FEATURE:
Second Spin
Girls Aloud - Tangled Up
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THERE are a couple of reasons…
why I wanted to shine new light on Girls Aloud’s 2007 album, Tangled Up. This is a case of an album scoring huge reviews. Usually in this feature, I revisit albums that were underrated. I also focus on albums that are under-played or discussed. That is the case with Girls Aloud’s fourth studio album. Their strongest album, it is one that people need to pick up. Released on 16th November, 2007, I don’t think many stations dive too deep into the album. You might get one or two singles heard, though it is such a strong album, more people need to know about it. It is sad that band member Sarah Harding is not with us. She died at the age of thirty-nine last year. Key to Tangled Up’s success and sound, I also feel there are not many strong or notable girl groups around. Maybe the likes of Girls Aloud were the last of a breed. Up there with the best of the best, the group were formed through Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. Celebrating twenty years since they formed, they disbanded in 2013. Featuring some of their best singles – including Call the Shots and Can’t Speak French -, Tangled Up also benefits from having really strong deeper cuts. With fantastic production from Xenomania and Brian Higgins, Tangled Up is perfectly sequenced and it sounds amazing! The group – Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh – are at the top of their game throughout the album.
I would implore everyone to listen to the magnificent Tangled Up. To highlight and back up its quality, I am going to source a couple of the many positive reviews the album received back in 2007. In the lead-up to its fifteenth anniversary in November, I do hope that more songs from the album are played on the radio and generally shared. It is a terrific album from such a tight-knit group. This is what the BBC said in their review:
“Adored by critics, fans and even the skinny jean brigade, the experimental "Sexy! No No no..." was our first introduction to the 4th Girls Aloud album. And we're really happy to report Tangled Up is yet another unrelenting pop masterpiece.
Managing to rid themselves of the tackiness of the likes of "I Think We're Alone Now", the understated "Call The Shots" is an unexpectedly calm opener. But don't get too worried, "Close To Love" really kicks off the energetic side of Tangled Up with a monster beat. Similarly the punishing 90s bassline of "Girl Overboard" and it's overwhelming chorus make it, like "Something Kinda Ooh", one of those songs we know is going to be amazing to dance to in a club. Sarah's influence is certainly felt on the futuristic "I'm Falling". Trapping squelchy sounds with a punky guitar, those of us who were horrified "Graffiti My Soul" was never a single will love it.
Instead of ballads, we're treated to mid-tempo fun courtesy of the sultry "I Can't Speak French" and the entrancing album closer "Crocodile Tears". And we never thought we'd name a slower song as one of our favourites, but the reggae infused "Control of the Knife" complete with an absurd mash of trumpets and synths has managed to steal our heart
Undoubtedly the best girl band the UK has ever seen, Girls Aloud make challenging pop music without ever losing their sense of fun and Tangled Up is yet another diamond on their fingers”.
To end up, I wanted to bring in DIY’s take on a 2007 album from, debatably, one of the best and most consistent girl groups the U.K. has ever produced. It is clear that Girls Aloud have helped to influence and inspire a whole new generation of Pop artists:
“Five studio albums in, and Girls Aloud have confounded their critics, sold a bucketload of records and are still managing to look as if they are having the time of their lives. New album ‘Tangled Up’ is taking no prisoners. It’s non-stop pop with no ballads, no cover versions and hardly takes a breath from start to finish.
The Euro-pop chic of ‘Call The Shots’ opens the album, an odd choice considering what the rest of the album has in store. It features a smooth and sublime chorus, and finally a stand-out verse for the neglected vocals of Nicola Roberts. ‘Close To Love’ ups the tempo and once again demonstrates the part-rap part-fast singing that Nadine always does so well.
Xenomania are, of course, responsible for the ridiculously high standard maintained, and for three songs in particular they’ve outdone themselves. ‘Black Jacks’ could be one of the finest, well-crafted Girls Aloud songs yet. It has an absorbing melody matched by a huge chorus and Nadine shines. The trademark GA number ‘Fling’ is an unrelenting, beefed-up dancefloor assault, impossibly catchy and superbly flirtatious. It simply has to be a single. Good enough to seriously rival ‘Something Kinda Ooooh’, you can just about forgive the copious use of the lyric ‘ding a ling’. The final stand-out number of ‘Tangled Up’ is the electro delight ‘I’m Falling’, a seething track which twists and turns and could well be considered the heaviest moment of the album.
There are flaws, of course. Nadine still dominates too much of the vocals, you could argue that the sheer unadulterated pop on offer could be considered too much, but we don’t think so. While there are no songs which could be dubbed filler, we’d question the inclusion of ‘What You Crying For’, an unnecessary drum ‘n bass featurette which smacks of Xenomania simply ticking another genre off their list. Similarly, ‘Can’t Speak French’ seems ill at ease with the rest of the album - we can’t fail to wonder why the far superior ‘Dog Without A Bone’ (B-side to ‘Sexy! No No No’) wasn’t chosen instead.
It seems strange that various commentators are still talking about their surprise when it comes to Girls Aloud. This isn’t the first time a girl band has managed to walk the line between commercial success and artistic recognition. Whether it’s their reality TV origins or maybe they weren’t expected to get this far, Girls Aloud have given us yet more magnificent 21st Century pop and we should rejoice”.
The crowning achievement from Girls Aloud, Tangled Up is such a fantastic album. Hitting number four in the U.K., many reviewers noted the incredible production and the strong songwriting. To me, it is the vocals and chemistry between the group members that really makes Tangled Up stand out. I have been minded to revisit this album, as I don’t think it gets talked about enough. The more you listen to it, the more…
YOU love it.