Lemar - The Reason
I wonder what David Sneddon's up to these days? Or Sinead Quinn for that matter?
Both finished in front of Lemar Obika on the first series of Fame Academy and, while this didn't cause public outcry on the same scale as the recent Laura-from-X-Factor fiasco, we do remember thinking at the time that it was something of a travesty that he didn't triumph in the competition.
Still, appearing on the show proved to be the exposure he needed to sign a lucrative record deal and, five years down the line he's releasing his fourth studio album, while Sneddon and Quinn are... well, we're not quite sure actually. Drop us a line below if you can shed some light on this.
Back to the album in question, it's a consistent effort and, as lead single, If She Knew suggests, it leans slightly closer towards a more US-style R&B sound than on some of his previous material, the result of teaming up with producers such as Jim Beanz, who's sprinkled his magic on tracks by Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado and Jim Jonsin, who's previously worked with rapper, Lil Wayne.
As always it's his ballads which show off his voice to its full potential, demonstrating a rare emotional intensity that few of his peers can compete with. Mayday is a prime example of this, using an aviation metaphor to describe his broken heart. 'Gotta abort this mission, too many lost in action, so many wounds I can't heal...' he sings, you can imagine with a tear in his eye.
Weight Of The World, with its dirty bassline and pounding drum beat is another highlight. Lyrically dark it sees Lemar ask 'have the angels turned their back on me?'. That's not to say he can't do uptempo, feelgood tracks too, however. The jazz-infused, hand-clapping sound of Little Miss Heartbreaker is guaranteed to get you on the floor. 'Won't you shake what your mama gave ya', he sings. Well, who are we to refuse?
Don't forget that Lemar is just one of the acts who will be taking to the stage at The Jingle Bell Ball on December 10th, as well as performing his own solo gig at the Royal Albert Hall. Best get learning these lyrics pronto!
Tracklisting:
1. Reason
2. Weight Of The World
3. Little Miss Heartbreaker
4. If She Knew
5. Trust Me
6. Over You
7. Mayday
8. Wait Forever
9. Not What You Say
10. Black Tide
Song you must download:
Weight Of The World
Released:
Monday 24th November on Epic Records.
