★ ★ ★ ★ out of 5
Where has this brilliant album been all my life?... To be fair to all involved, following the disappointing performance of lead single "Happy", I never gave Echo from The X Factor winner Leona Lewis a fair, full listen when it was originally released in November 2009. It may be one of the dumbest decisions I have ever made in my music life. For whatever reasons, the album was swept under the rug and my attention was focused soon after on the almost perfect Glassheart.
It could have been that singles "Happy" and "I Got You" just did not connect when first released, it could have been the album was released alongside anticipated projects from Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert and Rihanna, or just that Lewis' star was fading a bit after the extraordinary success of "Bleeding Love", either way her second studio album is another example of uncovering a hidden pop gem and definitely deserves to be heard. Better late than never.
Lead single "Happy" was a beautiful, touching offering, reminiscent of the ballads Lewis had released in the past. That could have been the main problem. While an impressive single, showcasing the artist's amazing vocal abilities, audiences may have felt they've heard it before. The song became sort of anthem for the romantically obsessed and is one of the brighter moments on the album, it just did not take off like it initially should have.
Critics seemed to be unimpressed with second single "I Got You" calling it "lazy", but they may have all been wrong. The track is a simplistic pop ballad supported by lovely guitars and strings as Lewis' vocals command the spotlight once again. On the verses her voice remains soft and sweet, but once the memorable chorus rolls around, she tackles it with such power and emotion, making the single an honest highlight.
"Love Letter" is a midtempo pop song where Lewis is heard pouring her heart out to the man of her dreams and fantasies. Set to upbeat production similar to what could be found on a Kelly Clarkson album, the catchy track is a lovely, emotional piece with a sweet back story. "Now I believe that this is fate, cause baby we belong together, I know everything is gonna be okay, just as long as we have each other," she sings on the solid love ballad.
The slow numbers keep rolling out with "Can't Breathe", definitely one of the better efforts off the album. Though still considered a traditional ballad, the edgier progression and harder beats on the track is somewhat different than what was heard on the artist's previous releases and ultimately becomes an intriguing listen. With Lewis' soaring vocal performance, strong songwriting and a captivating and memorable chorus, the track is truly stunning.
Co-written by pop heavyweight Ryan Tedder, "You Don't Care" is a glorious, bittersweet track shining light on the darker side of love. Supported by powerful drums and haunting vocals, the song is a well-deserved success thanks to all components coming together perfectly, resulting in a somber moment which could have been released as an official single. Lewis seems to be the go-to girl for depressing love ballads.
For those familiar with Lewis' third album, Glassheart, uptempo track "Outta My Head" may have been a hint at the direction she was moving towards. Containing more of an electropop vibe with a revengeful yet optimistic message, the fast-paced song is a pleasant departure from the artist's typical work. "You made the biggest mistake, and now I'm going to get you way outta my head," Lewis sings on the one song that differs from the rest of the track list.
"My Hands", featured on the Final Fantasy XIII video game, is a tremendous offering, supported by a talented orchestra which really takes the song to impressive heights, that deals with moving on with one's life following the end of a relationship. Though numerous critics labeled the track as a "forgettable" effort, the song carries enough heart and energy to captivate any listener. The finished product is another superb addition.
Dealing with the destruction of a relationship once again, Lewis claims she's on the road to recovering on "Alive". "We try not to crash but we still collide, tears I've cried, I'll survive, I'm alive," the artist belts on the chorus which shows her trying to look on the brighter side of the tragically dark times. The lyrics to the song do a swell job at painting a somber picture, but with the pace and progression remaining somewhat of one note, it can get a bit boring.
Pretty impressive to have Justin Timberlake help pen a track for your album. "Don't Let Me Down" features yet another show-stopping performance from Lewis as she sings of making difficult decisions in life. Though the two superstars worked closely together to create the slow ballad, it seems they forgot to put any real emotion into the song's lyrics. Performance wise it is brilliant, however, the song fails to make an impression.
Not found on the original UK version of the album, "Fly Here Now" is an interesting track since it seems to be inspired by different genres and eras of music. While it has ridiculous lyrics referencing jet engines and airplanes, the throwback-sounding pop song is an enjoyable listen, although it does not hold the conviction as some of its predecessors. The vocals are spot on, production is a nice companion, and is very catchy.
Following her short moment of happiness, Lewis is back to being the girl with a shattered heart on "Broken", a somber ballad where she sings of being over the complicated emotion. "I wanna run away from love, this time I have had enough, every time I feel your touch, I'm broken," she sings beautifully during the hook. The song would not sound out of place coming from Christina Aguilera, but Lewis definitely gives it her all.
The album closes out with "Lost Then Found", technically a duet with One Republic, but also part of a hidden track called "Stone Hearts & Hand Grenades". The pairing of the two artists was a nice choice, since both compliment each other in pace and vocals, showcasing some evident chemistry. It's a sad story about rekindling the flame of a love that apparently went out, a song that highlights the possibility of a second chance.
Echo is a wonderful album that went unnoticed when first released five years ago. Leona Lewis was riding high on the success of "Bleeding Love", and probably felt the need to make new music similar in sound and structure. In that sense, she accomplished the feat, and though critics originally called her out for being unimaginative, her second studio album is a collection of expected slow yet explosive pop ballads, and a few uptempo surprises, that highlight her most important quality: the marvelous voice. Each track is a great performance, most become a memorable piece of pop. Moving on, let's hope Lewis sticks to the ballads she does best.
Tracks To Hear: "I Got You", "Love Letter", "Can't Breathe" and "Broken"
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