Play: Us Against the World Album Review

 I originally thought about reviewing an E.P. because I'm feeling very exhausted but then I found out that "Play's" self-titled mini album was originally a 12 track album called "Us Against the World".  This is good because reviewing an E.P. wouldn't count as an "album review".  This album, along with "Play Around the Christmas Tree" were the only "Play albums that I hadn't reviewed yet.  The rest of my album reviews of their other albums were done in between 2014 and 2015.  Here's my track by track review:

 1) I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (featuring Chris Trousdale from Dream Street): The second single from the album.  The video was pretty just the girls and "Chris" singing in a recording booth.  The song was also originally performed by "Diana Ross & the Supremes" and "The Temptations".  I had never heard the original before but this wouldn't be the first time "Play" would cover a song from "Diana Ross".  7/10

 2) Us Against the World: The first single from the album and the title track.  If you were a kid/teenager during the early 2000's and watched "Lizzie McGuire", chances are you know this song.  The song peaked at number 14 in Sweden and was the group's only single to chart there until "Famous" was released 9 years later.  The video was pretty good and the only is pretty catchy.  8/10

 3) Cinderella: The third and final single from the album.  While "The Cheetah Girls" version of the song is the most popular, "Play's" released their version of the song first.  Although it turns out the song was originally sung by girl group "i5" who were unable to release it as a single due to their album failing to chart.  The video for "Play's" version showed performances of the song and some behind the scenes of the "Destiny's Child" tour that the group was an opening act for.  The song is about a girl who doesn't need a man to help her because she is independent.  You go girls.  10/10

 4) Hopelessly Devoted: This song was originally performed by "Olivia Newton-John" for the film "Grease".  While her version is a ballad, "Play's" version was an upbeat pop song.  Not bad, but not great.  6/10

 5) Is It Love: This song is a ballad about falling for someone for the first time and wondering if it's love.  While "Faye's" solo's are amazing, the song is kinda cheesy.  6/10

 6) I Don't Get Down Like That: The first time I heard this song was back in 2002 when my sister had got a cd from McDonalds that had this song along with "Wonderland" by "Solange" and "Hanging Up on You" by "Myra".  The song is edgier than the previous ones having a little bit of a rock element to it.  It's song is about a guy who doesn't get the hint that you don't want to be with him.  Why wasn't this a single?!?!  10/10

 7) Disco Hippie: I don't know what's weirder, the title or the song.  3/10

 8) Remember to Forget: This song talks about remembering how badly your ex treated you so that he doesn't have a chance to win you back.  It has the same kinda music style as "I Don't Get Down Like That".  Great song.  10/10

 9) To Live and to Die For: This is a love song and a ballad about not wanting to lose a guy because to you his love is "to live and to die for".  It's cute but they were kids when they were singing these lyrics.  8/10

10) Never Neverland: In this song the narrator has found out that their boyfriend has cheated on them.  The boyfriend then apologizes and thinks everything will go back to normal but the narrator is done with him.  Great song that should've been a single.  10/10

11) Boys Lie: This song talks about a girl who has had her heart broken and now feels that all boys lie.  Apparently some versions of the album didn't include the track on the album because the girls didn't want to offend any boys that may hear it.  That was very sweet of them.  Even though I'm a guy and I felt offended by the lyrics for a minute, I have to admit the song is pretty good.  9/10

12) Watch Me Now: This was apparently the first song the girls ever recorded as a band.  Weird because the song sounds like a song that a popular band would release as their final single as they've broken up.  That's really what I get from this song.  It's still good though.  8/10

 When "Play" were going to release "Us Against the World" in the U.S., it was re-titled as "Play" and "Remember to Forget", "To Live and to Die For", "Never Neverland", "Boys Lie", and "Watch Me Now" were not included which made the album "Play" feel more like an E.P. than an actual album.  It sucks given that some of the songs that didn't make on it were much better than some of the ones that made it on the E.P.  My favorite songs are: "Remember to Forget", "Never Neverland", "I Don't Get Down Like That", and "Cinderella".  Out of 120 points I give the album 95 points which is 79%, a C+.

 Thank you for reading this review and sorry it's so late!  I'll try to make the next one early!