Delta

On first instinct, I was inclined to agree with previous reviewers. However, I then remembered how much I disliked Mistaken Identity on first listen and gave it a few more goes before I decided. The honest truth is that whilst it is different from previous offerings, this is not a bad thing. I liked many of the songs on first listen, something I didn't do on the second album. Whilst being the weakest of the trio, it still has much to please a Delta fan and is well worth the wait.

1: Believe Again. 10/10
A fantastic opener. I loved this song the first time I heard it. A wonderful vocal performance and gorgeous, almost twinkly background music. One of the best on the album, and one of Delta's best ever.

2: In This Life. 7/10
On first listen I didn't like it, and it is still not my favourite, but it is a great track with a catchy chorus. Not hugely similar to the rest of the album, intriguingly.

3: Possessionless. 9/10
A great one with a quiet opening and a belting chorus. One I can't help but sing along with, and another gorgeous vocal from Delta.

4: God Laughs. 6/10
Hmmm. A bit non, this one. Nice enough chorus, forgettable verses, not much to merit a reaction either way.

5: You Will Only Break My Heart. 9/10
This will defiantely divide people. A very different style for Delta, poppy and electric, but fab and very catchy. It took me about two listens to decide I loved it.

6: The Guardian. 9/10
Love it. One of the album stand outs. Piano and strong vocals, will please fans of the classic style. One I always find myself putting on.

7: Bare Hands. 6/10
A definite filler, unfortunately, but not one without it's charm. Certainly grew on me, but will take a little time and is never going to set the world alight. Pretty enough, but not big enough to catch anyone's eye.

8: Woman. 6/10
I find it very hard to take this song seriously. It's nice enough, I suppose, but it feels very cheesy. I'm so used to Delta's songs being meaningful and different, this feels very run of the mill, I felt like I'd heard it all before. Not good enough for Delta, but she performs well.

9: I Can't Break It To My Heart. 7/10
Gorgeous Vocals, lovely chorus, generally a very good song. Better than a filler, but not quite a stand out.

10: Brave Face. 10/10
Oh how much do I love this song. From its sparky piano opening, I knew it was going to be something different. The Chorus is a belter and leaves me with a big smile on my face. Strong music that somehow doesn't overshadow her amazing vocals. Especially like the touch of the softening of the music to let her vocals take over at intervals. Great lyrics and fabulously catchy.

11: One Day. 6/10
Possibly the weakest on the album. An intriguing opening, but sounds very much like a filler track. Good enough lyrics, but nothing spectacular enough that makes it stand up to the best of Delta. A little tuneless.

12: Angels In The Room. 10/10
Another song I just fell in love with, and maybe my favourite track on here. Very soft and dreamy, an amazing close to the album. Beautiful piano, and almost heartbeats backing her up. Her vocals are really given a chance to shine and do so. One of those that all Delta fans will fall for.

It's generally a great album. The problem is the songs are mostly either amazing or nothing. Not consistently fantastic like her previous work, but the good songs are just so great you can't be Delta fan and not own it.

"Delta" is the third album from Australian singer/songwriter Delta Goodrem, and it showcases a new and wonderful direction for her music.

The music on this album is extremely different from her last album "Mistaken Identity" and even more so from "Innocent Eyes" and there has been some criticism of this change in direction. Having said that, Delta's trademarks (powerful melodies, strong lyrics and of course, her beautiful voice) are all present and correct. With this album, Delta has stepped out from behind the piano, and unlike some other reviewers, I think this unusual, experimental feel has made "Delta" her most interesting, and for me, most enjoyable album so far.

The album covers a huge range of musical styles, from the powerful and dramatic "Believe Again" to the sunny, almost reggae influenced "I Can't Break it To My Heart". The versatility of Delta's voice is demonstrated by the energetic and rebellious "Brave Face" and the soulful "Possessionless".

I can honestly say that there is not a track on the album that I don't like. Far from making me yearn for the "old" Delta, this music has made me excited to find out what we can expect from her in the future.

Well, no.
Having listened to this, Delta Goodrem's third studio album, I find myself yearning for the Delta of old; the Delta who produced intelligent, piano-driven music which was unmistakably her own. I am not for one minute suggesting that her music should never evolve, but such a state of affairs would have been preferable to the regression which seems to have occured on 'Delta'.

Most of this album, unfortuately, consists of derivitive, bland and sometimes lazy pop music. The songs are largely uninspired and formulaic - so much so that they could have been sung by anyone with only half of Delta's vocal talent - and the arrangements are mostly synthesized and unsatisfying. When given chance to shine, Delta's voice is as excellent as ever, but sometimes becomes a victim of over-production. Songs such as 'God Laughs' and 'Bare Hands' are simply poor album-fillers, while even slightly better songs like 'You Will Only Break My Heart' and 'One Day' would have failed to find their way onto previous albums.
Songs that I like on this album include 'The Guardian', 'In This Life', 'Woman' and 'Possessionless'. I would like to pick more, but I find it hard to enthuse about many of the others. For me, this is such an unusual state of affairs - there is hardly a song I don't like on Delta's two previous releases.

Delta is a fantastic singer and songwriter, who has written and co-written some great music - songs such as 'Lost Without You', 'Mistaken Identity', 'Innocent Eyes' and 'Electric Storm' spring to mind. The songs on 'Delta' are not in the same league. They are, on the whole, a waste of her talents. I give 'Delta' two stars because Delta does deliver an excellent vocal performance, and because I hope the album will grow on me.

I also hope that Delta ditches these songwriters and gets back to the piano, where she has so-often excelled in the past.