The Beat Surrender

When Leona Lewis romped home to X-Factor glory (‘glory’ said with a very heavy dose of sarcasm I might add) she did initially give me some hope that she wouldn’t turn out like all the rest of them, one hit wonders singing cover versions. She didn’t rush into releasing her album and stayed away from the cover versions route, instead choosing to jet off to America to work with some very established producers over there.

Then came the unbelievably insipid Bleeding Love (which opens the album) a track that feels three minutes too long after about..well three minutes actually. I wondered if the rest of the album would be as bad as the monster hit single, so like the professional, amateur music hack I am I borrowed it off a girl at work to give it a couple of listens.

So here I am on my second spin of Spirit and already i’m pulling what little hair I have left, out. Her voice is impressive to a degree, for it’s range at least and I’m guessing if you looked through her CD collection at home it would be full of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey albums, I could be wrong on this she might be a massive fan of The Slits, Stiff Little Fingers and UK Subs but I just don’t think so somehow.

Having a good voice is one thing, using it is another. The songs are so unbelievably dull and one paced throughout that I have to wonder how much input she had into this album aside from doing her bit into the microphone. She sings without passion and it just doesn’t sound like she’s singing from the heart at all, as one wishy washy ballad flows into another.

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