plus 4, Echo (Music Review) - EDGE Boston |
- Echo (Music Review) - EDGE Boston
- No riot at Long Bay jail: Robertson - ninemsn
- BEYONCE TOPS POP STAR POLL - Contactmusic.com
- 11/30: Michael Jackson Accuser Now Denies Abuse?- Susan Boyle Makes ... - antiMUSIC
- Britney Spears sends lover home after being rejected - News.com.au
| Echo (Music Review) - EDGE Boston Posted: 29 Nov 2009 09:07 PM PST Leona Lewis broke onto the music scene as the winner of England's The X Factor. She rose to fame by breaking records in the U.K. With her native country conquered she ventured across the pond for a shot at pop music fame here. Lewis garnered the biggest hit of 2008 with the ubiquitous "Bleeding Love." Subsequent singles, however, didn't quite match the same monster success of her stateside debut. Now she is back with Echo, a follow-up focusing on her vocal abilities but not much else, hoping to repeat the chart success of "Bleeding Love". First single "Happy" could almost work as a sequel to the singer's biggest hit. The songs also share their anthemic feel that makes you want to stand up and sing along at the top of your lungs. Along with serving as the first single, the song also acts as the opening track to the album. The song displays everything a follow-up should. It reminds listeners why you should be listening to her while also offering something new. For Echo Lewis has worked with a plethora of big name songwriters. Re-teaming with "Love" co-writer, and OneRepublic front man, Ryan Tedder for a trio of songs makes the most sense to try to make lightning strike twice. Nothing here quite reaches the heights of "Bleeding Love," but plenty of the tracks are worth listening. Completing the collaboration between the two is the inclusion of "Lost Then Found," with is Lewis with all of OneRepublic. Lewis is credited with co-writing a majority of the songs on the album, but her contributions would seem to be secondary to some of the other high wattage ones. Other contributors on the album include Max Martin (Britney Spears and Pink), Kevin Rudolf, and Justin Timberlake, who puts his trademark stamp on the song "Don't Let Me Down" even though there being a handful of writers on the song. Despite all of the A-list contributors, there is one thing that is lost on the sophomore effort - Lewis' personality. Regardless of how good the songs are many of them come across as bland and lifeless because there doesn't appear to be any real emotion behind it. "Echo" is a case of too many cooks in the kitchen and not enough guidance from Lewis and album producers Clive Davis and Simon Cowell. Compounding the problem with Echo is that she is too diverse in the album's music, making it hard to get a feel for who she is as a musician. Lacking a distinct personality is a similar problem that she, and many other reality show winners, suffered on her debut Spirit. But with her sophomore effort, Lewis should have been able to focus more on who she was as an artist. However, she seems to be going broader with the album. While there are plenty of ballads to be had, her obvious meat and potatoes, there is also experimentations with dance music, songs with a Middle Eastern tinge, and electronic flare. Once you establish who you are, experimenting is okay, but until then it just comes across as uncertainty and being a puppet to producers. The one consistent thing on Echo is that Lewis's voice is constantly on display. Even on the subpar tracks like "Love Letter," the singer is able to demonstrate her vocal abilities. The backing music on the song sounds like a recycled beat from a B-list pop group from the 90s and in lesser hands the entire song would have had the same feel. As a result, the album works best when she is working with ballads like "Happy" or "You Don't Care." When things move to mid-tempo is when the album begins to falter. Leona Lewis could usher in a new era of divas for a younger generation as many of the older ones have seen their sales falter in recent years. But before she can take over the crown, she needs to realize that having a killer voice is only part of what is needed to be big in America. Just as important is to have a personality that comes through in the music and that people can identify. Rather than being an "echo" she needs to be original.
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| No riot at Long Bay jail: Robertson - ninemsn Posted: 29 Nov 2009 09:28 PM PST The incident at Long Bay jail where guards were forced to fire shots was only a "scuffle", says NSW Corrective Services Minister John Robertson. Weekend reports said 80 prison guards were needed to stop fighting between 40 Middle Eastern and Aboriginal inmates at Long Bay jail in Sydney's south at about 1.30pm (AEDT) last Tuesday. Guards reportedly were forced to fire shots to break up the fight. But Mr Robertson told reporters on Monday he believed it was just a "scuffle" between a "couple of inmates". "I understand that the incident was dealt with professionally and efficiently by the prison officers," he said. "Security was never at question in this particular incident." This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| BEYONCE TOPS POP STAR POLL - Contactmusic.com Posted: 29 Nov 2009 09:14 PM PST BEYONCE TOPS POP STAR POLL BEYONCE has topped a new fan poll to find the world's greatest pop star. 30 November 2009 01:46
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| 11/30: Michael Jackson Accuser Now Denies Abuse?- Susan Boyle Makes ... - antiMUSIC Posted: 29 Nov 2009 07:05 PM PST Susan Boyle's debut record, "I Dreamed A Dream," entered the British album chart in the top spot Sunday. According to the Official Charts Company, the more than 410,000 copies of "I Dreamed a Dream" sold since its release Nov. 23 make it the fastest selling album so far this year, and are the largest first-week sales for a debut album in U.K. chart history. more. Real talent will win out every time. The bus carrying Britney Spears' tour equipment has been involved in a serious accident in Australia - the vehicle was flipped off the road during a bad storm. The driver was admitted to hospital, where his condition was unknown. more John Mayer brought home his second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart Wednesday after his "Battle Studies" sold 286,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Meanwhile, Norah Jones finished third with her new album while Norah Jones grabbed the No. 3 spot with sales of 180,000 of "The Fall," an album title that proved to be prophetic as her previous three albums had opened at No 1 with her 2007 release "Not Too Late," moving an impressive 405,000 during its first week. Speaking of prophetic album titles, 50 Cent's "Before I Self Destruct" came in at No. 5 with 160,000 copies sold. Fiddy's 2007 release "Curtis" sold 691,000 during its first week. But who came in between Mayor and Jones? Andrea Bocelli's "My Christmas" surged at No. 2 with 185,000 copies according to Billboard during a busy, busy week on the charts with lots of big names releasing albums. Get the lowdown here ABC says Chris Brown will appear on its "20/20" show Dec. 11. more Gerard Way's decision to call his daughter Bandit has backfired - it has been voted the worst celebrity baby name of the year. The My Chemical Romancer and his musician wife, Lindsey Ballato, welcomed little Bandit Lee in May more The struggle between the Canadian firm that acquired Death Row in January and the hip-hop label's apparently exiled chief executive is set to continue in a New York City court. more Al Alberts, a founding member of the singing group, The Four Aceshas died. He was 87. Chris Alberts says his father died Friday at home in Arcadia, Fla. He says the apparent cause of death was complications from kidney failure. more The Fold's music video for their Miley Cyrus parody, "Every Band in the USA", can be seen - here
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| Britney Spears sends lover home after being rejected - News.com.au Posted: 29 Nov 2009 05:32 PM PST BRITNEY Spears ended her Australian tour by hitting a nightclub - but boyfriend of three years Jason Trawick was absent after she sent him home to the US. Confidential has learnt the lip-synching superstar was mortified when Trawick, her one-time manager, declined her offer of marriage in Sydney 10 days ago.Spears popped the question to Trawick, often seen looking after her sons Sean and Jayden, as the end of her global Circus tour neared and expected a positive reply. "Britney simply assumed he'd say yes and she couldn't believe it when he said no," a Spears source told Confidential yesterday. "She was furious and embarrassed and it was going to cause major problems if he stayed around. "So she told him to get on the next plane home and he was gone within 24 hours and she's been getting on with things without him." Spears was devastated, with friends earlier saying Trawick was the kind of man "who might tempt her to marry again". Spears performed her final concert in Adelaide last night while her children were cared for by ex-hubbie Kevin Federline and Spears' tour nanny in Melbourne. She earlier hit the town for the first time on tour on Friday night with her back-up dancers and other crew members at Melbourne's exclusive Eve nightclub. Part of the conditions for the performer's visit was that no alcohol or even energy drinks like Red Bull were to be served in the room, where she stayed until 3.30am drinking water and juice and sporting sunglasses. Witnesses said many revellers did not realise the low-key and casually dressed star was in the club. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter Share this article What is this?This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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