Borrowed Heaven

They've sold over 20 million albums worldwide and consistently climbed charts with their vibrant, Celtic-influenced, infectious and clear-eyed pop. They've even shared their stage with guests like U2's Bono and The Rolling Stones' Ron Wood. Now the Corrs follow up their 2002 release VH1 Presents The Corrs: Live in Dublin, with the eagerly awaited brand new studio set 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