Album Review: Cruising With Jane McDonald Vol 2 (Absolute)

It is hard to believe that it is over 22 years since Jane McDonald came to fame on The Cruise. Since then, the Wakefield star has gone on to have a successful series on Channel 5: Jane McDonald and Friends which is due to return soon.

You can see her appeal, the friendly singer has a knack of picking popular songs that she and her audience like. There is nothing challenging about it and probably more than ever it’s times like these that we need something familiar and reassuring.

'Let’s Get Loud' starts off the 16 track album; the song made famous by Jennifer Lopez is a favourite of McDonald’s live shows. Her Christmas show at Leeds Arena will be sadly missed this year.

I would not expect her to cover 'Another Suitcase in Another Hall'as I always associate her with more uptempo tracks, here though the song suits her well. 'Mama Mia' is probably covered because she is a big Abba fan. Like McDonald herself it is glitzy and harking back to a time when life was far simpler.

Elsewhere the INXS hit 'New Sensation' gets a makeover. Men at Work’s 1983 hit 'Down Under' is an interesting cover, whilst her version of Kylie’s 'Spinning Around'will appeal to Kylies fan base as well as Jane’s own fans.

Covering 'Ain’t No Mountain High Enough' is like scaling a mountain in itself but she pulls it off easily.

By the time we get to the end of the album with 'Hot Hot Hot', the party seems to be back to full swing, just like it started with the opening track 'Let’s Get Loud'.

If you want to forget what is happening on the news, need a huge pick me up or are missing seeing Jane in concert, then, for you, Christmas has come early with this gift of unashamed entertainment.

I rate the album 4 out of 5.