allSTARS

It wasn't enough to have a bunch of Steps clones, we had to get S Club ones as well. Not that I'm complaining, though. Anything vaguely resemblant to Steps is good. allSTARS were musically remarkably shortlived, though not too successful was even their positively utterly bad TV show.

#1 Things That Go Bump in the Night 9½

The title is totally adorable and the track is very good as well. This is how I got to know about them in the first place, as an about 5 seconds clip of this was featured in the film Scooby Doo. I heard this being compared to Michael Jackson's Thriller. Why not.

#2 The Land of Make-believe 9

Funny cover from a band I only know from ESC, Buck's Fizz. The lyrics are quite inane and the melody doesn't open on the first listening but after that it's good entertainment.

#3 Back When 7½

Quite decent ballad, though nothing special.

#4 Love Is 9½

Somewhat flat but very groovy uptempo track, definitely one of my favourites. Due to its rhytmic simplicity and tempo a suitable background for dance practice.

#5 Best Friends 8

Silly old song. Really in its home as the theme of Starstreet. Here we get the first taste of the male band members' lack of vocal talent.

#6 Happy Ever After Endings 9½

Rationally thinking this should be my favourite on the album, but I guess it's only number 2-4. The long C part (bridge) is quite strange. The lyrics are unbelievable as well: "Through every year / The jukebox is here / So clear in my mind / Travelling through time", "Let music make your life a stage / Act your shoe size, not your age / Wish upon your favourite song, you can sing along"...

#7 Going All the Way 5

Here the promising start of the CD crumbles into characterless porridge and stays that way until track 13. Boring and outright annoying. And this was a single...

#8 You Got It Bad 6

Only slightly more tolerable than the previous one. A very suitable title, though.

#9 Tearing Up the World 8

A beginning straight from Commander Keen 4. Surprisingly pleasant, especially after the last two. Somehow in this they sound a lot like Bubbles.

#10 You're a Fool 5

I'm falling asleep once again.

#11 Butterflies 5

Somehow this has a Janet Jackson feel to it, getting also some Kylie vibes as it goes on. Overall very weak but less annoying than some. After two minutes it feels like having gone on for five. I guess I must drop the score to 5. There.

#12 Once Upon a Lifetime 7

Now then an almost identical start to S Club's Two in a Million. I never liked the original and this isn't even that good.

#13 Lost Without You 10

Unbelievable but true, my favourite track is a ballad. Very much Carpenters-influenced, it's like a promenade, like it says "I miss the walks in the park", that's just what it sounds like.

#14 Greatest Love Story 7½

What a prominent display of total lack of vocal talent! Even if he tries to be talking rather than singing, it sounds ridiculously bad. The piece is silly also otherwise. "I'm secretly in love with you / Got a crush on you"

#15 Train of Thought 8

A net reviewer aptly said "Train of Thought made me lose mine". Reminiscent of S Club's Love Train, it certainly tries to be trainy enough. The singing woman sounds like having a loose throat when she tells to "confide in her". I don't know if I should do that...

#16 Is There Something I Should Know 8

Strange cover, something different from the CD's other content. I've actually grown to like this, though there isn't much melody or other musical values to speak of. The arrangement is funny and powerful. Unlike the singers.