Music: Take That - The Circus

Take That are, without question, the greatest Man Band in the world. I challenge you to show me a band that has made such a successful, likeable and humble comeback. They have none of the celebrity arrogance that comes with huge sell out bands, and the best part is that their music has actually become even better than before. I was never a big fan of Take That the first time round. Now, I am nothing short of a groupie.

The album is a well put together selection of poppy numbers and ballads and the theme of The Circus runs througout. Gary Barlow must be credited as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of this generation and his lyricism and musicianship are wonderfully put on show. Barlow sings with warmth and ease, back beautifully by his band mates whose harmonies blend and flow like they've been doing this for years. Oh...wait...

Mark Owen's deliciously shameless Mancunian accent gives character to the first track The Garden and other tracks, Julie and Hello. Owens distinctive vocal lends itself to the really showy upbeat numbers (as in the excellent Shine from previous album, Beautiful World). Of course, one of the strongest tracks on the album is UK #1 hit Greatest Day. The song is uplifting, epic, moving and simply wonderful. Watching the video, it is obvious that these fellas simply adore making this music. Other stand out tracks are The Circus, Here (which brings the circus right into the music) and Up All Night which is a definite nod to the work of Paul Simon.

All in all this is an excellent, exciting and adventurous album from Take That. It sits at number one on the UK album chart, and rightly so. These chaps are going to be around for a long time yet. So, here's my salute *salutes* to the man band, Take That.

My rating: **** 4/5 stars - Just a few tracks which don't stand out, but after a few more listens, that might become less of an issue and earn them another star!

Music: Fan the Flames - Luke Leighfield

Imagine a world without a little bit of clever piano-pop to make you smile. Yeah, it wouldn’t be a fun place. Thank God for Luke Leighfield.

Leighfield has been touring so hard for the past year that he’s just recently celebrated his 250^th gig. He’s not picky either; he’ll play in your front room, at your little brother’s birthday party, and in real big venues, too. And it’s easy to see that Luke Leighfield is all about his music and his fans; the CD leaf is covered in photos of friends and gig-goers. He’s even slipped a CD into the hands of Prince Charles himself, no joke.

Fan the Flames is Luke Leighfield’s second album and it is an instantly likeable collection of piano-led pop tunes. He’s dubbed himself ‘basically a second-rate Ben Folds,’ which is no bad thing as Leighfield has mastered the art of melodic piano pop which is memorable, honest and fun.

Title track, Fan the Flames, makes an impressive album opener; the piano is complimented by chirpy brass, strings and a masterful sax solo. This is the first of the album’s many catchy, piano-driven tracks served with masses of instrumental variety. Another stand-out track is Don’t Break Your Back, a cry for people to be themselves, which builds up to a soaring guitar solo and huge sing-along chorus. But it’s not all mile-a-minute power-pop, as the tempo slows for a handful of tracks such as Home, Scared and It Goes On. Leighfield’s voice easily carries off these more reflective songs, which also make excellent use of his very talented supporting instrumentalists. But, with a merry band of backing vocalists, upbeat drums and an epic brass section, it is I Got Soul which will have even the most pop-hating cynic up and dancing. You can’t hide from such unabashed, down-to-earth and downright infectious music-for-the-sake-of-music.

Fan the Flames is out on Got Got Need Records and £1 from every purchase goes to Tearfund.

www.myspace.com/simplylukeleighfield

Album score – 8/10 Refreshingly shameless piano-pop!

Did I Miss Something?

WHY, O WHY, O WHY WESTLIFE?!

Ok, that's out of my system. I do think it's a valid question, and a cry shared by millions of bewildered music lovers across the country. Well, I can proudly put my hand on my heart and say I have never bought a Westlife single or album, and I never will. I am willing to say that one or two of them have part-way decent singing voices. But really, people, this has to stop! They're not very good! They don't even have good looks in their favour. I even felt embarassed doing internet searches about them for this post!

The Irish 4-piece have hit on an absolute genius money-making formula for their music, or should I say their management has? 14 hit singles is quite an accomplishment and none other than x-Factor's Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh are the gruesome two responsible for this torture. Every song they release is tediously identical to the previous in structure and execution...

A solitary pianist plays some emotional chords.
The two who can sing on their own without too much embarrassment share the verses with the others 'Ooing' meaningfully.
More OOing and a chorus. Followed by verse three. More of the same.
Chorus 2. Note here the clenched fists and upward glances in the direction of
the camera.
Key change. The boys stand up off their stools and spread their arms.
Insert a gospel choir or rain if indoors.

And that's how it's done. They take a ballad, written for them by some chap who's most likely drowned in Guinness in small studio somewhere, and just do what they know. Now, obviously nobody is forcing me to listen to Westlife (although they get so much airplay, it's possible) and that's not even the problem.

What offends me most, is when they take old songs that are just about manageable and then brutally murder them. They did it to 'You Raise Me Up' (Josh Groban's original version tugs at the heart strings rather than activates the upchuck reflex) and now to 'Home,' a gorgeous song when performed by Michael Bublé, and absolute torture sung by the Irish whiners.

All the while Cowell and Walsh can jolly well sit there smugly raking in the money. They have hit a jackpot. And as long as there are impressionable pre-teen girls, and frankly deaf grannies around, Westlife are probably, regrettably, here to stay. But there's a way to stop their chart dominance. Parents - STOP giving young girls pocket money! Ladies - They are all either married or gay. Deal with it and stop screaming! Grannies - They are not nice boys. Get interested in McFly or someone!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Westlife wagon has been a'rollin for way too long and needs to be derailed. Perhaps it was a joke that got out of hand. I hope so, because otherwise it's just embarassing!