Hi I'm Becky, thanks for looking at my reviews. I try and read and rate as many back as I can. I als...
Hi I'm Becky, thanks for looking at my reviews. I try and read and rate as many back as I can. I also post on dooyoo.co.uk as funagogo. I finally have the internet and a functioning laptop. I live in Kettering and am a journalist by trade (for my sins)
Member since:29.11.2006
Reviews:61
Members who trust:12
Intro: So I'm tearing down the shop to buy a copy of "fast forward" with my pocket money to find my favourite band Take That on the front cover. Roll on over a decade and I'm back going exactly the same. Obviously "Fast Forward" has transgressed to "Heat" and I'm a bit too old for pocket money (although if anyone has any spare cash that needs rehoming I'm all ears) but Mark, Howard, Gary and Jason are back with a vengeance - and to mark their comeback have released this : their greatest hits album!
The Band:
Gary Barlow - Is the chief somgwriter of the group and freely admits would rather be playing the piano than partaking in a boy-band-esque dance routine
Mark Owen - The baby faced member who provides lead vocals on several tracks. Won the first (or second - I can't remember) Celebrity Big Brother.
Jason Orange - Was given a bit of a rough ride for just being a "backing dancer" but is like a fine wine, gets better with age. Reportedly had a fling with Lulu!!!
Howard Donald - I didn't realise this until recently but he provided the vocals on Never Forget. Was known back then as the one with the strangest white-man dreadlocks ever, and is now known as a top DJ.
Robbie Williams - what can I say? When I was 10 I loved him. Now I think he is somnething too rude to type here!
The Songs:
1 - Never Forget (#1 - 1995) - An absolute anthem
which has Howard's silky smooth vocals and a chorus you have to chant along with. Anyone who has seen this live should get goosebumps from this track.
2 - Back For Good (#1 - 1995) - A slow ballad with acoustic guitars and gorgeous harmonies. Not one of my personal favourites as I like the more up tempo numbers but still a gorgeous number
3 - How Deep Is Your Love (#1 - 1996) - Another ballad with cool backing vocals and a cachy chorus. Another great song sung by Gary Barlow.
4 - Pray (#1 - 1993) - The single version is a lot better than the live version later in the album but this is a classic pop track. The harmonies as always are spot on.
5 - Relight My Fire (#1 - 1993) - A fantastic Disco cover with guest vocals from Lulu. I defy anyone not to be dancing around to this. It has a high tempo intro and this continues throughout the song. Brilliant
6 - Everything Changes (#1 - 1994) Another one sung by Mr Williams - I don't think he can be much older than a teen here as his vocals sound really childlike! A piano tinkling number that has a good string section.
7 - Babe (#1 - 1993) A sweet ballad sung by Mark Owen about a lost love. The lyrics tell a great story and the strings make this a bit of a tear jerker - if you are a girl and happen to have been drinking wine all day/ been dumped
8 - Sure (#1 - 1993) My favourite song on the album - I don't really remember this being released the first time round but it has a great feeling about it. Along with Barlow's vocals are some prominent backing vocals blended in. The bridge just gets me smiling and I can't help wanting to dance when I get to the chorus - which isn't that practical in the car.
9 - It Only Takes A Minute (#7 - 1992) An electropop intro then straight into the chorus that states "It only takes a minute" - luckily they are talking about falling in love. It's fast paced, has some cheesy electronic strings section, and an embarrasing thunderbirds style voice randomly popping up, but what more can you expect from a boy band
10 - A Million Love Songs (#7 - 1992) A beautiful song with heart melting sax and piano sections. The vocals are amazing and I expect many 15 year olds were conceived to this song
11 - Could It Be Magic (#3 - 1992) One word - cheesetastic (I know that's not a real word!) Robbie Williams sounds like he is about 12 when singing this. I have spent many an hour dancing like an idiot to this song on student nights - an absolute classic
12 - Why Can't I Wake Up With You (#2 - 1993) Sounds a bit like this was recorded in a factory because of the repetitive drilling and hitting sounds going on in the background. An early effort from the boys - it's ok but not their best.
13 - Love Ain't Here Anymore (#3 - 1994) A slow keyboard intro and a haunting melody with lots of "ooohs." It reminds me a bit of a 60's style ballad
14 - I Found Heaven (#15 - 1992) As you may have noticed the camper and cheesier the song, the more I love it. This is a high pitched shoowop style number with a chorus constructed of complex harmonies and the lead taken by Robbie Williams again. Reminds me of nights out in gay discos in the late 90's (but that is another story!)
15 - Promises (#38 - 1991) A rocky intro, shouty vocals - a song about a lying girlfriend and you can almost hear the anger in the singing. This is by a mile the most hard sounding song on the album - in a 90's boyband way - not in a shagging on a bin East 17 way
16 - Once You've Tasted Love (#47 - 1992) The lowly chart position doesn't reflect how good this song actually is. Sexy female backing vocals, Fast paced beat and a kind of electropop feel to it makes it a hidden treasure.
19 - Today I've Lost You (Previously Unreleased) I'm not sure when this song was written but it definitely has a more mature sound to it. Whispy vocals and a Disney-sounding chorus. Catchy song and a shame this was never a single
Overview
I can't decide if I am angry at Take That for reforming or not! All these feelings I supressed 10 years ago are all flooding back! If I had a pencil case I'm sure I'd be tippexing "TT" on it. It is a testament to the band that these songs still stand up today. Any one of these songs could be released now and still chart highly - as demonstrated by the recent release "Patience."
The only downside is that if you put all my favourite Take That songs onto a greatest hits album it would be about 5 CD's long. I love to listen to this at the gym because it just distracts me from the treadmill - although I have got carried away singing along once or twice and got some funny looks.
This album is great for guys and girls - the girls that were about 10 when the band split are now young women and my brother has this album in his car - so he can impress these girls when he's driving them around.
Without a shadow of a doubt I would suggest you buy this album. I have all their old stuff but this is still quality and has a couple of bonus tracks on it - including a previously unreleased album, which is actually quite good (usually unreleased songs stay unreleased for a reason!)
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great review and i was given this cd as a birthday present was a little disappointed some of my favourites were not on it.
nursie_nursie 20.01.2007 22:08
I loved well still love TT and was given their greatest hits last Christmas and their new album this year. As for the comment below I think that they are better now without Robbie! He sucks! Do the rude box, I'm so old and nasty! Hehe sorry. Laura
Lizamabug 20.01.2007 21:59
Oh sorry, it's not your third review is it? I saw your about me saying you're pretty new then read the number 3 but that's trust not reviews. Sorry hun, my mistake. Elle x.
Never Forget Back For Good How Deep Is Your Love Pray Relight My Fire Everything ... more
Changes Babe Sure It Only Takes A Minute A Million Love Songs Could It Be Magic Why Can't I Wake Up With You Love Ain't Here Anymore I Found Heaven Promises Once ...
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Jan 20th, 2007
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