Chasing Lights - Saturdays (The)

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	A solid album, lots of good songs, good band, and good CD
Disadvantages:	A couple of weaker links

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I don't know about anyone else, but I like a good bit of pop now and again, but nowadays it's hard to find any pop that's actually good, with current music trends leaning away from the entire genre. But in 2008 we were lucky enough to be blessed with a few new pop albums, and even better than this, it's actually good pop. One of which is this album, Chasing Lights by the Saturdays, and I have to say it's one of the best pop albums we've had for YEARS. And I fully welcome it.

The Saturdays

The Saturdays are a girl group comprising of five young girls, Una Healy, Vanessa White, Rochelle Wiseman, Mollie King, and Frankie Sandford, who are beautiful and energetic and together they form a band who mix the styles of dance and electronica with a heavy dose of pop. The band have supported Girls Aloud on tour, and have been compared favourabley to them as well as bands such as the Sugababes. Like the other bands, they do pop well, but with infusions of other genres, concentrating on a style rather than writing the songs themselves, they remain unique and exciting. The band is very talented with the girls voices being of high quality through most of their debut album.

So this is Chasing Lights, The Saturdays first album, and I have to say it's quite good. There are 12 or 13 tracks on this album, depending on the version you get, and they are mostly of good quality. There is a mix of upbeat dance numbers, slower, but still upbeat tracks and some ballad-like numbers, and the band do each type of track well. They have currently released 3 singles, plus a 4th charity single which is available on the reissue, and are set to released a 5th single later in the year. The tracks released as singles have extra information.

Let's have a look at what we have, shall we?

If This Is Love

The opening track, and the band's first single, is a solid intro to the album and gives you a good feel of what's to come. It's got a good, catchy sound, with a good blast of pop with an undercurrent of a dance track. The lyrics tell of someone who is obviously in love, but despises the obvious bad side of their relationship, hence the line 'If this is love, then I don't want to know what is' as part of a catchy chorus. It was a good track for a first single, with a thumping tune that will easily get in your head, but with a good front on the lyrics.

Length - 3:23 (Single version is 2:58)
Single Released - 2nd June 2008
Highest UK Chart Position - 8
Personal Rating - 4.5 out of 5

Up

This is my favourite track of the album, and was released as the bands second official single. There is nothing I don't like about this track, and from the first time I heard it at a night club and bar I was instantly hooked. The tune opens with an electronic simple tune which continues throughout the track which holds the song in your mind. The lyrics are punchy and memorable, creating an upbeat track by singing about staying on the track upwards, and will not stop for anyone, possibly hinting at a relationship where the other person is not putting everything in, and hence presenting the lyrics _'This is the final call for all destinations, this is where you're in or out' and so they are wanting to know the other person's decision. The girls voices are all strong in this song, while still remaining upbeat and paced, which isn't too common in songs like this. So thanks to the catchy tune, the good voices and the catchy, but meaningful lyrics this becomes their best track on the album.

Length - 4:07 (Single version is 3:23)
Single Released - 12th October 2008
Highest UK Chart Position - 5
Personal Rating - 5 out of 5

Keep Her

This is yet another entry into the dance pop genre with a solid electronic beat, with a slight 'funk' to it throughout the song reflecting the lyrics telling of a cheating man who has been found out, but the girl still remains strong singing _'I've had enough, You can keep her, just keep her, yeah, 'Cause I don't want you'_. The song is a bit calmer than the first two tracks but still remains upbeat. It isn't the catchiest of their songs, but the lyrics and the tune are solid enough to make this a good album track.

Length - 4:03
Personal Rating - 4 out of 5

Issues

This was their third single to be released and is the first track that strays into the ballad genre. The backing track is low key and is definitely not as catchy or memorable as other tracks. This track is a great one to sample the powerful voices and harmonies that the girls can give and the song is quite good, with the chorus being a highlight (despite the cringeworthy line _'Can't decide if I should slab you or kiss you'_, which ends up sounding a bit more like stab) with the rhyming as well as the repetition of the title making the lyrics the more memorable part of this track, above the backing music.

Length - 3:37
Single Released - 5th January 2009
Highest UK Chart Position - 4
Personal Rating - 4 out of 5

Lies

Another middle of the road track, with a calmer, but still upbeat electropop sound, this track comes somewhere just above average. The lyrics tell of a partner who told, you guessed it lies. The lyrics definitely are not the most inspired of the album, with the chorus but mostly repetitive, but this gives the song a certain catchiness. There are some nice vocals and harmonies on the track which will show off the girls skills quite well. It's not one of the better tracks on the album, but is still a reasonably solid addition and certainley not a bad song.

Length - 3:55
Personal Rating - 3.5 out of 5

Work

This has been announced to be their fifth single to be released in June and is an upbeat dance number but with a little feel of something more R&B and reminds me of several solo artists of recent years. The song is overall quite good with a very catchy beat and chorus which makes the song quite memorable. The vocals are okay, though a bit different to what the girls usually sound like, so may put some people off. Despite this I think it's a good upbeat song which shows off a slightly different side of the girls, and differentiates the songs, as no one likes all the songs the same, which is why I enjoy this track.

Length - 3:13
Single Released - TBA (June 2009)
Highest UK Chart Position - TBA
Personal Rating - 3.75 out of 5

Chasing Lights

This is my favourite ballad track of the album, telling of a relationship that just isn't working and the simple exhaustion that has resulted because of it. While the vocals are not at their best, the lyrics are simple but powerful, with the metaphor of 'Chasing Lights' refelecting the pointlessness of the relationship they have been in as they know it's not what they want no matter what they try. The tune is simple pop, and a step back from the dancier tracks of the album, allowing the girls voices to stand up on their own. It's the simpleness of the track that makes it power through and makes it a great addition to the album while showing the girls can do strong away from their dance pop numbers.

Length - 4:03
Personal Rating - 4.5 out of 5

Set Me Off

The song starts off with quite a solid electronic beat which continues throughout, but this is a bit wearing after a while and I feel it could be toned down to get a stronger sound as the song almost sounds too mixed, taking away from the lyrics and vocals, making it my least favourite song on the album. The lyrics and general catchiness does give some credit to the song though, with a good solid chorus as well as good verses make this song listenable to, thought it isn't one of my favourites and is certainly a weak point on the album.

Length - 3:03
Personal Rating - 3 out of 5

Fall

This song beings with a simple piano backing track being later joined by the vocals. This song almost has a slight R&B ballad twist, with a constant beat throughout, and is similar to songs by Rihanna, which can only be a good thing. This is another of the tracks that shows the talent the girls have with the simple piano meaning the vocals are providing the strength of the track. This is the track with the lowest mood of the album, with the piano and lyrics creating a certain moodiness as they sing of the demise of a relationship, though the lyrics still show some strength which I feel adds a layer to the track. It's definitely a strong point of the album, and something a bit different which is definitely to the songs credit.

Length - 3:38
Personal Rating - 4 out of 5

Vulnerable

Something again that falls into the category of a simpler but quite punchy song, with again a different sound from other tracks. The tune is repetitive and simple, but not in a bad way, with the catchiness of the chorus once again shining through but with the verses providing a good solid song overall, with a good feel to follow the previous song. The lyrics obviously tell of someone who obviously, is a bit vulnerable, despite what may be on the outside, which I feel is quite a nice message, that a tough exterior doesn't mean someone can't hurt. The vocals are of the same quality as the other songs on this album and overall it's yet another good track.

Length - 4:08
Personal Rating - 3.75 out of 5

Why Me, Why Now

This is yet again another quite solid song telling of someone who is 'falling out of control in love' as they try to control feelings they have for someone, something a lot of people can relate to. The tune is a simple one, low key compared to a lot of their tracks, but still a good one. It is most comparable to 'Keep Her' earlier in the album. The song itself has some good lyrics and are some of the best lyrics of the album. The chorus is particularly nice, with the title _'Why me, why now'_ a refrain, with a frustration over the feelings they have. It's quite a laid track, somewhere between their ballads and more dancey numbers and is quite a good round off to the album especially those into pop.

Length - 3:41
Personal Rating - 4 out of 5

Up (Wideboys Remix)

This track is a remix of the second track, and best track, of the album, Up. Obviously using the best track of the album, and one of a more dance nature, it is ideal for remixing. There are parts of the remix which are really enjoyable and add a new dimension to the track. It's slightly speedier, which is ideal for a bit of a dance, and some of the remix is perfect, including making the main beat heavier and hence more memorable. However, I feel it doesn't quite do justice to the song. I have heard better remixes on nights out and I feel the album could have left it out with no real impact.

Length - 3:01
Personal Rating - 2.5 out of 5

Just Can't Get Enough - Reissue Track

The album was re-released in 2009 to include their Comic Relief single as an extra track, and is only available from the new version. This track is a cover of the same song by Depeche Mode. This is probably the song with the biggest sound of pop. The backing is once again electronic and catchy, with the song being upbeat and again, catchy. It's a great solid pop track and a good interpretation of the original song by making it their own, with their own style. The girls voices also shine through quite well on this track. This isn't an amazing track, sometimes repetitive and perhaps a little too outside their usual style and this album, but as a stand alone song I really quite enjoy it, especially when I'm craving something with a bit of pop.

Length - 3:08
Single Released - 1st March 2009
Highest UK Chart Position - 2
Personal Rating - 4 out of 5

Price

The re-issued album is available for £8.98 from Amazon.co.uk (available for free delivery), or £3 for a digital download without the new track from the same site. It is also on Play.com for £8.95 with free delivery. I have seen the original album for sale for £7 and under in HMV, though this may be unavailable now due to the re-release.

Other Information

The album has reached gold status in the UK and reached number 8 in the UK album charts. It was originally released 27th October 2008, with the reissue made available from the 16th March 2009.

The cover of the album features the five girls posing on some white steps. The pictures is black and white, except for each girls uniquely coloured dress. The track listing on the back is done in a rainbow, with each track a different colour. This makes a couple a little hard to read in the wrong light but otherwise it looks great. The inlay includes a page and photo by each of the girls giving you a little insight into the band, which is quite good.

They have slated a second album for the end of 2009 so watch out for that. The band are also touring this year. And a little bit of trivia, Frankie and Rochelle where both previously members of the band known as S Club 8, previously S Club Juniors.

Summary

This is definitely a solid album, with a great blend of pop which I've surely missed. The Saturdays are a very talented band and I look forward to hearing more of them, especially as it is rumoured that they are going to write their own material. Overall this album is a good one, with only one bad track on the album, with most of them being above average at least. The album itself flows really well, with only the remix feeling out of place. Each track is mostly unique so unlike some bands you won't feel that you've it's a bunch of songs that sound identical, which happens too much these days. It's not perfect, but it's a young band and I can see them hitting new heights if they get their next album right and could become as big as the band they supported, Girls Aloud.

Would I recommend it? Well if you are a fan of dance pop then this is the best you'll have heard in a while. It'll especially appeal to anyone into girl bands, pop or dance, or anyone that just appreciates a band that can do what they do well.