Boy Power from Ireland---Westlife is made up of Bryan, Mark, Nicky, Shane & Kian, the latest wave of boy pop rock making headlines. I've heard them all around Asia a few months ago & finally arrives in America. Let me advise fans that the American version of their debut album is made up of only 13 out of 18 original tracks from the European or import version. The 5 missing tracks are soft easy listening ballads of which Westlife's good blend and harmony are more emphasized here. Change the World, Moments, Seasons In the Sun, Try Again & What I Want Is What I've Got are delightful songs that are missed from the US version. Before considering buying which, check out the Import version and you'll know what I mean. If you take my advice, get the import and you won't be disappointed -- except for the extra bucks, you get the complete Westlife debut album.

With so many young male vocal groups (or "boy bands") flooding the market, you may wonder if we really need another one. But Westlife's self-titled CD really rises above the crowd. The songs feature a good balance of alternating solo vocal parts, group choruses, and counterpoint vocals. The musical arrangements tend to be simple and uncluttered; the lack of fancy electronic tricks means that the guys' voices are allowed to shine. And these guys can really sing. They deliver performances that convincingly range from wistful, to plaintive, to joyful. They handle equally well both the quiet moments and the soaring, dramatic parts of songs.

The songs are a pleasant mix of soft ballads and cheerful, faster numbers. The lyrics on the whole tend to be romantic. Some of the best songs are "Swear it Again," the bouncy "My Private Movie," and the inspirational ballad "Flying Without Wings." The cd as a whole has an upbeat tone. Even "Fool Again," a song about lost love, has an upbeat sound. If you like your music on the sweet and harmonious side, try "Westlife."

In the great tradition of the best boyband in the world, BOYZONE, WESTLIFE's CD is one of the friendliest sounding around today. Wonderfully written songs and all round great vocals. It's hard to imagine that Westlife will not make it big in America. Every track is a great listen (maybe even the some songs that shouldn't be remade). Best tracks are "Fool Again", "We Are One", "If I Let You Go" and "Flying Without Wings". Too bad the North American version is missing "Seasons in the Sun/I Have A Dream" (their credible remakes), "Moments" and "Try Again". In the American scene where great bands like 'N Sync and BSB tear up the charts with their slick numbers, Westlife is an appropriate counterpoint to these bands by delivering the sensitive, honest songs that they do. Doesn't hurt that they are really cute too... Absolutely FABULOUS!

WHY!!!!!! is this album getting 5 star reviews?...This band sounds like everything else out there!

This album is schmaltzy/ballad - "I'm a gorgeous guy singing to you 13 pimply fresh faced girl because I want you in my life songs".....Blek!

From "My Private Movie" to "I Dont Wanna Fight" to "Swear It Again" this is another boy band group trying to capitalize on the N Sync/Backstreet Boys fame.

"My Private Movie" sounds just like Backstreet Boys "Shape of My Heart" which sounds just like N Syncs "This I Promise You".

There is NO CREATIVITY HERE PEOPLE! Just the same cookie cutter ballad songs with fresh boy teen faces.

At least in the 50s we had Fabian, Frankie Avalon and Elvis who were all original, in the 60s we had the Beatles, Doors and Beach Boys who all HAD THEIR OWN SOUNDS, and in the 70s we had The Monkees, Captain & Tennille, and the Jackson 5 where there was a variety, in the 80s we had Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Haircut 100, The Fixx, Wham! - which all had different styles and music, and in the 90s and the new millenium we get stuck with O Town, Westlife, Backstreet Boys, N Sync, Take That, LFO, etc. which you CANNOT differentiate from each other.

This album is again record companies formulating gorgeous boys that have somewhat good voices into a band with no taste, style or creativity in their genes.

At least with the Beatles, The Doors, Duran Duran, The Fixx, The Monkees, etc not everyone looked like they came out of a Ralph Lauren Ad, and all had some skills in writing music, even though The Monkees was a formulated put together band, Michael Nesmith lent a hand to the writing table.

This band Westlife will NOT be around by 2002. I bet my life on it.

Now for me, it'd be Westlife all the way. I hate N'Sync, so N'Sync wouldn't be for me (though some people may feel differently). I didn't put Backstreet Boys there because the BSB is my absolute favorite band in the entire world...so it'd be a pretty difficult question for me to answer! I personally recommend Westlife verses N'Sync. Though Westlife may sound like an Irish verion of the Backstreet Boys, they are their own, unique boy band, so they have their own sound and music. Westlife's voices blend beautifully together on this CD and their harmonies are solid and polished. The lyrics are beautiful, too. My favorite songs on this CD are "Swear It Again", "My Private Movie", "Can't Lose What You Never Had", and "Flying Without Wings". All the other songs are good, too. But these ones are the best. It's a real shame that Westlife isn't that popular here in the States because the Americans are sure missing out on a lot! But I wouldn't be too surprised if they ever do get very popular in the United States. I really wish people would stop comparing these guys to the Backstreet Boys -- the BSB will always be #1, but Westlife is not too far behind! I highly recommend this CD.