Pop princesses have dominated the music charts for years now. We have witnessed their rise and fall, but there are always new names and faces to replace the old ones – Madonna, Britney, Christina, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Lady Gaga – ladies we all know for their catchy anthems and style…or lack of it.
British sensation Cheryl Cole has proven to be a new contender for the hearts of all those pop lovers in the U.S. She rose to fame with Girls Aloud, a girl band reminiscent of the Spice Girls, though without their international recognition and that exciting “spice.” Cole however, tried to prove early on that she stood out from the rest of the ladies in the group, and released her first solo album last year to eager and excited fans in the U.K.
She is now known as England’s very own “sweetheart” and has become a British icon arguably as big as Victoria Beckham.
After a tumultuous year where Cole suffered a messy and public divorce and a nearly fatal case of Malaria, her second album, appropriately titled Messy Little Raindrops, was nevertheless recorded.
The album has a powerful start with its first single, “Promise This,” an upbeat dance tune with a catchy bridge featuring Cole singing “Alouette/D?ployer l’aile,” in French, which gives the song a sensual feel. Cole’s velvety, soprano vocals are paired with R&B and techno-synth beats that make the majority of her songs such as “Yeah Yeah” and “Live Tonight” perfect for getting down in a club. The album will undoubtedly get listeners on their feet, but it is questionable for how long.
“The Flood” is a standout track about “a natural disaster love/bringing on the flood,” but as the album progresses, the songs take a turn towards being forgettable. “Let’s Get Down” is boring to the point of being irritating. The song is written by Will.i.am and Cole herself, but it sounds like she is attempting to cover a Black Eyed Peas song that never quite made it to the recording studio. “Better to Lie” is also too familiar and tried, but would nevertheless fit snugly on that general house party playlist so fundamental to college campuses.
Cole turns the album around with “Happy Tears,” an empowering breakup song where she proclaims, “I cried when I slashed all your tires/ I cried when your suits hit the fire/ I cried ’cause I’ll never see you again/ but those were happy tears.”
Various other artists are featured on Messy Little Raindrops, including Travie McCoy, Dizzee Rascal, August and Cole’s good friend, Will.i.am, who also produced two tracks on the album.
Miss Cheryl Cole no doubt has all the makings of a pop star: beauty, an eclectic voice, stage presence, flashy fashion and a pair of dimples. Plus, she has an endearing Geordie accent. Beyond the superficial however, Cole fails to put enough personality and charm in her tracks, making Messy Little Raindrops just a standard, acceptable pop album. It is not a dud entirely, but it doesn’t offer listeners eager for something new to chew on anything exciting either. Have we really asked for more though? After all, these are the songs that consistently make it to the top on iTunes.
While Cole’s fame and success has not quite made it across the pond, perhaps following her sophomore attempt she will add some American venues to her tour. We might even see a few Cheryls walking down State Street next Halloween.
Grab an umbrella while you still can though because these are indeed some messy raindrops.
2.5 out 5 stars
