Liberty X have lost their X (and Dicky X's 0800)

[SpinDerellum]

Just seen the video to the new Liberty X single 'X'. The song isn't much to write home about, and neither is the video. Cheap cgi and the usual overstylised trout pout I've come to expect from a noughties pop video with a budget of a tenner.

Liberty X seem to be a pop group like a deer in headlights; they seem to have completely lost their way, and watching the video just made me feel like they are all stuck in this band like a married couple staying together 'for the sake of the kids'. It almost felt like they split up ages ago and are now on this 'comeback' which no-one cares about.

This is the pop group that brought us the delights 'Just A Little', 'Holding On For You', Richard X's finest moment 'Being Nobody' and even a half-decent cover of 'Got To Have Your Love'. If anything they should be the ones pioneering the late noughties nu-pop in the current climate of blandypop, being the veterans of the reality-based-yet-quite-respectable bubblegum bands. Yet all I see is a somewhat 'embarrassed to be here' five piece seemingly stuck in a dated pop-by-numbers tune that doesn't really go anywhere. There's no passion there, no want to do something exciting, no real energy or hunger for a number one which there should be.

Liberty X, pull yourselves together. Phone up your old mate Dicky X (reverse the charges if you have to, he's earning enough now) and tell him you need another hit. This new Virgin deal is doing you no favours.

[Jake]

I haven't liked anything they have done recently. It is such a shame because they were one of the best groups we had. Just A Little, Gotta Have Your Love, Holding On For You and Being Nobody are great pop songs.

[Mike]

Pop and R&B are constantly evolving. Liberty X, a pop/R&B act, are not. The Richard X collaboration was great - unfortunately, it also marked the point where they ran out of ideas. As for the last album, you could describe it as 'phoned in' except that lifting a receiver and dialling requires more effort than is ever on display. Even they seem to have stopped caring.

Time to give the dead horse a long-overdue burial.

[calvinsteps]

X is the most memorable track from the X album and I think it's quite good, but they just don't seem to care anymore.

[Ambassador Stick Insect]

I think they've lost their stream.

I'd much rather "Dicky X" (as you call him) invested his energies on new talent. They have had their moments, but when they shone , it was never bright enough.

I also think the biggest misconception about Liberty x is that they had untapped potential, this is not the case, at least not musically. The truth is more like they were only as good as their last single and they have been very lucky with the music they have acquired (down to get A&R people and a lot of hard work).*

If anything their continued existence reminds me of Atomic Kitten who knew that this was as good as it was going to get.

*Does anyone know the A&R team behind them for their latest and first album?

[migu]

I find 'X' is POPTASTIC - I really like it, find it hot and amazingly good

I'm looking forward watching this video, anyone knows if there's somewhere only where I can see it? Hope it is as good as the song, cause that song is a killer!n Love it!

[poppuppy26]

I really think that 'X' is a good song. Well its definatly the best song off the album!
I would really like to see thier new video for this track..... Is it on youtube? Where can I view it?
Maybe Liberty X should quite, i mean if thier not happy why carry on? They dont need to another album as 'X' was like thier greatest hits anyway!!!!! Maybe they should leave thier label and leave a space for another band?

[onrequest]

I loved "Song for Lovers", and their live performance of it on GMTV was vocally very song. It's the rapping that let it down, especially cringeworthy on GMTV when they drafted in a cheap rapper when "the Reverend" couldn't be there (or didn't want to be).

They've had some amazing songs, and I'd not like to see them split yet. They just need to come back with some killer singles because, as said, they're only as good as their latest song.

[Osiris]

X is the best song they have released since Being Nobody and I'm glad they picked it! It has restored my faith in them after the forgetable Song 4 Lovers which I sincerly hate!

migu: you can watch the behind the scenes of the video on the official site's video diary section. I guess there's a link to the video in the forum.

www.liberty-x.net

[migu]

osiris said:

migu: you can watch the behind the scenes of the video on the official site's video diary section. I guess there's a link to the video in the form.

www.liberty-x.net

Thanks Osiris, I was already aware of this making off thingy, but I guess the video itself is still nowhere on internet.
It may eventually leak on in the coming days I HOPE!
Cant wait to see it

[Osiris]

I've read somewhere it was going to premiere on Saturday... or was it on Blue Peter next Monday?

[azura]

I think they're kind of milking it now. Their moment has long passed. Releasing this single seems to be more like not wanting to turn the life support machine off.

I do like them a lot though. I love a lot of their singles- Just A Little and Being Nobody are great tunes, and I even love their pre-X hits like Thinking It Over and Doin' It. I even liked Jumpin' and Song 4 Lovers. But sadly I think that in the eyes of the general public they have outstayed their welcome.

[SpinDerellum]

osiris said:

I've read somewhere it was going to premiere on Saturday... or was it on Blue Peter next Monday?

It's on Homechoice's VMX.

[AcerBen]

I haven't seen the vid yet but the song is a really strong return to form IMHO. But they ARE doomed.

[Fax Mactor]

The whole image & sound of this group is about 10 years out of date.

Even the name is.

[Steve]

Everyone has been writing them off for ages, and yet they still managed to score two top ten hits late last year, with practically no radio support. It didn't shift albums, but then, the label are showing faith in the project by re-releasing it after this single. They are still on an independent label - after V2 dropped them, they went to Unique Corp; Virgin are only co-funding the project.

[MoondialSlater]

And they have a reality TV show a la Lisa Scott-Lee coming up as well.

[97williamsb]

They claim they weren't dropped. They said around the time of Song 4 Lovers release that V2 wouldn't let them release it. So when Unique Corp showed an interest, they made the switch. But that's only what Kevin and Kelly were saying. Do not know how true it is though.

[Steve]

Well they had quite a large deal with V2, so to up and leave would surely have been a breach of contract, which I don't think they could have really afforded.

[97williamsb]

stevebritney said:

Well they had quite a large deal with V2, so to up and leave would surely have been a breach of contract, which I don't think they could have really afforded.

I think it was Michelle that said they could switch as Unique Corp was under the Virgin label bracket. I can't be 100% sure.

[anorthernmonkey]

I thought that holding on for you was fantastic, and of course being nobody. Song for the lovers was tripe though. I think their low point though, was singing 'Rockin Robin' on the Eastenders christmas special. Oh dearie me

[butterflyboy]

I love the new remix of this track, and ive always held a spot spot for Liberty X. They have no money though as Tony had to do some of the camera work on the video shoot, which is quite alarming really!

Jessica's hair looks nice

[Steve]

97williamsb said:

stevebritney said:

Well they had quite a large deal with V2, so to up and leave would surely have been a breach of contract, which I don't think they could have really afforded.

I think it was Michelle that said they could switch as Unique Corp was under the Virgin label bracket. I can't be 100% sure.

V2 isn't under the Virgin label bracket though - Branson started Virgin Records, which was bought by EMI, and then he started V2 so he could still have a record label.

[tOMMYp3]

butterflyboy said:

They have no money though as Tony had to do some of the camera work on the video shoot, which is quite alarming really!

Erm, no. Tony was joking. He even said he was joking. (I'm referring the the 'Making of' thing here)

[butterflyboy]

Erm, no. Tony was joking. He even said he was joking. (I'm referring the the 'Making of' thing here)

Oh right. Well thats good news!

[SpinDerellum]

There is an awful shot in the video where Tony has to look down at the floor, I guess to remember part of the dance routine.

[eddiiboo19]

whre is the video at? i only like the girls and kevins' voice the image of the band is not soo pretty like back in 2003... but i love them " everything" seems to be a very nice b-side anyone have it? please p. m me...

liberty x seem 2 have the best b-sides along with britney and sugababes.

[Storm]

I think people are far too quick to dismiss LibertyX. At a time where GA are struggling to reach the top ten with each release, and the likes of Rachel are missing the ten completely, LibertyX are still selling singles rather effortlessly. Everyone thought they were over with Song 4 Loverz, only for the song to go top five.

I think more than anything, the public perception of them has changed since 'Being Nobody', but despite that, people still seem to want to buy their singles. And I think that if their label had of got off its arse and promoted the album, they may have sold a few of them.

I quite like 'X'. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's a good solid pop song, and I'd be very surprised if it isn't another top ten for them. They must stop leaving such huge gaps between singles though.

Oh, and their version of 'Dirty Cash' is another hit waiting to happen.........

[Steve]

I agree - the album was sort of abandoned rather quickly, but they are investing in a re-release and re-promotion, so they clearly have faith. I always thought "Being Somebody" was cut off prematurely too - admittedly, "Everybody Cries" was a bit of a flop (I can't for the life of me think why, as I personally love it), but surely they could have bought in a hit (like they did with "Just A Little" for the first album) and re-released it. V2 seemed to lose faith in them very, very quickly.

I can't think of any other acts on Unique Corp (I thought they had the rights to Aaliyah's back catalogue, but I think that's been moved onto someone else now), so perhaps they'll be more willing to keep them on for as long as they want to continue together. I think, especially as they are close to Lisa Scott-Lee, they realise that it's really not worth them even trying to attempt solo careers.

Incidentally, they did record songs with Richard X, and had begun work on a 3rd album for V2, before they were dropped.

[Mike]

Do singles chart positions really mean anything in 2006? We already know the record labels make very little money from them. Girls Aloud might be struggling to reach the top 10 with their singles, but they've sold 300,000 copies of their album and sold out several of the dates on their arena tour. Liberty X's album dropped out of the top 200 within three weeks of its release, a tour on any significant scale simply isn't an option right now, and even their Children In Need single (usually a surefire number one) failed to make the top 5. It's hard to imagine the record label will keep faith on the basis of a couple of top 10 singles - though to be fair, I'm amazed they've managed to hold on to their deal this long.