Glassheart
(2012) – Leona Lewis
Leona
Lewis became an overnight sensation after she became the winner of the UK
version of X Factor in 2006 and the release of her international smash “Bleeding
Love” and it’s parent album “Spirit”. After suffering the difficult second
album syndrome that was “Echo” which was met with disappointing sales and
heavily criticised for being too similar to her debut, expectations were high
with the announcement of her third album “Glassheart”.
Original
lead single of this third album was “Collide” which was released last September
was met with mixed reaction, whilst some complimented on the change in
directions, most criticized her for jumping onto an already oversaturated dance
bandwagon. A controversial sampling ending up in court settlement with Avicii
and a #4 debut later, it was announced that “Glassheart” was delayed by almost
a year. Whilst Lewis tried to appease fans with a covers EP entitled “Hurt”
last Christmas, the silence from disappointed fans was deafening.
Fast
forward to October this year and “Glassheart” finally surfaces in the UK and
selected countries falling well short of a worldwide release. New lead single and
album opener “Trouble” is a strings and piano driven mid-tempo ballad with trip
hop influences, not completely uncharted territory but a poignant Lewis ballad
with a new twist, sets the tone nicely for the album. “Un Love Me”, “Lovebird”
and “Fireflies” are all strong potential singles that sits nicely amongst the
rest of her singles catalogue.
“Come
Alive” and “Glassheart” are the two distinct dance tracks with the omission of “Collide”
from the album tracklist. “Shake You Up” is a mid-tempo and heavily 80’s synth
influenced track met with mixed results. “I To You”, “Favourite Scar” and “When It
Hurts” are all typical Lewis ballads with a bit more punch and tempo, and all
deals with a broken heart.
Album
closer “Fingerprints” is the slowest ballad on the album, with just Lewis and a
piano; simple, haunting and beautiful all at once, arguably more sombre than “Fireflies”,
the piano driven track about suicide.
The bonus
disc contains 3 acoustic versions of album tracks, “Colourblind” which was
previously featured on the “Hurt EP” and one new track “Sugar” which is also a
ballad. “Collide” closes the disc in it’s Afrojack Remix form so those expecting
the original version would also be in for a disappointment.
“Glassheart”
was touted and at one time marketed as a more progressive, timeless, up tempo
and darker album. Lewis did turn up the tempo a few notches on a couple of
tracks, the mood is darker, possibly heavily influenced by her break up from her
childhood sweetheart. Lewis does have a few tracks that mirrors “Bleeding Love”
on the album, but all falling well short. The change in direction isn’t
significant enough to open her up to a new market of fans, however, there’s
enough consistency to tide her existing fan base over until the next release.
CD 1
01. Trouble
02. Un Love Me
03. Lovebird
04. Come Alive
05. Fireflies
06. I To You
07. Shake You Up
08. Stop The Clocks
09. Favourite Scar
10. When It Hurts
11. Glassheart
12. Fingerprint
CD 2
01. Trouble (Acoustic)
02. Come Alive (Acoustic)
03. Glassheart (Acoustic)
04. Colorblind
05. Sugar
06. Collide (Afrojack Remix)
