Following the UK pop scene can be a fulltime job. Take Atomic Kitten for example. They start off as fluffy kiddie pop and barely survive as second class stars until one pussycat Kerry Katona gets impregnated by a member of Westlife leaves the band (and eventually becomes a Sugababe). Jenny Frost from another UK girl brand (oops band) Precious joins Atomic Kitten and their rerecorded single "Whole Again" became Atomic Kitten's first big hit allowing them to mature to a more adult-oriented pop sound.
What does all this gossip have to do with their US debut album? Probably not much except as a starting point to mention how Atomic Kitten's pure pop fills the gap for us 20/30 somethings who want to lose ourselves in a pretty pop song. The 80s influence is there - not only with covers of "Eternal Flame" and "Tide is High" but with songs written by Kylie, Nick Kerhsaw, and Susanna Hoffs (of the Bangles) makes you wonder if Cathy Dennis was too busy?
For this their US debut - they combined the seven hit singles from their first two or three (depending on how you count rereleases) UK albums to make an essential album for lovers of female vocal pop.
The only misstep is "Love Won't Wait" which sounds a bit too much like generic disco, a fate that "Right Now" avoids by hitting you with hooks that pound your head for days. "Be With You" grows with you slowly over a few listens and their cover of "Tide is High" owes alot both to Blondie and Madonna for its gratuitous use of guitars from "Don't Tell Me".
Chalk up Atomic Kitten as another guilty pleasure from the UK -- after a few listens you will be hooked -- it's the kind of kitty cat that even us boys will like..
