Leona Lewis released her latest album Glassheart on October 12, 2012 in an effort to surprise fans with a completely different side of her. Although the album is filled with her famous falsetto that everyone knows and loves, she has mixed it up a little. This album is far more powerful than her previous works, and it also seems to be more personal.
After her single “Bleeding Love” on her last album became so popular, it was obvious that the smash hit would be difficult to follow up. Quickly hitting number one on the charts in the UK , the single was a great success for the new artist. Her newest album— though it has not yet reached the same level of popularity as “Bleeding Love”— does show some promise.
One of the best tracks on the album has to be “Trouble.” Written by Emeli Sande, the song is a surefire crowd pleaser. The track has the ability to attract many listeners and become extremely successful on the radio. Rodney Jerkins and Ryan Tedder also contributed to the songwriting process on this album. Another writer who Played a big part in the creation of the album was producer Fraser T. Smith— a man who has worked with superstars such as Adele and Taio Cruz.
“Un Love Me,” with it’s powerful vocals and beautiful piano, puts a twist on Lewis’ typical love song. Insted of a fluffly tearjerker, this track has more of a dark power behind it. “Favorite Scars,” an equally powerful song, contains an odd combination of wedding bells and dubstep that suprsingly works. However, Lewis’ old style does not disappear all together; for the song “Fingerprint” is a testament to that, as it has more of a light and airy sound to it. The song also really showcases Lewis’ amazing voice.
On the other end of the spectrum is the track “Shake You Up,” which reintroduces eighties pop to a new generation. Although the song is good, one may question whether or not it blends nicely with the rest of the album. This album may not be earth shattering, but it does show that Lewis has come a long way since the X Factor. Lewis, formally characterized as a sweetheart, is definitely challenging her “good girl” classification with the fearless edge infused into this album. Overall, “Glassheart” is a step in the right direction for Leona Lewis, and it beg the question: what will she do next?
