Heartbreak On Hold [CD]

I've got a lot of time for Alexandra Burke. I believe in her.
Her 2009 debut 'Overcome' was a cracking first showing and
her sophomore album 'Heartbreak On Hold' benefits from a
move from Mr Cowell's Syco label to RCA (did she jump or was
she pushed? - either way I can only think that it will work
to her advantage and she deserves it). Feisty and funny in equal
measure Ms Burke also possesses one of the finest voices in the
land. The majority of the twelve songs in this new collection
are unabashedly dance-friendly. Big beats; big soaring tunes
and plenty of room for her to show off her impressive vocal
range. The voice is nicely sultry and smokey in the lower register
and when she opens her valves above the stave the result really
does give you goosebumps. No matter that many of the numbers are a
tad formulaic; it's a good formula. Dance/pop of the shiniest caliber.

Once again she has a veritable gaggle of different producers at her
disposal but the overall sound of the album is remarkably coherent.
I can't say there's anything I haven't found to like here but top
tracks would have to include opening gambit 'Heartbreak On Hold', a
big, fat storming housey confection with a jubilant chorus which
will make plaster fall from ceilings across the land! It's a cracker!
'Elephant', too, is a rumbustious anthem, whose abrasive synths and
pounding rhythm will doubtless have Friends Of Ms Gale gyrating madly
on dancefloors throughout the Shires! 'This Love Will Survive' has a
bit more light and shade, the better to show off Ms Burke's expressive
skills and dynamic artistry. The beautiful 'Between The Sheets' comes
close to being the best of the bunch; the kind of song which is very
hard to get out of your head once it gets hold of the grey matter between
our ears. 'Tonight' demonstrates (if proof were really necessary) that
Ms Burke has soul as well as boundless energy and at the end of the day
the glorious final number 'What Money Can't Buy', a composition stripped-
down to nothing more than voice and piano, radiates a truly glorious
sense of purpose and passion. Alone and exposed Ms Burke is the real deal!

Highly Recommended.

If you enjoyed Alexandra's first album then you will love her second. There are a number of stand out tracks but I just love them all.

Having owned Burke's first album 'Overcome' since the day of its release and still playing many of its tracks two-and-a-half years since, my expectations were high for her sophomore album. As I'd expected, it has its up and downs. Such is the 'curse' of the fabled 'sophomore slump'.

The album's stand-out tracks are definately 'Elephant', 'Let It Go', 'Fire', 'Tonight' and 'Oh La La'. Whether its pumping beats or piano melodies, its as clear as ever that this girl can REALLY sing. Throughout the album, and on these songs in particular, her voice ranges from raw strength to smouldering power, determined earthiness to broken heart. Few can dispute that the pumping beats of the album's dance tracks - combined with Alexandra's powerful vocals - leave you wanting to do anything other than hit the dance floor.

However, it is worth noting for anyone hoping for something earth-shatteringly original (aka The Adele Factor) on this album, that this is not quite the case. Lyrically, some of the tracks are simply not as strong as those of Burke's debut (she appears to use the word/phrase 'Tonight' in 70% of the songs). Some of the dance tracks are also slightly generic i.e. they lack a sense of clear individuality and artistic direction. However, if like me you come home after a week's hard work and simply want to forget the pompous "Ooh, this isn't exactly original, is it?" thoughts and have a good time, this album is undoubtedly just the ticket.

Burke is clearly a very VERY talented vocalist and I only hope that she continues to make music for a long time. The British music industry needs ferociously hard-working power vocalists like her!