe this album could be huge here in the states.

Also, as the review before mine pointed out, this was Mutya's last album with group (left group to spend more time with her newborn daughter) so you should pick up a copy now before the re-recorded version with new member Amelle is released.



1. Push The Button - If your ass aint moving while listening to this song, then you must be paralyzed...such a fun fun song!!



2. Gotta Be You - The most 'hip-hoppish' track on the album is also quite the booty-shaker. Half rap and half singing, this song was written in response to all the negative publicity written about the girls.



3. Follow Me Home - The one song I really could have done without. Schmaltzy ballady song.



4. Joy Division - Rockin' little song about a girl tellin' the guy to get the clue already, she aint interested and it's time to go back to your wife.



5. Red Dress - This song is it!!!. Hot, hot, hot Xenomania produced track about how easy it is for a girls to manipulate guys who only think with the head they have downstairs. Very cool track that just seems to build up and up with 2 choruses and a seriously rolling bass-line!! This song is 25 out of 10 stars.....Perfection!!!

(This will also be the next single and has just been re-recorded with new member Amelle)



6. Ugly - Great mid-tempo song along the lines of X-tina Aguilera's 'Beautiful'. Written and produced by hitmaker Dallas Austin, in response to all the negative publicity he read about before meeting the girls.

"Personality reflects name/if I'm ugly then so are you!"



7. It Ain't Easy - Big boom-boom foot stomper!!



8. Bruised - Co-written with Cathy Dennis, kickin' song about those love/hate relationships we all go through

"I bruise when you get close/Feel my body choke/Bitter last blows/In the war with you/When you get close/Feel my body choke/So the pain grows/In the wars with you"



9. Obesession - Hot remake of the classic 80's song!!



10. Ace Reject - Ace song also produced by Xenomania. All about being blinded by what love should be, and not realizing how it really is. Lyrically this song is it.

"You turned down the light in me/I think our time is over/Ain't it funny how sweet I dream/But the bed keeps getting colder/And sometimes when I close my eyes/It feels like I'm living by numbers/'Cos I've been holdin' you so tight/I gotta stop 'cuz it's pullin' me under"



11. Better - Very indepth song about (in my opinion anyway) depression and pulling coming out of it.



12. 2 Hearts - Beautiful ballad closer!!



This band truly should be bigger than Destiny's Child ever were, considering the fact that D.C. don't even have 1/100th of the 'Babes talent........."