Misteeq Reviews

More Misteeq Album Reviews

Pros
Some nice song.

Cons
Not appealing to the lads, and to be honest also contains some crap songs!

The Bottom Line
Good music, if you liked TLC, you might well like this!

Full Misteeq Review
It was Easter 03, and I was in Northern Ireland staying at my cousins’, it was a good holiday, however one of my clearest memories was sitting in our new car listening to the only song any British radio station was playing at the time, ‘So, so, so, so Scandalous’. It was the latest and probably the catchiest song from the fantastic UK R&B group, Mis-Teeq. However Mis-teeq are no more, their attempt to enter the US music scene obviously failed and not content with the fantastic UK they decided to take off their stilettos and go shopping in favour of singing.

Anyway enough about my Easter holiday and on with the music, first I shall introduce you to the lovely ladies who made up Mis-teeq, Alesha Dixon, Su-Elise Nash and Sabrina Washington, all known for their love of short skirts and high heels, these woman oozed glamour and were a great role model for my younger 13 year old self, however it was their singing that really had me hmisteeq reviewsooked.

The songs on this album include: misteeq reviews are below of each song
1. My Song
2. Scandalous
3. Can’t Get It Back
4. Dance your Cares Away
5. All In One Day
6. Strawberrez
7. Nitro
8. Home Tonight – Feat Joe
9. Do Me Like That
10. That’s Just Not Me – Feat Baby Cham
11. How Does It Feel
12. Best Friends
13. It’s Beginning To Feel Like Love
14. Eye Candy
15. Just For You

My Song – This includes a very interesting introduction, an computer voice greets each member, as I say it is bizarre, however you can see how this would appeal to a younger audience, e.g. a 13 year old Rachel. The song itself isn’t great there is a decent beat, but the pace is really slow and there is an electric sound to it, that reminds me of some quite intense garage and grime tunes, but do remember this is UK. It doesn’t show off our girls’ voices. All in all it is not an impressive introduction to the album, but please don’t let it put you off, it is probably one of the worst songs and it does have it’s good parts, like the bridge which is where we see get a show of our girls’ voices.

5/10

Scandalous – As I have said this was big, home in the UK Easter㤋, on the radio at least once an hour, in every club, it was predicted to be the song to break the US, however I believe it cannot really have worked. The song does indeed have a catchy beat and a fantastic tune, there is great use of remix displayed here, if I could do this to a song I would be proud. This was the song that got me to buy the album, it has great appeal for young girls, but the beat of it also had many other people dancing along. This has got to be the best song on the album, it is a diamond in the dirt.

9/10


Can’t Get It Back – What a crap song to follow, this was also released, but I think it might have been a remix of this one. At first it seems all right with a great use of, correct me if I’m wrong, trumpet playing, or some other brass; then the trumpet disappears and we are left with the song. The tune is rubbish, there is a nice beat and good use of computer, but the song has no appeal, not to me, not even to the 13 year old me, I was in shock when they released this song – did they want to ruin their career! I guess if you give the tune a chance it might well grow on you, but it would take some time, I don’t believe it was the best way for the girls’ to show off, and it is a shame they put it on the album, it pulls the standard down. The best part in it is the rap, which I think is by Sabrina, however I am not sure – this adds the life to the song.

6/10

Dance Your Cares Away – This song has appeal, the tempo is a lot faster which is what I look for. It includes rap, singing and some fantastic use of computer techniques. It might not appeal to you, and if you were to listen to it for too long you will be bound to want to chuck it away, however it is one of the better songs on the album.

8/10

All In One Day – I like this song, it has a soft beginning, but this then picks up with a decent beat. The song allows our girls to shine, we are shown what their voices can do, this song should appeal to you if you really appreciate the talent of the girls. There is a clever catchiness to the song, this is emphasised by the change in beats, there is a garage influence, a fast one beat for the gym verse, a slightly more reggae one for another part of the song and even a Spanish influence; this is all done very cleverly and adds a much needed zoop to the song.

8/10

Strawberrez – You can tell from the name that this is going to be a sickly sweet song, and you won’t be surprised when we here the chirping of birds and running of water in the introduction. It isn’t a bad song, I would describe it as the strawberry sweets my mum buys from Lidl, they’re gorgeous, but if you eat too many you will feel sick as anything – this song is gorgeous, but listening to it too much cannot be good for you. The song allows our girls to show off their singing talent.

8/10

Nitro – After eating all those strawberry sweets we need a drink of water, and this song is the equivalent to this, washing out the last notes of Stawberrez from our ear drums. It is a much stronger song, reminding me of some more recent Grime coming from the UK, it has a rough texture with the grimey, London style rap, but this is neutralised by the singing talents of our girls. This is a real gem, if you can out up with the garage/grime feel, which I must admit is not to everyone’s taste.

8.5/10

Home Tonight – This song is similar to Strawberrez, but not as sweet, in sweetie terms it’s more like the strawberry lances you can buy for 39p at Somerfield. The song has a beauty to it, and is quite sweet, I can’t think of a better word to describe the song – good job I didn’t take GCSE music. The singing in the song is impeccable, absolutely beautiful, if I had a voice like that I would be singing constantly, however I was blessed with a deeper voice, which does have its own appeal! You might like this song, or you might not, I often have mixed verdicts about it.

6/10

Do Me Like That – The beat now picks up, this song is catchy, it has a good tune, nice use of music within it. We must remember this is a girl group and I cannot see many lads going for this song, also I think it would appeal to a slightly younger audience, young teenagers, but this goes for the whole album. The best part of the song is our girl’s rap, once again I think it might be Sabrina, and if it is we have to hand it to her – the girl has talent, she brings the song to life with her words, I really admire female rappers, I often prefer them to male rappers, but that might be because I am such a feminist!

7/10

That’s Just Not Me – This is another of my favourites, I guess it must be Baby Cham who opens it, and he features throughout with the girls. The song is great, I cannot really describe it, you need to listen to it. The beat is great, addictive, if it is possible to become addicted to a song, this would be my song. It is fantastic, you’ll be nodding your head to it in no time at all. Without Baby Cham it wouldn’t be half as good, however thankfully he is there and makes the song that whole bit better.

9/10

How Does It Feel – WOW! That is what I think every time this song comes on, it is so goddam amazing, another of my favourites, I cannot help singing along to it. There is so much to the song, and yet it feels so clean. It is hard to describe the song as everytime I try I then contradict what I have just said. However I can rate it, which I will do, just listen to it and then you will understand.

9/10

Best Friends – The title makes it sound like this should be a ballad or similar, but we forget that when an electric tinkling introduces the song, then comes the garage beat, it is a heavy song, which contrasts with the sweetness of the girls’ voices, but it is a good contrast, like Sweet and Sour chicken. The song would have me in tears if it wasn’t for the heavy beat – it is a look at the past, a look at past friends, I am only young and the friends I have I have had all my life, but this song acts a s a reminder that one day these friends will no longer be there, and now I’m feeling bloody depressed. So while this song has the ability to depress me – it is great and beautiful.

8/10

It’s Beginning To Feel Like Love – A soppy ballad style song, sickly sweet and boring unless you are in the mood for it. While being soppy it is a happy song, but I can’t help wanting to cry every time I hear it. Obviously it is all about falling in love, as my experience of this goes it usually ends up in heartbreak and me declaring I won’t bother with love until I’m ancient like 30 or summat lol. This song gives hope, as well as being beautiful. It has a lovely tune and thankfully it also has a good strong beat which my mum hates claiming it gives her a headache. This is a nice song, not the best and for a distinct audience.

8/10

Eye Candy – Now we are all feeling calm Mis-teeq become cruel and wake us up again, however that is as far as the cruelty goes – the song is fantastic, catchy, lively happy. The girls’ sound good, we have the rap, which I think is Sabrina seeing as she is the group’s rapper – the beat is good, lively making you want to dance, in fact my little sister is dancing this very moment as I listen to this song! It isn’t the best song, but it is good, I beg with to give it a chance lol!

8/10

Just For You – The last track on the CD, and what a finish – not the best song on the album but great. There is a good background and beat which has me nodding to it, good singing, good rap and song from I think this time it might even be all the girls, we also have another guy joining in a bit – not quite sure who he is, he adds an almost Indian vibe to it, it feels quite Bollywood which is a great technique. On this song we say goodbye to our girls, now a mere memory joined with the image of a 13 year old Rachel, this song does nicely end the album.

8/10

This album is one that would be most likely to appeal to the girls, especiall those younger girls, do remember I bought it when I was 13, I am not sure that I would still buy it if it was out today, however there is some decent British music on it and it will remain a CD of memories of a younger me.

misteeq reviews

Misteeq Reviews

Pros
first six songs, one of the best girl group records in a while

Cons
derivative, some filler and samies, Baby Cham, makes them look like one trick ponies

The Bottom Line
Finals are this week; after that, look out.

Full Review
When one really takes the time to compare the two biggest musical industries in the world, the resemblences and distinctions can be nothing short of striking. It seems like one is a carbon copy of the other, with Twilight Zone-y equivalent artists filling up the designated roles every industry has to have. While some aren't as prominent or innovative in their native industry and country as the other, everyone tries to breakthrough; the reason no new Brits ever come through is that we don't have any current openings, basically.

Saucy TLC-lite girl group Misteeq bursts into the consciousness of many an American with their scorching debut single that was inescapable at dance clubs for months on end. They received some love but the comparions weighed the impact and credibility of the group severely, as this record has only sold about forty-thousand copies thus far.

Tracklisting:
Scandalous (*****)
One Night Stand (*****)
Best Friends (**** 1/2)
Can't Get It Back (*****)
Home Tonight featuring Joe (*****)
Roll On (**** 1/2)
All I Want (****)
That's Just Not Me featuring Baby Cham (***)
How Does It Feel (*** 1/2)
B With Me (*** 1/2)
Do Me Like That (**** 1/2)
Dance Your Cares Away (****)
Can't Get It Back- Second Mix (****)

First single, token dance floor burner Scandalous is just as enjoyable in the colder months, thanks to the jumping synchronized Family Affair-type strings-and-bassline, layered siren-y horns and spunky clap track, all possessing that ingenius swagger that makes this entire record enjoyable. The group sounds nice, although the focus isn't on them or even the lyrical content. With the blazing production helping them along, they show bombastic individual and harmonic skills, particularly the juicy latter.

Second single One Night Stand is better than its predecessor in a lot of ways, most blatantly in the vocal area. Using more graspable albeit feel good/party girl tones and a softer delivery, you get a better indication of their actual talent. Over a simple string loop, clear cut production and percolating synths, this night-out-with-my-ladies evolution of the last track really exudes a cool confidence thats allowed to breathe.

Originally done by third-tier girl group Blaque, Can't Get It Back is an almost bubbly, tongue-in-cheek done-me-wrong track that really shows that they can have a sense of humor outside of the club-made tunes. Alongside spiralling production, sparing acoustics and throbbing bassline, this with-a-snap upbeat has one of the tightest hooks on a hook-heavy record, which definitely says something. They harmonies are very sweet sounding (especially since the two lead vocalists sound very similar) with a feathery softness that has to be constantly twisted to be considered effective. Its smart, fun and a ball to listen to. The second mix has an intro that reminds me of really old, dated 80s party record, those kindof horn-infused latin-wannabes that have an....ehhh...groove. The song is much more chunky, more instruments being brought in, with a lot of filled production to it and an annoying sax. Home Tonight is one of the slowest cuts, a loungin' in-the-car take-me-home-and-git-some kick-ya-game romantic steamfest that showcases a more emotional group. With lyrics that are a bit more cerebrial and a calmer production, you wonder why they didn't use this type of song on a more regular basis. Guest vocalist Joe adds another element to this already gorgeous track, riding the luxurious melody for all its worth.

Best Friends takes a really poppy subject matter and makes it sound like it has an ounce of credibility. Over very minimalist production (despite the cold, space-y effects), down home warm strings and covered up bounce, we get one of those you-my-homie-from-back-in-the-day type tracks, trying to expose a more down-to-earth and realistic sides to the group. Its sing-songy hookline will be good to belt to your best friend while their vocals tend to be a bit drowned out and too tightly compacted, not allowing much room for movement. Roll On automatically brings a smile to my face, a steamy summer anthem thats as breezy and effortless as it is enjoyable. Using elements of Just Got Paid in the booty bumpin' lyrical concept, its one of those songs thats truly appealing, from the slight G-funk influenced production to the dance craze-ready hookline. This is pure silk, complete with compact handclaps, stuttery keyboarding and one damn fine bassline. Definitely one of the most relaxing listens on the record.

All I Want is a very garage influenced track, trading in silky melodies and gorgeous layering for frantic arrangements, spoke-sung vocals and a more hook-based song structure. Using thumping percussion, distorted synths and explosive horns, this manages to be too much of a dance track, not letting much of a real groove form to let you get into the song. The rap is a much needed break, offering a more complex listen and another element to deal with. The lyrical scheme starts off very well, though fading into general territory very quickly. Hardcore dance music fans, I've found you an anthem. Do Me Like That is one of those tracks that I feel like I've heard before yet can't seem to place for the life of me. With my-man-sucks lyrics on the record accompanied by a pretty fierce production job (intricate latin acoustics, thudding percussion, tropical keyboarding), this is a track thats almost expected, especially in the way they do it. The rap is much darker, more brooding and quicker, all three very positive attributes other appearances lack from time to time. Its very empowering and will have you moving along, regardless. Dance Your Cares Away is a much better song than I expected, personally. Instead of a cheesy overly perky club track, we get a very weighty, underground-esque grity banger thats infinitely more natural sounding than the average clubber. Including the glitzy techno breakdown, its solidly pulsating melody is one to be admired because I've not heard a song done like this in a while. With flashes of Mary-ish hip hop soul, its sweetness shines through a more captivating listen. Its pied piper-ish effect is totally hypnotizing, proving that a good melody can capture us all.

The final three tracks I'll discuss aren't quite in the same league as some of the other material on the record. That's Just Not Me, featuring the behemoth ramblings of Baby Cham (who sounds like Lady Saw), is a bit too harsh and pretentious for my taste, having no discernable melody and some eyeroll-worthy patios from one of the leads. The production is a bit amateurish and repetitive (the synth riff is repeated more times than imaginable) while Cham spouts about a verse and a half too much. The last two are Twilight Zone-type similar, almost identical in structure and sound. How Does It Feel is a bit more of a full listen with real production and a pitbull-in-a-skirt lyrical scheme. B With Me is a more island themed listen, with steadier production and glamarous steel drums.

The Misteeq record was sadly overlooked when it was released, making any other American success unlikely, despite the emerging second single. One would think that, with the current absence of two-girls-and-a-rapper girl group TLC, the girls would've gotten more love but this compilation of their Euro records will be gathering dust for a while. They've got a nice energy about them, best exhibited by the beginning of the record. If you like dance music or hot black women, this is for you.

Great Music To Play While: buying the How To Be A TLC-type group book and plotting your success

Pay Attention To: One Night Stand, Home Tonight, Scandalous

Don't Pay Attention To: That's Just Not Me, How Does It Feel, B With Me