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In keeping up my tradition of not being able to predict future top 10 hits I would like to suggest “Don’t Keep Me Waiting” off Sharleen Spiteri’s debut-solo album Melody as a future Number 9.

It’s quite good isn’t it?

Melody by Sharleen Spiteri Music Album Review

Paying homage to the sixties is all well and good so long as someone doesn’t find obscure Shangri-Las videos on Youtube. I guess plagiarism is acceptable if no one remembers the song you ripped off in the first place, right?

Melody is Sharleen Spiteri’s debut solo album after spending a gazillion years fronting pop-rock band Texas. Melody is a very subtle and chilled album reminiscent of early motown and just great pop from the sixties. The soundscape is filled with tapping piano chords, big string arrangements and brass trills. It’s a very retro sounding production which suits Sharleen’s vocals perfectly. Initial single “All The Times I Cried” is a really showcase for Sharleen’s range. Album standout “Stop I Don’t Love You Anymore” is a brutally honest break-up track dictated by a huge brass section.

Title track “Melody” is more laidback opting for big toms, lush helpings of reverb and some jangly guitar work while “I Wonder” picks up the tempo a bit opting for what can only be described as a soul sound. The tight drums are produced similarly to the kind we would expect from a modern day R&B hit which is Melody’s biggest charm — the production values are very modern but the songwriting is very retro-inspired.

“I’m Going To Haunt You” has a country flavour with acoustic guitars and some big percussion whereas “Don’t Keep Me Waiting” is very Supremes-esque. I actually think “Don’t Keep Me Waiting” would have been the best choice of single from Melody. Given this is an album Sharleen Spiteri has written, it’s interesting how few of the songs are genuinely catchy. Texas are well known for releasing catchy hook after catchy hook in virtually all of their releases but that’s what this album sadly lacks.

“You Let Me Down” has a very jazzy vibe but the motown sound is back for “Where Did It Go Wrong?” opting for acoustic guitars and an energetic bassline.

Penultimate track “Day Tripper” is a midtempo classic pop track with an awesomely uplifting string and brass riff. Unlike most albums Melody gets stronger towards the end. Final song “Francoise” is a very nice retro-flavoured ballad and a beautiful closing to the album.

Listening through the first few tracks of Melody is not so much a chore — more a build up to the inevitably great tracks you would expect on an album Sharleen Spiteri has written.

• Sharleen Spiteri Official Website
• Sharleen Spiteri MySpace

7/10.

We’re all Texas fans here aren’t we? Good, because I’m going to have to ask you to leave my website if you say so much as a bad word against Texas or their amazingly amazing lead singer Sharleen Spiteri.

Anyway - Sharleen has since gone solo and written and recorded a “very personal” album called Melody. It’s good times for classic pop lately and Melody fits the bill being touted as “1950’s doo-wop“.

Lead single “All The Times I Cried” was basically amazing and so is the album. Buy it.

Also, for anyone interested Annie’s “I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me” is also out tomorrow.