Mutya Buena - Real Girl
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Mutya BuenaEdition: Music CD
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2007-06-11
Music Label: Universal/Island
Soundtracks:
- Just A Little Bit
- Real Girl
- Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control) (Ft Groove Armada)
- Breakdown Motel
- Strung Out
- It's Not Easy
- Suffer For Love (Replayed Sample Version)
- Not Your Baby
- Wonderful
- B Boy Baby (Ft Amy Winehouse)
- This Is Not (Real Love) (Ft George Michael)
- Paperbag
- My Song
Free Music Notes for Real Girl
Free Music Review: She Doesn't Need Sugababes
Hit: 5 Stars
Let it be known: Mutya Buena has always been the soul and the attitude of Sugababes. Sure, the popular UK girl group is still carrying strong with entertaining tunes that hold well on their own, but you can't help but notice that the band is becoming far less "real" and more of a super slick, untouchable, manufactured pop product. Fortunately, the band itself has become a musical institution, instilling success to anyone who has had something to do with it (former Sugababe Siobhan Donaghy isn't doing too shabby with her solo effort either, with its ulta-sophisticated, atmospheric, ethereal pop direction).
Many critics have been too easy to jump to the fact that Mutya could have taken what she had learned from being with Sugababes and amped it up a step further. Ever since their formative debut album, you know this girl's always had a penchant for a good R&B-soaked tune, and that comes across rather gracefully in her own debut, "Real Girl." Not so say that she's lost her edge: all of the tracks feature her versatile weapon of choice (her husky, emotive voice) to full effect, showcasing a promising solo artist with an ear for tracks that also present her impressive range in performing music. Don't expect her to churn out retread Sugababes tracks though: she's made her stamp doing her own thing through pop tracks with some soul, R&B, hip-hop, and even a little electro in the mix. "Real Girl" may hint a bit of her roots, but this album is all Mutya in the present.
1. "Just A Little Bit" = Soulful first number that signals what direction Mutya wanted to take with most of the album. Not too dissimilar from the recent retro-pop sounds of those like Amy Winehouse, this is an uplifting soul-pop number that's a declaration of who she is and what she will likely become as a solo act (ergo "great").
2. "Real Girl" = Infectious first single and a quite appropriate one at that. It's straight-forwardness is a great way to kick off the vibe of the album. Sure, it may not be groundbreaking, but the funky beats mixed with some sampling and an old-skool R&B vibe, all put under a greatly-executed pop sheen makes songs like this hard to resist.
3. "Song For Mutya (Out Of Control)" = Every single professional review I've come across heralds this track as the album's standout, and it is deservedly so. Maybe because it's the only straight-up electro-pop tune, maybe it's the track most reminiscent of Sugababes edgy dance-pop gems, or maybe it's because it's so deliriously fresh (despite heavy '80s dance influences). A great track that reminds people that an awesome collaboration (with producers Groove Armada) and an awesome performance from an solid singer can make magic happen.
4. "Breakdown Motel" = Slowing things out a bit, this somber, but emotional track pulls on the heartstrings of its listeners. If anything, Mutya's got some personality to carry sentimental tracks that would have crumbled had anyone with less character sang it. It only comes to show that Mutya not only owns every single track in the album, but does it with complete dignity and finesse (a bonus).
5. "Strung Out" = One of, if not, the album's most dramatic track. Half Sugababes ballad (a la "Stronger," "Caught In A Moment," and "Follow Me Home) and half rocker track (like a poppier Evanescence at best), the fact that two different sounds are seamlessly synthesized once the song unfolds only shows that Mutya's got more tricks up her sleeve. Oh, and her urgent vocals kinda help the track shine even more too, if you consider that...
6. "It's Not Easy" = Very much like stuff from Sugababes' "One Touch," the chorus of the track is one of those hard-to-pull off subtle beauties that dig deep within your skin. Moody and atmospheric, this med-tempo track's strongest facet are its tight, but effortless melodies and harmonies.
7. "Suffer For Love" = For Mutya and her incredible, if not underappreciated (and underestimated) voice, you know it was inevitable: a big soul ballad. People who don't really like R&B would knock this off quite easily, but if you're a fan of a good ol' fashioned slow jam, this thing sizzles. Again, a yearning vocal from Mutya only further justifies the fact that she's one of the best singers in our generation today.
8. "Not Your Baby" = A catchy little ditty, reminiscent of the recent ska-pop stylings of acts like All Saints and Lily Allen, it's even got some quirky Girls Aloud pop in there somewhere. Reminds like an old gameshow tune turned into a deliriously catchy dance-pop track. Pure quality without signs of Mutya breaking a sweat.
9. "Wonderful" = Another ballad, but this time it's more of a direct pop ballad instead of an R&B-drenched one (like "Suffer For Love"). Proving that there is room for another Mariah, it's familiar and welcome melodies are sweet and quite dazzling at times (if you put down your guard and disregard the fact that a track like this is surprisingly saccharine for Mutya's more edgy persona - the girl just wants to be loved).
10. "B Boy Baby" = A fun, stomping, soulful take on a Ronettes classic, it's probably the strongest of the retro-soul vibes in the album. Of course, having Amy Winehouse back you up in this one can also help a bit. It's playful and unpretentious in all its glory. Another definite standout.
11. "This Is Not Real Love" = Not exactly keen on this one, but it's grown on me. Okay, so it's a cheesy George Michael collabo, but the fact that they tweaked the track a bit to fit the sound of Mutya's album kinda helps. At best, it shows Mutya at her sultriest, yet unconvering a new facet of her amazing voice. It's a perfect late night, smouldering tune, really.
12. "Paper Bag" = A reggae-lite, R&B track, it's pure quality as one would expect from Mutya (if her previous track weren't convincing enough to make another a believer, I dunno what would at this point). More chilled, but it's still got a killer backing to it that makes it loud and clear.
13. "My Song" = The last track in the album. Doesn't end it with a bang, but it does end it with an emotional message of redemption. Not too deep, but it's just a nice, relaxed way to end a really entertaining album.
"Real Girl" is not necessarily an immediate summer album. I mean it's devoid of club bangers or even more uptempo material that Mutya's done with the 'Babes, but it does show a promising artist that's an all-around great album act and a solid performer. "Real Girl" may not be explosive in the context that every track has to be a super hot uptempo jam, but it does provide as a great alternative: a relaxing, soulful, fun way to enjoy getting cool from the hot weather. In all the album's overall greatness, even though Mutya stretches herself to become a surprisingly versatile perfomer (one that was never quite showcased with Sugababes and one that was never expect of her...until now), she's still got that trademark effortlessness that shows how cool she is. Not compromising anything about her character as an artist, but always pleasing her listeners with pop tunes that hold their own ground just as much as any she's done with her old band, this album is a must have for anyone who likes their pop with equal parts quality, class, edge, and grace.
Real Girl Poster
2007 solo debut album from the former member of Sugababes. The album includes collaborations with George Michael (whose only previous female collaborators were Aretha Franklin and Mary J Blige, so she's in good Soul-girl company!), Amy Winehouse on "B-Boy Baby" and Groove Armada. 13 tracks including the single 'Real Girl' which features a sample from Lenny Kravitz's global chart-topper 'It Ain't Over `Til It's Over'. Universal.Dance & DJ Music CDs
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