O-Town - O-Town

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O-Town were one of the first group to be formed for such success of these ‘Popstars’ programmes. Making the band was America’s equivalent and many people auditioned for the chance to be in a new pop group. Television cameras followed the whole thing from start from the auditions to the final group preparing for stardom and they have done well in the short space of time they have been around. ...
...single.

O-Town followed their success with the ballad “All or Nothing” which also was a top 5 smash. Their debut album was released over here a few weeks ago and stormed into number 7 in the album charts. Unlike the US version of the album, the UK version includes the next single “We fit Together”. I have not got this track on the album as I decided to buy the import as it was released in January in the US ... more

I think they meant to say wet dreams myself!

 Introduction.
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O-Town were one of the first group to be formed for such success of these ‘Popstars’ programmes. Making the band was America’s equivalent and many people auditioned for the chance to be in a new pop group. Television cameras followed the whole thing from start from the auditions to the final group preparing for stardom and they have done well in the short space of time they have been around.

O-Town the newest boyband around consist of 5 talented male singers, Ashley Parker Angel, Erik-Michael Estrada, Dan Miller, Trevor Penick, and Jacob Underwood. These guys seem to have already gelled as a group and it is presented in the music.

 The Releases.
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The programme was aired over here but I failed to notice it but it was their infectious debut single “Liquid Dreams” which attracted me to the group. This first single was a huge hit in the US and then over here and it reached number 3 which was a great accomplishment for a debut single.

O-Town followed their success with the ballad “All or Nothing” which also was a top 5 smash. Their debut album was released over here a few weeks ago and stormed into number 7 in the album charts. Unlike the US version of the album, the UK version includes the next single “We fit Together”. I have not got this track on the album as I decided to buy the import as it was released in January in the US and so I have had longer to get to grips with O-Town’s first and surprisingly polished album.

 The Tracks.
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· Liquid Dreams [3:30]

This first single and the first album track, sets the album off well. With words such as “Every night she comes to me and gives me all the love I need” you know that the song must be good. The song is fuelled
With sexual hints and many attributes of various female celebrities are mentioned in the song which contribute to their “Liquid Dreams” well I don’t know what I can say! The chorus as usual is catchy and I’ve heard this sung live and they can sing to an extent but it doesn’t make this song any less of a catchy track. 8.5/10

· Every Six Seconds [3:15]

This next track is again a possible release as well as being fuelled sexually once again. The every six seconds, refers to the general amount that the male sex is supposed to think about sex and this song reflects this idea. This song once again is a really catchy and upbeat track which has a great electric guitar part to accompany the voices. With lyrics such as follows, this really is well worth listening to. Every six seconds my body starts begging your sweet thing is wreckin' me, until you give me some ten times a minute six hundred times an hour another cold shower until you give me some”. 9/10

· Girl [3:36]

A more mellower track to start of with, the song has a good accompaniment and good vocals once again. This song flows along without any hitches but it isn’t single potential in my view as it is rather boring and there isn’t nothing much to listen out for. 6/10

· Sexist Woman Alive [3:40]

Another great track which could also be a release. The song has a great chorus again and great vocal parts from the backing to the lead parts. The lyrics are once again of a high standard and they compliment the song. “Like Häagen-Dazs you hit the spot, you make me scream cause you got a lot, in your Calvin jeans you're a beauty queen and you're blowin' my mind” Well worth listening to and singing along to. 8/10

· Love Should be a Crime [3:16]

This song is a big surprise and if I just said that this track wouldn’t be out of place on the album “Crush” then you will know what I mean. Yes, this track sounds a lot like a Bon Jovi track and the vocals sound of a similar style as well. Beginning with a guitar introduction, the song becomes rockier and the vocals enter with a raw texture to them complimenting the track. The chorus is again another catchy one and I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a Bon Jovi track as it is unbelievable the likeness in style and sound. The song also has a great backing to it and it contrasts with the other tracks well. 9/10

· Shy Girl [4:10]

This contrasts with the last track well and is a great positive and uplifting track which I love to listen to. The song has a good regular beat to it as well as good vocals. It is particularly the chorus that makes the song as it has a great harmonic accompaniment from the rest of the group. “Shy girl it's written on your face, a mermaid out of water feeling out of place. Shy girl trying to hide a blush, caught you looking for a second felt my heart rush, don't run away, don't be afraid, don’t be shy girl.” This song could be a potential hit as well. 8/10

· All or Nothing [4:41]

The first real ballad on the album, this song has a great piano accompaniment and would make a great kareoke track for all. The song is emotional as well as well sung. The chorus has a good backing from the rest of the group singing in harmony as well as the various strong piano chords and beats. The climance to the song is handled well as well as the orchestral accompaniment nearer the end, which compliment climatic end. The song is a soaring ballad which is great to listen to and sing along to as well. 9/10

· Sensitive [3:23]

A more upbeat track than the last, this track mixes more backstreet boy with N Sync and they work well. The song has a good beat and the chorus is well put together with the vocals and other instruments. “I never hear you laugh I never see you cry, never heard you say you need a love like mine, see I've given you everything that's inside but you need to fill me up. 'Cause you're not playing with the flame girl you won't get burned, you know that's not the kinda thing I do, I guess I need to get what I give, what can I say girl I'm sensitive.” The song has great lyrics once more as well as the usual vocals and instrumental parts. 8/10

· The Painter [3:55]

My favourite track on the album and the best ballad by far. This song is amazing and very emotional. The song is about various artists such as a painter and actor who cannot describe or express the way they feel about the girl in question and so they write a melody as beautiful as they are. I think they have done things well in this great track which really deserves to be released and could be a great valentines number one! The song has great lyrics and the vocals with their harmonic parts are very well polished and this song is worth being on the album 100%. Great stuff. 10/10

· Take me Under [4:08]

Another differing track, the song is more moody and the introduction that includes a string section is good. The song has an eerie feel to it which plays on the mood and with the voices used in the song. My favourite part of this track is the middle eight near the end of the song where, in the likes of N Sync and Destiny’s Child, the song goes in to ultra sonic speed with a lyrics section being sung/said very fast. The section involves the vocals being ‘computerised’ and it adds a lot to the song as it boosts up the mark I am to give it as I really enjoy listening to that part. 8.5/10

· All for Love [3:29]

This track reminds me of the earlier years of the Backstreet boys where it is much more simplistic and less polished. The song is catchy with a raw beat to it as well as younger sounding vocals. The middle eight to this track is better than the song and adds to its credibility and creates a partial contrast. The song is a typical pop track but still is easy to sing along to. 7/10

· Baby I Would [3:35]

Another slower track which is romantic in feel thanks to the orchestral accompaniment. The song is rather classical in feel as it begins. In my view, the vocals in the verses are not very well in the first singer as they do not mix with the song but yet again, the chorus is again worth the addition as it adds to the emotion and the vocals are better here. 8/10

BONUS UK TRACK

· We Fit Together [3:56]

A rather mellow track for the nest release. I myself, am not too keen on this track as there are much better ones that could have been released but I think it was a strategic move as this track isn’t on the US version of the album and so the single sales should be more in comparison. The song is a nice track and I particularly like the bridge and chorus where the harmonies are more evident and it is more singable. The lyrics once are once more sex related. 8/10

 The Verdict.
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This album is a surprise as it is a debut from a unknown group in my case. I decided to get this album after hearing the first infectious track and thought I would see if there were any other good tracks and luckily there were! Most of the tracks on this debut album have ‘Hit’ written all over them. Songs such as the ballad ‘The Painter’ deserve to be released. The album does show different textures through-out in the voices, tracks and none of the genres of tracks are similar to another for instance, all the ballads are different in sound and mood and it will be quite hard to follow up this album with the next album. Some surprises do arrive in the shape of ‘Love should be a crime’. This track would be more acceptable for it to be on a Bon Jovi album but I feel that O-Town have made the best of the track and it couldn’t be improved by ‘out of date’ rockers!

The debut album by O-Town is a great accomplishment and well worth buying as this debut is much better than N Sync’s and The Backstreet Boys debuts. O-Town are after the crown for best boy band from N Sync but I do feel that at the moment, N Sync are still the best but they are better than the Backstreet Boys. Thanks to the success of the TV show, like Hear’say and Bardot, the group have experienced good sales as well as already having fans in the wings waiting. Many of the tracks are fuelled with sexual references and this proves that sex sells!

I am sure that O-Town will be around for a long time to come and they prove that there is still space in the changing music market for such (manufactured) bands which produce catchy tracks with great lyrics.

 Other Tracks.
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As well as the tracks on the album, like the UK popstars, the group had the audition songs etc which apparently include the track “One Heart” which is a great emotional track which I think should have been on the album. Also a cover of “How deep is your love” is out on the net and this version is great with great harmonies included. There is also a remix version of Liquid Dreams available which is called the Matrix mix which is well worth a listen as the song gets even more funked up! Another track known as “Coming to the rescue” even though is a short track, is a great catchy track which could have been added to the album also.

I would advise you to get the album and I am sure there is more to come from O-Town.

:) Mike.

 

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