Album: Salute
Release Date: Out now!
With Little Mix across the pond tackling America, we weren’t quite sure what we were going to hear on their sophomore album ‘Salute‘. Luckily the girls get the balance right with a mixture of old school r’n’b and cheery britpop.
The album begins with ‘Salute‘, a military chant packed with girl-power: “Ladies, the time has come, the war has begun” are just some of the lyrics you can hear over the sound of an air raid siren and horns. It’s edgy, frantic and hard-hitting – the perfect opening track. Next comes ‘Move‘, the girls’ latest single. A direct contrast, it boasts a pop/r’n’b feel that is bound to get a crowd dancing. Although it doesn’t show off their vocal abilities, it’s more about the beat than the voices. ‘Little Me’ is an ode to their younger selves, a thoughtful ballad that will relate to their younger fans with lyrics such as: “You got a lot of time to act your age, you can’t write a book from a single page, the hands of the clock only turn one way.” The drums return in ‘Nothing Feels Like You‘, accompanied with some tribal-esque background chanting – it’s uplifting and typically pop; a fail-safe track.
Piano ballad ‘Towers‘ comes at the perfect time, as what’s a pop album without a track about heartbeat with bellowing vocals? It’s a refreshing change of pace, and reminds us that the group are capable of carrying a slower track as well as producing fast-paced dance tracks. Just when you find yourself swaying and reminiscing about your failed past relationships, ‘Competition‘ pulls you back with a catchy drum beat and a certain sass that makes the earlier ballad seem almost unbelievable.
‘These Four Walls‘ is probably one of the most honest and hard-hitting tracks on the album: “In this time, i’ve lost all sense of pride, i’ve called a thousand times, if I hear your voice i’ll be fine.” Once again, a track that the majority of fans will relate to, accompanied with beautifully delicate vocals. Next comes ‘About The Boy‘ a funky 90’s track – it’s good, but something you’d imagine hearing during their X-Factor days. ‘Boy‘ stands out amongst the rest due to the incredible accapella intro and beatbox backing. It has an old school r’n’b flavour, that will take fans back to their Judge’s Houses stage, where their note-perfect harmonies were first heard.
‘Good Enough‘ is yet another ballad, although this time focusing on the idea of feeling inferior in a relationship – an alright filler track, but definitely nothing to shout about. The next track, ‘Mr Loverboy’, pulls fans back in with a chorus that shares similarities with an early Mariah Carey: “Boy you keep on blowing my mind, caught in my emotions, you could be my Mr Loverboy.” It’s cheery, with a catchy hook. The album comes full circle with ‘A Different Beat’, that is oddly similar to ‘Salute’ – full of chants and what sounds like a full marching band. It’s a much-needed reminder to their young fans to be themselves and not simply follow the ground.
Overall this is a fantastic album, with fiery vocals and an even tougher beat. It’s clear these girls know exactly who they are and what their songs should sound like. This is an album packed full of hits, with a few cheesy ballads thrown in for good measure. Well done, girls!
9/10
Reviewer: Sophie Turner
