Paled By Dimmer Light - Melanie

Advantages: Its the most summery album of the year yet!
Disadvantages: People will be funny about it cos she was a Spice Girl!

...acoustic piece "today's the day, that something great is gonna happen" is sooo cheery its almost too much lol! Are we in Texas? 'Stay In Bed Days' has a severe country undertone it then becomes a slightly rocky piece you would expect from Melanie C. "Is this me? Is this what I'm really like? Is this me? Why can't I say something nice? Is this me or is this one of those stay in bed days?" There's also a very cute bit with kids singing… I know we should hate it but even though its about bad moods its really fun and upbeat. There's a very sparse opening to 'Beautiful Girl' this is written about her daughter Phoenix (not her lesbian affair) its simple - Melanie and a piano. It's got a slightly retro feel about it but I cant say why. "A miracle sent to me you're my rainbow of light, I'm cherishing this time we have, you sparkle there in my eyes... Read review

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Advantages: Another quality album from Ms Chisholm
Disadvantages: Too different from her debut Northern Star

...Melanie C: former Spice Girl – a much criticised and rare species. The Ex-Sporty Spice has made successful in-roads on a long term solo career. Reason is the follow up to her triple platinum debut “Northern Star” which spawned 5 singles, two of which reached number one, one featuring the late Lisa “Left Eye" Lopes. Melanie tried a range of diverse sounds on her debut: Rock, R&B, Pop & Dance. Sadly the follow up doesn’t explore the same routes. Reason, when released in early 2003 was highly anticipated. The lead off single “Here It Comes Again” being a good example of what to expect. As mentioned this album is in no way as diverse as Northern Star. There are a couple of rocky tracks; a few acoustic ballads and some 100% pop gems, there are no R&B or Dance tracks. This is a shame as Melanie could have picked up where she left off three... Read review

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Advantages: A fabalous album, the thing I love about the Spice Girls is that all the solo projects are sooo different from each other!
Disadvantages: NONE

...Mel B aka Scary Spice has always been in my opinion the most interesting Spice Girls. I think that wild exterior is just an act; very few people get to know the real Melanie Brown. When I heard her first single away from the group I wasn’t disappointed! The Missy Elliott collaboration 'I Want You Back' was a cool, slinky number with a great video to go with the staccato beats and sultry lyrics; it was just a great single. ‘Hot’ is unashamedly an R&B/Pop album, sounding very similar to the likes of Destiny’s Child, Alliyah, TLC and all of those other great American R&B/Pop acts. Well when considering the people which Scary collaborated with on ‘Hot’ it’s not surprising really; Fred Jerkings, Sisqo, Teddy Riley and Jam Lewis all had an input. 'Hot' features the Missy Elliott collaboration... Read review

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