Ever since Robbie Williams proved there was far more to life than his previous incarnation as a fat dancer in Take That, successful boy bands are scrutinised (by both public and record company alike) to see which one’s going to break free of the shackles of teenage music buyers and appeal to the wider audience.
With regards to Blue, thankfully it’s not been Anthony Da Costa. The baton has been passed to to go forth and be solo.
The overall mood is that Lee’s done a Ronan; he’s had a fabulous day Jim, but he’s going to take the money, go home and let someone else gamble and have a crack at winning the expensive holiday.
Opener ‘Army Of Lovers’, ‘Turn the Car Around’ and ‘Wish The Whole World Knew’ are from the school of American friendly country rock.
‘When I Think of You’ is when Lee reminds us that he once dabbled with a bit of R&B and with this TLC styled ballad. ‘Close to You’ is dangerously close to Crowded House’s ‘Always Take the Weather With You’. ‘Miss My Everything’ is cod-Jamiroquai. ‘In the Morning’ is Ronan Keating ; although in a weird way its wet and sharp guitars remind me of ‘The End’ by The Doors. Until the vocal comes in.
There is some good songwriting here though. Unfortunately, not lyrically. The domineering theme through out is Love and the loss of Love; ohhh yehhh, that’s right baby, you’ve hurt me bad and I’ve hurt you bad now lets-a make-a some lurve and forget all the hurtin’ and a fightin’ etc, etc.
Indeed, every time the lyrics break through Lee’s boy band cat growl, you forget the appropriated genre of music he’s singing over and are swamped with a thousand images of a thousand boy band cliché vids; tall models getting out of expensive cars, walking into a room of candles and rose petals while Lee holds his tortured head in his hands, clad in a white suit. And the line (cat growl) ‘I’m Hungry For Answers’ is laughable; how hungry would you have to be for an answer and can you equate it to being as hungry as you are after a long sleep?
This eponymous debut is safer than a rubber knife which should accurately keep Lee in the charts a bit longer.
Rating: 1/5
Record Label: Brightside Recordings.
Words By: Remy FV
