I received Gabriella Cilmi’s sophomore album Ten last week, and I’ve been listening to it sporadically ever since. So many CDs take up permanent residence in my stereo, but this one requires smaller doses.
The problem is that it’s all very samey. Gabriella is clearly enamoured with vintage disco; think Donna Summer and the Pointer Sisters. Upbeat pop gems and softer ballads alike blaze with synthesizers and 80s electro beats. It feels more like a guilty pleasure than the follow-up work of a multiple ARIA Award winner.
The current single “On a Mission” is a real standout, a fist pumping energetic dance track which has me reaching for my nearest hairbrush. The upbeat ditties that follow are also very strong, and when you think you can’t handle another dance track the romantic “Defender” is a welcome change of pace.
But at this half way point the album takes a bit of a nosedive. “Robots” is inoffensive but the lyrics are more than a little silly. “Superhot” also suffers from some juvenile lyrics and grating vocals. I know Gabriella’s a young woman, but this song feels less mature than anything on Lessons to be Learned. The electro revamp of “Sweet About Me” was frankly unnecessary; if you can’t improve on the song, why redo it? The second half of Ten feels like it has a lot of filler, which is surprising considering how much time has elapsed between albums number one and two.
I definitely don’t hate Ten. It’s frothy and fun; the kind of CD I’d put on to power through the housework or fire up a party. But if it replicates the success of Lessons to be Learned, I’ll be very surprised.
Ten is available in stores now.
Image source: auspOp
After two successful EPs and several sell-out tours, 
