... The singles aside, nothing on Saints & Sinners comes close in either style or the quality of execution. Ha Ha, Whoopin' Over You and the title cut all attempt a trendily retro psychedelic pop cocktail. Trouble is, Madonna (again) got their first with Beautiful Stranger, and did so with a confident ... Read review
All Saints' second album, Saints and Sinners finds them on the run from the melancholic ... more
soul-pop of their eponymous debut. Defiantly more direct and sophisticated than its predecessor, this is a resolutely upbeat affair. Fortunately rather than re-invent themselves as men-bashing R&B divas, they have chosen to stick to their usual formula: song-writer, Shaznay's helium-high voice takes centre stage, Melanie Blatt and the Appleton sisters provide fluffy and light harmonies and a string of producers including William Orbit (Madonna) deliver euphoric, technicolour grooves. The UK version includes two rather pleasant bonus tracks, "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" and "One More Tequila", but the best material appears on the first half of the album. There's nothing quite as sublime as the undeniably feel-good opener, "Pure Shores" (also featured on The Beach soundtrack), but "Distance" a bewitching combination of flamenco guitar, piano and dance-floor friendly beats comes close. Saints and Sinners doesn't exert its power in subtle ways and there are occasions when they don't quite pull off their attempts to be quirky ("Whoopin' Over You"). However there is plenty of weight and breath here, a mood and groove for every occasion, just as long as that occasion is life-affirming. In fact, Saints and Sinners sounds like someone turned the "dark" off!--Maxine Kabuubi
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All Saints' second album,Saints and Sinnersfinds them on the run from the melancholic ... more
soul-pop of their eponymousdebut. Defiantly more direct and sophisticated than its predecessor, this is a resolutely upbeat affair. Fortunately rather than re-invent themselves as men-bashing R&B divas, they have chosen to stick to their usual formula: song-writer, Shaznay's helium-high voice takes centre stage, Melanie Blatt and the Appleton sisters provide fluffy and light harmonies and a string of producers including William Orbit (Madonna) deliver euphoric, technicolour grooves. The UK version includes two rather pleasant bonus tracks, "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" and "One More Tequila", but the best material appears on the first half of the album. There's nothing quite as sublime as the undeniably feel-good opener, "Pure Shores" (also featured onThe Beachsoundtrack), but "Distance" a bewitching combination of flamenco guitar, piano and dance-floor friendly beats comes close.Saints and Sinnersdoesn't exert its power in subtle ways and there are occasions when they don't quite pull off their attempts to be quirky ("Whoopin' Over You"). However there is plenty of weight and breath here, a mood and groove for every occasion, just as long as that occasion is life-affirming. In fact,Saints and Sinnerssounds like someone turned the "dark" off!--Maxine Kabuubi
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
All Saints' second album,Saints and Sinnersfinds them on the run from the melancholic ... more
soul-pop of their eponymousdebut. Defiantly more direct and sophisticated than its predecessor, this is a resolutely upbeat affair. Fortunately rather than re-invent themselves as men-bashing R&B divas, they have chosen to stick to their usual formula: song-writer, Shaznay Lewis's helium-high voice takes centre stage, Melanie Blatt and the Appleton sisters provide fluffy and light harmonies and a string of producers including William Orbit (Madonna) deliver euphoric, technicolour grooves. The UK version includes two rather pleasant bonus tracks, "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" and "One More Tequila", but the best material appears on the first half of the album. There's nothing quite as sublime as the undeniably feel-good opener, "Pure Shores" (also featured onThe Beachsoundtrack), but "Distance" a bewitching combination of flamenco guitar, piano and dance-floor friendly beats comes close.Saints and Sinnersdoesn't exert its power in subtle ways and there are occasions when they don't quite pull off their attempts to be quirky ("Whoopin' Over You"). However there is plenty of weight and breath here, a mood and groove for every occasion, just as long as that occasion is life-affirming. In fact,Saints and Sinnerssounds like someone turned the "dark" off!--Maxine Kabuubi
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
All Saints' second album,Saints and Sinnersfinds them on the run from the melancholic ... more
soul-pop of their eponymousdebut. Defiantly more direct and sophisticated than its predecessor, this is a resolutely upbeat affair. Fortunately rather than re-invent themselves as men-bashing R&B divas, they have chosen to stick to their usual formula: song-writer, Shaznay Lewis's helium-high voice takes centre stage, Melanie Blatt and the Appleton sisters provide fluffy and light harmonies and a string of producers including William Orbit (Madonna) deliver euphoric, technicolour grooves. The UK version includes two rather pleasant bonus tracks, "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" and "One More Tequila", but the best material appears on the first half of the album. There's nothing quite as sublime as the undeniably feel-good opener, "Pure Shores" (also featured onThe Beachsoundtrack), but "Distance" a bewitching combination of flamenco guitar, piano and dance-floor friendly beats comes close.Saints and Sinnersdoesn't exert its power in subtle ways and there are occasions when they don't quite pull off their attempts to be quirky ("Whoopin' Over You"). However there is plenty of weight and breath here, a mood and groove for every occasion, just as long as that occasion is life-affirming. In fact,Saints and Sinnerssounds like someone turned the "dark" off!--Maxine Kabuubi
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Pure Shores, Black Coffee, the vocal harmonies Disadvantages: Complete lack of originality, and those lyrics!
...The singles aside, nothing on Saints & Sinners comes close in either style or the quality of execution. Ha Ha, Whoopin' Over You and the title cut all attempt a trendily retro psychedelic pop cocktail. Trouble is, Madonna (again) got their first with Beautiful Stranger, and did so with a confident swagger that the foursome's affected posturing can never quite pull off with the same aplomb.
Third single All Hooked Up is a racy number, ... ...abiding impression is of All Saints on autopilot.
Dreams and I Feel You (note the abundance of generic, cliched titles) strike a pleasing ambience that succeeds largely because of the album's sequencing. Indeed, probably its greatest asset - beyond the pair of cracking hit singles - is the shrewd placement of these songs in an order which prevents the limited scope of the band's vision and sonic palette from grating as much as it could. more
The quartet's second album proper (we'll overlook the Remix collection) appears for all the world like being their swansong. Truth be told, like so many other acts peddling the same cross-pollinating generic pop, it's doubtful they will be missed that much.
They remain just about the best of their ilk, however, and it's hardly their fault that a torrent of soundalikes have followed in their wake. Well, from a certain perspective it *is*, but that's what success invariably does - any successful act will spawn a multitude of copycats.
So, to the music. At least two tracks here have entered the public consciousness over the last few months - the UK chart-topping singles Pure Shores and Black Coffee. The former was, and still is, an instant classic....taking the Ray Of Light-era Madonna blueprint (William Orbit was twiddling the knobs on both records) and constructing a coolly melodic breeze of a tune that's only drawback is its remarkable similarity to the material girl's Drowned World/Substitute For Love. The latter was more of the same, but with a less conventional structure...and became one of 2000's more challenging Number Ones.
They are unquestionably the standouts among the 12 tracks, which generally fall into one of three or four categories. The singles aside, nothing on Saints & Sinners comes close in either style or the quality of execution. Ha Ha, Whoopin' Over You and the title cut all attempt a trendily retro psychedelic pop cocktail. Trouble is, Madonna (again) got their first with Beautiful Stranger, and did so with a confident swagger that the foursome's affected posturing can never quite pull off with the same aplomb.
Third single All Hooked Up is a racy number, underscored by suggestive moans and groans and littered with lyrics like "I know you want a piece of my ass..", and rhymes that pair "trash" with "cash". Its tune is good enough to withstand the crassness, but it's a close call. The abiding impression is of All Saints on autopilot.
Dreams and I Feel You (note the abundance of generic, cliched titles) strike a pleasing ambience that succeeds largely because of the album's sequencing. Indeed, probably its greatest asset - beyond the pair of cracking hit singles - is the shrewd placement of these songs in an order which prevents the limited scope of the band's vision and sonic palette from grating as much as it could.
It's just as well, for the remianing songs are dull beyond the call of duty. Love Is Love, Surrender, Ready Willing & Able, and especially Distance are blandness itself. For a genre that ultimately has so little originality, there has certainly been some serious mileage extracted from it in the last 4 or 5 years, and if anything the situation is likely to get worse.
What little of worth this last batch of songs have is mainly centered around the girls' attractive harmonies. Again, they are strongly redolent of another act that preceded them - in this case, En Vogue - but they at least detract from some frankly dreadful lyrics.
Perhaps it's symptomatic of the current malaise in chart-friendly, youthful pop music that such unwavering inanity should characterise both All Saints' and Spice Girls' lastest releases. This seems to be the way to go, as artifice and a carefully sculpted aurra of "credibility" and "attitude" are deemed worthy substitutes for genuine vision and imagination, rather than the welcome accessories they once were. The apex of Wannabe culture.
By current standards, Saints & Sinners is a good record of its kind. Overlook the awful lyrics, and half of it is even better than that. Fair play to them for making so little go such a long way, but shouldn't pop aspire to be more than this?
All Saints essentially have no defining identity and no passion. Because of that, their passing - be it now, or be it further down the road - will never be especially mourned. Or noticed.
EnglishPatient 07.02.2001 (07.02.2001)
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Review of Saints And Sinners (Limited Edition) - All Saints
Advantages: Some excellent tracks, singles very popular, lot of variation Disadvantages: A lot of mediocre tracks, too many different styles
The All Saints are under a lot of pressure at the moment. With a new single out and trying to promote this album in other countries, as
well as having huge arguments and threatenings of quitting the band left, right and centre, they really don't look like they are going to be around for much longer.
And it's just as well really. This album is good, and features some excellent material in places (not least the singles, which are the only things ... ...the popularity of the All Saints and the track that would have got them Number 1 of the year of 2000 if it wasn't for Bob the Builder, this song is everyone's favourite. A nice bass and background water-sounding effect accompany the girls who sing a great and catchy melody that has a habit of growing on you.
2. All Hooked Up - The third track to be released from the album, and the most recent, this track only reached Number 6 in the charts, but ...
craigy_baby_2000 22.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Saints And Sinners (Limited Edition) - All Saints
Advantages: It is a great funky album and Shaznay Lewis Disadvantages: The rest of the girl's obviously in it for the cash
...however, I do like the Saints and like this album, if any one has any tips or suggestions give us a shout please!!
You have to feel sorry for The Saints sometimes. When they first appeared at the top of the charts with the sublime 'Never Ever', the discerning listener primarily appreciated them because they weren't the Spice Girls. Now they have released their follow-up album 'Saints & Sinners' (London Records) they have to live down all the high-end ... ...lesser mamboesque effort from the Saints but boasts a faaab wah wah guitar solo. I Feel You, written by Melanie would not sound out of place on a Minnie Ripperton album, complete with spot on gospel backing vocals, another highlight. Surrender is Pure Shores part 2 and by the time you get to this song you cannot help but appreciate the extraordinary quality of the album. Like the latest Madonna album, the songs on Saints and Sinners appear to be ...
StollyDolly 29.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Saints And Sinners (Limited Edition) - All Saints
Advantages: many, good songs with R&B Disadvantages: none
...the latest album by All saints called „saints and sinners“.
I like this album very well, because I think it´s a mixture between R&B and Pop music.
Here in Gerrmany they have published Pure Shores and Black Coffee. Both of them attacked the charts in hole europe.
The soundtrack of „The Beach“ is not that successful in Germany than Black Coffee. I think All saints shown that they are more professional and successful than the Spice Girls. I mean ... ...HA
- LOVE IS LOVE
- READY; WILLING AND ABLE
- SAINTS AND SINNERS
With their second album they have shown that they have a good nose for good and successful music.
Their songs are earwigs !
P.s.: I´m sorry for my English ...
Daniela16 26.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Saints And Sinners (Limited Edition) - All Saints
Advantages: Some good lyrics and easy to understand Disadvantages: Sounds tacky in places
...Lyrics are unusual for the Saints but there certainly gonna make some money! I think my friends chose this Album for me coz it was cool, they new i liked All Saints and because of its brilliant, sparkly PINK cover! Ive always liked All Saints and in the past was going to go and see them in concert, but that plan fell through. I had All Saints Other Album a while back (1st) and I loved that until my sister snapped the CD. I think that this new album ... ...prefered there other Album to there new one. I think this product is more for younger people with its easy to understand lyrics and its top tunes. So I would recommend this Cd!
I particuarly like: HA HA
Please rate this !!!!! ...
HelenEdmundson 13.11.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Saints And Sinners (Limited Edition) - All Saints
Advantages: Great sounding music Disadvantages: maybe a bit tedious
...more varied range of styles, Saints & Sinners moves away from the tried-and-tested R'n'B formula and is more varied. Even non-All Saints fans will find something they like on here. The William Orbit produced stuff is definitely the most interesting - the two singles, Pure Shores and Black Coffee, capture that Madonnaesque feel, while Surrender and Dreams are also worthy of the No.1 spot. However, unlike Madonna did with her Ray Of Light album, the ... ...these days, very Jennifer Lopez. Meanwhile, Ready Willing & Able gives the girls the chance to astonish us with their amazing harmonies, while Saints & Sinners is a tongue-in-cheek fast-paced track which finishes off things nicely. So the foursome may soon split, but buy this so their legacy lives on! ...
JoeDaunt 26.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Saints And Sinners (Limited Edition) - All Saints
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