Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 19/10/09
Label: Sony Music

Only two female singers have reached Number One in the UK charts with their debut single without the help of a talent contest: Billie Piper (with "Because We Want To") and Pixie Lott ("Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)"). Britain's biggest talent contest, the "X-Factor", is capable of churning out artists guaranteed to top charts just by generating TV-based hype before the contestants have even sung one of their own songs. If any of 2009's favourites (Stacey Solomon, Olly Murs, Danyl Johnson) released a single now, it would be a hit.

The power of Simon Cowell's integrity-destroying juggernaut is frightening, but if it's helping talented young women find success in an industry that wouldn't accept them without it, is it so bad? Answer: no. So getting behind acts like Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke isn't a shameful stance, even though supporting Shayne Ward remains indefensible.

Lewis and Burke's victories have undoubtedly ensured oceans of money being thrown at their debut albums, and life must be easy when world-beating producers and songwriters are fighting to work with you. But ultimately, you have to deliver. Leona Lewis has nailed it, and America has adopted her as only a nation reeling from the demise of Mariah Carey could. Now it's 22-year-old Londoner Alexandra Burke's turn.

The winner of the fifth series of the "X-Factor" is incalculably more exciting than Lewis, and "Overcome" is rammed with dancefloor destroyers. Lead single and opening track "Bad Boys" features Flo Rida and sets a precedent for a record that makes the most of Burke's energy. "Good Night Good Morning" follows, and is a sassy, sexy, one-night-stand track featuring synths and Ne-Yo. It's a strong start

When "Overcome" veers from this pace, it fails. Ballads like "The Silence" are pointless and will leave pop fans everywhere wondering why anyone bothers singing them anymore. There's a cleaned-up attempt at doing the Amy Winehouse 'thing' on "Bury Me (6 Feet Under)" which is lame, and the travesty of Burke's "Hallelujah" is tucked away as a bonus track, presumably in the hope that everyone will forget about it one day.

But good outweighs bad. If less than two of "Dumb", "Broken Heels" and "You Broke My Heart" top the charts it will be a miscarriage of justice, and when "Overcome" shines it's bright enough to burn retinas. There's even room for the moody trance track "Nothing But The Girl". Alexandra Burke looks highly likely to follow the career trajectory of Leona Lewis rather than last year's winner Leon Jackson who has faded from the limelight like a dying moth. It's only a matter of time before Burke too can look forward to being punched in the face by maniacs at book signings.

    by Tom Howard