It also means the lion's share of The Ultimate Collection - their third retrospective no less - actually holds up surprisingly well. OK, the bass needs ramping up drastically; but the idea of 'Deeper Shade of Blue', 'Summer of Love' or 'You'll Be Sorry' in the charts today - with some guest-rapping skits, natch - doesn't seem as ludicrous as it did six years ago.
On reflection, the biggest realisation about the 20-strong collection is the sadness littered throughout the largely Pete Waterman-helmed tracks. "I'm one for sorrow/ Ain't it too, too bad" they mourn on 'One For Sorrow', "We may not have tomorrow/ But there's always yesterday" on 'After The Love Has Gone' and "You're so far, far away" on the sad-pop classic 'Deeper Shade of Blue'. History has consistently shown that the best pop songs have always come from the heart - even when disguised in studio trickery and flashy dance routines.
The numbers that don't hold up quite as well instead serve as timely nostalgia. The country-pop sound of '5, 6, 7, 8' was, in hindsight, a bizarre choice of lead single, while the sing-song lyrics of 'It's The Way You Make Me Feel' remain a fan and group favourite to this day. Should Steps record a new album? Their genre of choice may be carrying favour for now, but it'd be a shame to risk spoiling a legacy this impressive.
Tracks to download: The whole lot.
If you like this, you'll like: S Club 7, Atomic Kitten, Hear'Say, Scooch
Watch Steps discuss their musical comeback below:
