Album- Unbroken
Artist- Demi Lovato
Track 1- All Night Long (featuring Timbaland and Missy Elliot)
This up tempo dance number is the
most party like, live it up song on this record. It shows that Lovato is still
young and is a sassy lady, and the hook is really simple and light, exactly
what you want in a pop number. Timbaland is great in keeping a nice steady beat
that slightly propulsive going throughout the track, and his short vocal
feature is a great call and response moment. Plus add the delicious Elliot
vocal rap that pretty much can make any track and you have Lovato’s most
commercial track but equally a catchy and pleasurable song that would indeed
deserve success if it was released as a single.
4/5
Track 2- Who’s That
Boy (featuring Dev)
This track features Lovato in a flirtatious mood and has a
really cool backbeat that gives a chilled flavour to the song. The lyrics are
highly clichéd put for a simple pop song this isn’t really much of a down
point, and whilst vocally Lovato plays it safe throughout most of the song, if
she had unleashed the power of her voice it might have distracted by
mischievous nature of the song. The Dev feature is also just a nice sweet
touch, not adding a lot to the track but giving a slight variation in tone.
3.5/5
Track 3- You’re My
Only Shorty (featuring Iyaz)
This up tempo number is cool but also slightly annoying.
Production wise the track keeps it pretty simple with the key point being a
jingling background rhythm which definitely gives a fresh feeling to the track.
Lyrically the song is just so so, but vocally Lovato is very good, downplaying
the vocals in the verses which gives an extra punch to the chorus. The real
issue though is the Iyaz feature. The singer is wasted as he just repeats the
same line over and over again in the chorus, and it just makes you feel as if
he could have done something else, even if the female male vocal combination
does work.
2.5/5
Track 4- Together
(featuring Jason Derulo)
This uplifting song is a cool slightly RnB tinged, powerful
number that asks us to get along in the world. It’s a universal message that
has been done many times, but it still has a sense of lyrical freshness within
this track. The song is done in proper duet style, raising the idea of uniting
with each other to another level, and both artists really bring the message of
the track through vocally. The oh oh oh repetition is perhaps slightly annoying
but is also really memorable, and the song is a little long but the simple clap
like beat gives the track a minimal yet good, groovy feel.
3.5/5
Track 5- Lightweight
The vocal acapella key change that is a continual staple of
the production of the track is a new sound to the album that is cool but at the
same easy to get annoyed at. However this lessens when the clattering beats of
the latter half of the song begin. Lovato really uses her voice well within
this track as she gives the impression of being lightweight through the
softness of her voice in the verses, although the chorus is perhaps a little
over performed. It’s a bit of a downer after the relative upbeatness of the
previous track. But its good in giving a moment of diversity and being a little
more lyrically deep.
3/5
Track 6- Unbroken
The album’s title track is a quite dance orientated number
that features an aggressive back beat, offering a great contrast to the former
track and showing how Lovato can shift seamlessly in sound whilst still
creating a coherent body of work. The slow lyrical stresses of the verses
greatly contrast with the powerful, punchy chorus, and although this song is
lyrically speaking of a relationship, it also has that sense of empowerment in
being unbroken in any situation, and is a fitting album title in the wake of
Lovato’s personal but highly publicised struggles. The track is also as equally
aggressive and impressive vocally as it is production wise, and so is just all
round delicious.
4/5
Track 7- Fix A Heart
This is one of the best tracks on the record in that it is
lyrically smart, vocally great and highly simple production wise. In contrast
to the up tempo nature of the previous track it is a pure and simple ballad,
giving a good balance to the record. The production is piano led
instrumentation with a subtle beat and powerful drum clashes in the chorus that
don’t overpower the song but add to it. The layering of Lovato’s vocals in
places is also a nice touch. And it is very much her vocals that make this
track, with Lovato knowing exactly how to use her voice and conveying a true
sense of vulnerability.
4.5/5
Track 8- Hold Up
This dancey pop number with just a hint of a rock flavouring
is short, sweet number and one of my personal faves. Sure criminal antics mixed
with love is about as original as the newest reality show. But it’s a really
sweet sentiment that is really given a kick by Lovatos innocent vocal
performance and the fast paced, dance orientated production. And it just that sense
of a rush of first love, with a great pop hook.
4/5
Track 9- Mistake
The powerful fast paced beat driven intro of this track is a
little bit misleading as this is more of a mid tempo offering. The lyrical
quality is bit thin as a lovers mistake is just a bit bland, and the vocal
performance is just a bit so so. The clattering drums and the guitar production
in the tracks latter moments save it from being just a bad album filler track,
but it might have been better to put a proper up tempo number in this slot.
2/5
Track 10- Give Your
Heart A Break
One of Lovato’s best known tunes,
this is a powerful dance pop ballad is one of those songs that you just have to
listen to to really appreciate it. Its lyrical concept is great in giving a
sense of love rather than heartbreak and playing with that idea of heartbreak.
And the violins and guitars give an epic stadium feel to the track, whilst
vocally the song really builds, and the slow lyrical stresses really give that
sense of being in love.
4.5/5
Track 11- Skyscraper
The lead single off the album was Lovato’s big comeback
single after her rehab troubles. And it perfectly encapsulates the artist and
the album in being a song that is a pillar of strength. With simple production
that really builds towards a crescendo booming chorus and a vocal performance
that is so vulnerable and pure, this is an artist really laying herself on the
line within her music.
5/5
Track 12- In Real
Life
This is a cool lyrical song in that we all have that sense
of dreaming but then crashing back down to reality, whether it’s in a relationship
or other elements of life. However the production is just a little so so compared
to the more tightly structured tracks on the album, and though youth is still a
major factor of Lovato’s work as she is only young, this track still feels a
little two young after the more mature work on this album.
2/5
Track 13- My Loves
Like A Star
This light chilled out number is a sweet track co penned by
James Morrison. It’s a simple track that evokes a sense of longlasting love and
is given a fresh tone through Lovato’s youthful vocals. The chorus is perhaps a
tad oversung but she really tries to get the sentiment of the song across with her
voice, and the chilled, almost transient state inducing bit allows for a very
cool atmosphere.
3.5/5
Track 14- For The
Love Of A Daughter
This is a great final track to the album (ignoring the
actual remix end) in that although it is a stereotypical ballad end it is the
most emotional and deeply personal song on the album. Originally written for
her last album but seen as too deeply personal at that time, it fits really
well on this track and is produced in a great way, with a simple piano
instrumentation leading into clashing drums and a flourish of electric guitar,
elevating the power of Lovato’s vocals and the emotional intensity of the
track. Whilst also being extremely personal, it is also a song that many people
will be able to relate t. And Lovato just gets brownie points for being able to
be this open and honest as an artist.
4/5
Track 15- Skyscraper
(Wizz Dumb Remix)
The remix version of Lovato’s big emotional hit is a nice
album finish because the simple but consistent and strong new beat that Wizz
Dumb uses gives the track a more chilled out freshness, and so it’s a nice song
to listen to if you don’t want to get too invested in the emotion of the
original track.
3.5/5
Final Review
A cohesive body of work that allowed Lovato to transition from
teen Disney pop rock into an accomplished adult artist. And it is a perfect
example of how out of great troubles can come some great works of art, and how
music can be a great healing process.
7.5/10
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