S_Bunny
Platinum Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,051
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Post by S_Bunny on Nov 20, 2009 17:06:16 GMT -5
^ BTW I was looking at Pulse on my cousin computer and she saw your signature. She loved it and said it was so cute! I had to agree!
I LOVE this entire CD! Everything is an 8.5/10 or better! OH. MY. JESUS/BUDDAH/MUHAMMAD/ZEUS!!! LOL thanks, the set of pics of Leona are just too cute! And I agree with your sentiments on this album, couldn't ask for more :)
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BrokenArrow
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,616
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Post by BrokenArrow on Nov 20, 2009 19:45:22 GMT -5
Ha ! I knew "You don't care" was inspired by the beatles.
The intro is straight from strawberry Fields and she recorded it at abbey road studios.
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Caviar
Diamond Member
Queen X
Joined: October 2003
Posts: 31,100
My Charts
Pronouns: He/his
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Post by Caviar on Nov 20, 2009 20:42:57 GMT -5
I just got the album! I'm REALLY REALLY loving "Can't Breathe"!!! :O :O
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r.enato
6x Platinum Member
Earth Intruder
Then you put your hand in mine...
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 6,793
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Post by r.enato on Nov 20, 2009 20:47:16 GMT -5
^ it's my favorite! So hot, right?
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dbhmr
Diamond Member
>
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 23,475
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Post by dbhmr on Nov 20, 2009 20:55:35 GMT -5
Review from Slant magazine that, for me (though maybe not others in this thread), hits the nail on the head with this album and Leona in general. I don't mean to be totally ragging, but I always appreciate their reviews (even when they're not always glowing). They gave this 2.5 stars out of 5. Leona Lewis Echo by Matthew Cole Posted: November 17, 2009 If nothing else, Echo certainly establishes Leona Lewis as a singularly gifted vocalist. Not since Mariah Carey began her full-time residence on Planet Glitter has such a technically capable vocalist been found in the Top 40. Lewis's voice combines Carey's expansive range with a terrific tonal quality—maybe less rich than Christina's, a bit cooler than Kelly Clarkson's, but undeniably a talent to be reckoned with. And what's more, Lewis's extensive cast of producers and songwriters refrain from pulling out the most hackneyed tricks in diva-dom: You won't hear the music dropping out to accent a ludicrous octave run, or a whole song wasted on the buildup to a big vocal finale. The fact that Lewis can sing isn't a novelty here—it's the premise of the album. On nearly every track she can be found cooing impossibly high melodies over bouncing club beats ("Can't Breathe," "Outta My Head") or imbuing the ballads with thick, powerful choruses to match their outsized string arrangements ("Broken"). But less compelling material, particularly in the album's second half, finds Lewis's talent squandered. The gooier adult contemporary numbers, of which "I Got You" is the worst, tend to add a lot of unnecessary vocal doctoring to the mix, edging on the faceless robo-pop that has become all too ubiquitous in the age of Auto-Tune. And too much of the album's runtime is dominated by altogether thoughtless ballads, like the languid late-album duo of "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" and "Don't Let Me Down," in which Lewis confronts dull, piano-driven arrangements with vocals that, while technically unimpeachable, lack any warmth or emotional expression. While even those tracks are moderately successful in conveying their vibes, Lewis's own contributions come off as clinical and somewhat anonymous. She barely musters enough vulnerability to make the ballads seem heartfelt, and the types of emotions that the frothier pop numbers demand (playful? sexy?) don't even register. Note for note, Lewis could sing Beyoncé into oblivion, but she lacks even an ounce of that reigning diva's soul. Save for the bubbly verses on "Love Letter" and the surging coda to "Alive," Echo is textbook-ready proof that not all great vocalists are great performers.This could all make for the type of professional-if-forgettable pop artifact that someone like Rihanna has made a career on, were it not for a few too many mistakes on the production side. Whether it's a chugging slow burner or an amped-up club jam, the material here is pretty unimaginative, and not a single song approaches the formidable "Bleeding Love." I'll leave other critics to indulge in echo puns, but suffice to say that after 13 tracks and just under an hour of music, you'll feel as though you've heard some of these songs before. If indeed all of these songs had to be kept, it was unconscionable to let a solid half of them run right over the four-minute mark, usually just to take the listener through the chorus one last time. But of all the material that begs for some judicious editing, none begs louder than the closing collaboration with OneRepublic, "Lost Then Found." Maybe, after producing leadoff single "Happy" (not to mention "Bleeding Love"), Ryan Tedder felt he was due some time in the spotlight. His thin, soulless singing is barely tolerable in his own act, however, and paired with the phenomenal Lewis, he sounds entirely ridiculous. In the end, Lewis's professionalism may be her undoing. Lord knows the pop industry's got plenty of prima donnas as it is, but without a little more edge and a lot more personality, it's hard to see Lewis remembered as anything other than a pretty voice. Poise and virtuosity are admirable, and all too rare, but they don't put posters on kids' walls or put bodies in stadiums. For that, you need what Lewis's mentor, the incorrigible Simon Cowell, refers to as the "X factor," and Lewis has yet to prove she's got it. www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1926
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starr
4x Platinum Member
Joined: December 2008
Posts: 4,814
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Post by starr on Nov 20, 2009 20:59:51 GMT -5
Does anyone know where I can find the album artwork?
I purchased "Echo" from Amazon MP3.
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StarSprinkles
3x Platinum Member
You're in our prayers, Tommy
Joined: August 2009
Posts: 3,204
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Post by StarSprinkles on Nov 21, 2009 1:42:02 GMT -5
Wow. That review hit the nail on the head exactly. It's not often I see reviews that hit it exactly right, but this one does
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©!nful
Platinum Member
It be like boom badoom boom!
Joined: March 2008
Posts: 1,446
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Post by ©!nful on Nov 21, 2009 4:47:53 GMT -5
I don't agree with that review... My Hands has plenty of vulnerability and Outta My Head has a lot of attitude in the verses. But I always appreciate it when a critic can be objective enough acknowledge an artist's talent even if the material isn't to their taste.
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ariella
Bubbling Under
Joined: June 2009
Posts: 8
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Post by ariella on Nov 21, 2009 6:35:13 GMT -5
That review is a fair reflection of some people's response to Leona. And it gives full weight to her vocal skill.
I don't agree with the comments about lack of feeling, however. Quite the opposite. Happy, My Hands and Brave, for example, are tremendously sensitively sung songs. And it is clear from audience responses to Run as another example that Leona does connect emotionally with a lot. I find her subtle delivery far more moving than Beyonce's supposed soul, whatever that means. Depends on taste, I think. Only time will tell if enough people share my response.
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BrokenArrow
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,616
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Post by BrokenArrow on Nov 21, 2009 9:23:25 GMT -5
What a load of crap that review is.
Her whole rep is based on the amazing emotion is puts into songs.
Honestly, how difficult would it be to dig out an article trashing Kelly's latest album?
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eon
Charting
Joined: June 2008
Posts: 68
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Post by eon on Nov 21, 2009 10:55:06 GMT -5
Of all the criticisms I have read, this, patently, is the most risible. The emotional detachment is a symptom of their own bleak and cynical minds.
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dbhmr
Diamond Member
>
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 23,475
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Post by dbhmr on Nov 21, 2009 11:37:53 GMT -5
What a load of crap that review is. Her whole rep is based on the amazing emotion is puts into songs. Honestly, how difficult would it be to dig out an article trashing Kelly's latest album? I don't think she's known for that at all. But anyway, here's the link to a bunch of reviews for Kelly's last album. That same magazine, Slant, only gave her half a star more, 3/5. While I don't always agree, like I said, I appreciate their well-written and thorough reviews. www.metacritic.com/music/artists/clarksonkelly/allieverwanted?q=kelly%20clarksonThey're certainly not all glowing. She has a score of 70 on Metacritic, Echo has a 62 (though this may change as more reviews come in).
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Flare
Charting
Joined: August 2008
Posts: 352
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Post by Flare on Nov 21, 2009 12:25:46 GMT -5
Can't agree with that review. She puts plenty of emotion into songs like My Hands and Broken and yet they pick out Alive as a stand-out? I like that song but her delivery is nothing in it compared to some of the other songs.
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Post by coolmusicftw on Nov 21, 2009 13:28:51 GMT -5
Ew, why has this thread been infested with bitter jelly fans? My Hands = more emotional than anyyyyy jelly song.
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ƒreakshow
9x Platinum Member
Flop Tart
🍷 💔 ☀️🥀
Joined: July 2007
Posts: 9,955
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Post by ƒreakshow on Nov 21, 2009 13:47:11 GMT -5
at you Leona stans not being able to accept a negative review, it wasn't even that bad. Some of you love to bring Kelly into the discussion, and it's completely unrelated to the discussion.
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StarSprinkles
3x Platinum Member
You're in our prayers, Tommy
Joined: August 2009
Posts: 3,204
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Post by StarSprinkles on Nov 21, 2009 13:53:36 GMT -5
I was gonna say...why the need to bring in Kelly? Nowhere in that review was she mentioned.
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S_Bunny
Platinum Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,051
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Post by S_Bunny on Nov 21, 2009 14:10:58 GMT -5
While I dont agree with that review, everyone has their own opinions. This album is amazing for me and very emotional, especially on My Hands where Leona conveys her most emotional ballad yet.
Basically this
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BrokenArrow
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,616
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Post by BrokenArrow on Nov 21, 2009 14:57:29 GMT -5
I was gonna say...why the need to bring in Kelly? Nowhere in that review was she mentioned. It was a Kelly fan that cherry picked the review to try a score some personal grudge points. Don't try and stir things by simply searching for a bad review ignoring the better ones, because I can do that for ANY artist. here's a 4* one. top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/leonalewisecho.htm
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nightshade
Diamond Member
I'm adaptable.
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 10,710
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Post by nightshade on Nov 21, 2009 15:32:20 GMT -5
I prefer Alive over My Hands and it is equal to Broken. I think Leona puts a better part of herself into Echo. Hate that the U.S. doesn't get Naked though.
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S_Bunny
Platinum Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,051
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Post by S_Bunny on Nov 21, 2009 15:35:16 GMT -5
^I'll never understand the decision to not include Naked. Come on J, seriously.
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Mike
Diamond Member
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 16,122
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Post by Mike on Nov 21, 2009 15:37:59 GMT -5
Just like how they left of "Homeless" on the US edition and didn't even include it when they re-issued her album. I'll NEVER understand that decision. It was better than 95% of the other tracks on there.
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dbhmr
Diamond Member
>
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 23,475
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Post by dbhmr on Nov 21, 2009 15:47:39 GMT -5
I was gonna say...why the need to bring in Kelly? Nowhere in that review was she mentioned. It was a Kelly fan that cherry picked the review to try a score some personal grudge points. Don't try and stir things by simply searching for a bad review ignoring the better ones, because I can do that for ANY artist. here's a 4* one. top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/leonalewisecho.htmNot quite. I go to metacritic for all movie, TV show and album reviews. I follow Slant's reviews closely because I like reading their reviews, and when I saw this one, I thought it articulated my feelings on Leona and "Echo"--what this thread is about--better than I could. Kelly didn't have anything to do with it until you brought her up, and I gave you a link to her reviews, which had ones worse than this. I know she's had better reviews--I read them on metacritic. This was just the one I agreed with and it hadn't been posted here yet. It's a new album, so I listened to it and consequently voiced my opinion about it. That's how it generally works on this board. Now that I've done so, I have no intention of posting much else unless my opinion on something changes.
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Cory | Alan
Platinum Member
Joined: April 2007
Posts: 1,637
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Post by Cory | Alan on Nov 21, 2009 16:28:21 GMT -5
that review is totally how I feel about Leona. I wish she would get pissed off or develop an edge. I feel that I know nothing of her thru her music and that she is essentially a big voice and thats it.
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megataff
Bubbling Under
Joined: October 2009
Posts: 16
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Post by megataff on Nov 21, 2009 17:55:04 GMT -5
that review is totally how I feel about Leona. I wish she would get pissed off or develop an edge. I feel that I know nothing of her thru her music and that she is essentially a big voice and thats it. A lot of people just don't get Leona... She can't get pissed off, or develop an edge, or get an attitude, or rebel, or all the other things people have said they'd wish she suddenly 'change' into...because she is as she is - a decent, polite, beautiful and gentle person - there-in also lies the problem - that is just exactly WHY the ones that love leona do so...she's just soooo nice, with THAT voice! If she were to suddenly develop all these other added traits that some people want her to have - she'll alienate her current fans that love her - and have always loved her, the way she is! Leona is Leona - a lovely girl with a fantastic voice who just loves SINGING! Take her or leave her, she'll not change who she is - because she just CAN'T!
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EPG
9x Platinum Member
Dirty Mexican
Vas Happening.
Joined: August 2008
Posts: 9,976
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Post by EPG on Nov 21, 2009 18:15:09 GMT -5
Love these fanmade album covers!
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Post by Love Plastic Love on Nov 21, 2009 18:49:07 GMT -5
Drop the Kelly/Leona battle-both are talented young ladies and we can discuss them without getting nasty!
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kjw518
Charting
Joined: August 2009
Posts: 326
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Post by kjw518 on Nov 21, 2009 19:57:07 GMT -5
Love these fanmade album covers! I love the first one.
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tsharky
6x Platinum Member
5 Time Grammy Winner
Joined: February 2007
Posts: 6,557
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Post by tsharky on Nov 22, 2009 0:58:33 GMT -5
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©!nful
Platinum Member
It be like boom badoom boom!
Joined: March 2008
Posts: 1,446
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Post by ©!nful on Nov 22, 2009 4:54:44 GMT -5
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benmcd2000
Platinum Member
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 1,377
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Post by benmcd2000 on Nov 22, 2009 9:18:20 GMT -5
Review from Slant magazine that, for me (though maybe not others in this thread), hits the nail on the head with this album and Leona in general. I don't mean to be totally ragging, but I always appreciate their reviews (even when they're not always glowing). They gave this 2.5 stars out of 5. Leona Lewis Echo by Matthew Cole Posted: November 17, 2009 If nothing else, Echo certainly establishes Leona Lewis as a singularly gifted vocalist. Not since Mariah Carey began her full-time residence on Planet Glitter has such a technically capable vocalist been found in the Top 40. Lewis's voice combines Carey's expansive range with a terrific tonal quality—maybe less rich than Christina's, a bit cooler than Kelly Clarkson's, but undeniably a talent to be reckoned with. And what's more, Lewis's extensive cast of producers and songwriters refrain from pulling out the most hackneyed tricks in diva-dom: You won't hear the music dropping out to accent a ludicrous octave run, or a whole song wasted on the buildup to a big vocal finale. The fact that Lewis can sing isn't a novelty here—it's the premise of the album. On nearly every track she can be found cooing impossibly high melodies over bouncing club beats ("Can't Breathe," "Outta My Head") or imbuing the ballads with thick, powerful choruses to match their outsized string arrangements ("Broken"). But less compelling material, particularly in the album's second half, finds Lewis's talent squandered. The gooier adult contemporary numbers, of which "I Got You" is the worst, tend to add a lot of unnecessary vocal doctoring to the mix, edging on the faceless robo-pop that has become all too ubiquitous in the age of Auto-Tune. And too much of the album's runtime is dominated by altogether thoughtless ballads, like the languid late-album duo of "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" and "Don't Let Me Down," in which Lewis confronts dull, piano-driven arrangements with vocals that, while technically unimpeachable, lack any warmth or emotional expression. While even those tracks are moderately successful in conveying their vibes, Lewis's own contributions come off as clinical and somewhat anonymous. She barely musters enough vulnerability to make the ballads seem heartfelt, and the types of emotions that the frothier pop numbers demand (playful? sexy?) don't even register. Note for note, Lewis could sing Beyoncé into oblivion, but she lacks even an ounce of that reigning diva's soul. Save for the bubbly verses on "Love Letter" and the surging coda to "Alive," Echo is textbook-ready proof that not all great vocalists are great performers.This could all make for the type of professional-if-forgettable pop artifact that someone like Rihanna has made a career on, were it not for a few too many mistakes on the production side. Whether it's a chugging slow burner or an amped-up club jam, the material here is pretty unimaginative, and not a single song approaches the formidable "Bleeding Love." I'll leave other critics to indulge in echo puns, but suffice to say that after 13 tracks and just under an hour of music, you'll feel as though you've heard some of these songs before. If indeed all of these songs had to be kept, it was unconscionable to let a solid half of them run right over the four-minute mark, usually just to take the listener through the chorus one last time. But of all the material that begs for some judicious editing, none begs louder than the closing collaboration with OneRepublic, "Lost Then Found." Maybe, after producing leadoff single "Happy" (not to mention "Bleeding Love"), Ryan Tedder felt he was due some time in the spotlight. His thin, soulless singing is barely tolerable in his own act, however, and paired with the phenomenal Lewis, he sounds entirely ridiculous. In the end, Lewis's professionalism may be her undoing. Lord knows the pop industry's got plenty of prima donnas as it is, but without a little more edge and a lot more personality, it's hard to see Lewis remembered as anything other than a pretty voice. Poise and virtuosity are admirable, and all too rare, but they don't put posters on kids' walls or put bodies in stadiums. For that, you need what Lewis's mentor, the incorrigible Simon Cowell, refers to as the "X factor," and Lewis has yet to prove she's got it. www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1926Love Leona, but have to agree with most of what this review is saying. The material is simply not that strong on this record. It wasn't that great on the first album however "Bleeding Love" was so incredible that it really didn't matter. That song carried "Spirit"....nothing on "Echo" can mask that the songwriters and producers for the most part, gave second rate material for one of the greatest singers on the planet! >:(
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