Louder
by Lea Michele
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Mar 4, 2014
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 130 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 101 out of 130
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 130
  3. Negative: 19 out of 130
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  1. cenmauro
    Mar 5, 2014
    6
    The album is not great, but Lea's voice is perfect and there are very memorable songs, like "On My Way", "Battlefield", "You're Mine", and "If You Say So". A nice first album for her, although it could be so much better, with a better production and lyrics.
  2. asjklasjklas
    Mar 6, 2014
    5
    Louder intentionally or unintentionally means one thing: Lea Michele's vocals are louder than ever. Although it's not distinguishable enough to separate them from her character on Glee, after hearing her give it her lungs and all in the haunting "Thousand Needles", it's believable to enough to imagine Rachel covering the song during an overly produced number on the show.

    Unfortunately    Louder intentionally or unintentionally means one thing: Lea Michele's vocals are louder than ever. Although it's not distinguishable enough to separate them from her character on Glee, after hearing her give it her lungs and all in the haunting "Thousand Needles", it's believable to enough to imagine Rachel covering the song during an overly produced number on the show.

    Unfortunately for Michele though, Louder lacks what it figuratively means to be. Despite a stunning vocal performance and moderately meaningful lyrical content -- "If You Say So" was confirmed to be about her late lover Cory Monteith, making it one-hundred percent impossible for Gleeks not to cry to -- the production isn't bold nor outstanding. It's R&B incorporated feminine esque pop ballads has entered the Billboard charts for decades -- need I mention Leona Lewis, Jordan Sparks, etc. -- it's untelling how unmemorable lead single "cannonball" will be in 2014; a stomping, self-empowered dance-pop ballad using a cannonball as a metaphor. If you're an art and music lover like me, you'll ignore faux-self empowerment that's become a business rather than a philanthropy. And in this case, her cannonball is crashing down with a glitter of light, but not quite,

    Pardon my extensive review. Apparently, I believe I'm an actual music critic of some sort of, ahem! To recommend or not to recommend. Pros: Michele has some exceptionally stunning vocals and in some sense, Michele needed it and who knows, maybe we'll see less Rachel and more Lea Michele on her next album. Cons: the album's production is uninspired, formulaic, and generic, something Jordan Sparks, Leona Louis, Natasha Bedingfield, etc. are all too familiar with. Basically, if you're into the bubbly, yet rainy R&B incorporated pop hits, then go for it. For anyone looking for genuinely outspoken music, you're in or you're out.    … Expand
  3. jotaeseche
    Apr 13, 2014
    5
    I love Lea Michele. She's extremely talented and has charisma and charm, and has also proved to be more than fearless and strong. I've been waiting for this album a long time, and now I can't help but feeling really disappointed. And you feel more disappointed when you know that something could've been really better and it wasn't. Lea has a remarkable voice, but is totally wasted in allI love Lea Michele. She's extremely talented and has charisma and charm, and has also proved to be more than fearless and strong. I've been waiting for this album a long time, and now I can't help but feeling really disappointed. And you feel more disappointed when you know that something could've been really better and it wasn't. Lea has a remarkable voice, but is totally wasted in all these empty and insipid songs that sound all the same. I still hope that she can do something really big, and be wide recognized and praised, but she really has to learn how to pick up the right material and change things up. I still love you Lea, that's why I'm still waiting for the bump to come.… Expand
  4. godwinkent888
    Oct 11, 2014
    5
    I tried so hard to like this album... but sorry, Lea. I mean, your voice is still amazing as ever, but unfortunately it's wasted in this overproduced and generic album.
  5. MatthewDon2002
    Feb 26, 2015
    6
    With a vocal range spanning 2.7 octaves and one semitone, it's been clear since Glee's pilot episode, when overconfident, arrogantly ambitious teen Rachel Berry first opened her mouth to sing, that Broadway alum Lea Michele has a brilliant voice. Effortlessly out-singing veterans of the pop world, Michele's mighty soprano is just too good for the pop charts (if you discount the constantWith a vocal range spanning 2.7 octaves and one semitone, it's been clear since Glee's pilot episode, when overconfident, arrogantly ambitious teen Rachel Berry first opened her mouth to sing, that Broadway alum Lea Michele has a brilliant voice. Effortlessly out-singing veterans of the pop world, Michele's mighty soprano is just too good for the pop charts (if you discount the constant Glee singles that chart). It's never been more evident than in Michele's début album, an excellently preened but emotionally unsound record which outstays its welcome by about five tracks. It's true that there are a few successful tracks (tribute If You Say So being the emotionally resonant stand-out) but the rest of the songs are boring, tired and extremely dated (surprising when seeing the writers on the album, all very successful songwriters). Tracks like Cannonball (the oddly chosen lead single which totally cannonballed on release) and Don't Let Go are agreeable but bland, mediocre melodies mixed with easily forgettable lyrics, though Michele's towering vocals are sang with the usual fervour one expects from the Glee actress.

    Overall, Louder is a unexciting record with so-so tracks, though the occasional bursts of inspiration and Lea Michele's awe-inspiring vocals shine through and outweigh the bad. Let's hope one day Lea finds that little spark to really ignite a prodigious album.

    BEST SONG: If You Say So
    WORST SONG: Cannonball    … Expand
  6. Edduardo20
    Mar 4, 2017
    5
    It was too obvious, lyrically the album seems to have been written by a 13 year old girl, musically it's a recycling of all the EDM songs of the last five years, nothing new.
    The only thing that stands out is in his vocal ability and power in the voice but that does not help a pop album, and hang from the death and suicide of an "ex-fiance" to sell not only the singles but also the album    It was too obvious, lyrically the album seems to have been written by a 13 year old girl, musically it's a recycling of all the EDM songs of the last five years, nothing new.
    The only thing that stands out is in his vocal ability and power in the voice but that does not help a pop album, and hang from the death and suicide of an "ex-fiance" to sell not only the singles but also the album is Drop too low.

    If you want to hear a former member of Glee make sincere and real music, I recommend the five songs of Alex Newell's EP POWER. With only five songs is for MUCH BUT MUCH ... Better than the whole album.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Most Discussed Album of 2014
14
#14 Most Shared Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
48

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. PopMatters
    Apr 3, 2014
    40
    Like a showtune from Wicked, Louder serves as an above average power-pop album that you can bust a lung trying to sing along to without any of that pesky “thinking” to get in the way.
    Read full review
  2. Boston Globe
    Mar 18, 2014
    60
    While the turbo vocal bursts on “You’re Mine” and “Burn With You” blend nicely with the poppier elements, several of the tracks, including the burbling “On My Way” and the title tune, feel a bit too calculated and anonymous in their production approach.
    Read full review
  3. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    Mar 4, 2014
    40
    Throughout the album, Michele doesn’t so much sing as trumpet like an elephant eager for the charge. Her voice has more need than vulnerability, more anger than understanding.
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