British girl group the Saturdays put their right feet forward in the US market with their new EP.
THE SATURDAYS/ CHASING THE SATURDAYS
Formed in 2007, Anglo-Irish girl group the Saturdays consist of five fierce-looking ladies _ Una Healy, Rochelle Humes, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford and Vanessa White. While the rest of the world has yet to get acquainted with them, in the UK these girls are an established act _ ranked alongside the likes of Little Mix, Girls Aloud as well as their predecessors such as All Saints and, yes, you guessed it, the Spice Girls.
After releasing four studio albums pretty much on a annual basis since 2008, and having undertaken three major tours, the fivesome are now poised to take on the world with this five-track EP that shares its title with their own reality TV show. So, quite naturally, Chasing The Saturdays has been created for the sole purpose of breaking into the cut-throat US market, and by extension, the US charts, which currently seem to be overrun by male artists.
And what better way to break into the US market than recruiting Jamaican reggae artist Sean Paul to appear on the first single from the EP, What About Us? The EP's only new track is classic Saturdays, with the group's signature electro-pop sound that will worm its way into your brain. Sean Paul as a guest vocalist turns out to be a wise choice as he successfully adds much-needed swagger.
The rest of the EP contains four previous hits which essentially embody what makes the Saturdays stand out from the pack. All Fired Up starts with some familiar synth effects before turning into a full-blown club rager. The intention here is clear _ to make you get up and dance. Dialling things down a little, the following track Higher has help from everyone's go-to collaborator, Flo Rida. The result is a catchy pop jam filled with great dynamic and remix potential.
The same could be said for Notorious and Ego, which take full advantage of synths and dance music influences. Ego, in particular, shows a tougher side to the girls without losing the fun in the beat department. In fact, if there's one song that best represents the Saturdays, it's Ego.
Chasing the Saturdays may not scream originality in terms of the kind of music they put out, but it offers a great introduction to the band for those who have no idea who they are. They're fun, bold, sassy and, most of all, able to sing and harmonise, which is more than can be said for most girl bands out there. But whether these girls will be able to break the US market remains to be seen.
THE PLAYLIST
Chladni Chandi/ Brahma Brahma
Signed to the local indie label Panda Records, psychedelic rock three-piece Chladni Chandi is one of those bands that are just effortlessly interesting. Made up of Chawalit "Yong" Saowapakpongchai (vocals and guitar), Sompop "Ben" Suwanwattanakul (bass) and Thanawut "Meng" Sriwatthanah (drums), the trio evoke bands like Kula Shaker with their incorporation of mysticism that manifests itself in exotic instruments and Buddhism-inspired lyrics. Their debut single Brahma Brahma starts with guitar strumming while Yong discusses philosophical topics such as time, suffering, truth and karma in a way that will remind you of a monk's prayers.
Usher (featuring Diplo)/ Go Missin'
After teaming up on one of last year's best tracks, Climax, reigning R&B king Usher and multi-talented DJ and producer Diplo gravitate towards each other once again on Go Missin'. Here we still get that brooding electro vibe of Climax plus suave R&B stylings courtesy of Usher. "Go missing, baby ain't nobody gotta know/Go missing, conscience telling you, you shouldn't go," he persuades his love interest to follow her desire by indulging in his own. Although not as good as their previous attempt, the two artists balance each other out nicely.
Justin Timberlake/ Mirrors
If you don't recall how good his 2002 ballad Cry Me a River is, Mirrors will definitely bring back some memories. Following his comeback single, Suit & Tie, this eight-minute song is filled to the brim with Timbaland's signature glossy production that's also reminiscent of Timberlake's second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds. Content-wise, there's nothing to write home about, but thanks to all the little details such as innovative beatboxing and layered synths, the song is prevented from from being a total schmaltz fest. JT's upcoming album, The 20/20 Experience, is due out next month.
Lana Del Rey/ Burning Desire
In case you're still not over the novelty that is Lana Del Rey, here's her latest offering, Burning Desire. Written for Jaguar's short film, the track contains lines such as: "Every Saturday night I get dressed up to ride for you, baby," and "I drive fast, wind in my hair/I push you to the limits, 'cause I just don't care/You ask me where I've been, I've been everywhere." This is a match apparently made in heaven because things just don't (and won't) get any more Del Rey and Jaguar than this.
The Postal Service/A Tattering Line of String
US electro-pop duo the Postal Service haven't released any new material since their highly acclaimed 2003 debut album, Give Up, so when the band announced their comeback, fans were bound to get ecstatic. As it turns out, the duo are simply reissuing their first and only album with the addition of two new tracks, including this one. Be that as it may, the song is guaranteed to please even the most jaded of fans thanks to its lush synths, scintillating effects and Gibbard's warm vocals.
