It's Overcome my expectations! (Overcome - Alexandra Burke)

Member Name: mummy2harry

Product:	Overcome - Alexandra Burke
Date:	29/10/09 (120 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great choice of tracks, good vocals throughout, good guest vocalists

Disadvantages: One or two duds

Alexandra Burke is the latest winner of British talent show The X Factor, but luckily I don't think she is going to be doing a Leon or Steve Brookstein by disappearing on us a year later. In fact, Alexandra did a Leona and disappeared to American for nearly 12 months after winning the show last December to record her album and it's finally been released, and shot to number 1 on the week after her debut single Bad Boys topped the singles chart. I bought the album based on the strength of that song and I'm glad I did - it's fab.

There is a great mix of music on this album - a few ballads, a soul number and a great selection of upbeat dance tracks as well. I'll start with Alexandra's recent single and her second UK number one Bad Boys. It was a hit with me the first time I heard it, and I still love it even now! It's got a catchy chorus, and even a little rap by Flo-Rida to funk it up a bit, and I think she's definitely set the tone for her future singles with this one. The track that follows is another uptempo number, but more R'n'B based than the pop of Bad Boys. "Good Night Good Morning" starts slowly and builds as it progresses and finally the chorus kicks in and will have you singing along very quickly! This song actually features the fab Ne-Yo and I think he complements Alexandra's soulful voice well and it's one of my favourite songs on the album.

Another of the more dancey songs I love on the album is track 4, All Night Long. I think this is probably going to be a single release for Alexandra as it's incredibly catchy and again is a more pop based number. There's a catchy synth sounding riff through the chorus, and it works well with her voice. Broken Heels, track 6 on the album, is one of my lesser favourites on the album, mainly because I think the beat and sound is very similar to Alesha Dixon's hit "The Boy Does Nothing". It's good enough, but nothing new and is just okay for an album track - I hope she doesn't release this one.

Slowing it down a bit, there are a few ballads on the album and I'm pleased that they haven't gone totally down the route of another Leona-esque album of slower paced songs. The ballad everyone will know on here is her winner's single "Hallelujah" which is right at the end of the album, track 13. It's a lovely song, it suits Alexandra's voice and will be the song everyone remembers her for. The Silence, which is track 3, was a ballad I didn't initially like but has definitely grown on me the more I hear it. The verses aren't all that special, but I love the melody of the chorus and Alexandra is able to belt out the high notes which ease. The album's title track Overcome, number 8, is another ballad, but more of a power ballad compared to The Silence. It's got heavy drums through the chorus with what sounds like a choir backing her vocals, and Alexandra is really powering out that strong voice of hers, and again this is another grower for me.

One of my favourite tracks of all on the album is track 7, Dumb. It's a RnB sounding number, with a really funky and catchy riff at the start. The verses sound much slower than the chorus but that's what I love about this song. The fast paced dancey chorus is infectious and I love the words too, it's my favourite track by a long way and Alexandra definitely suits this type of song. Track 9, Gotta Go, is another one of the track that I'm not all that fussed about. It's a bit middle-of-the-road compared to some of the other stand out tracks. It features a good vocal from Alexandra but I can see why it was shoved back to number 9, it's definitely an album track for me. The track following this, You Broke My Heart might sound like it could be a ballad but it's another pop number. It's a fun and young sounding song, and another one which is growing on me the more I hear it. Alexandra's voice does sound synthesised on here so for some of the song I don't think it sounds like her but it's a good song nonetheless, although not the strongest.

Rounding off the album is another one of my favourite songs, Nothing But The Girl. It's an out and out dance number, and I wish it had been much higher up the track listing on the album because it's fab, and the chorus is amazing on this one. The pacei s immediately slowed after this with They Don't Know, a piano led manner which strips back Alexandra's vocal from the produced dance numbers, and it's quite a soft and easy to listen to song. It's nice, but being right to Hallelujah, it does end the album up on a bit of a slow note and would be have been better place elsewhere on the album. You'll may have noticed that I haven't yet mentioned the albums 5th track, Bury Me. It doesn't seem to fit into the album at all, and I don't like this song at all. It's an almost Amy Winehouse sounding number, quite jazzy and soulful but seems out of place and therefore I found hard to enjoy this song. Alexandra's voice sounds nice but I just don't think this music suits her.

Out of 13 tracks, there is only 1 which I really dislike, a couple - 2 at most - I think are average so I think that's pretty good going for a debut album. There are some real stand out tracks on here - All Night Long, Dumb, The Silence and Good Night Good Morning and the rest are all quite brilliant too. Alexandra has got a great selection of tracks here to showcase her vocal talents with both fast paced songs and ballads represented, so there is something to suit everyone. It's a young and energetic album, and it suits the personality of its singer which is really important. She looks great on the cover in a silver mini dress and the album's booklet also features some great pictures of Alexandra too.

I would definitely recommend this album if you loved Alexandra on the X Factor, or even if you didn't actually because it is a high quality with a load of excellent songs. It's a great debut and ensures that Alexandra has secured herself a great place in the market. If I have one complaint it's that I would have loved her version of Beyonce's "Listen" to feature on it because I think that was such a turning point for Alex on The X Factor but never mind! It's available in both CD and MP3 format on Amazon and I would definitely recommend getting hold of it one way or another. Musical brilliance.

Track Listing.
1. Bad Boys feat. Flo-Rida
2. Good Night Good Morning feat. Ne-Yo
3. The Silence
4. All Night Long
5. Bury Me (6 Feet Under)
6. Broken Heels
7. Dumb
8. Overcome
9. Gotta Go
10. You Broke My Heart
11. Nothing But The Girl
12. They Don't Know.
13. Hallelujah (Bonus Track)

Thank you for reading.

Summary: A fantastic debut