Natasha Bedingfield's 'Unwritten' album - Tiscali Music Reviews

06/09/2004

Album release date: 6th September 2004

The best pop album of the year.

No question, every song is a scorcher packed full of funky beats,sassy lyrics and an attitude usually only found in our American cousins.

The fact that this is Daniel Bedingfield's little sister is something of a surprise. Rarely are we treated to a younger sibling who can actually match their older relative let alone surpass them, but on 'Unwritten', the debut album from Natasha Bedingfield, she does just that.

Where Daniel has become the housewives favourite with a succession of earnest ballads and trying-to-be-Ronan rockers Natasha has delivered a collection of tracks that shout young, free and dangerous to anyone who is listening.

Opening track and second single 'These Words' is a perfect example of Nat's limitless talent. A hip-hop flavoured boast of her own precocious talent it stamps her authority on pop music from the off.

First single entitled (ahem) 'Single' is also a cracker, again featuring a crisp R'n'B production and sensuous vocals it will probably have Big Dan coming over all protective every time he hears it. Meanwhile 'I'm A Bomb' could be a great lost Har Mar Superstar track with its Prince-ish funk rhythm and the title track builds to a chorus that Nelly Furtado would be proud of.

Of course the obligatory ballads are littered throughout as well. 'I Bruise Easily' is the kind of sugary sweetness that the Sugababes do so well whilst 'We're All Mad' is all beautifully plucked acoustics and sweeping strings.

But less about them and more of what Lil' Bed does best; 'If You're Gonna...' is an electro-rock monster that Girls Aloud would probably sell their grans for, 'Frogs & Princes' is Craig David-esque pop-garage and 'Drop Me In The Middle' brilliantly features Bizarre from D12 (that beats Chris Martin writing your songs Jamelia!).

Finally bonus track 'Size Matters' is a sassy slice of R'n'B genius that cheekily has Nat proclaiming that she's, "...tired of loving small...".

Girl power is back and Natasha Bedingfield is its main exponent. 'Unwritten' is intelligent, classy pop music that blows the pop fluff of Britney and Christina clean out of the water. Watch out Daniel there might only be room for one Bedingfield in the nation's record collection from now on.