Music
The Saturdays: 'Wordshaker'
Released on Monday, Oct 12 2009
Published Thursday, Oct 1 2009, 11:13 BST | By David Balls | 34 comments
Trailer 'Forever Is Over' is a tad underwhelming, but thankfully there's plenty to enjoy elsewhere on the album. Rather than shifting to the pop-rock sound of the single, Wordshaker generally sticks to the sparky electropop stompers that made Chasing Lights such an impressive debut. If anything, the girls are showing even more confidence this time around. 'One Shot' and 'Wordshaker', both of which combine grinding basslines with lethal pop hooks, make it quite clear that misbehaving boys will be punished. Then there's the cracking 'Ego', on which an over-confident male is calmly advised to "have a sit down with his ego".
Though The Saturdays are at their most entertaining on the uptempo cuts - like most pop groups, truth be told - the album's obligatory smattering of ballads do go some way to warming the cockles. 'Here Standing', which has Christmas single written all over it, is a big powerful smacker of a love song topped off with massive stadium drums, while 'No One' and 'Denial' show the girls can be vulnerable as well as vixens.
Wordshaker doesn't quite escape the curse of filler - '2am' is bog-standard girlband fodder and 'Deeper', the only track they co-wrote, suggests their songwriters needn't head down the job centre - but it hits the target more often that not. Though not quite as impressive as their debut, this is still a confident, fresh-sounding album that should take the group one step closer to household name status. With Sugababes looking as steady as a ship in a thunderstorm and Girls Aloud taking a year out, let's hope The Saturdays can make the most of their opportunity.
> Click here to read our recent Saturdays interview
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Agree with Stephanie. The Saturdays are like replacements for the Girls Aloud break.
I bought this album in October when it first came out and thought it was brilliant. Three months later, I'm sick of it. As opposed to Chasing Lights, which I still think is great. The ballads are weak, and the uptempo numbers are empty filler. The album sales speak for themselves, if you ask me. Fans will be loyal, but they rushed this album out and the girls themselves need bringing down a peg or two, if you ask me.
gr8 album (Y)
As it stands, they'll have to make do with filling the void until Girls Aloud are ready to return.
Terrible album by trolls
This album suck tits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wrote a review for this shortly after I listened to it saying that it isn't as good as the first album - I'm going to have to go back on what I said! It's amazing and so much better than the first :) a definate step up! Also, you say that 2AM isn't that good BUT all my friends (10+ people so far) who have listened to the album on my iPod have said it is their favourite! It's just feel good, dancy pop :) So there you go!!
The Saturdays are cocky and overrated. Absolutely hate them!!
I love there first album, but this one is definetly better. Stronger vocals, better songs :)
It such a good album, not one track i dont like. Perfect mix of fun, friviolous pop songs and girly lyrcis with stronger ballads and rockier, dancier numbers. And i've seen so many interviews and viddeo clips of them on their website, its unfair how some of the media have completely twisted there words as they aren't bitchy or cocky at all and seem so grateful and pleased for the fans and success. Love the album and the girls.
the saturdays need to deflate they're heads a bit. every interview i read or see with them, they seem really cocky. this album is nothing special. just sound like any other pop album out at the moment really. nothing very creative or cutting edge about it. they need to puch the envolope a bit more
Now that I have brought to the album and listened to it the whole way through (probably a gazzilion times aha), I have to say I totally love it!! Amazing vocals and I'm v happy that Frankie's vocals are a lot more featured on this album. Went to their signing, they're lovely!!
amazing album fave tracks include open up,on shot,ego and wordshaker 9/10
<3
After a couple of listens, I can say this is a fairly strong album, with several catchy hooks. Just wish they'd released Wordshaker as the first song - far, far catchier and more in-keeping with the rest of the album. Reckon that would have been number one this week. One Shot, Lose Control and Ego are the other standout tracks.
I think this is a really strong album, and I personally prefer it to the previous album. The previous one had some REALLY stand out tracks - Up, Work, Issues etc. but I generally like every track on this album. I think the lead single, Forever Is Over, is a bit of a dissapointment and I can't really understand why this was chosen to promote the album. My favourite tracks include Here Standing, One Shot, No One, Wordshaker, Denial. I'm not that keen on the first track, like I said, and Deeper, but generally I think it's a great album.
Michelle, L.A, on October 9th, 2009
Umm, The Dolly Rockers already made it clear they didn't talk sh*t about The Saturdays, are fans of Girls Aloud and Sugababes, and the only thing they ever said about Girls Can't Catch is that the cover is boring. Don't contradict yourself saying The Saturdays can be forgiven for having interviewers twist their words and Dolly Rockers can't for the exact same thing. It's ridiculous. As far as The Saturdays "Wordshaker" goes, I still have only listened to 'Forever is Over'. I decided to wait it out until the album gets here. I like the song, definitely not one I put on repeat or anything, but I don't hate it. It took me a few listens to like it, though.
Umm, The Dolly Rockers already made it clear they didn't talk sh*t about The Saturdays, are fans of Girls Aloud and Sugababes, and the only thing they ever said about Girls Can't Catch is that the cover is boring. Don't contradict yourself saying The Saturdays can be forgiven for having interviewers twist their words and Dolly Rockers can't for the exact same thing. It's ridiculous. As far as The Saturdays "Wordshaker" goes, I still have only listened to 'Forever is Over'. I decided to wait it out until the album gets here. I like the song, definitely not one I put on repeat or anything, but I don't hate it. It took me a few listens to like it, though.
bit dull really they dnt have that funes about them anymore
I think they meant it's hard to distinguish Rochelle and Vanessa because their voices sounds very similar in places, like Unofficial, the b-side to work, and ego on the new album!
A Good Effort, But Not As Good As Chasing Lights. Ego, Wordshaker and Forever Is Over Carry The Album, In Fact The B-Sides To Ego And Forever Is Over Are Better Than Most On The Album. It's Decent But It Uses Too Many Fillers (Deeper, 2.am, Here Standing).