Girls Aloud, Out Of Control

Hi [name removed],I'm glad you shared your exipneerce with me here. I too, had thought of getting out of MLSP about a year ago. This was before I really had a clue about how powerful and helpful the MLSP community is.

Melodic and catchy, can sing along. The latest album is full of consistantly good tunes, if you like pop music you will like this one.

It was always going to be a hard job releasing an album after Tangled Up which would be as amazing, and Out of Control doesn't quite reach that level of amazingness. However, in terms of pop music it is still very very good.

The Promise, very slightly different to the single version everyone knows, has a slightly extended intro and the addition of Sarah's first verse repeated at the end ... random but it's there. This song is something rather amazing, they all sing decent amounts with a catchy chorus and amazing vocals all round. 9/10.

Track 2, The Loving Kind, which was the pop collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys is an amazing song. It follows on similarly from where Call The Shots left off and is a ballad with upbeat music in an odd, but very fitting and workable, kind of way. Sarah has more vocals than the other girls again on this song, second song in a row, but the highlight is Nicola's lines in the "I'd do anything" part. Although it looks like a potential single, it lacks any solo lines from Nadine so seems quite unlikely. 9/10.

Track 3, Rolling Back The Rivers In Time, is a rather good song. It's maybe a bit of a grower, but it seems very nice and relaxing type of song you would listen to on a hot summers day by the pool. Main vocals from Nicola on this track, which are quite frankly great, shine on this song. The chorus, as ever, is catchy especially with the "ah-ooh" part too. Middle-8 by Cheryl is also another highlight to this song, it's just a feel good tune. 10/10.

Track 4, Love is the Key, starts out like a church choir styled song, but quickly moves into an upbeat 'Can't Speak French' styled music. They lyrics are spoken rather than sung on the main verses of this song, which sounds odd, but sort of grows on you. The song's bridge kind of out-shadows the chorus though which kind of falls flat on its face after the bouncy bridge. Also, it lacks a middle-8 which would have improved the song too. Sadly, one of the poorer songs on the album. 7/10.

Track 5, Turn To Stone, starts with Nicola whispering vocals, which hasn't been seen since 'Here We Go' (What Will The Neighbours Say-2005), and the whole song has a kind of spooky edge to it. Cheryl's haunting vocals on the chorus, fit very well, but is also hard to imagine if she could pull it off live. 3rd song in a row to feature no solo vocals from Nadine, which normally doesn't happen more than once on a GA album, but the whole song is quite alright. The chorus does get rather repetitive on the second run as its repeated numerous times which lets the song down a bit. 7/10.

Track 6, Untouchable, is definitely one of the strongest songs on the album. Although it is nearly 7 mins long, a 4 minute radio-edit would make it a perfect single. The intro with Nicola's beautiful 'I Say A Prayer For You' style vocals start the song off amazingly. Amazing vocals thoughout this song and an amazing middle-8 from Nadine make sure this song is amazing from start to finish. One word for this track - amazing. 10/10.

Track 7, Fix Me Up, starts with the line "Oh sex me up" in an obscure vocodered voice shows this song is going to be all about sex, which it is. Lead vocals from Cheryl and Sarah keep this song going but it is really nothing amazing and rather predictable and repetitive. 6/10.

Track 8, Love is Pain, is another shine of brilliance on Out of Control. It follows a similar path to 'Turn To Stone' in the haunting vocals and production of the song. For the 3rd time on this album Nicola opens the song up amazingly and the chorus also sounds vaguely familiar, but amazing at the same time. The final part of the song sung by Cheryl "Love is pain, oh oh oh" is most likely in reference to what happened earlier on in the year, but her final part puts the song on a more upbeat line. 9.5/10.

Track 9, Miss You Bow Wow, has a bit of a daft title as you can see, but is generally the only bad thing about it, apart from the repetitive nature of the song. This one is rather hard to keep up with and goes along at about 100mph, superspeed fast. It is a song that definately grows on you but is rather amazing. Amazing lead vocals from Sarah on this track which are a definite stand out. 9/10.

Track 10, Revolution in the Head, is another amazing song on this album. Nadine even gives a bit of rapping on this song. It's kind of Out Of Control's 'Fling', 'Graffiti My Soul' and/or 'Swinging London Town'. So many different parts to this song and it's just pop brilliance. Kimberley also gives good vocals on the second verse of this song. f it was so far down the track listing on this album I would have said it was a potential single. 10/10.

Track 11, Live in the Country, is complete with animal noises and dripping water sounds. This song is definately a grower, and with lead vocals again from Sarah it's not a bad listen. The middle-8 from Kimberley and Nicola, with the slightly predictable lyrics, is still rather good. 8.5/10.

Track 12, We Wanna Party, is a cover song. It's alright but nothing spectacular and slightly lets this album down with a bit of a naff ending. 6/10.

Generally, this album is another peice of pop perfection and should definately been given a few listens before you dismiss it as it is more of a grower and not as instant as lat years Tangled Up. Overall 9/10.

The Promise is a very catchy song, and is the only strong point of Girls Aloud's Out Of Control. Sadly this album has more faults that it should, it gets very repetitive, very quickly. If you are a fan of manufactured pop-groups, i would suggest Sugababes, they're song actually sound different.