Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
British hip-hop trio N-Dubz spent eight years trying to break out from the underground North London pirate radio scene before achieving multi-platinum success with their debut album, Uncle B. Since then, they've never looked back, embarking on a sold-out arena tour, appearing in critically acclaimed TV series Dubplate Drama, and scoring a number one single with fellow grime-pop artist Tinchy Stryder. Second LP Against All Odds only highlights the remarkable change in attitude toward the notorious mischief makers, with guest spots from some of the U.K. urban scene's most prominent artists, like Wiley ( "Na Na" ), Chipmunk ("Suck Yourself"), Mr. Hudson ("Playing with Fire"), and a song penned by none other than unlikely admirer Take That's Gary Barlow ("No-One Knows"). But fans of their previous street-friendly output shouldn't be too concerned that the band's newfound celebrity friendships have inspired a genre-shifting departure, as much of Against All Odds follows the same stuttering beats, melodic poppy choruses, and bizarre group lexicon formula of its predecessor. Lead single "I Need You" is an all-too-contemporary tale of searching for a lost love on Facebook set against a backdrop of clubby synths, urgent rhythms, and quirky lyrics about "bang bang shoes"; "Duku Man" is a frenetically paced skit which showcases Dappy, Fazer, and guest MC Fearless' breakneck-speed lyrical delivery; "Say It Over" is a mournful, string-led account of a dying relationship, and "Shoulda Put Something On," tackles teenage pregnancy, "proving" they are capable of addressing more sensitive issues alongside the rather clichéd male bravado. Elsewhere, "Number One" is a re-recorded version of their chart-topper, which places more emphasis on N-Dubz's vocals than the Stryder-heavy original; "Let Me Be" is a bouncy slice of dancehall featuring Goin' Through's Nikos "Nivo" Vourliotis and a slight nod to their Greek heritage, while "Comfortable" is an accomplished solo acoustic ballad which allows Tulisa's impressive vocal abilities, often smothered by her bandmates' dominating ad-libs, to come to the forefront. The album's accompanying booklet, which features a glossary of their slang terms, and a D.I.Y. style guide, should indicate that Against All Odds is almost exclusively a youthful affair. But even though it's likely to alienate anyone who was born before the Phil Collins song of the same name, it's still a vibrant and hook-laden follow-up which is destined to be this year's back-of-the-school-bus soundtrack.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Mr Hudson, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist - Junior Edwards, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Wiley, MainArtist - Richard Cowie, ComposerLyricist - Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist - Junior Edwards, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Fearless, MainArtist - N-Dubz, MainArtist - Junior Edwards, ComposerLyricist - Anthony Evoloko, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Chipmunk, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist - Junior Edwards, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Gary Barlow, ComposerLyricist - Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Kwasi Danquah, ComposerLyricist - Beatriz Artola, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fraser T. Smith, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Tinchy Stryder, MainArtist - N-Dubz, FeaturedArtist - Kelvin Avon, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Mottershead, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - NiVo, MainArtist - N-Dubz, MainArtist - Evangelis Klemis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Tula Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - Richard Rawson, ComposerLyricist - Costadinos Contostavlos, ComposerLyricist - N-Dubz, MainArtist
℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Album review
British hip-hop trio N-Dubz spent eight years trying to break out from the underground North London pirate radio scene before achieving multi-platinum success with their debut album, Uncle B. Since then, they've never looked back, embarking on a sold-out arena tour, appearing in critically acclaimed TV series Dubplate Drama, and scoring a number one single with fellow grime-pop artist Tinchy Stryder. Second LP Against All Odds only highlights the remarkable change in attitude toward the notorious mischief makers, with guest spots from some of the U.K. urban scene's most prominent artists, like Wiley ( "Na Na" ), Chipmunk ("Suck Yourself"), Mr. Hudson ("Playing with Fire"), and a song penned by none other than unlikely admirer Take That's Gary Barlow ("No-One Knows"). But fans of their previous street-friendly output shouldn't be too concerned that the band's newfound celebrity friendships have inspired a genre-shifting departure, as much of Against All Odds follows the same stuttering beats, melodic poppy choruses, and bizarre group lexicon formula of its predecessor. Lead single "I Need You" is an all-too-contemporary tale of searching for a lost love on Facebook set against a backdrop of clubby synths, urgent rhythms, and quirky lyrics about "bang bang shoes"; "Duku Man" is a frenetically paced skit which showcases Dappy, Fazer, and guest MC Fearless' breakneck-speed lyrical delivery; "Say It Over" is a mournful, string-led account of a dying relationship, and "Shoulda Put Something On," tackles teenage pregnancy, "proving" they are capable of addressing more sensitive issues alongside the rather clichéd male bravado. Elsewhere, "Number One" is a re-recorded version of their chart-topper, which places more emphasis on N-Dubz's vocals than the Stryder-heavy original; "Let Me Be" is a bouncy slice of dancehall featuring Goin' Through's Nikos "Nivo" Vourliotis and a slight nod to their Greek heritage, while "Comfortable" is an accomplished solo acoustic ballad which allows Tulisa's impressive vocal abilities, often smothered by her bandmates' dominating ad-libs, to come to the forefront. The album's accompanying booklet, which features a glossary of their slang terms, and a D.I.Y. style guide, should indicate that Against All Odds is almost exclusively a youthful affair. But even though it's likely to alienate anyone who was born before the Phil Collins song of the same name, it's still a vibrant and hook-laden follow-up which is destined to be this year's back-of-the-school-bus soundtrack.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:37
- Main artists: N-Dubz
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited ℗ 2009 All Around The World Limited / Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.