These days so many groups don't have the substance to make much of a long-term impact, but Texas has survived many ups and downs yet continues to evolve and improve. After 2003 saw them experimenting on "Careful What You Wish For", this Scottish band has returned to the form that made them a household name in Europe- if not the United States.

The leadoff single "Getaway" is very catchy, while the wonderful "Can't Resist" plants the flag firmly in ground. Other standout tracks include the haunting "What About Us", great rocker "Get Down Tonight" and "Masterthief", but the entire album is strong and demands repeated listening.

Lead singer Sharleen Spiteri, gorgeously photographed on the cover, proves once again that she is a talent to be reckoned with. She and Johnny McElhone continue to craft excellent melodies, without having to bring in a slew of outside songwriters, showing what high-quality pop can and should sound like.

This disk is also enhanced with two music videos: "Getaway" is a beautiful homage to Wong Kar Wai's films In The Mood For Love and 2046, while Sharleen has never looked sexier in "Can't Resist".

It makes you wonder why such a fantastic group doesn't get the publicity they deserve in the US, while so many other groups, with not even a fraction of the talent, are plastered everywhere. Let's hope their label will remedy that soon. In the meantime, this album is available only as an import, but its well worth the price.

I can't belive that the albums is only availble as an import for the US market (well for me it was a regular since I am not from the States). Anyway, what can I say except that I absolutly love this album. In my opinion it is much better then "Be Careful What You Wish For", which was rather stale and had few outstanding songs (Carnival Girl barely making the UK top ten) . "Red Book" though is top notch and matches "The Hush" and "White on Blonde" with its songs. It is hard to single out a favourite, though I must say that "Hold On " is the song I play more often then the rest. "Sleep" which features Paul Buchanan is also excellent as is "What About Us". If you loved the two above mentioned albums, then I am quite sure you will love this new gem too. It is wonderful to see, that Texas is back in form.

2003 was a mixed year for Texas. Their opus "Careful What You Wish For" had pushed their previously used blue-eyed soul approach to the background & they went "very Blondie". While for a group who has always been more about concept sound wise, this was a step forward but one that confused critics & fans. As such, the record never found a market commerically & coming as it did after "The Hush"...many deemed it a failure.

In the latter half of 2005, Texas released "Red Book", which was meant to harken back to the halycon days of "White On Blonde" which revived them from a then commercial slump. "Red Book" is safe & finds this group taking a step backwards, but in a sense...this may've been the record that was always going to been made. Style permeated off of Texas since "Southside" & with each record the style got stronger, but where that style seemed edgy before, here it just seems safe.

By no means does that mean that this is a weak record, Dallas Austin & Xenomania amongst others handle the production of the album. The lead-off single "Getaway" is an instant Texas classic, with a blossoming, epic chorus that buries itself within one's subconscious with each listen. Synths unfurl into beautiful melodies that drive home melancholic cuts such as "Cry" & "What About Us".

Other highlights include the duet of Sharleen with Paul Buchchanan of Blue Nile on "Sleep", which Sharleen gives a relaxed, yet seductive vocal...Paul doesn't sound bad at all, rather good really. Mentioning Sharleen's voice, that seductive, yet full purr really sells "Can't Resist" which recalls "Summer Son" lyrically & compositionally.

From a songwriting point, Johnny McElhone & Sharleen continue to write effective songs. Each able to tell a story, yet deliver a hook that can stay with the listener. "Bad Weather" is an interesting cut that tells of how love can only "weather" (sorry for the pun) so much of the previously mentioned. While this has been written, McElhone & Spiteri deliver it with a sort of finesse that others may not have tackled it with before. "Masterthief" is another highlight for the title that is a name for a lover who steals one's body, heart, soul, & mind.

As a whole, the record musically, has a very post-New Romantics, mid-Eighties feel. Very synth heavy & though they bring in the necessary instruments (i.e.-violins, guitars, horns) when needed, it seems sedate. With other records, they had distinct formula's, but something always popped out when you least expected it too, that only happens several times here.

"Red Book" critically was very well received & did well with hardcore fans, but has met the U.K. charts with only little success. This may be due to the fact that the scene has just changed a lot since 1997-2001 when they were enjoying a lot of their commerical success. And while "Red Book" ends up sounding very "white-washed" in it's style than edgy, recalling more of "The Hush" than "White On Blonde", it is still a solid & engaging listen nonetheless.

I always say that every artist reaches a point where they may repeat themselves or only have so many ideas, but at least do it with dignity & style. Texas does this with no problem. Definitely worth the price tag & a lot better than any of the American pop we have here.

Texas return with possibly their best album to date. Sharleen's singing is spot on, the songs are catchy and more importantly they stand up to repeated listening, something which I have found to be a weakness of previous Texas albums, in particular White on Blonde. This is one of my favourite albums of 2005.

If you want something fresh listen to this CD. The music is up lifting and something you can listen to with a cup of coffee or on you way home from work. I first heard this on Pandora and had to have it only finding it at a good by from Amazon. Thanks