Reality TV
Is this wise I ask myself?
I’m about to review Rowetta’s new album and given the strength of Ro’s support on the Digital Spy forums anything other a totally positive piece could easily see me and in particular my inbox getting a very hard time indeed.
The CD plops through the letterbox a day later than I was expecting alongside a copy of The Best Of Tiswas DVD. Great, that gives me three hours of custard pie throwing from Tarrant and the mob before I begin the task of actually listening to album.
It turns out that the Tiswas effort is just a rehash of previously released on VHS material. Given that this is an album from a talent show contestant I wonder just how many rehashes (i.e. covers) I’m about to be subjected to.
As I switch the telly off I catch a glimpse of Steve Brookstein being ejected from The Match. The portents and omens aren’t looking good.
Hordes of other distractions are getting in the way of me giving the thing a listen: elderly relatives, broken computers and three, count them, three, phone calls from the girlfriend (I must be in trouble, don’t know why) all seem to be getting in the way of me sitting down and getting the review done.
Why am I prevaricating? I like Rowetta. This should be good.
Finally I settle down with a big mug of tea and a packet of Garibaldi biscuits (you know, the one’s that look like they’re made from squashed flies) and I get on with the job in hand.
Track 1 – Hello Detroit
It seems to be a prerequisite that when a successful act emerges from a TV show, the first album is largely a collection of covers and covers of what are regarded as standards at that.
We open with a track that has a bit of a cabaret feel about it. I grew up in the dying days of the cabaret restaurant where you could munch on your scampi and chips while watching the acts (unless a really big shot like Brucie was playing. They wouldn’t let you eat when he was on).
I felt like ordering a chicken in the basket when this came on. I can sense those irate e-mails heading my way. Things quickly get better.
Track 2 – The Look of Love
When you’ve got a voice as good as Rowetta’s and Bacharach and David are providing the song it’s fairly difficult to go wrong really. Things are warming up really nicely for…
Track 3 – Fly
Rowetta certainly does on a great little number that bears her name on the writing credits. Given that it’s song about a break up it feels rather uplifting. Hmm.
Track 4 – Stop Crying Your Heart Out
The combination of Ro’s voice and this Noel Gallagher classic works better than strawberries and cream or bacon and mushroom. I sensed a haunted quality to it, even got the tingle factor. Cracking.
Track 5 – Thunder and Lightning
I’m starting to chill out by now so I am rather thrown off kilter by this really up tempo effort that sounds remarkably like something else that I just can’t put my finger on.
Track 6 – Higher Ground
This is a Stevie Wonder classic and Ro’s version works wonderfully well. I hit the replay button four times before I move on to the next track.
Track 7 – If Ever I Would Leave You
I’m scratching my head trying to remember which musical this came from. Was it Camelot? Nice I suppose as an audition for musical theatre but it doesn’t seem to fit with the tracks that had gone before.
Indeed as an album it is starting to feel increasingly eclectic.
Worse than that, I am rapidly running out of squashed fly biscuits.
Track 8 - Pure Faithful and True
Another original track, another cracker.
Track 9 – Just a Little a Bit
I was worried it was going to be a cover of that Gina G thing. Thankfully it’s not.
It turns out Garibaldi biscuits are not good dunkers. Botheration.
Track 10 - The Greatest Performance on My Life
Brave song title. Certainly not the greatest performance on the album.
Another one that I’m feeling a bit of a cabaret/holiday park vibe on.
Track 11 – It Should Have Been Me
Not to worry though because we’re easily back on course with this one.
Track 12 – Eleanor Rigby
If you’re going to do covers you may as well cover The Beatles. Some of the vocal styling put me mind of Shirley Bassey but then again not quite.
I like it anyway.
Track 13 – Somewhere
A belter
Track 14 – Under the Boardwalk
Another standard given a decent treatment. The musical arrangement seems a bit middle of road but hey, at least it’s not Bruce Willis. I don’t like that Spanish style guitar stuff towards the end. Oh well.
Track 15 – And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going
Right, the biscuits have run out now and there’s no milk for a second cup of tea. Thankfully this belter of track keeps my mood up until…
Track 16 – Over The Rainbow
In the early eighties, Kenny Everett did a sketch featuring the Metropolitan Police Judy Garland Appreciation Society and I haven’t been able to take this song seriously since.
Sorry.
Dek’s Verdict
Well at sixteen tracks you’re certainly getting value for money, even if, like me, you’re likely to skip a few tracks after the first couple of listens.
Encouragingly it’s the original tracks that really shine on this offering and I for one would certainly await a second disc with anticipation if promised more new songs of that sort of quality.
The collection of songs here is like to appeal to a more adult audience and if there’s a problem here, it’s that part of the demographic take a lot of convincing to part with their cash and fork out for the album.
Rowetta is not only as good as viewers of The X Factor would expect, she’s better. If you enjoyed her performances on the telly, you’ll love this.
Ratings
Cup of PG Tips
Garibaldi Biscuits
Rowetta’s Album
Dek's X-Factor Boot Camp column
I’m about to review Rowetta’s new album and given the strength of Ro’s support on the Digital Spy forums anything other a totally positive piece could easily see me and in particular my inbox getting a very hard time indeed.
The CD plops through the letterbox a day later than I was expecting alongside a copy of The Best Of Tiswas DVD. Great, that gives me three hours of custard pie throwing from Tarrant and the mob before I begin the task of actually listening to album.
It turns out that the Tiswas effort is just a rehash of previously released on VHS material. Given that this is an album from a talent show contestant I wonder just how many rehashes (i.e. covers) I’m about to be subjected to.
As I switch the telly off I catch a glimpse of Steve Brookstein being ejected from The Match. The portents and omens aren’t looking good.
Hordes of other distractions are getting in the way of me giving the thing a listen: elderly relatives, broken computers and three, count them, three, phone calls from the girlfriend (I must be in trouble, don’t know why) all seem to be getting in the way of me sitting down and getting the review done.
Why am I prevaricating? I like Rowetta. This should be good.
Finally I settle down with a big mug of tea and a packet of Garibaldi biscuits (you know, the one’s that look like they’re made from squashed flies) and I get on with the job in hand.
Track 1 – Hello Detroit
It seems to be a prerequisite that when a successful act emerges from a TV show, the first album is largely a collection of covers and covers of what are regarded as standards at that.
We open with a track that has a bit of a cabaret feel about it. I grew up in the dying days of the cabaret restaurant where you could munch on your scampi and chips while watching the acts (unless a really big shot like Brucie was playing. They wouldn’t let you eat when he was on).
I felt like ordering a chicken in the basket when this came on. I can sense those irate e-mails heading my way. Things quickly get better.
Track 2 – The Look of Love
When you’ve got a voice as good as Rowetta’s and Bacharach and David are providing the song it’s fairly difficult to go wrong really. Things are warming up really nicely for…
Track 3 – Fly
Rowetta certainly does on a great little number that bears her name on the writing credits. Given that it’s song about a break up it feels rather uplifting. Hmm.
Track 4 – Stop Crying Your Heart Out
The combination of Ro’s voice and this Noel Gallagher classic works better than strawberries and cream or bacon and mushroom. I sensed a haunted quality to it, even got the tingle factor. Cracking.
Track 5 – Thunder and Lightning
I’m starting to chill out by now so I am rather thrown off kilter by this really up tempo effort that sounds remarkably like something else that I just can’t put my finger on.
Track 6 – Higher Ground
This is a Stevie Wonder classic and Ro’s version works wonderfully well. I hit the replay button four times before I move on to the next track.
Track 7 – If Ever I Would Leave You
I’m scratching my head trying to remember which musical this came from. Was it Camelot? Nice I suppose as an audition for musical theatre but it doesn’t seem to fit with the tracks that had gone before.
Indeed as an album it is starting to feel increasingly eclectic.
Worse than that, I am rapidly running out of squashed fly biscuits.
Track 8 - Pure Faithful and True
Another original track, another cracker.
Track 9 – Just a Little a Bit
I was worried it was going to be a cover of that Gina G thing. Thankfully it’s not.
It turns out Garibaldi biscuits are not good dunkers. Botheration.
Track 10 - The Greatest Performance on My Life
Brave song title. Certainly not the greatest performance on the album.
Another one that I’m feeling a bit of a cabaret/holiday park vibe on.
Track 11 – It Should Have Been Me
Not to worry though because we’re easily back on course with this one.
Track 12 – Eleanor Rigby
If you’re going to do covers you may as well cover The Beatles. Some of the vocal styling put me mind of Shirley Bassey but then again not quite.
I like it anyway.
Track 13 – Somewhere
A belter
Track 14 – Under the Boardwalk
Another standard given a decent treatment. The musical arrangement seems a bit middle of road but hey, at least it’s not Bruce Willis. I don’t like that Spanish style guitar stuff towards the end. Oh well.
Track 15 – And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going
Right, the biscuits have run out now and there’s no milk for a second cup of tea. Thankfully this belter of track keeps my mood up until…
Track 16 – Over The Rainbow
In the early eighties, Kenny Everett did a sketch featuring the Metropolitan Police Judy Garland Appreciation Society and I haven’t been able to take this song seriously since.
Sorry.
Dek’s Verdict
Well at sixteen tracks you’re certainly getting value for money, even if, like me, you’re likely to skip a few tracks after the first couple of listens.
Encouragingly it’s the original tracks that really shine on this offering and I for one would certainly await a second disc with anticipation if promised more new songs of that sort of quality.
The collection of songs here is like to appeal to a more adult audience and if there’s a problem here, it’s that part of the demographic take a lot of convincing to part with their cash and fork out for the album.
Rowetta is not only as good as viewers of The X Factor would expect, she’s better. If you enjoyed her performances on the telly, you’ll love this.
Ratings
Cup of PG Tips
Garibaldi Biscuits
Rowetta’s Album
Dek's X-Factor Boot Camp column
More: Reality TV, X Factor
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