Released yesterday (20/08/07), Tightrope is Stephanie McIntosh’s debut album release and although topping the Australian charts at number 4 achieving Gold status in weeks and reaching number 11 on the UK Pre-order charts, is Tightrope ready to take on the UK charts by storm or simply flopping dismally.

**WHO IS STEPHANIE MCINTOSH? **

Born in July 1985, Miss McIntosh is best known for her character portrayal ‘Sky Mangel’ in hit Aussie soap Neighbours, which she played for four years. Following in the footsteps of other Neighbours stars such as Kylie Minogue and Holly Valance and in Brother Jason Donovan, McIntosh decided to take on the world with music early in 2006.

This is her debut album signed by Universal Productions based in Australia; McIntosh obviously has her goals set high as she has a 5 Album contract with Universal, something she was quick to negotiate. However, is Tightrope original enough to sell or is it just another pop fuelled attempt by a converted soap star?

**COVER/INLAY**

Privileged as we are the UK release of Tightrope gets its own unique cover which to be honest isn’t very original. It is not something that catches your attention compared to the neon lit background of the Aussie cover. A simple picture of Stephanie filled a bright light mixed with the girlie pink writing really sets the picture of an album that is somewhat under achieved and under developed.

Disappointing to say the least … but the album cover doesn’t make the music.

**TRACK LIST**

1. So Do I Say Sorry First
2. Mistake
3. Tightrope
4. You Should Have Lied
5. Wishin’ and Hopin’
6. Out In The Rain
7. You Don’t Love Me
8. A Change Is Coming
9. God Only Knows
10. Overcome
11. Sink Like A Stone
12. The Night Of My Life
13. I’d Be You

Originally a 12 track album, ‘I’d Be You’ is a ‘hidden’ track not actually appearing on the list, Tightrope is a reasonable debut release in terms of track offerings, but what genre does it offer and is there any diversity in McIntosh’s work? A Lack of CD-Rom features may disappoint Stephanie fans, but to be honest she is pretty much unheard of over here so the lack of features is not surprising.

#So Do I Say Sorry First#
(written by McIntosh, Tom Nichols, Klaus Derendorf)

Released as the Third single in Australia it has also been confirmed as the second single over here in the UK. So Do I Say Sorry First is the only track on her album that McIntosh has co-written, which only acts a as a disadvantage for her. Its lack of sales means peaking at Number 34 in the Aussie Charts and yet to get in the top 200 in the UK.

Musically it quite an addictive tune, mixing deep vocals with an electric guitar driven instrumental and with a mixture a well placed drums you can’t help stopping and taking notice of it, especially if you are a pop rock fan.

Lyrically, Stephanie describes herself as ‘flawed’ and ‘imperfect’ but doesn’t want to carry on arguing with her lover contemplating whether or not to Say Sorry First or wait for him to do it. One of the strongest songs on the album, SDISSF is an addictive pop song that quite surprisingly underachieved in the charts.

‘This passionate contradiction Of bitter sweet is where I dwell’

To watch the music video for So Do I Say Sorry First go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKyFpL67Qw8

#Mistake#
(written by Rami, Arnthor Birgisson, Nichols)

The debut single both in Australia and over here in the UK, Mistake is yet another addictive pop song, polished perfectly for a teen audience. Whilst reaching number 3 in the Aussie Charts, Mistake again failed to catch any attention over here merely getting inside the top 50 peaking a number 47.

Again, musically, Mistake is driven by electric guitars and drums which really is fast paced which mixes really well with McIntosh’s perfected voice which at times echoes in a club remix style. Clearly the strongest track on the album, Mistake isn’t original but many punk pop fans will love it and relish the a new face into the market.

Lyrically, Mistake allows McIntosh to admit that she is feeling hurt and down and can’t believe that she made the mistake of choosing the person she did as a lover.

‘Is it too much to ask, That real love could find me? I won't get stung?’

To watch the music video for Mistake go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJCGgWEo6aQ

#Tightrope#
(written by Nichols, Greg Kurstin)

The second single in Australia, Tightrope reached a decent 16 in the Aussie charts, but to be honest its not perfect and not as addictive as So Do I Say Sorry First. Musically it offers a more club dance beat with base used quite freely to create a ‘unique’ sound, but fails. The sound just isn’t quite right and for the title of the album, it really is a let down.

Lyrically it describes how she at two ends and confused about what she loves and what she knows. It’s a common theme, but silly lyrics such as ‘I'm watching the sharks lick their lips
As they circle far below’ is somewhat unjustified.

To watch the music video for Tightrope go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMP8TBGoYfs

#You Should Have Lied#
(written by Nichols, Savan Kotecha, Carl Falk)

Probably to be released a final single; You Should Have Lied is McIntosh’s first ballad on the album and is perhaps arguable one of the strongest tracks. It piano base allows a more soft and crisp approach for McIntosh’s voice and it goes well extremely well. A steady tempo continues throughout the song and it’s quite refreshing as you listen.

Lyrically it talks how she was perhaps better off not knowing instead of her lover feeling guilty and coming clean. It flows quite nicely and is quite addictive once listened to over and over.

‘So you tried to be honest But honesty blew it this time, You should have lied’

#Wishin’ and Hopin’#
(written by Burt Bacharach, Hal David)

A Cover of Dusty Springfield’s original, Wishin’ and Hopin’ gets a more upbeat cover this time around, with a heavy drum based song mixed with both acoustic and electric guitars and a hint of keyboard. This is a strong track on the album probably due to its popularity, but the newer more punked up version that McIntosh offers is somewhat uplifting.

Lyrically it describes that the way to a man’s heart is:

‘All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him and love him And show him that you care’

#Out In The Rain#
(written by Nichols, Pete Woodroffe, Charlie Grant)

Yet another upbeat pop song that reminds us of Hilary Duff. The song isn’t bad just your average album track yet is seems quite nostalgic now and doesn’t offer anything new. The problem with the song is that if you take away her voice the music sounds too familiar just like many of her later track songs. The electric guitars mix well again with drum beats, but again its just too familiar.

Lyrically it describes how she stands out in the rain to show her feelings no matter how many times her heart has been broken. Lyrically its just as average as its something we have heard so many times so many different artists.

‘I'm drowning in metaphors, angry coz stupid me's a fool again’

#You Don’t Love Me#
(written by Nichols, Quiz & Larrossi)

Unsurprisingly You Don’t Love Me is yet another pop song fuelled by guitars following the same beat and tempo. It sounds too samey and actually sounds like a Paris Hilton Track. Its at this point when you start to realise that when you listen to Stephanie McIntosh too much (over 6 tracks) her voice sounds too immature and not very developed, much like a perfected studio robot.

Lyrically it shows how she has awoken one day to realise that her lover has a different look in his eyes and she realises that it is that he doesn’t love her anymore.

‘Yesterday everything Seemed so ok, How can it be that today You don't love me?’

#A Change is Coming#
(written by Nichols, Guy Roche)

Musically the song starts off with a gentle acoustic sound but then erupts in the chorus to usual electric sound with the fast tempo. Its McIntosh’s voice again that causes the problems with this song. Her voice sounds too irregular at the beginning and granted the song gets better as it goes along, its really is just too average.

Lyrically, A Change is Coming allows McIntosh to change her life and begin to make a new start in life.

‘I feel so free at last tonight, I start to see a future bright’

#God Only Knows#
(written by Nichols, Falk)

Musically God Only Knows is fantastic swapping the upbeat Guitars of previous for a more Punk edge commonly seen in racks by Sum 41. The tempo changes throughout the song and really mixes it up for

the listener. It really is stimulating to hear after the previous average slush.

It is quite a strong track, with a catchy chorus and lyrically it is sound apart from the title. It describes how she falls in too deep with love and ends up making mistakes and wonders when it will all change.

‘I fall in, I freak out Too deep I cannot climb out’

#Overcome#
(written by Nichols, Peter Zizzo)

Musically, Overcome is a little different mix with a softer tempo of guitars mixing in strings of violins every now and again. It’s a decent tune the only problem with Overcome is that her voice doesn’t match the song enough and at times it hard to know what she says as the music erupts over her.

Lyrically, it describes how she was hooked at first sight by someone and now cannot let them go.

‘The riptide was strong And though I fought it for a second or two You stole me with a glance and it was done I was overcome by you’

#Sink Like a Stone#
(written by Klaus Derendorf, Nichols, Jeeve)

Musically the tempo remains on cue unsurprisingly, but the guitar is much more rockier with a harder sound. Its not great mind you especially with her slow paced singing and lame lyrics. Lyrically it talks how she has been sucked in by someone and now cannot leave them alone and all she thinks about it them.

The problem what we find now is that many of the songs are just too unbelievable. She sings the songs is a very similar way so as a listener we just don’t believe what she is saying and the fact she has only written one of the songs credits this further. Naturally she is good a entertaining, but as a true artist hmmm.

‘Suddenly I hear you breathing And now I am sinking like a stone’

#The Night of My Life#
(written by Desmond Child, Nichols)

The Night of My Life is a nice slow paced gentle song with an acoustic guitar at its base with violins carefully playing in the background. Musically it’s a very smooth song and flows on very nicely and even her voice softens to match the silkiness of the song, if a little high pitched.

Lyrically it describes how she wishes to thank everyone who has a made a difference in her life and to be honest its quite a mature song with a adult set of lyrics especially compared to the other songs.

‘Before the world should end I wanna thank you for the night of my life’

#I’d Be You#
(written by Nichols, Thom Pierce)

As the hidden track I’d Be You is ok both musically and vocally but it takes on a different style to the other songs and changes genre. It’s quite a reminiscent song with a soft beat in the style of other artists. Its hard to tell why it’s a hidden track as its not breath taking as surprises go, but I suppose McIntosh fans will crave the fact that it is hidden.

‘If I Could have one little thing, I’d be You’.

Overall, Tightrope by Stephanie McIntosh is at best an average pop album that at times feels a little dated or something we have simply heard before. Her polished vocals makes you wonder whether or not she can actually sing and her lack of writing ability questions her label as a true artist! But on the other hand, there are some strong tracks that are quite addictive for the majority of punk pop fans and anyone who is a fan of Hilary Duff will probably love this.

Truly an album for teenagers, Tightrope is a naive attempt for a debut album by a celebrity who longs to follow in the footsteps of other soap stars, which on the whole fairs well enough if you enjoy the samey feel to every song. The problem is there simply isn’t enough diversity on the album and Tom Nichols who produced the album and co-wrote the songs simply overuses his experience as a producer for the likes of Kylie Minogue and S-Club 7. Let’s just hope for Stephanie’s sake her next four albums are different with a breath of fresh air feel and let’s also hope she writes more than one song.

**ADVICE**

Tightrope is better than:

‘I Am Me’ (Ashlee Simpson)
‘Speak’ (Lindsay Lohan)

Tightrope is Worse than:
‘Most Wanted’ (Hilary Duff)
‘Autobiography’ (Ashlee Simpson)

If You Like This You May Like:

Metamorphosis by Hilary Duff
Jo Jo by Jo Jo

Price:
(as from 21/08/2007)

Play.com: £12.99
Amazon.co.uk : £8.99

Website: http://www.stephaniemcintoshmusic.com/