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Echo is the second studio album (affectionately known as a sophomore album), by Leona Lewis. It is scheduled for release on 16th November in the United Kingdom by Syco Music, followed by 17th November in the United States under J Records. Its worldwide release will be through Sony Music.

First Impressions
Everyone’s favourite X-Factor winner (Alexandra Who??) returns with a 2nd album after 2 years. It’s quite sad that she’s being referred to as the “Bleeding Love” singer all the time. Album sales for her debut and her debut single is massive internationally, but her subsequent singles are relatively modest hits, except in her home country, the UK.

Her debut is filled with safe ballads that’s sure to satisfy the masses but left a bland after-taste for the critics. Given her talent and that gifted voice of hers, the record company executives take merticulous care in her 2nd album to ensure she wouldn’t suffer the curse of the sophomore slump.

It’s safe to say that this album exceeds expectations. Roping in well-known producers like Ryan Tedder (the new Timbaland in terms of most used producer this year), Evan Bogart, Max Martin, Shellback and Justin Timberlake with his production team, The Y’s, among others. Oh, and Leona herself has a part in writing a handful of her songs for this album. Hmm, if Spirit’s a light appetizer, Echo is quite a satisfying main course. Wonder why??? Read on. =)

Just a thought, she looks rather possessed on the album cover, wearing a sanitary pad look-alike dress. =X

Track by Track Review

• Happy
  Being the lead single and album opener, it’s a humongous and grand ballad. Typical Ryan Tedder beats, but sounds fresh and current. It’s Leona’s comfort zone but you can feel the emotion in the song. The Nevins remix sucked badly btw. =(
• I Got You
  A song that which Max Martin is being involved in it’s writing process. Most would write off this song as Bleeding Love Part 2, which is aint true. This is a different song altogether, only the vibe and some beats of this song is similar. I have a hunch that this will be the 2nd single. Definitely radio material.
• Can’t Breathe
  Another power ballad with a hint of electro-clash in the background. Worth being played upteen times.
• Brave
  Has a middle eastern feel to it’s melody. One of the songs that leaked before the entire album’s out. A safe Leona material.
• Outta My Head
  The breakthrough track and the highlight of this album. Leona should consider having a union with ‘Electro‘, as this marriage would be successful, even if it’s only for an album if she’s planning this direction next. As I’ve featured the live performance of this song here, the fact that she can perform this song live EFFORTLESSLY and confidently means she already a bona-fide superstar. Plus this song BEGS(!!!) to be remixed and release as a single. A slight complain is that she sounds better live with this song than the album edit, which sounds disturbingly sharp and robotic. Oh, and this song is written by the hitmakers of Britney’s 3, Max Martin and Shellback. A song waiting to be ignite on the chart and the dancefloor alike. It’s just strange that it’s the only danceable uptempo song which is awkwardly slapped in the middle of the album. Outstanding is an understatement, it’s F*KING AWESOME!!!
• My Hands
  If you don’t see the credits to this song, everyone would assume that it’s a Tedder production, but it ain’t. His sound can be emulated it seems. =) An above average song.
• Love Letter
  A rather summer-y song. One of my fave tracks of this album due to it’s breezy vibe. Highly infectious.
• Broken
  Quite a heartbreaking ballad by Leona which shows off her vocals well.
• Naked
  Another pop-py uptempo track. Kinda forgettable and seems like a filler, but I like it though. =)
• Stop Crying Your Heart Out
  The lone disappoinment song of the album. It’s a cover of the Oasis track, which I apparently like. So, expectations are high. The producers are trying to recreate the vibe on ‘Run‘ with this track. It doesn’t really work as more angst is needed for this song to work it’s magic. Her rendition doesn’t have any effect on me at all due to the lazy singing. The style of this song is not meant to be gentle, it’s meant to feel the pain instead. Guess it’s the rearrangement fault. Leona can do better. The Oasis original is hard to top but it’s a good try though.
• Don’t Let Me Down
  Written and produced by Justin Timberlake and his production team, The Y’s. The break beats in the background definitely has that Justin Timberlake signature (“What’s Goes Around, Comes Around” to be exact). Backed by JT, but it feels like a filler material. There are some parts of this song that is captivating.
• Alive
  Yet again another heartfelt pop ballad. Nope, no complains about it. =)
• Lost Then Found
  Features OneRepublic. A worthy single candidate. An interesting and appropriate collaboration too. Maybe Leona should front a band for just a project. =)
• Stone Hearts & Hand Grenades
  Could make do without this hidden track as the album closer. Rather fitting as an “epilogue” or an encore though, summing up the entire album.

Final Verdict
A couple of songs is missing as UK, US and Japan has slightly different tracklisting, ommiting some songs for each process in the countries (I’m still lacking “Fly Here Now” and “I Don’t Care“). This forces the fans to buy imports. Sly ploy to earn the fans’ money. I have a hunch she’ll re-release with a deluxe edition album.

When Leona first hit the music scene with her debut, I felt that her tunes are memorable but not her personality. I’ll be like “Har, I have a difficulty picturing her.” But this album exudes enough personality to let the world knows who she is and not just a one-hit wonder. “Bleeding Love” would definitely not be her only song that everyone remembers her by.

Overall, the album shows consistency, probably due to the watcful eye and ears of record executives. Even though it’s a ballad heavy album, it’s what Leona does best. All the songs evokes emotions and she sound genuine. She has the flair and capability of not making ballads sound too drabby and repetitive.

My only complain is that the album should focus too much on ballads. Give songs like “Outta My Head” a chance. I know some might not like that side of Leona, but since she has the ability to pull it off, let her venture into that zone instead of being safe all the time. This is the only factor that hinders me from giving the album full marks.

Move over Mariah, Leona is the Queen of ballads for the new millennium and she’s here to stay in the music industry for good.

This album scores a 4 out of 5.