PRESS RELEASE ELITE RECORDS
They came, they raved and the next moment they disappeared. To be fair, they are only taking it to America with their debut album 'Polka Dots & Strawberry Pops', which peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Top 200. After making it big being the first group ever to win Uraps Idols, the Sleazy Sisters went on to building up a humongous fanbase for themselves with two solid number one singles and a successful tour that grossed over 100million. Now they're back with the long-awaited sophomore release and you can tell we can hold it not much longer.
Back with their unique catchy trademark production under their chosen producer the Feisty Brothers, the girls are back with their brand new single, 'New Attitude'. The girls pleasantly surprised many after showing off their writing skills and musical ability with their debut album, and this certainly didn't disappoint. Instead of bringing back the sixties sound they did the last time round, the girls ditch their polka dots dresses, put on afros and glittery nudie suits as the piece sets into a very disco-tastic 80s sound. The ditzy trio delivered yet another superb, energetic vocal performance, drap with cleverly written lyrics and an extremely addictive synthesizer.
So, the Sleazy Sisters are back with a bang, and it does put all the previous Idol winners to shame with this a Summer-esque classic.
NME
Sometimes you turn on the radios you will feel that something's really lacking in the quality of music these days, whether its pop, rock, rave, indie - there were no 'magic moments' that made us go 'Wow, this is really good!' - until 15 minutes ago a cardboard-sleeve vinyl promotional disc with mega huge dodgy fonts written "Sleazy Sisters" then "New Attitude".
See I was a huge fan of them, its incredible how they came from a reality TV singing competition and made headlines overnight with one of the best pop albums I've heard in the recent years. Last few months they were crashing American charts when their album "Polka Dots & Strawberry Pops" peaked at #7, selling enough to get them a gold certification. What's more impressive about them is that in between gigs, tours and breaking America they could chip in the time to record their second album. When I pop the disc into my CD drive and once the track starts to play I knew I was gonna love it! They ditched the 60s pop sound, flirted around a bit with the 80s, a bit of party stomper, only with absurdly clever, quirky lyrics and infectious melody - much credit to their producers the Feisty Brothers for having the job done perfectly.
Just in case the radio edit version might censor it off, the best line we've heard in years goes like this: "The only regret in my whole fucking life is that I wasn't born with enough fingers". Its hands-down their best work, thank god - and the Sleazy Sisters for bringing pop alive once again!
POPJUSTICE
On any other bad day that I had to go through, I always think that I'm probably one of the luckiest person on earth with a desk job doing nothing but listening to music. If my charmbracelet doesn't work against me, I'd probably get a pissy record, and there's nothing I can do other than to grit my teeth (and my ears) but to bear with the noise. But once in a crack while I do get a few good ones. Stacking right on top of a pile of album samplers is the brand new Sleazy Sisters' album.
For me, I always had this love-hate relationship with these girls. They came from a reality TV show, and by smart song choices and gimmicky moves (polka dots dress, anyone?) they managed to edge out Alfie by a landslide, and I wasn't happy. Their debut album was pretty but I don't think its as good as what its hyped out to be. "Polly Pocket" is a good tune, and so is "On The Radio" but the whole record is a bit inconsistent, and I don't dig the whole sickly sweet cheap pop music they make.
This new one, "We Need A Controversy", does have an endearing promo sleeve, but we'll do a song-by-song review, and see if the music will live up to their gimmicks.
[b]TRACK 001 - WE NEED A CONTROVERSY[/b]
Right after a pop the record into my drive, I'd expected blasting snare and violins fiddling to the opener of the album - but I was wrong. Scarlett Summers kick it off an acapella of clever line, she says, "This song is gonna be explicit and there might be some name drops not worth a listen / But as the Emblaze wannabe Boyzone sings you're gonna love this for a reason!". And all of sudden I hear the bass, an extremely addictive sythesizer and a disco beat introducing the record - its very 80s, it actually reminded by a good old Bananarama classic. In fact, its probably one of their best songs ever written in our opinion (which brings "Polly Pocket" to shame) and the namedrops are pretty nifty (in a good way).
BEST LINE: "Swinging sixties maybe our niche but it turns into a cliche over the next Sunday / Its hard for people to take us seriously cos Amy Winehouse is in our way"
[b]TRACK 002 - NEW ATTITUDE[/b]
Speaking a good pop song after another, I was awe by their mad writing skills and talent to bring out yet another good piece. Again, its very 80s, and it does seemed like the girls have decided to ditch their Phil Spector-esque sound and bring on a bit of Donna Summer. It didn't got me up until Scarlett sings this line, "The only regret I had in my whole fucking life is that I wasn't born with enough middle fingers" - its bloody epic. A handful of attitude - and what is different about this track from other "attitude" songs is that it doesn't actually have that angst bassline, yet it shows that the Sleazies could pull something out of the hat.
BEST LINE: "Just cut your bullshit go straight to the point cos I don't have time to waste on you ratter / The only regret I had in my whole fucking life is that I wasn't born with enough middle fingers"
[b]TRACK 003 - BIG GIRLS ROCK[/b]
Into the third track of the album and it doesn't seemed the girls are going to slow it down at all. "Big Girls Rock" could jolly well be the new anthem for the eating order anonymous. Again, they managed to namedrop almost every other fashion labels and throw it right into our faces. Sad but true - I think the Sleazies has got no malicious intentions on dissing the aneroxics, they just told the truth.
BEST LINE: "Eat, sleep, shit and thats what we big girls do, don't be jealous if you can't manage / Dig into the B&J's and shove a toothbrush down your throat at the final stage"
[b]TRACK 004 - ON THE END OF THE OOHS[/b]
Talk about being gay and loving a bit of a disco party stomper - this has to be the one. The girls talk about hooking up with a cute bloke and romping the night away - nothing much surprising. Ironically, its probably one the stand out tracks of the album because of its infectious beat and bassline - we like the ending where they go lots of "oohs", reminded me of Stevie Nicks "Edge Of Seventeen".
BEST LINE: "You can try and smooch and kiss me til late night Friday on the end of the oohs /Pop my cherry pie with your ding dang fork and knife, devour me in when it cools"
[b]TRACK 005 - SNAZZY SALLY[/b]
What's good about the Sleazy Sisters is that even though they changed a bit musically, they managed to maintain the charm that was loved by the public when they release their debut. "Snazzy Sally" reminds me a lot of "Polly Pocket", its the its the 80s version of it. It also reminds me of Girls Aloud's "Biology" in a funny way. The song talked about how this girl is the role model whom every girl wants to be, much like "Polly" where they talk about "dumb girls".
BEST LINE: "Even Victoria Beckham has got nothing on me!"
[b]TRACK 006 - TAKE IT FROM THE BACK[/b]
GAYDAR! FAG HAG! BUMMERS! GOSH right into this track I know I'm gonna love this album. The girls speak "turning a straight man gay", not knowing a potentially good date could turn out that the fella's a bender. In a hilarious twist to majority of Urapopstar, it does seemed like a fitting track for many blokes in the pop scene at the moment (Jack Stevens, Splinter anyone?) Its a pretty solid pop tune all in all - I don't think it could work well as a single, but its definitely a pop gem on the album.
BEST LINE: "Man of my dreams, the guy I always wanted turn out that he takes it from the back / He walks with a swagger and sing to Cyndi Lauper even when he's in the bath tub"
[b]TRACK 007 - TWIST & SHOUT[/b]
Just in case you're wondering if this is the Beatles' cover, it seems like the girls have adapted the "no covers, no fillers, no bullshit" regulation into this record. Its fun, its ditzy, probably one of the weaker tracks we've heard. Nevertheless its harmless so I guess we'll pass.
BEST LINE: "That guy ask me out for a date I think he's got frisk / T-DOUBLE-YOU-I-S-T, but honey can you do the twist?"
[b]TRACK 008 - VACUUM CLEANER[/b]
What, Sleazies singing about a household equipment?! Not likely. This slightly slower tempo (still upbeat though!) track sings about how men treats them as the vulnerable sucking machine did, when all they do is want them to "suck you in so you can let it out as my Easter's dinner". Again, Scarlett Summers outdid herself by hitting high notes at the appropriate verses - even to an extent of sounding like a black woman (no racism intentions). Listening back to the last album, you know they all have improved vocally - and dang, Summers can sing.
BEST LINE: "Days when you took me for sex but I gotta say I'm sorry that its all over / Weeks when you had to make love to your pillow when our relationship turns sour"
[b]TRACK 009 - CASSETTE PLAYER[/b]
I don't know if its the German wind that blows in an opposite direction. The record started off amazing but this one hasn't impress me as much as the beginning did. It seemed 'bside-ish', but with that said, it certainly lives up to the "polka" expectations. Maybe its me that expected more.
BEST LINE: "Sing to me you tiny little dancer / Am I good enough for your calibre?"
[b]TRACK 010 - WHO MADE YOU MADONNA?[/b]
After seeing the tracklistings for the first time - this is the track that I anticipated for and I wasn't disappointed. Filled an attitude and a 180 degree turn from "Cassette Player", the girls speak of how some people acting like stuck ups but haven't contribute to anything as for being an armchair critic. We also approve of the buzzling alarm sound after every line at the chorus!
BEST LINE: "'scuse me for a second, can I just ask, who made you Madonna?"
[b]TRACK 011 - ROCK & ROLL IN THE HALL OF FAME[/b]
YET another identical title to one of the best pop piece ever produced - the girls sings about playing at Top Of The Pops and making headlines as 'three ordinary ladies'. It was rumoured this is supposed to be the lead off single for the album - but I'm glad it wasn't. Musically, the girls score a point for their talent but lyrically I'll have to give them a negative. In a whole, its probably one of the decent tunes, of course better than anything (bar "Polly") from Polka.
[b]TRACK 012 - ROCK ME WILD[/b]
I don't know if its their management who hasn't notice the two 'rock' titles going on right after another. They pick up the momentum with this one yet again with its good-to-hum bassline and loud backing vocals - its like a gospel vocal laying on top of a disco stomper. Tracy Robinson leads the song - and it did make it slightly different, probably because I'm used to Scarlett hogging every lines of their records. It probably wouldn't end up as a single, but its worth the listen.
BEST LINE: "I don't need you to sing me another word because I'm gettin' bored / Just come over, take me in and make me your trombone's rock"
[b]TRACK 013 - GUILTY PLEASURE[/b]
GUILTY GUILTY! S*F! NEXT URAPS IDOL PLEASE! Ha. Apparently this is not the infamous cover from notorious Louise. As the album's about to end, I had this feeling that they're gonna save the best for the last. And indeed, 'Guilty Pleasure' makes up for the off-putting middle section of the album. Its hilarious, infectious and what I like about them as that every track they put on the album has taken a leaf from Picasso's mind of creativity. They deal with the paps, they deal with the critics. The last rock-n-roll note from Scarlett has to be one of the best endings I've heard from any pop albums in recent times. Amazing.
BEST LINE: "Spin this record round and round and no questions ask about your guilty pleasure / Everyone's talking about the new wave so give yourself a chance and your player"
(
geocities.com/unparanoid)