the 31 best of 2008 – 14: The Saturdays – Chasing Lights

I have to say, that I was completely surprised by this one; I really expected to see at least one fellow girl group, either the Sugababes or Girls Aloud, on my year end chart again this year. Yet, it was the Saturdays, with their stellar debut album, that took the cake this year. From their first single, If This Is Love, they caught my attention with that catchy, oh-so-pop, girl-band sound that I love so much, that again, I usually expect to come from the aforementioned Sugababes and Girls Aloud. However, for whatever reason, neither really delivered with their albums released late this year; and in my opinion, neither one comes close to the bar that was set very high by the Saturday’s surprisingly brilliant debut, Chasing Lights.

I speak a lot about Girls Aloud and the Sugababes here when referring to the Saturdays, not just because the similarities are unmistakable, but because I consider myself to be a huge fan of both the Sugababes and Girls Aloud, and initially, I was VERY skeptical about the Saturdays as a result. Sure, the UK pop scene has proven that it can have two girl super groups, but did it really have room for one more?? Well, it certainly looks like it did… the Saturday’s debut album is definitely one of the strongest, most well produced, and hit filled pop albums to hit shelves in 2008. This album made me overcome my ill-placed skepticism, and forced me to embrace the fact that this girl group has the goods, the will, and the drive to be amongst their girl-band peers.

I find it very fitting that they have had some great success with their massive single, Up, because they are clearly on their way up in the pop industry. For many of these girls, this is another go at making it in the elusive pop industry; a few of them hail from other, failed pop groups of the past. Perhaps, they wanted it more this time? Maybe they just got luckier this time? There’s really no way of telling with the fickle nature of the UK pop scene. Either way, they soar on Chasing Lights.

The great pop tracks, top notch production, and that “out of left field” factor, all combines on Chasing Lightsto give you a truly brilliant pop record; one that really took me by surprise. I was so utterly disappointed by the Sugababes and Girls Aloud’s releases this year (sorry Stu), and luckily for me, the Saturdays stepped in and filled the void; there isn’t a bad track on Chasing Lights, and quite a few of them are MASSIVE pop anthems (both Work and Up are sheer pop genius). While I am sure that the Sugababes and Girls Aloud will continue to release stellar stuff in the future (as they definitely have in the past), I am more than pleased to see that the door has opened, and allowed another great girl band to step onto the scene. The Saturdays are a more than welcome addition to the world of pop, and I am more than happy that they really delivered on their debut in a way that was completely unexpected, and brilliant (although, I will openly, and gladly admit that this is definitely something one might list under guilty pleasure; the lyrics are not the stuff of literary masterpiece… not by a long shot). If you, like me, are a fan of girl band, super produced pop, then you will love the Saturdays. I just hope that these girls can dig their claws in deep enough to hold onto that bucking pop bronco, and keep bringing us the pop that we love; especially if it is in anyway similar to the brand of pop that deeply permeates this album.

Sparkle Factor:
Stand Outs: Work [audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1031_saturdays-work.mp3]
Up, If This Is Love, Issues, Lies, Chasing Lights.