#33: JLS - Eyes Wide Shut

It's no secret that the season of X Factor that JLS were on was the season I really watched like a hawk, and it's also no secret that towards the end, I was really rooting for JLS. If I was in the UK, I would've been voting for them off the hook. Comparisons to Westlife, who were my favorite boyband at the time (you know how I get addicted to boybands), helped a great deal, but it all boiled down to the fact that I genuinely liked JLS. Their first album came around and I was a little disappointed with the album tracks but generally content with the singles, and now we have their second album, which was, in as few words as possible, a disappointment.


Except of course for this song. Let's not venture into what I think about The Club Is Alive, because it would take a whole lot more than a few paragraphs and polite words to say what I think about it. I'd rather not.

If, for me, The Wanted are classy and Brit and all that, JLS are commercial, catchy and appeal to the masses. Both bands have their strengths, and I like both of them, so I'll end the comparisons there.

Eyes Wide Shut was the song on the album that really made me grin like a madwoman. It has that gorgeous melody all throughout the song that just fits everyone's strong, autotuned, vocals like a glove - it makes all the sense in the world. And then under that gorgeous melody is gorgeous synth line and distinctly Swedish and/or Swedish-inspired production - very tight with a sense of urgency, yet graceful and melodious.

It's also the right tempo for me. It's not too fast to the point of them sounding like beavers, nor it is too slow that the urgency and tight-ness of the arrangement are lost in the mix - it's an extremely well-done, Swedish/British pop midtempo (leaning more towards the uptempo side), in the realm of a more fun+young+fast version of Westlife's Something Right, which I will admit is still a damn good song.

I. AM. BACK.

And by "back" I mean back to posting about non-kpop stuff - I've put this post off for way too long now, and I'm not exactly happy with myself. *sigh* Well, I take this as my big return to blogging about American/British pop? This calls for some confetti, and a lot of comments, don't you think? Just saying.

*sigh* I've been gone for way too long to be able to write about everything, so I went and looked for a lot of newer stuff. I kinda missed this hunting for good music thing, since everything in kpop was just handed to me on a silver platter. All the more reason to rejoice being back then!

The fun starts after the cut, so hurry and click for crap's sake!


If you were with me pre-kpop and even a little post-kpop special, you'll remember that I used to do these short "new music" posts a few times a week or month - Well I'm bringing those back. I need to get my "skill" of scouring for good music back, and I'm hoping that these posts do it. Hopefully in a few weeks I write a few single reviews, maybe even album reviews - I hope I haven't lost my touch just yet! Ugh the stress. ANYWAY.

Alexandra's got a repackaged album, eh? Hmm. Start Without You has very rich production but I dunno, I'm not sold - THEN I find out it's RedOne. Oh well, there you go. Everything seems detached from everything else and Alex sounds bored. See, even she doesn't sound like she likes the song. Oh well.

I've been hearing a lot about Sky Ferreira from Ken, Jio and Kat, but I never bothered - was stuck in kpop world. I'm repenting now that I've heard One. She sounds very American, in the sense that everything's so clean (not Japanese clean though, that's like sterile or something) and the accent gives it away. Of course since I'm not head-over-heels for her yet, I can't help but think that something about her is contrived. Trust me, after seeing nothing but contrived and manufactured acts for the past few months, I know how to spot them - she looks to me like an American trying to be Brit/Euro. But this is just one song - I like the melody though, and I sense the autotune trend shifting once again. I'll give her some time, and maybe listen to 17 in a while.

Do I have to say something about the JLS single? *sigh* OK I will - it's crap, I didn't think Louis Walsh would do something that bad, but he actually did. Oh well. There you go, I said something. But seriously now, they put together the most horrid hook and possibly one of the cheapest videos of the year and they got what they wanted - an absolute disaster. I mean yeah the verses are a bit live-able and JLS have the vocals to carry themselves, but that hook was just sad.

Just listened to that Journey to the Regionals EP Glee put out recently, and there're two songs I have to talk about. If I remember clearly, I was one of those people who were crazy about Glee when I saw the pilot last year, but then lost interest when everyone starting gushing about it - the song that did it for me was their version of Don't Stop Believing on that pilot and now that I hear there's a new arrangement, I'm a little disappointed. I mean I love it that more of the cast get solos now and it's not just the two leads, but I didn't get goosebumps when I heard this. It's not the change of arrangement 'coz the instrumental's pretty much the same - it's the mix of the new production and the different vocals. And of course, the purpose, this new version is for regionals - lose the epic, replace it with show. The original one was epic and it was supposed to be just that, the damn song gave me goosebumps for crap's sake! Anyway. And then the Somewhere Over The Rainbow cover - what was that? I mean yeah they changed up the arrangement (a little too much though) and it's not your usual Simon Cowell-fueled performance oozing with cheese, but it's so cheesy in a completely different way.

I'm probably weeks (or maybe just days, it was a Sunday here when they crowned the winner) late in saying this, but Germany won Eurovision this year, and Britain was an epic fail, yet again! Yayyyy. Hahah. I'll get to listening to the British entry when I'm ready, but Satellite, the German one, was definitely good - sounds very European. The vocals, the specific sound of the "funk" or whatever, and the production sounds very familiar to me - oh gosh I really did miss this. OK enough emo-ing. It's one of those songs that grow on you, I'll admit that when I first heard it a few weeks ago I thought it was so-so, but I do love it now. It's like the instrumental's bare, but as a whole if you stop deconstructing everything and just listen, the entire thing sounds very tight and full.

Travis Garland was on AI a few weeks ago, and since Mel's a big fan, I had to watch. He wasn't that bad, but I'll admit that he wasn't perfect. The song is nice, it's got a pretty melody even if it's not he best song ever and he's got a rather unique timbre mixed with that range - I liked him when he was in NLT (mainly 'coz I liked the entire band), I still do now.

I feel like I have some kind of obligation or whatever to talk about Xtina, even if I don't. I listened to Bionic sometime last week and to be completely honest with you, I was bored to death for most of it - I miss the old Christina. Although, Lift Me Up, even if it doesn't really kick in until halfway through, is a gorgeous song - I like the contrast of the real drums and all these techno-ish things running around. Other than that, Bionic bored me. I'm sorry.

Lee Ryan put a ballad out a few weeks back - that's more like it. I mean I don't want him to be singing ballads for the rest of his career, but if Secret Love is what we get from the non-ballad side, then I'll have to go with ballads for now. I Am Who I Am reminds me of something Ronan Keating would have no problem doing, and I see A LOT of similarities between the two of them - I like Lee's voice better though. Everything about the song is gorgeous, and I'm like all over it now that I realize that.

I wanted to write about more songs, but that'll have to do for now. Was my "return" to non-kpop blogging decent at the very least? I hope it was.

Really..

Nothing to do with music but I honestly wonder why boybands have such an affinity for head-shot album covers.

Exhibit A
Westlife's debut album Westlife

Exhibit B
JLS' debut album JLS

Exhibit C
DBSK's greatest hits album Best Selection 2010

ANYWAY. I just wanna say that my writing/posting around here will be less frequent, for a number of reasons. My life outside the internet is really hectic at the moment and I'm stressed to the max. Then add all the stuff I have going on for me here online - Babelpop, OMGKPOP, The Kpop Nation AND my virgin.com writing position - and we have disaster. Add the fact that the rules and guidelines for the literary award I SO want to win (still) are gonna be out in a few weeks and I have a mental breakdown coming soon - I can feel it.

I won't be taking a hiatus or anything nor will I ever stop posting here, it's just that PRN is the one thing I can do less of and no one will kill me or clobber me - there's no one depending on me besides myself. As if I'd ever let go the one thing that started everything I've ever been able to achieve.

Once again, my posts here will be LESS FREQUENT. They WILL NOT STOP. That also means that once again, the vocal commentary special will be temporarily on hold. TEMPORARILY.

I hope you guys understand that I personally think I've got way too many things going on for me right now and I need to just step back and let everything fall into place.

Oh and PS, the new DBSK track is BRILLIANCE. And we've only got 2 minutes worth. I've spazzed over it on Twitter - that's enough! Listen here.

Friday Night Post. Yes, another one.

Expect this every week from now on, as well as the resumption of MY WEEKLY TOP 20. Yes, after a lull last December that lasted until January, my top 20 will resume next week, February 1. HAHAH. But let's get to business now.

The second part of the soundtrack for the Korean soap opera/drama God Of Study was recently released (gah, I sound like I'm writing news) and with the line up of idol groups like Secret, f(x), B2ST, 4Minute and FT Triple (who're headed here sometime in the first quarter of the year) I could resist giving it a try. Apart from the stereotypical OST ballads that I either hate of have had way too much off, there were two songs in particular that REALLY got stuck in my head. They're not the most musically proficient things since anything and they're not anything new but they have enough power to get me listening to them non-stop for days. They're happy, upbeat and though at times they sound really cheap, they're worth the listen. Both songs are by sibling groups B2ST and 4Minute under Cube Entertainment (aka the 'we don't think you'll be extremely successful as a JYP artist so we're dumping you here' company). The 4Minute song is a cover of Canon in D. Although not obvious, the chords are the same. It's not plagiarism, if any of you crazy anti fans start crawling out of nowhere.

(click the read more function for the rest of the post. Yes, there's more.)


I think I should formally write about this on the blog before it actually comes. I GOT AN INTERVIEW WITH SHONTELLE. Yes, SHONTELLE. Her new single Impossible is actually pretty good - it's epic and the melody's gorgeous. Love the piano loop and I love how you'd think it'd build up by the second verse but it doesn't as much as I expected it. Hahah.

I'm headed to the 4Minute promo tour next month - they're hitting Manila! Hahah. So expect pictures and a review of the event. And just to let you know, 4Muzik is being promoted like crazy over here - in one record store alone it's in THREE DIFFERENT PLACES. Make that 4. But Mel will be pleased to know that Muzik is growing on me. Hot Issue is a little too out for me but Muzik is pretty catchy now that I'm not hearing it all over the kpop sites.

To be honest with you I was expecting a lot from the new SNSD album before Oh! was released and although my expectations were lowered when I actually heard Oh!, I don't think the album is as good as I hoped it would be. It's confused - one minute they're cutesy and the next they're trying to be French or wannabe Bossa Nova (*throws up*) with the vibe. Of course they're not copying French pop (I know a thing or two about that courtesy of Priscilla) but the 'vibe' is like stereotypical French. Gah. But anyway, there are however 2 songs worth listening to for me - the gorgeous, gorgeous ballad Forever, one of the few songs that actually show off whatever semblance of voices most of them have, and Boys and Girls, their 'duet' with SHINee's Key which is attitude in the right way without losing whatever 'signature style' they've come to have.

Now Adam Tyler recently caught my ear. I haven't delved too much into his music but I got a megamix a few days back and mini-raided his YT channel, he's pretty good. Processing like there's no tomorrow but I dunno, it sounds tasteful. That's what this guy is - catchy, tasteful autotune. Will get more in-depth when I interview him. Watch out for it.

Now for the rest of the stuff. Just very quickly.

There's a relatively new remix of After School's hit Because of You and although the song is brilliant in every way, some of the epic-ness got lost in the re-arrangement. Produced by the same team, The Brave Brothers, U-Kiss have a new digital single out - Without You. It's like a less epic, more generic Brave Brothers version of Because of You, for people who can sing. But there's no doubt that Because of You is the big hit and it sounds like one.

I got my copy of DBSK's Mirotic Version C today *dances around room* and in line with sales and all that, Break Out! sold over 180,000 copies in it's first day last Wednesday, according to Oricon. First day sales surpassed their highest total single sales, Jaejoong and Yoochun's Colors, which only managed to sell around 100,000+ copies.

There are rumors that JLS are planning a US career. Once again, you guys over need a boyband. It would be nice if it was American but as long as it's a boyband, I'm fine with that.

Yet another Friday night post..

...and this time it's a heap of random new stuff, mainly because I've been so out of the loop lately to bother. lol. So these are random tidbits I've stumbled upon since the start of the year, if you've already heard of it don't kill me. ANYWAY.

• Let's get this over with. Cheryl Cole's third single is Parachute. Boring as hell, once again. My attempt to review 3 Words failed miserably.
• JLS have a new single. It's One Shot. I have, once again, predicted a post-album single. I'm getting REALLY good at this. After all the kpop, I find it odd watching a boyband dancing AND singing in English at the same time. But then again I'm waiting for pure genius from these guys.

• New album from The Ting Tings due sometime this year. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
• C.N.Blue are a new Korean band - no, not boyband or girl group - BAND. You know, Korean bands sound like Filipino/OPM bands. Not the crap ones, the slightly better and edgy ones. But once again, THERE IS RAP. Really, what do these people like so much about rap? But the hook is pretty catchy and the melody's novel. I won't necessarily listen to it on a regular basis but it's not bad.

• Ke$ha is taking over the world. I have a draft lying around here somewhere with what I think of her but it needs a lot more tweaking. Should be up this week so wait for it.
• After getting sick last weekend, I have caught up with music here in the Philippines and let me tell you, it's pretty pathetic. What's playing almost every 15 minutes? Empire State of Mind, For Your Entertainment, TiK ToK, Party In The USA, I Wanna Know What Love Is (yes, Mariah), that Tokio Hotel song and the list goes on and on and on. UGH.
• Now lastly, this has something to do with kpop (again) SUPER JUNIOR IS/ARE COMING TO MANILA. THEY'RE GONNA BE BREATHING THE SAME AIR AS I AM. IN APRIL. TICKETS COST A TON (and I mean a ton). And I'm not even sure if I can go, but I'm not fainting over it - I would be dead right now if it was DBSK but it's not so no. Hahah.

So, fire away with the comments! I want comments.

Best of 2009: November #12 - #7

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!! Hope you guys have a lot planned for tonight and tomorrow - I do! LOL.

November was the month I was most worried about - about 2 weeks in I only had maybe 4 songs on the list but towards the end all the music started flowing it. Turns out it's the month with the most entires, tied with June. (let's just see if December can beat it.) Let's start, shall we? There's a lot to cover.

#12: Taegoon - Step by Step

Taegoon is one of those guys I know by affiliation - he's Jaejoong DBSK's best friend and one of his music videos also featured Jaejoong so I had to check him out. He makes standard kpop, nothing new or groundbreaking and he doesn't exactly have the most beautiful voice in the world but something about this song just makes me want to listen to it more and makes me curious about just what exactly this guy can do, given good songs.

#11: Secret - 3년 6개월

I decided against putting in their debut single I Want You Back because one, it sounds like a 2NE1 rip-off and two, it just bored me to death. This song though did the trick and triggered me to add Secret into my best of list. Of all the girl groups from the smaller talent companies that sprouted out along with them (including HAM), I honestly thought and still think that Secret have the best vocals and the most potential if they just get a good songwriter. This song in particular isn't any different from all the other crap coming out at the moment but what it does is show off these girls' voices. They're OK, better than a lot, and they can do a heck of a lot better. BUT, if this is what they've shown with just their first release, then they have the potential to compete with more talented groups in the near future.

#10: JLS - Only Tonight

JLS, JLS, JLS. With all the hype surrounding them and their talent, I got into them because of the brilliance of the singles they'd released but when the album was released my expectations weren't met. The spark that their two previous singles had just wasn't there anymore and the songs weren't up to standard. When I reviewed the album this is from I named Private as my favorite song - but the more I listened the more I got addicted to this track. It's a pretty song and the vocals are good, as usual.

#9: Leona Lewis - Don't Let Me Down

I gave Leona a chance this year and might I say, I enjoyed Echo, I really did. Consistent with my review of the album, Don't Let Me Down has still got to be my favorite track. It has elements from US music but it also has an unmistakably British sound - I love it. The gorgeous string section (like duh), the gorgeous piano, the brilliant melody and Leona's vocals make it deserving of it's spot on my best of list this year.

#8: U-Kiss - OK!

U-Kiss were back this year with a whole new sound - like a whole heap of other groups they went the generic, processed, eurocrap loop-infested way. Despite the heavy processing courtesy of their production team the Brave Brothers (think the RedOne of Korea - big hits that all pretty much sound the same), OK! turns out to be a very good song. It's got everything a kpop staple should have delivered surprisingly well, if I may so. It's happy without being cutesy - very lively. I don't know if it's single material (it might be) but I can listen to this a few times straight without getting bored.

#7: IU - 기차를 타고

IU is one of my frustrations when it comes to the Korean industry - she's got so much talent yet it doesn't show until you listen to the tracks that never become singles, most often ballads. She debuted as a ballad singer with a beautiful, epic ballad but it didn't sell so her talent agency forced her to go cutesy - the result is that now she's singing in a mustache about marshmallows. It's sad, I know. Seeing talent like hers going to waste makes me so damn angry. I mean here you have a 16/17-year old girl who sounds her age and who can actually sing as opposed to this 20-something pop star who needs processing and studio tricks to sound somewhere near decent - of all people to turn into a laughing stock with stupid, cheap, crappy gimmicks WHY the one with talent?

JLS - JLS

I've pretty much given up on Westlife at this point so my only hope of a solid boyband album this year is JLS' debut offering. If there's one thing I'm thankful for it's that Louis Walsh didn't give the guys a Westlife-esque repertoire because I swear if they got a bunch of Westlife ballads for album tracks I would've totally given up on Louis Walsh as a whole.

Before I talk about the album itself, I'm a little disappointed by how the singles were treated. If they were really the new Westlife by now they would've had their third single out and a fourth for Christmas with the fifth single following early next year. Why? To break a record. Now that I'm not the biggest Westlife fan in the world, I'd love to have that 4 singles at #1 in a year record broken and I think JLS are a pretty decent replacement. But no, they've only had their second single at #1 at the moment.

What sets them apart from Westlife though is the fact that all four of them sing and actually get solo parts on the album. Some are stronger than others but at least we get to hear them all on the record.

As a whole their debut album is actually a bit boring, the songs just go on and on and on and a few minutes later I realize that it's halfway done - most of the songs sound like recycled album tracks from failed R&B acts in the US.

My one problem for the entire release is that the choruses don't explode - I want them to and they have to. Their vocals (apart from Ashtons') most of the time sound boring and uninterested. There has to be at least half the album's worth of songs that just explode and leave an impression on my brain. Come on guys, I've been complaining like hell how much K-pop songwriters don't know how to make songs when apparently you guys don't either.

ALTHOUGH, this album is a very, very, VERY good example of how to properly use processing. Not too much, not to obvious all the time and most of all, TASTEFULLY done. If there's one reason why you have to listen to this album from start to finish it's to realize that all the processing they've been doing on other acts sucks really bad.

So I listened over to the album and here are the tracks that are actually worth your time - in short, most of the latter half of the album. Don't wanna waste my energy writing about the crappy songs only to get angry again.

My opinions on Beat Again and Everybody in Love still stand - they're the better tracks off the album. Only Tonight is one of those songs that make for a great last single - slow, sweet and it actually explodes even just a bit. The song has dynamics, it has feeling at it has the most gorgeous melody ever. This is the way they should be making songs and I swear if no one notices this...

One Shot, formerly called Love On The Line is very Everybody in Love-ish and I love it. Doesn't really, really explode but the melody catches your ear and the arrangement is cohesive but separates each element of the song clearly. Private is more of catchy than musically proficient but it works as a pop song. I can imagine the video - if that's the case then it's a good single choice as well. It's very current and I think very apt of the US. If they ever think of breaking the US this is the single to use. Or the next track. Don't Go has it's good points but other than the hook, it's pretty boring - the song stays on the same level throughout. Good hook though. Tightrope is the obligatory slow but happy song on the album. I find it gorgeous. Really, if you're in the mood for a gorgeous song this is it.

Kickstart sounds like a rip-off of BSB's Straight Through My Heart. Enough said.

So, to sum up the album:
Best Track: Private
Better Tracks: One Shot, Only Tonight, Don't Go, Tightrope, Beat Again, Everybody In Love
My Least Favorite Track: Kickstart - mainly because it's the biggest rip-off ever. There are more boring and bad tracks but I absolutely cannot take a rip-off.
THE RATING: 3.5/5 I'm sorry, I tried but there aren't enough insanely brilliant songs to pull the score up to a 4.

This is exactly why Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell are saints when it comes to boybands.

They know how to successfully launch a boyband. Whether it be ballad-based Westlife or younger, hipper JLS - if you put Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell together on a project like this they will sell millions.

Everybody knows pop music is about selling to every person in the entire world and although I'm against making music just for the sake of money, if you do it the right way and I fall for the formula - things will work out pretty well.

These two know what kind of music video to make for a debut single - something centered on the band. No sub-plots, actors or even that many special effects, the band should be at the center of everything the video stands for. It's been done for Westlife, Blue and countless other boybands - heck, even NLT's video was remotely like that. The video for the debut single will sell not only the single but the band and provide an introduction.

As I always say, if you're gonna debut a new boyband during times like this you better do it extremely well. By now we've pretty much seen it all when it comes to boybands so either they do it right using the existing formula or completely blow us out of the water with something unheard of. Although the former seems to be a more popular option - there's not much that can surprise us anymore.

I now know why 2009 will be an amazing year amidst Leon Jackson and Same Difference being dropped, NLT splitting up and Nielson Soundscan closing down. It kinda feels like 1999. Of course I wasn't aware of how 1999 felt music-wise but look - the US has V Factory with Love Struck and now the UK has JLS with Beat Again. Anyone sense BSB/NSYNC vs. Boyzone/Westlife? Although JLS do remind me a lot more of Blue V2 - am I right? I hope I am.

A re-rating of the song now that the video's out? 5/5 - for being a damn good debut single.

I'm Back!: Jordin Sparks - Battlefield + JLS

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCKKKK! As you may have seen on Twitter - I'm indeed back.

So I opened up my Twitter once I finally got home and what did I hear? Something about Jordin Sparks. Seeing as I loved Paper Sut, I jumped at the opportunity and gave the song a listen.

I know this song is going to be a huge hit because it sounds like one. It was made like one, by people who do these kinds of stuff and it truly has hit potential. I'm not however, gushing about it. It's got a gimmick but it's not enough for me and the melody is nothing I haven't heard before - it sounds even more formulaic than all the other 'big, amazing hits'.

If I was to compare this to another song I'd say it sounds a lot like Bleeding Love and that's not just because Ryan Tedder wrote it but because it really sounds like it. I may hate Bleeding Love to death but to it's defense - it once had a strong melody for me(before it exploded and I heard it waaaay too much.) and it had something about it that made you notice it(good or bad, take your pick).

Probably the best part of the song is the middle 8 and I know I always stress the importance but a good middle 8 is not enough - it can make or break a song but if it makes it the rest of the song should be close or just as brilliant. I've tried my best to like it but after listening to it a couple of times there's no magic like the one I got with One Step At A Time or Next To You.

I want Jordin to sing all these beautiful songs - songs that make you want to smile. Sweet, pop-y songs that should grow as she matures yet keep that vulnerability and pleasantness her first album had.

It's going to be a hit, I'm sure of it but I don't like it because it sounds like a hit - generic, formulaic and nothing special.

3.6/5

Then I went and did the rounds on my favorite blogs and what else did I hear of? JLS!!!!!! Right now they're sounding like a little V Factory mixed with a lot of NLT. In short - amazing. NLT's gone and V Factory are getting closer and closer to a proper single release so this song has just made my day, I now officially have a replacement for NLT.

I don't know if this is the direction they're taking - they might still be in an experimental stage but this song certainly works for them. I don't know if it's good for them to sound very American but I commend Simon and Louis for giving the guys a chance to sing something upbeat and current.

4.8/5!

4 boybands today.

Boybands come and go, members leave and teenage girls grow up. Longevity in the boyband world is reserved only for an elite group, and even those bands aren't as popular as they were when they started out. New boybands are sprouting out from everywhere and now the US is getting back into the boyband market.

We all know that the world of boybands is a never ending cycle of line-up changes, hit singles and formulas left and right for every genre possible so which new boybands are currently nestled atop the throne of boyband royalty? Here's a lowdown on who to watch out for in the coming months and even years.

1. If you don't know about NLT yet then you must be hiding under a pretty huge rock. They were really hyped up early last year for working with Timbaland and all the superstar producers of today. They've got a bunch of amazing melodies out, but I think it's nothing we haven't heard before, there's nothing that really separates them from the other boybands right now or even R&B solo artists.

They're like the NSYNC of this generation, very R&B, very complicated dance routines and sort of vocally they're kinda like them. As far as I know, they have two singles out and their album is due this year. It better come or else they'll have to face a very angry blogger!

2. If you're looking for something a little less NLT-ish, then check V Factory out. Their debut single was written by none other than the amazing Darin so you've got some Swedish stuff mixed in as well and we all know how amazing Swedish pop songs are.

They released an EP earlier last year and it was amazing. You had three songs that were all really single-worthy, in my opinion.

3. Like Lady GaGa? Check Varsity Fanclub out. The first song was produced by the same team that did Lady GaGa's Just Dance and Darin's current album, the amazing RedOne. *worships*

Brilliance. So two days ago, it was announced that their album is to be pushed back a FEW MONTHS. Here I was thinking that they're probably the most productive of all the current boybands but noooooo. It might not be the chart domination that we're all hoping for(most boyband debuts aren't but you never know, they might just channel some Westlife success!), but we can at least expect some amazing songs!

4. Now the only new UK boyband(If you know of any that I don't know of, tell me!!! Wait. I forgot Avenue! NOOOOOO!) at the moment is JLS. Straight off the X Factor, they already have a contract from Simon and Louis Walsh(yes, THE Louis Walsh of Westlife and Boyzone managing fame..) wants to manage them. Let's just put it this way, when the two guys responsible for the most successful boyband in the world want to back your band, then you're pretty special.

So with Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell behind them, these guys are assured a chart domination. If they don't get a number one with their first single, it'll most probably hit the top ten or five, it's a given. I've said this many times before, but the British public doesn't even have to like them, they'll still sell millions.

The A Capella showdown

I somehow gauge how good a boyband is by looking at their a capella performances because it's very common in boybands that they're able to sing a capella in three to five parts.

So which country produces better boybands in terms of a capella work? This is UK boybands VS. US boybands!

Note: These are boybands that if inactive have produced more than two singles and at least one album. If they're active, then there's no requirement. haha.

The US Boybands..

So BSB are kind of the ultimate US boyband, along with NSYNC. As far as I know, they never recorded anything a capella apart from the tracks that they stripped the instrumental of so I got digging for some live stuff and I came across this:

They're good, but the vocals are a bit weak for me, when someone takes lead that someone has these strong vocals but the people backing him are either not blended well or have really weak voices.

Now since I got a live BSB track, that automatically bans me from judging NSYNC by their recording of O Holy Night in A Capella. Luckily, I found a live performance of it! YAY!

I think NSYNC are definitely better than BSB judging by this, there's more power to their vocals and it's more convincing for me. It sounds amazing as well, they're voices work better together than BSB, if I may say so.

Let's move over to the new boybands of the US, shall we? Mainly because I can't find any live KNOTB or 98 Degrees a capella stuff. If you guys find any though, let me know!

Now Day26 are a fairly new boyband but when I heard this performance, let's just say I'll be listening to their album a heck of a lot more than I already do.

They're gooooooood. Out of all the new boybands right now, I have to say, they're the best a capella-wise.

NLT may have the amazing, mind-blowing melodies but they're not up to par with Day26. I don't know if it's just because they're missing a fifth harmony or if their voices aren't really that strong together. Think BSB of now, that's the best description.

Now V Factory are in between Day26 and NLT in terms of vocals, they're better than NLT but they're just a wee bit not as good as Day26, I think. Amazing song though, I've never heard it before!

Varsity Fanclub however, are just that bit better than V Factory, I think. Better, more distinct and powerful voices and they most definitely blend much better than V Factory. I still love them all though!

So let's go over to my specialty, the UK boybands!

We HAVE to kick it off with Westlife, we just HAVE TO! I've said time and time again that Westlife cannot be beaten in terms of a capella o below is a very popular fan vid of a capella clips of the lads.

Now do you see why Westlife rock so much? The power and the way their voices blend is sheer brilliance people! BRILLIANCE.

A1 were around when Westlife started, and they were nominated for the same award once(The Smash Hits Best New Tour Act.., Westlife won, duh.) and I think A1 are pretty close to Westlife in terms of vocals.

It's a little too fast if you know the original recorded version but vocally they're goooooood.

Lemme just say it, Blue suck when it comes to a capella.

No soul, no power, nothing. They may have some amazing songs recorded but this was just horrible.

So at the moment, JLS are being tipped as the new Westlife, being mentored by Louis Walsh on the X Factor, plus the fact that they sang like two songs that Westlife covered. JLS are lightyears better than Blue though, if I may say so.

Amazing stuff. Still not as good as Westlife, but good enough! They're sort of between Blue and A1.

You guys DO NOT know how much I want to hear D-Side doing some serious five(or three..) part a capella! But I can't find any, so if you guys have seen ANYTHING whatsoever that resembles an a capella performance of them, TELL ME!!! haha.

So, based on the stuff I've collected(which took me about four hours..) and now shown you guys, which country produces the better boybands, the US or the UK? I know my answer..... haha.