It's been one album a year for Westlife since their debut in 1999, and after last year's Sinatra tribute "Allow Us To Be Frank", this one is a nice switch back to the pop ballads that made them famous.

You may recognize several of the songs on this album, especially the first single "You Raise Me Up" made popular recently by Josh Groban, except that now it has bagpipes. Second single "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" features Diana Ross, and music fans will also recognize "She's Back" (Human Nature); "Desperado" (The Carpenters, Eagles and others); "Colour My World" (Backstreet Boys, even if theirs is spelt Color); "In This Life" (Bette Midler, Ronan Keating) and "Heart Without a Home" (Nick Carter).

The rest of the album is typical Westlife, except for "Hit You With The Real Thing" which sounds more like N'Sync or Five, and "Change Your Mind" which has a retro sound reminiscent of "I Can't Help Myself" (Sugar Pie Honey Love)" by the Four Tops, The Supremes, The Temptations and others.

An album that will make most Westlife fans very happy.


Amanda Richards, November 18, 2005

Hi there!!! well i just can say that I'm a crazy-fanatic about Westlife. To everyone who read this message i invite u to buy this CD its really good, my favorite songs are "You raise me up","Amazing".....i think everything! and if u want to hear the best of the guys also buy Unbreakable The Greatest Hits.I recomend u the last 3 DVD's of them as well.....finally i want to tell u that I'm still waiting for the day they will come here to USA....so please send mails to their official website and make our dream come true!!!!see uuu

Information you need to know:
The U.K's most successful boyband, formed in 1999, return with their seventh album, "Face To Face", and their second without former member Brian McFadden (who used his stage name as BrYan McFadden). After celebrating thirteen U.K number one singles (including one from this album), and numerous also in their hometown, Ireland, and five U.K number one albums (including this one) under their belt, they are one of the best selling boy bands around today.

From left to right on the album cover: Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Bryne, and Mark Feehily, have also had alot of other chart successes, though not all CDs they have released have went to number one in the UK. Their debut album, "Westlife", charted at number two, and their sixth album, "Allow Us To Be Frank", despite no singles released from it and lack of promotion, made number three. Out of all their eighteen single releases, five haven't made the top spot: In order, "What Makes A Man" (number two), "Bop Bop Baby" (number five), "Tonight/Miss You Nights" (number three), "Hey Whatever" (number four) and "Obvious" (number three).

About the album:
"Face To Face" was released in the U.K on 31st Occtober 2005. It debuted the U.K charts at number one and did so on the Irish charts aswell. The first single release from the album, and the only so far, "You Raise Me Up", charted at number one in both places, and stayed there for two weeks, also in both places, though the single is still currently at number one in both places, and could spend longer at the top. The U.K import of the album also features eleven other amazing tracks. They are:

> When You Tell Me That You Love Me (with Diana Ross). My rating: 5/5 stars
> Amazing. My rating: 5/5 stars
> That's Where You Find Love. My rating: 5/5 stars
> She's Back. My rating: 5/5 stars
> Desperado. My rating: 4/5 stars
> Colour My World. My rating: 5/5 stars
> In This Life. My rating: 5/5 stars
> Heart Without A Home. My rating: 5/5 stars
> Hit You With The Real Thing. My rating: 5/5 stars
> Change Your Mind. My rating: 5/5 stars
> Maybe Tomorrow. My rating: 5/5 stars

Since I also rate "You Raise Me Up" 5/5, the album's overall average is 5/5, and the whole score is 59/60.

Brilliant.

98%

I didn't know most (or all?) of the tracks in "Face to Face" are remake of other singers' until I read the reviews here. Nevertheless, Westlife sings well! I think they are the only group that survive in 2006 (and Backstreet Boys) that is labeled as a "boy band". I couldn't give this a 5-star because of lack of originality, but I think they deserve a 4-star just for their singing! However, it feels like that Shane and Mark are the only one singing...Nicky and Kian are just back vocals (I would want them to sing more solo parts).

You Raise Me Up - 5/5!!! Great song overall...strong vocal from Shane and Mark! This song caught my attention when it was played during "American Inventors"...very emotional! The music video for this song is great!

When You Tell Me That You Love Me - 4/5!!! Great song overall...I don't think Diana Ross's voice matches Westlife's voice, but a great crossover nevertheless. The music video for this song is great too!

Amazing - 5/5!!! Love it! Love it! It is refreashing to hear something upbeat after 2 slow songs. Shane's voice is great! The music video is just ok.

That's Where You Find Love - 5/5!!! I think this is my favorite track in this entire album...great job!!! I will never be tired of listening to this song!

She's Back - 3/5!!! Another upbeat song...a fun track, but Amazing is so much more better...

Desperado - 4/5!!! At this point of the album, I was wondering "where did Nicky and Kian go??? Shane/Mark, stop hogging all the parts!" I like the remake of this song! However, I want the dramatic part to be more dramatic...the ending is quite good though.

Colour My World - 4/5!!! Wow...their voices can go so high...defintely better than the BSB version (however, this song is never released in America from BSB). But I think they are trying to be too much BSB...they should make this song Westlife style.

In This Life - 4/5... This song wasn't that appealing at first, but after listening to it 10 times, it gets you!

Heart Without A Home - 4/5! This song sounds too much like Nick Carter...especially when Shane strain his voice like Nick Carter (I think it's Shane...not sure, correct me if I am wrong). But a great song nevertheless! Love it!

Hit You With The Real Thing - 5/5! Wow...so different than the previous tracks...I am giving it a 5-star just for trying different style...the only real dancing song in this album (unless you can dance along with She's Back).

Change Your Mind - 4/5! I guess this is an easy-listening song...not too special...not a good selection to end this near-perfect album...but there is a...

BONUS TRACK: Maybe Tomorrow - 5/5! Great way to end the album! Nice song! ....

I hope Westlife will release more album in the future...and actually make new songs, so I can give them a 5-star next time! Get this album today!!!!!

The boys from Ireland are back and better than ever!!! I don't care that the songs on this new album are covers. I think Shane and Mark with the harmonies of Nicky and Kian have surpassed Josh Groban on "You Raise Me Up". I love all the tracks on here,especially "She's Back" and "Amazing" All though, I do wish they had found someone other than Diana Ross for "When You Tell Me That You Love Me". I didn't care for Ms. Ross's voice back in the 60's and it sure hasn't improved with age.

My only other complaint is that in order to get all 12 tracks I had to buy mine from Amazon.uk. when this cd was released. It is unfortunate that record companies think they have to have different versions (or in this case, one less song) for different parts of the world. We all pay good money to hear our favorite artists and we should all be given the same recordings for the same price. Now, Amazon.com offers two versions of this cd, and charge approx. $10.00 more for one more song. WRONG!!!!