McFly: Greatest Hits
Friday, 02 Nov 2007 15:47
Greatest Hits - a precursor to a breakup?
5th November, Island Records.
In a Nutshell...
Pop, Energetic, Entertaining, Irresistible
What's it about?
It's the turn of pop band McFly to release their greatest hits album. Available in two formats, the first contains all of the band's number one singles as well as three brand new tracks, while the second has every single they have ever released. Starting with the bands debut single Five Colours In Her Hair and including tunes such as Obviously and All About You, the album tracks their remarkable career. The album is rammed with top ten singles and includes new single The Heart Never Lies, proof if needed that there is still plenty more to come from these kings of pop.
Who are they?
McFly consist of Tom Fletcher (vocals, guitar), Danny Jones (vocals, guitar), Harry Judd (drums) and Dougie Poynter (bass). Formed merely three and a half years ago, the band has achieved phenomenal success thus far in their short musical careers. All three of their albums have gone platinum and they have had 12 consecutive top ten hits, with seven charting at number one. They also hold the impressive accolade in the Guinness Book of Records of being the youngest band ever to chart at number one with their debut album (a record previously held by none other than the Beatles). Other, perhaps more important, awards include picking up best pop act at the 2005 Brit Awards.
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
No matter what your feelings are on pop music, absolutely no-one can claim that this album will be anything other than an utter smash hit. McFly have total control of this genre of pop on the British music scene, there is nobody who comes close to challenging them. Fans will already own almost every song on the album but the lure of new three new tracks will be too much resist and closet fans will equally be tempted in investing in this collection of classic pop.
As an example...
"'Cos obviously, She's out of my league/But how can I win, She keeps draggin' me in/And I know never will be good enough for her." – Obviously.
So is it any good?
There was a time when you were either a Busted or a McFly fan, the former had Charlie Simpson's good-looks and gravelly voice (plus that blonde one and the one from Celebrity Jungle Nonsense) and sat firmly on the boyband throne. The later were viewed as their heirs apparent, unfairly chastised as simply jumping on the bandwagon. However with the inevitable demise of Busted it soon become apparent that not only were McFly equal to their predecessors, they may very well be better than them.
There are always plenty of people who jump at the opportunity to knock boy bands and manufactured pop music at any occasion. McFly however are a different breed, by playing their own instruments and writing their own music they are elevated above this criticism and the majority of the pop drivel that is continually pumped out. No other bands have attempted to follow McFly in taking up the gap left by the end of Busted, illustrating perhaps the sorry state of British pop music, but also perhaps because no-one dares to come up against them and attempt to challenge their dominance.
You can not fault their music. You may not like it, it may not be to your taste, but it terms of criticism to be levelled at the tunes on this album, there is little to be said. All the number one singles here are catchy, fun and entertaining, like all good pop tunes should be. The only slight hiccup is the cover of Queen's Don't Stop Me Now, a lesson you would have thought had been learnt after Robbie Williams's abysmal We Will Rock You attempt. Covering Freddie Mercury can only end in disappointment but their collaboration with Roger Daltrey to re-work The Who's Pinball Wizard is a much more successful exercise.
Teenage girls and students will lap this latest offering up in abundance. Fans of great pop music will equally have this down on their must-have lists for Christmas. Catchy pop records, played well, on their own instruments, with their own lyrics. What more could you ask for?
8/10
Richard James
"What was wrong with Don't Stop Me Now'? It was a brilliant cover of a brilliant song. Not many people dare to tackle a Queen song so McFly should get some respect for not only tackling it but also doing it really well." - Laura Hindmarch
"I am a huge McFly fan and will be buying both albums." - Rosie Clarke
"I think McFly is a very talented band that should be respected for recording such an amazing and professional version of Queen's Don't Stop Me Now." - Megan Stone
"I think McFly are amazing. I have all of their albums and singles and I love them. Keep goin' guys." - Jazzijaza Silk-Reeves
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