The goal of Leona Lewis' 2007 debut, Spirit, was to prove that an X Factor winner could be a phenomenon not just in the U.K. but in the rest of the world. The goal of her second album, 2009's Echo, is to prove that such success was no fluke. Certainly, Echo uses the chilly, synthesized "Bleeding Love" as its foundation, creating a sheet of sound...

The goal of Leona Lewis' 2007 debut, Spirit, was to prove that an X Factor winner could be a phenomenon not just in the U.K. but in the rest of the world. The goal of her second album, 2009's Echo, is to prove that such success was no fluke. Certainly, Echo uses the chilly, synthesized "Bleeding Love" as its foundation, creating a sheet of sound equal parts Europop and modern American R&B. As opposed to the often stuffy Spirit, this is proudly modern music where the overall sound matters more than what's being sung. Which isn't to say that Lewis doesn't sing brilliantly on Echo; in fact, there's nary an ounce of diva in Lewis -- she seems to enjoy singing for the sake of it, which is what keeps Echo interesting. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi