Radio:ACTIVE (+DVD) [Digipak] - McFly

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Fantastic songs, 2 hour DVD
Disadvantages:	lyrics hard to read and incorrect

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This album is fantastic.

First given away with the Mail On Sunday, this very album budged the newspapers sales up by a fantastic 300, 000 and went home to over 2.3 million people. It surprised many, with people wondering how something could be so good coming from that 'boyband' who 'took over from Busted'.

McFly, members Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd, have almost been around for 5 years now, so it will probably come as a surprise to hear that they are still only aged 20-23. Emerging in 2003, the boys were typically shrugged off as being a band you shouldn't like, due to their teen fan base. But that never stopped them from going straight to number one with their first single, Five Colours In Her Hair, then taking the record from the Beatles as the youngest band to go to number 1 with their debut album, Room On The Third Floor. The Guinness Book of World Records in fact lists that they did this twice, as even when their second album, Wonderland, charted at number 1, they were still younger. McFly then brought out their third album, Motion In The Ocean, which charted at a lower #6 here in the UK. This was followed by a Greatest Hits album, and by now McFly were tired of being told what to do by their Record Company, Island from Universal. At the end of last year, they finally left the label and created their own record label, Super Records.

With their new record Label, McFly now have full creative control on their music, artwork, music videos and other things. This is something they have always wanted, and it works a treat.

7 number one singles and 2 number one albums down the line, McFly have provided us with some of the best songs they have ever recorded. 4 of the best were not even on the free album, so even if you bought the Mail On Sunday and got your free copy, it is certainly worth either buying this deluxe addition or downloading the 4 new songs, Lies, Down Goes Another One, Only The Strong Survive and the End on Itunes.

The album starts with McFly's most recent single, Lies. With some of the darkest lyrics they've ever written and one of the most catchiest guitar tunes you'll have heard all year, Lies is an awesome album starter. The single charted at #4 in the UK Singles Chart, unfortunately just 7 copies behind the Pussycat Dolls at number #3.

Second on the album is One For The Radio, their first release this year. The lyrics are meaningful, talking about the amount of disrespect this band have received over the last 5 years, but then going on to say how they and their fans really just don't care any more. It isn't the greatest song on the album, with even Tom Fletcher from the band stating it was only released as a sort of protest. The single charted at #2.

Third on the album is Everybody Knows. Rumoured to be a perhaps 3rd or 4th single from the album, this song reminds me slightly of 80's rock and is fantastically catchy. Another catchy guitar tune with equally catchy lyrics, this certainly is single material.

Forth on the album is the fun Do Ya. A friend of mine cannot get this song out of her head, moaning that "she's not even a fan of McFly's...usually". Do Ya is slightly comical in the way Tom Fletcher used very high notes to express why he loves a girl so much. It's a lovely song that reminds me slightly of older tunes from McFly, such as those found on their first and most successful album, Room On The Third Floor.

Next on the album in Falling In Love. This song reminds me slightly of Beatles songs such as the famous 'Here Comes The Sun'. On first listen, I wasn't so sure about it at first. But as soon as it got to around half way through, I fell in love. It has grown to be one of my favourite songs on the album, with an extremely catchy 'ohhh' to sing along with.

6th on the album is POV. This became my favourite song on the free version of the album. The song starts quite slow, while Danny Jones sings over a beautiful piano piece. Once the chorus arrives, however, it reminds me of an explosion as a powerful voice blasts out with wonderful lyrics. Certainly a must listen.

7th on the album is the creepy Corrupted. This is a fan favourite. It goes slightly off the original McFly roots, first starting with Tom Fletcher using a creepy voice singing lyrics such as 'crashing into walls, banging on your door, so why'd you let me in?' It then goes onto have a great chorus with another catchy beat performed on a guitar. This song is fantastic throughout.

Next, track 8 is the cheery Smile. It really does make you smile. This song is a big boost in goodness on a bad day with lovely lyrics such as 'if you aint good looking, don't you let it get you down', 'just smile, smile, smile and turn the world around'. With the sound of horns also included on this track, it really makes you want to dance.

Track 9 is a new song, not placed on the free album. It's a favourite of mine called 'The End'. This song slightly reminds me of Snow Patrol- like songs. A favourite lyrics of mine from this is 'I want to die on the highest high'. This track also features violins.

Track 10 is the track Going Through The Motions. This track sort of reminds me of musical tracks, such as Grease's 'Grease Lightening' and tracks from the musical Hairspray. This is a good thing. It's catchy, fast paced and something to dance too.

Track 11 is another fan favourite and new song, Down Goes Another One. My favourite part of this track is the guitar solo, reminding me of those played by the legendary band, Queen. But everything in this song is great. Related to Wonderland track 'She Falls Asleep', this track is on the man's side of the story. She falls Asleep spoke about a girl who was committing suicide after the man of her life had made mistakes. That track was a complete piano/ orchestra piece but this is quite the opposite. The lyrics are also absolutely beautiful.

Next is Only The Strong Survive. This reminds me slightly of Town Called Malice by The Jam. It also is a little bit like Going Through The Motions, track 10. It's extremely fun and catchy and is the last new song on this deluxe album. Certainly a favourite of mine!

Lastly is the perfectly named The Last Song. McFly wrote this song backwards and it certainly has many different elements to it. The way it is slightly reminds me of the amazing hit song The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance and has parts of it that remind me of everything from R Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly to the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This track is absolutely fantastic album ender with beautiful piano pieces to epic guitar pieces that again remind me of the legendary Queen. The lyrics are wonderful with parts such as 'so here's to all the lonely hearts, cos mines been ripped and torn apart' and 'bury me with my guitar and all the way to hell I'll play'.

Not only does this album have a CD, but a 2 hour DVD of McFly making and promoting Radio:ACTIVE. It's funny, informative and a great watch. Includes footage of McFly surfing in Australia, discussing ideas on the 'Lies' video, visiting Canada to record the 'One For The Radio' video and live performances from Australia and the Itunes Festival.

The album art for this deluxe album is great.There are good pictures of all 4 members, plus great use of the hand drawn microphone-with-tongue logo. The McFly logo also glows in the dark!

The album booklet contains 32 pages filled with photos, thank yous and lyrics. The lyrics are quite small and are wrong in places as they are scans of McFly's personal lyric writing pages. This is good in a way, but it would have been nice to have correct lyrics or at least larger and more readable ones.

Altogether, this is a fantastic package. You certainly get your money's worth. 13 tracks, a 2 hour DVD and a 32 page album booklet, complete with a case that glows in the dark! It can't get much better than that.

My last words have to be, give this album a listen and learn why these boys deserve more respect!