Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Alesha Dixon- The Entertainer Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Album- The Entertainer

Artist- Alesha Dixon

After finding success with the girl group Mis Teeq, Alesha Dixion went on to have a varied solo career after the groups disbandment. Her first album was ultimately not released in the UK, but following her success on the TV dancing show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, the singer released a successful second record, which spawned two hit singles, ‘The Boy Does Nothing’ and ‘Breathe Slow’. The singer also found herself on the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing for three years, before quitting the show to become a judge on the talent show ‘Britains Got Talent’. However, musically The Entertainer was met with poor commercial results compared to her last effort, and so in the wake of the singer postponing her fourth record to focus on motherhood, I look at The Entertainer to see where the singer perhaps needs to improve, or whether people were just missing out on a great record.

Track 1- Baddest Chick

Described by the singer as a character song, album opener Baddest Chick is a feisty pop number where Dixon gives us her fiercest, almost like Rihanna song. The lyrics of the song have a sexual edge and find the singer telling us of how she is the baddest chick in the building and doesn’t need love, just needs someone’s body. The message has a fierce quality that is quite catchy, but with her layered vocals and the texture of her voice Dixon doesn’t quite manage to pull off the song. The vocals are also sometimes annoyingly distorted, and with the clattering piano and harsh dance beats the sound of the track is vibrant but typically commercial, making this song feel more like Dixon is trying to imitate other artists rather than give us a good record.

3/5

Track 2- Radio

Second single Radio is a strong mid tempo pop ballad that was co-written by singer Emeli Sande before she became hugely successful in her own right. The song is all about Dixon turning up the radio to drown out the painful emotions that she is feeling within this relationship, creating a song that nicely turns sadness into an almost anthem like triumph. Dixon gives us a strong vocal performance that nicely builds up within the chorus and which retains this edge of fragility and fearlessness throughout the track. The heavy bass and jagged beats of the production gives the song this propulsive sound that is a bit similar to other musical works (i.e. Robyn’s ‘Dancing On My Own’), but the result is nonetheless effective, making this an assured and potent effort from the singer.

3.5/5

Track 3- Every little Part of Me (featuring Jay Sean)

Things take more of sweeter turn with this track that features British singer songwriter Jay Sean. The song ups the tempo from the previous song, giving us a strong dance track that lyrically finds both singers telling the other of how they have their heart and it is like they are a part of them. The hook is irresistibly pure and simple, whilst Sean and Dixon give us smooth and powerful vocal performances that blend together very nicely, giving us an emotional track that does feel like a heartfelt duet. The buzzing bass beats of the song combine with clattering synths for an infectious sound that you can easily dance to, and so for me it is sad to think that this single didn’t even reach the top 40 in the UK.

3.5/5

Track 4- Take Control (with Roll Deep)

A collaboration between Dixon and grime group Roll Deep, Take Control served as both The Entertainers second single and the third single from the groups album Winner Stays On. The song is a typical pop and hip hop based party tune that features a hands in the air chorus and party and girl fuelled raps from the group. The lyrics may be very bland, but Dixons light vocals give the song a melodic lift that breathes some life into the track, and the punchy dance beats are still enough to keep you sort of wanting to move, so whilst not the best track from either Roll Deep or Alesha Dixon, it is still a solid effort.

3/5

Track 5- Drummer Boy

The records lead single, Drummer Boy is another fierce pop number that has a sensual edge about the lyrics and finds the singer in a feisty frame of mind. The lyrics of the song are simply focused on the singer telling us of how she needs a better drummer boy, with catchy ‘way eh, oh woah’ hooks thrown in for good measure. The singer’s vocals are powerful and elevate the vibrancy of the song, whilst the drum based production with the frenzied beats and cool synths give the track a nice dance energy that is infectious. Yet whilst all the right components are there, the song does suffer from lyrical repetition, and once again it feels like we are listening to a song written for another artist rather than listening to an Alesha Dixon original.

3.5/5

Track 6- The Entertainer

Title track The Entertainer is another fun pop and RnB tinged number that shows a feisty side of the singer. The way the track opens up plays with the Entertainer title as the song begins with this cool music box rhythm that reminds you of a circus. The sound than transitions into this snappy bass led number on which Dixon can sing about how she is the Entertainer who can make you feel good and do what you want. The message is a bit ego driven but nicely emphasises how the singer wants to make you feel good. The problem is that her vocals are Auto Tuned and just come across as lifeless, meaning that the song lacks the personality needed for us to believe she can entertain.

2.5/5

Track 7- Colour

Opening with another music box rhythm that is a little bit sweeter in tone than the previous track, Colour is an electronically powerful pop number that finds the singer in a happy, loving emotional state. The song’s lyrics focus on the singer telling this man of how great he is because he has brought colour back into her life through his love and made her believe in herself again. The songs message has a sweet and catchy quality that is emphasised by the playful way the singer sings the songs title. The punchy electro bass and simple rhythm of the track also acts as a nice base for the singer to express her feelings. Yet after a while the singer’s statement starts to become bland, and like the previous track, the use of Auto Tune means that the song loses any sense of credibility.

2/5

Track 8- Tug of War

A techno RnB infused pop number, Tug of War finds the singer in more of a turbulent state of love. The song’s lyrics finds the singer expressing her conflicting emotions for this person and how she is in this state where she can’t decide whether to leave him or stay. The metaphor is a powerful war that is slightly clichéd but is helped by the change of the singer’s vocals, with the higher range led chorus giving this funny sweetness to the track that is cool. The singers rapping in the bridge gives the track a cool urban twist, and with the shimmering synths and frenzied electro tone of the production, this track is of finer substance for the singer.

3.5/5

Track 9- On Top

An intense electro pop based number, On Top finds the singer in a very sensual frame of mind as she flirts and toys with this boy and asks him to let her get on top. The song is heavily clichéd in terms of the statements that the singer makes, and whilst she plays with the tone of her voice to give the song a greater sense of sensuality, her voice just sounds silly and is further spoiled by the use of Auto Tune. The forceful bass beats and frenetic electro grooves of the production create this bland pop sound that is not good to listen to, making this one of the more stupid tracks on this record.

2/5

Track 10- La La La

La La La is the song that most reminds you of the Dixon of old, as this is the track when she uses her rapping style to the best effect in terms of the way that the hard hitting rap verses compliment and contrast nicely with the sweet and light pop chorus. The singer gives us more of a commanding vocal performance throughout the song, with the chorus having this melodic lift that is quite catchy. The production of the track features a cool mix of heavy bass with light synths that builds towards this fun pop sound that is energising to listen to, with the whole song being about the singer bringing her sound to the masses and if you are feeling her we should say La La La. The lyrics are slightly cheesy and a bit worldwide commercial success heavy, but otherwise this is a solid pop tune.

3.5/5  

Track 11- Cool with Me

Cool With Me is a sing along pop anthem that is designed to show off the singers power and give us a nice and quite simple pop song to close the record. The track finds the singer telling of how she is okay now that she is cool with herself and has gone through life, a message that is cool in terms of its concept but which is executed in a way that just feels like a boring story. The singers vocals are better here than in other offerings thanks to the lack of Auto Tune, but her voice is also a bit grainy and shows how she is vocally weak. Producer Toby Gad creates a more organic musical sound based in this snappy bass beats and orchestra driven notes that create a light but still forceful sound, but it is not enough to make this a truly interesting listen, and quickly it gets to the point where you just say okay Alesha we get what you are saying.

2.5/5

Track 12- Radio (Klaas Remix Edit) (featuring Wiley) (bonus track)

Track number 2 is given more of a dance and urban feel with this remix that features grime artist Wiley (a member of Dixon collaborators Roll Deep). The song features a bouncy, bass driven beat and dance sensibility that is cool but sort of ruins the sincerity and heartfelt quality of the original song, whilst Wiley’s rap verses don’t leave an impression on the listener. It is not the worst remix in the world, but I can’t understand how this made the record.

2.5/5

Final Review

The Entertainer is an album that unfortunately shows that it is a good thing that the singer is sticking to preparing for and being a mother for the future. Whilst there are the odd pop gems within the set, ultimately these songs just feel like pop and slightly RnB tinged numbers that are bland and try to aim to be commercially successful but therefore completely fail. The singers vocals are distorted and lack a flair that would make this record distinctive, the production is just simple and typical pop, and the lyrics are heavily clichéd. The Entertainer Dixon is not, and she just needs to really work on who she is as an artist before creating new music, as she can actually create some fun and exciting music.

4/10

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