Alexandra Smashes It! (Overcome - Alexandra Burke)

Member Name: ld75454

Product:	Overcome - Alexandra Burke
Date:	29/10/09 (156 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some amazing tracks, not all ballads

Disadvantages: A few lesser tracks

*Introduction*

I absolutely love the X Factor and when Alexandra Burke won the show last year I was slightly disappointed as I loved JLS and was voting for them to be crowned winners. But I did like her a lot in the show and since winning I have been eagerly awaiting Alexandra Burke's debut album. It is finally here and I rushed out to buy it in Tesco immediately.

*About Alexandra Burke*

Alexandra Burke was the fifth winner of X Factor, a British singing competition. She has gone from dueting with Beyonce in the finale of the talent show to competing with her in the charts. What a difference a year makes and during this time Alexandra Burke has transformed into a star and is still just 21 years of age.

*About the Album*

Overcome is the debut album for singer Alexandra Burke. It was released on October 19th, 2009 in the UK and includes duets with Flo Rida and Ne-Yo. In its first week it received the number one spot in the album chart but how long can it stay there?

When I bought this album, I fully expected it to be packed with ballads that we know she can belt out like Leona, Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson but I was both surprised and thrilled to see that it was a complete mix of genres demonstrating her versatility and leaving me wondering what she sounds best singing.

*The Tracks*

1. Bad Boys (featuring Flo Rida) (3 minutes 26 seconds) -
Most acts when they win the X Factor bring out a debut song, after the one that they release immediately after winning the show pretty much at the beginning of the live shows. Alexandra Burke is no different. But what is different is that instead of releasing a boring ballad she kicks of her career with an upbeat and current song that is absolutely fantastic. That song is Bad Boys and I have to say, what a song! I absolutely love it and from the moment that I first heard it on the radio, I haven't been able to stop singing it. It is full of attitude and bags full of energy and her performance on her return from the X Factor was show stopping. If she continues to realise songs like this, she'll be rivalling Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and other divas.

9/10

2. Good Night Good Morning (featuring Ne-Yo) (3 minutes 38 seconds) -
This song is collaboration with one of my favourite artists, Ne-Yo. How she landed a solo with this guy after just one single is nothing short of amazing. The start of the song is quite slow and mellow but it speeds up and really starts to get good. I think that their voices compliment one another brilliantly and I think this is a fantastic R'n'B track that will hopefully be released as a single.

8/10

3. The Silence (4 minutes 2 seconds) -
This song is an excellent ballad. It begins slowly and her voice is deep and rasping but as the song builds her voice becomes stronger and more powerful. I love the combination between the softer moments in the song and when she gets louder. This is a beautiful ballad and perfect to satisfy those who want to listen to a ballad. It showcases her voice fantastically. The more you listen to The Silence, the more you'll grow to love it.

9/10

4. All Night Long (4 minutes 24 seconds) -
This track is up-tempo that is fairly average compared to the other songs on the album. It is a pop song and you will find yourself tapping your feet to the beat but it isn't one that I imagine will be realised as a single, although I could be proved wrong as I thought this of one of Rihanna songs that I ended up loving. But for now this is probably my least favourite track on the album but I think this is due to the high calibre of the other material. In my opinion, this is definitely an album filler on what is otherwise an amazing album.

6/10

5. Bury Me (6 Feet Under) (3 minutes 33 seconds) -
The style of this song reminds me of something that Amy Winehouse or Duffy would release. It has a bit of a jazzy sound to it. The first few times that I listened to the track I wasn't sure that I liked it but it has grown on me significantly and now it is one that I look forward to hearing when I listen to the album. It is a unique and very current song that I think shows Alexandra Burke as a versatile star who shows great promise. It is quite upbeat and I always want to dance around to this song.

9/10

6. Broken Heels (4 minutes 9 seconds) -
This track is another upbeat number that is extremely catchy and I imagine that this will be one of the songs that will be released as a single. Broken Heels is captivating, upbeat and fresh. It is a song that makes you want to go out and dance all night long. It is a song that will fill floors in clubs if it is released as a single. Alexandra's voice is as strong as ever on this fast number and the track is full of energy. I defy you not to love Broken Heels.

9/10

7. Dumb (3 minutes 22 seconds) -
This track is an R'n'B song that is slower than a lot of the songs on the album but it does speed up significantly when it gets to the chorus. I definitely think that improves when Dumb isn't a favourite track of mine as I don't think it suits Alexandra as much as the other songs but it is a solid song that fills the album nicely.

7/10

8. Overcome (3 minutes 53 seconds) -
I love this song so much. The first time that I listened to Overcome I loved it immediately. It is a ballad that shows off Alexandra Burke's amazing voice excellently. It begins slow and soft but grows into a powerful ballad and I think you can here the emotion in Alexandra Burke's voice. The song itself actually reminds me of one of Anastacia's songs.

10/10

9. Gotta Go (4 minutes) -
This is a fairly slow track which I could imagine being released by someone like Jordin Sparks or Beyonce. I wasn't so keen on it after one or two listens but it hasn't unquestionably grown on me since. I quite like listening to it when I am chilling out as it is something that is perfect to have on in the background. Gotta Go is yet another song that shows exactly why Alexandra won the X Factor and won the nations hearts.

8/10

10. You Broke My Heart (3 minutes 37 seconds) -
The sound of this song is quite old-fashioned. I'm not sure if this is the right word to describe the way I feel about the song, but it's the closest to expressing how I feel about it. It was written by Pixie Lott which surprises me and I actually think it would have sounded better if it was sung by her or somebody like Duffy. For me, it just doesn't suit Alexandra's voice at all. It is certainly not my favourite on the album at all. It is an up-tempo pop track which lacks any sort of spark.

5/10

11. Nothing But The Girl (3 minutes 38 seconds) -
This track is one of the catchiest on the album and I think could be a huge hit for Alexandra Burke. It is a pop/dance song and reminds me of something that Booty Luv or Cascada would release. The dance background of the song adds to the appeal of this song and its catchiness. It isn't the best song to showcase her vocals but it demonstrates why she'll be a success in the industry as she is contemporary.

9/10

12. They Don't Know (3 minutes 13 seconds) -
This is a stunning ballad which is soft and shows a vulnerable side to her voice. There are no huge notes that are hit at the end but it is simple and she demonstrates her beautiful voice with no tricks. It won't be regarded as one of the best songs on the album but I really like it and the lyrics are great.

8/10

13. Hallelujah (3 minutes 38 seconds) -
Hallelujah is the song that Alexandra Burke released directly after winning the X Factor. I hadn't heard the original before listening to Alexandra's version and I think it is a truly sensational song and her voice is absolutely amazing. I was delighted to see that this had been added to the album and what an end to a debut album.

10/10

*Would I Recommend This Album?*

I would strongly recommend Alexandra Burke's debut album Overcome. It is a brilliant album that those who followed her on the X Factor will definitely want to buy. It is fun, funky and fresh and I think it completely personifies Alexandra Burke. What I really love about this album is that she hasn't produced a series of ballads that show off what we already know is her amazing voice, but she has recorded a number of current tracks which I am sure will be number 1 hits in the charts.

I would recommend this album for anyone that followed her journey on the X Factor or alternatively anyone that likes Rihanna, Beyonce, Jordin Sparks or Britney Spears as I think this album is similar to material that they have produced. Give it a listen and see what you think.


*Overall*

Overcome has shocked me by how good it is. If Alexandra Burke's aim was to show what an amazingly versatile artist she is, she succeeded and surpassed expectations. It is an energetic, fun and varied album that is full of personality. Personally, I think her up-tempo numbers slightly surpass the slower ballads but all in all it is a solid album that will surprise many.

This album shows exactly why I like Alexandra Burke. She has a truly amazing voice that works superbly on both fast numbers as well as ballads. It is a fantastic debut album and I now can't wait to here more from her. She could be as big a Beyonce is for the US. And on the album are two collaborations with fantastic acts (Flo Rida and Ne-Yo) which are both brilliant songs which complete what is an all-round amazing album.

Does this album show that Alexandra Burke is better than Leona Lewis? I think so. How about you?

You can buy Overcome by Alexandra Burke from www.amazon.co.uk for just £8.98. This isn't actually that bad for such a great album and one that has only recently been release.

Summary: A superb debut