Westlife - Westlife > Reviews > Haon, Do, Tri - Westlife!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Fantastic vocals, lyrics  .  .  top class
Disadvantages:	Couple of fillers and a dodgy cover

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The debut offering from one of the hottest exports from Ireland since ... well.. Boyzone. Brain child of Irish act svengali Louis Walsh (of Popstars the Rivals and X-Factor) and co-managed by Ronan Keating front man of Louis' other brain child Boyzone.

Formed in 1998 - Westlife, made up of Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily (from Sligo in the West of Ireland) Nicky Byrne and Bryan Mcfadden (from Dublin) - were named Smash Hit's "Best New Tour Act" and also spent alot of their first year in the business supporting such bands as Backstreet Boys and Boyzone on their sold out Wembley tours across the UK and Ireland. Signed by pop legend Simon Cowell to BMG records in early 1999, the band teamed up with song writers Wayne Hector and Steve Mac who provided the band with their debut single.. Swear It Again (released in late April) - and it went on to hit the number 1 spot in both Ireland and England. The band then went onto to score a total of 5 number ones from their debut album alone, making pop history and making it into the Guiness Book of Records for being the first band to achieve 5 consecutive number ones.

Westlife worked on alot of their debut album at Cheiron Studios in Sweden, working with Per Magnusson/Jorgen Elofsson/David Kreuger/Max Martin - some of the writers behind such acts as Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys) aswell as working on quite a few of the tracks at Rokstone Studios in London with songwriting duo Steve Mac and Wayne Hector. The album was released late November and charted at Number 2 in the Official UK Album chart. Mainly comprised of ballads (the bands speciality) showing off the guys superb vocal talents and the ability to deliver a song in a heart warming, tear jerking manner... with the odd sprinkle of a mid-tempo track to get your toes tapping.

1. Swear it Again
(Steve Mac/Wayne Hector)
The debut single - a ballad with an anthem chorus about a couple staying together and their relationship.

2. If I Let You Go
The second single - a great follow up single and a little more tempo than Swear it Again.

3. Flying Without Wings
(Steve Mac/Wayne Hector)
The third single and winner of Record of the Year 1999 - a classic love song and one of the most popular Westlife songs to date. This song is accomponied by a choir and shows off the fantastic vocal talents of the band.

4. Fool Again
(Jorgen Elofsson/Per Magnusson/David Kreuger)
The fifth single - a mid tempo song recorded in Sweden, and released in March 2000.

5. No no
(Rami/Andreas Carlsson)
One of the best up tempo numbers on the album and a song they band performed at many of their roadshow gigs in 1999.

6. I Don't Wanna Fight
(Steve Mac/Wayne Hector)
A ballad - possibly one of the best on the album, very touching and superb vocals.

7. Change the World
(Topham/Twigg/Ellington)
Possibly one of the down points on the album, not a bad song but not one of the best - possibly seen as a filler on the album for me personally.

8. Moments
(Steve Mac/Wayne Hector)
Another ballad - same as I Don't Wanna Fight.. beautiful lyrics and fantastic vocals. A highlight of the album.

9. Seasons in the Sun
(Bret/McKuen)
The fifth single (double A-Side with a cover of Abba's I Have A Dream) - A cover of Terry - a nice cover, perhaps a little ambitious for guys only just turned 20.

10. I Need You
(Rami/Andreas Carlsson/Max Martin)
Mid tempo - possibly another "filler" track - nice enough to listen to but not as good as some of the other songs on the album. Quite disappointing from Max Martin.

11. Miss You
(Jake/Rami)
A very irish pipes inspired ballad - beautiful vocals and lyrics - one of the highlights of the album.

12. More than Words
(Gary Cherone/Nuno Bettencourt)
A cover of the song by Extreme. One of the songs that the band would play acapella for record companies when they were trying to get a record deal. Kian plays guitar on this song and is very impressive.

13. Open Your Heart
(Jake/Andreas Carlsson)
And uptempo track again. Not one of the best songs on the album though. Quite catchy.

14. Try Again
(Jorgen Elofsson/Per Magnusson/David Kreuger)
Possibly one of the most underrated songs on the album - this song was the b-side to If I Let You Go. The song could be interpretated as a love song/a song about life - very inspiring lyrics and personally one of my favourites.

15. What I Want is What I Got
(Alexandra/Rami)
The final most up tempo song of the album and it is a fantastic song. As the title suggests its a song about having what you want and not needing anything else.

16. We Are One
(Steve Mac/Wayne Hector/Alexadre Desplat)
A beautiful ballad with fantastic lyrics and superb vocals from Mark Feehily. This song was feautured in the film "A Monkey's Tale."

17. Can't Lose What You Never Had
(Steve Kipner/David Frank)
The final song for the album is a corker and quite different from any of the other songs on the album. Fantastic vocals and a fantastic note to end the album on.