<div> <ul class="ResultList"> <li><a href="/news/murray-s-conqueror-falls-to-del-potro-$1326297.htm">Murray's conqueror falls to Del Potro</a></li><li><a href="/news/ftse-100-drops-back-under-5-000-$1326269.htm">FTSE 100 drops back under 5,000 </a></li><li><a href="/news/capello-lauds-best-england-win-$1326036.htm">Capello lauds 'best' England win</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div style="background:white;"> </div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-9353229343941924"; /* 300x250, created 03/11/09 */ google_ad_slot = "0725049070"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div><p class="date">Friday, 11, Sep 2009 10:26</p><p class="summary"><i>Rubyworks, out now</i>. </p><p><b>In a nutshell... </b> </p><p>Lively but mundane pop-rock </p><p><b>What's it all about?</b> </p><p>Throughout this 12-track record Bird mixes it up nicely so that every song offers something new. </p><p>The energy never relents and the honesty of her lyrics is never in doubt, which comes across best in the more stripped down tunes, such as Made of Sugar. </p><p>Oddly, the opening track is probably the low point of the album and it picks up from there. </p><p> </p><p><b>Who's it by?</b> </p><p>This is the second album by the young Irish singer-songwriter and she has opted for a more radio-friendly approach than for her debut, 2007's Spoons. </p><p>Now 26, Bird has matured and is getting plenty of acclaim for her energetic live shows. </p><p>The record was recorded in London, Berlin and her parents' home in Ireland, even getting her family to sing backing vocals on some tracks </p><p><b>As an example... </b> </p><p>"We're kissing the lips of strangers/We're hugging whoever next we meet/Oh life I love you to my bones." - To My Bones </p><p><b>Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys</b> </p><p>Not this time. Bird has the talent and drive to seal success one day but this album just is not interesting enough to win any awards. </p><p>Could do well in the charts if she gets enough radio airtime. </p><p><b>What the others say</b> </p><p>"Sprightly, fun and, above all cheery, the lyrical style matches that of the music and New Boots is as much about detailing life changes as it is about flirting between different musical styles." - New State Magazine </p><p>"Can Opener contains a chorus so strained it'd make Bonnie Tyler wince, while Berlin sounds like KT Tunstall in dire need of throat lozenges." - Clash Music </p><p><b>So is it any good?</b> </p><p>Like canteen food, some parts can be lovely but for the most part what's on offer is a little dull. </p><p>Bird has a good voice and puts her heart and soul into every track, but the formula she is peddling has been around since the beginning of time and she does not bring enough originality to the table. </p><p>While she has clearly given the album a glossy production job to encourage commercial success, there are very few songs on here that are particularly great. </p><p>Tellingly, Bird had a lot of success with a cover of Just Can't Get Enough; she has the ability to deliver songs, but her own writing is not up to scratch yet. </p><p>Still one to watch but needs to be more inventive with future projects. </p><p><b>5/10</b> </p><p><i>Paul Smithson</i></p> </div> <div id="article-ad"> <script type='text/javascript'><!--//<![CDATA[ var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'?'https://a.preferdigitaladvertising.co.uk/delivery/ajs.php':'http://a.preferdigitaladvertising.co.uk/delivery/ajs.php'); var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999); if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ','; document.write ("<scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript' src='"+m3_u); document.write ("?zoneid=139"); document.write ('&cb=' + m3_r); if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write ("&exclude=" + document.MAX_used); document.write (document.charset ? '&charset='+document.charset : (document.characterSet ? '&charset='+document.characterSet : '')); document.write ("&loc=" + escape(window.location)); if (document.referrer) document.write ("&referer=" + escape(document.referrer)); if (document.context) document.write ("&context=" + escape(document.context)); if (document.mmm_fo) document.write ("&mmm_fo=1"); document.write ("'><\/scr"+"ipt>"); //]]>--></script><noscript><a href='http://a.preferdigitaladvertising.co.uk/delivery/ck.php?n=a0ef994e&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://a.preferdigitaladvertising.co.uk/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=139&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&n=a0ef994e' border='0' alt='' /></a></noscript> </div> <iframe valign="middle" width="300" height="150" marginheight=0 marginwidth=0 frameborder=0 vspace=0 hspace=0 scrolling=NO src="http://www.dianomioffers.co.uk/smartads.epl?id=855">
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