A Year In Pop: 40

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

A more manageable eight new entries this week, including Aly and AJ's UK chart debut and the seventieth single off the Mika record.

[Poll #1067778]

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Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Hmm they have a knack for initially seeming bland at first (all lead singles except 'Freak Like Me', both of their last two albums) but ultimately being brilliant - it's kind of the raison d'etre of the Adult Pop Sugababes we've seen since Three.

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

I still think "Hole In The Head" is crap. Don't care for "About You Now" much either.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

'Hole In The Head' is ridiculously hooky.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yes, revival at next Poptimism necessary I think!

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

I think time will not be that kind to the last batch of Sugababes singles. "About You Now" is not even in the same orbit as "Push The Button" or "Round Round" or "Overload".

you asked for it

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Sugasingles in order of greatness!

Run For Cover
Round Round
Too Lost In You
Freak Like Me
Overload
Angels With Dirty Faces
Push The Button
About You Now
Caught In A Moment
Stronger
Hole In The Head
Soul Sound
Red Dress
Ugly
New Year
In The Middle
Shape
Easy
Walk This Way

all but the last four merit AT LEAST 4/5 - in fact everything from 'Caught In A Moment' up is probably five star quality. That is a bloody good strike rate which doesn't really show any sign of decline - especially as latterly their best material has been album tracks ('Bruised', 'Whatever Makes You Happy', 'Ace Reject', 'Situation's Heacy'...)

Re: you asked for it

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I think balladwise yr overrating Too Lost In You and Run For Cover, and underrating Caught In A Moment and New Year, I don't think Easy is as bad as you're making out and I think Hole In The Head is excellent (& it's a shame Xenomania didn't do much else in that ska-pop vein, apart from "Watch Me Go"). But the broad shape of this is OTM.

Re: you asked for it

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

There is no overrating 'Run For Cover' which a lot of the time is my favourite single EVER and jauntyalan will back me up on this! As for 'Too Lost In You' I think the best bit in it is near the end, when all the backing vox and atmospheres are swirling around in a big CAULDRON of emotion - "I'm lost in, I'm lost in" - and suddenly all the harmonies and synths converge on "EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU SO DEEP" and it is like a massive HIT of emotion.

Re: you asked for it

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

HERE THEN IS MY ORDER

Round Round
Run For Cover
Push The Button
Freak Like Me
Overload
Too Lost In You
Soul Sound
Red Dress
Stronger
Caught In A Moment
Angels With Dirty Faces
New Year
About You Now
Shape
Hole In The Head
Ugly
In The Middle
Easy
Walk This Way

Re: you asked for it

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Haha our lists are ODDLY SIMILAR even though we are arguing! I am pleased to see 'Too Lost In You' surprisingly high up yours.

Re: you asked for it

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

I have ALWAYS declared big love for "Too Lost In You".

Oh, "Follow Me Home" is near the bottom.

Re: you asked for it

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

BOLLOCKS I knew I forgot one. I really like 'Follow Me Home' actually - slot it between 'Hole In The Head; and 'Soul Sound' for me.

Re: you asked for it

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

Everything below "Cuahgt In A Moment" in my list, btw, is non-essential. That said I do rather like "New Year" and "Angels" a fair bit, I rate them a fair way ahead of "About You Now".

Re: you asked for it

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I relistened to Three tonight and fucking hell that album is quite something. Oddly for a pop album most of the faster tracks fall flat or awkwardly (except 'HITH' and 'Buster') but each and every one of the ballads is immensely gorgeous and lovely. 'Maya' is really genuinely profound!

Re: you asked for it

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

run for cover is indeed super

Re: you asked for it

[andthatisthat.livejournal.com]

There is no overrating 'Run For Cover'

I just thought I'd back this up because it is massively true. I fucking love 'Run For Cover'.

Re: you asked for it

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

I should do my order as well, but "Run For Cover" is right up there with their best for me as well.

Re: you asked for it

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

I don't like any of those four album tracks that much except "Ace Reject". Now, if we're talking "2 Hearts", "Million Different Ways", "Maya"... yes, those are great.

I hope "Mended By You" is a single. It's washy and cheesy but I like how their voices go on it.

Re: you asked for it

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

whaaaat they're all incredible! I agree on 'Million Different Ways' and 'Maya' though.

is 'Mended By You' off the new album? I haven't heard any of it yet, I didn't get to rvw it and in fact may go and and - gasp - BUY IT from a RECORD SHOP after work.

Re: you asked for it

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

It is, it's a gloopy but quite subtle ballad. "Never Gonna Dance Again" I think is going to be one people go a bit nuts about but so far it's only "good" to my ears. I'd say it'll be single 3, actually.

Re: you asked for it

[andthatisthat.livejournal.com]

And if we're having a Sugababes album track discussion, I want to throw my weight behind 'Buster', which is both brilliant and hilarious. It sounds like it ought to be the theme song to a women's self-defence class.