The Sugababes Discography Rate
- Thread starter beyoncésweave
- Start date
Earthquakes ain't stopping me, no no!
One of the B-Sides to "Too Lost In You", this is a bop and a half. As is the rule for the majority of the Sugababes B-Sides, and all of the Three B-Sides, this is definitely a lot more experimental. Mutya’s submerged “getting’ busy” hook is great, and pairing the chorus straight with it really works. The production, with guitars and a jittery lo-fi beat under it, and squelchy synths around it, are complemented by top rate harmonies once more. I see a direct line between this and other maligned B-Sides like “In Recline” and “Shake It” in terms of being pretty genre-discordant. This is also one of the more forward looking tracks from the Three era in being less R&B inflected, and as such, could have almost been a Taller B-Side.
tylerc904 (10) stans hard: “My favourite of the brilliant three-sides. Actually sounds very Xenomania despite not being them.” Actually yes, the slightly chopped nature of the song structure paired with the rockish production is very second track Xenomania. Runawaywithme (7) seems to have been on a similar Xeno-frequency: “I really love the pure gay disco rush of the chorus on this one, this is like red dress part one.”
“Boring,” yawns PCDPG (5). Constantino (6) goes overboard with the ellipses: “This is perfectly listenable but it’s definitely lacking… something… something I can’t quite put my finger on. Very bonus-track worthy…” mrdonut (5.5) brings up something called the A*Teens: “The opening sounds a bit like A*Teens’ ‘Halfway Around the World’” Are they a parody band? What does the * signify? kal (4) is unimpressed: “this is just alright. Not a patch on any of the other B-Sides from the era.” Mina (3) offers one of her 20 or so “blahs” for this. Chanex (4) should have paced their listening a bit better: “Maybe I've just listened to too many of these Suga-B Sides in a row but they are starting to blend together...I just hope if one is truly amazing I'll be able recognize it. And this ain't it.”
DJHazey (7) takes me back to Sunday afternoons Plug Djibouti-ing with him and becoming overly familiar with Becky G’s discography: “I remember this from an ol' school Island Sugababes Plug session (I think.). Fun little bop.” Solenciennes (7) is politely appreciative: “the chorus is a trip! The epitome of bombastic, it’s a totally throwaway bit of pop but the chorus really elevates it. Not one I normally play but it’s quite good.”
CasuallyCrazed (8.5) gets a bit too interpretive but I’ll allow it: “This feels like the proper sequel to “Round Round,” aka amazing.” Blayke gives it a 10 and feels that it’s album worthy: “Keisha is all over this song and she really does it justice. It seems like a Keisha & Heidi song with Mutya doing a bit of backup but I still have so much with it. The chorus is a pop monster and it’s another song I could have imagined on the album. This song is a reminder that the Three B-Sides are possibly better than lots of Sugababes album tracks.”londonrain (8.5) is similarly appreciative: “This definitely should have been on Three. Catchy and easy to sing along to. This achieves what "In The Middle" fails at.”
Meanwhile, “In The Middle” stan Ironheade (6) is firm and fair: “Deeper and down? Oh, Status Quo wishes. For being one of the Babes' few attempts at straight-up dance music (pre-4.0), it's actually not too bad, but could have been so much better. The bass is rather well-mixed behind the catwalk-ready beat, and considering that I'm a sucker for a rock tune with a strong dance beat, the heavy distorted guitar in the chorus is pretty surprising. Few serious problems, though - the vocals aren't quite at their polished best, and the repetitive pile-up of vocal hooks gets to be way too much eventually. Not to mention, even at less than three minutes, it feels a fair bit longer than it is. Still, it's fine. I guess.” Filler (6) is also a shady hater: “Plopping a few big pop bells in there doesn't fool me, this is one of the few B-sides of this era that sounds like it was never destined to be more than a B-side. In fact it specifically could have been “Someone in My Bed”'s B-side.” Oop! acl (7.8) had a similar brainwave but in a more complementary sense: “Got a similar groove to “Someone In My Bed” like you’re going somewhere.” Now where did y’all place “Someone In My Bed”? We’ll be finding out very soon.
#78
Down Down
Score: 6.623
Highest: 10/10 x 5 (@tylerc904, @Methyn Marquis, @Island, @xtophermorrison, @Blayke)
Lowest: 3/10 x 1 (@Mina)
My score: 7/10
––
Score: 6.623
Highest: 10/10 x 5 (@tylerc904, @Methyn Marquis, @Island, @xtophermorrison, @Blayke)
Lowest: 3/10 x 1 (@Mina)
My score: 7/10
––
One of the B-Sides to "Too Lost In You", this is a bop and a half. As is the rule for the majority of the Sugababes B-Sides, and all of the Three B-Sides, this is definitely a lot more experimental. Mutya’s submerged “getting’ busy” hook is great, and pairing the chorus straight with it really works. The production, with guitars and a jittery lo-fi beat under it, and squelchy synths around it, are complemented by top rate harmonies once more. I see a direct line between this and other maligned B-Sides like “In Recline” and “Shake It” in terms of being pretty genre-discordant. This is also one of the more forward looking tracks from the Three era in being less R&B inflected, and as such, could have almost been a Taller B-Side.
tylerc904 (10) stans hard: “My favourite of the brilliant three-sides. Actually sounds very Xenomania despite not being them.” Actually yes, the slightly chopped nature of the song structure paired with the rockish production is very second track Xenomania. Runawaywithme (7) seems to have been on a similar Xeno-frequency: “I really love the pure gay disco rush of the chorus on this one, this is like red dress part one.”
“Boring,” yawns PCDPG (5). Constantino (6) goes overboard with the ellipses: “This is perfectly listenable but it’s definitely lacking… something… something I can’t quite put my finger on. Very bonus-track worthy…” mrdonut (5.5) brings up something called the A*Teens: “The opening sounds a bit like A*Teens’ ‘Halfway Around the World’” Are they a parody band? What does the * signify? kal (4) is unimpressed: “this is just alright. Not a patch on any of the other B-Sides from the era.” Mina (3) offers one of her 20 or so “blahs” for this. Chanex (4) should have paced their listening a bit better: “Maybe I've just listened to too many of these Suga-B Sides in a row but they are starting to blend together...I just hope if one is truly amazing I'll be able recognize it. And this ain't it.”
DJHazey (7) takes me back to Sunday afternoons Plug Djibouti-ing with him and becoming overly familiar with Becky G’s discography: “I remember this from an ol' school Island Sugababes Plug session (I think.). Fun little bop.” Solenciennes (7) is politely appreciative: “the chorus is a trip! The epitome of bombastic, it’s a totally throwaway bit of pop but the chorus really elevates it. Not one I normally play but it’s quite good.”
CasuallyCrazed (8.5) gets a bit too interpretive but I’ll allow it: “This feels like the proper sequel to “Round Round,” aka amazing.” Blayke gives it a 10 and feels that it’s album worthy: “Keisha is all over this song and she really does it justice. It seems like a Keisha & Heidi song with Mutya doing a bit of backup but I still have so much with it. The chorus is a pop monster and it’s another song I could have imagined on the album. This song is a reminder that the Three B-Sides are possibly better than lots of Sugababes album tracks.”londonrain (8.5) is similarly appreciative: “This definitely should have been on Three. Catchy and easy to sing along to. This achieves what "In The Middle" fails at.”
Meanwhile, “In The Middle” stan Ironheade (6) is firm and fair: “Deeper and down? Oh, Status Quo wishes. For being one of the Babes' few attempts at straight-up dance music (pre-4.0), it's actually not too bad, but could have been so much better. The bass is rather well-mixed behind the catwalk-ready beat, and considering that I'm a sucker for a rock tune with a strong dance beat, the heavy distorted guitar in the chorus is pretty surprising. Few serious problems, though - the vocals aren't quite at their polished best, and the repetitive pile-up of vocal hooks gets to be way too much eventually. Not to mention, even at less than three minutes, it feels a fair bit longer than it is. Still, it's fine. I guess.” Filler (6) is also a shady hater: “Plopping a few big pop bells in there doesn't fool me, this is one of the few B-sides of this era that sounds like it was never destined to be more than a B-side. In fact it specifically could have been “Someone in My Bed”'s B-side.” Oop! acl (7.8) had a similar brainwave but in a more complementary sense: “Got a similar groove to “Someone In My Bed” like you’re going somewhere.” Now where did y’all place “Someone In My Bed”? We’ll be finding out very soon.
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londonrain
Staff member
Aw. I was kind of hoping this would do better - it's my favourite of the Three B-sides. How is this out before the clattering that is Disturbed?!
He/Him
I am really hoping Who is the last standing B-Side, it was the only Sugababes song I listened to for months when Keisha was kicked off.
@beyoncésweave I just found out about the earthquakes and came to check if you're ok! Glad you're still with us. xxx
he/him
Right Here. No pop-enjoying life is complete without them. (Free last-second rate promeaux @iheartpoptarts)
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More Than Million Miles needed to be gone a while ago, but I'm glad we've slain the beast before About A Girl gets knocked out too early.
Solenciennes
Staff member
Seems my hex didn't work, but I'll get @beyoncésweave next time.
Down Down is a rush and I'm disappointed it's out before some of the dirge littering Change and Taller
londonrain
Staff member
By "dirge", I assume you mean Ugly.
Back in 2011?
londonrain
Staff member
Haha didn't notice your pictures were backdated. Would have been great to have you on board this time though!
Solenciennes
Staff member
Almost lost my friendly feet
More Than A Milion Miles (3/10) is poor so good that ist gone, Down Down (6/10) is a pretty dope b-side though nothing crazy. Surprise (9/10) is out way too early though
Thanks! I wish I could have but really didn't have the time. I'm having a BLAST rereading the results though, even when I disagree with them. (But I can't and won't complain cause I didn't vote.) Your write-ups are amazing!
Solenciennes
Staff member
I have a soft spot for it, mostly the chorus being anthemic and Mutya's verse showing a bit of vulnerability, but it could go around the half way point and I wouldn't be mad. I mean more like Obsession and Joy Division!
londonrain
Staff member
Obsession was such an odd choice of cover. I like it (and I still gave it a high score) but I don't see how it fits on Taller given that it still sounds as '80s as the original. I blame Dallas Austin.
I also blame Dallas Austin for Ugly and It Ain't Easy. Frankly the only thing they should have kept from Dallas Austin's work on Taller is the production on Push The Button.
Solenciennes
Staff member
To me, Obsession is Freak Like Me gone wrong - an uninspired cover, still an obscure choice and out of place on the album to some extent but lacking a decent hook and production to elevate the material.
