Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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41 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very much IN Control! A virtually perfect album, 26 Oct 2008
Ok, first off, I'm a fan...so will this be biased? Probably. That said, having followed the girls from conception in 2002 to the present 'days of glory', I feel I am well equipped to sort the wheat from the chaff where Girls Aloud are concerned. Bad choices are seldom seen with these ladies of course, but for the purposes of this review, let's say 'Whole Lotta History', 'See The Day' and 'Can't Speak French' never fully got my seal of approval...
However, I digress...after the phenomenal success of the 'Tangled Up' album, including the effervescent 'Sexy! No No No' and the stunning 'Call The Shots', it wasn't hard to see that Girls Aloud had found a a new melodic-electronic groove, and if Tangled Up was their Freshman attempt...'Out Of Control' is the graduating class of 2008!
From start to finish, this is pop at its very best. In true GA style, generic genres have been eschewed in favour of a fusion of styles and influences, culminating in some truly amazing songs...here's my pick of the very best:
==The Loving Kind==
A collaboration with The Pet Shop Boys, very much in the vein of Call The Shots, with a truly beautiful riff from Nicola that will just grab you instantly.
==Rolling Back The Rivers=
A mid-tempo delight, with some full-on soul from Nadine. And, as we've come to expect, different from anything they've ever done.
==Turn To Stone==
Another electro-ballad, the refrain and middle-eight are to die for...dreamy, ethereal...with some gorgeous vocals from Cheryl.
==Untouchable==
My absolute standout track on the album...this is potentially as good as Kylie's whole X album (and then some)...6 and a half minutes of sheer perfection..."we're beautiful robots dancing alone"...need I say more?
==Love Is Pain==
This is a beautiful nod to early 90s electronica, and is rendered with delecious zeal...the girls are well in their comfort zone here.
==Miss You Bow Wow==
A definite and decided change of pace, and defintely a standout track...It's Blondie meets Republica, and when is that a bad thing...ever?
==Live In The Country==
Ludicrous...but oh so catchy. This is like some crazy homage to Blur via Prodigy...with a little bit of Bananarama thrown in for good measure...basically it's Sound of The Underground...on drugs....it should also be noted that the track fades out to the sound of bleating sheep...It's eccentric, out there, and oh so British.
Yes, Girls Aloud are back...not content with being the UK's biggest Girl Band, they are looking to burrow into your concious with the very best album of their illustrious career.
Buy it...buy it now.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Big Big Hair and A Hullabaloo, 28 Dec 2008
Having a creative writing/production team as sharp as Xenomania
on your side has delivered, in this, GA's fifth excursion, the most
consistent and coherent offering in their meteoric career so far.
No mistake - 'Out Of Control' is a five star cracker !
From the slickly retro opening of 'The Promise' to the somewhat
edgier riff-led 'We Wanna Party' this is an unfailingly upbeat set
of twelve classy, memorable, hook-filled gems.
Not since Stock, Aitken and Waterman's 80' heyday have we
heard such vibrant, scintillating pop.
The project is chock-full of teasingly affectionate musical references.
Mr Tennant and Mr Lowe's involvement in 'The Loving Kind' has
resulted in a PSB / GA hybrid classic of sorts.
'Rolling Back The Rivers Of Time' is a soulful and uplifting thing of beauty - the "ahh ooh" Wolf howls were especially appreciated.
'Turn To Stone' and 'Love Is Pain' explore electropop territory with sassy aplomb.
'Miss You Bow Wow' ( surely a contender for silly song title of the year ) romps
along like a naughty puppy dragging us in tow on its' tight lead. An absolute Hoot !
The Girls can sing. The Girls can dance. The Girls are alright !
Highly Recommended.
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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Totally in control of perfect pop, 10 Nov 2008
Well, I guess the most surprising thing for me regarding the Girls' latest album is the mixed response it's received. I have to admit not being thrilled with Tangled Up, but I genuinely think that Out Of Control is their very best work to date. OK there is the odd duff track (Fix Me Up you know who you are!) but I really see this as the most accomplished sound that they and Xenomania have produced. We're the iPod generation now anyway, which means we can push out the odd track that we're not so keen on. Everyone will have their favourites but for me the absolute standouts are:
1) The Loving Kind (written with the Pet Shop Boys) - an absolutely amazing 3.56 minutes of pure pop magic. Hauntingly beautiful - if you don't have it on repeat within one listen, you have no musical soul!
2) Rolling Back The Rivers In Time - ridiculously long title for fabulously catchy track. There's a bit of a Stevie Wonder/Demis Roussos thing going on there. And the aah-oh will stay with you for days...
3) Untouchable - OK, first things first. It's over 6 minutes long but is such an amazing song, you'd forgive it being 16 minutes. It makes great use of Nicola's lovely vocals and has a really epic, grandiose chorus. Just stunning!
4) Turn To Stone - electronic wizardry. Lovely 80's feel. You'll learn the words to this one really quickly but it's an absolute grower. You'll feel you've known it for years after a couple of listens!
5) Miss You Bow Wow - probably the track most 'Girls Aloudy' in Xenomania terms - crazy lyrics, fabulously catchy and a fab 'I remember...' bit that wedges in your head for an age.
6) The Promise - well, you'll know this one. Their first number one for a while and well-deserved. Great piece of sixties inspired pop, but absolutely current - and making great use of Sarah's voice.
Those are my 6 major highlights with Love Is The Key and Love Is Pain really close behind. What I love most about this album is it feels like an album by ALL the girls. I think in the past there's been a tendency for it to feel like the Nadine show - this time all of them really get their moments in the spotlight and all of them step up to the plate.
Please approach this album with an open mind and you'll love it...
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