Everyone who knows me knows I love a bit of pop music, and you can’t get more poppier than Atomic Kitten, so I had to buy there latest, and final, album, aptly entitled Atomic Kitten - The Greatest Hits. According to Atomic Kitten they are only “taking a break”, but any pop band that brings out a greatest hits album splits up for good, just luck at Boyzone, or Steps, so I don’t expect to be seeing them together again.
I brought this album for £9.97 at Asda (I always get my albums from Asda, you can’t beat their prices), and it is definitely pop at its finest, it has truly genius pop moments with added kitten attitude.
The album kicks off with one of the bands number 1 singles, and I think it is the most recognisable Atomic Kitten song “Whole Again”, I feel it was this song that really got Atomic Kitten noticed as a girl group to be reckoned with. It is a good song, but it isn’t one of my favourites purely for the fact that it has been overplayed on all the music channels on sky as well as on the radio. It has a simple melody which shows off the girls voices, and the talking bit in the middle done by Jenny (Kerry “Queen
of the Jungle” McFadden did it originally) gives the song it’s own uniqueness, as you don’t find many pop songs with that in nowadays.
The next 2 songs are both cover versions, the first one is the disco classic “Ladies night”, this was their Christmas hit last year and it features Kool and the Gang, who did the song originally. I love this song, it really gets you dancing around your handbag! The next song is another one of the bands number ones “The tide is high (got the feeling)” a song made famous by Blondie, it’s a good song but compared to the original it remains decidedly flat, lacking the punch that made the earlier version a timeless classic.
There are a few songs on this album which I feel are all too similar “It’s OK!”, “If you come to me” and “Love doesn’t have to hurt”. They all seem to have the same sort of middle of the road pop sound, you just can’t decide whether they are ballads or not. They also all have the same soft and cuddly acoustic guitar and I’m so-happy-to-be-in-love type of lyrics.
“Be with you” is next, it is a different sort of sound that the girls have gone for on this one, it doesn’t actually sound like an Atomic Kitten song. It is a huge slice of disco-pop with a more mature sound, it’s a good song with a good melody and a catchy chorus, but stick with what you know best girls, cheesy pop.
Personally, I hate it when a band does a cover version of an all time classic song because you just know it’s not going to sound as good, and “Eternal Flame” is one of my all time favourite songs, but not this version, I much prefer the original done by The Bangles. Don’t get me wrong it is a good version, and it does show off the girls’ vocal talents, it’s just that I feel good songs shouldn’t be messed with.
The debut single from the Kittens, released in 1999 with Kerry McFadden is next, however, this is the newly funked-up 2004 remix version, and it doesn’t even have Kerry’s vocals on it, Jenny does them instead. It has kind of naughty lyrics if you listen hard, but it’s still a favourite with the kids (especially me!). The chorus is really catchy, and the verses are great, pop at it’s finest. This version of the song was also on the double a-side of their last ever song “Someone like me”.
I love the next song “See Ya”. This was the second single by the girls, and it was their best charting song when Kerry was in the group, reaching No.6. This has a cute pop melody, very catchy lyrics, and again great lead vocals from Liz. It also has the greatest lyrics of all time “See Ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya” Classic, they don’t write songs like that anymore!
“I Want Your Love” is definitely my favourite on the album, it is just great, you can have a good dance to this one. It's a very fast techno pop kind of song, and you'll find yourself singing along on the first listen with the catchy chorus. I also love the “Boom's!”, it also features Kerry’s vocals, which is good because I think she should be recognised more on this album, as she was the original member.
A song called “Cradle” is next, this was a single only released in Asia, but it is my favourite ballad on the CD. How can you not love this song? They mention the word 'Cradle' in it twice, but this is so beautiful. Natasha sings this one on her own, and it shows what a fantastic voice she has got, I always sing along to the chorus.
The album closes with the simple yet beautiful 'Someone Like Me' penned by Liz, it is a very short song, and each of the girls have their own part in it. This was their final song to be released and I love it.
This album will make you dance and take you back to the early days when Kerry was in the band, I do feel they should have acknowledged her more on this album as she was in the original line up, I know she only released 4 songs with Atomic Kitten, but they have only put 2 of them on this album.
Lastly I’d just like to say you don't have to be a teen (I‘m not), to be listening to this album, if you love pop I would definitely recommend you purchase it, I’m not ashamed to admit it, I love it!
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great review.I liked Atomic kitten they were good.x
s_jones_2003 16.05.2004 16:25
I was so cross, bought Atomic Kitten's last album then this came out about a month later! Downloaded this one and do quite like it, have done a review myself! Sarah x
Pozza 13.05.2004 12:16
mmmm... Atomic Kitten fantasy returning! Best move they made getting rid of Kerry and bringing in Jenny. And not just for the sake of my fantasy... have you heard Kerry 'sing'? Rubbish!
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