Album- Heaven
Artist- Rebecca
Ferguson
In 2010 the world was introduced to the talent that is
Rebecca Ferguson through the power of The X Factor. A year later and after
careful cultivation she produced this debut album. And here are my thoughts:
Track 1- Nothing’s
Real But Love
The slow guitar strumming start of this track immediately
marks this as a chill out track. And whilst the sentiment is pretty cheesy,
Ferguson’s smooth vocals give a true sense of warmth to the track. When the
drums kick in, we are right there with her, forgetting about the material and
thinking of love. It’s not the best track but acts as a good opener and
introduction to what Ferguson is as an artist and person.
3.5/5
Track 2- Glitter and
Gold
Seen as the sour track on the album and compared to Adele,
this is a simple soul stomper that presents how we can’t live with just
material things; it’s the friends that count. It’s quite similar to the last
track in this sense, but the change in tempo and force within the track add a
different dimension, with Ferguson almost commanding us to respect our friends.
The final verse also highlights the delicacy of her voice and almost questions
what we would be without our friends.
4/5
Track 3- Shoulder to
Shoulder
The first ballad of the album marks the first point in which
the vulnerability of this artist flourishes. She beautifully captures how love
is a battle and sometimes we must let go in simple lyrics that are nonetheless
effective and intricate. And vocally Ferguson shines here, never letting her
voice overpower the songs message and giving a smooth tone that would be
typical of many professional musicians who have been in the game for years. And
what’s more her voice is not overpowering but still shines well against the
back drop of simple piano led instrumentation.
4.5
Track 4- Fairytale
(Let Me Live My Life This Way)
This is a song for all the teenage girls out there who have
fantasised about dating some pop star, and indeed for just women in general who
have done so. Its light and airy nature, highlighted by the vocal performance
of Ferguson and the piano and drum combination of the production perfectly
captures the message conveyed within the song. And its another track that you
can just sit back and relax too.
4/5
Track 5- Mr Bright
Eyes
This is a nice track but in the wake of the previous track
it feels too samey. Indeed the vocal is again light and airy ,as is the
production, and because of this Ferguson lets herself down, suggesting to the
listener that she is a one trick pony perhaps.
3/5
Track 6- Fighting
Suspicions
This such a cool track in terms of not only lyrical content
but especially in terms of production. The big, trumpet sounds at the start
earmark this as an epic track, and the smooth production that’s is drawn from
the continual use of a simple drum gives a sultry, cool flavour to the track.
This is extended by Fergusons vocals, in which she holds notes with ease and
lets them linger. The contrast of the simple, vocal led begin an end with the
heavy production of the rest of the track also allows for a simple but dramatic
impact. Indeed this is a song that has that James Bond kind of a feel to this,
and like those films, it is just delicious
5/5
Track 7- Teach Me How
to Be Loved
This is the most beautiful track on the record. This is
because, like the third track, it is a slow, piano driven ballad that holds a
simplistic edge whilst being lyrically intriguing and soul enrapturing. Yet it
is even greater than the third track. This is because the piano instrumentation
is slower and in a lower key, the vocals are even softer and smooth, and
perhaps most importantly, this song captures perfectly the human condition of
wanting to be loved and, as well this, wanting to understand what love is.
5/5
Track 8- Run Free
This song provides a great contrast to the former track as
it is a more up tempo novel that has a throwaway your cares spirit. Many
critics have classed it as one of the albums weaker moments, but I actually
feel that it’s a strength as it shows how Ferguson like many struggles to find
herself within this world. Sure the chorus may sound a little strained for her
voice, but the sentiment is a powerful one, and its shows that, whilst she
maintains a sense of old school class, she is also equally very current.
3.5/5
Track 9- Diamond to
Stone
This track maintains that more upbeat flavour and is cool in
that Ferguson gets a bit bitter on this track, a nice change from the carefree
nature of the last song. Many people who will listen to this track will have
had their hearts broken by someone, and this is a track to lift you up and show
that you can move on. The only issue is that against some of the other songs it
may feel just that little bit bland, and the chorus lacks a little passion.
3/5
Track 10- Too Good to
Lose
This is a great way to finish the album in that it showcases
just a slightly poppier edge to Ferguson, with a more techno type of
production. The hand clapping at the end of the final verse also adds a great
flourish to the song that invites the listener to join her in her happy revelry.
And the track is a nice contrast to the bitterness of the last song, with
Ferguson at her most happy point in this song.
3.5/5
Final Review
She didn’t even win the X Factor and yet with this strong
debut album she emerged as the real victor. With a co-write on every single
track, she has cemented herself not just as a singer but as an artist who takes
time with her work and really pours herself into what she is saying. Simply
brilliant.
9/10
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