Review
Brooke here, and let me tell you, All Saints burst onto the scene in '97 with their self-titled debut that was absolutely everything we didn't know we needed. These British babes served up a killer combo of pop and R&B that had us all scrambling to figure out their harmonies - seriously, "Never Ever" was that track that had everyone rewinding their cassettes trying to nail those vocals. The album's got this wicked range too, bouncing from the cheeky fun of "Bootie Call" to more chill moments like "Heaven" and "Alone" that showed off their softer side. Their cover of "Under the Bridge" was bold as anything - taking on the Red Hot Chili Peppers and totally making it their own with those signature harmonies.
What really made this album special was how it mixed up the whole pop formula we were used to back then. "I Know Where It's At" brought those urban influences that felt fresh and authentic, while tracks like "Trapped" and "Beg" proved these girls could craft songs with real emotional punch alongside the catchy hooks. Even the deeper cuts like "Take the Key" and "War of Nerves" kept things interesting, showing they weren't just another manufactured girl group but artists who could actually explore different sounds. "All Saints" became the soundtrack to so many of our late '90s moments, establishing them as serious players in the pop game when everyone was trying to find their own flavor in that post-Spice Girls world. - Brooke
