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From:Leona Lewis , J-Records ,
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#41 |
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 The album grew on me. I'll give it 3 and 3/4 stars, 2008-08-14
Previously, I gave this album three stars. The original review which I'll keep below will explain my initial views. But the album grew on me. I warmed up to it, mainly because of Leona's vocal talents. The production on some songs suffer from "done this heard that". For example "Angel", I mean if I hear another "Stargate" (ex. "Irreplaceable", "Tattoo") song I'll scream. The better songs (though none can compare to "Bleeding Love") are "Better in Time", "Whatever it Takes", "Yesterday", "Forgive Me" (which sounds very close to "The Sweet Escape"),"Homeless" (which in a crazy move was left off the U.S. album), and "Misses Glass".
Original Review:
I love "Bleeding Love". It's emotional, catchy, and has that timeless thing to it where you'll hear it ten years from now and kids (the next generation of iTunes buyers) will say "That was a good song". But the other songs leave a lot to be desired. Mainly because they are so "vanilla". I like Clive Davis and Simon Cowell and they have eye for good talent, but they seem stuck on the "copy, paste" method of constructing an album. You got a "Mariah" track here, a "Christina" track there, and like some others worded, I was looking for a "Leona" other than "Bleeding Love". Note to executive producer of Leona's sophomore album (I'm hoping this reaches you): Now that Leona is officially established in terms of vocal stardom, please focus on establishing Leona as an "artist". Give her elbow room and help her create an album with real cohesion and a theme. And detach her from those covers of the past and push her towards a future in music that will make people think of her as an "artist" more than just a "singer".
Nice Album, Undeserving of Her Talent, 2008-08-12
Let me start off by saying this. Leona Lewis is an incredible singer. The only singer out now that can challenge her vocally, is Christina Aguilera, who's been in the business for almost 10 years now. Simon Cowell was right to invest so much time promoting her, as well as Clive Davis. That in itself, should give you the idea of how much talent she has. Clive Davis has worked with, not only Alicia Keys, but the legendary Whitney Houston. We all know how hard it is to please Simon, as seen on American Idol. He is consistantly a tough critic, and for him to call Leona the best out of all the talent shows, and the best singer in the world, on Oprah, means something. Talent will take you places, but only with the right direction. This, is where the trouble comes in. We all know Leona can sing. No, she can SANG! But, the album was a bit of a letdown. Having heard Leona's pipes on "The X-Factor," at such a young age, I expected mega hits on this album. While there were some good tracks, there was nothing that compared to Leona's live rendition of Whitney Houston's classic "I Have Nothing" on the X-Factor, which I was only able to see on Youtube, being American.
To make it worse, the American release of this album, is to me, inferior to the British release. The emotional power ballad "Homeless" was replaced by two sappy filler pop songs "Forgive Me," and "Misses Glass." The choices for the albums songs wer foolish, and didint utilize her strengths and weaknesses. None of the songs fully utilized her high range. Not one of the songs included her singing an F#6 or above, which she proved she can do, on her rendition of Minnie Riperton's "Loving You." None of the songs utilized her fantastic ability to sustain belted notes, and only one of them included her ability to belt in her higher register (G#5 on "Take A Bow")
Overall, the song choices were weak, and the album was undeserving of this girl's tremendous talent. There WERE a few songs that I thought did belong. "Yesterday," though looped to a sappy, tween-like beat, showed how much power she could use in her voice, and included a stunning high falsetto note that would make Mariah proud. Her cover oof Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was a masterpiece, even better than the legendary diva, Celine Dion's rendition of it, in my opinion, which is a huge acomplishment. The song "Footprints In The Sand" was absolutely beautiful as well, ands could be a #1 Hit, if they release it as a single. "Better In Time" isnt paerticularly my cup of tea, but I very well see the appeal. "I Will Be" was also a strong song, nowhere near her best, but I do think it had a place on her album, showing her versatility. "Forgive Me," "Misses Glass," and "I'm You" were filler at best. Even her US album cover isnt as good as her UK one...
My suggestions for a better Spirit, fusing her UK and US albums, and adding other things, would have been :
1:Bleeding Love
2:Better In Time
3:I Will Be
4:Homeless
5:Forgive Me(Filler Track)
6:The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
7:I Have Nothing(I would have had her record a cover of this, the way she sang it on the X-Factor)
8:Angel(Though not vocally strong, I think the song is nice enough in itself to do pretty well)
9:Yesterday
10:Take A Bow
11:Footprints In The Sand
12:Loving You(I would have had her record another cover of this)
Im pretty sure the above album would have done 10 times better. Still, Spirit is a VERY good album. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Yesterday," "Take A Bow," "Footprints In The Sand," And maybe "I Will Be" are good songs that havent been released, that are worth a listen. Definately worth the purchase.
VERY GOOD VOCALS, 2008-08-11
LEONA LEWIS IS A VERY GIFTED SINGER. SHE REMINDS ME OF MARIAH CAREY WITH HER VOCAL RANGE. WILL BE SEEING A LOT OF HER IN THE FUTURE.
1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
 Best Newcomer Voice of 2008 !!, 2008-08-09
I have been ordering Leona Lewis CD after her advertisement campaign running up and down on the Sky-perfects Fox channel in Japan.
I am writing this review after having listened to it for 3 months in a row but it still feels like on the first day.
This CD is a mainstream melancholy type production. All songs are easily listening type songs that you can run in the background when driving, traveling, waiting on the airport, in your favourite cafe, bar etc.
At first I liked the fresh energetic voice, but when you listen to the CD you realize quickly that there is more to it. Every time you listen to it you discover a different aspect of it.
I believe Leona Lewis has what it takes. She can sing a variety of songs slow, fast, loud, soft, sexy .... you name it, she can do the whole variety without being bitchy or cheap.
In this aspect I do respect also that the cover pictures are not looking like you buy a mens magazine.
Leona Lewis has the main ingredients, a clear voice, the vibration, a talent to stress the small tones and a wide spectrum.
This is the first album I have heard from her. I think its actually show casing a good range of melancholic styled songs - and more important and again - she has the voice for it. ;-)
Many people will like the CD for a simple reason - Listening to it is enjoyable and relaxing.
I have heard from people who have it running in the background while creating flower arrangements.
Last but not least this is also one of the few CD's my wive and me both like without exception - consider THAT a real achievement ;-)
You might argue that the song arrangements itself seem at times like fail-save versions for the mainstream market but I believe that is just because she hasnt found herself yet and is testing her ground. Nevertheless the voice is terrific !!
I wish that in her next production she is willing to take a calculated risk for an even better refined Leona Lewis style.
One "problem" I am facing already with this CD is that it is regularly gone to friends places and I actually have to go for it to get it back.
So that means, it cant be that bad. ;-)
So how about Lenoa Lewis you are asking ? ... for me anytime again !!
Revved up, 2008-08-08
Revved up. I play it when I need to be energized. Great new artist.
Vincent
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