I know it's not cool but I like it (Seven Years - Ten Weeks - David Sneddon)

Member Name: MI9to5

Product:	Seven Years - Ten Weeks - David Sneddon
Date:	25/05/09 (84 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: All songs are written and sung by David Sneddon

Disadvantages: Sometimes it gets a little samey

=== Who is David Sneddon? ===

David Sneddon is a Scottish born singer and songwriter that rose to the stage when he won the first series of the BBC show Fame Academy. His final performance on the show included his own renditions of 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' and 'I Don't Want To Talk About It' and his own composition 'Stop Living The Lie'. He won the show with a massive three million public votes despite the fact that he only entered the Academy after one of the other contestants dropped out. His love however always remained with writing songs rather than singing them and after releasing his first album, which was full of his own compositions he signed with Universal Music as a songwriter

=== Seven Years - Ten Weeks ===

David's career as a singer was relatively brief with him only releasing one album, the one I am about to review. The album however did rather well in the charts reaching number 5. All of the songs within his album were composed and then sung by him and tell the story of his ten years singing with bands after leaving University and his Ten Weeks in the Fame Academy (hence the title). Once you are aware of this you realise how autobiographical the album is and how cleverly the songs within it have been created.

=== Track Listing ===

1. Best of Order
2. Time to Fall Down
3. Stop Living the Lie
4. All My Life
5. Follow Me
6. Don't Let Go
7. The Bluebird
8. Lazy
9. OK
10. Without You
11. Neverland
12. Long Time Coming

=== Track Breakdown ===

ONE - BEST OF ORDER
This track was the third from the album released as a single and peaked at number eighteen in the UK charts although personally I think it should have gone higher. The track is a rather pleasant one to listen to with a strong melody followed by a punchy chorus. The lyrics are also rather pretty to listen to when you know the premise for the album.
'Once upon a time not so long ago
this boy he took the stage
he wandered around like a travelling show'
********8/10********

TWO - TIME TO FALL DOWN
Time to fall down is a very melodic track but again another one that is very pleasant and easy to listen to. The lyrics are distinctive and rather memorable once you have heard the track a couple of times. David's voice is also quite powerful in places throughout this track and really asserts the fact that he can sing.
'Just through your hand in
and deal it again
and when the tables have turned
you'll take the message you've learned to someone new'
*********9/10*********

THREE - STOP LIVING THE LIE
This track was the first of David's own composition that we ever heard and the track that in my opinion made him a dead cert for the Fame Academy victory. The track is fantastic to listen to a definitely deserved its stay of nine weeks at the UK top spot. The track is primarily a ballad and really lets David's song writing and singing talents shine. Every word within the song is packed with emotion and really lets the tracks story come through.
'she's nursing her head in her pride
She died long ago deep down inside
Who is going to save her?
No one wants to know her'
**********10/10**********

FOUR - ALL MY LIFE
This track is another ballad style one but has a more up-beat backing track than the previous one. Again though the emotion and the story is what really sells this song and makes it one of my favourites on the album.
'Get on your feet and play on
and I don't wanna be left here all my life
I belong in another place so take me there tonight
I don't wanna be useless all my life'
**********10/10**********

FIVE - FOLLOW ME
This track is definitely a more up-beat and faster paced one than all of the others on this album. The lyrics however are again superbly writing, as is the musical score, which makes the track rather fun and jolly to listen. What the track actually means however is a little obscure but never mind David sings it very well.
'The Devil picked me up today
Said c'mon boy it's time to play!
We got places to go and people to see'
********8/10********

SIX - DON'T LET GO
Don't Let Go was the second single released from the album and reached the UK number 8 slot. This track sees a return to the ballads and is another one that oozes emotion from the very first bar of music to the last. The lyrics themselves again tell are story if you listen to them and are sung exceptionally well. The backing track also compliments the track perfectly and gives it a little extra.
'Nothing happens on its own, fate is just a word
You make me a better man..
Does that sound absurd?'
*********9/10*********

SEVEN - BLUEBIRD
Bluebird is another of my favourite tracks within this album and one that I return to quite frequently. This track has an extremely strong and steady beat, which is a contrast to previous tracks but it is the verse lyrics that stand out the most, as they are memorable because of the story they tell. Furthermore all the lyrics are sung exceptionally well, making the track a real pleasure to listen to. 'Listen to your heart and not your head
I know that this is what the wise man said'
**********10/10**********

EIGHT - LAZY
This track has a strong and steady beat yet a ballad like feel also, which is the only one of its kind on the album. The lyrics are once again what make this track but they are again sung well and with a great deal of strength and emotion. I must admit though that this track is the most repetitive of all those on the album and although it is easy to listen I can't say that it is one I particularly like.
'Like a kid in a candy store
Your mama told you what to take and leave behind.'
******6/10******

NINE - OK
This track has quite a catchy backing track although it is again a ballad. The lyrics for the track are quite unique but once again sung exceptionally well and packed full of emotion. There are points however were the lyrics seem to be sung too quickly for the pace of the music but I suppose that is just the style of the sung. The story however is immense and at times the backing track seems to fade considerable and even then David sounds good, which is always pleasant to hear.
'Now I know where I'm going
And I know where I'm coming from
Now I know where I'm going
Doesn't really matter what you say
Hit me with your best shot
Y'know I'm gonna be okay!'
*******8/10********

TEN - WITHOUT YOU
Without You has a rather delicate and subtle backing track that is really pleasant and different to listen to. David's style of singing the lyricshe has created for this track is also lovely to listen to and really builds up the atmosphere that the song is trying and managing to portray. The story is again the best part of the song but you cannot complain about the vocal content, which si why this is another of my favourite tracks. 'Looking out over the ocean
And I'm wondering why it is blue
And the only reason can be...
Cause I'm without you.'
**********10/10**********

ELEVEN - NEVERLAND
This song is punchy and bold and has a brash and loud backing track with a steady and strong beat. The lyrics for the song begin the second that the track starts and again tell a brilliant story that at times is a little amusing. Again the lyrics are sung brilliantly and the changing tempos and song styles really makes this song another great one on the album.
'Maybe it's time to compromise
Stop moving your mouth
and use your eyes'
*********9/10*********

TWELVE - LONG TIME COMING
Long Time Coming is a great track to finish the album on and finishes the David Sneddon story for the listener as this one tells us of how he feels that his time to be noticed as a singer and songwriter has come. The track is the longest on the album at just over ten minutes but the emotion within the track is as big if not bigger and stronger than in previous ones and the story of the song shines through from the first line to the last. All of the lyrics are sung extremely well showing a strong vocal talents and highlighting his song writing prowess.
'Pretty soon I will be fine
I'm better than that!
I wana fly as high as I can fly
Woah... It's been a long time coming to me now'
*********9/10*********

I know it probably isn't cool to admit that you like this album but I don't care. This site is all about giving an honest opinion and mine is that this album is a very pleasant one to listen to. The story that the songs tell are great to listen to especially when you realise they are autobiographical and the fact that Sneddon at least co-created all of them is certainly impressive.

Summary: A generally good album that doesn't get the credit it deserves