Time To Grow - Lemar

**Introduction** This is the second album from Fame Academy's Lemar. After the success of his debut album Dedicated he returned to the studio to record his follow up Time To Grow. The album was released in November of 2004 after being recorded throught that year. The album has been certified double platinum by the BPI and is the second biggest selling Lemar album to date behind The Truth about love which charted as high as number three in the album charts in the United Kingdom. **Time To Grow** 1. Soulman This is a great catchy track to the album, it has a very catchy bass hook and some nice dramatic strings in the background ...  Read the complete review

TIME TO GROW is the title of former Fame Academy contestant LEMAR's soul album. The album features 13 tracks which I will review. The opening song SOUL MAN is a funky track with great vocals. The melodies are so smooth while the rhythm has a natural flow. The lyrics are cool. BETTER THAN THIS has a belting intro which leads into some smooth vocals which melt into the lyrics which flow along. I DON'T MIND THAT is a song that grew on me thanks to the excellent chorus which is really catchy and the vocals that are sung with alot of vigour. WHAT IF has a mellow sound that oozes coolness with the lyrics telling a good story and ...  Read the complete review

This is Lemar's second album to be released after finishing third on the BBC's talent show 'Fame Academy'. This is a beautifully put together album with some amazing soul songs and a few nice upbeat r&b tracks. Lemar has a gorgeous voice and sometimes, I feel, does not challenge himself as much as I would like him to. His voice seems far too comfortable on some of these songs. 'Soulman' is the intro track to the album and signals Lemar's intentions to be the best soul singer the UK has to offer. He has easily achieved this. 'If There's Any Justice' is the first single to be released from the album and had some success, reaching ...  Read the complete review

Lemar may have finished third on the BBC's 2002 talent show Fame Academy (David Sneddon won it) but you have to give him credit for going on to have a successful recording and live performance career. I would class him as a soul/R & B slow tempo, very cool delivery type singer. Fame Academy was billed as a talent contest for unsigned, amateur acts but in fact Lemar had already been a professional support act for some well known names and had been signed to the big BMG label but things didn't work out for various reasons and at the time of Fame Academy he had a job working with Nat West Bank. During Fame Academy Lionel Richie was a ...  Read the complete review