Rated Demi - Demi Lovato

Pure pop has taken a back seat for a while. It’s been overrun by an onslaught of dub step breakdowns, with even the supremest pop beings succumbing to peer pressure. Queue Disney alumni Demi Lovato, star judge of the US Xfactor and performer of amazing pop morsels  like ‘Give Your Heart a Break’ and ‘Skyscraper’. She’s here to save the day… right?

Demi Lovato isn’t big news here, however that recently changed with her new single ‘Heart Attack’, which reached #3 in the UK Itunes chart and received 4/5 on this very blog. Whether her presence as a judge on the Xfactor is responsible or if it’s just down to the awesomeness of ‘Heart Attack’, it matters not. What’s important is that she’s being recognised and here’s why:

1. She’s got one hell of a voice. 

2. Her songs are pretty good.

3. She’s cute, like really cute.

4. She takes the piss out of Simon Cowell who’s old enough to be her grandfather.

5. She makes Britney Spears look like a personality void vegetable.

6. She just released a song called ‘Heart Attack’ and it’s brilliant.

7. She isn’t a twee pop princess with an angelic past.

Now, onto Demi, her new studio album. It opens with ‘Heart Attack’; amazing. The second track and second single is ‘Made in the USA’, which starts off a bit like a copy of a Miley Cyrus song, but soon forms its own identity with country pop production and belting vocals. Showcasing her foray back into pure pop is ‘Without the Love’, a song with a chorus so frickin’ catchy it will embed itself in your brain for days. It’s the euro dance inspired, Ryan Tedder produced ‘Neon Lights’ that sticks the most, with a euphoric chorus and some incredible vocal blasts from Demi. This is a contender for single 3 and if it’s not I want a meeting with her management.

One criticism I have of Demi is how ballad heavy it is (5 in total). Sure, most of these are beautiful and her vocal prowess is so adept it puts the majority of her peers to shame, but a few more ‘Neon Lights’ type tracks would have been appreciated. ‘Two Pieces’ is a pounding ballad with relentlessly huge vocals and a roaring guitar riff. ‘Nightingale’ is pretty; but things get serious with the incredible ‘In Case’, a piano led track with authentic, untampered vocals. Thankfully, the tempo gets up again with the surprisingly likeable Cher Lloyd duet ‘Really Don’t Care’, but the quality of tracks flounders a bit with ‘Never Been Hurt’ which features an annoying over sing at the tail end of its chorus that begins to feel like a joke.

Aside from these minor flaws, Demi is a very strong pop album. It has some songs worthy of a grammy nomination for ‘best vocal performance’ and ‘best dance recording’, as well as enough poptartness to keep pop fans happy for months to come. 

4/5