Thursday, 25 July 2013

Stooshe- London with the Lights On Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Album- London with the Lights On

Artist- Stooshe

A manufactured pop group created by writer/manager Jo Perry, Stooshe, consisting of Courtney Rumbold, Alexandra Buggs and Karis Anderson, are a girl group who pride themselves on powerful harmonies and a great chemistry mixed in with an undeniable quirkiness and a throwback sound. Initially potty mouthed and a bit crazy, the girl’s image is reigned a little for this debut, but they still have enough sparkle and sass to suggest that they can really dominate the pop music world through offering something different musically. However, with the girls careers rising and dipping over the past year, the jury’s out on whether this album is worth the public’s money.  

Track 1- Slip

Album opener slip is the third single from the record and one of the new tracks for the record created after the album leaked before its release. The song is also the single that aimed to rejuvenate the band after the release of their TLC cover Waterfalls that failed to reach the top 20 of the UK singles chart and which they have now disowned. The song is a vibrant pop tune that is a great song in showing off the girls sassy personalities, as they lyrically call out their partners for getting too comfortable in the relationship and not acting the same loving way they once did. It’s a strong lyrical message that is given power through the simple, doo woppy chorus that is instantly catchy, and it is also a really nice track in how each member takes an equal role individually in the vocal performance, and then come together for a slick blend of harmonies in the chorus, with the ad libbing in the final chorus making for a strong finish.  Furthermore, we have a strong catchy tune in the way that the production blends the modern pop sensibility with an 80’s motown groove that comes with a funky bass line and a nice, slowed down moment in the bridge that makes great use of horns. If they were going to pick a song to better themselves after Waterfalls, then this is a good choice.

3.5/5

Track 2- Love Me (featuring Travie McCoy)

The debut single from the girls is a track that has been re worked for a more radio friendly sound, removing the expletives and bringing on board Travie McCoy for a cool guest feature. The song showcases the girls zany personalities as it lyrically focuses on how this guy is really hot and he just needs to show them some love quickly, and despite the lack of expletives, it is clear they don’t mean the flowers and fancy restaurants kind of love. Harmonies are strong in the silky smooth and catchy chorus, with McCoy provided a nice small rap feature that provides a cool male voice in the track, and overall each member gets to show off their vocal prowess here. The production is bubbling with twinkling notes and a simple backbeat that just gives a nice bobbing rhythm that goes nicely in contrasting with the craziness of some of the lyrics, and with the cool ending of ‘hey diddle diddle my cat needs a fiddle’, this is great as it shows they are more than the average girl band.

3.5/5

Track 3- Black Heart

Their biggest hit to date and the second single of the record is a Motown inspired ballad that shows a completely different side of the group from the previous track and goes much deeper emotionally. With a lyrical sentiment that many girls will identify, Stooshe sing of this man whose games they are tired of, with the chorus focusing on the girls telling us how he is a monster with a black heart. It’s a really catchy chorus that has a memorable quality, and this memorable quality also comes out not just in the strong lyrical content but with the impeccable harmonies of the group that are loaded with emotions, and this is a particularly strong song in showing the tone and range of their voices. The drumbeats and finger snapping groove of the track paints Stooshe as reminiscent of some of the girl bands of yesteryear, and just gives a sound that works well in creating a groove to the track but really bringing that emotional level of the song to the fore.

3.5/5

Track 4- Jimmy

The motown groove continues with this track which ups the tempo a little from the previous track and acts as a good choice in terms of the placement on the record. This is because as the girls lyrically speak of their tiredness and complete annoyance at this guy Jimmy who just isn’t the right man for them and should show them real love if he really wants them, the song has a tone of vengeance that makes it feel like it could be a bit of a sequel to Black Heart. The song is perhaps not as catchy as the other songs in terms of the chorus, but it has enough flavour to sound really good, with the ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ motif being memorable and the spoken bridge section being a fun slice of sass that is cool and unexpected and shows how this is an innovative girl group. Once again the band is on fine form vocally, although the power in their voices doesn’t come out as strong here, and the production, with its clattering drum tones and jazzy notes is nice but not as catchy as previous offerings.

3/5 

Track 5- My Man Music

Things take a cool reggae turn with this fun summery number that has become a staple of Stooshe’s live shows. The vibrancy of the girls is out full force with this track that is a both a love song and a homage to the power of music as the lyrics find the girls talking about the power of music on them and their love of different sounds, the chorus having a reggae toned dance routine for us to party along with. The verses are vocally silky smooth, whilst the chorus is punchy with it sassy, island flecked tones that are so catchy, and you will get your waist firmly wound up. The punchiness and catchiness of the song is also really helped by the production with its rattling tone and horn usage that just creates a reggae, swaying rhythm that makes for a really nice tune perfect for the summer.

3.5/5

Track 6- Kiss Chase

Beginning with a funky guitar rhythm before going into this snappy electronic based tone that brings back a bit of the Motown flavour to the girls, track number six ups the tempo even more and is full of energy. Stooshe firmly put on the role of confident and sassy girls as they sing of how this boy won’t be safe, as he is going to feel their kiss and love and can never get away from them. The vocals are strong once again, with Courtney performing a powerful vocal in the bridge that makes the final chorus a little bit more fun, and once again their strong vocal performances are matched by the equally strong production which features a great use of frenzied beats and also provides a great finish to the track in terms of toning down the bridge to a simple guitar based sound.

3.5/5

Track 7- Round 2

The girls show a bit more emotional vulnerability at this point in the record as they put on the roles of girls who have messed up in a relationship by acting a bit of a fool and just tricking their man, but now they regret that they acted that way and basically want another chance to prove how much they love this guy, using the metaphor of fighting in a boxing ring to convey this sentiment. It’s a strong lyrical message that works well in its sense of honest simplicity, with the chorus immediately having a catchy quality. The song is strong vocally and is really great in that it shows off their voices really nicely, with the falsetto’s used here sounding really nice and giving the track a lightness that is catchy and contrasts well with the emotion of the song. The production on the song works nicely in creating a light sound that furthers the songs catchiness, but also has enough of a sombre tone to make the emotion of the song come out potently, featuring a great blend of piano, strings, synths and drums that all sounds great.

3.5/5

Track 8- Hoochi Mumma

With this song I would say the girls show their zany personalities of most prominently, shown from how the song crazily begins, and this is probably the song that is most reminiscent of where the girls were musically before they were signed to a label. Lyrically the song is a funny pop number that speaks of Stooshe warning you against this woman who doesn’t work, loves to drinks and have fun, and is sexually promiscuous, with the chorus focusing on how she will trap men and get their money by getting pregnant. As I write this down I realise how weird this song sounds lyrically, but Stooshe really do create a song that is so catchy and full of life that it is intoxicating, with the bridge section featuring some cool rapping from member Courtney that makes for a great end to the track, with the final moments of that bridge just being so funny. This song shows that this is an exciting pop group, who creates fun lyrics that are blended nicely with lush vocals and production that is snappy with its drumbeats and bandstand rhythm and notes that just gets you joining in with the happy, light tone.

3.5/5

Track 9- Your Own Kind of Beautiful

Things take a bit of a turn from the relationship based songs with this mid tempo tune that tries to be inspirational but feels a little weak against the vibrancy of the other tracks. The song is lyrically based in not letting other people get you down and just need to find your own way in the world without listening to what others may think. Vocally the band sound nice with the light harmonies blending well and member Alexandra showing off some vocal power in the bridge. The production is also good, with a cool 60’s based sound that is completely with finger snapping drumbeats and shows how the girls seem to be really influenced by girl groups of the musical past. Yet whilst it all sounds nice, it doesn’t impact you in the way that such an inspirational tune should, and the lyrics employ one too many clichés. So some people may find this an empowering anthem for themselves, especially if their bug Stooshe fans, but otherwise this is just too simple a song that tries to hard to be inspirational.

2.5/5

Track 10- Put the Kettle On

The second of the three new tracks recorded after the album leaked online, Put the Kettle On brings things back to a fun and sassy level that is also based in an old school vibe. Stooshe are feisty here where they basically tell this guy to just step up and show them some love, because it’s as easy as ABC. Vocally the girls harmonise sound so on point here it is perhaps a bit ridiculous, whilst each member also brings some real vocal power, with Buggs providing a fragile vocal in the bridge that makes for that final let loose chorus. The whistling melody and funky beats of the production are really good and just creates a stomping sound that adds to the fun of the track.

3.5/5

Track 11- Perfectly Wrong

Opening with a swishing string led piece, Stooshe signal from the outset that this is an emotionally loaded tune from the very beginning. Luckily for a change the strings don’t lead us into a heartbreak ballad, but instead we are treat to a mid tempo track that is an expression of love, as the girls tell this guy makes them crazy and he is wrong in so many ways, but he feels so good. The bridge could do with a bit of work as the repeated lyrical content feels annoying despite the stylish use of the production in toning things down at that point. Member Courtney is definitely the best here vocally, with each of the girls giving a light tone that shows off the idea of them really being in this state of love. The clattering drum beats and feathery tone of the strings make for a dramatic but happy feeling track that just comes across as this really sweet statement of love.

3.5/5

Track 12- See Me Like This

Whilst the last track showed the girls in this loved up state, this track firmly places them in an angry state, as they state that this boy said he would love them but has treat them wrong through his wandering eye, and he basically does not want to see them in the emotional state that they are in. The lyrics do have a bit of bite to them but the chorus isn’t as catchy as you want it to be, and the girls vocally are good but there is a bit of a lack of funny wit coming through and so in certain respects they come across as these whining teenage girls. The soulful, funky groove of the production that is brought out prominently through the use of horns is good, but ultimately not enough to make this as dynamic a tune as some of the other offerings the girls give us.

3/5

Track 13- Fly Again

The last of the post album leak recorded tracks and the only track not to be produced by Future Cut, Fly Again is a really stripped back affair that shows a truly vulnerable edge to the girls that acts as a powerful piece against all the zany sass that is on offer. The song deals with the end of a relationship where Stooshe play the roles of these questioning girls who wonder if their love can be brought back in the way that it once was. The girls sound really powerful and touching vocally, with member Karis acting as the main vocalist who brings a delicate vocal that feels heartfelt, whilst all three come together to give the song some smoothness through their harmonies. The production is kept simple and understated with a lush piano led melody, and so this is a pure track that shows how the girls are still vulnerable despite their vibrant personas

3.5/5

Track 14- Turning Me On

Instead of ending the record on a typical ballad the band remind us that they all about the sassy swag and utter confidence with this track that is a bit sensual and finds the girls lyrically really complimenting this guy and telling him that they basically want him for some loving, whilst also guaranteeing that he will have a good time. The song has a cool RnB vibe that feels a little reminiscent of 90’s girl groups and is given power by the layering of the vocals and great harmonisation that sounds like what silk feels: really good. It’s a great track to finish with, with the production having a clattering drum beat driven sound that creates cool swaying rhythm, and which is stripped back a bit at the end for simple strings and piano that shows what is really the centrepiece of this record: how great this trio is vocally.

3.5/5

Final Review

Girl bands seem to be a staple of the British music scene today, and as such it can be difficult for new ones to break into and make a name for themselves in the music business. But with this debut Stooshe impressively show that they have enough pizazz and power to dominate the music world. This is because they load there music with a sense of fun and sass that is extremely appealing, and when this is coupled with vocals that are feature lush harmonies and sound like a girl group that mean business, it creates a concoction that produces a dynamic and rich album. Some people may say the sass and fun is too much, but those people are just boring, and if they don’t reach the heights of other girl groups in terms of the success, these girls should be proud, because they’ve cultivated a unique sound that makes them not bland and which offers a refreshing take to the idea of a girl group (and I’m not just referring to the fact that there’s only three when normally there’s four or five).

Best Track- My Man Music

Worst Track- Your Own Kind of Beautiful

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