Memory Lane: The Best of McFly

As a long-time McFly fan, I was just about hysterical when I heard that they were releasing a second Greatest Hits album. Were they splitting up? Was my heart going to be completely crushed for the first time since what my friends have dubbed ‘the Busted incident’? Far from it. Memory Lane: The Best of McFly is an album “for the fans”. It contains some of McFly’s best known tracks, from Five Colours in her Hair to Party Girl, and I was personally delighted with the songs that they decided to put onto this album, both singles and fan-favourites alike, with some new songs thrown in for good measure. The deluxe version showers fans with old demos and songs, and also gives an exclusive download of the music video for new single Love is Easy.

1. Love Is Easy (Unreleased) 5/5

My first thought when I heard this was that McFly were back. Catchy tunes, infectious lyrics and the cutest ukulele accompaniment for the first verse ensure that this was one that was stuck in my head for weeks and weeks after it was released. And, on the plus, the boys look rather fabulous in the video.

2. Shine a Light (Above the Noise) 3/5

Personally, I wouldn’t have chosen this to put on the album. It’s never been a favoured track of mines. The guitars are a little too generic, and the song itself lacks the oomph that most other McFly songs deliver. It might just be me, but I would definitely have left this one off.

3. Party Girl (Above the Noise) 4/5

I was never the biggest fan of this track when it was released, but it’s a grower. The punch that the guitars give when they come in and the infectious beat make this one that, again, sticks in your head for weeks after listening.

4. Falling in Love ( Radio:Active) 5/5

Definitely one of their best tracks. The guitar pattern at the beginning always reminds me of another McFly track, and does seem a bit samey at times, but there’s just something about this song. Maybe it’s the combination of vocals from Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher. Maybe it’s the fact that the guitars are beautiful. Who knows? There’s just something about this song that definitely makes it a personal highlight on the album.

5. Do Ya (Radio:Active) 4/5

Again with the catchy hooks, McFly have chosen a perfect song to add. Again, it’s a bit samey, and the only real difference in the track is the modulation between verses and choruses, but it’s still a song you’ll find me unashamedly singing along to in my bedroom on many an occasion.

6. Lies (Radio:Active) 5/5

The brass does it in this song for me. And the bass solo. And…well, everything. It’s just a great song; there isn’t much else you can say about it.

7. One For The Radio (Radio:Active) 4/5

This is classic McFly, and I love it for that. It was never well-received by the public, to my knowledge, but it remains a firm fan-favourite with almost everyone that I talk to.

8. The Heart Never Lies (Radio: Active) 5/5

There was no questioning this track being on the album. In all ways a pop-rock ballad, the song combines pianos, guitars and beautiful harmonies to create a fantastic and heart-wrenching listening experience.

9. Transylvania (Motion in the Ocean) 5/5

I love me a bit of Dougie Poynter singing, and that’s exactly what Transylvania delivers, along with a fabulous harmonised guitar duet and a pretty awesome organ intro. This has been one of my favourite songs for a long time, and it doesn’t look as if the release of it on this album has changed things at all.

10. Friday Night (Motion in the Ocean) 4/5

The guitar intro for this song is never going to get old. Where it might be slightly out of place on an album filled with songs from across McFly’s career, it fits in fantastically with the sound that they were creating when Motion in the Ocean was released, and was always one of my favourite singles.

11. Star Girl (Motion in the Ocean) 3/5

The harmonies and chords used in this song make it an excellent song in its own merit, but I always found it a little too generic and boyband-ish for my liking. A lot of people argue with me, but there are countless songs that they have released that could have taken this place.

12. Don’t Stop Me Now 5/5

An absolutely fabulous cover of a song I already loved. The solo is spot on, the piano adds a fabulous air to the song and it’s just a song that fills you with the urge to sing and jump around like an absolute idiot.

13. I’ll Be Ok (Wonderland) 2/5

Not my favourite track of all time. It’s incredibly tame, and yes, the harmonies are lovely as usual, but again, it lacks a certain quality that makes other songs great. Probably my least favourite track off of this album.

14. All About You (Wonderland) 5/5

Thank you, McFly, for releasing a song that was never supposed to be given to the public. Lovely lyrics, a gorgeous melody and wonderfully simple backing ensure this song iearns its place well on the album.

15. Room on the Third Floor (Room on the Third Floor) 5/5

Despite the video freaking me out for years on end, this is a great song. Anthemic “na na na” breaks and fabulously twangy guitars have made this one a personal favourite, and a favourite of almost any other fan I have ever spoken to.

16. Obviously (Room on the Third Floor) 4/5

A slightly quieter song, or so it seems. The acoustic intro works very well with the vocals, and the song is still as great a success now as it was back when it was released as a single.

17. Five Colours in her Hair (Room on the Third Floor) 4/5

This was the song that broke McFly to the UK, and it is going to have a prized place on any Greatest Hits album that they release. A catchy intro, anthemic chorus and slightly-cheesy lyrics, add to the appeal. Watch the video for maximum laugh factor.

18. Do Watcha (Unreleased) 5/5

The synths in this song were the first thing that attracted me to it. I’ve never been a big fan of music that includes synths, but the fact that McFly have mixed it with guitars that could be considered heavy for them is absolutely fantastic, and the change from minor to major going from the verse to the chorus fits perfectly. Not to mention that Dougie Poynter once again makes a vocal contribution, and I have always adored his voice.

19. Cherry Cola (Unreleased) 4/5

Another new song for McFly fans to squeal over. The lyrics are somewhat raunchy in places, or at least for them, and the sound effects over some words can come across as ridiculously cheesy, but the catchy beat and continuous backing vocals throughout the verses make this one another hit.

20. That Girl (Demo) (Unreleased) 3/5

Despite the serious lack of guitar solo causing a slight jarring to my ears when listening to this, I actually prefer the demo to the original. The sound is very Beach Boys and the guitars sound absolutely fabulous. The lack of solo, however, drags the rating down for this one, as it causes a massive jump when comparing it to the released version.

21. Obviously (Demo) (Unreleased) 4/5

There isn’ an awful lot of difference between the demo and the album version, so there isn’t much more that I can say that hasn’t been said above, aside from slightly more harmonisation and again, a Beach Boys-esque tone to the music overall.

22. Memory Lane (Wonderland) 5/5

If you didn’t expect this song to be on an album titled the same, I’d call you insane. This has long been one of my favourite McFly songs, mainly due to the guitar parts and the anthemic ending that the song offers. This song alone could have given the album 5/5, and I rate the song the same.

Overall, I think that this is a fabulous album. A mix of old and new ensures there is always something to take the fancy of Galaxy Defenders, McFlyers and Party Girls all over the globe. For an album that spans a nearly-ten-year career in music, McFly have chosen a fantastic range of songs, and the new songs that have been included make me excited for the albums ahead. McFly have really outdone themselves with this, and it truly is an album that shows that they aren’t just one-hit wonders, but a band that can take the charts by storm again and again, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.