I became a fan of Westlife when they were formed in 1998. Ten years on I would still class myself as a fan of theirs. The simple reason for this is because their music is so easy to listen to and I can't honestly say that there is one song that they have produced that I have hated. I will admit that there have been a couple that I'm not as fond of but there isn't any that I physically can't listen to.
Now I know that the Westlife boys aren't exactly everyone's cup of tea and that their remakes of classic songs and on stage 'moves' don't always make them popular but this factor doesn't bother me in the slightest, as the boys themselves can actually sing, not only singly but also as a harmonised unit and it is this I think that should be focused on more than it often is.
Westlife is an pop band that initially had five members Shane, Bryan, Kian, Nicky and Mark. They were signed by Simon Cowell and are currently managed by Louis Walsh. Since their formation the bands music has greatly evolved and moved from teen pop to contempary adult music. In 2004 Bryan left the band to work on solo projects but despite rumours the rest of the band carried on performing and are still performing today. Together the boys have released - albums, sold more than 40 million records worldwide and gained 14 number one singles in the UK with I Have a Dream/Seasons in the Sun staying at the number 1 spot for
4 weeks in 1999. Their albums are; Westlife, Coast to Coast, World of Our Own, Unbreakable, Turnaround, Allow us to be Frank, Face to Face, The Love Album, and Back Home. It is their latest album Back Home that I will today be reviewing.
Back Home was released on 05 November 2007 and is probably my favourite Westlife album so far. The album debuted at number 1 in the UK charts.
***TRACK 1 – HOME***
This track is a fantastic opener for the album. The song is naturally a ballad and suits the style of the boys to perfection. The backing track is quite atmospheric in certain places and certainly provides a superb base for some outstanding vocals and seemingly brilliant group harmonies. The lyrics themselves are quite meaningful if listened to properly and provide for beautiful listening.
10/10
***TRACK 2 – US AGAINST THE WORLD***
The backing track to this song is a little bit punchier than the last and has a slightly heavier feel, although don’t take this as a bad thing. The vocals also have a slightly different sound but again this isn’t something to dislike. As usual the vocals are strong throughout and the harmonies perfectly placed. Like the last track the lyrics are also quite nice to listen to and tell a decent story.
9/10
***TRACK 3 – SOMETHING RIGHT***
This track also has a different feel to the two previous songs and the vocals again sound slightly different although again this is not a negative point. The lyrics are again pleasant to listen to and the chorus exceptionally catchy. The vocals are again solid on all accounts providing another very enjoyable track.
9/10
***TRACK 4 – I’M ALREADY THERE***
This is definitely my favourite track on the album and for some reason brought a tear to my eye when I first heard it. The track is a ballad and like the first track perfectly suits the boys. The vocal are solid and consistent and the harmonies of the quality we are used to. It is however the lyrics themselves that back the track everything it is. They are truly sublime from the opening moment to the very last word and tell a fantastic story that I think a lot of people can relate to.
10/10
***TRACK 5 – WHEN I’M WITH YOU***
This track is more up beat and slightly faster than the tracks before it and so stands out on the album. It is definitely a stark contrast to the track before. The vocals are strong and competent and the harmonies solid as usual but something about this track just doesn’t appeal to me.
7/10
***TRACK 6 – HAVE YOUR EVER***
The opening to this track really is beautiful, the subtle backing rack barely audible and the powerful vocals and harmonies really open your eyes to this track. The lyrics once again tell a very nice story and the vocal talents of the boys are clearly displayed throughout especially during the chorus. Despite this after the beautiful opening the track seems to go downhill for 20 seconds or so until it is perfectly picked up and ends quite nicely.
7/10
***TRACK 7 – IT’S YOU***
This song sees a return to the soft ballads that Westlife are better known for. The backing track is rather soft and subtle and the vocals like usual are powerful and really allow the emotion of the fabulous lyrics to come through.
8/10
***TRACK 8 – CATCH MY BREATH***
The opening to this song is really catchy and although the guitar riff is simple and repetitive it is really effective for the overall feel of the song. The lyrics are also quite pleasing to listen to and sound a lot like some of Westlife’s older songs. The alternating lead vocals also suit the style of the song and all are solid and emotive when necessary.
9/10
***TRACK 9 – THE EASY WAY***
This song is again another more up-beat and fast paced track meaning that is stands out from the others. The overall sound of the song is completely different to the majority of THE SONGS Westlife have ever recorded but I really like it. The lyrics are decent and all the boys give solid vocal performances. It is however the faster tempo and quite ‘funky’ backing track that really makes this song what it is.
9/10
***TRACK 10 – I DO***
This is a lovely track in my opinion. There isn’t anything in particular that stands out from it but every part gels well together and produces an easy to listen to track. The backing track compliments the vocals, which are again superb.
8/10
***TRACK 11 - PICTURES IN MY HEAD***
This track again has a different sound, as do the vocals. Once again though this seems to suit the style of the song, which is set out by the backing track, which has a solid bass and steady beat. Again this track isn’t spectacular but it more than holds its own on the album and is decent to listen to.
7/10
***TRACK 12 – YOU MUST HAVE HAD A BROKEN HEART***
There is nothing wrong with this ballad track but personally I wouldn’t have chosen to end the album with this track and would have placed I’m Already There in it’s place. The track itself however is a pleasure to listen to the lyrics are quite pretty when listened to and the vocal performances of the boys really allow the lyrics to shine through. The backing track supports the vocals well and the chorus in rather catchy too.
9/10
Adding all my out of ten scores for each song together my overall score for this entire album is therefore 102/120, meaning each song has an average score of 8.5/10, which is more than respectable in my opinion.
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28.03.2009 22:05
great review, i love this album!!! xx
16.03.2009 00:12
Not for me but your enjoyment of the album comes through very nicely in the review. David x
15.03.2009 00:45
My youngest is a big Westlife fan - Lyn x