The latest star from across the pond lands in the U.S. with her debut album ‘Spirit.’ Leona Lewis, winner of 2007’s British talent show ‘The X Factor,’ pours her angelic, pure vocals into a mixing bowl of pop and R&B.
Lewis kicks off her album with the mid-tempo ballad and #1 hit “Bleeding Love.” On “Love,” Lewis shows off her upper register, combining her dynamic vocals with relatable lyrics and 90s-influenced instrumentation. The emotion “bleeds” from her voice and results in a resounding statement of dependence.
One thing that is certain is Lewis’ vocals take on many different identities throughout her ‘Spirit.’ On the ballad “I Will Be,” Lewis makes the fairly dull lyrics come to life as the song transitions into a powerful Faith Hill-like power ballad.
Lewis also pulls out a few radio-ready, Americanized tunes in the dance worthy synthesized “Misses Glass” and the Akon-penned “Forgive Me.” Both songs feature aspects of music from decades past, as “Glass” echoes back to the ’80s, while “Me” reaches back to the early ’90s. Also on “Me,” Lewis shows off her spunky self for the only time on the album (“Forgive me baby, for I gotta take a chance tonight / So I’m doing me, myself and I”).
The lowest point on ‘Spirit’ is the subdued but bordering on cheesy “Yesterday,” which goes from being sappy to something the Spice Girls would record in a matter of seconds. “Take a Bow,” which was produced by OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedder among others, is another valley on ‘Spirit,’ as an annoying hook and depressing lyrics make the song sound overdramatic.
A middle eastern-influenced hook gives “I’m You” a unique sound, and Lewis’ lower register is comparable to Toni Braxton, while her Mariah Carey-like runs are able to coexist rather than clash. “Better In Time” is another strong AC radio contender, as its lyrics are on the bland side, but when she goes into her falsetto, Lewis’ vocals really do shine.
But the catchiest track on ‘Spirit’ is “Whatever It Takes,” an ’80s sounding mid-tempo complimented by deep strings that come into the picture in a pivotal moment during the bridge, allowing for a powerful climax. The end result is truly amazing. The Stargate-produced “Angel” is another solid track that carries a message of everlasting love (“This world, this world could leave us any day / But my love for you, it will never go away”). The features musical similarities to Rihanna’s “Hate that I Love You” and Jordin Sparks’ “Tattoo.”
Lewis’ cover of Ewan MacColl’s “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” remains true to the original in that it is a slow drawn out ballad, but her vocals soar to Whitney Houston-like heights. Similarly, on “Here I Am,” Lewis documents a commitment to her loved one, and the simplistic instrumentation allows her vocals to stand out from the rest of the track.
But it is on “Footprints in the Sand” where Lewis delivers her most masterful performance. The inspirational, moving anthem declares a beautiful message that can be applied to many struggles in life (“I promise you I’m always there when your heart is filled with sorrow and despair / And I’ll carry you when you need a friend / You’ll find my footprints in the sand”). The final chorus builds into a resounding gospel-filled finale, and the song is the equivalent of Mariah Carey’s “Hero.”
Although it may seem that Lewis’ voice is hollowly compared to such stalwarts as Whitney and Celine, it is definitely not the case. Her absolutely stunning and beautiful vocals, as displayed on both the ballads and mid-tempos of ‘Spirit,’ will prove to be her key to successfully entering the U.S. music audience. In a time when vocalists are severely lacking, Lewis provides a much-needed credibility boost to the industry.