Texas - White On Blonde
After the tremendous success with their recent single, constant radio play and an appearance on TFI Friday, many people will be wondering whether this album is going to be the one to finally make Texas massive. However, more people will simply want to know how the other thirteen songs on this album compare to the superb ‘Say What You Want’. The answer is very well.
There is actually a great deal of variety here, from the soulful ‘Black Eyed Boy’ (which Smokey Robinson can take a lot of credit for) to the dirty blues of ‘Postcard’. The band certainly haven’t simply copied their top selling formulae.
Even with some fine string arrangements on songs such as ‘Good Advice’ and a couple of enjoyable instrumentals it is very obvious that the majority of the album is carried by the fantastic voice of singer Sharleen. In fact the album’s inlay cover is pretty much devoted to pictures of her, which is no bad thing. Songs such as ‘Insane’ and ‘Ticket To Lie’ where her vocals are laidback and allowed to blend in with the music are the highlights of an album which is only really let down by the Celine Dion styled ‘Put Your Arms Around Me’, which grates somewhat.
Top marks go to Texas for being a band fronted by a female singer who isn’t desperately trying to sound like she’s Alanis Morisette. This is an excellent effort that deserves to sell well. This band is no one hit wonder. (8)
Ji
