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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