Album- A Million
Lights
Artist- Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole is described by many as the nation’s sweetheart
for the UK, but with the loss of her X Factor US job and UK X Factor job it was
thought that her star persona would wane. And this is perhaps presented in how
this album sold much less than her previous records. But is that because her
third studio album’s material just isn’t as good as previous releases, or are
people just letting her celebrity persona take over and are missing some
actually quite good music in the form of her latest album?
Track 1- Under the
Sun
The opening track is a mid tempo pop number that is as
summery and light as its title would suggest. Lyrically the track is a little
bit cheeky and a bit clichéd but just fun, speaking of a guy who tells you anything
to get his way, but you let him at that moment cause it feels so good. The
beats behind the track are cool and light with a little bit of hip hop
flavouring and nice piano riffs that just allow for the song to have a good
groove to it, and the lightness of the track suits Cheryl’s light vocal tone
really well, allowing for the album to open on a really good note.
3.5/5
Track 2- Call My Name
The albums lead single is a highly up tempo dance pop number
produced and written by the incredible artist that is Calvin Harris. And whilst
the track features a very much Harris sound and so could be classed as the
generic, like many of his tracks the pop hook and propulsive beats really just
grab you. The lyrics are light and don’t go too deep but have a sultry feel to
them, and the vocal layering of Cheryl’s voice gives a good tone to the track,
hiding her vocal weakness a little. And whilst the beat and overall sound feels
very much Harris produced, it’s so catchy from the moment the track comes on
that you can’t really help but get up and dance.
4/5
Track 3- Craziest
Things (featuring will.i.am)
This track is dubstep fuelled chiller that speaks about a
volatile relationship and the way in which we say things in the heat of moments
at times when it comes to love. The dubstep production of the tracks gives an
aggressive and forceful tone to the track that embodies the lyrical message of
the track well. However whilst the production is cool, groove creating part of
the track, and the lyrics are simple and hard-hitting (although clichéd) the
track is let down by the vocals. Although her light tone works well in places,
the use of vocal distortion within the track just becomes annoying, especially
leading into the chorus after the second verse. And the will.i.am feature just
feels useless, which is sad as the song has that potential to be a twofold
conversation piece that many can identify with. Plus the adding of some dancier
beats feels a bit over the top.
2.5/5
Track 4- Girl in the
Mirror
This track is an up tempo dance and RnB number that
lyrically speaks of girls fighting with themselves in terms of the way they
look and just generally giving themselves a hard time. But whilst the sentiment
of the track is potentially empowering, the lyrics just feel a bit bland as
they are a little stereotypical, and the vocals just don’t lift the track to its
empowering level it could be and just have that monotone feel. However the
track is saved by the quite propulsive beats that are catchy, and the breakdown
before the final chorus gives a great dance flavour to the track and allows for
the final moments of the track to just be that little bit more powerful and
dancey.
2.5/5
Track 5- A Million
Lights
The album’s title track tries to be an epic sounding ballad
number but against the dance nature of the previous tracks this lamenting
feeling song just feels really bland, and highlights how she isn’t the kind of
Whitney Houston singing level pop star she may wish she was. The track opens
with simple piano instrumentation but quickly shifts into powerful bass beats
that try to give a force to the track that just won’t happen, and unfortunately
just makes it sound a little bit generic. This generic feeling is also brought
across through the lyrics, which are so typical of the you are my rock genre it’s
a little bit sad. And vocally she is just underwhelming, and gives that sense
of her not really connecting with the track. This just should have just not
made the album, let alone be the album’s title.
1/5
Track 6- Screw You
(featuring Wretch 32)
With this urban pop track Cheryl definitely brings the
record back to being on good form. And the really great thing about this track
is the way in which it starts off as a ballad but then goes into a powerful and
aggressive up tempo mode with cool electro synths. And with the vocal Cheryl
finally brings true sense of passion to what she is singing, giving us that
sense of her actually connecting with what she is singing. Although the lyrics aren’t
really deep, the hook is an aggressive declaration that many will feel like
telling their exes. And the Wretch 32 rap section is a nice element that
contrasts well with her female vocal and gives that sense of the man can feel
just as hurt and bitter as the woman. It’s definitely one of the standout tracks
of the record that feels very powerful.
4/5
Track 7- Love Killer
This mid tempo song is another dubstep influenced track with
a powerful bass beat and some cool synth elements. Whilst the chorus is a memorable
and catchy the track just sounds very stereotypical in terms of the idea of
love, particularly in terms of the drug references. And whilst the beat is
quite propulsive and sounds cool, set against Cheryl’s vocals it doesn’t sound
as good as it could. Although in moments such as the chorus and the bridge into
the end of the song she does perform well, giving the track a sultry feel.
Needs work but still works well and offers a bit diversity, even if it lacks
passion.
3/5
Track 8- Ghetto Baby
This track will definitely divide opinion. And probably that
opinion will be if you’re a fan of Cheryl’s you will love it. If you’re not, you’re
probably going to think the girl is just trying too hard. Whilst the verse a
light and sultry with a good beat, the chorus is overpowered by the chorus and doesn’t
have the impact that it really should, with the “drop it like it hot” lyric
just trying to be cool and completely failing. And whilst her vocals are good
and have a nice sexy appeal to them, it still feels like a Lana Del Ray written
song just sung by Cheryl rather than her song in its own right. Plus the rap
section is just a bit weird, and something you have to listen to yourself to
decide if it’s stupid or good, or somewhere in the middle as I found myself.
2.5/5
Track 9- Sexy Den a
Mutha
The most dancey song on the album aside from Call My Name,
this up tempo number is a sassy track that is mildly empowering and is kind of
effortlessly cool. It’s lyrical quality just embodies the idea of having fun,
with the repeated hook being a club ready piece of pop delight. The way the
song builds into the powerful beats of the chorus is really great, and with her
vocals Cheryl really embodies the lyric in the song “we came here to have fun”,
making it sound like a good jam that might make you feel sexy if you don’t think
you are.
3.5/5
Track 10- Mechanics
of the Heart
Unlike the previous ballad this ballad really works, perhaps
because sonically it’s a little lighter with a powerful bass but an overall
more op sounding production. And with the delicacy of the track but the
lightness of the sound her vocal performance works well and makes the track
feel very believable. Lyrically the tracks is astute and speaks of a males
heart being broken by a previous lover, and has that sense of pop lightness but
appeal to it, courtesy of the pop star and song co-writer Taio Cruz. It shows
that she can do a ballad if given the right material.
3.5/5
Track 11- All Is Fair
The final track is a moody, dark affair that speaks to
Cheryl’s fan base, talking about fighting against those who try to tear you
down, and it’s almost a thank you for their support. The lyrics could also be
transposed onto a relationship context, and this makes the track really fresh.
The vocal on this track is probably the best of the record, and the moody but
simple production featuring the use of a helicopter gives the album that dramatic,
soldiers fighting together finish.
4/5
Final Review
A lot of the critics felt that this was a pastiche of the
trends of 2012, and in many ways I agree, with the musical diversity in many
cases not working an Cheryl just singing the songs rather than showing us who
she is through the songs. However that is not to say that this is a terrible
album, as she does create a good pop and dance based sound well in many
instances and trying to push herself musically and get away from the pop of
Girls Aloud (the group she was a member of) is something she should be
commended for. And some tracks like Call My Name have that irresistible feeling
to them. So whilst she tries a little too hard, there is still a lot to
commend.
6/10
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