Glee: The Music // Presents The Warblers

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For Glee fans, The Warblers require no introduction. But for those of you who aren’t maybe too familiar with them, The Warblers of Dalton Academy, an all boys school, are the rival vocal group for season 2 of the show.

The Warblers haven’t been shown much love with the last two volumes of Glee: The Music with only Teenage Dreams being put on the CDs. However, here, you will find all the songs that they performed from the season as well as two exclusive tracks (What Kind Of Fool and the unheard Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?). What makes The Warblers stand out, and rightly deserve their own album, is the fact that they are the instruments. The accapella renditions of these songs work well even for those that you wouldn't think.

The songs themselves appear in order that they did in the show, but that shouldn’t matter. If you’ve not been buying the individual tracks on a weekly basis and you love the versions of the songs by The Warblers, then this should be on your list to buy. Show The Warblers the love they’ve missed from the last two CDs.

Rating: 4.5/5

Glee: The Music // Volume 5

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The UK is just coming up to the Sectionals in the second series, but over in the US, they're up to Regionals. As with all these albums, it tends to simply be the highlights of the next batch of episodes that are included, and mostly, not in order that they appear in the show.

In this offering is songs originally by Michael Jackson (P.Y.T Pretty Young Thing), Queen (Fat Bottomed Girls), Justin Bieber (Baby & Somebody To Love), Katy Perry (Fireworks(, Human League (Don't You Want Me Baby) and recent Grammy Award winners, Lady Antebellum (Need You Now). You'll also find quiet possibly one of the best mash-up from the series here as well (Michael Jackson's Thriller and The Yeah Yeah Yeah's Heads Will Roll). Additionally, the first original songs from the show so far are also found on this release (Loser Like Me & Get It Right). Again, this half of the season has had it's share or old and new songs, bring different acts to a new generation.

Really only buy this if you're a complete Gleek and you need it to balance up ye old CD collection but if you've been buying weekly, you're not missing anything.

Rating:4/5

Glee:The Music // Volume 4

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The UK might not be seeing Season 2 until January 2011, but over in the US, they've already had 9 episodes (including a special Rocky Horror Picture Show episode especially for Halloween!) Of course each week, the songs from the episode are available to download so what's this CD?

Basically, the album could be the 'highlights' of the season so far. With songs from the likes of Alica Keys, Katy Perry, Celo Green and Bruno Mars, the season has seen it's fair share of new songs along with the mixture of old. There are tracks from all the episodes except The Rocky Horror Glee Show (which was given it's own release)

Sadly though, there are some gems missing that could have done with being here like the renditions of Lady Gaga's Telephone, REM's Losing My Religion and the mash up of Rhianna's Umbrella and the Classic Singin' In The Rain.

If you've been buying all the songs as you've seen them on the show, then there's nothing really here for you. More than likely for those who have been looking for a 'best of' for the season so far

Rating:4/5

Glee: The Music // Journey To Regionals

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The final instalment for the first Glee season. This mini album brings together the tracks for the final moments of the show and it a wonderful little collection.

The mixture of high energy songs and beautiful ballads is a great little mixture.  Fan favourite Don’t Stop Believing is back with a new arrangement vocally and increased tempo. A worry track here would be Bohemian Rhapsody as get it wrong and on your head be it. However, the track is beautifully performed (it’s almost like listening to the We Will Rock You soundtrack) and you could almost say respected. However, the highlight of this album has to be Over The Rainbow

As an ending to a what can only be deemed a phenomenal success both sides of the Atlantic, this mini album is a lovely completion for this series. More than likely though it will be the fans that flock to this.

Rating: 4/5

Glee: The Music // Volume 3: Showstoppers

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Volume 3: Showstoppers brings together a selection of tracks from the second half of the first season of Glee. The album boast no less than 20 tracks and for Gleeks everywhere, it’s probably a great little purchase for those that want to listen to the music without having to watch an episode over.

Whilst many of the songs from Glee are cover well, there are some songs that shouldn’t be touched (Lionel Richie’s Hello is one from this album)  However there are plenty of songs that have been given justice (in particular One, I Dreamed A Dream, Poker Face and Bad Romance). For a change, all the main characters all have solos on this album, instead of it being just a select few.

Sadly though this just doesn’t seem to have the same impact as previous albums. Maybe it’s the feeling that more songs have been left out than appeared in the show (as we all know, the songs were released on a weekly basis based on the episode) What would be nice to see is a release where all the songs from the show are included and not just some selection. Sure the album would probably cost more but by time you bought all the missing tracks, you’d probably not mind paying that little extra. Maybe it’s because this album doesn’t seem to have any oomph in it. Either way, fans will lap it up.

Rating: 3.5/5

Glee: The Music // The Power Of Madonna

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If you haven’t heard of Glee by now, what rock have you been sleeping under?  This album is dedicated purely to the episode of the same name and therefore, features the songs of Madonna.

If you’ve seen the episode then you already know what to expect. If you haven’t then just listen to the tracks and imagine the possibilities.  The tracks are more from Madonna older catalogue, but are given the Glee make over to bring them to a new generationIt is almost a perfect 10 for the album except for the Borderline/Open Your Heart mash up (track 2) which really should have just been Open Your Heart on it’s own, as it is more that than Borderline.

The highlights of the album have to be Vogue (featuring Sue Slyvester on the lead vocals!!), 4 Minutes (which could be deemed to be maybe better than the original) and the finale of Like A Prayer. Overall the album would definitely appeal to those that want to hear the full songs and not the edited versions that appear in the episode.

Possibly don’t expect these songs to feature on Glee: The Music Vol.3

Rating: 4.5./5