Come and Get It

by

Rachel Stevens

Edit

A cup of Kylie Minogue, a shake of Girls Aloud, a tablespoon of Goldfrapp, and a dab of Britney Spears is the recipe to get a flawless Rachel Stevens. The British beauty returns with her sensational sophomore album, Come and Get It, which leaves the now mediocre Funky Dory miles behind. From the electro sounds of So Good, to the stunningly beautiful I Will Be There, to the sultry, dark Je M'Appelle, Come and Get It takes you on a high-speed journey through pop paradise.

1. So Good - The album's opener and second single shines. This dancey, flirty, and self-confident track was written for pop superstar Kylie Minogue, and is a disco-ish flashback to the 80's.

2. I Said Never Again (But Here We Are) - Pop with a touch of rock makes this track and instant winner. The "sex with your ex" anthem has a loud, infectious chorus and an irresistibly catchy tune.

3. Crazy Boys - A definite grower. I wasn't too fond of this one a little while ago, but now I think it's single worthy. Rachel gets an A+ on the Madonna-esque vocals and the funky club beat. (Produced by Richard X, who is infamous for loud dance tracks and clubby beats.)

4. I Will Be There - The album's big ballad, which is often compared to Heaven Has to Wait from the Funky Dory album. The track has an electro intro, and then quickly reaches the simply gorgeous chorus. Rachel's beautiful vocals make I Will Be There perfect.

5. Negotiate With Love - Most people say this was a weak single choice, but I think differently. The previous reviewer was right on target saying that it sounds like an old Blondie song. The chorus also reminds me a bit of Britney Spears' Toxic.

6. All About Me - Probably the weakest track on the album. I personally think Negotiate With Love's B-Side Queen should've replaced this one. You can tell Rachel's voice was run through a synthesizer, which is too bad, because it brings the quality of the song down.

7. Secret Garden - Secret Garden is an interesting mix of electro pop and R&B. Rachel's voice is very breathy and light, and she goes so high at some points that it sounds painful.

8. Nothing Good About This Goodbye - This is the true star of Come and Get It. The uptempo ballad has a simple, yet spectacular chorus, and will be released as the fourth single on December 5th.

9. Some Girls - Rachel's career-defining song fits in much better on this album than it did on Funky Dory. This was the start of her electro sound, and has been her only true smash-hit.

10. Je M'Appelle - With it's sultry bassline and haunting vocals, this is obviously the darkest song of the album. It's reminiscent of Funky Dory's Silk.

11. Funny How - You guessed it, another winner. The fast pace and addictive chorus make Funny How single worthy, and the original lyrics add to the glamor of the track.

12. Every Little Thing - Sounds like an S Club 7 song with a electric edge. You can't help but sing along to this feel-good, uplifting gem.

13. Dumb Dumb - This one is also a grower. Inventive lyrics mix with the Goldfrapp-esque music to make an interesting album closer.

Rachel Stevens has proved to us that she's earned her place on top of the pop charts. There is no doubt that one day she'll be a superstar from coast to coast, following in the footsteps of Madonna and the Minogue sisters. By all means, buy this phenomenal album.

For people who have heard Jo O'Meara's album Relentless, Rachel CD's is almost the complete opposite. Most of the songs on Jo's CD are slow, deep, and emotional. Rachel's CD is more about having a good time, partying and the music on her CD is definitely more fast-paced than Jo's album. The music on Rachel's CD is generally fast, and has a lot of pop and techno grooves on it. This is definitely an album for anyone who appreciates pop/dance/club music at its best. In my opinion, the best songs on this CD are: Funny How, Nothing Good About This Goodbye, Some Girls.