S Club 7 - 7 (CD 2000)

It probably doesn't bode well when a pop group called S-Club 7, call their first album S-Club, and their second album 7! The lack of thought put into the titles of just two albums, does sort of suggest the problems of manufactured pop outfits running out of ideas very quickly. The album '7' itself may lack the formulaic rifts of its predecessor, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Gone are the paint by number songs of S-Club Party, 'Paul's getting down on the floor, while Hannah's screaming out for more'! And what you're left with is something more soulful and tune led. Although fans of "Don't Stop Movin'" will be dissapointed -as it is the one track you won't find here- 7 the album, bar from the singles won't get you moving or swaying around as much as it should! This is less to do with manufactured pop (i.e. subliminal radio playing) penetrating the brain, as the fact that "Never Had A Dream.." "Natural" and yes, even "Reach" are stand out pop tracks! The second album is still a miss-match of tunes and pop songs that you come to expect from this sort of group, but it is pure unadulterated pop. If you consider the price of CD single's these days, three good songs on an album make a bargain, even if the album title has run out of ideas be assured the songs haven't!