BBC Review
Leona’s second album features collaborations with Justin Timberlake and OneRepublic.
Mike Diver 2009-11-06
One begins listening to this second album from the 2006 X Factor winner hoping its title isn’t prophetic – nobody needs an echo of Lewis’s soporific, saccharine debut, Spirit.
While her 2007 album remains the fastest-selling debut release from a British artist – it outsold the Spice Girls’ greatest hits compilation by two to one – Spirit offered little beyond the anticipated. An assortment of big-lunged ballads, replete with lyrics about overcoming adversity, it ticked all necessary boxes and met audience expectations disappointingly perfectly.
More is expected of this 13-track set, which hasn’t quite hit the ground running as its lead single, Happy, failed to set charts alight internationally (though it's sure to perform better domestically). Recorded stateside over the course of nine months, Echo is undeniably a bolder affair than its predecessor, but still falls into the same trap of an over reliance on Lewis’s voice – not half as strong as her supporters might think – in favour of developed arrangements musically muscular enough to render attentions rapt.
When she reaches for the highs, Lewis comes off as a discount Mariah Carey – Can’t Breathe is an unbearable exercise in vocal histrionics that will have all but the most fiercely loyal of devotees reaching for a bucket. Its staccato tics might briefly recall the addictive “‘ella, ‘ella, ‘ella” motif of Rihanna’s Umbrella, but it lacks any of the Barbadian singer’s sassiness and compositional edge. Better are the Arabic overtones of Brave, but it’s still more straight-to-DVD Disney than DreamWorks blockbuster in scope.
The employment of an assortment of co-writers, including Justin Timberlake and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, hasn’t resulted in an album of pronounced diversity. With only a couple of exceptions, Echo sticks to safe songs that complement their singer’s ballad-heavy catalogue. Outta My Head is a sidestep into cheesy Eurodance beats that almost comes off – it’s a touch too cheap-sounding, too tinny of production – and the Timberlake duet Don’t Let Me Down shuffles to subtle percussion evocative of the American singer’s Cry Me a River and What Goes Around…, albeit without any comparable soulfulness.
Echo’s problem is that its central protagonist simply doesn’t stamp her authority on proceedings – yes, that’s her dominating the mix, but there’s no character in her performances, no life in her voice beyond that prompted by out-of-shot puppeteers. Its songs are fine for what they are, and clear improvements on what came before. But for a multi-million selling artist, Lewis still lacks an album worthy of her international profile.
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Mike Diver (is that a real name?) you really don't have a clue do you? Perhaps you think some drugged up metal band is REAL MUSIC?
I can't believe I'm forced to fund your wages for you to write this dross.
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Thank Goodness!! at last someone whose ears function exactly like my own and who is not in the world of the "emporers new clothes"
Ive tried to understand why people think Leona is a good singer and failed. She does not connect with a song at all - Look at Barbara Streisand .. now there is a talented singer.
Also apart from Bleeding Love there hasnt been anything good since. Spirit was poor and from the clips I have heard Echo sounds just as sleep inducing.
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The reviewer and looplash have made my day. It's nice to start the week with a laugh! If Leona's stunning vocals send you to sleep, then you need to see a specialist - and soon!
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you obviously dont have much taste in good music. she is one of the best singers in this country and a world class talent.
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All opinions are equally valid; beauty is in the eye or ear of the beholder.
So why do people expressing NOT to like everything that Leona has done get slated? I much prefer Run to Happy it has more of a melody and a more interesting.
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An extremely fair review, which has been more or less Echo'd (sorry) throughout the industry. Reading through some of the backlash, I just wish Leona possessed some of the fire that her fans clearly have. They are so defensive of her, and its difficult to see why with 2 extremely lacklustre full-lengths. She (Simon) needs to really sort herself out if she is to remain on the world stage...right now she is falling off... if she is the finest thing we have as an export, its a sorry state of affairs. Where is this x factor that she is supposed to have?
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This album is a total disappointment
Simon Cowell what are you doing!!!!!
It's drab dull and totally uninspiring.
and the Sony damage limitation squad can try and brush over it with counter comments of how wonderful the album is but our ears dont lie and in fact listening to it in it's entirety makes me want to punch somebody in the head like my own for having spent money on this foolishness but luckily I have the receipt and Im gonna take it back and get the other album
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Well like the first album Spirit, Echo is a dissapointment. However, there is no denying she has a great singing voice.
Lets hope her next album contains more variation rather than songs that all sound the same.
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