Album reviews
Britney Spears - Britney
I was quite hesitant to buy this album, but as soon as I'd heard the first few tracks, I loved it! My favourite song changes all the time, but it's currently Lonely, Anticipating, I Love Rock And Roll, Bombastic Love and What It's Like To Be Me. It's mostly fast tracks, but even the ballads, such as Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman are interesting. This album is very different the last one, but don't be put off if you don't like I'm A Slave 4 U, as most of the album is a totally different style. Slave 4 U is actually my least favourite on the album! The record is 100% pop, but not in any way cheesy - it's the best album I've bought this year!





Visit her website at
www.peeps.com/britneyO-Town - O-Town
After enjoying Making The Band, I was very interested to hear more from this Orlando-based boyband, and Liquid Dreams did not disappoint. Although not all the songs are such a high standard, the album is generally worth a listen. My favourite tracks are the fast, fun Every Six Seconds and mid-tempo Shy Girl. If you like the Backstreet Boys and *Nsync, this is for you, but fans of bands such as Westlife or Blue would probably also enjoy this album.



out of five
Visit their website at www.o-townmusic.com
Atomic Kitten
When this album was first released, there was not much demand for it, and it didn't reach the top ten, but second time around it's quite the opposite - it was number one! This is not too surprising, as Whole Again and Eternal Flame were both massive number one hits, and the girls are the biggest act of this year. The album is full of catchy, happy pop, such as Right Now, I Want Your Love, See Ya and Turn Me On. There are also a few nice ballads, for example Cradle, Whole Again and Eternal Flame. Who do you prefer, Kerry or Jenny? I'd say Kerry, though she is a bit annoying.



out of five
Visit their website at www.atomickitten.com
Hear'say - Popstars
If you liked Pure & Simple, you'll love this. Highlights include Not The Kind, Breathe and I Didn't Want You Anyway, while Monday Monday and Bridge Over Troubled Water bring back fantastic memories from the Popstars show. There's also the latest number one hit, The Way To Your Love. As for the next single, I'm guessing One, Not The Kind or Breathe. I really like this album because most of the songs are uptempo and very happy. If you like Steps you will like Not The Kind, if you like Britney you will like Breathe and if you like the Backstreet Boys you will like The Way To Your Love.



out of five
Visit their website at www.hearsay.uk.com
Backstreet Boys - Black and Blue
I love it! It has a lot more up-tempo tracks than the last album, which is always a good move. My favourites are The Call, which is the new Latin-flavoured single, Get Another Boyfriend, which is fast and funky and has got to be released soon, The Answer To Our Life, mid-tempo and the catchiest song on the album, Everyone, a real 'everybody join in' kind of song, and Not For Me, which is quite rocky with a harder sound. But, being the Backstreet Boys, even the slow ones are good, for example What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful), which is fantastic. I own all four Backstreet Boys albums, and I can definitely say this is the best and easily my favourite
.




out of five
Visit their website at www.backstreetboys.com
Robbie Williams - Sing When You're Winning
I don't actually own this album, but I've heard at least half of the songs off it, on Tv, radio, etc., and I think if everyone else is hearing as much of it as I am, then there's no point in anyone actually buying the album! It's already the biggest selling album of the year (It sold over three million in the first week), so that's obviously not bringing it down too much. More likely it's bringing sales up. Of all the songs I've heard, my favourite is The Road To Mandalay, which I've heard is also Robbie's favourite, and I also like the single, Supreme, and Let Love Be Your Energy is okay. I'm not too keen on that Kylie Minogue duet, although I'm sure most other people who hear it will be. A lot of people said it would be no. 1, and looking at how well they are both doing now, I was surprised it wasn't.


out of five
Visit his website at www.robbiewilliams.com
S Club 7 - 7
I really like this album, especially the upbeat songs on it, though I'm not too keen on some of the ballads. If you watched LA 7, you would have heard most of the songs already, especially the single, Natural, which they played a lot over the series. My very least favourite is the last track, Spiritual Love, which apparently is a cover version, though I've never heard the original. I really like Love Train, Stand By You and I'll Keep Waiting, and Cross My Heart and Bring The House Down are other good ones. Bradley does quite a lot on this album, and Jo doesn't sing quite so many leads, but there isn't that much difference from the previous album. What I would say, though, is that there is a bit more of r'n'b feel to this one.



out of five
Visit their website at
www.sclub7.com
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