The Corrs : Releases >>

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The Best of the Corrs >>

The opening line of the first song ("Would You Be Happier") begins "Have you ever wondered where the story ends, and how it all began" which raises questions about the future of the band, especially as it's the opening track of their definitive Best of collection. Despite becoming one of the world's biggest pop groups in the late 1990s, the Corrs were almost transformed over-night from being one of the chicest groups around to being one of the un-coolest. Their mass appeal led to certain sections of their fan base rapidly searching for other distinctive types of music, and their third studio album In Blue was shunned by many. Despite what your opinion may be of the group, there is no disputing that Corrs classics such as "So Young" and "I Never Loved You Anyway" are catchy, pleasant tunes that succeed so well because they are so simple. All the other favourites are also on here, including "Only When I Sleep" and "Give Me Reason", as well as three tracks from 1999's Unplugged album ("Radio", "Everybody Hurts" and "Lough Erin Shore"). Although the collection closes with the unremarkable new track "Make You Mine", the penultimate song is "Dreams", the Fleetwood Mac track that finally brought them success. Even if it means swallowing your pride, now may be the time to rediscover the wonder of the Corrs. --John Galilee

Dreams: the Ultimate Collection >>

Ten Feet High >>

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Talk on Corners [Special Edition] >>

Formed in 1990, The Corrs are a multi-skilled Irish group comprising three sisters and a brother who each play a variety of modern and traditional instruments. Their second album, Talk On Corners, fuses pop, rock and Irish folk to produce an accessible musical mix. More melancholic but also more streetwise than their first album, three of the tracks on the album have been remixed by some of the most influential dance producers of the late 1990s. Their punchy, remixed cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" appeals equally to teenager clubbers and their parents. Combined with traditional instrumental track such as "Paddy McCarthy" and more dreamy vocal compositions such as "Only When I Sleep" and "Hopelessly Addicted", this album truly provides something for everyone. --John Galilee

Forgiven Not Forgotten >>

Four times platinum in their homeland, Forgiven, Not Forgotten, the debut from Ireland's cosy, family four-piece, took lilting Celtic folk away from the craggy old men in cardigans and gave it a glamorous, MTV make-over. All very nicely air-brushed, it's perfect Top Of The Pops fare, even spawning the hit single "Runaway"--a song which, when given the Top 40 sheen by producers Tin Tin Out, provided a staple diet for commercial radio programmers for the best part of six months. Forgiven, Not Forgotten is the first word in fiddles, jigs and whistles--but for young people, you understand. There are no rough edges on the likes of "Someday" or "The Right Time". Still, some elegant traditional instrumentals make a diverting change from the bland, cultureless pop-lite of endless boy-band clones. --Louis Pattison

The Corrs - MTV Unplugged >>

Recorded at Ardmore Studios outside Dublin in early October, the Corrs sound comfortably at home on this orchestrally-enhanced live acoustic gig. With only two studio albums to their credit, it may seem a bit early to go for an Unplugged re-run but the inclusion of two new Corrs-penned songs and a trio of previously unheard covers as well as the live greatest hits means there's something fresh to enjoy. An unplugged session also establishes clearly that The Corrs, in danger of being perceived as pop puppets, are a real band who play and sing beautifully and can deliver the goods live. Encouragingly, the two new songs, "Radio" and "At Your Side", are well up to the usual Corrs standard, while much of the already familiar material benefits from tasty orchestral arrangements--"What Can I Do" in particular works better than the dance re-mix hit version. --Johnny Black

Borrowed Heaven >>

Borrowed Heaven comes a few years after the Greatest Hits collection and the Corr's last proper studio album, In Blue. It's easy to see it was time well spent as of the 12 new songs here there is very little filler and plenty of catchy, rousing choruses. Lead single and opener "Summer Sunshine" is jolly, guitar-driven, 80s pop-rock and, like much of the album, has a few quirky production gimmicks to fill out the verse while the chorus explodes into big drums and meaty guitar hooks.

It's difficult to pick standouts as the style is quite firmly set and the quality between songs unwavering, but the finale "Silver Strand" is a grandiose Celtic instrumental led by Sharon Corr's sadly under-used violin with Andrea chipping in the occasional "La la la" vocal. "Long Night" is a well-crafted 80s power-ballad and in contrast, "Humdrum" takes a contemporary slant on the Corrs sound with scratching, synths and breaks creating the rockiest moment on the album. There may be disappointment that it veers towards the commercialism of Fleetwood Mac rather than the traditional folk of their earlier work, but this is the Corrs and has been for some time; so love it or loathe it, it's unmistakably their sound. --David Trueman