Given that Leona has been the prettiest and best sounding female vocalist to come out of the UK talent show X-Factor, and that Simon Cowell and Clive Davis both backed Leona in a way no other contestant had been on either side of the Atlantic - I was expecting this album to be decent. But it falls short. Seriously short.
Spirit is void of any personality. If you thought the likes of Mariah Carey and Beyoncé were bionic, soulless robots, then you ain't met Leona. I've seen more personality in an empty Corn Flakes box. There's just nothing to this girl other than the fact she can sing really well. As refreshing as it is to have a new female vocalist step onto the scene who can actually sing amongst the likes of bitches like Amerie, Cassie, Rihanna - I need more. In this day and age being able to hold a tune just isn't enough. It's easier to make it as a charismatic lady with limited vocal ability than it is to make it as a vocal powerhouse with no personality. Just ask Madonna. She's not all that good a singer and can't dance for shit; but she's one of the biggest artists of all time because she's a character and there's something to her. The same goes for Britney, though her story is a tad tragic, so we'll forget her for now.
Spirit musically isn't that bad. "Bleeding love" is a cracker of a song and the only one where Leona shows a fleck of personality and sass. "Better in time" is a nice mid tempo ballad with it's twinkly piano and strings. "I will be" sees Leona treading into rock ballad territory. "I'm you" tows the R&B line with its seductive beat. "Misses glass" and "Forgive me" are two hot, up-tempo radio friendly pop tinged R&B numbers that have 'Summer smashes' written all over them. And "The best you never had" is a radio friendly female kiss off track. But as good as these songs are, they would've been better in the hands of an artist who actually has a personality and can inject life into them. It also doesn't help that every track on the album sounds like it belongs to somebody else. "Better in time" sounds like it belongs to the Sugababes, "I'm you" sounds like a bonus track from a Ne-Yo album and "Angel" sounds so much like "Irreplaceable" that Beyoncé could do Leona for infringement of copyright.
Leona will undoubtedly return with a second album because reality show winners are often given that at the very least. Plus Simon Cowell and Clive Davis are so smitten with Leona because of that voice and her look. But unless little Leona can muster a personality and show there's more to her than a good voice and a pretty face, there may not be a third album from her. As nice a girl as Leona seems, nice don't sell records. Sass, charisma and a strong personality do and at the moment Leona has neither. Maybe if she throws a wobbly back stage at a gig, burns her stylist in the face with a curling iron, people will find her more interesting and it'll translate into the music, because we need more than this.
Album highlights:
■ Bleeding love
■ Better in time
■ I will be
■ I'm you
■ Forgive me
■ Misses glass ★ J's fave
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