Unashamed poppy music is one of the best things this modern culture has to offer. It never tries to be credible or become a work of what many people consider contemporary art. As a result, it becomes a record of the times, and therefore, a relevant historical article.
For example, the Spice Girls have always been disregarded as a useless work of studio manufacturing. In reality, the past decade would not have been what it was without them and their hits, which still sound stellar.
The British music industry, being the breeders of pop acts, yet again struck the right formula with Girls Aloud. The girls debut their career at number one and have been lingering around with other hits. However, unlike many pop acts, this pop band has more to offer than a couple of covers and a five year round of over-exposure followed by a premature greatest hits album.
Girls Aloud are a cross between Atomic Kitten and Republica, as demonstrated by their spunky attitude on "Here We Go" and "Real Life." Walking a fine line between pop and rock, the girls produce some direct rabble-rousing spoiled brat anthems from "Graffiti My Soul" to "Wake Me Up," which starts out with a Veruca Salt sound. A slower track, "Deadlines & Diets," is the ultimate ode to hangovers.
The singles, however, are straightforward pop. "The Show" is an exceptionally catchy track and "Love Machine" is dance-floor filler material. Then there are the covers, which can't be farther apart in quality. The Pretender's "I'll Stand By You" receives a lackluster make-over that is so clean and boring it would make Chrissy Hynde dine at KFC. On the other hand, The Pointer Sister's "Jump" receives a luscious rehashing with awe-inspiring beats and youthful spunk.
The whole album, fittingly titled What Will The Neighbours Say?, embodies youthful feminine brat-hood. There aren't any fillers and the set makes for a ruckus ride of catchy beats and cheeky lyrics. They are not exactly the Spice Girls, but then again, who is?

I have had this ever since it came out on 29th November 2004. It is great and is my most-played album ever. I am British and I wrote a letter to Sarah since she is my favourite. This is a brilliant album and these are my reviews:

01. The Show
This was a number one and the video is just fabulous (Sarah's hairstyles on the guys were funny!). My dad likes this one and keeps begging me to play it.

02. Love Machine
Love Machine keeps coming to me, first the single, the album, the "What Will The Neighbours Say?" tour and now, SingStar Popworld has it! Love Machine is great, and Nadine's vocals are shown off in this track.

03. I'll Stand By You
A cover of Chrissy Hynde's song. But the girls give it much more style and girliness. The video for this is set at a beach and it is beautiful. In the end they go into a tent and hug, it's beautiful!

04. Jump
This is a cover, too, but Girls Aloud's version is much more snappy. This could get you up dancing, and you feel like either Nadine, Kimberley, Cheryl, Nicola or Sarah if you are at a sleepover because in the video they're at a sleepover! Great dance track for discos.

05. Wake Me Up
The video is motorbikes! Like the title, it will totally wake you up!

06. Deadlines & Diets
Slow, ballady song which talks about an emotional breakup. Could this be Sarah Girls Aloud and Mikey Phixx??? Only time will tell.

07. Big Brother
Yay, Celeb Big Brother starts in a few days and I can't wait! So I pass my time listening to the funky Girls ALoud song and it reminds me of it!! Ooo, who'll be in the house this year?

08. Hear Me Out
This is probably the best on the album, because it has the same old obvious Nadine vocals that we love!!

09. Graffiti My Soul
Kinda punk rocky, but still the cool Girls Aloud style.

10. Real Life
My dad loves this, too. It's cool and it tells you to get your mind on your occupation.

11. Here We Go
This is the Totally Spies theme tune!! But without all the verses. I love dancing to this!

12. Thank Me Daddy
This is good, too. I loved it first time. I think it has the same opening as Big Brother.

13. I Say A Prayer For You
One word- Lovely.

14. 100 Different Ways
The worst one on the album, but it's terribly good!

This album is a must-buy, so get your credit card out!

Love Fleur

People who win talent contests shouldn't be given the chance to record music this good. Or at least your typical music snob would have you believe. "What Will The Neighbours Say?" is simply fantastic - start to finish. End of.

The bands debut album "Sound of the Underground" was a fine pop album, with it's dirty disco influences it gave us the inventive sounds of "Sound of the Underground" and "No Good Advice" which both featured a new pop add on - surf guitar. It was a strong pop album, but after one listen of "What Will The Neighbours Say?" it sounds dated already.

In a world where the charts are clogged with the likes of 50 Cent, Girls Aloud give pop fans a huge sigh of relief. Teaming up with Xenomania, this is an album filled to the brim with pop music that's fun, brash and sexy and it's not afraid to break the rules.

"The Show" is a funky electropop tour-de-force and if ever there were a female Duran Duran this is what they would have sounded like. "Love Machine" is akin to a head on collision between Bob Dylan and The Human League whilst "Grafitti My Soul" thumps the senses with it's electroclash rythms you can't help but feel this is what would have been the result had The Prodigy collaborated with Madonna. "Wake Me Up" is a 360 beats per minute (well..) techno blast marrying a indie rock guitar riff.

Not just musically, but lyrically, this album is great fun too. There's never the typical "I love you, you know it's true" thing happening here, it's all tongue in cheek and witty. It's not worth listing them because I'd end up writing near enough the whole sleeve out.

"What Will The Neighbours Say?" is more a great album at the hands of it's producers, Xenomania, who quite clearly see there's a lot more possible potential to pop music than just a standard structure and tales of fun in the sun. Manufactured they may be, but Girls Aloud are the saving grace in todays pop music scene. The band has a wide appeal which ranges from the teenage girls bedroom right through to the most booze-soaked of student union bars.

Finest pop album since "Spiceworld"? It's quite possible.

I rather like this group. I stumbled onto "The Show" one day and fell in love with it. I picked up the album at work (I love discounts) and found that it was really poppy, and none too intelligent except for the clever metaphors.

I listened to "Jump" next for a long time. I love that song. I didn't have SOTU first, I picked this one up first, so it was my initial integration into Girls Aloud.

Most of it is typical pop fare, with the rock edge, that seems to be infusing European music these days. Not that I mind, I think it's a lovely combination.

If you like this, pick up a copy of Lene's "Play With Me". It has the original of "Here We Go".

When Girls Aloud formed way back in 2002 and released Sound of the Underground - everyone knew a pop phenomenon had been born. No Good Advice, Life got cold and Jump were amazing tunes and now the girls are back with their 2nd album.

The Show - chart place: no.2
The Show is a techno stomper, fast vocals, fast melody and unbelievably catchy. A great party song. 10/10

Love Machine - chart place: no.2
This is a 60's influenced track. I loved this on first listen but find it a little annoying 8/10

I'll stand by you - chart place: no.1
A cover of the Pretenders song. The vocals are good but not amazing but the production of the song is beautiful 10/10

Jump - chart place: no.2
A cover of the Pointer Sisters and soundtrack to Love Actually. This is a real fun, techno pop song. 10/10

Wake me up - new single
This starts with a really cool guitar rift but goes techno pop. A very catchy song and good to sing-a-long to. 10/10

Deadlines and Diets - this is a nice enough mid-tempo ballad. It's a nice song to sing-a-long to and sway your arms to. 9/10

Big Brother - cowritten by Cheryl. This song is influenced by the Big Brother TV show. This song is quite good, breathy vocals and dancey tune. 9/10

Hear me out - cowritten by Sarah. This is a really beautiful ballad which showcases their talents. 10/10

Graffitti my soul - this was originally intended for Britney but was rejected. The best track on the album. it's really urban sounding and totally different to what they've done before. 10/10

Real life - weakest track. It has good verses but the chorus is dreadful and totally ruins the song. 8/10

Here we go - This has the same problem as Real Life. But this has a wocked chorus but crappy verses. 8/10

Thank me daddy - cowritten by Kimberley. This starts off really promising but the choruses lacks oompf. Not the best song. 9/10

I say a prayer for you - cowritten by Nicola. This is a beautiful mid-tempo song. Nicola sounds amazing on this track and it has lovely production. 10/10

100 Different Ways - cowritten by Nadine. One of my favourites from the album. The song has a real beauty about it and something really special. Nadine sounds great vocally too. 10/10

All-in-all this is an album not to be missed. Big improvement from the SOTU album.