It's hard to imagine someone even younger than 19-year-old Laura Marling making a splash on the music scene, but 16-year-old Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi is doing a pretty good job. Having smashed apart stereotypes of innocence with her killer single "(There’s Nothing) Sweet About Me", Cilmi (pronounced "Chill Me") now offers a debut that's not only lyrically and emotionally mature, but boasts the kind of potent musical content guaranteed to propel you towards the dancefloor. Lessons To Be Learned is a diverse bag. Produced by Xenomania (Girls Aloud, Sugababes) it's seemingly influenced by everyone from Stevie Wonder and the Kings of Leon, though it'll inevitably draw the most comparisons to Amy Winehouse, thanks to Cilmi's soaring vocals, the record's modern-Motown feel and Xenomania’s bright, punchy production. Opener "Save The Lies", though, is nothing like Winehouse--a big, in-your-face disco-stomper with a massive irrefutable chorus. The record drops from there into sultry soul territory with tracks like "Sanctuary", "Einstein", and "Safer", and more upbeat fare such as the electronic "Don’t Wanna Go To Bed Now", rocky tracks like "Messy" and the bluesy "Cigarettes And Lies". These stylistic diversions set Cilmi apart from the rest of the 'new soul' brigade, and help give her a voice of her own.--Danny McKenna
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Fantastic Talent, Awesome Album - No reason why she shouldn't be as big as Duffy Comment: I heard the song 'Sweet About Me' while I was decorating my flat and instantly hooked. I'd never heard of Gabriella Cilmi at the time and mistakenly thought the song was initially by Duffy or someone like that.
I decided to take a chance on buying this album and was very glad I did. For me this is one of the best albums of 2008. Theres some obvious comparisons and influences with her music. Some of her stuff is very 'Rock Chick' (like Pink), whilst other tracks are much more mellow.
Unfortunately it is difficult for Gabriella to get the recognition she so deserves, mostly due to the abundance of talented female solo artists that are around at the moment. It is fair to say that Gabriella Cilmi draws many comparisions to the likes of Duffy and Amy Winehouse, but unfortunately she is very much in their shaddows. However for me she is every bit as talented as they are and she is also an excellent live performer.
I saw this girl perform live at Shepherds Bush Empire in London a few months back, the same time the X Factor was on. Now I enjoy the X Factor, but it annoyed me when the likes of Simon Cowell would say about Eoghan Quigg being "only 16" as if it was some excuse for him being a mediocre singer and a lame stage performer. Gabriella Cilmi was only 16 when this album was released and she has a vocal ability and stage presence that would certainly blow away most X Factor contestants regardless of age.
Anyway its fair to say that I'm a fan of her and her music. Definitely worth giving her a chance and if you do, I'm confident you won't regret it. Customer Rating: Summary: Pointless re-issue Comment: Gabriella's voice is very distinctive, making it hard to believe that she hasn't even reached the age of 20 yet.
Her debut album is quite good, although it could have been alot better.
Sweet About Me encouraged me to buy it as it's such a fantastic song, I was hoping that the album would go in that direction but unfortunately it sounds like a solo project a member from Girls Aloud would do.
Anyway this special edition, it's a blatant cash-in for Christmas but fairplay to Gabby if she manages to pull it off. The extra songs could have fitted in quite easily on the first release and in a way I feel that they should have.
I wish she released the Australian special edition over here as that contains two discs, one which is entirely full of acousitc songs.
The acoustic version of Sweet About Me is just as good as the original, very mellow, it depends on which mood you are in, though they're both good chillout songs.
Cry Me a River is not a favourite of mine, it does suit her voice and it's good that she's made the song her own but it will never do as well as the original.
Round and Round is great, this should have been on the first release and also released as a single, it follows in the same genre as Sweet About Me. This is what the whole album should sound like as guitars and just Gabriella's voice blend very well, the chorus is catchy too.
Warm This Winter is just bad, this should have gone nowhere near the special edition, the cringing saxophone that only seems to be on Xmas records is present here (think Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree.)
I don't know why Echo Beach is included as a bonus on here when it was listed as one on the first release, they probably ran out of new material.
So all in all, a pointless re-issue, although the picture on the cover is better. If you've already got the first release stick with it. Customer Rating: Summary: Gaby rules Comment: I first heard Gabriella Cilmi when i saw her supporting the Sugababes live and afterwards i went straight out and bought the album and it was excellent. I also saw her on her own tour and she was amazing again. She's a great new talent and deserves to become very very successful especially when you see some of these over-rated singers like Amy (attention seeker) Winehouse and Leona "Yes i can sing but my songs are so dull" Lewis doing well. I bought this special edition even though i already had the original version for the new songs including her cover of Cry Me A River which is better than the original. It's a pity Save The Lies didn't do as well as Sweet About Me when released as a single as i thought it was a classic but this album is loaded with great songs like Don't Wanna Go to Bed Now, Safer, Terrifying and Awkward Game and i urge anybody who likes great music to go out and buy this. Customer Rating: Summary: Fab, far more than just 1 hit song Comment: We brought this albumn after hearing the Sure advert song, Upside Down, and were very impressed with the whole albumn. The second half of it for me is the best.
Would defintiely recommend this and look forward to future albumns by Gabriella.
If you like Duffy, Katie Melua etc your sure to like this albumn Customer Rating: Summary: Disappointing Comment: I bought this on the sole basis of the single 'Sweet about me'
I liked this song and her voice.... I still like that song and her voice but this album truly disappointed me.
The lyrics; nothing clever here, she rhymes everything, Owe, Show. Thunder, Wonder. Night, Bite. Play, Day. Grumpy, Bumpy. Ding and Swing!! and Maybe Baby!! No!! I know she's young but this just goes to show poor inexperienced songwriting and in my mind very lazy!
Her voice is quite pleasant and some of the tunes are nice but the laziness of the lyrics just made me laugh and after about 2 listens it just irritated me...
Maybe she will mature and with some songwriting lessons or a good mentor she will get better but she has not impressed me with this album.
