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Product Description
Review
If there is a band or artist for every occasion, Scouting for Girls (SFG) are the saccharine-fuelled teeny-bopper's choice. Formed in 2005, the guitarless London trio make sun-kissed Sunday afternoon strolling music. While not exactly groundbreaking, their self-titled debut album tumbles and skips along happily enough; inoffensive, if not exactly life-affirming.
For happy-go-lucky couples it's the perfect 'relationship' soundtrack; there are plenty of tracks here that would make ideal 'our song' choices. Take 'The Airplane Song'; with its oh-so philosophical leanings and references to the airport - that eternal symbol of loss, love and patched-up break ups - it's a definite 'here's a compilation I made to celebrate our love' song.
There's a lot here too for emotionally-fraught teenage girls. On "It's Not About You" frontman Roy Stride sings: 'Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad' as he weighs up the deeper things in life with all the conviction of a wet tea towel. Beach Boys pastiche vocals creep in as heartbeat-skipping power chords loop round and round. It's cringe-worthy to all but lovers of the most sugary pop.
SFG steer clear of any real heartbreak; references to anything remotely resembling pain are coated with bright pick-yourself-up melodies and upbeat riffs. "I'm Not Over You" is a classic example; the lines 'She said it was over...I'm not over you and I know that I never will' cue a bouncy piano-laden chorus to make it all better.
For the under-tens, "She's So Lovely" has a nice, sweet melody and not a hint of anything lyrically controversial, perfect at a kids' birthday parties where jumping up and down constitutes dancing.
This is music for an all-inclusive club. It's no coincidence the band's fanclub is called The Wolfclub (members are known as 'wolfcubs' and there's even a secret code). Stride's vocal is a combination of Joel Pott from Athlete and, as has been noted several times, Eels frontman Mr E (who, it must be said, did the whole emotional thing rather more convincingly.
But perhaps a little slack needs to be cut. While SFG's life musings are not the stuff of music epics, their pop market appeal should not be so hastily dismissed; "Elvis Isn't Dead", for one is a damn fine pop song. The album is not aimed at music connoisseurs but lovelorn adolescents. As far as shimmery, gleaming up-tempo ballads go, Scouting for Girls have the upper hand. --Gemma Padley
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I can understand to an extent why some reviewers have taken a negative view of this record. It's not terribly original - the hooks and arrangements have seen service on countless other songs. Neither are the words all that stretching - you sense that they were knocked off on the bus on the way to the studio.
On the other hand, this is probably the best collection of pure pop this year. What it may lack in depth, it makes up for in sheer exuberance. It's a bit of a throwback to the Undertones, Joe Jackson or any number of those old New Wave groups - different sound but similar energy and measured naivety. Ignore the gloom-mongers - treat yourself to a bit of a grin.
On the other hand, this is probably the best collection of pure pop this year. What it may lack in depth, it makes up for in sheer exuberance. It's a bit of a throwback to the Undertones, Joe Jackson or any number of those old New Wave groups - different sound but similar energy and measured naivety. Ignore the gloom-mongers - treat yourself to a bit of a grin.
66 of 80 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you are looking for the next Mercury Prize winning album then keep on scouting, I doubt this album will be winning any prestigious awards any time soon. However it may yet win a place in your car stereo or mp3 player.
With it's insistant pop piano and rythmic drumming, the songs on display here make for great summer bounce along listening. Although not quite reaching the heights of single 'Its not about you', the majority of tracks contain enough glorious harmonies and irritatingly catchy choruses to entertain the ears and keep the foot tapping. If like me you are a bit of a sucker for hand claps, a shaking tamborine and dustings of oohs and lalas, then this might be right up your alley.
There isn't a huge variety on display here, with the same formula being worked throughout. Chances are though that if you like either of the singles then you won't mind this too much.
It's the kind of record that is ideal for summer listening whilst driving, having a bbq or out for a run. Nowadays people are getting hung up on introspective songwriting and dismissing artists like Scouting for Girls as throw away pop. Well, I for one enjoy a well structured song that begs me to sing along to or turn the volume up just that little bit! So if you aren't precious about music and want to put some fun back into your record collection then give this a spin.
With it's insistant pop piano and rythmic drumming, the songs on display here make for great summer bounce along listening. Although not quite reaching the heights of single 'Its not about you', the majority of tracks contain enough glorious harmonies and irritatingly catchy choruses to entertain the ears and keep the foot tapping. If like me you are a bit of a sucker for hand claps, a shaking tamborine and dustings of oohs and lalas, then this might be right up your alley.
There isn't a huge variety on display here, with the same formula being worked throughout. Chances are though that if you like either of the singles then you won't mind this too much.
It's the kind of record that is ideal for summer listening whilst driving, having a bbq or out for a run. Nowadays people are getting hung up on introspective songwriting and dismissing artists like Scouting for Girls as throw away pop. Well, I for one enjoy a well structured song that begs me to sing along to or turn the volume up just that little bit! So if you aren't precious about music and want to put some fun back into your record collection then give this a spin.
40 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If music is supposed to be fun then this album hits the spot. My daughter got it for Christmas and I just had a listen now and had to hear it all the way through. I take serious issue with some of the negative reviews here which I feel are missing the point of this music completely. If you are unable to rise above your dislike for this "genre" you should just not comment on it. I can understand people who prefer to listen to music on an intellectual level giving this a less than excellent review but this is supposed to be fun not modern jazz or Mozart so quit the music snobbery! I hope I myself can stear clear of "genreist" comments and stick to the important thing; does this album get you going? Yes.
I am a piano player in a band myself and find this piano driven good time music absolutely infectious and catchy. Other than this according to "genreists" (of which there are too many!) I should not be qualified to comment as I am a boogie woogie and blues fan and an old fogie too! I have always believed that music should have no barriers to age and if its good you want to join in and dance or tap your foot whatever your status musically.
I found the songs on this album catchy witty and well written with excellent rythmic and melodic structure. It is pathetic to expect something totally original in order to give a good review, perhaps it should be for a 5 star but I am giving it 5 because I enjoyed it too much to quibble about orginality. I have also had the benefit of seeing this band live albeit on my daughter's video and I was not suprised at how well these songs went down with the young audience, having had a similar effect on me. These beguiling and deceptively witty songs are definately a breath of fresh air and I for one am happy that the charismatic and talented Roy Stride has penned these songs because today he made my world a better place!
I am a piano player in a band myself and find this piano driven good time music absolutely infectious and catchy. Other than this according to "genreists" (of which there are too many!) I should not be qualified to comment as I am a boogie woogie and blues fan and an old fogie too! I have always believed that music should have no barriers to age and if its good you want to join in and dance or tap your foot whatever your status musically.
I found the songs on this album catchy witty and well written with excellent rythmic and melodic structure. It is pathetic to expect something totally original in order to give a good review, perhaps it should be for a 5 star but I am giving it 5 because I enjoyed it too much to quibble about orginality. I have also had the benefit of seeing this band live albeit on my daughter's video and I was not suprised at how well these songs went down with the young audience, having had a similar effect on me. These beguiling and deceptively witty songs are definately a breath of fresh air and I for one am happy that the charismatic and talented Roy Stride has penned these songs because today he made my world a better place!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hyperactive kids get hold of a Yahama keyboard
Scouting for Girls' debut album, instead of setting them up as a fun-loving and quirky band, highlights the shortcomings in the modern music industry. Read more
Published 4 months ago by PhilipStirups
Bargain!
Ordered Scouting For Girls over a Bank Holiday weekend. Received through the post 2 working days after the weekend so impressively fast! Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ashley
Scouting for girls part 2
Excellent album, brought two of their CDs and both amazing. If you are a script fan then think these will appeal to you as well. Love love love it
Published 13 months ago by Tina
An asinine aural abortion.
It's not about poo, it's wee.
This is about the mental level achieved on this disasterous waste of vinyl, and if you don't believe me, try googling the lyrics and... Read more
This is about the mental level achieved on this disasterous waste of vinyl, and if you don't believe me, try googling the lyrics and... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Sam Kant
Scouting for Girls Album
Love the album. Great indie-pop songs and next Album "Everyody wants to be on T.V" is amazing too. Speedy delivery from Amazon, even better prices! Read more
Published 24 months ago
Incredible!!
I am a huge Scouting for Girls fan and love this cd! All the tracks are catchy and upbeat. It's really great value for money and just an awesome disk in general.
Published on 2 Jun 2010 by keep smiling 22
They get better than this!
It's interesting reading some of the other reviews for this 2007 album, especially as I discovered SFG via their latest album Everybody Wants to Be on TV rather than through their... Read more
Published on 18 April 2010 by Captain Pugwash
Awful.............
Mate, if you share musical tastes with a teenage Girl, then you need to look deeper into your Manbag and extricate something that passes for music and not a vocal fart. Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by ToodleOoo
what a nice bit of fun
First things first, if you're really into your Radiohead or Bob Dylan then this album possibly isn't for you! Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by nickpinny
scouting for girls cd
brill cd, came amazingly quick mint condition and very cheap perfect as a add on christmas present
Published on 4 Dec 2009 by Rebecca Windsor
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