Thanks to Music Gateway for the redesign.
Read my introduction to the site »
Reviews
The Corrs
|
Released: 17th July 2000.
So, this is the Corrs third studio album (fourth music offering). And is it any good? Well, in a word, yes. Having been given a bit of rough press for being over produced, I decided to give it a listen, and boy have they been harsh!
The Corrs have progressed with fame, which should be expected. The collection of self-written songs (surely that is worthy of praise when we're surrounded by manufactured bands) are brilliant. They range from the No. 1 hit "Breathless" to the last single "Irresistible", which reached a poor No. 20. But they're not all pop songs.
The Celtic "Give Me A Reason" is heaven to the ear drum, and the instrumental "Rebel Heart" (title music to the BBC drama of the same name) is pure class.
It may be different to "Talk on Corners" but what's the point of releasing "Talk On Corners: Mark 2"? Long may their success continue!
This album is middle of the road, it's so middle of the road there's a white stripe down the back of the CD case. It's not actually bad, just non-descript, it moves subtly but quickly into background music when played, and other than "Breathless" and "Radio" none of the tracks really stand out from the crowd.
Instead, it very quickly becomes a kind of seemingly continuous vaguely Celtic blob of music. "In Blue" continues the downward trend from "Talk On Corners", whilst "Forgiven Not Forgotten" was an explosive and often thrilling debut, "In Blue" is very much the plainest, least exciting album that the Corrs could have produced.
I can't totally write it off, because while it's not what I had hoped for what is here is quite capable. The music is played well and the vocals are well done. The problem is that the songs themselves are mostly damp squibs. There is nothing here to match the raw emotion of "Runaway" or "Love To Love You".
The Corrs have become one of the most commercial bands of our time, and this album is designed to appeal to middle aged middle Englanders, there's nothing here to challenge or worry them. Truly they are the Celine Dion of Irish Music. There are no surprises here, and barely a shred of originality.
Sorry, I did try to like it.
