Sophie Ellis-Bextor has one of the most distinctive voices in dance pop, namely because she manages to actually retain her British accent into her songs, while most people end up sounding like they could be from any English-speaking country. Returning here with her third album, the third of the "ips" (Read my LIPS, Shoot from the HIP, TRIP the Light Fantastic), it's the follow-up to her mostly disappointing 2003 album. Here Sophie turns down the beat in favor of mostly mid-tempo pop songs, with mixed results.
The album starts of nicely enough with the energetic electro first single "Catch You," followed by the album's best cut, the disco/house throwback "Me and My Imagination," which sees Sophie return to the clubby sound that made big in the early '00s. (Isn't it nice that you can type '00s without having to pronounce it? How do you say "'00s?). It's a really great song and it's shame it wasn't a hit.
The album's other '70s-inspired number, "Love Is Here" is another highlight. It's light and breezy and definitely disco, although not as clubby as "...Imagination." I guess it should come as no surprise that the track is co-written (with Sophie) by Dan Gillespie Sells, frontman for her husband Richard Jones' band The Feeling, who's debut album last year had its fair show of '70s influence. Sells also helps out on peppy "Only One," another highlight among the surprisingly MOR tracks.
Some of the mid-tempo stuff does work, like "Today the Sun's on Us," which has been chosen at press time as the third single. It's one of those "don't be so down" type songs ("Don't let your shadow spoil the view of what's around you"). Also good is electro/'80s-sounding "The Distance Between Us," which is so slow you could probably slow dance to it if you wanted to. It's got a good bass groove though.
After that, the songs are decidedly so-so. "New York City Lights" and "China Heart" are electro/dance-pop in the "Catch You" vein but not as engaging or memorable. "If I Can't Dance" is stripped down and fairly good, but not a standout in my opinion. Same goes with "If You Go"--fine, but not classic. The weakest tracks are "New Flame," which fails to generate any heat and "What Have we Started," which has a promising, driving bass pulse, but ends up being too dramatic.
In a nice twist, the two bonus tracks end up being pretty decent, particularly clubby "Supersonic," which is co-written by none other than former B-52's member Fred Schneider.
Overall it's definitely better than Shoot from the Hip, but it gets bogged down into too many mid-tempo songs that just aren't as satisfying. Next time hopefully she'll up the BPMs and give us that "Groovejet" feeling again.
Best: Me and My Imagination, Love is Here, Catch You, The Distance Between Us, Today the Sun's on Us, Supersonic
The album starts of nicely enough with the energetic electro first single "Catch You," followed by the album's best cut, the disco/house throwback "Me and My Imagination," which sees Sophie return to the clubby sound that made big in the early '00s. (Isn't it nice that you can type '00s without having to pronounce it? How do you say "'00s?). It's a really great song and it's shame it wasn't a hit.
The album's other '70s-inspired number, "Love Is Here" is another highlight. It's light and breezy and definitely disco, although not as clubby as "...Imagination." I guess it should come as no surprise that the track is co-written (with Sophie) by Dan Gillespie Sells, frontman for her husband Richard Jones' band The Feeling, who's debut album last year had its fair show of '70s influence. Sells also helps out on peppy "Only One," another highlight among the surprisingly MOR tracks.
Some of the mid-tempo stuff does work, like "Today the Sun's on Us," which has been chosen at press time as the third single. It's one of those "don't be so down" type songs ("Don't let your shadow spoil the view of what's around you"). Also good is electro/'80s-sounding "The Distance Between Us," which is so slow you could probably slow dance to it if you wanted to. It's got a good bass groove though.
After that, the songs are decidedly so-so. "New York City Lights" and "China Heart" are electro/dance-pop in the "Catch You" vein but not as engaging or memorable. "If I Can't Dance" is stripped down and fairly good, but not a standout in my opinion. Same goes with "If You Go"--fine, but not classic. The weakest tracks are "New Flame," which fails to generate any heat and "What Have we Started," which has a promising, driving bass pulse, but ends up being too dramatic.
In a nice twist, the two bonus tracks end up being pretty decent, particularly clubby "Supersonic," which is co-written by none other than former B-52's member Fred Schneider.
Overall it's definitely better than Shoot from the Hip, but it gets bogged down into too many mid-tempo songs that just aren't as satisfying. Next time hopefully she'll up the BPMs and give us that "Groovejet" feeling again.
Best: Me and My Imagination, Love is Here, Catch You, The Distance Between Us, Today the Sun's on Us, Supersonic
2 comments:
Dan Gillespie Sells is NOT Sophie's husband. Richard Jones is Sophie's husband. Both Dan and Richard are members of "The Feeling"
Yikes! Thanks for the heads up. I'll fix it immediately.
Post a Comment