Being part of one of the best selling girl pop groups in the world is a very mixed blessing, even writing about them can be treacherous. Will people assume manufactured over organic, trite over substantive, programmed over natural talent? Even more so if you are not one of the “stars” of the group how do you fit into the overall scheme of music, pop, and credibility. Girls Aloud was spawned from a reality show competition and produced hit, after hit, after hit (20 top 10′s) until the 5 members decided to take time to pursue solo endeavors. First out of this was the “star” Cheryl Cole, and really she went the route of Fergie and was a vocal cue used by Will.I.Am to craft his beats with. (not judging, his talent as a producer cannot be denied, though not always my taste) Nicola has not become that.
Her solo debut Cinderella’s Eyes is an album that perfectly blends, melds and mixes all that the pop powerhouse production team at Xenomania does best with samples from all over the indie-pop spectrum. Drawing on retro-nu wave synths, brooding guitars, banging bass, and sexy struts. Even while working with very talented musicians who have very distinct sounds she is able to remain true to a sound that is all Nicola, while infusing the best from everyone she is working with. From the powerful guitars and synths of the Dragonette produced ‘Yo-Yo’, and ‘Gladiator’, to the deeply introspective ‘Sticks + Stones’, to ‘Fish Out of Water’ which pulls in the best of moody indie electro-rock (think The XX), there is of course the incredibly upbeat ‘Lucky Day’, and finally ‘Say It Out Loud’ is beautiful synthpop that rivals Robyn and Bright Light Bright Light.
She may not have been the ‘star’ of Girls Aloud, or may have been seen as a “rude ginger bitch”, but not an ounce of that matters when your music and your talent clearly shine bright all on their own. And for me, I may be judged for this post, but really my third post for KKS was Selena Gomez, obviously I am not big on the pretension here kids or worried about my credibility; all I care about is great music – that trumps all.
MP3: Say It Out Loud by Nicola Roberts
MP3: Gladiator by Nicola Roberts
MP3: Take A Bite by Nicola Roberts
MP3: Yo Yo by Nicola Roberts
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I love the photos ! do you know Piano Briefs the guy who plays naked ?