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Catfights and Spotlights

Artist: Sugababes
Label: Island
Category: Music

List Price: ~~£9.99~~
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New (40) Used (16) from £1.74

Seller: encorerecords
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

35 reviews
Sales Rank: 2178

Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Running Time: 49 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5

UPC: 602517872097
EAN: 0602517872097
ASIN: B001G9CZE8

Release Date: October 20, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days

Tracks:

•	Girls
•	You On A Good Day
•	No Can Do
•	Hanging On A Star
•	Side Chick
•	Unbreakable Heart
•	Sunday Rain
•	Every Heart Broken
•	Beware
•	Nothing's As Good As You
•	Sound Of Goodbye
•	Truce
•	About You Now (New Acoustic) (UK Bonus track)
•	She's Like A Star (UK Bonus track

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
The sixth chapter in the life of Britainrsquo;s most indefatigable all-girl pop group finds Heidi, Keisha and Amelle facing a new generation of female pop competition. The question: to take on modern soul songstresses like Duffy and Adele at their own game, or turn up the glitz and war it out from the dancefloor? emCatfights and Spotlights/em hedges its bets, which is to say it does a bit of everything. Luckily, it does it mostly well: the opening ldquo;Girlsrdquo;, a horn-led pop-soul number is mostly shallow and unconvincing, but ldquo;Sunday Rainrdquo; is a tear-stained, vintage-flavoured torch song with husky vocals and rolling piano, and a handful of songs penned by Britney/Robyn songwriter Klas Ahlund are smart and original. ldquo;You on a Good Dayrdquo;, in particular, stands out, a stomping Northern Soul number dealing with the predicaments of a dundering partner: ldquo;Thatrsquo;s you on a good day/Disaster is always just a beat away/But Irsquo;m sticking with you anywayrdquo;. The album highlight, however, comes with ldquo;Side Chickrdquo;, fluttering RB from the perspective of the girl that wonrsquo;t be shared, fatalistic about the prospects of getting her man, but too in love not to try. em--Louis Pattison/em

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 1-5 of 35

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The 'Babes on a good day October 25, 2008
Matheus Muñoz (São Paulo, Brazil)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I would actually give the album a 4.5 review if I could. I'll explain later why I picked 5 stars over 4. br / br /It seems to be an exquisite quality the 'Babes have: being a grower. It always takes me more than just a listening to actually start liking most of the tracks on the album, but after this few, careful listenings, I always fall in love with tracks I didn't like at first. I think I'm not the only one, because if you take a time to read the professional reviews you'll notice that the early ones tend to be more lukewarm as the ones, whose writes took more time to listen to it. Moreover, the albums that are most praised by critics today (i.e., One Touch and Taller in More Ways) also didn't get the best reviews at the time they were being released. br /From the overview, the album takes a more funkier direction than the previous ones, actually starting a bit further where "One Touch" stopped. It fits to the retro-wave that has been taken over british music the last few years, without falling in the common-vault (i.e., they aren' trying to copy Amy Winehouse). The style is much more mature than previous works, but it's the lyrics that took the biggest step, being the 'Babes best. Having this said, I'll start a not-so-short track-by-track review. br / br /1. Girls: The lead single. It's the first example of a track that need a few listenings before being appreciated. It's a rework from Ernie K. Doe's "Here Come the Girls", from the (in)famous boot ad. The 'Babes, however, manage to make this song their own, adding the usual girl-power element they use in their singles. It's the most danceable song on the album. br / br /2. You On A Good Day: Another song that follows the funkier direction the 'Babes are taking. The chorus is a bit repetitive and that make the song a little bit tiring, at least on the first listening. The most curious about this track is the lyrics. We'd normally expect the 'Babes to be getting rid of abusive relationships, but this time, "they're sticking wit him anyway", even though he's "messed up from the chromosomes to the enzymes". br / br /3. No Can Do: The confirmed second single is also another grower. It goes in the vein of Jackson Five, being a very pleasant song. It's not the best choice for a single, not because it's bad, but because there's better and -- most important when it comes to topping the charts -- catchier songs on Catfights and Spotlights br / br /4. Hanging On A Star: The worst song on the album is maybe their worst song to date. It's not horrible, it's average, what is actually a big decline, when it comes to the Sugababes. The hooks remind me a little bit on Avril Lavinge's "The Best Damn Thing". The song is very Supremes-esque and sounds like taken from the sondtrack for "Dreamgirls". The more you listening, the better it becomes, though br / br /5. Side Chick: That song is very catchy and is the best up-beat on the album. The lyrics are very girl-power-esque. It escapes a bit from the retro feeling this album is in, but not that much to bring it out of context. br / br /6. Unbreakable Heart: It starts the part of the album that I like the most: the ballads. For me, the best thing the 'Babes do is ballads, not that their up-beats are bad, but their ballads are supreme, without being cheesy or corny. This song need a few listenings, but the chorus is one of their best to date. The beats are amazing and there is an amazing piano/glockenspiel playing the most of the time, that gives it a final touch. br / br /The next half of the album is already good enough to justify the purchase of it. br / br /7. Sunday Rain: My favourite Sugababes-song (at least until now). Very melodramatic, it mixtures pop, horns, glockenspiel and an orchestra in a unique blend they've never done before. Of course they've had some of those elements on other songs (e.g., "2 Hearts"), but not so many of them in such a perfect way. The lyrics are also very dark and intense, sounding like a natural step after "Run For Cover" and "Ace Reject". br / br /8. Every Heart Broken: The catchiest song and everybody's favourite. Stylistic, it reminds me of "2 Hearts". It just feels like a second act of it. Most people would say the lyrics are best the 'Babes had ever done. Personally, I don't think they're the best, but definitely the funniest, filed with black humour and sarcasm (Britain's best), being the type of lyrics you will laugh at even out of the musical context. br / br /9. Beware: Another instantaneous catch, this song is the final proof, that Amelle deserves being the third Sugababe. She co-wrote this song with the producer Klas Åhlund. The lyrics are, again, one of their best and this song is perfectly placed after "Every Heat Broken". Very powerful, it would fit perfectly into a Kill Bill or James Bond soundtrack. The church bell at the end is the perfect final touch for a perfect song. br / br /10. Nothing's As Good As You: This song is just sweet. Heidi's opening vocals are also just sweet. This is the perfect love song and the way the girls' voices work so harmoniously makes the backing-vocals become one of the songs most attractions. br / br /11. Sound Of Goodbye: I can't remember any Sugababes-song with similar lyrics. It's about a girl having a break-up and trying not to hurt the other. The music is filled with glockenspiels and dark beats, that sound more like distant, powerful echoes. This combined with a melodic, sometimes feebly violin and great vocals gives the feeling the girls are trying to transmit. There's need to say it's another great ballad. br / br /12. Can We Call A Truce: A longing for peace, as the title indicates. Another lyrical innovation for the 'Babes. The beats are a little bit too Timbaland-ish for my taste, but they are perfectly hidden behind gentle violins. Another great achievement for their musical curriculum. br / br /The album would deserve even more than 5 stars if it stopped here. The following bonus tracks, however, are totally unnecessary and spoil the hole atmosphere the album has. I would decrease a half star for that, but since I can't do it, I chose to maintain the 5 stars-rate, because the album is just too good for 4 stars. br / br /13. About You Now (acoustic version): Okay, girls, we know you like that song, we like it too, but that's already too much. It's a life, acoustic version by the 'Babes, that is very similar to the version YouTube user Giftofmelody (Martina) did and became a hit. Nothing we never heard before. br / br /14. She's Like A Star (feat. Taio Cruz): Most people like it, but for me it's hip hop's worst: cheesy lyrics, a guy trying to sing like Mariah Carey, overused Timabald-ish beats and a horrible synth voice, that sounds like a 4 years old girl shouting "like a star" every 2 seconds, making me want to pierce my tympanum with a biro. You also almost don't get to hear the girls. br / br /If you insert your copy into a PC or Mac, you'll get access to download an extra track, namely a rework of "Girls" by Klas Åhlund. As the name says, it's more than just a remix. The lyrics and instrumentals are a little different and the vocals are more raw, making it feel mostly like a new song. The reason why the girls didn't the peak that song as a bonus track instead will always remain a mystery.

5 out of 5 stars

Sweet/Funky/sooo goood !!!!!!Their best album yet!!!!!!! November 14, 2008
Annie Sunshine (UK)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

You on a Good Day - Motown cool sounds a bit like Diana Rossy but more funky! br /No Can do - Sounds like the Jackson 5 in places - Good br /Hanging on a star - Great funky Song - catchy sing along one br /Side Chick - a fab peachy chick song - one of my faves br /Unbreakable Heart - Piano intro song - a sure number 1 - great sound br /Sunday Rain - Classic Slow Anthem (Jazzy)- I can picture the video br /Every Heart Broken - A unwrapped story - gorgeous - a sure hit! br /Beware - Dark - stays with you haunting! br /Nothing as good as you - lovely br /Sound of Goodbye - fab br /Can we call a truce - Romantic slowy dance song - Definatley My Favourite br /She's like a Star - Very Catchy!! br /About you now - I'll always love this song!!! br / br /

5 out of 5 stars

They keep getting better! October 27, 2008
Madonna Fan 1988 (Hertfordshire)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Catfights and Spotlights br / br /After the release of 'Girls' I wasn't really expecting a decent album from the girls. I'm glad I've been pleasantly surprised though! My track by track review is below. br / br /1. Girls - One of the worst songs recorded by the 'babes. br / br /2. You On A Good Day - Best song on album and marks a change of direction for the girls. br / br /3. No Can Do - A good, catchy track but nothing special. br / br /4. Hanging On A Star - Like this, it's a grower. br / br /5. Side Chick - Second best on album. Hopefully released as a single. br / br /6. Unbreakable Heart - Heartfelt uptempo ballad, a nice song. br / br /7. Sunday Rain - Good backing music and well-sung lyrics. br / br /8. Every Heart Broken - Uptempo and dancy song. br / br /9. Beware - Third best on album. Possibly a single. br / br /10. Nothing's As Good As You - Pop perfection. A typical 'babes song. br / br /11. Sound Of Goodbye - Steady ballad, nothing special. br / br /12. Can We Call A Truce - Strong track and meaningful lyrics. br / br /13. About You Now (Acoustic) - Nice version. Could be a bit longer. br / br /14. She's A Star - A good collaboration between Taio and the girls. br / br /Overall, a good follow-up to the last year's dismal 'Change'. br /I hope the Sugababes continue to make pop music of this kind for years to come. They are the best girlband around at the moment. Carry on girls!

5 out of 5 stars

WOW!!!!!!!!!! October 20, 2008
Ricardo (Accrington)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I'm a HUGE fan of Sugababes, and I love all their albums,although I did get a little bored of Change. Catfights and Spotlights is really different from all the rest, and I think on some levels, could be their best so far. It is much more mature than anything they have done before, and shows their vocal abilities have matured, along with their style of music. I really like Girls, but it is not the best song on the album. I got it through the post after pre ordering it, and I've been listening to it all day. Another great album from the Babes, I just hope people get what they've done with it.

5 out of 5 stars

- Here comes the greatest album!!! October 21, 2008
DK. (NIE)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

This album is very GOOD, if not the best album from the Sugababes, - totally love it!! The girls have gone in a different direction this time and they have succeded here as well. Catfights and Spotlights really blows me away. br / br /Tracks that I highly recomend br / br / Girls (of course) - a 60th touched-song which has the most br / stunning verses. br / br / Every heart broken - ANOTHER GREAT ballad from the babes,one of br / their best yet, with br / brilliant lyricks and sound. A really br / smashing song!! Their best on this album. br / br / No can do - This one really rocks! Great vocals and reminds me of br / the supremes and michael jackson, Also one of my very br / favorites. (This is probably the next single) br / br / Beware - This should have been the next James Bond song!! Its a br / darker and funkier song from the girls, wich also rocks. br / br /The other songs on the album is very good as well, especially the up-beat song You on a good day, and the faultles ballad Unbreakable heart!! Sunday rain (another stunning ballad, Sidechick and Hanging on a star is also good tracks. All in all I think this is one heck of an album. A MUST HAVE for Sugababes fan and for every other music fans out there. Go buy it, its deffinately worth every penny!!! br /And the boklet to this album is their best!!, - lovely photos of our chart topping Babes.

Showing reviews 1-5 of 35

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