Leona Lewis: Echo
Leona Lewis: Echo
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The self-titled debut album by the MOBO-winning R 'n' B boyband who finished as runners up in last year's edition of Simon Cowell's star-making TV show The X Factor - does it live up to their potential? |  |
Wednesday, 18, Nov 2009 11:45
Syco/Sony, out now.
What's it all about?
This is the second album from the pop starlet, consisting of 13 tracks, eight of which she helped to write. It continues in the same vein as Leona's debut album - Spirit - with a mixture of slower ballads and emotional numbers.
Who's it by?
Leona Lewis has become a household name since she won the X Factor in 2006. The star has done impressively well across the pond, being the first British female to top the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in over 20 years with Bleeding Love. She has the backing of music mogul Simon Cowell, meaning she was always likely to go far.
Her debut album Spirit, released in 2007, entered the UK album charts at number one and became the fastest-selling album since records began.
As an example…
"There's a heartbreaking chill running/Through my bones/I got my clothes but I can't really feel them on."
What the others say
"Lewis is technically flawless, but behind lyrics about 'the scars on my heart,' there's little personality - you miss a little of Mariah and Whitney's supersize ego." - Jody Rosen, Rolling Stone
"I've got to admit, I'm a sucker for a big, melodramatic, overblown power ballad. Songs like Happy, Can't Breathe and Love Letter deliver thrilling sugar rushes of ersatz emotion." - Neil McCormick, Daily Telegraph
So is it any good?
Leona was criticised for playing it safe on her first album so you might have hoped she would push the boat out this time and test some different styles, especially now she has fellow X Factor winner Alexandra Burke pumping out upbeat poppy tunes to contend with.
However, it seems Leona has done the opposite and stuck to what she knows - hitting the high notes, building up emotion in the song and striking out the power ballads.
It's difficult to criticise her, as her singing is impeccable and she hits the tough notes every time, but it feels a bit worn and tried and tested. You get the impression that her management have found a license to print money with her popularity and don't want to rock the boat by trying something new.
One deviation from her norm on the album is in her cover of Oasis' Stop Crying Your Heart Out, but in this she seems a bit lost and anyone who likes the original will instantly feel this does not hit the mark.
But even initially cynical listeners will find themselves singing along to some of the better songs, like Happy, Broken and Can't Breathe, all of which have a catchy tune and are likely to see chart success.
Don't get me wrong, fans will love the album and it's packed full of chart-toppers; there's just an overwhelming feeling of 'heard it all before'.
6 /10
Laura Suter