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Girls Aloud is the leggy quintet that beat out rival boy band One True Voice for the grand prize during the November 2002 finale of Popstars: The Rivals. A scion of existing U.K. reality shows like Popstars and Pop Idol (which itself spawned American Idol), Rivals followed a similar formula, with one essential twist. After spending weeks building its bands with the normal round of tryouts, kick outs, voting, and drama, drama, drama, the program pitted its final products against one another in an ultimate pop-reality showdown. As usual, it didn't really matter which group won -- the finalists were to embark on the normal cash-in package tour as soon as possible. But something funny happened on the way to ringtone fame. Girls Aloud's debut single "Sound of the Underground" debuted at number one, One True Voice imploded, the collaborative tour was canceled, and the Girls suddenly emerged as something more than wide-eyed reality TV winners. The quintet embraced their newfound celebrity and set the lofty goal of being better than the Spice Girls. To that end, there's Sound of the Underground, a cleverly arranged tray of sweetmeats manufactured to firmly establish the Girls Aloud sound. Unlike Sporty, Baby, Scary, Ginger, and Posh, separate personas aren't part of the Girls Aloud marketing arc. Underground's cover features them in matching Fem-Bot silver -- there's no individuality beyond varying hair color. No, it's the sound that sells this combo. The hit title track is a mechanistic sashay of twangy surf guitar and sultry gang vocals -- Girls Aloud explodes like a five-headed Kylie Minogue. Follow-up single "No Good Advice" is just as good, if not better. That scraggly spy movie guitar returns, but it's fastened to a bopping "Material Girl"-style groove. Underground does a great job of carrying its sound and production through to the end, dropping sizzling guitar parts and kinetic dancefloor jams as deep in the dirt as "Boogie Down Love," its second-to-last track. "All I Need (All I Don't)" should be another club favorite, moving easily between new wave and lighthearted disco. Even "Life Got Cold" -- Underground's "2 Become 1" -- is a solid ballad, suggesting a less intellectual Dido (sample lyric: "We text as we eat/As we wait for the right of way"). But even in its quieter moments, Sound of the Underground is careful not to let any of the Girls take over. Their voices are average, and negligibly different. Unlike the Spice Girls, Girls Aloud has no self-styled MC or even a knickers-flashing loudmouth. Not yet, anyway. Despite their surprising debut, Girls Aloud and its brain trust will have to work twice as hard to retain the glamorous ground gained.
© Johnny Loftus /TiVo
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Miranda Cooper, ComposerLyricist - Nick Coler, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Powell, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Gray, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Niara Scarlett, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Wheatley, Producer, Mixer, Additional Producer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Higgins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dick Beetham, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Lee, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Larcombe, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Giselle Sommerville, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eve Bicker, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Louise Griffiths, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Miranda Cooper, ComposerLyricist - Nick Coler, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Lisa Cowling, ComposerLyricist - Tim Powell, Programmer - Matt Gray, Programmer - Jeremy Wheatley, Producer, Mixer, Additional Producer, StudioPersonnel - Xenomania, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Yoad Nevo, Programmer - Brian Higgins, Producer, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Lee, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Shave, Producer, Assistant Producer - Tim Larcombe, Programmer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Lene, ComposerLyricist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ash Howes, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Miranda Cooper, ComposerLyricist - Nick Coler, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lisa Cowling, ComposerLyricist - Tim Powell, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Gray, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Xenomania, Producer, Co-Producer - Brian Higgins, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Lee, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Nick Coler, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Powell, Mixer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Marti Sharron, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Mitchell, ComposerLyricist - Xenomania, Producer - Brian Higgins, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Paul Skardina, ComposerLyricist - Jack Clark, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Bone, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shawn Lee, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Cole, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Shave, Programmer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Nicola Roberts, Vocals, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocals, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocals, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocals, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim 'Rolf' Laracombe, Programmer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Edele Lynch, ComposerLyricist - Miranda Cooper, ComposerLyricist - Nick Coler, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Cowling, ComposerLyricist - Tim Powell, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Matt Gray, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Wheatley, Producer, Mixer, Additional Producer, StudioPersonnel - Xenomania, Producer, Co-Producer - Yoad Nevo, Programmer - Brian Higgins, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Lee, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tim Larcombe, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Richard Edgeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Peters, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Drew Peters, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Ava Knox, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Tufty Evans, Producer, Additional Producer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Paul Carter, Producer, Mixer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Alison Clarkson, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Taylor, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Manda Glanville, Producer, Mixer, Co-Producer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - James F. Reynolds, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Miranda Cooper, Composer - Nick Coler, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Powell, Composer, Mixer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Xenomania, Composer - Brian Higgins, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Shawn Lee, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Larcombe, Programmer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Lene, Composer - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Graham Stack, Producer, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shorten, Guitar, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ren Swan, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Vanessa Letocq, Unknown, Other - Matt Furmidge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan McFadden, Guitar, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Andy Goldmark, ComposerLyricist - Mark Mueller, ComposerLyricist - Gary Miller, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Vanessa Letocq, Unknown, Other - Brian Rawling, Producer, Co-Producer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip Sheppard, String Arranger, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Christian Saint-Val, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Nick Coler, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Powell, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Gray, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Niara Scarlett, ComposerLyricist - Xenomania, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Higgins, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Lee, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Larcombe, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Eve Bicker, ComposerLyricist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Paul Carter, Producer, Mixer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Alison Clarkson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Hogarth, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Taylor, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Manda Glanville, Producer, Mixer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Miranda Cooper, ComposerLyricist - Nick Coler, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Powell, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Gray, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Xenomania, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Higgins, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Lee, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Larcombe, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Sandra Nordstrom, ComposerLyricist - Richard Edgeler, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - TIM KELLETT, Producer, Mixer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Tony Foster, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Tufty Evans, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Andy Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Terry Ronald, Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ian Masterson, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, Programmer, Co-Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Simon Le Bon, ComposerLyricist - John Taylor , ComposerLyricist - Nick Rhodes, ComposerLyricist - Mitch Stevens, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Holweger, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Girls Aloud, MainArtist - Roger Andrew Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Nicola Roberts, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kimberley Walsh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Harding, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nadine Coyle, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cheryl Tweedy, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Album review
Girls Aloud is the leggy quintet that beat out rival boy band One True Voice for the grand prize during the November 2002 finale of Popstars: The Rivals. A scion of existing U.K. reality shows like Popstars and Pop Idol (which itself spawned American Idol), Rivals followed a similar formula, with one essential twist. After spending weeks building its bands with the normal round of tryouts, kick outs, voting, and drama, drama, drama, the program pitted its final products against one another in an ultimate pop-reality showdown. As usual, it didn't really matter which group won -- the finalists were to embark on the normal cash-in package tour as soon as possible. But something funny happened on the way to ringtone fame. Girls Aloud's debut single "Sound of the Underground" debuted at number one, One True Voice imploded, the collaborative tour was canceled, and the Girls suddenly emerged as something more than wide-eyed reality TV winners. The quintet embraced their newfound celebrity and set the lofty goal of being better than the Spice Girls. To that end, there's Sound of the Underground, a cleverly arranged tray of sweetmeats manufactured to firmly establish the Girls Aloud sound. Unlike Sporty, Baby, Scary, Ginger, and Posh, separate personas aren't part of the Girls Aloud marketing arc. Underground's cover features them in matching Fem-Bot silver -- there's no individuality beyond varying hair color. No, it's the sound that sells this combo. The hit title track is a mechanistic sashay of twangy surf guitar and sultry gang vocals -- Girls Aloud explodes like a five-headed Kylie Minogue. Follow-up single "No Good Advice" is just as good, if not better. That scraggly spy movie guitar returns, but it's fastened to a bopping "Material Girl"-style groove. Underground does a great job of carrying its sound and production through to the end, dropping sizzling guitar parts and kinetic dancefloor jams as deep in the dirt as "Boogie Down Love," its second-to-last track. "All I Need (All I Don't)" should be another club favorite, moving easily between new wave and lighthearted disco. Even "Life Got Cold" -- Underground's "2 Become 1" -- is a solid ballad, suggesting a less intellectual Dido (sample lyric: "We text as we eat/As we wait for the right of way"). But even in its quieter moments, Sound of the Underground is careful not to let any of the Girls take over. Their voices are average, and negligibly different. Unlike the Spice Girls, Girls Aloud has no self-styled MC or even a knickers-flashing loudmouth. Not yet, anyway. Despite their surprising debut, Girls Aloud and its brain trust will have to work twice as hard to retain the glamorous ground gained.
© Johnny Loftus /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:55:09
- Main artists: Girls Aloud
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Polydor Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK) ℗ 2003 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
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