Album- Chasing Lights
Artist- The Saturdays
In 2008 the UK was introduced to The Saturdays, a girl band
who filled the Sugababes, Girls Aloud gap in the market and in the public’s
hearts. Today these girls have continued to have a great career, and are
looking for success in America as well. Here I take a look back at their UK
debut album.
Track 1- If This Is
Love
This first single is a very poppy number that sits in the
middle of up tempo and mid tempo. It’s a light fluffy track that features good
harmonies and introduces them firmly as a pop act. The final chorus is also
great vocally through the use of ad libs and vocal gymnastics, mainly through
band member Vanessa White. The production is also simple but cool, giving a
great backbeat that gives a slight elevation to the force of their vocals.
3.5/5
Track 2- Up
One of their most memorable songs, this dancey number is a
great track. Production wise it is great in that it features a simple continual
electro back beat that makes the song instantly recognisable. The chorus is
fast paced lyrically and vocally, giving a sense of intensity to the track and
highlighting that it is a fun song. The only issue is that vocals are dominated
by two members of the band, so it can perhaps feel as if they maybe aren’t as
tight a group.
4/5
Track 3- Keep Her
The electronic, frenzied production of this track gives a
great sense of bitterness to the song that helps to boost the lyrics of the
song and its message. Vocally the group also shows a great sense of bitterness,
with the verse being more subtly bitter to give an extra kick to the well
harmonised chorus. The track also ends just in time, not being too short but
not too long.
3.5/5
Track 4- Issues
The first down tempo song on the record is a quite acoustic
ballad that contrasts nicely with the sonic production of the previous tracks.
The song is a simple love song that showcases a more vulnerable side of the
band and gives a delicacy to their vocals. The chorus is also simply
constructed so that it is easily memorable, and the final chorus is powerful
through again Whites vocals.
4/5
Track 5- Lies
This is another track that plays to their pop sensibilities
and melds their vocals together well. But it feels like a slight rehash of Keep
Her, with just different lyrics and a more down tempo beat, and so because of
this the track loses its sense of freshness, suggesting to the listener that
they are a mere one trick band.
2.5/5
Track 6- Work
This up tempo track is a very dancey number that is great in
that it showcases not only a rock hard, feisty edge to the band but also
showcases their individual voices well. The simple vocals of the verses
contrasts well with the fast paced collective vocals of the chorus, with the
“ready set go” pre chorus emphasising that this is a fun, shake yourself out
number.
4/5
Track 7- Chasing
Lights
This ballad, the album’s title track, is one of the best on
the record in that it is so simple but this is where its beauty lies. And
lyrically it is interesting, giving a sense of relationship tug of war, which
is enhanced by the vocal. The only issue is that member Vanessa White vocally
dominates this track throughout every second. This might be seen as bad as they
are meant to be a band. However, it could also be simply seen as showcasing
that they know that White is the best singer.
4/5
Track 8- Set Me Off
The acoustic guitar intro of this track sets the pace of
this number. But then the more poppy electronic production gives a nice sense
of the band being certain of what their sound is. The chorus does indeed give a
sense of being set off in love when contrasted with the downplayed verses, with
the final verse giving a great energy to the track through the slight
distortion of band member Una Healy’s vocals.
3.5/5
Track 9- Fall
The piano instrumentation of this track marks this as the
most vulnerable song on the album, and it is a song in which the band vocals
convey the songs message, with production being minimal. It is also a good song
in that it plays to the strengths of the band and allows the more vocally
capable of the band to come to the fore (although they can all sing well). The
collective vocal of the word “fall” near the end of the track also gives a
great sense of openness to the track and shows that they are a solid collective,
and the final note giving a simplistic emotional end.
3.5/5
Track 10- Vulnerable
Featuring a more acoustic type of production than other
songs on this record, this is a great track in that their voices really come
together in the chorus. The verses give a sense of lightness to the track
despite the subject matter, and they showcase individual voices well. The final
verse is given power by the vocals of Vanessa White, whilst the final line of
the song is given a great vulnerable sense through the delicate vocal of member
Mollie King.
3.5/5
Track 11- Why Me, Why
Now
The final proper song on the album is a little bit of a sad
end as it is one of the weakest tracks on the album. The mid tempo setting
seems a bit disjointed as an albums end, and the lyrics and vocals are just a
bit bland. Should have perhaps just been left in the studio or released as a b
side.
2.5/5
Track 12- Up
(Wideboys Remix Edit)
This remixed version of the single up gives a punchy end to
the album and gives a more up tempo, fast paced nature to the track which is a
nice change. It is just a shame that the album ahs to end on a good remix
rather than a good original song.
3.5/5
Final Review
With this album The Saturdays showed that whilst they were
never going to be a groundbreaking pop act, they very much knew who they were
as band in terms of style and sound, and with great vocals, assured production
and some interesting but simple lyrical content, they established there place
firmly in the music market.
7/10
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