Search - Steps :: Buzz

STEPS, so sad to see you gone

Rocky | Il, United States | 07/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Okay so I am in America and STEPS have been the BIGGEST musical influence in my life. I think they may have been "manufactured" but they werre incredible nonetheless. The British version did have much better songs that were unfortuantely left off of the US version, and MARS AND VENUS sucked. Turn Around, Paradise Lost, Youll be sorry, and If you believe had to be the best songs Steps ever did.



The American version of STEP ONE included Better The Devil You Know, a clever Kylie Minogue remake, that they did her justice.

So that is why it is absent from the US version of Buzz.



1. Buzz - Okay, but can get boring. 3/5

2. It's the way you make me feel - Excellent song and video 5/5

3. Happy go lucky - They werent trying hard enough. 2/5

4. Mars and Venus - They might as well have made all crap tracks for US as this song dooms the album. 0/5

5. Stomp - Very catchy and Disco fun, but still lacks. 3/5

6. Here and now - I thought this was powerful, I love it 4/5

7. Summer of love - One of the best tracks on this CD. 5/5

8. Never get over you - Lisa flexes her songwriting skills and hits a homer on this song. I lok forward to her solo deal. 5/5

9. Woudlnt hurt so bad - I didnt like it at first but after a many listens it has grown to be one of the best on the CD. 4/5

10. Learn to love again - The only song I can actually enjoy H's voice. Best Song on CD. 5/5***

11. Hand on your heart - Claire's attempt at songwriting goes fairly well with this ballad. 4/5.



All in all i think theyd have done WAY better in the US if those tracks hadnt been omitted, and if theyre producers had actually put out a few bucks for promotion other than Disney. Putting an artist on Disney practically dooms them from normal music, Hilary Duff a HUGE exception."

"Step Two" is another giant step for Steps

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 07/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One genre of music I grew up with is British bubblegum pop. Performers like Rick Astley, Bananarama, Mel and Kim, and Samantha Fox, which were the product of the Stock-Aitken-Waterman machine. The influence of that 1980's bubblegum sound seeped through effectively on their debut Step One. Indeed, the last track was a cover of Kylie Minogue's "Better The Devil You Know" from Rhythm Of Love. So, what about Buzz, their sophomore effort? What is doubtless about Buzz is that it is not a carbon copy of their triumphant debut. Let me say right off the bat that Steps' music works when they are borrowing from influential disco from the 1970's and 1980's. There's nothing wrong with that--they play it safe. For example, "Happy Go Lucky" is an interesting track with two distinctive rhythms. The verses are reminiscent of Ace Of Base's pop/dub reggae, which then bursts into a bouncy Kylie Minogue-style chorus that would set the toughest platform shoes ablaze. "Summer Of Love" recalls Saint Etienne's "Pale Movie" in some parts as well as ABBA-ish synthesizers and synchronized harmonizing in the bouncy parts. The standout cut is "Stomp," a vivacious old school disco number which is a tribute to Chic, or more specifically, to Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of that group. "Never Get Over You" is a track that might have been at home on their earlier effort. "Mars & Venus (We Fall In Love Again)" is a nice ballad that allows would-be partiers at Studio 54 a break inbetween "Happy Go Lucky" and "Stomp." "Wouldn't Hurt So Bad" and "Learn To Love Again" are filler in comparison, but the closing track, "Hand On Your Heart" (no, not the Kylie Minogue song from Enjoy Yourself) is a noteworthy ballad that I can easily envision being done by Debbie Gibson or Jessica Simpson. However, tracks like "It's The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Here And Now" have a sound that would work just as well for Britney Spears. (Note: nothing personal was intended against Ms. Spears in any sort of way.) Bottom line: Buzz is a worthy followup to Step One, and will cement Steps' future in British pop while the genre lasts."

Steps tried

theslaveangel | USA | 02/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Steps was a great group. I live in the states and the impact they had on me was big, so it makes me shudder to think how big they were in the UK. They were like our Britney Spears or N SYNC.
I admit after hearing the import of Buzz, I am saddened by the missing tracks, and the addition of Mars and Venus was no smart move. I can tell you what songs would have made it in the US.Tragedy
Bittersweet
Words are not enough
Turn around
You'll be sorry
Just like the first time
One for sorrow5,6,7,8
Paradise lost
Lay all your love on me
Here and now
It's the way you make me feel
Chain reactionThese are the best tracks and if u havent heard them, i suggest you download them. I think it [is bad] that steps broke up and that i will have to buy imported cds of their solo efforte because they wont release them out here."