Doesn't leave me breathless! (Breathless - Shayne Ward)

Member Name: dippykitty

Product:	Breathless - Shayne Ward
Date:	24/02/09 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A few good tracks

Disadvantages: Lots of average or worse tracks, some amateur songwriting

I bought this album as someone who quite liked Shayne Ward, but I was not overly impressed with this second album. If you have read my review of his first album (or anyone else's review for that matter), you will probably know that it was rather top-heavy with ballads that put me in mind of Westlife. This second album is an attempt to go more contemporary, but at times, it fails miserably.

1. No U Hang Up
This was released as a double A-side single along with If That's OK With You. This is the better track of the two, although it is still rather annoying. It is an attempt to be a pop/r 'n' b number but at times it is spoilt by the lyrics that sound a bit like a kid has written them. One such example of this is "There was something about your voice / Anything you say makes a beautiful noise" in the first verse.

2. Breathless
This was also released as single in the UK. It is a nice sounding ballad and I do like this track, although the very high notes towards the end are irritating (especially as one goes on forever). For me, this is one the better tracks on the album.

3. If That's Ok With You
This is along similar lines to No U Hang Up, although the lyrics are even worse. One example is "I love the way you look with your make-up/ I had a girl before we met but we broke up". I will admit that these kind of lyrics make me cringe somewhat so I have never been able to get into this track. One very annoying feature of this track is the high pitched chipmunk style vocals in the chorus. I think that this is Shayne's voice distorted, but either way it is not cool!

4. Damaged
This is another track in which Shayne's high vocals make an appearance. This is quite a low tempo track and quite laidback, although I wouldn't call it a ballad as it is about moving on from a relationship that has left him broken. I quite like this track, but it is not one of my favourites on the album.

5. Stand By Your Side
I have to admit that I couldn't even remember this track when I looked at the tracklisting and had to go and play it. It is a mid tempo track and one of the album's attempts to be up-to-date, although it doesn't appeal much to me. It reminds me a bit of another track but I can't think of which one!

6. Until You
This is a ballad, and one of my favourite tracks on the album. This is probably because he doesn't overuse the higher range of his vocals on this track as I tend to find that irritating on other tracks.


7. Some Tears Never Dry
This is another track that I do like, but do not play much. The song is somewhere between mid tempo and up tempo with a quite repetitive but energetic backing track. For me, this is one of the better tracks on the album.

8. Melt The Snow
This is probably my favourite track on the album and in my opinion, should have been one of the singles instead of the double A-side. It is a mid tempo track with quite a repetitive backing track behind it. I could live without the chipmunk style "wooo" sounds in the background as they do get annoying! I have to admit that I never noticed those before I came to review the track though, but I will be forever listening out for them now!

9. Tangled Up
This is another track that I like. It is uptempo (probably one of the most uptempo tracks on the album) and has a dancey backing track. I can't make out half the lyrics though and have had to look them up to be able to follow it.

10. Just Be Good To Me
This is a cover of a track that seems to have been covered by lots of other people . It is mid tempo track that never seems to go anywhere. I don't think that Shayne adds anything new to the track.

11. U Got Me So
Shayne's high vocals make a reappearance on this track. I find the backing track quite irritating on this track. This track is mid tempo for the most part, although it speeds up a bit just before the chorus.

12. You Make Me Wish
This is another track that I couldn't immediately bring to mind when I reviewed the tracklisting. It is another uptempo track, with an energetic dancey backing track. I'm not very keen on this track as I find it quite repetitive.

13. Tell Him
This is another of the uptempo tracks on the album. The lyrics aren't the best but this is one of the more listenable tracks, and is quite modern.

My Overall Verdict
I criticised Shayne's first album for being too top-heavy with ballads and sounding too much like Westlife, but I don't think that this album is a lot better. While there is a definite attempt to bring his sound more up-to-date, most of the tracks do nothing for me.

My personal favourites are "Breathless", "Until You" (both ballads) and "Melt The Snow" (mid tempo). Most of the more uptempo tracks don't appeal to me. As I was rather unwhelmed by this album, I would not recommend buying this. Most of the tracks will probably be available on Youtube so my advice would be to listen to them there, make up your mind on whether you like any of them and download the individual album tracks on iTunes, as most of the album is pretty average.

Summary: Second album from X Factor's Shayne Ward