The new line-up of Sugababes finally release their delayed seventh album, but don't get your hopes up - this is largely generic electro-pop with only one or two minor saving graces.
Where do you start with Sugababes? Surely one of the most controversial pop groups ever, last year was the trio's wobbliest to date. 'Sweet 7', their seventh studio album, was originally scheduled for the shelves last November – but the small problem of losing one of their members (Keisha Buchanan) meant that its release was delayed while her replacement Jade Ewen recorded her own vocals.
But in truth, the last few years have been rocky for Sugababes, even without rumours of their in-fighting. 2008's 'Catfights and Spotlights' was a big disappointment from a group (or at least their songwriting/production team) capable of modern pop gems like 'Freak Like Me', 'Round Round' and 'Push the Button'. Its follow-up starts off somewhat promisingly with the catchy pop/electro/club stylings of the 'I'm Too Sexy'-sampling 'Get Sexy' and the two songs immediately succeeding it, but quickly fades to frustrating levels of mediocrity.
'Sweet 7' was undoubtedly produced with the US market in mind, especially considering the group have signed to Jay-Z's Roc-a-Fella label for this album. In the process of working with production/songwriting team Stargate, and collaborating with the awful Sean Kingston, however, they've lost any modicum of originality. Acceptable upbeat numbers (including the very likeable 'Thank You for the Heartbreak') quickly give way to the 'ballad' section of the album, but by that point, 'Sweet 7' has already been whitewashed in banality. It could easily do well for Sugababes in the States - but at what cost?
