GIRLS ALOUD - TANGLED UP

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

At about midway through this, I was on the verge of jumping on the internet and going 'OMG! ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!', however increasing sobriety and, well, listening to it all the way through has tempered that somewhat. So, instead, I will go 'OMG! SECOND OR THIRD BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!" Will that do?

LONG VERSION

Call The Shots - This is still kinda boring, also the worst possible choice to begin the record with (should have been Sexy! No No No). My thinking that this was kind of a weak choice for a single has been vindicated by, well, everything that follows. Incidentally, the closest we get to a ballad here. As an opener, 5/10, as a song, 7/10

Close To Love Is it possible to have a song tacked onto the start of an album? I only ask because this is GRATE, and has an opening where (I think) the various band members all shout 'GIRLS!' This is a full-on Xenomania all stops pulled out stormer build around an undeniable four-note electro hook. Hooray! 9/10

Sexy! Nom Nom Nom Somehow sounds louder and harder than the single version, you all know what this is like. 8/10

Girl Overboard It gets better yet again, this is unabashed mid-90s hi-NRG dance pop beefed up a bit for the 00s. There's a terrific vocal all over this - probably Nadine. But yeah, BOSH! Rhythm of the Night! Naked In The Rain! I Stumble!" 9/10

Can't Speak French First slight mis-step - 4lex1s P3tr1d1sh OTM when he said this was possible the least funky beat ever, lots of plasticated acoustic guitars janging along. Still beats the Kylie single at its own game. 7/10

Black Jacks Blatant play for the 00s stadium sound. Stiff, insistent big drum sound, straightjacketed vocals, big synthetic guitars, will go down well in the inevitable Girls Aloud V2008 appearance. 8/10

Control Of The Knife Can't quite work out if this is ridiculously uptight robo-ska or just Only Love Will Break Your Heart played at twice the speed. Top vocoder action nonetheless. 8/10

Fling HERE WE GO! This is the Swinging London Town, the Graffiti My Soul, the utterly batshit one in the middle, but unlike those there's a huge chorus, it's the one we will be playing at Poptimism for years to come. It has, well, one of them sounding like Salt'n'Pepa or maybe Nenah Cherry over an massive synthetic electro guitar/bass riff and Basement Jaxx-circa-Kish Kash drums. FLING BABY! SWING BABY! DING-A-LING-BABY!" 10/10

What You Crying For? Post '95 drum and bass! Suffers a bit next to Sound Of The Underground, frankly, but diverting nonetheless. 7/10

I'm Falling BIG BEAT. I mean, even more than everything before. One big guitar chord, massive chunky drums, lots of high-pitched 'POW POW POW!' noises. Shame the song itself isn't up to much. Bit Xenomania-by-numbers really (as counts for the rest of the album tbh). 7/10

Damn I'm either going to love or hate this further down the line, it's the usual kitchen sink thing, which is getting a bit tiresome at this point. Can I really be yearning for a nice ballad? No, but at an It's Magic would be perfect right now. 7/10

Crocodile Tears Mid-paced and as faux-mawkish as the title suggests. Meh. 5/10