What a flashback, All Saints are back with their first album
since "Saint's And Sinners" from 2000 and third album overall. For those of you that don't know All Saints, let me introduce them. They're a UK based girl group containing Shaznay Lewis, Melanie Blatt and sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton that debuted in 1997 with the excellent eponymous album "All Saints" and a few years later "Saints and Sinners". They band would have huge hits in Europe like "Never Ever", "Lady Marmelade". "Pure Shores" that was soundtrack to Leonardo Di Caprio's film the Beach, "All Hooked Up" and "Black Cofee" to mention a few. Apart from Spice Girls that was a manufacted pop group where all the 5 girls had diffrent charachters and style, All Saints were more of a R&B group that worked as a unit rather then undividually. They were also much tougher without the use of "Girl Power", intelligent and songwriters on their own. They were huge on the UK charts and were the only other girl group that could challenge Spice Girls, but unfortunately they would split up in 2001 and try solo careers that never really worked. Thus, Should we be surprised that they decided to come back and release their third album 5 years later in 2006?. A little yeah, when girls and boy bands split up it often means the end, But Take That are also coming back with a new album this year so why not?. The reasons why they come back are unclear, lack of money?, fun thing?, adrenaline kick? Who knows, but they are back and that's what matters.

The album called "Studio 1" seems to pick up where the left off. Many songs are simular to the music they once recorded which is good, but they also do some ska/reggae which is fun. In pop terms, this album is excellent. I'm sure All Saints can give Girls Aloud a run for the money. The best two songs are the first two, "Rock Steady" already a single release. A uptempo with a little Ska/Reggae sound and infectious hook. "Chick Fit" is my favorite, and it's really catchy with synthesizer beats backing it up. It will also be their second single. "On and On" is a great semi-ballad that grows on you. "Scar", "Too Nasty" and "Not Easy" further stresses the ska/reggae genre. "Hell No" is more Hip Hopish with a sample of what sounds to be a Jay-Z laugh? ditto with "Headlock". "Only Me and You" is a "In it or Win It" are both midtempos and "Fundamental" is a powerballad. "Flashback" is the typical party song. A pretty good mix of a few diffrent genres. After such a long time outside of the studio that itself is a welcomed comeback to a band that always was good. While, I think their first two albums both may have been better, this album isn't far after and is in my oppinion among the best albums I've listened to the last few months.

Overall, Back after 5 years with their third album and they do pick up where left off. This time they also flirt a little with Ska/Reggae genre but the album is pretty diverse with several genres and tempos involved which is good. If you liked All Saints back in the day and if you like good and catchy pop, this is for you. I think it's an exellent album with really good pop, someting that we miss these days. Welcome back girls!