Brandon's Best Of.... Girls Aloud!

I LOVE turning people onto music!

My new awesome friend Sabrina recently revealed to me via text that she has never heard of British girl group Girls Aloud. I, being one of the biggest GA fans here in States, felt it was my duty as a fan and blogger to open her eyes to their brilliant music.

So, she inspired my latest post series, "Brandon's Best Of..." where I choose the choice songs from a specific artist. This time is clearly Girls Aloud:

1. Call The Shots (Tangled Up, 2007) - If there was ever a song to start off a list like this with, it has to be this one. "Call The Shots" is arguably one of the best pop songs released on either side of the pond in the last five years. It's glitzy, slow-burning electro groove is perfection, and the chorus is damn near impossible to resist. Throw in five beautiful girls with five great, distinctive voices, and you've got a smash that has been played more times on my iPod than I can possibly count.



2. Something Kinda Oooh (Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits, 2006) - Who doesn't love a bit of mindless fun? That's what the girls had in mind with this instant 2006 hit. The lyrics make little to no sense, but it's pretty hard to not sing along with the electrified chorus. If you're not singing, you're probably dancing to its fast paced, buzzing, synth-drenched bassline. The rocker edge the song has makes it even cooler, and an easy dancefloor-filler.



3. The Promise (Out of Control, 2008) - In a daring move, GA dropped their trademark club thumpers for a little 60s throwback, a trend repeatedly by virtually every British artist last year. Still, the girls made the style their own, with an extremely high production value that drew comparisons to the Spectorian era of music. Then, of course, there is their bread and butter; the catchy chorus. Once you hear it, you'll need a hammer to knock the "promise I made, promise I made" lyric from your head.



4. Biology (Chemistry, 2005) - It's multi-song structure turned Girls Aloud into more than a reality TV group. How about pop innovators? The combination of different styles, genres, and even decades on one track was beyond the possibilities of a manufactured pop group. It's fun but fuddling lyrics just added to the aura of Girls Aloud. If you don't believe Girls Aloud are true artists, check this song out and come back to me.



5. The Loving Kind (Out of Control, 2008) - I'm not going to lie; I lost my mind when I first heard this song. A clear follow-up to "Call The Shots", "The Loving Kind" was a one-of-a-kind collaboration between mega-producers Xenomania and the Pet Shop Boys. The result was a beautiful combination of melancholic lyrics and optimistic disco production. Unfortunately, the public didn't get the brilliance of this song, causing it to stall at #10 on the charts.



6. Sound of the Underground (Sound of the Underground, 2002) - To the surprise of many new GA listeners, their first single was a dazzling pop gem. Instead, it was a dirty, gritty, angsty, pop/rock track about music that bothered the neighbors. Looking back seven years from its release, it may not be one of their best, but it does set a tone for the rest of their pop-busting career, and a must for GA newbies.



7. Whole Lotta History (Chemistry, 2006) - The girls rarely delved into ballads, and when they did, it came off a bit saccharine (see "See The Day"). This single, however, hit the right notes overall. It's sad and hopeful at the same time, thanks to some curious lyrics and extremely rich production.



8. Sexy! No No No... (Tangled Up, 2007) - If "The Loving Kind" is the sister of "Call The Shots", than this single is the ADD child of "Something Kinda Oooh". It's a rampant romp with electropop/rock beats and buzzes, and no chorus. That's right. These girls have the audacity to make a brilliant pop thrasher, with no chorus. No need to worry, though; the "no no no" hook is so catchy you barely notice.



9. Wake Me Up (What Will The Neighbours Say, 2005) - An interesting tidbit of information; Franz Ferdinand were actually inspired by this song. The electropop is shoved into the background as the guitar riffs takes the forefront on this dirty and dangerous single. The girls bathe in the feminist rebellion of this song, as they move into a new (and better direction) after this song.