the 31 best of 2008 – 18: Same Difference – Pop

Oh. My. Gay!!11!!1 Seriously, if Same Difference were an inanimate object, they would either be sprinkles or glitter… I can’t decide which. They are gayer than butt sex; and that is why I LOVE them so much.

This is one of only two albums that were released during the first week of December this year that have made my year end list. Unfortunately, for most records released during December, I have already made up my mind, and it takes something stellar to take my attention by storm, and snag a place on this list. Well, Same Difference did just that with their aptly titled debut album, Pop.In case you have never heard of them, this brother and sister duo made a splash on last year’s X-Factor, proving that they were everything that was great about cheesy, bubble gum pop. Show after show, they harnessed their effervescence and bubbly personalities, and sang cheesy hit after hit, making them favorites on the show. Well, they didn’t end up winning, but that doesn’t mean that people like me stopped following them; I had to see what would come up next from this talented pair.

Well, late in November, they released their first single, We R One, and after hearing it, I knew that everything I loved about Same Difference was going to come out strong on their debut. Luckily, I was right; this album is about as far tilt pop as you can possibly go without turning completely over. Have you ever heard of the pop supergroup Steps? Well, if you liked them, you will LOVE Same Difference; they are basically what it would be like if H and Claire were brother and sister, and still making fantastic pop music.

While the album has several covers, all of them are cheesed up, perfectly perked pop renditions, and they completely succeed. Their remake of Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now is EPIC. Other lesser known covers like I Need A House are amazing (even if they sound almost like the original), and their cover of Breaking Free, the duet between Gabrielle and Troy from High School Musical, far outshines the original. While this brother and sister team haven’t really done anything surprisingly new, or earth shatteringly different, they have done something so perfectly well that it begs to be heard; they have created a damn near perfect pop album (there are only a couple of missteps that hold it slightly back). Again, if you were/are a fan of Steps (I KNOW I AM!), and you still can’t believe they aren’t coming back some day, consider Same Difference your salvation; they have a very similar sound, and that same great pop sensibility.

Practically every song on this album is ready for radio; that is, radio in the UK. I doubt anything this poptastic will ever find its way over to our shores, but pop records like this cannot go unheard by pop-o-holics like myself. This record may be the gayest one on my countdown, and be warned: it is just so freaking sugary, that you might want to be careful to brush your teeth after listening to avoid cavities. It is seriously that syrupy, and I love every minute of it. I am really glad that pop albums like this are still being made.

Sparkle Factor:
Standouts: If You Can’t Dance [audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/samedifference-ifyoucantdance.mp3]
I Need A House, Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, Breaking Free, Still Amazed.