New Track

Something about the way she sings just pops.

The staggeringly lovely and exceptionally gifted Leona Lewis blew on to the scene dropping Spirit on the UK in late 2007. The album entered the Brit charts at #1 and bloody well became the UK’s fastest-selling debut of all time. Spirit saw a US release in April of 2008 and debuted at #1 on Billboard, making music history with the first appearance of a British female artist entering Billboard’s Top 200 with a #1 record. Not for nothing, Leona also made history as the first British artist to claim the top spot with a debut.

Lewis was discovered on The X Factor and won the third season of the music talent show. Winning the grand prize of a 1 million pound contract to Syco Music, Simon “Mr. Nasty” Cowell’s label, Leona’s been busting records wide open ever since. It’s been a wild ride, to say the least.

I’m not usually one for reality show music contests, but talent is talent and, by God, this girl’s got it.

That’s what makes Spirit: The Deluxe Edition such a treat. The limited edition CD/DVD package looks sleek and packs in some stuff that fans in the United States might have a bit of trouble getting their mitts on. Of course, in the day of the internet anything is possible, but this CD/DVD package creates a nice experience nevertheless.

Naturally all of the original Spirit record is here. That means the breakout “Bleeding Love,” with all of its tear-jerking notes and Lewis’ astonishing vocal command, starts things off as the first track. It is a superbly stunning cut, forming the perfect platform for the English singer’s gift.

“Better In Time,” which I presently can’t get out of my head, eases in with charming piano. Lewis knows how to work the angles, offering her voice carefully and providing a very warm feel. It is a vivid, beautiful song that works with its beat and not against it.