Born To Be/Affectionately Melanie - Melanie

Advantages: Its the most summery album of the year yet!
Disadvantages: People will be funny about it cos she was a Spice Girl!

...are carefree summer times" this has a very spicy feel to it with a guitar in the background, another fav. 'Say Say Say" is a lovely sublime acoustic ballad. "Say say say, in your own sweet way, hey hey hey, it'll be okay, I trust in your word, you'll bring me back to earth." This is a simple and stunning mature pop ballad that I think would chart well! Liking this song a lot as well, another possible favourite. Here's the Scary Spice we all know "laid out on the table, my head is bouncing of the walls". 'Bad bad Girl' is a dark electro 80's rocky pop tune. It's got the extra something that 'Sweet Pleasure' didn't have! Its been a B Side which is a shame cos its got punch you expect from Melanie. Finally 'Hold On' which as soon as it starts you know will be a big ballad. It's the whole piano solo that gives it away. This is... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Another quality album from Ms Chisholm
Disadvantages: Too different from her debut Northern Star

...Melanie C: former Spice Girl ? a much criticised and rare species. The Ex-Sporty Spice has made successful in-roads on a long term solo career. Reason is the follow up to her triple platinum debut ?Northern Star? which spawned 5 singles, two of which reached number one, one featuring the late Lisa ?Left Eye" Lopes. Melanie tried a range of diverse sounds on her debut: Rock, R&B, Pop & Dance. Sadly the follow up doesn?t explore the same routes. Reason, when released in early 2003 was highly anticipated. The lead off single ?Here It Comes Again? being a good example of what to expect. As mentioned this album is in no way as diverse as Northern Star. There are a couple of rocky tracks; a few acoustic ballads and some 100% pop gems, there are no R&B or Dance tracks. This is a shame as Melanie could have picked up where she left off three... Read review

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Advantages: Happy pop music
Disadvantages: Formulaic, a little forgettable, not a great voice

...Following three solo albums and sales of three million, Mel C is back with 12 new pop tracks, released on her own label, Red Girl Records. This presumably means she got dropped by her record company but at least she?s the only one of the Spice Girls showing any sign of girl power, so all credit to her. It starts off quite well: track one ?Understand? reminded me a bit of something else in its guitar sound, U2 maybe, and was a catchy enough rock track. A couple of slower ones followed; track three ?Protected? has a nice chorus but it?s co-written with Guy Chambers, the bloke who made Robbie Williams good, and Cathy Dennis, she of Kylie?s ?Can?t get you out of my head?. This is followed by the poppier ?This time?. However: the Mel C effect kicks in about now. It works like this: you get the album and think ?Hmmm, Mel C, she was the one... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful