Wtorek 28 Paź 2008, 20:26

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514qFXuY0vL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

The Saturdays have, until now, mostly passed me by. Their debut single passed me by and second single 'Up' didn't do a whole lot for me either. If this was supposed to be the comeback of pop then I have to admit I'd been expecting something louder, brasher and altogether more fun.

Approaching the album with some trepidation I maintained my opinion over the first track, incidentally also first single 'If This Is Love' - it's lightweight and throwaway, two things that any act looking to bring about the second coming can't really afford to be.

Second track and, surprise surprise, second single 'Up'. Evidently moving from the chart into an album required the song to acquire additional production along the way, thus you'd be forgiven for wondering why there are additional bleeps and what sounds like a dial tone in the background.

So, the two singles out of the way, how was the rest of the album going to hold up with nothing recognisable between here and the final track, a tacked on remix of 'Up'? Surprisingly well actually. 'Keep Her' keeps the electro-pop vehicle running whilst mixing it up with a chorus that sounds like it belongs on a Kelly Clarkson song.

Attention is inevitably going to fall on the title track and it doesn't disappoint. A floaty mid-tempo that has an irresistibly stirring chorus, you can't help but want to root for the five girls as they trill "I don't wanna waste another night, I don't wanna give up chasing lights". With Girls Aloud and the Sugababes now well past the traditional girl group shelf life and still going strong, The Saturdays have a long road to travel if they want to go half that distance.

Elsewhere 'Work' has a thumping electro beat that suggests the subtle charm of 'Up' is far from a one-off. Resisting the temptation to overload the album with ballads to show off their vocals is also a good move, particularly as those that do appear will have you banging your head at the sheer predictability of the lyrics. For example in 'Issues': "Me and my heart we got issues, don't know if I should hate you or miss you, damn I wish that I could resist you, can't decide if I should slap you or kiss you."

Therefore whilst the likes of 'Up' suggest there could be more to the group than one album and a handful of mild hits, there's certainly not enough conviction that would have you placing bets on it. In truth, the album was probably never intended to be groundbreaking by any stretch of the imagination, but it fulfills the need to maintain interest - a point which just about sums up the album.

There's nothing awful on here but you'd also be hard pressed to find a track to get genuinely excited about. If this really is evidence of the new wave of pop groups then the good news is they've brought less fillers than the typical four-singles-and-ten-tracks-to-make-up-the-numbers package that pop once became saddled with. Unfortunately they've also forgotten to pack that rush of euphoria, the little moments which have you rewinding and replaying tracks over and over.

That said, there is more than enough here to justify paying the £5.99 price tag on iTunes.

6/10