Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas. I'm having a bit of a break at the moment while I try and ...
Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas. I'm having a bit of a break at the moment while I try and sort out some things (perhaps Ciao will do the same!), but will hopefully be back in the new year.
Member since:15.11.2006
Reviews:130
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Please note, this review was written in January 2007, 2 months after this album was released, so things might have changed a bit since then!
Me and Take That
I used to be a Take That fan. My wall was covered in posters, and I went to several concerts where I lost my voice through screaming!
Thankfully I wasn't one of these obsessed fans who had to phoned the Samaritans when the group split up a year (or so) after Robbie's departure, on 13th February 1996. People around at the time will remember the scenes of teenaged girls crying hysterically following Gary Barlow's announcement: "Unfortunately the rumours are true, and How Deep Is Your Love is going to be our last single together and the Greatest Hits is going to be the last album and from today...... is no more....."
I shed a few tears, but at the age of 14 I realised that it was probably time to move on anyway. So, I went round to my friend Helen's wearing my Take That t-shirt and with bags full of TT merchandise - books, annuals, CDs & tapes, videos, calendars, postcards, badges etc (thankfully I never invested in a Take That doll). We painted the Take That symbol on our foreheads, spent a day reminiscing and singing, and said goodbye to Take That and a chapter in our lives. Or so I thought…
About Take That
For those who know nothing about Take That, they were a very successful boy band in the 1990s - made up of 5 lads from manchester - Mark Owen, Robbie Williams, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, and Gary Barlow (song-writer, and talent behind the band). They had numerous number ones, although only actually had 3 albums (plus a greatest hits),
and were adored by (mainly) girls worldwide. Looking back on it there were never anything special (although if you'd said that to me at the time I would not have agreed), although Gary Barlow is a good song-writer (these were the days before boy bands had their songs written for them, or only did covers - although Take That did do a few Bee Gees hits)). Of course Robbie made it big-time, after his dramatic (dramatic for TT fans anyway!) exit, and TT continued to plod along for a while before calling it a day. I could write a review about Take That and their history, but I'll leave that for someone else to do!
Back to me and Take That
Following a documentary about Take That (which I was eager to watch out of interest), Take That announced their comeback in November 2005. I had mixed feelings about this - when you day goodbye like that you kind of expect it to be goodbye forever! These days I can think of few things worse than 2 hours screaming constantly in a room full of thousands of teenaged girls (or women in their 20s as they will be now!), and I gave their 2006 sell-out tour a miss!
Some things are better left in the past, but for old time's sake I got their "Never Forget" DVD (of course DVDs weren't around when Take That were before!) for Christmas 2005, and this Christmas just passed I convinced hubby to buy me their new album "Beautiful World". It was a terrible experience for him, and he doesn't know how he will face the Woolworth's staff again (although he has admitted that he quite likes the single 'Patience'!)
I didn't get round to listening to it until we were tidying the house (this goes to show how much my attitude towards TT has changed), but this morning for the first time I've had a proper chance to listen to it on the train to work (I have charged my pretty pink Ipod for the first time in several months!) Before I get onto the songs, I'll briefly describe the CD.
The CD
The case is one of these new types with rounded edges (less painful to stand on with bare feet), and has pictures on (in a kind of yellowy brown colour) from the Patience video (I think so anyway - remember, I'm no longer a fan!) Inside the case there are the song words, which I am always happy to see (makes it easier to sing along), although they are in white font on the yellowy brown pictures which makes it hard to read (and I have excellent vision). There was an insert offering me official Take That ring tones for the bargain price of £3 each. Hmmmmm, surely if I wanted these songs as a ring tone I'd just put them on from the CD?
The Songs
So, there songs - there are 11 tracks (technically 12 as track 11 has a hidden track - sorry have I spoiled the surprise?)
1.Reach Out - a happy catchy tune which makes you want to sing along in the chorus. Probably my favourite from the album - 8 ½ /10
2.Patience - if you haven't heard this song already where have you been? This is a pleasant and catchy tune, and I do like the chorus. This song sums up the sound of the new grown-up Take That - 8/10
3.Beautiful World - The title track. Although it's a nice tune to listen to, it's not much to shout about, and isn't very memorable despite its repetitiveness - by the end we are quite well aware thank you that it's a beautiful world! - 6/10
4.Hold On - Mark Owen was my favourite TT member - for some reason I can no longer comprehend. I was going to marry him and have his babies - sssshhhhh, I'm not sure hubby knows that! It's sweet that Gary lets Mark have a little go at singing, but he really shouldn't. Babe was cute, but that was then, this is now. Take That fans might want to slap me now, but face it, the man can't sing! - 5/10 (Just for effort!)
5.Like I Never Loved You - Back to Gary! Another 'nice' tune (I put the '' because a lot of the songs seem to be just…well…nice!) - 7/10
6.Shine - Oh dear dear, it's Mark again - bless his little cotton socks. This song is a bit weird and perhaps more like their older stuff. I hate to admit that my head's bobbing along and I want to sing - but I'm on a train and it's 7:15am (well, it was when I wrote this out on paper - now I'm typing this up it isn't anymore!). Although it's an awful song and I can see that, I'll have to give it - 7 ½ /10 (I hear this might be their next single)
7.I'd Wait for Life - a slower number and a welcome change. While love songs do tend to blur into one after a while, this is a pretty little number - 8/10
8.Ain't No Sense in Love - A more upbeat song. But now we're at track 8 the songs are sounding very similar. In fact I want to launch into the chorus of 'Patience' during this song. This song is OK - 7/10
9.What You Believe In - Mark again…..I am now starting to appreciate why my brother criticised me for loving Take That. Again, the song is alright, but a bit corny. Quite frankly I'm getting bored.
10.Mancunian Way - Not sure who's singing this? This song is a bit different and has some interesting harmonies, but goes very weird at the end and it sounds like there's some aliens in my head! - 7 ½ /10
11.Wooden Boat - Sung by Jason, this is like a country song and is very different from Take That's usual stuff! I don't really like it - 4/10
And here we have the hidden track called "Butterfly". Quite frankly I find it really annoying having hidden tracks. It's not so bad when I'm listening to the CD, but I know that when I'm listening to my Ipod songs on shuffle that it will really bug me as I'll be thinking "Why the f*** has the music stopped?"
I don't like hidden tracks, so will not even give it the honour of having a rating!
Overall
So, a mixed album….on a whole I'd give it 7/10, which leaves me with a problem as Ciao only has 5 stars….so 3, or 4? I'm going to have to give it 4 stars for old time's sake, and because Gary does have talent. The album has been number one for 6 weeks running (back in January 2007), so that must say something surely? Or maybe there's just a lot of ex-Take That fans out there like me!
I don't know how much hubby paid, but at the time it could be bought for £8.99 on Amazon. At the time of updating this review it can be bought from amazon for just £4.98!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
It's been a long ten years since Take That disbanded. Their recent reformation and world ... more
tour offered overwhelming evidence that, far from being forgotten, the post-Robbie quartet can still command hysterical amounts of goodwill and adoration. Beautifu...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Great vocals, great lyrics and its so amazing to have them back! Disadvantages: There are quite a few ballads, which might not be your thing
Advantages: All of the tracks present shine through as excellent with a brilliant chorus always present. Disadvantages: Gary Barlow is given the lead vocals far too often.
RazzaLazza 14.02.2008 (14.02.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of BeautifulWorld - TakeThat
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Jan 8th, 2007
(Jan 30th, 2009)
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