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Product Description
Review
Apparently, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. But try telling that to the Sugababes, who faced a cruel backlash following the departure last year of founding member Keisha Buchanan and the appointment of Eurovision star Jade Ewen. With postponed seventh album, Sweet 7, finally available, it’s interesting to see if the group’s charm can transcend their personnel issues.
Sixth album Catfights and Spotlights dangerously, but admirably, shied away from the electro explosion with outstanding results. Unfortunately, its results in a commercial context didn’t correlate, which may explain this release’s total 180-degree turn and hopping aboard the RedOne bandwagon, one that’s served Lady Gaga so well. Unfortunately, the upshot is style over substance in a display of nonspecific electro-pop as clichéd as the aforementioned adage itself.
It’s hard to imagine, even if Buchanan were still present, that Sweet 7 would sound any less generic. It’s not her departure that’s to blame for the lack of identity here; it’s the serious vocoder abuse, uninspired production and the stream of Americanisms. And any opportunities for Ewen to make her mark are few and far between, her gale-force chops heavily obscured by such torrential overproduction. It’s only because it hangs doggedly onto the Sugababes brand that it’s not entirely devoid of anonymity.
There are certainly a few glimmers of brilliance – Wear My Kiss boasts a hook evocative of the instantaneous splendour of Hole in the Head, while Amelle Berrabah’s unashamed attitude saves She’s a Mess. Elsewhere, there are reminders that any venture the ‘Babes take into ballad territory is largely triumphant, via the unpretentious Little Miss Perfect and the Ryan Tedder-esque Crash and Burn.
But chiefly, Sweet 7 doesn’t sell the Sugababes as individuals or as a brand. Perhaps it’s unfair to expect great things at this stage – a chance to gel and re-establish their ideals might bear a far more appealing fruit in the form of album eight. It’s just a shame that in such an overt attempt to make an album that’s so intrinsically of the moment, the Sugababes’ own moment seems to have sadly passed. --Al Fox
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This was a suprise to me, the last being 'catfights and spotlights' was not as good as previous albums and even though I admit the music hasn't been the same since Mutya left it is still good.
Get sexy is catchy and the new girls vocals instead of Keisha on this track was very suprising on my first listen. She seems to lack the soul that Keisha had in her voice, but she is still a good singer.
Wear my kiss and about a girl are good songs too, quite catchy with the bad da da's.
Another cool track is wait for you. Should be a single.
The album is good, a couple of tracks sound a bit out there. But i think it comes down to personal taste. Untill you listen for yourself, I can't really judge it too much. I would recommend this album though especially if you like the sugababes. But you can't really compare it to 'Three' or 'Angels with Dirty Faces', which were their best work. You just have to take it for what it is. A catchy and club/r&b sounding album.
Get sexy is catchy and the new girls vocals instead of Keisha on this track was very suprising on my first listen. She seems to lack the soul that Keisha had in her voice, but she is still a good singer.
Wear my kiss and about a girl are good songs too, quite catchy with the bad da da's.
Another cool track is wait for you. Should be a single.
The album is good, a couple of tracks sound a bit out there. But i think it comes down to personal taste. Untill you listen for yourself, I can't really judge it too much. I would recommend this album though especially if you like the sugababes. But you can't really compare it to 'Three' or 'Angels with Dirty Faces', which were their best work. You just have to take it for what it is. A catchy and club/r&b sounding album.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
I have always loved the Sugababes from day one back in the late 90's and I enjoy the changes in line up as it creates a new fresh sound. I am also a fan of Jade Ewen so when they joined together I was pleased but apprehensive.
However, Jade has introduced a whole new dimension to the group and has the strongest voice of the trio. This album was due to be released earlier, but since the latest change and departure of Keisha the record company postponed the release date so the public could get used to the latest line up. It also gave Jade plenty of time to adjust and prove herself.
These new songs are very strong and whilst some are better than others, it is a typical Sugababes release with the same sounds and a good mix of fast and slow songs. It is also extremely fresh and up to date.
I hope this has the success it deserves and hope everyone gives Jade a decent chance before they write off the babes!
However, Jade has introduced a whole new dimension to the group and has the strongest voice of the trio. This album was due to be released earlier, but since the latest change and departure of Keisha the record company postponed the release date so the public could get used to the latest line up. It also gave Jade plenty of time to adjust and prove herself.
These new songs are very strong and whilst some are better than others, it is a typical Sugababes release with the same sounds and a good mix of fast and slow songs. It is also extremely fresh and up to date.
I hope this has the success it deserves and hope everyone gives Jade a decent chance before they write off the babes!
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've been a fan of the Sugababes since the beginning; over the past ten years they've been responsible for some of the best British pop around. However, the band has been struggling to find its early form ever since Mutya left in late 2005, and now Keisha is gone too. Whatever the rights and wrongs of her departure, it's the music that really matters and I had hoped that this latest personnel reshuffle might have reinvigorated the group. Unfortunately it appears the band has completely lost everything that made it special. New member Jade has a good voice, there's no question, but it's too close to Heidi's lower range and the heavy use of autotune makes the vocals even more indistinct. Without Keisha's soulful tones the band no longer has its trademark blend of three different yet complimentary voices. However, it's the poor quality of the material that really hurts this album.
There is absolutely no sign of the feisty personality that once defined the Sugababes; instead there's a selection of generic American club tunes like Wait For You and She's A Mess which could be anyone, coupled with banal lyrics which boil down to "we're really sexy" and "we wanna party", tackily throwing in a few designer names like every US r'n'b act seems to do now - where are the strong independant women who sang female anthems like Stronger, Hole In The Head, Round Round, etc.? I'm all for artists evolving their sound, but this is a huge step backwards, not forwards. The simple fact is this kind of material doesn't suit the group at all; the whole thing is uncomfortable and unconvincing, especially Amelle's dreadful cor-blimey-guv rapping (She's A Mess is a particularly cringemaking example). Wear My Kiss is pretty catchy, and Crash 'n' Burn is about the best of a bad bunch of ballads, but nothing here is even fit to clean the boots of the group's previous best.
No doubt the die-hards will dismiss these comments as 'pro-Keisha bias', but the truth is that even if she hadn't left, this would still be a very poor album. A huge disappointment and a sad day for British pop.
There is absolutely no sign of the feisty personality that once defined the Sugababes; instead there's a selection of generic American club tunes like Wait For You and She's A Mess which could be anyone, coupled with banal lyrics which boil down to "we're really sexy" and "we wanna party", tackily throwing in a few designer names like every US r'n'b act seems to do now - where are the strong independant women who sang female anthems like Stronger, Hole In The Head, Round Round, etc.? I'm all for artists evolving their sound, but this is a huge step backwards, not forwards. The simple fact is this kind of material doesn't suit the group at all; the whole thing is uncomfortable and unconvincing, especially Amelle's dreadful cor-blimey-guv rapping (She's A Mess is a particularly cringemaking example). Wear My Kiss is pretty catchy, and Crash 'n' Burn is about the best of a bad bunch of ballads, but nothing here is even fit to clean the boots of the group's previous best.
No doubt the die-hards will dismiss these comments as 'pro-Keisha bias', but the truth is that even if she hadn't left, this would still be a very poor album. A huge disappointment and a sad day for British pop.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Saccharinbabes more like. :(
When Keisha left this group they were no longer the Sugababes in my eyes so I, as a huge fan stopped buying their albums. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Zed
Not So Much The Sugabaes As A Vague Imitation.
Its gotten to the point now where they should let it go after mutya left the music although good just didnt match the attitude of the 2nd-4th album the attitude and sass was... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Julia Havard
Best Sugababe Album Yet! Buy it!!!
Absolutely AMAZING album, their best yet! I own all their albums and have been big fans of them since Heidi joined, and they just get better and better with every album! Read more
Published on 2 May 2010 by M. Gauvry
Sweet 7
Once again, despite the change of training our Sugababes give us a great album with fabulous pieces that lend themselves all the potential to become hits. Read more
Published on 30 April 2010 by Bonometto Livio
I like it.
It's not their best album. But I still like it. And this new line up is my second favorite. I love Jade's vocals in Thank You For The HeartBreak and no more you. Read more
Published on 29 April 2010 by Chlobo Shoka
I'm disappointed!
I think that the second (Angels with dirty faces) and the third (Three) are better albums of Sugababes...this last album is very disappointing... Read more
Published on 15 April 2010 by Roby Cian
Sub-par Babes
If you listen to club music then you will probably like this. The Sugababes have jetisoned their distinctive sound in favour of an ultra commercial club music style with... Read more
Published on 14 April 2010 by Mr. S. Kelly
pop
disappointing - just pop, nothing that has progressed by this group as they have changed members / producers et cetera
Published on 13 April 2010 by Mr. Charles P. Ross
"Give Them A Break, Sugababes Have Done A Good Job"
critics who give this a negative, are just green with envey that the sugababes can sing work there little cotton socks off to provide music to you the public, and whereas some are... Read more
Published on 7 April 2010 by Shawn
Best Album Of 2010
Well This is the first Sugababes album i have bought and i love it! The new line-up which feature's Jade is the best so far her voice is great on it. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by Jamie Sommerville
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