Is it me, or does the Sunday night results show of the X-Factor seem to be completely dominating the "pop" charts lately? Alexandra and Robbie perform their singles and debut at one and two respectively. One week later Cheryl and Whitney sing and the former lands a massive number one, while the latter rebounds from the teens to get her first top five hit in ages. JLS now sit snugly atop the singles chart and the midweeks show that while Leona may replace them (another X Factor alumni/sunday night performance), they are likely to debut at number one on the album charts with a whopping 80,000 albums sold so far (note: Robbie is close (maybe closer!) behind with 74,000 - certainly not to be sniffed at and definitely the album with far more longevity. See my review here. It's exquisite - the album that is, the reviews ok!)... A week on Sunday the X Factor charity single will likely be a top of the charts! It's chart domination! (Unless you are Bon Jovi. Sorry dudes). So how do the albums of JLS and Leona Lewis fare? Let's have a butchers shall we?

JLS - JLS:

I was an ardent support of Jack The Lad Swing (despite that!) during their X Factor days. I was utterly delighted when Beat Again came out and wasn't a ballad, but in fact a rather addictive pop morsel whose tendancy towards slight cheesiness was more than tempered by the likeability of the lads and their sheer earnest nature in delivering the tune. Then came the current massive single Everybody In Love. It was slightly more boyband pop than the cool sheen that Beat Again had been given, but again likeability, a kicking feelgood chorus and a Cahill remix soon sorted that out. It did give me pause however over the full album. I love boybands. Worship at the altar. Heck, even Westlife's comeback single sits at 12 on my chart (inexplicably almost). So why I am so disappointed in this album, I am not sure. Upon first listen I was quite delighted with it. After repeat listening, it's rather samey and not as good as I initially thought. There are lots of unnecessary "gurls" littering the songs and it seems a bit NKOTB circa Please Don't Go Girl - I just thought the world had moved on from there. This doesn't mean that there aren't gems within the album. One Shot is by far the best non-single (so far) on the album - starting off as a tender ballad it explodes in a cacophony of rave; practically exuding the stench of sweaty jockstraps. That's a good thing - it would make a marvelous single. Ditto the different Close To You which gives the boys back some credibility and the lovely Only Tonight has a gorgeous melody and some lovely harmonising. So there you have it - I'm not blown away, but I remain cautiously a fan. Partially because I adore them so much and partially because they still just shimmer with potential...
Potential singles: Beat Again; Everybody In Love; Close To You; One Shot; Only Tonight

Leona Lewis - Echo:

Was anyone particularly excited about Happy when it came out? The internet didn't seem to have a collective orgasm over it the way they did over, say, Bad Romance (which has grown on me people!)... I adored it though. Still do. Think it's a generic song that is made lovely by Leona's phrasing, delivery and passion she puts into it. Others may disagree, but I just ignore them. Echo as an album doesn't particularly move Leona's career forward in leaps and bounds but is still a strong album that is packed with solid (if unremarkable) tunes that will appeal to her existing fanbase and probably tap into that Christmas buying market. Some of the album can be a bit histrionic in terms of vocal delivery (take the warblings of Can't Breathe - please!) and Leona comes off much better when she shows some restraint - we know she has the range, she doesn't need to fall into the trap Mariah Carey fell into of exhibiting it on nearly every song on her first few albums. There are of course some wonderfully done epic ballads including her soaring and lovely cover of Stop Crying Your Heart Out; the beautiful My Hands and the simply exquisite Don't Let Me Down with a quite delightful melody permeating the tune. Then there are some pretty and pure pop tunes such as the glorious I Got You and almost equally pleasing Love Letter. The big surprise and must be single here is the stomping party piece Outta My Head which just sizzles from start to finish and is bound to be a dancefloor filler. So, all in all, some variety, some solid ballads and just one or two genuine surprises. Not bad. Not bad at all...
Potential singles: Happy; Stop Crying Your Heart Out; I Got You; Outta My Head; Don't Let Me Down

BANISHED!

• Why William Young has not been allowed to perform his amazing new Annie Lennox-esque single Hopes and Fears on the X Factor is beyond me! It's currently not even top 40 on the mid-weeks :( Cheer yourself up with a lovely interview with William over at Digital Spy instead. Bah.
• Why Shayne Ward wasn't allowed to launch his third album with a stompingly massive balls out (ooo yes please) dance number lead off single on the X Factor is also beyond me. What a criminally mismanaged career for someone whose second album was quite brilliant and still has massive popstar potential - if only he wasn't so ignored :/
• Finally, would it kill Simon to put some international idol/x factor winners on the show to help them launch in the UK? I'm imagining that Darin's Breathing Your Love would go down quite well...

Back soon!