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Spirit
by
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  • Release Date:
Spirit Image
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 117 Ratings

  • Summary: The season three "The X Factor" winner's first album debuted as the number one album in the UK.

Top Track

Where's the Revolution
You've been kept down You've been pushed 'round You've been lied to You've been fed truths Who's making your decisions? You or your religion Your... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Boston Globe
    80
    The tracks are impeccably manicured, super-tuneful, and offer lyrics about the various agonies and ecstasies of love that are unremarkable in and of themselves but reach nuclear-threat levels of desperation thanks to Lewis's voice.
  2. Dot Music
    80
    With its refined beats, immaculate arrangements and intelligent melodies, Spirit confirms both Lewis's international ambitions and the likelihood that she'll pull them off.
  3. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    75
    The subtle flutter of her finest melismatics could give an open-minded person goose bumps. Her coarser melismatics, however, are the usual showoff BS and probably also a commercial prerequisite, like not having a harelip.
  4. Blender
    60
    Exactly zero songs on Spirit come close to matching 'Bleeding Love.' On the album, she fares best when not allowed to overindulge in her sterling voice as on the haunting electro kiss-off 'Take a Bow' and the svelte power ballad 'I Will Be,' co-written by Avril Lavigne.
  5. The New York Times
    60
    Beyond that lead single, produced by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, the results start to feel uneven.
  6. Hartford Courant
    60
    The production is lush, the songs are well-written and Lewis can certainly sing. It’s just a boring record that hews too closely to the modern album template with a couple of hits and a bunch of filler.
  7. The Guardian
    40
    Being able to belt 'em out is only half the story, and if there's a personality here, it's well hidden.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. JessieJames
    Apr 15, 2008
    10
    Great debut album. everything is pretty good, though there are not many songs that allows leona to use her full range.
  2. MikeM.
    Apr 10, 2008
    10
    I watched tons of videos of her on the X Factor and she was amazing. She sang I Will Always Love You almost as good as whitney and her I watched tons of videos of her on the X Factor and she was amazing. She sang I Will Always Love You almost as good as whitney and her Somewhere over the Rainbow almost made me cry. Now this album is fantastic. Footprints in the Sand is my favorite, it's wonderful to bad it's only a bonus track. With this album she should definatly be on track to win Best New Artist at the Grammy's. Oh yeah and it will be number 1 next week selling 190,000-200,000 copies, considering it only shipped 250,000 copies that's impressive.… Collapse
  4. EvanS.
    Apr 8, 2008
    10
    This album is amazing! So many great songs and Leona's voice is out of this world.
  5. JohnS.
    Apr 13, 2008
    10
    An absolute stunning album, totally worth the wait! Normally, talent show singers have one or two hits and then there gone forever trying to An absolute stunning album, totally worth the wait! Normally, talent show singers have one or two hits and then there gone forever trying to make a come back but never do, but this debut album from Leona Lewis is absolutely stunning! I watched a program with my wife called Diva's on ITV 1 and she absolutely astounded me with her rendition of "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" she was infact better than most of the divas on the show! I believe "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" is the most powerful off the album with "Bleeding Love," "Better in Time," "Whatever it Takes," and "Take a Bow" the other outstanding tracks! A must have!… Expand
  6. SeanR.
    Apr 8, 2008
    9
    It's a great album. Most of the songs are single-worthy.
  7. BlacKat1025
    Mar 27, 2012
    9
    As far as modern female powerhouses go, I prefer Leona over Adele. Her voice has this silky, soothing quality to it, and the production ofAs far as modern female powerhouses go, I prefer Leona over Adele. Her voice has this silky, soothing quality to it, and the production of this record just heightens the overall emotion. One of my favorite albums.… Expand
  8. Edd
    Apr 9, 2008
    1
    Abysmal. Yes, she has a good voice, but that's not enough. The songs are all very bland and annoying, and there's no emotion or Abysmal. Yes, she has a good voice, but that's not enough. The songs are all very bland and annoying, and there's no emotion or personality at all. Some of the lyrics are pretty cringe-worthy (for example the chorus in Footprints in the Sand), and personally i find it annoying how Lewis reckons that the album really shows her own emotions and spirit (hence the title), yet she didn't write any of the songs on there. All in all, it's another easy-to-forget album from a fame-hungry and useless singer.… Expand

See all 13 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Most Shared Album of 2008

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