Wordshaker

British-Irish Girl Group The Saturdays returned with thier second album Wordshaker in October 2009. The follow up to thier Uk Platinum certified debut "Chasing Lights" was intended to show the girls growth and further seperate them from other UK all female acts at the time, though sales wise it did suffer a bit of the "sophmore album curse" it IMO did overall do it's job to continue what the girls started and show how far they had come by that point as well as how far they still have to and is still appreciated by Sats fans today.1.)Forever Is Over: This was the album's first single and a darn good one at that. This song was coveted by both P!nk and Kelly Clarkson for thier albums but The Sats won out and as much as I love P!nk and Kelly I'm glad they did. The powerful breakup track ( which seems to be the Sats favorite subject, though to be fair they do it very well) with an pop/r&b/pop-rock kicking feel and empowering lyrics this one earned The Sats both critical and fan praise and fans still sing along at every concert. Una starts us off with her raspy yet powerful voice "I was caught in a place far away from the light, what I saw I couldn't face so I closed my eyes" then the opening lines bounce between Rochelle, Mollie,Vanessa and Frankie "Wish I could turn back the page, re-write my point of view save all the time you waste, got to get gone. Don't let it escalate don't fight it's just no use theres nothing left to say... Then the beat comes in and the music kicks into the chorus "Forever is over and my heart's not gonna break, forever is over and I'm no longer afraid, cause if I don't get out now I may never escape your power is fading away. And I'm getting closer to the place I belong forever is over". The girls's vocals both seperately and together, the music, the beat, the production everything just flows perfectly IMO.10/102.)Here Standing:This song took a while to grow on me but eventually it did. Mollie and Una start this mid-tempo "Baby I love you so much you make me feel so happy when I'm sad" song then Rochelle takes the second verse. "You're the reason I'm here I'm not moving, I'm not leaving can't believe your the reason that I"m standing right here.I'm not moving finally breathing can't you see that your the reason that I'm standing right here." Nice production, crisp harmonies and pretty piano backround make this one to enjoy. 9/103.)Ego: The second and final single from the album is another one of my and many Sats fan's favorites. The song lyrics speaking to and about a former friend or lover who's overgrown ego lead them to go off on thier own leaving the protaginst behind are sassy as usual and work so well. Vanessa starts us off "We used to go together looking out for each other I thought that you were better look at you" Una comes in "You used to be so laid back you always kept it so cool I loved you cause of all that that's the truth. The chorus is even better "And now you wanna pretend that your a superstar, and now you want us to end whats taken you this far. Don't tell me that your done as far as we go you need to have a sit-down with your ego. When everyone's gone and your all by yourself you know that your gonna come to me for help. Don't tell me that it's time for going solo you need to knock some sense into your ego!" Frankie takes the second verse" You act like your on fire living your delusions you just need to you take you higher off you go". The song's electro-pop feel is also very well done and meshes with the tone. 10/104.)No One: The ladies's first misstep IMO on the album. My problem with this album is the same as everyone else's. The Girls's team made the same mistake as they did as they did on the first album: Too many weak breakup ballads that ethier could have been better but were brought down by weak beats/lazy lyrics or are just filler. This is IMO one of those filler tracks ( and again sounds too much like "Keep Her" from Chasing Lights why do they keep reapeating that sound??? It worked on Keep Her for a reason!)5/105.)One Shot: This song reminds one of "Work" from Chasing Lights with the same overall tone and topic "I want you step your game up to get with me" "All I am is constantly waiting for somebody good enough for me, waiting for you baby so keep it steady you've got One Shot!!!" Though the mistake of again repeating sounds and styles from the first album is fustrating the girls give it thier all Rochelle and Mollie in particular. Again much like I noted in my review for Nicole Scherzinger the passion and emotion the girls give saves many of their more filler songs from being ones to hate or skip, weather you like the songs or not IMO you can't deny they mean every word they sing.7/106.)Wordshaker: The song that give the album it's title is an IMO average track saved by clever lyrics, great vocals and a nice beat."Your such a wordshaker talk then you take it back, twisting turning, your such a wordshaker I've got to shut you up your lips are burning when you say yes then no when you are ready then baby let me know, your such a wordshaker talk then you take it back shakin' me off my track." Rochelle carries the song with her strong mezzo-soprano from meh to alright I'm feeling this one. 8/107.)Denial: Another breakup track but more clever lyrics and a surpringly complicated chorus keep this one fresh IMO, the pop-rockish undertones and r&b feel help as well "All that you did, all that you didn't, all that you said and all that you wouldn't deny I deny it, defy I defy everything all that we were all that we called up all that you were and all that you made up I defy defy it deny everything you are and everything we were." 8/108.)Open Up: This song sounds like something Miranda Cosgrove or Miley Cyrus in her Hannah Montana days would have sung. Cute but way too cheesy ( take the "I will be a good girl" lyric for example and childish IMO especially for a group of grown women not kids. Also the desperate pleading tone is a bit eerily similar to "If This Is Love" for all the wrong reasons. As and cute youthful as Mollie is not even she can make this sound anything less than a Disney demo track IMO. 4/109.)Lose Control: This one is just as youthful as Open Up but far less annoying IMO. Though the lyrics are elementary at best "Feel that feeling" being the worst. The upbeat song about going out to have a good time and seeing that hottie at the party that makes you feel so "right" is fun though Mollie, Una and Rochelle sound like they are having a blast and that helps. 7/1010.) Not Good Enough: The girls go back to thier tried and true breakup mid-tempo however here they score one of my personal favorites. The slightly slowed yet stomping beat and great lyrics make this a gem on Wordshaker IMO. "My hands doesn't wanna hold yours, my plans really don't involve yours so we know it's not good enough just not good enough. My eyes doesn't wanna look at you, my mind doesn't wanna deal with who you've become it's not good enough just not good enough for me." despite the grammar errors the lyrics as well as great vocals from Rochelle and Vanessa get the message across very well.10/1011.)Deeper: This song would have made my filler list but the beat and Mollie/Una's vocals again save it for me. "I know that we're moving too fast but I can't let go and it may not last but I'm going deeper deeper, head over heels and I hope it's for real this time". the same "falling in love and I can't control it" song as Why Me Why Now" from Chasing Lights however where that song went wrong this one goes right for me. 9/1012.)2 A.M.: The album comes to a close with this 80's inspired track with Frankie and Mollie leading the way about wait for it... the battle between head and heart that sounds like it was written by and for Taylor Swift circa about 2006. I love The passion the girls give but this IMO was a weak note to close the album on, very filler and forgetable. 5/10So how does Wordshaker measure up overall... well lets start with the good. First of all the excellent choices for singles Forever Is Over and Ego are IMO two of the strongest songs on Wordshaker and set a great tone for the girls. Also as noted the girls give everything they've got on every song weather the song is a gem or not. I appreciate that kind of dedication and effort. Frankie, Mollie and Una stepped thier vocal game way up and even though some of the songs let lead were meh they weren't. Rochelle and Vanessa also clearly established their roles as the vocal "muscle" so to speak and carried the songs they lead perfectly not to mention the great harmony when The Sats all sang together. However once again I took off one star on my rating for the same reason as the first record: too many cheesy, lazy breakup ballads. The girls's production team didn't seem to have learned from the mistakes on Chasing Lights and reapeated the same formulas here and they didn't work very well. However Overall the album did what it was suppoed to do continue what the girls had started and show more of the girls's talents. The album left me with so many postive feelings for what The Saturdays had in store for us next despite some of the mistakes. I would recommend for any pop music fan. Overall 8/10.

finds The Saturday's picking up right where they left off.From their debut album "Chasing Lights".They've upped the ante this time around with more uptempo songs and just an all around great effort. I'm eagerly awaiting what they have in store for the future. Because they have loads of potential and a unique sound as well. Well crafted songs and accompanying videos only make it that much better. I love the video/song "Ego" also "One Shot", "Wordshaker" and "Forever Is Over" as a few of my ones i enjoy from this album.

Great listen in the car...while travelling~

Living in the US I knew to get this CD I'd have to order it used and luckily I found this brand new for a great price. I was very pleased with this purchase.

It's okay but it's not good as the 1st album or the 4th or 5th one

all i can say about these singers is cool crazy at times and yes!! real sexy, like "here standing" such a paradise to hear just pop in this cd and enjoy the ride!!

I love this group.

My favorite album from this UK group, not like the SPICE GIRLS at all. A must listen ASAP, don't judge just listen.

I like the album i don't know why other people do not. Maybe it is pop snobbery but if you listen to radio 1 live lounge you will learn to listen and then judge. You will realise that all five girls can sing and have their own individual abilities and weaknesses. Not the greatest album by a long shot but at least give them One Shot.P.S. - Cheryl Cole is terrible (radio 1 live lounge) and is not as hot to trot as these lot.

Good enough

Wonderful album as a fill up from the last these girls always killed it!

The CD is of course, great, the CD cover is in very good condition.Free Delivery too, how can you go wrong with deals like this.Very quick delivery, Thank you

This is a good blend of music from the Saturdays and I would recommend this to all Saturday fans.