Lopez Blogs

Spring has all but sprung. Except for yesterday when it was raining quite heavily while i was outside in just a shirt (not just a shirt, i had trousers, etc., on too of course) and left my feeling quite see through and nippular. Let's not pause over mother nature's cruel sense of humour though - there is music to be heard so pop on your listening ears and pay attention...

Lenka ~ Roll With The Punches: I am shamefully behind on Lenka, take two. The lead off single was out at the tail end of last year and I completely missed it. This is shockingly unforgiveable when you consider Lenka is an artist who came out with debut single so charming and bold that it had the lyrics in "i want my money back, i want my money back"... in a song called The Show!! And had the confidence to know that people would only be singing it in a self aware ironic way at her concerts. Marvelous. She then whizzed ahead with a delightful debut album and a gorgeous Christmas song (All My Bells Are Ringing), and now has decided to sally forth with new music for her forthcoming second album. Roll With The Punches is almost a teaching aid on how to deal with life once it (as it so often does) gives you a swift kick in the knackers - and frankly what could be a better treatment than this vibrant dose of endearing pop majesty?? Lenka makes the most of her engaging vocal style and her ability to make tune she touches eminently catchy and as a result Roll With The Punches is a fine introduction to the next stage of career. Delicious :)


Lena ~ Taken By A Stranger: Good gracious! Not content with winning last year's eurovision song contest with the oddly wonderful and wonderfully odd Satellite, Lena (Meyer-Landrut) is the first person in 50 years to represent her country twice in a row! She performed 12 new songs to the adoring German public (all of which make up her new album, Good News) and then picked this single as her entry. Initially it doesn't seem the most immediate choice for her - a rather dark tale set over a plucked bass rhythm with no discernable melody. However, as the song progresses, it lures you into it's shadowy world (and yay, there is a dance routine, always a plus) and ingratiates it's way into your heart. As a standalone single and an example of Lena's work, it's a solid entry in her canon, but competing against other songs in Eurovision? It's a brave choice, but may suffer against those that are more instant. One dilemma - two songs with breaking glass? Let's hope she doesn't look as terrified as Eric did :)


Nerina Pallot ~ Put Your Hands Up: I do adore the artist also known as Lady Chatterley. Geek Love remains my favourite but her output of music since Dear Frustrated Superstar has never failed to provide me with many hours of emotion filled pleasure. I once met her in Borders (RIP) where we discussed Otto Titsling from Beaches & she was a real treasure :) Despite having two incredibly fine tracks on the Kylie album (Aphrodite & Better Than Today), this is not a cover of the other song from that set that's currently doing the rounds. No sirreebob. In fact it's produced by Sir Bernard of the Butler and is a lush and layered soundscape of stirring strings, essential handclaps and has a deeply swooning 60s vibe to it. It's a bit of a departure, but then Nerina has never stuck to one musical style, always preferring to experiment and examine new ways of presenting her music. From the clips around, she sounds absolutely tremendous here and the song has a classic, timeless feel to it from the start. I'm loving this mature approach and it bodes well for a startlingly accomplished album - which frankly is what i've come to expect. *bows in awe*

I'm flying back! Have you missed me? Here is the alternative musical tributes to the festive season. Still to come - best of Christmas tv and movies, comedy christmas and more new tunes :) Is the Coldplay one any good?! See you tomorrow!!

An Alternative Christmas View #2

• Matt Dusk ~ White Christmas: Before Mans charmed the pants off me with his swinging Christmas album, Matt Dusk was there with his finger clicking goodness and all round good guy charm. His version of White Christmas is one of those timeless tunes that sounds good whatever trends are dominating the charts and the dramatic horns, lolloping piano and elegant strings are just the icing on this very delicious cake. Plus how delightful does Matt look? Yummers.
• Barenaked Ladies ~ Elf's Lament: Love this song - it's basically a tongue in cheek look at what would happen if the elves of santa's workshop had a union to oversee their probably quite disgraceful working conditions. This song actually inspired a short story that i gave to my neices and nephews one year about Santa actually being a crook who stole all toys all the year round like some sort of festive Robin Hood. The link is to a more live version of this song but it doesn't lose any of it's endearing charm or humour...
• Blues Traveler ~ Christmas: I'm not a massive fan of Blues Traveler but after hearing this song several years ago on one of those A Very Special Christmas compilations, I've been a smitten little kitten with the tune ever since. It's got a tremendously earnest vocal and just shines with it's tambourine bells and lovely message. I love an optimistic tune to make you feel a bit thoughtful but also a bit more hopeful...
• Rockapella ~ It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas/Glowbug: It's not a mash up before you rob this Glee :) What it is is a flawlessly harmonised acapella tribute to the glowbugs that light the sky intertwined with the classic Grinch song. Fun to try and match the harmonies as you sing along and one of the most feelgood songs on this list :)
• Lenka ~ All My Bells Are Ringing: Tribute to the girl groups of the 60s with all the "oo ba ba" and swoony whoas set to a handclapping, bell chiming tune where little Lenka offers her love to her beau in a dreamily romantic festive tune. Rebecca would do an amazing version of this on the X-Factor. Jus' saying...

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ McFly, Shine A Light
20 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
19 ~ JLS, Love You More
18 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
17 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You
16 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
15 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Nobody Knows (NE)
14 ~ Erik Hassle, Standing Where You Left Me (NE)
13 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, Defender
12 ~ Joe McElderry, Someone Wake Me Up
11 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me
10 ~ Eric Saade, Break of Dawn
09 ~ Darin, Drowning
08 ~ EMD, What Is Love
07 ~ Kylie, Better Than Today
06 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together
05 ~ Take That, The Flood
04 ~ Tove Styrke, Standing Where You Left Me
03 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up
02 ~ Daniel Boys, To Make You Feel My Love (VID)
01 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone (3 weeks)

back properly! Tomorrow! With part one of a massive x factor weekend :)

I'm still dangerously obsessed with Diablo by Simon Curtis, so I just thought I'd get that out of the way straight up. It's become my Fame Monster! Time to move onto more festive fare. Aren't Christmas lights pretty? Not particularly energy efficient or environmentally friendly (LED people!) but very pretty all the same. I'm going to have an early night tonight and curl up in bed watching the movie discussed below and frankly I can't wait. Here's today's advent calendar!!

CHRISTMAS FUTURE:

I often associate Christmas with sitting around the ol' joanna and having a rollicking good old sing song with friends and family. So after months of impatient waiting, I'm delighted that the ever so charming Julian Velard has finally released his very enjoyable album The Planeteer onto the world. His expertise with knocking out a joyous melody on a keyboard is on a level with Billy Joel and Elton John (let's face it, he bangs those piano keys with the enthusiasm of a fat businessman with only 10 minutes left with his out of town call girl appointment!)is only matched by his ability to craft a wonderfully catchy pop tune. The album contains brilliant tracks like Feels Like Love Again For The First Time (an ode to that wonderfully optimistic feeling one gets when finding someone ace after a heartbreak), Jimmy Dean and Steve McQueen (a particularly strong and enjoyable singalong entry) and new versions of his classic tracks like Joni and Little Demons showcase his penchant for witty, wry lyrics that never fail to strike a chord. A sterling full length set then from Mr Velard, and I sort of wish I was round his for Christmas for a good ol' knees up :) (Not least because not on the album, but above is his aces cover of Last Christmas!)

CHRISTMAS PRESENT:

Bloody hell, D'luv has fallen in love a bit with this song hasn't he? And one can see why! Aqua's Spin Me Your Christmas is a discotastic bit of aural mince pie that will light up anyone's Christmas tree. It's just feel good pop that happens to have a rather europop seasonal twist to it. And someone's been at the myhrr because it's a proper colourful cavalcade of christmas couture in the video! Love the line "look out for red and white santa on the soda machine, if not for coca cola he would have been green!" So very true (google it christmas santa fans!) Do approach the video with caution and sunglasses though - their teeth are brighter than the new fallen snow when the sun hits it in the early morning. My retinas were severely damaged, but it was oh so worth it!!

CHRISTMAS PAST:

Ah, it was only a year ago that the lovely Lenka gave us The Show and the immortal singalong concert line "i want my money back" (which I always got a bit confused with that Ben Folds Five song where he sings "give me money back, you bitch" - so you can see why I got some glares at her concerts!!) Any"hoo", she whipped out the most cute and lovely little festive number last year (All My Bells Are Ringing), and there is absolutely no reason why it shouldn't be revisted right now - especially if you want another look at the adorable video that goes with it. So yes indeed, take my heart this christmas just wrap it in a ribbon and a bow. Love at Christmas always works for me :) I think you'll find that love, actually is all around :P

CHRISTMAS MOVIE:

There is nothing more magical than a festive film that makes you believe again. Miracle on 34th Street does just that. Sure the remake is as treacley as toffee, but it has warmth, magic and goodness baked right into the production values as it tackles the more cynical in the world who refuse to accept the miracles of the season. So every year, I wrap myself in a nice warm duvet, put a steaming mug of warm cocoa on the nightstand and become an absolute cliche as I sniffle and emote my way through the film. Gosh though I get so warm and fuzzy inside when the world supports Santa. FIZZYPOP BELIEVES!!!

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Whitney Houston, I Look To You (NE)
20 ~ The Killers, A White Demon Love Song
19 ~ Little Boots, Earthquake
18 ~ The Saturdays, Ego (NE)
17 ~ Madonna, Revolver
16 ~ Blake Lewis, Heartbreak On Vinyl
15 ~ Mika, Blame It On The Girls
14 ~ Backstreet Boys, Bigger
13 ~ William Young, Hopes and Fears
12 ~ Agnes, Love Love Love
11 ~ Leona Lewis, Stop Crying Your Heart Out (LIVE VID)
10 ~ JLS, Close To You
09 ~ Darin, Viva La Vida
08 ~ BWO, Kings of Tomorrow
07 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo (NE)
06 ~ Mini Viva, I Wish
05 ~ Simon Curtis, Delusional
04 ~ Alcazar, Thank You
03 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, A Stranger Saved My Life
02 ~ Robbie Williams, You Know Me
01 ~ Pet Shop Boys, It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas 2009 (3 weeks)

Back on Sunday with an x factor mammoth advent calendar special, all the feedback on Saturday's show, and this week's REAL x-factor, Elouise!

Oh Nats. The "broooog". According to Amazon, the UK release date of the quite charming actually "Come to Life" album has been pushed back to 2010. Considering that promo copies of the album have been sent out, reviews are in the printed word (hello Attitude Magazine) and about 11 people on the popjustice forums are gushing at the gash for this set of tunes, it's a bit of a wank decision to delay it. I am no expert in marketing music but delaying the release of an album never inspires confidence in the product. It is, in fact, up there with these other common pop disasters:

• Keisha leaving the Sugababes just as they have a spunky new album "in the can" and a top 2 single with Get Sexy. Frankly, I can't stop listening to Every Heart Broken because this is even worse than when Sean left 5ive just as KingSize was released...
• David Sneddon thinking that Sneddon was a popstar name and then failing to be the next Robbie Williams when Britain criminally ignored the amazing Best of Order...
• Simon Cowell effectively ending the promotion of Gareth Gates' second album and denying the world a single remix of the brilliant Skeletons. Sigh...
• Rachel Stevens not being number one for 11 weeks with "I said never again but here we are". I still mourn this fact on a very regular basis.

Of course there are many more pop injustices in the world, but those are the first few that sprang into my head. It's a shame that the album has been delayed because Come To Life actually contains some very fine pieces of music. Plus Natalie looks a bit like Dannii Minogue on the album cover and this can only be a very good thing indeed. By now, the "promo" single Wild About It (record companies need to ditch the promo single - it's very annoying. It's either a single or it's not!) and first single proper, Want, should be etched into your brains. The former works well as a video-single rather than an actual single - it features Natalie roaming around after a party and shows a more fun side to her that is rarely seen when she is performing darker fare (such as Identify, Beauty On The Fire and That Day). Musically however, it's like an indie version of Sweet About Me and is neither as elegant or as powerful as the music Natalie usually churns out. Want, however, is eerily gothic and subversive and just as much Kate Bush as it is Natalie Imbruglia. It's not exactly what might be expected of a first single, but it gets under your skin and promotes the album far better than Wild About It.

My God is an energetic guitar led opener for the album, with a driving beat that - matched with the sweeping vocal from Nats - powers the song and keeps what could have been a slightly lost melody firmly in check. It's Lukas however where the album really begins to shine. I am assuming this is what Coldplay are referring to when they say they gave away their best song. Written by Chris Martin, it could almost be a lyrical sequel to the Suzanne Vega hit Luka. It's got that epic "end of summer" feel about it - you know, when you need just one song to sum up your entire holiday experience. It definitely deserves to be a single - it tells a complete story and Natalie delivers it with just the right amount of reserve and intensity. Just imagine if this had been the Kylie-Coldplay collaboration instead of what the world ended up with?! The story telling vibe continues in the ever so lovely Fun (another Chris Martin composition). A song about the end of a relationship isn't the most original of topics, but it's universal and when done well, the results can be astonishing. The first few seconds of the tune sound like an Abba ballad, then the song begins to build and crescendo as the backing track grows and Natalie sings "people always ask about you" and it actually feels painful to hear. "Didn't we have fun" is the message of the song and despite the pain, Natalie remembers the good times of a relationship as the music ebbs and flows (just as feelings change in ebbs and flows as you come to terms with the end of a relationship). Quite quite brilliant. (I'd love to know XO's opinion of these two songs!)

Twenty is a perfectly pleasant jangly pop tune and continues the theme of examining relationships. It's not a bad song at all but it does suffer ever so slightly by being wedged between the aforementioned Fun and the definitely should be the second single Scars. Scars possibly would have been a better single to promote the album than Want - it's initially ever so vaguely reminiscent of Torn and is definitely one of the most radio friendly things she has done. It delivers the devastating lines "You got your brand new friends and I got a broken heart/doesn't matter who we are everyone has their scars". Gorgeous vocal, lovely melancholy and melodic chorus, spot on lyrically, just another perfect, clever and sad break up pop song.

Following on from Want, the last half of the album seems to be the more electronic part of Natalie coming to the forefront. WYUT (What You're Up To) is an energetically angry throbbing retort of a song, with some synthy effects permeating the verses and a stacatto vocal that matches the needs of the song. Not the finest moment on the record, but it's nice to see some risks being taken even if they do detract from the near perfect first half of the opus. Cameo, sadly isn't a song about the late lamented group, but rather more experimental bells and master&servant style goth-pop with a rather industrial sounding backing beat. Natalie's voice is quite haunting on it, but overall the song leaves me ever so slightly cold.

Overall, the first half of the album is a quite extraordinary and brutally accurate examination of the death of a relationship. It's steeped in emotional imagery, wistful memory and gorgeous melody. This is the section of the album that really comes to life for me. The more experimental second half is perhaps more relevant to today's music market, and enjoys some interesting production values but doesn't sell itself to me as fully and magnificent as those first five tracks...
Possible singles: Want, Scars, Fun, Lukas

OTHER WORTHY FEMALE SINGER ALBUMS:

• Check out XO's mini review of the new Paloma Faith album...
• Lenka's experienced a bit of a revival with her 2008 album. Check out my review here...
• Ditto Marit Larsen and her stunning If A Song Could Get Me You (number one in Germany, chart fans!)

Hurrah. Darren is home and out of hospital. True he nearly passed out walking from the car to the apartment, and looks proper grey at the moment, but at least he is out of that grotty hospital and back home where he belongs. Our friend Emma posted a picture of us on our first date back in May 2000 (it was actually my birthday!) on her facebook. We are both so young, thin and hunky. Still my Claire-Steps workout dvd is knocking the pounds off my chunky frame. Hear the drummer get wicked! On with the post proper while little dazpatient naps before his next lot of brillo painkillers (I tried one earlier when i had a headache and was tripping my nuts off!)...

SONGS THAT PROBABLY SHOULD BE SINGLES BUT PROBABLY WON'T BE...

• The girl groups ~ I'm very upset that both Sugababes and Girls Aloud seem to have abandoned their latest albums. Obviously with the Sugababes, it's because no one can be bothered at all to buy the album or singles from it. With Girls Aloud, it's possibly because Cheryl is knackered from the X-Factor, which for Adem's sake I will begrudgingly admit isn't surprising, but does mean that they are not properly promoting their best and best selling album of their career (and surprisingly Cheryl has time to be slagging off Posh Spice and the Spice Girls left right and centre! Grife. If I can be bothered, I will elaborate on my feelings on that in the comments). Anyway. The Sugas should definitely be releasing the epic and beautiful (video above) Every Heart Broken (which had a much better original title "murder one", not to be confused with the crap tv show from the nineties) which not only has a gorgeous melody, but also some brilliant darkly humorous and sarcastic lyrics. Fabbo. And of course the GA bunch should be releasing an unedited version of Untouchable with a video that has some money spent on it. If not, I would be quite happy with the excellent and increasingly growing on me "Rolling Back The Rivers". Sigh. Oh and if The Saturdays release Work and Chasing Lights as the fourth and fifth singles from the album, they may just have a fan for life....
• The aging divas ~ Madonna's quite good actually single "Miles Away" was her worst promoted single since the non-appearance of "Amazing" (I hear that Mads didn't want that as a single, so didn't perform it live so there would be no concert footage for a hastily cobbled together video), and Mariah has had the most bizarre single choices from her album. Madonna could pull it all back together with the dark and (ever so) slightly edgy Devil Wouldn't Recognise You ballad (if she can be arsed to do a great video for it that doesn't try to out-snatch lady gaga). Mariah needs to ignore the song that is dreadfully boring from that film that looks dreadfully boring and put out the positively-screams-single-release That Chick. It has a rather catchy tune, an insiduous beat and singalong lyrics. It's bound to make the british top 31.
• Guitar loving dudes ~ Ah Jason Mraz. He's just ever so adorable isn't he? In a slightly snoggable way and obviously in a slightly blow raspberries on his tummy way. If I had my way, the will-it-ever-die I'm Yours would have been followed by Lucky, then Make It Mine, and the awe inspiring (and quite good for presidential swearing in thingys) Live High. Which is quite a lot of singles. Yet, the album is so good that it could spare one more. And lovely Aaron has made me want Dynamo of Volition as the next single. it's back to that snappy wordplay that Mr A-Z is rather good at. It's basically rapping over a frenetic rhythm but still rather good. (as is Love For A Child. Ooo - now I'm torn). And of course, in a be careful what you wish for scenario, I wanted Do Ya as the third single by McFly and look how that turned out :( Now I'd settle for a double a side that showcases their inherent talent for writing catchy melodies - so that would be the outstanding Falling In Love (which i would write about but postergirl did a very eloquent job of it here) and Last Song, which i think is the most epic rock anthem of the album. It will probably not reignite their chart fortunes, but it would make me happy and really, that's all the boys should be thinking about!
• Plectrum fingering ladeez ~ I love Lenka. She is like a less press-attention seeking antipodean Lily Allen, whom I also adore. Now I am done loving her Christmas tune (All My Bells Are Ringing), it's time to get back to the album at hand, which could easily spawn 5 singles. However, my choice for second single proper is Trouble Is A Friend, which is fairly perky in terms of executional melody, but has an underlying dark current to it about repressed fears (much in the way the disco classic The Visitors by Abba did, though musically miles apart!). And I think it's been featured on a couple of US tv shows, so it might even raise her profile. (Though it didn't do poor amazing Bryn Christopher no favours) And while nothing on Marit Larsen's album is quite as fantastic as her lead off single If A Song Could Get Me You, The Chase would make quite a pleasant single...
• Finally, The Idols ~ Oh dear. I feel that Simon Cowell can't be arsed with Leon Jackson anymore. It's all Leona, Alexblandra and Shayne and in that order. Leon's album is quite specific in it's target audience but I do quite like it and I have warmed to little Leon since he got crapped on by the X Factor making machine. Creative is a great choice of single, but i think that if - IF - there is another single from it, it should definitely be All In Good Time. Definite crooner classic and would've fitted alongside any of the classics on Robbie's Swing When you're Winning (even if it does sound a little bit like a Christmas classic that i can't quite put my finger on...) And I mentioned on an earlier blog that while Will Young's choice of Let It Go as his next single as lovely, I can't help but feel he should be plodding along with the disco infused I Won't Give Up. Nuff said.

SOME SAD NEWS:

Poor Same Difference - their second single has been "postponed" and their tour merged with Leon Jackson (yes because they will attract the same type of music lover). Now foxy Sean is busking for a living, while Sarah spends his earnings :( It's tres tragique. I'm quite loyal though, I will stick with the album long after the record label gives up on it (like I did with V for example). Hey, at least I got an album out of it, that I can easily milk for another 3-4 singles. Which is more than I got with One True Voice, even after the brillo PopReviewsNow approved Shakespeare's Way With Words. Altogether now, i would write a sonnet, put my name upon it...

Hurrah! It's only 30 days until Christmas. I feel like I should be a wassilling or something. Instead I am driving Darren mad with amazing new festive or at the very least festive themed tunes and making him plan where we will put the Christmas tree this year (his inspired response? "Same place we put it last year and the year before I suppose". Classic! Such festive fun!) and what baubles we will adorn it with (his merry berry christmas answer "oh just chuck em on. It's a Christmas tree". It's like Santa is sliding down my hole already). I love love love it. OK, I'm a little over stimulated, but today I'll have a quick run through the finest songs on a rather marvelous new Hotel Cafe compilation cd (even if it does feature a tune by the scarlet harlot who will not be named other than skanky skanky ho ho)...

Lenka ~ All My Bells Are Ringing: This is definitely my favourite most beautiful christmas song this year. If you have heard her ace pop ditty "The Show", then you'll pretty much know what to expect here. Straightforward quirky pop, with some added "ooo ba ba", chiming bells and handclaps.The lyrics, admittedly are a bit twee, but because it's Christmas it's entirely forgiveable and actually rather cute. I'm particularly partial to the refrain "take my heart this Christmas, and wrap it in a ribbon and a bow". Which is quite lovely to give someone your heart at Christmas. Or taken literally, incredibly incredibly gross.
Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles ~ Winter Song: XO wrote about this song a while back (click here) and I can't really top what he has said. It's such a beautiful tune and really just grows on you until it consumes you. Two stunning voices working together to sprinkle a little Christmas magic into your life. BTW when I first read about this song, I totally thought it was called Christmas Snog and got all excited that Sara would be doing such a fun kooky song! Oh well. This is lovely too.

Two other songs that would fit quite well as part of this CD:

Sarah McLachlan ~ Winters Night: Much like Ingrid and Sara's song, this maudlin winter tune doesn't reach out and grab you with it's immediacy but definitely lulls you into submission with it's haunting nature. I've always been a huge fan of Sarah's voice and the sparse instrumentation here frames it beautifully. Guaranteed to melt the hardest of hearts (legal disclamer: Not a guarantee)...
Jill Johnson ~ Christmas On My Own: I give full credit to the stunning Poppostergirl for getting me into this song, and I absolutely adore adore adore it. It's quite country at the heart of it, but the sentiment is so earnest and the chorus so darn catchy that it's almost impossible not to fall in love. Basically she falls in love with a guy, documents their love throughout the year before the cad dumps her in November! Despite its sad tone, it's really a delightful little treat and as moreish as a Dark Cherry Mocha from Starbucks...

Lenka is the perfect antidote to waking up feeling slightly grumpy. It might be because my vicious new stomach crunching routine has left my ab muscles aching. It might be because I was so tired last night, I went to bed at 8pm! It might be because so darn chirpy that if she slapped you in the face, and then sang to you, you would still probably end up smiling at her and saying "ooo, ta luv". As you do. Her debut epononymous album could be described by lazy people as the antipodean Lily Allen, and while it's true she knocks out that sort of infernally catchy confessional ditty that Lily does so well, there are elements of Sophie Ellis Bextor and creative use of instruments in her work also. The album opens with the frankly glorious little tune "The Show" (not an acoustic reading of the Girls Aloud number either!). Already a little bit ubiquitous (is that even possible?) thanks to being featured on Ugly Betty, it's a plinkity plonkity sing a long about not worrying too much about the big stuff and just enjoying what is going on around you. I frankly can't wait to see her live at a festival next year and chant along to "I want my money back, i want my money back". Quite a brave lyric to put in there, particularly if she is having a crap night :( Yes, it's a little bit like 1,2,3,4 on too much sugar, but it totally works and is rather adorable. And perkiness is the name of the game here. Oh sure towards the end, there are a couple of introspective ballads (that, while nice, aren't her strongest suit), but it's the sugary goodness that has got me loving this album so very much. Bring Me Down is practically a choo choo train of popposity, so chugging along with melody and hooks it is, while Skipalong is one of those songs that makes you do what the title suggests (a la Don't Stop Moving). Beneath the impossibly catchy melodies however, beats the heart of a troubled soul as the lyrics add a needed dimension to the songs to stop them being totally throwaway. Trouble Is A Friend might have a bongo groove running as an undercurrent, but the lyrics frame trouble as something that haunts you throughout life, so you might as well embrace it and get on with it. Anything I'm Not is so full of self hatred and need to be something she's not, that it's actually quite surprising that the music is so perky. And she's almost unashamedly forthright on Dangerous and Sweet, as she spouts out about her tendancy to over analyse everything in her far too difficult relationship. It's the candour that makes her so appealing, and the added whistles and bells just sweeten this Frente for the new millenium pie. Gorge.