Okay, I love Lesley Roy. She's from Ireland and ever since I heard about her - nearly two years ago - I've been hotly anticipating the album which came out in the winter of last year. Her single I'm Gone, I'm Going is the direct descendant to Since You've Been Gone. Its the track Kelly Clarkson should have selected as her comeback tune. Indeed, Lesley co-wrote the song with the legendary Max Martin! Yes, he gets everywhere. The entire album is a collaborative effort with Max Martin, Gottwald, Rami, Kara Diogardi and Kronlund. There's even a track written with Katy Perry track in there (eak!). Note how in the video, Lesley plays the guitar on a big cliff reminding the world of the brilliance of this video by Jason Donovan. So clichéd, so poptragic and thus ever so great!
In a strange yet growing trend, Lesley is being pushed stateside before hitting the stands here in Europe (In 2009, Lesley will be one of many European "pop" acts breaking the US beforehand). The song she's done with Katy Perry is perhaps the weakest track on the album. Its a tepid ballad that you might have heard on the recent Kid Rock album. The track Psycho Bitch will have Pink screaming at her AnR people in glorious fits of zealousy. Despite tons of guitars, the album does have a few dancy moments. Yeah! Unexpected! When I Look At You is one song that is made for the dancefloor and must be released! It even has catchy disco clap bits which are absolutely adorable.
Dead But Breathing recalls a weird mixture between Janis Joplin, Marianne Faithful and Elton John. Weird but it works. A great vulnerable moment that really brings home a sense of intimacy. It has ace strings that you might have heard last in Robyn's Be Mine. Desmond Child and Andreas Carlsson provide the rocky Misfit which really sounds like Ana's We Are.
One of the finest turns on the album is Crushed. Co-written with Emanuel Kiriakou and Lindy Robbins, who co-wrote Backstreet Boys Inconsolable, the song pulls back the guitars and allows Lesleys voice take centre stage. There is a epic feel to this song. Some of the guitar-led tracks on the album tend to merge into one (for instance, Make It Right). Not Crushed. Its rather amazing. The similar feel is continued in Comeback which was co-written by the piano-player of Evanescence and as such Lesley sadly drifts away from her poprock routes previously well planted by the Max Martin tracks earlier on the album. There's a reason why Comeback and Come To Your Senses are at the back at the album. Can't fault them but they way no way as good as the Max Martin, Gottwald, Rami, Kara Diogardi and Kronlund collaborations.
