Lopez Blogs

I do like a good boy band album I do. And I appreciate it even more when it's a boy band with longevity who has honed their craft over the course of many albums and tours and come back with something rather spectacular. Or at least a solid collection of tunes. Two of my faves (one from the early millenium, one taking over from them a few years later) have recently put out their latest albums and jolly fine they are too. Boy bands rule!

McFly ~ Above The Noise:

You will probably have heard a lot of "noise" (ho ho) about McFly's latest album being a bit of a departure into the electro-synth sound; working with Dallas Austin; having Taio Cruz guest, etc. And how this has essentially changed their sound. This is very true - it has changed their sound, but it's not genre specific. Embracing synths, electro beats and a funkier vibe has completely freed up the boys and they do sound more glorious than ever. Remember Buffy The Vampire Slayer? In year four, it wasn't really as good as it used to be and while there were some outstanding moments ("hush"; "this year's girl") it was essentially treading water. Then year five came along and it was all inventive, reinvented and utterly quite brilliant. Above The Noise is McFly's Buffy, Year 5.

The album kicks off with End Of The World - a track as grandiose, theatrical and cabaret infused as anything they have attempted before. It sets up the album as something of a thematic album - those super McFly boys saving the world, one damsel in distress at a time and thus, Above The Noise works well as both a jolly good album and a jolly good concept album. It's an energetic, effusive track and one that launches their return with gusto. It leads into the (by now familiar) single Party Girl, whose down and dirty beats sound even better in the confines of the album. iF U C Kate (ooo those little scamps) is actually quite a sweet love song, despite the saucy title. It's a million miles from Britney's If You Seek Amy in terms of music and flows melodically like a smooth brook on a summer's day. It actually weaves both lyrically and musically into the current single - the better and better with each listen marvel that is Shine A Light. It's number 3 in the midweeks and rightly so - a gorgeous track that just shimmers as a midtempo ballad and acts as a fine showcase for their vocals and instrumental unity. Tremendous chorus that just flies from the speakers and hovvers in the ether long after the song has finished.

There are a number of synthy Prince inspired love songs littering the album that are actually veering on heavenly. I'll Be Your Man is the type of ballad that every guy/girl would love to have McFly sing to them, while the motown harmonies of I Need A Woman show a new maturity from the boys both lyrically and in terms of knowing how to successfully experiment with new genres. Elsewhere, their proven knowledge of putting out a chorus as catchy as a winter cold is evidenced in single worthy songs like This Song, which practically effervesces pop goodness in front of your eyes and the album closer Foolish, which brings their hunt for their preferred lady friend full circle. It's a tremendously enjoyable album, recognisably McFly but also different enough that there is a frisson of excitement and adventure built into each track. Je t'adore...

A1 ~ Waiting For Daylight:

Hurrah! A1 have returned after years in the wilderness (although I'd followed both Ben - who put out some promising solo stuff and had ace hair & Christian - vg solo albums and fine christmas album plus also ace hair) as a threesome (fancy losing Paul) and essentially build on and perfect the sound they were honing on their last album Caught In The Middle. Weirdly, I've always thought that album was perhaps a bit too ahead of it's time - it saw the poppy-dancey boy band embrace instruments and a more organic sound. Songs like the title track and Make It Good were some of their best tunes, but like my beloved BB Mak, it was a bit too early (though it certainly benefitted McFly a few years later). Their fourth album proper is a solid return, full of soaring pop tunes crafted around solid knowledge of melody and engaging instrumentation.

The three singles already released from this opus are of course instantly familiar, yet still sound fresh and breezy some months on. Take You Home and Don't Wanna Lose You Again both have an energy and drive to their beat, each with a solid memorable chorus and a punchy vocal style that catches this listener straight away and draws them into the new A1 world. The standout single (for me) is their latest, the glorious, screams worldwide smash, In Love & I Hate It - it's reminiscent of a Coldplay stadium pleaser and the tradeoff of vocals between Christian and Ben works really well. There are a couple of other single ready tunes that are have a bit of an A-Ha influence to them - album opener, It Happens Every Day, is a fine introduction for the set and, as previously stated, continues the sound they layed out on their last album. This has more of a rock edge to the proceedings as does Six Feet Under with some surprisingly adept falsetto vocals.

The album is mixed up a bit with some nods to electronica - Bad Enough has a throbbing beat and a relentless rhythm to it that soon invades the synapses. 80s influences continue on Good Things Bad People and like all decent 80s inspired tracks lately, it has one foot in the 80s but one foot definitely giving the track a modern twist that is most pleasing. Ballad fans will be disappointed that there is only one traditional ballad on the album - but it's a doozy. The title track closes out the album and is a beautifully arranged, emotive track that shows the pain and heartache that can occur after a difficult breakup. Some insightful lyrics and a glorious chorus really bring this track to life. Overall, it's a brilliant return for the multi-national boyband who have really grown up and presented the world with a solid collection of singalong anthems. Tres bon.