... SANCTUARY
UK SINGLES FEATURED ON ALBUM-
LAY YOUR HANDS
NO WORRIES
AFTER ALL THIS TIME
TRACKS WRITTEN BY SIMON- (8 out of 12)
Lay Your Hands
No Worries
After All This Time
A Little High
Time Of Your Life
Unjustified
Ashamed
All I Want
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Advantages: A unique album of laid back, upliftiing tracks and impressive vocals! Disadvantages: It's the same sound throughout so if you dont like one song you'l hate it!
...I love.
SANCTUARY is probably my least favourite track on the album but it is a good track in itself. This is possibly my least favourite because it is quite a cliched 'last album track'; a big ballad with soft, gentle verses and a big heartfelt chorus. The beginning sounds quite similar to 'Free' but just not as sincere or powerful and the choruses don't seem to have sufficient emotion behind them to carry it off. Simon's vocals are ... ...is a shame. It is worth a listen but will perhaps not hold your attention by the end of the album.
TRACKS-
1. LAY YOUR HANDS
2. NO WORRIES
3. AFTER ALL THIS TIME
4. A LITTLE HIGH
5. TIME OF YOUR LIFE
6. UNJUSTIFIED
7. FREE
8. ASHAMED
9. ONLY LOVE
10. ALL I WANT
11. STAR
12. SANCTUARY
Simon Webbe first shot to fame in the hugely successful boy band, Blue. Blue were renowned for their R&B/pop sound, smooth harmonies and (apparent) good looks, as well as the odd controversial bad boy moment. They had the cool factor that former boy bands had lacked and managed to cling on to their success, even when the boy band were becoming a dying, much ridiculed, breed. Amid this transition in popularity from what is considered 'pop' (ie. cheese) to more indie/rock bands, Simon, Duncan, Anthony and Lee must have decided to call it quits whilst they were at the top of their game.
I, even as one of the pop loving minority, have never really been in to my boy bands. Well, I suppose that I was a boy band lover in my own way; although I snubbed the mainstream and popular bands such as Boyzone, Westlife and Blue, I tended to form an attachment to those boy bands that were actually so uncool (can you believe it?) that they were dropped by their record companies prior even to the release of their first album (my past faves have included the Scott-Lee trio, 3SL; Triple 8; and Popstars The Rivals runners up, Phixx). Therefore, all this said, I was never a fan of Blue and actually actively disliked their music. I never really got the whole craze for the boys and never even bought so much as one single.
It is common knowledge that the careers of ex-band members never quite match up to their success as part of the band, think of any of the former Spice Girls or members of Boyzone to illustrate this point. Even those members who were formerly the brains and voices behind the band, or the glue that held the group together, seem unable, after the band, to recreate this success by themselves, as Ronan Keating and Gary Barlow can testify. Bearing this in mind, as I was never a fan of Blue to begin with, I never thought that I would ever be buying a single by on of the boys gone solo, and it would take a pretty special single to convince me otherwise.
This single, however, did, to my surprise, finally emerge, and it came by way of Simon Webbe. I expected, on hearing that Simon was releasing a single, to hear more of Blue, just minus three voices. However, what I heard was a less poppy, more laid back smooth sound and it was, indeed, very impressive. The first single convinced me that Simon was capable of beginning a solo career, the second single convinced me to buy what is a pretty impressive debut album.
LAY YOUR HANDS is the first track on this album and also Simon's first single. It is a brilliant track that I loved from the start and that I continue to love. It is a laid back, slow track with a string accompaniment and a catchy, heartfelt chorus. I love the computerised backing vocals at the beginning and during the bridge and Simon's smooth vocals carry off the track perfectly.
NO WORRIES is Simon's second single and another laid back, soulful pop track. The verses are accompanied by a strong beat and guitars and the female 'background' singer dominates the chorus with heartfelt, soulful vocals. The lyrics reflect the laid back, upbeat sound of this track - 'I just know you're life's gonna change/ maybe not today, maybe not today/ Someday soon you'll be alright/ I just know you're life's gonna change… no worries, no worries' . It is a great uplifting and catchy track and my favourite song on the album.
Simon wrote AFTER ALL THIS TIME about his grandmother and it's a very heartfelt track with expressive vocals and lyrics - 'Age it shows, though we try and hide it/ Inside, she is loving him still/ After all this time/ And behind his tired eyes/ She sees the boy with his arms wide/ Who made her feel like an angel'. It is a slow track with beautiful background music, a strong baseline and a delicate, heartfelt verse that launches in to a strong, upbeat chorus. I really like this track a lot.
A LITTLE HIGH, the fourth track on this album, starts off with a gentle, soulful verse that leads on to a faster paced, catchy chorus. It is a little wistful sounding with heartfelt vocals and a powerful interlude towards the end. It is probably not the most memorable track but it is a nice, relaxing song with good backing music.
TIME OF YOUR LIFE is a brilliant track; Simon's vocals are, as always, very expressive and the backing track is very upbeat and unusual. I find it hard to categorize this track, it is just trademark Simon, laid back pop with a touch of R&B and a touch of soul. It is a nice, uplifting track about letting someone go and ending an unsatisfactory relationship - 'If I'm wasting my time, baby/ If something within you can't be satisfied/ Then get up, get out, give in/ oh if I'm cramping your style, lately if something is greener on the other side/ Then go on, and have the time of your life'.
UNJUSTIFIED is a quirky pop track with unique, upbeat guitar music. It has gentle, staccato verses and a smooth, uplifting chorus. It is a gentle, laid back pop track.
FREE is probably my second favourite track on the album. It is a gentle, soulful ballad and Simon's vocals are soft and beautiful (in a manly way of course! Grr!) It is a sweet and emotive love song with heartfelt, sentimental lyrics - 'What a way to wake up/ Just to find you there and/ Touch you in the morning/ You turn your head and look up/ There's no need to catch me/ Baby, I'm not falling… It's only you that makes me free/ I'm not used to being loved, not me.'
ASHAMED is another upbeat and soulful track. It is very catchy with lively guitar backing music and meaningful lyrics about feeling, as the title suggests, ashamed for acting paranoid in a relationship and almost driving his girlfriend away. It is definitely a standout track.
ONLY LOVE is an R&B track with strong beats, smooth harmonies and a laid back, gentle chorus. It is a nice enough track but probably not one of the most memorable.
ALL I WANT is a track that I can never remember how it goes prior to playing it but when it starts I really enjoy it. It is an R&B/pop track with a moody feel, a strong assertive baseline and a powerful backing track accompanying expressive, heartfelt vocals. As it is not upbeat, like the other tracks, it makes a nice change and is well placed on the album.
STAR is one of my favourite tracks on the album. The track begins with tribal sounding chants which remind me of something from the 'Lion King'. It has quite an exotic, fun feel to it with chanting and unusual, catchy backing music. It is a very unique track which I love.
SANCTUARY is probably my least favourite track on the album but it is a good track in itself. This is possibly my least favourite because it is quite a cliched 'last album track'; a big ballad with soft, gentle verses and a big heartfelt chorus. The beginning sounds quite similar to 'Free' but just not as sincere or powerful and the choruses don't seem to have sufficient emotion behind them to carry it off. Simon's vocals are also drowned out by the music and backing vocals which is a shame. It is worth a listen but will perhaps not hold your attention by the end of the album.
TRACKS- 1. LAY YOUR HANDS 2. NO WORRIES 3. AFTER ALL THIS TIME 4. A LITTLE HIGH 5. TIME OF YOUR LIFE 6. UNJUSTIFIED 7. FREE 8. ASHAMED 9. ONLY LOVE 10. ALL I WANT 11. STAR 12. SANCTUARY
UK SINGLES FEATURED ON ALBUM- LAY YOUR HANDS NO WORRIES AFTER ALL THIS TIME
TRACKS WRITTEN BY SIMON- (8 out of 12) Lay Your Hands No Worries After All This Time A Little High Time Of Your Life Unjustified Ashamed All I Want
BEST TRACK- No Worries
WORST TRACK- Sanctuary
ALBUM UNIQUE SELLING POINT- Simon's impressive vocals.
ALBUM SUMMARISED IN ONE WORD- Relaxed
ARTIST POTENTIAL- Despite the hit singles from this album, Simon hasn't done much since its release. However, he may have simply been busy with other projects (he has a record company and a daughter to also consider) and I think that Simon has a lot to offer and will have a relatively long music career, if that's the route he chooses to take.
SCORE OUT OF 10 FOR… VOCALS- 10 LYRICS- 8 MUSIC/BACKING TRACKS- 10 VARIATION IN TRACKS- 8 OVERALL ALBUM- 8
Advantages: Mellow uplifting tracks Disadvantages: Some unusual tracks which some might not like
I love music, but I can't say I'm all that good at describing it. I'll try my best here though.
I recently starting listening to this album again, and I still love it as much as I did when it was released in 2005 . It's full of the type of music that inspires and uplifts whilst being mellow and relaxing.
Simon rose to fame as part of the boy band Blue. He launched a solo career about a year after they split in 2004. Lee Ryan also released an album ... ...didn't expect all that much from Simon to be honest, sometimes when bands split the solo efforts are just a desperate effort to cling on to the fame etc. where talent is lacking. However, after hearing both his No.4 singles Lay Your Hands and No Worries and enjoying them both, I decided the album was worth a try.
This album reached No. 7 in the charts and is double platinum.
I have to say I was very glad I tried the album, there are a few tracks ...
miasmum82 27.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sanctuary - Simon Webbe
Advantages: Great tracks, emotive lyrics, soothing voice, brilliant debut album. Disadvantages: 1 or 2 weak links.
...how he'll basically be your sanctuary and save you. Presumably by listening to this album whenever you're a little down he'll act as your sanctuary, I doubt he'll make home visits! It's a good song, smooth sounding and a little uplifting but I can see why he's saved it till the last position. "I'll be your sanctuary, be the last one left here standing, if you're feeling all alone, when the world feels so temporary." My Opinion
I personally think ... ...there's something on here for every mood of mine and I'd have to give it thumbs up. His sound is very "urban folk" as he calls it himself, mixing r n b with soul and doing it rather well if you ask me. His voice has recently been compared in certain music magazines to that of Tunde from The Lighthouse Family which I feel sums it up completely. It's melodic, soothing and sultry too at times. As for the album it's got a great mixture of songs with ...
blonde_girl774 31.12.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sanctuary - Simon Webbe
Advantages: Appeals to all ages, great vocals and lyrics Disadvantages: disappointing finish to the album after a great start
Sanctuary by Simon Webbe is his debue album as a single solo artist since he left the very popular and well known band ''Blue''. He has created an exceptional album that will appeal to people of all ages and all interests in music. This album includes the hit singles 'Lay your hands' and 'After all this time'. It has 12 songs in total which I will run through individually below. 1. ''Lay Your Hands'' is a song about a close partner or girlfriend ... ...phase he is going through. If you were to read the lyrics without listening to Simon sing the song you would find it quite depressing, but he manages to turn it into a mellow and relaxing song which certainly doesnt make you feel depressed.
2. ''No Worries'' appears to be an opposite of his first song. It seems as if he is the 'healer' himself. ''I just know your llife is gonna change'' he is telling his partner/girlfriend not to worry and that ...
jt247 19.07.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sanctuary - Simon Webbe
Advantages: Good Music By A Good Man Disadvantages: Only A Couple Of Weaker Tracks
I received this much wanted CD from Simon Webbe called "Sanctuary" from my daughter for mother's day which I played over and over again.
I'm sorry to say that, sad as it may seem I liked the group "Blue" when they were together, and when I heard that Simon Webbe was making a solo career I eagerly awaited the release of his new single, which he released as "Lay Your Hands" and then I heard that he was bringing out an album in November. I waited with ... ...buying.
But, my daughter beat me to it and bought it for me.
Some of you may be expecting something like the music when Blue were together, sorry to say, but, boy band music.
Well this is different than that and portrays a more adult male singer instead, and is seen as more of a soul singer.
A bit about Simon, well I think he is a very attractive member of the opposite sex and at the age of 26 and from Manchester can spin his webbe on me anytime.
...
chattell 09.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sanctuary - Simon Webbe
Advantages: Amazing Songs...Amazing Voice...Good Mix Of Songs Disadvantages: None That I Can Think Of...
Track Listing
1. Lay Your Hands
2. No Worries
3. After All This Time
4. A Little High
5. Time Of Your Life
6. Unjustified
7. Free
8. Only Love
9. All I Want
10. Ashamed
11. Sanctuary
12. Star
13. Give A Man Hope
14. I Ain't You
Lay Your Hands was the debut single from Simon and i loved it. It is such a good song and beat. It's a definate car track. Catchy lyrics to sing along to.
No Worries was the second release and ... ...you singing along straight away without you even realising.
After All This Time is my fave track from the album. As soon as i heard it, i fell in love with it. A song that really shows off Simons vocal talent. It's just a simple song, it's great.
A Little High is once again another catchy song to chill to, or sing along to in the car with your mates. Time Of Your Life is a song that i just found myself singing along to straight away. I love to ...
LUKGemini 12.12.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Sanctuary - Simon Webbe
Product Information for "Sanctuary - Simon Webbe" »
Product details
Title
Sanctuary
Performer
Simon Webbe
Genre
R&B
Sub Genre
Soul
Release Date
14/11/2005
Recomended Retail Price
16.99 GBP
Label / Distributor
Innocent / EMI Operations/CEVA Logistics
Producer
Matt Prime; Tim Woodcock; Ash Howes
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
94634366823
Catalogue Number
CDSIN 20
Additional notes
Album Notes
Debut album from Manchester-born and former member of Blue, Simon Webbe. Written exclusively by Webbe, this first offering is a mix of RnB and soulful pop. The album was produced by close friend Matt Prime. The singles 'Lay Your Hands' and 'No Worries' are included.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Lay Your Hands
2.
No Worries
3.
After All This Time
4.
Little High
5.
Time Of Your Life
6.
Unjustified
7.
Free
8.
Ashamed
9.
Only Love
10.
All I Want
11.
Star
12.
Sanctuary
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Listed on Ciao since
12/12/2005
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