Oh so middle-of-road Amy Winehouse / DuffyI haven't read the other reviews on here (don't want to be influenced by them), but I bet more than one person has mentioned that this gorgeous, slinky little album is more than a little reminiscent of both Amy Winehouse and Duffy. In fact, it's a bit embarrassing to admit to buying this album as it's probably been put together by the producers who thought: "Hmm, Amy Winehouse and Duffy are huge at the moment - how can we produce something that's really similar, but aimed at the slightly less edgy audience. Kind of like Amy W but without the alleged drugs and bashing people in public." I imagine this is doing really well on radio stations aimed at 30- and 40-somethings. Smooth, effective vocals - there's nothing new or unexpcted on this album - but I still have been listening to it loads!
My first Sharleen-related purchase [G W Hope's son reviewing.] I had never been a huge fan of Texas, but I always really enjoyed the classics such as "I Don't Want A Lover," "In Demand" and "Say What You Want" when I was younger. I always thought Sharleen had a fantastic voice so I bought this album upon the strength of the first single "All The Times I Cried."
I'm extremely glad I bought it; in my opinion I found it even slightly better than that of Duffy or Amy Winehouse, to who Spiteri is similarly compared to throughout this album [sure, she's had some negativity for it, but the girl does a fantastic job]. My only complaint, which has already been made by many, is that the album is too short! I don't have a problem with the length of the tracks but it would have been nice if a few more tracks had been included, as I'm also sure they would have been up to a high quality and standard.
Spiteri has already proved that she is very talented as a singer and a musician, but futhermore reveals her talent with this album: she co-wrote every track on the album and also produced every track, while also providing the instrumentation on some tracks along with her fantastic band. As already mentioned, her vocals are in great shape too. Some of my favourites are the incredibly catchy opening track and second single, "It Was You" with its catchy, irresistable hook, my particular favourite, the Motown 60s inspired "Don't Keep Me Waiting" is extremely fun to listen to! Title track "Melody" and closing song "Francoise," which is one of the two songs Sharleen wrote alone on the album (the other being "Where Did It Go Wrong?"), are also standouts.
To sum it up, this is a brave and brilliant debut effort from Spiteri and if you like the music of Duffy and Winehouse or any 60s act back in their day (Gabriella Cilmi is also another obvious contender, along with Adele), don't hesitate to buy this record - even if you weren't too fond of Texas' music!
a melody! a harmony! a perfect album!as the voice of glaswegian pop/rock texas sharleen gave us some amazing recordings!
with a lost of interest in the band(their last album "red book" was stunning and deserved to a lot better) sharleen is steeping out on her own!
the lyrics for every song as brilliant...(i do like reading them as i listen!) full of references to lost love and moving on!
the album has a heavy 60's vibe aka diana ross and the supremes in their heyday...produced to perfection so it doesnt sound dated!
a stunner of an album vocally, lyrically and musically!
track by track
"it was you" is like diana ross and the supremes in the new millenium..classic sound..unmistakeable sharleen vocals 9/10
"all the times i cried" was the first single and didn't do as much as i expected..but then i think people where waiting for the album which is selling very well 9/10
"stop" has a big band feel and heard once it sticks in your head 9/10
"melody" sounds like a 60's james bond theme..big on sweeping strings..great 8/10
"i wonder" has more a texas vibe and is another great track 9/10
"i'm gonna haunt you" is sharleen doing "these boots where made for walkin in" slighty country and western and could be a hit if released as a single 10/10
"don't keep me waiting" is another motown sounding track...8/10
"you let me down" is an acoustic country sounding track..almost like dusty springfield...vocally brilliant 9/10
"where did it go wrong" is another motown sounding classic...you can almost see the supremes singing it 9/10
"day tripping" has the same vibe as "i don't want a lover" but with a big band sound 9/10
"francoise" reminds me of "unchained melody" a beautiful end tostunning album
a perfect album!
Remarkably goodI always quite liked Texas but wouldn't call myself a fan (I have a couple of albums), but I saw Sharleen on the One Show (Why isn't there a cover of the One Show theme on here?) and liked both her and the track she sang at the end (think it was All The Times I Cried).
I didn't rush out and buy the CD, but when I got a pound off voucher I decided to put it towards this album and I must say I'm glad I did.
All the tracks are good (I especially like Francoise and You Let Me Down, but there's no filler material, which I rarely feel), her voice (if you like it) sounds as good as ever and the CD is a winner all round, growing on me more every time I listen to it (got it in the car and on my MP3 player currently, so it gets listened to quite a lot).
If you've got a few quid and want an enjoyable (if not exactly challenging) CD, this is as good a place to spend it as any IMO.
An album to savourHaving only been a fan of Texas for the last 8 years or so, it feels as though I have almost watched their slow descent - their last two albums, CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR and REDBOOK seemed not to get the appreciation they deserved, so it was with a little trepidation that I purchased Sharleen's first solo outing. Having now had the album for a week, I can heartily say that I should not have worried. MELODY is brilliant.
The opening track, "It Was You" is a fantastic way to open an album. Although it is a breakup song, the uptempo beat means that it is not depressing. And this track really sets a precdent for the ones to come - the mood is set. As others have already said, there is a very obvious retro feel to the album, and the vast majority of songs are about relationships coming to an end, rather than celebrating how good love can be. However, despite this focus on the more painful side of love, the album does not feel too suffocating. The fabulous track, "Melody", provides the needed lift - the song is just brilliant; it seems to drip with optimism, its relatively laid back tempo lulling you along.
Sharleen should be very proud of this first solo offering - it goes to show that she is a very talented singer / songwriter, with or without Texas.
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