Review: Gabriella Cilmi - Ten
Posted by | Posted in Gabriella Cilmi , Reviews | Posted on Monday, March 29, 2010
Gabriella Cilmi, Australian born singer-songwriter best known for her 2008 hit "Sweet About Me" released her second album, Ten last week. Clearly trying to break away from that Sweet About Me label she has stuck to being known for and relating sound, this record aims for a more electro-pop genre to try to break Cilmi through again into the charts. Her powerful vocals and catchy electro inspired backing tracks make for a much more listenable album as a whole than her first record, Lessons to be Learned, which although was a great listen in it's own right, did restrict itself to a certain audience.
1. On A Mission - This is the debut single from the album. Up-tempo, electro and heavy hitting, the track creates a disco-esque feel and stomps along with its bass line whilst Cilmi provides powerful vocals highlighting her strengths as a "woman on a mission", and this is one woman you don't want to get in the way of! The track only just made it into the UK top ten of the official singles chart at number 9, although I feel it should have made it at least into the top 5 as this starts the album off with a bang! 10/10
2. Hearts Don't Lie -Planned as the second single from the album, Hearts Don't Lie further builds on the disco sound touched on in the previous track. With high pitched vocals here, this track could easily be ripped straight from a Bee Gees record! The funky disco bass line and electro keyboard synths staple this track further into the 80's period. Another bit of a stomper here, although not quite as powerful as On A Mission. 9/10
3. What If You Knew - Moving further into the 80's electro genre, What If You Knew is slightly more laid back from the previous tracks so far, but is still classed as up-tempo. The lyrics play with the thought of your best friend being in love with you, and what would you do if you knew? Perhaps a scenario many people are familiar with so can relate to the track? Cilmis' vocals sound a little quiet compared to the backing track but are delivered well with an inquisative edge to them. Oh, and did I mention there's electro bells found in here too? ELECTRO BELLS! Brilliant! 9/10
4. Love Me Cos You Want To - The first mid-tempo track to make an appearence on Ten, this is what the future-disco genre sounds like. Love Me Cos You Want To could easily be compared to Girls Alouds' "Untouchable", as that same up-tempo backing track and sombre, yearning vocals are featured. A pleasent breather from the electro-stompers we've been presented with so far, this is another hit waiting to be unleashed on the charts. 9/10
5. Defender - Here is the first ballad type track on the album. The verses are a little weak and forgettable, but the chorus is catchy and tries to make up for things. After the first chorus, a military style drum beat kicks in, similar to production we've heard with Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield". A nice track, but a bit of a venture off the electro-pop-disco feel of the album so far. 6/10
6. Robots - If you need waking up from the previous track, Robots will try to that for you and it does quite a good job. A long retro-electro buildup then breaks into the brilliant chorus, mechanical love and ones and zeros of the binary code (for any geeks listening!) The track is borderline mid to up-tempo but is very listenable and very catchy. Cilmis' delivery of the middle eight is superb, with her vocals fitting perfectly. 9/10
7. Superhot - This track turns the dials up a bit more and returns to the 80's sounding electro-disco. The sound reminds me of a Kylie-ish sound, which further boosts its appeal to me. Other than this though, there isn't much else I can say about the track. It fits, it works, but probably not a single choice here. 7.5/10
8. Boys - The electro intro to this track, along with the heavy bass, instantly grabs your attention. You just know this is going to be a good listen! Bells, keyboard synths, a catchy tune and strong vocals from Cilmi create a future-pop sound which really suits Cilmi and hopefully she will do more of this in the future. A highlight of the entire album, Boys deserves a single release complete with remixes and amazing single covert art! Make it happen Gabriellas' people! 10/10
9. Invisible Girl - Straight away this tune sounds like a track from Pinks' "Funhouse" album. It's fun sounding, the vocals are powerful and the production is similar to a fairground. The track is catchy, but the sound feels a little bit robbed and something that's been done before. The execution works fine, but I can't get excited about the track as i've heard similar elsewhere. 7.5/10
10. Glue - The second ballad to be featured on the album, but much more fitting to the overall sound than the previous effort in Defender. There is a discreet electro tune running through the track, and once the initial intro and chorus is delivered, the beat becomes powerful and keeps the sound interesting. The vocals are powerful and the topic the ever sung troubled relationship. A very good effort here though and a bit of a hidden gem! 10/10
11. Let Me Know - Unfortunately it was felt that the album needed to be ended with a return to the funk soul style of Cilmis' debut album. There is a slight disco bassline hidden in here, but the track could still be lifted and placed of the previous album without anyone knowing. Once you can get over that though, the track itself is very pleasent and makes a good listen, but one you may not return to that much if you've been a fan of Cilmis' music since the start. 8/10
12. Superman - Another mid-tempo, previous era sound here. The track is very chilled and laid back, although I find it a little boring. There is nothing particular to note about the track, and it feels a bit like a step backwards after the rest of Ten. We should be thankful it features at the end of the album though, so we can skip forward to the start again! 4/10
Overall rating: 8/10
A much more memorable release into the charts for Gabriella Cilmi this time round. She's starting to find a sound that works well for her and is accessible by a much wider audience but the album is let down at the end with a forray back into the Lessons To Be Learned era. If this can be controlled, and the highlights of this release can be held onto, the future will look very good for Cilmi. With the second single due for release some time this year, lets hope she can get some of the recognition she deserves for this record. It will be interesting to keep an eye on...!
3. What If You Knew - Moving further into the 80's electro genre, What If You Knew is slightly more laid back from the previous tracks so far, but is still classed as up-tempo. The lyrics play with the thought of your best friend being in love with you, and what would you do if you knew? Perhaps a scenario many people are familiar with so can relate to the track? Cilmis' vocals sound a little quiet compared to the backing track but are delivered well with an inquisative edge to them. Oh, and did I mention there's electro bells found in here too? ELECTRO BELLS! Brilliant! 9/10
4. Love Me Cos You Want To - The first mid-tempo track to make an appearence on Ten, this is what the future-disco genre sounds like. Love Me Cos You Want To could easily be compared to Girls Alouds' "Untouchable", as that same up-tempo backing track and sombre, yearning vocals are featured. A pleasent breather from the electro-stompers we've been presented with so far, this is another hit waiting to be unleashed on the charts. 9/10
5. Defender - Here is the first ballad type track on the album. The verses are a little weak and forgettable, but the chorus is catchy and tries to make up for things. After the first chorus, a military style drum beat kicks in, similar to production we've heard with Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield". A nice track, but a bit of a venture off the electro-pop-disco feel of the album so far. 6/10
6. Robots - If you need waking up from the previous track, Robots will try to that for you and it does quite a good job. A long retro-electro buildup then breaks into the brilliant chorus, mechanical love and ones and zeros of the binary code (for any geeks listening!) The track is borderline mid to up-tempo but is very listenable and very catchy. Cilmis' delivery of the middle eight is superb, with her vocals fitting perfectly. 9/10
7. Superhot - This track turns the dials up a bit more and returns to the 80's sounding electro-disco. The sound reminds me of a Kylie-ish sound, which further boosts its appeal to me. Other than this though, there isn't much else I can say about the track. It fits, it works, but probably not a single choice here. 7.5/10
8. Boys - The electro intro to this track, along with the heavy bass, instantly grabs your attention. You just know this is going to be a good listen! Bells, keyboard synths, a catchy tune and strong vocals from Cilmi create a future-pop sound which really suits Cilmi and hopefully she will do more of this in the future. A highlight of the entire album, Boys deserves a single release complete with remixes and amazing single covert art! Make it happen Gabriellas' people! 10/10
9. Invisible Girl - Straight away this tune sounds like a track from Pinks' "Funhouse" album. It's fun sounding, the vocals are powerful and the production is similar to a fairground. The track is catchy, but the sound feels a little bit robbed and something that's been done before. The execution works fine, but I can't get excited about the track as i've heard similar elsewhere. 7.5/10
10. Glue - The second ballad to be featured on the album, but much more fitting to the overall sound than the previous effort in Defender. There is a discreet electro tune running through the track, and once the initial intro and chorus is delivered, the beat becomes powerful and keeps the sound interesting. The vocals are powerful and the topic the ever sung troubled relationship. A very good effort here though and a bit of a hidden gem! 10/10
11. Let Me Know - Unfortunately it was felt that the album needed to be ended with a return to the funk soul style of Cilmis' debut album. There is a slight disco bassline hidden in here, but the track could still be lifted and placed of the previous album without anyone knowing. Once you can get over that though, the track itself is very pleasent and makes a good listen, but one you may not return to that much if you've been a fan of Cilmis' music since the start. 8/10
12. Superman - Another mid-tempo, previous era sound here. The track is very chilled and laid back, although I find it a little boring. There is nothing particular to note about the track, and it feels a bit like a step backwards after the rest of Ten. We should be thankful it features at the end of the album though, so we can skip forward to the start again! 4/10
Overall rating: 8/10
A much more memorable release into the charts for Gabriella Cilmi this time round. She's starting to find a sound that works well for her and is accessible by a much wider audience but the album is let down at the end with a forray back into the Lessons To Be Learned era. If this can be controlled, and the highlights of this release can be held onto, the future will look very good for Cilmi. With the second single due for release some time this year, lets hope she can get some of the recognition she deserves for this record. It will be interesting to keep an eye on...!
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