Search - Girls Aloud :: Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits (Bonus CD)

POP DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS!

Hernan Igot | Maryland, USA | 11/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If any lover of pure pop music today fears of its demise amidst a firestorm of more rhythmically-obsessed takes on mainstream music ("pop" has gotten more urban-sounding in recent times), fear not because Girls Aloud are here to save the day! The thought actually doesn't seem so farfetched, especially knowing that no recent collection of solid gold pop hits comes close to touching the brilliance that is graciously bestowed upon this amazing collection (well, probably except Sugababes' greatest hits collection). The point is, this is an essential album not only for the 2006 Christmas shopping season, but also for pop music for the new millennium.



One good listen to every single one of the 15 tracks on this album makes one think what the hell are producers in England smoking to make such good pop? Well, only production powerhouses Xenomania (masterminded by the sonic genius Brian Higgins) would know that. Here's what it takes to make a discography even the Queen of England could be proud of:



1. "Sound Of The Underground" - One of the freshest-sounding pop singles in the 2000s, this mixture of drum 'N' bass and icy, robotic vocals from the Girls makes this an everlasting milestone on their careers as well as the resurgence of hope for (more credible) Brit-pop in the new millennium.



2. "Love Machine" - Part rockabilly, part camp, PURE POP SUGAR RUSH MADNESS! It's like someone took the usual crunchy trademark electro-pop sound Girls Aloud are known for, dressed it up in farmer's clothing, and made it do a hyperactive hoedown. This is a treat for the ears!



3. "Biology" - One has to commend Xenomania for coming up with the craziest pop classics these days. They may be turning out to be a well-known pop factory in the UK and the modern pop world, but one thing is certain: they can do a billion songs for a billion artists and will NEVER, EVER let their quality control slip or make anyone sound less than brilliant (even if the singer is pure crap).



"Biology" shows that great hope for pop because of its idiosyncratic nature: it's like a mash-up of whatever ideas just came up in Xenomania's heads, but its seamless execution makes it heavenly. Taking 2 minutes to erupt into a marvelous eargasm of a chorus, this song's also one of the biggest sonic teases ever to grace mainstream radio in the 2000s. If you were to choose a track that embodies what Girls Aloud have turned out to be, this should come first before any other track they possess in their amazing arsenal of music.



4. "No Good Advice" - Very spy movie-esque, but it's packed with more attitude and sass than a box of cigarettes, this is what Girls Aloud would sound like at their best. They might sound forced when they try to sound sassy and sexy like their cooler, more laid-back counterparts the Sugababes, but they do it convincingly enough to sell the track.



5. "I'll Stand By You" - One BIG difference this greatest hits collection has from Sugababes' excellent "Overloaded: The Singles Collection" is that as the Sugababes can effortlessly glide and pout all they want in any musical landscape with equal amounts of ease and seductiveness, Girls Aloud almost fall flat on their faces with their ballads. They should have ripped Sugababes' sound off completely by also doing moody, more credible-sounding ballads aside from mimicking the bite in their uptempo tracks.



It's not that the Girls sound bad, they (or their handlers) just seem to select the cheesiest ballads to do (plus they can't really carry a slower song as effectively as the Sugababes can). "I'll Stand By You" will always remain a stain among such wonderful singles.



6. "Jump" - YES! Saved from the blasphemy that is "I'll Stand By You." This isn't their best uptempo track either, but it's scratchy electro-inflicted, dance-pop sound makes it pretty darn catchy. If anything, Girls Aloud should do their covers like this: uptempo and FULLY RELIANT on their trademark electro-pop sound.



7. "The Show" - Sounding like a cheaper version of spiritual mentors the Spice Girls' "Spice Up Your Life," in this album, it actually sounds vital and cool. A good slice of pure electro-pop and ultra-feminine sass that the Girls have been praised for.



8. "See The Day" - Brace yourselves, it's another Girls Aloud ballad...Thankfully by the time they released their bloody brilliant 3rd album, "Chemistry" (in which this track was taken from), they could at least pull off ballads right. "See The Day" is far better than "I'll Stand By You." There's even a certain melancholiness and darkness within the track's rousing chorus and winter wonderland backing music that offsets Girls Aloud's dayglo, uptempo nature. A rare moment in their discography.



9. "Wake Me Up" - One of their most feisty moments, and it's always welcomed too. Hard-edged rock 'N' roll guitars, HEAVY techno beats, and a drum loop that'll burrow into your brain like you just OD-ed on some acid, this is another one that features Girls Aloud embracing their strengths as being bombastic uptempo music artists.



10. "Life Got Cold" - A slower paced affair with the title saying it all: it's pretty cold...Almost too cold that it's lifeless. Whereas "See The Day"'s moody histrionics brings an atmosphere of nostalgia and wonder, this one brings a sense of lonliness and just being dead. It's not the most exciting track, but what can you do?



11. "Something Kinda Oooh" - So camp it'd make the biggest queens seem burly and butch, it's also very addictive. Extremely reminiscent of Steps' "5, 6, 7, 8," but with more electro-pop from Xenomania. It stands solidly next to past Girls Aloud hits.



12. "Whole Lot Of History" - And thus, the onslaught of GA ballads ensues. At this point, listeners would probably be wondering, "Can the litany of slow tracks stop?" It just makes you wonder how many friggin' Girls Aloud ballads we've all had to deal with all these years. With their strengths being mostly uptempo tracks, can't they learn that ballads should be left to other, more boring acts?



Still though, one can't fathom the fact that, like I said, the ballads from their "Chemistry" (like this one) album were quite good. This one is no exception. The thing that saves it from pop hell is its extremely sappy romantic nature. It's so cheesy, sappy, atmospheric, and well-executed as a pure pop single (especially one that's uncharacteristically stripped of the usual edge people expect from Girls Aloud's singles releases) that it's good.



13. "Long Hot Summer" - I would understand the disappointment taken from the release of this track as the lead single off the brilliant "Chemistry" album if I were that hardcore of a Girls Aloud fanatic: it's surprisingly underwhelming as a lead single, in their EXTREMELY HIGH pop standards...But next to other tracks, it sounds fresher and more enjoyable than ever. It's just a really playful, effervescent dance-pop track with heavy beats, that's all.



14. "Money" - The backing beat's reminiscent of the heavy beats on t.A.T.u.'s "Not Gonna Get Us" mixed with some funky Las Vegas music. Well if truly so, then Girls Aloud are on a roll of making even better uptempo dance-pop with this offering. They have gotten a lot better with their ballads, and they're also doing so with their faster tracks too, making them sound more urgent, frenetic, confusing, and more addictive than ever. Girls Aloud are my sonic drug.



15. "I Think We're Alone Now" - Okay, okay, a lot of critics have been lauding this track, but I actually think it's catchy. It's just a harmless way to end a great album, that's all. It's standard dance fare, but what I really love about this track is the synth solo in the middle-8 of the song and towards the end.



Aside from the original 15 tracks included in the greatest hits part of the album, the bonus disc also features brilliant tracks that aren't that well known. The reinterpretation of previous tracks we already know from GA still sound awesome, but the new tracks are great too! I noticed that when Girls Aloud release bonus disc material, the bonus discs can always stand on their own merits as being infectious. They may not be as deliriously catchy as the original albums, but they are definitely great treats.



So yes, just like I've preached about how good Sugababes' greatest hits compilation is, I say the same for this band. Pop music will always welcome a band like Girls Aloud because they not only test the capabilities of pop music, but they embody what it is that makes a great pop band: brilliant execution and their courage to embrace pop music for all its craziness."

IT'S IN THE WAY THAT THEY TALK...

Zander | CAlifornia | 11/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ever since they stampeded their competition, in the begining of their journey on Popstars: The Rivals, these girls have come at us with 13 top ten singles, 10 of which were in the top 5, beating all the previous records held by any girl band. Thus they have decided to come out with this brilliant compilation of all of their hits, plus some new, rare, unreleased material ONLY in this special 2 disc edition. The girls are not popular what-so-ever in the U.S. at all, and listening to this CD will just make you wonder why."

Wrong Tracklisting

M. Dodaro | Ohio, USA | 12/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just to warn anyone who buys this album, the stated tracklisting isn't the correct tracklisting. Though this album is a complete 5 stars album still.

The correct tracklisting is as follows:

CD 1:

1. Sound of the Underground - the girls' 1st amazing up-beat single

2. Love Machine - Everyone loves this song and it's no wonder why, with its tongue-twistingly fast lyrics and catchy tune.

3. Biology - This song blew my mind at first listen. Who else could wait a full 2 minutes before finding a chorus other than Girls Aloud?! Brilliant!

4. No Good Advice - This is when I got interested in Girls Aloud. Amazing

5. I'll Stand By You - To me, the weakest of their singles simply because Girls Aloud do up-beat tracks so much better. Yet this song does show off their vocals more so than other tracks. It must have reached number 1 on the UK singles somehow!

6. Jump - The last single from the re-released Sound of the Underground CD. They pumped up the synth in this track.

7. The Show - To me, a Girls Aloud classic that is addicting beyond words. The synth in the beginning just brings you in for a taste of this overwhelmingly awesome song.

8. See the Day - Slow track and another remake.

9. Wake Me Up - Rocking and thriving 'til the end.

10. Life Got Cold - A slow track yet somehow is faster than the rest of the ballads. Very good song and this is the radio edit of this track.

11. Something Kinda Ooooh - The first single of this Greatest Hits album. Amazing and upbeat

12. Whole Lotta History - My absolute favorite of their ballads. Nicola has her brilliant vocals in the 2nd chorus with an eerily remorseful "Hello. Did you call me?"

13. Long Hot Summer - The first single off their 3rd album "Chemistry". Very fun and a pure summer song

14. Money - A new track for this Greatest Hits album. A very racing beat and catchy tune.

15. I Think We're Alone Now - The Girls latest single. A remake, sure; but the girls do it like no other. They also have a radio edit of this track with an even better beat and different girls on different lines on the single for this track.



CD 2: Rarities

1. No Good Advice (Parental Advisory Version) - They change the words in the pre-chorus from "Shut your mouth because it might show" to "Shut your mouth because your s**t might show"

2. Wake Me Up (Original Version - Different Verse) - The first verse has different lyrics than the previously released version. This was fun to hear!

3. I Predict A Riot (Live from Wembley) - Taken from their brilliant "Greatest Hits - Live at Wembley" DVD. This is their version of Kaiser Chiefs' "I Predict A Riot".

4. Sound of the Underground (Extended Version) - This just has a longer middle 8 with more guitar. It's the same length as the normal version.

5. Hanging on the Telephone - Great new song only available on this special edition double disc Greatest Hits album. A very up-beat catchy song. A remake however

6. Loving Is Easy - A track previously only released on a record. Co-written by one of the girls - Kimberley Walsh. A very good ballad.

7. Singapore (recorded during the Chemistry album) - A very good previously unlreleased, up-beat song that should have been included in the Chemistry album.

8. Sacred Trust (recorded during Popstars: The Rivals)- This is the girls' version of their competitors first single. Nadine takes the lead on all verses.



So once again, this is the correct tracklisting for this double disc version of Girls Aloud's Greatest Hits album. It's definitely worth the money for this version for the bonus disc has some great songs."