Thursday, 25 July 2013

Mcfly- Above the Noise Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Album- Above the Noise

Artist- Mcfly

Since debuting with their hit single “Five Colours In Her Hair”, Mcfly have been a staple of the British music scene with their infectious pop rock sound and keen ear for a catchy lyric. But since their last record end their streak of top ten hits, it seemed that the group potentially we fading in terms of musical stardom. Teaming up with Dallas Austin, a leader of today’s music scene, the band build a different sound with this record, showing more pop sensibilities and having more of a concept in the record as a whole, whilst still holding to that rock edge. But was this really a good change for the group, is this really just the album that signals they should maybe split?

Track 1- End of the World

The opening number acts as this futuristic and cinematic track that gives a bold energy to the record right from the beginning. The track begins with a female, robotic vocal that acts as a film moment in which she speaks of the band entering this place and almost setting them up as the saviours of earth. Lyrically the track is summed up within the title, and at first it can come across as if the band are a bit paranoid, but after a while you get the sense that this is actually a much simpler tune about the end of a relationship. Vocally both Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones are strong here, having smooth but rock based tones that meld together nicely in terms of the different sections and have this innate appeal. But definitely the best bit of the track is the production, which is courtesy of Austin and samples “War of the Worlds” by Jeff Wayne. The production features this cool blend of electronic tones with simple rock energy, with forceful drum beats that get you excited. The middle section and final section of the track are also powerful in terms of the rock energy with the catchy electric guitar solos, and the vocal layering is also really cool, by the end making you really invested in the overall energy of the track.

3.5/5

Track 2- Party Girl

From the title of the track you can easily expect this track to have a high energy level, and the band definitely delivers this. The records lead single, Party Girl is a quite simple electro pop tune that acted as an exhibition of a change in sound for the group at the time, with their regular sound having more of a pop rock vibe. The lyrics of the track find the band describing this scenario in which this woman comes into the room and just has this sex appeal that is captivating and finds the group in this love-struck state. The “oh oh” hook of the track is really catchy and the chorus has a nice simplicity that makes for a memorable quality within the track, which is helped by the vocals of Jones and Fletcher, who bring light vocal tones and a nice vibrancy to the track. Production wise we are treated to a stomping dance sound that is synth heavy and is nicely intermixed with cool guitar riffs and just has a totally propulsive energy. The track does lose its zest a little at the end with the repetition, and in today’s pop world the track has a little bit too much of a familiar quality, but otherwise this is a nice pop tune that finds the band going in a new direction, but a direction that ultimately suits them.

3.5/5

Track 3- IF U C Kate

Electronic Mcfly firmly continues with this mid tempo offering that finds the singers seemingly in another love-struck state. However, whilst the previous track lyrically showed this girl as almost a vampire, the girl the group describes here is a much more sweeter entity, but still as captivating, and the chorus simply finds the group asking us to tell her that they want her, if we see her. At first the retro quality of the track with its synth based energy feels a bit too bland, potentially just the group jumping on the musical bandwagon, as the time of the records release was a time when a synth based sound was in. However as the track continues, you become enveloped in the vibrancy of the tune, and the light vocal tones of the singers once again really draw you in. Jones also really gives a kick to the final section with some strong ad libs, and the chorus has an undeniably catchy quality. It may have been a familiar sound at the time, but by the end of this tune you can pretty much get the idea that in the case of this group the sound suits them, rather than just being a sound chosen to ensure chart success.

3.5/5

Track 4- Shine a Light (featuring Taio Cruz)

The only feature on the album, Taio Cruz brings his cool vocals to this track which has ultimately become the group’s bestselling tune, with the 2006 charity single “All About You” only bettering it. It is pretty simple to see why, as this is a delicious pop tune that has a hopeful one mingled with a small touch of potential sadness, and finds both artists on fine vocal form. The lyrics of the track find the group in a sentimental mood about missing an ex, and this wistful note is powerfully helped by the vocals of the two artists, with Mcfly bringing their signature pop rock sound and mixing this well with the smooth, slight RnB notes of Cruz. The “eh, eh’ eh” hook is extremely catchy, and when based in the signature, squelchy synths of Cruz, we get a sound that is quite irresistible and a perfect slice of pop.

4/5

Track 5- I’ll Be Your Man

The group slows things down for this kind of lighters in the air tune that shows a little bit of sensuality and also has a small tinge of slow in terms of its slow building energy. Whilst the last tune was a little wistful, this song is built on a more traditional love note, as Tom Fletcher sings of the greatness of this girl and how he will always be there for her. It’s a nice sentiment, but it does come across a little cliché and soppy as the song goes on. Fletcher takes on sole vocal duties for the track, and offers a nice use of falsetto which layers the track with a sweet edge, although at times his voice feels a little strained. Whilst the vocals and lyrics are a bit touch and go in quality, the production is just really good, with the simple drum beats and kind of shimmering guitar riffs just giving a chilled, swaying mood that makes for an appealing listen, with the electric guitar solo in the middle section being another slice of cool rock moments in the bands pop world.

3.5/5

Track 6- Nowhere Left to Run

When the band says they have nowhere left to run, this is a thoroughly metaphorical statement. This is because this track is basically a simple love song about how the male protagonist can’t live without this girl and just needs her love. The track is one of the poorest tracks in terms of the lyrical quality, as the hook isn’t as strong as the previous numbers, and many lines are just too repetitive. The track is also poor vocally, as both Jones and Fletcher feel like they are straining their voices and yelling rather than singing, with the Auto Tune seemingly used to combat this sounding grating and annoying rather than appealing. Only the production is something to find good, with the twangy guitar riff and steady back beat giving a nice pace to the track and really building nicely in the chorus with the use of some electronic beats as well.

2.5/5

Track 7- I Need a Woman

A soulful and almost country quality to the group is exhibited within this track that has a more acoustic feel and is another song that is built upon this idea of love. The lyrical concept is something that is once again summed up in the title: the guys are looking for a woman who can fulfil their needs, and this girl seems to be a nice fit, being all they want and need. The concept is executed nicely with a strong pop chorus, and vocally this is a much better offering, as the two lead vocalists have nice separate duties that meld well together, Fletcher providing a soft tone in the verses and Jones giving a bit of a kick with a rough and gritty vocal that makes what he is singing feel that little bit more sincere. Sampling The Temptations “My Girl” and including a riff from “Supreme” by Robbie Williams, the track is a little bit more of a pop rock affair than the previous numbers, and just has this cool rhythm that is one you can both chill to and get excited about.

3.5/5

Track 8- That’s the Truth

Track number 8 and the records third single was the first single by the group not to reach the top twenty of the UK music charts. However, since the release lacked promotion due to member Dougie Poynter entering rehab at the time, it’s not really the songs false. The track very much fall into the typical anthemic boy band ballad territory, but the song still has a catchy quality with the simple but strong chorus and so the cliché of the sound can be forgiven. Lyrically the track is all about the guys telling the girl that she is loved and shouldn’t listen to what others say, instead she should just trust in her man. Both Fletcher and Jones provide strong vocal performances within the track, harmonising well in certain sections and each giving an almost kind of desperate tone to the track. Production wise Austin and Jason Perry bring a string orchestra and simple rock vibe to the track that is a change from the electronics of previous singles, and is nice, although perhaps because of the production the track feels that bit typical, and so although it goes with the heartfelt sentiment, it might have been cool to see what some synths would have done to the tune.

3/5

Track 9- Take Me There

Mcfly definitely seem to be the band all about how great this girl is when it comes to this record. This is because here we are treated to another musical offering where the guys just praise this girl and how she makes them feel alive, and just ask to be taken to her level of awesomeness. It’s simple sweet message that is centred around a nice hook, and although in no way innovative and a little repetitive, the group still manage to create a tune that has appeal. Jones is really strong in terms of the vocals, with the final chorus having a really power to it, whilst Fletcher simply sings three lines and offers a nice lightness in contrast to Jones. The production is another typical electro pop rock element driven number with the steady drum beats and cool electronic bass line, with the guitar transitions being the catchiest moments and all just creating a sound that allows the sweetness of the song to shine.

3.5/5

Track 10- This Song

Loved up Mcfly comes out once again with this track, although the lyrics do have a little bit of a sexual edge. The track finds the guys singing about how somewhere in the world people are doing things whilst with this song, whilst asking this girl to wrap her legs around them and they can just lose control. Fletcher is the main vocalist on the track and tries to bring charisma to the track by employing a falsetto vocal, yet whilst this is nice, it is not enough to hide the fact that the lyrical content is very poor and clichéd, having no real catchy quality. The happy production is also heavily clichéd boy band material with the light electro synths and steady drum beat intermingled with acoustic guitar riffs that all makes for a traditional pop rock sound that tries to be appealing and in doing so ultimately fails, with the song also being really dragged out in terms of the instrumental middle section.

2/5

Track 11- Foolish

The final track is another moderate tempo affair that feels very much like a number of other pop biy bands could have produced. The track is basically all about how this girl is great, and how the guys can’t live without her, but at the same time there is this sense of them wanting to be distant from her because they have lost themselves a little. Pop rock is the production here with simple drums and guitar that just comes across as bland, and Fletcher offers vocals that are sweet and nice enough but bring no emotional investment to the tune.

Final Review

Above the Noise seems to be an album of two halves: the first half of the record finds the group pushing themselves sonically and creating some of their best material today whilst not running the risk of compromising who they are as a group. The second half is a really bad divergence from electronic sounds to more organic Mcfly of old, and whilst this would have worked quite a few years ago, it now just sounds like terrible boy band material that has just been giving to them and could have been produced by any other boy band, with the last two songs making for a real terrible end. If they are going to stand any chance of having good album success and not just single success in the future they need to produce a record that has more of a cohesive essence in sound and doesn’t going into the levels of cliché that the latter songs in this collection do.

5/10

Best Track- Shine a Light (featuring Taio Cruz)

Worst Track- This Song

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