Music
Sugababes: 'Catfights and Spotlights'
Released on Monday, Oct 20 2008
Published Sunday, Oct 19 2008, 13:59 BST | By Nick Levine | 26 comments
That's rubbish of course, but Amelle, Heidi and Keisha have certainly stuck to the "electropop ban" they imposed while recording the album. Catfights and Spotlights is mellower and more classic-sounding than previous Sugababes records, with loads of strings and a conspicuous lack of synths, but it's no less polished and commercially-minded. Lead single 'Girls', with its brassy, Ronsonish production and advert-tested chorus, is as radio-friendly as anything they've ever released.
This being the year pop went retro, the girls and their collaborators - who include Robyn sidekick Klas Ahlund and 'Mercy' co-writer Steve Booker - offer several nods to the pop sounds of the sixties and seventies. 'You On A Good Day', a sparky slice of girl group pop, and 'Sunday Rain', which has all the melodrama of an old Dusty Springfield single, are among the most infectious tracks Sugababes have ever recorded. 'Every Heart Broken', meanwhile, has their sharpest lyrics in years.
Sadly, this album is saddled with one too many bland ballads, which probably betrays the fact that it was recorded in a bit of a hurry. Just as disappointingly, the likes of 'Hangin' On A Star' and 'Sidechick' are actually slighter and more disposable than the uptempo cuts Sugababes sang when they considered themselves a pop group. Surely they should have outgrown sub-Kylie couplets like "I got a little crush / Your body's such a rush" by now?
The odd dodgy lyric aside, Catfights and Spotlights is a far more sensible album than its cheeky title would suggest. It's the sound of Sugababes growing up gracefully. The girls are apparently planning to take their time over album number seven - a wise move given the variable quality control here - but it's not a good sign that Amelle, Heidi and Keisha are now writing separately more often than they do together.
> Click here to read our recent interview with Sugababe Amelle
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Was not a fan of this album - especially coming from the group who are supposed to be the most successful UK girl group ever...
I've only just got this album and it's great! It's not the most upbeat album but they have progressed with a more soulful / polished sound which really suits them and could be the best since "One Touch" & "Three". With Emotionally powerful ballads "Sunday Rain" & "Can We Call a Truce" and funky motown tinged tracks such as "You on a good day and "Nothing as good as you", they've joined the retro "feel" of 2008 but but their own twist on it! Also they've managed to retain their darker and mature sound which they sadly lost a bit for the last album "Change", Amelle co-wrote "Beware" (personal favourite) which is a sinister/ moody feeling to it so she's not done too bad to ensure the sugababe style lives on! Superb and Mature album, but not for people who are still clinging to the "electro sugababe" sound! The girls are growing up moving on and getting better! looking forward to the 7th album!!
Horrible. They should have stuck to their old sound rather than trying to imitate a motown sound. The album failed badly.
it's nothing special.
i thought this album was bette rthan teh last its just because of girls aloud that sugababes ar egettin less fans and does anyone knwo this albums out
Girls love it a danceable song 10/10 You on a Good Day it has a motwown feel one of my favs 10/10 No Can do 9.5/10 funky song next single Hanging on a star catchy song sounds xenomanish 9/10 Side Chick - sure fire hit dark rnb keisha stands out 10/10 Unbreakable Heart nice beats strong vocals 10/10 Sunday Rain one of my favs nice christmassy ballad 10/10 Every Heart Broken another hit song 10/10 dark with key changes Beware another dark sound amelle sounds fab 10/10 Nothing as good as you 7/10 cool pop rock Sound of Goodbye 9.5/10 reminds me of unbreakable heart heidi stands out and keisha Can we call a truce finally grown to love this song 10/10 amelle sounds husky in this, a bit rnb sound so happy i bought this album instead of just listening to it on youtube. sugababes vocals are at their best in this album. keisha's vocals was amazing with james morrison on children in need
It's awful
an excellent album it stands out big time. i love it and never get bored of the songs c&s is the bomb
these are the kinds of groups i like to see 1. vocals 2. serious 3. classy 4. good on live performances and curvy(keisha, heidi). put that aside this album is one of their best, and i mean best up to date its up there for me with three album. i love the song girls and the way they can turn a boots advert into their own, every heart broken one of their best and humourous lyrics. there is beware, which reminds me of freak like me because its dark and i love it. sunday rain is has a nice haunting sound with a christmas feel nice ballad. unbreakable heart is another stand out it kicks in in the chorus. you on a good day another hit which should be a single, its kind of midtempo/uptempo. another kinda uptempo is hanging on a star with reminds me a bit like xenomania. no can do is their next relelase it has a nice outro beat and funky. can we call a truce another strong song bascially all the songs are great i hope this album in the future and the singles does well because the sugababes do not have to prove themselves anymore love them
Very Good album underated I feel. Much better then their last album change. Fav tracks Every Heart Broken, Can we call a truce?, Sunday Rain, Sound of Goodbye and No can do.
I think it's an excellant album. I wasnt sure about it at first and I'm still not sure if it's as good as "Change" but it's certianly a grower. Songs like "Beware", "Side Chick" and "Sunday Rain" show a more darker more mature sound which is why I like "Hanging on a Star" because it maintains the lighter, more feminine sound. I do love "You on a Good Day" and "No Can Do" and I think that "Every Heart Broken" is a very clever piece of writing. Overall, it's a ver good album!
there's a mix of everything they've done before in the past It has rawness, soul passion and deep and powerful, daRK. you know their such amazing songs when you really listen to them. and i agree with the sugababes they are a vocal group not always about electropop. i rate this album 1000000/10 just love it
What is the DS reviewer on?? And all the other ney sayers to be exact? Spotlights... is probably the best Sugababes album yet. To bad for those disappointed- but get it with it and listen to the album before passing comment. No Can Do, Side Chick, Every Heart Broken, You on a good day, Girls, Sunday Rain... all brilliant and Can We Call A Truce is their best ballad yet. Deservedly 5 stars. Listen and enjoy.
to the comment below scott i totally disagree. this album is their roots it shows us how they first started with stroong vocals and powerful ballads. look at other songs forever, lush life, conversations over, look at me etc. their new album has got funky, rnb and pop ballad roots as always with a motown feel im so pleased even their bside to girls dont look back is a fresh cut and reminds me of songs with mutya and siobhan no can do- is funky sounding similar to jjackson 5 beware- shows us the dark side of the sugababes which we have seen before side chick- shows their slick rnb side every heart broken- is similar to conversations over but with better lyrics sound of goodbye- has a strong message in the chorus overall i wouldn't class any of the as fillers except for hanging on a star apart form that most of the songs could be top hits
Very disappointed!! I disagree with a lot of the comments on here. I am a huge sugababes fan, loved them since angels with dirty faces and have seen them six times in concert!!! But I was really disappointed with this album, it sounds like something Girls Aloud would bring out. Dont get me wrong I love GA too but lets face it, they dont make albums like the Sugababes!! The first half is not bad, I love Girls and I like You on a good day and Hanging on a star. But the rest of it a total let down!!! I just hope this is not the beginning of the end for the Sugababes!!! They need to go back to their roots.
love it man, i havent got the album yet but im hoping to buy it soon. the album from what i've heard is slick, dark and funky. im loving no can do, beware, you on a good day, every heart broken and girls. these are the only songs which i've heard fully. i've heard the whole songs but they were only samples. sugababes you've done it for me marry me lol
rank albums three taller in more ways catfights and spotlights angels with dirty faces/change one touch so basically catfights and spotlights has done well in my book stand out tracks, beware, you on a good day, no can do, sound of gooodbye, can we call truce
disagree with the reviewer below me (sam). i love someone in my bed and in the middle but i think that they are similar in different ways. anyways in my opinion c&s showcase the girls vocals. and this album proves that sugababes dont need to prove themselves anymore as a good band they've got it already. im loving you on a good day, nice intro beat. beware, is a dark and echoing sound i just love it reminds me of freak like me. another nice track is everyheart broken, with the amazing lyrics and instruments between the chorus. unbreakable heart, is a nice ballad which starts off slow then goes all dancey in the chorus. side chick, is a classic love it shows the girls rnb edge. bascially most of the songs on the album good be potiential singles
if album is totally different to girls it will be good espically if it is like one touch but i don't think it will ever be as good as one touch because it doesn't have the orginal line up but i do think itcould be a good album.
The best album the Sugababes have ever done, with the best line up! So want Keisha to be back and for Jade to be out! They were perfect like this! x