Leona Lewis’s first album, Spirit, was the biggest selling album of 2007, so she has a lot of pressure to recreate her initial success with her latest release “Echo”. More is expected of this 13-track album though, which hasn’t exactly started too well as its lead single, Happy, failed to set charts alight internationally (though it’s sure to perform better domestically). This album was recorded stateside over the course of nine months, and again features collaborations with Ryan Tedder (of OneRepublic fame). There are some interesting new faces however, the in form of Justin Timberlake and Kevin Rudolf.
Leona seems to have stuck to what made her first album successful, yes it’s a better album but she has definitely played safe with this release, there is very little progression at all. There are a few cringe-worthy moments on “Echo” too; the usually reliable Max Martin produces a total shocker with “Outta My Head”, it sounds like absolutely garbage Europop. Then there is an awful “Chasing Cars” rendition of the Oasis classic “Stop Crying Your Heart Out” – do I need to say any more?
Highlights include the upbeat “I Got You” and “Don’t Let Me Down” with backing vocals coming from Justin Timberlake.
“Echo” will obviously do well in the US, but it will be interesting to see how it fares in America considering she has a totally different track listing from the UK version.
01. Happy – 04:03 *
02. I Got You – 03:47 *
03. Can’t Breathe – 04:15
04. Brave – 03:39
05. Outta My Head – 03:41
06. My Hands – 04:14
07. Love Letter – 04:03 *
08. Broken – 04:05
09. Naked – 03:50
10. Stop Crying Your Heart Out – 04:11
11. Don’t Let Me Down – 04:37 *
12. Alive – 03:30
13. Lost Then Found featuring OneRepublic – 04:05 *
14. Stone Hearts & Hand Grenades (hidden track) – 04:05
Leona Lewis – I Got You
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Leona Lewis – Love Letter
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Leona Lewis – Don’t Let Me Down
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Leona Lewis – Lost Then Found feat. OneRepublic
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