Boyzone: Back Again . No Matter What
Boyzone are Back Again . No Matter What
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Sunday, 12, Oct 2008 02:05
Polydor, out October 13th.
b>In a nutshell...
A blast from pop past.
What's it all about?
This 18-song pop extravaganza is not a minute too long if you're a Boyzone fan. It spans everything from the 1994 hit Love Me For A Reason to You Needed Me, the band's final single before bowing out in 1999.
Who's it by?
Boyzone were the success story of the 90s. Five guys for Ireland - under the guidance of Louis Walsh - unleashed their charm on whoever would listen. With six UK number one singles under their belt, the Boyz were among pop royalty in their day.
However, after their split in 1999, Ronan, Stephen, Keith, Shane and Mikey went on to pursue their solo projects in generally unsuccessful ways.
After reforming for Children In Need last year, the lads have since embarked on a UK and are showing no signs of slowing down.
As an example...
"Rain does not fall on one roof alone." - A Different Beat
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
There's a certain novelty factor to having Boyzone back on the music scene, it seems only natural after the likes of Take That and the Spice Girls have had a crack at the noughties. However, Grammy bosses were never too bothered about the lads the first time round, so I don't see how things are likely to change.
What the others say
"If you love Boyzone, you'll love this. If not, well you might just find yourself a bit surprised by how many songs you're happily singing along to." - Talia Kraines, BBC
So is it any good?
They may not be the biggest lyrical geniuses of their generation, but Boyzone sure know how to make a good pop record. There's everything on here from the rather unique sound of A Different Beat to the lads' signature ballads such as Words.
Ronan has sneakily slipped in one of his own tracks - Life Is a Rollercoaster - at the end of this album, which is likely to disconcert many long-serving fans. It was Ronan's decision to go solo which is blamed by many for the band's split, so this is a rather cheeky addition to what would otherwise be a near-perfect album.
The Kings of the Cover Version somehow manage to get away with plagiarising other people's songs. Taking on a Tracey Chapman song is unthinkable in my mind, but Baby Can I Hold You isn't half as offensive to the ears as it rightfully should be.
Highlights on the album include No Matter What, the hit penned by Andrew Lloyd which propelled the five-some from being a good band to a great one.
As for the new material, Love You Anyway - the band's first single for almost a decade - is an honest pop track which recaptures the Motown feel of Picture Of You. Can't Stop Thinking About You, however, is billed as having a "Kraftwerk sound" which the guys seem uneasy with. Stick to what you know guys, it's what we love you for.
Having said this, I'm left with just one question. Why do we need another greatest hits album? Boyzone fans are already likely to have a copy of By Request, the last best of offering from the lads. I can only guess that they're trying to appeal to the younger generation once again as their original fans are positively geriatric now in their 20s or 30s.
Nonetheless, Boyzone remain one of those guilty pleasures . and this album shows why.
8/10
Emma Furze