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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk review
It's hard to imagine someone even younger than 19-year-old Laura Marling making a splash on the music scene, but 16-year-old Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi is doing a pretty good job. Having smashed apart stereotypes of innocence with her killer single "(There’s Nothing) Sweet About Me", Cilmi (pronounced "Chill Me") now offers a debut that's not only lyrically and emotionally mature, but boasts the kind of potent musical content guaranteed to propel you towards the dancefloor. Lessons To Be Learned is a diverse bag. Produced by Xenomania (Girls Aloud, Sugababes) it's seemingly influenced by everyone from Stevie Wonder and the Kings of Leon, though it'll inevitably draw the most comparisons to Amy Winehouse, thanks to Cilmi's soaring vocals, the record's modern-Motown feel and Xenomania’s bright, punchy production. Opener "Save The Lies", though, is nothing like Winehouse--a big, in-your-face disco-stomper with a massive irrefutable chorus. The record drops from there into sultry soul territory with tracks like "Sanctuary", "Einstein", and "Safer", and more upbeat fare such as the electronic "Don’t Wanna Go To Bed Now", rocky tracks like "Messy" and the bluesy "Cigarettes And Lies". These stylistic diversions set Cilmi apart from the rest of the 'new soul' brigade, and help give her a voice of her own.--Danny McKenna
Review
Gabriella Cilmi is a 16-year-old Australian who's already made a considerable mark with her appearance on Later... with Jools and the single Sweet About Me, where she tramps all over her own 'nice girl' image. Add to this support slots with Rufus Wainwright and Nouvelle Vague and various soundtrack appearances and it seems that Island records are saying they've found yet another 'soul' diva with a voice that's experienced way beyond her tender years. Doesn't it all sound a little too familiar?
But it really seems unfair to deny the talent on display here. The writing (usually shared between Gabriella and her production team) is sound and varied enough to keep you listening. The persona projected is suitably feisty, which suits her delivery. Only her attempt at the Martha and the Muffins classic, Echo Beach (recorded as the theme tune to the tv soap, and included here as a bonus) is best glossed over. In fact that's the best way to describe it, coming as it does with a gloss so high that it ceases to exist. Or maybe it's just uptempo numbers that she can't yet deal with. Terrifying is also a little hamfisted. She's best on the sultry 'classic soul'-styled numbers like Sanctuary or Safer. The production by Xenomania (Girls Aloud, Sugababes etc) is bright and bolshy - leaving plenty of space to let the impressive voice do its stuff. Cigarettes And Lies in particular is pitched just right with its scratchy blues-driven hooks.
The trouble may be in the timing. The voice is undoubtedly phenomenal. But blindfold someone and play them this back to back with Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, Duffy and even Anastacia and they'll start to be a little confused. As is the way with a creative arena that's also an industry, labels are unimaginative in trying to force feed us too much of something a little too formulaic. This is a shame, for you sense that somewhere inside all this is a true talent and identity longing to escape, but being generically groomed to the point of extinction. If her management and record company could leave her alone for two or three years (and a real band of her own) this teenager may well become a force to reckon with. --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Lucky to have stumbled upon Gabriella when i took my daughter to see the Sugababes recently. She just blew me away with a fantastic live performance and the album is no disappointment with a mixture of great "rock chick" songs and songs Amy Winehouse would be proud of,and all at the age of 16,unbeleivable.
This girl should be a big star soon and quite frankly she deserves everything that comes her way.
So if your thinking about buying this album just go for it,you will not be disapointed.
This girl should be a big star soon and quite frankly she deserves everything that comes her way.
So if your thinking about buying this album just go for it,you will not be disapointed.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Amazing! This deserves to be one of the biggest selling albums of 2008. This CD makes you grin. It blazes like your own personal chunk of sunshine. From the instantly likeable `Sweet About Me' through a whole range of brilliantly produced gotta-be-hits, `Lessons To Be Learned' is almost entirely brilliant.
With lyrics that range from catchy-cute to curiously comical ("There's a caterpillar in my soul"!), performed by that engaging, amazing, unique vocal talent, this collection just makes you keep going back - and you can't help but nudge that volume control higher and higher each time...
Personal favourites after first few hearings - `Don't Want To Go To Bed Now' and `Got No Place To Go'. But this is packed full of gems that might take my `favourite' place the more I listen.
Do yourself a favour - get this album - put Gabriella Cilmi on your i-pod - then lie back all summer with the volume full blast and put a caterpillar in your soul!
With lyrics that range from catchy-cute to curiously comical ("There's a caterpillar in my soul"!), performed by that engaging, amazing, unique vocal talent, this collection just makes you keep going back - and you can't help but nudge that volume control higher and higher each time...
Personal favourites after first few hearings - `Don't Want To Go To Bed Now' and `Got No Place To Go'. But this is packed full of gems that might take my `favourite' place the more I listen.
Do yourself a favour - get this album - put Gabriella Cilmi on your i-pod - then lie back all summer with the volume full blast and put a caterpillar in your soul!
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Too be perfectly honest, if this girl does not get acclaim real soon it'll be proof that the Music industry is truly fixed!!!! Seriously this is a very good album. A terrific voice bounces out of some very admirable music rifts. Not seen her live yet, but would think she has got something new to offer a somewhat drab pop rock industry at the moment IMO! Only 16 hmmmm doesn't seem possible but so what, the girl can sing and should be top dollar!! Do yourselves a favour and just buy the album, you won't regret it. There are some very catchy tunes inside!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Service
Wanted the track that accompanies the COOP ad.(Warm This Winter), on TV, due to being able to listen to each track on this CD, on Amazon, found it and am very happy with my... Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2010 by Old Original
Very good first album.
Gabriella Cilmi is a very talented young Australian singer/songwriter. She is surprisingly mature for her tender years and has performed at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Mrs. J. L. O'neill
Great album
This album has a really variety of great, catchy songs. I love Gabriella Cilmi's music, and this album reminds me of summer!
Published on 29 Mar 2009 by taylzo
Lessons to be learned
Wow what a fantastic album. I only learned of Gabriella through a TV ad and have loved her music ever since! Even if her name took a bit of getting used to! Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2009 by Mrs. E. C. Rowse
Good album, shame about the spelling and punctuation
I've just bought this album. I enjoyed the tracks but was irritated by the huge number of basic punctuation and spelling errors in the lyrics leaflet accompanying the CD. Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2009 by KRP
Easy to listen to...
Music that doesn't give any lasting impression. Overall it is good tunes. Easy to listen to and well arranged. Sadly not many tracks stand out or have their own identity. Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2009 by C. RUDIN
Excellent music
A very varied albumn with some excellent music. A very talented artist. Most enjoyable listening.
Published on 11 Feb 2009 by Mrs. Lynne D. D. Barber
I don't know...
I don't know what made me purchase this cd. Great voice though, just nothing here fits her. Of the 13 cuts here, only 4 were worth rehearing. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2009 by W. D. beasley
good album
Received this album as a present.Some very catchy tunes and completely happy with the Album.well worth listening too
Published on 5 Feb 2009 by Easy Listening
okay album
A disapointing album as there were only a couple of songs on it that i really liked. i wish i had just downloaded an mp3 file of the songs i liked rather than pay out for the whole... Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2009 by tweety pie
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