JLS

JLS are an English boyband, who were runners-up in the fifth series of ITV reality talent show The X Factor in 2008, coming second to Alexandra Burke. The group consists of Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, Jonathan "JB" Gill, and Oritsé Williams.

After coming 2nd in X-Factor last year they have worked hard to carve out a career for their brand of R 'n’ B. Huge hits materialised in the form of 'Beat Again’ and 'Everybody in Love’, and after listening to this album there are certainly a few more in the pipeline yet. The album does overstay its welcome with 13 tracks probably being 3 too many; go for quality not quantity!!

The 10 or 11 tracks that should remain are all good quality pop / r 'n’ b crossover numbers, with a range of sounds somewhere between Taio Cruz and Ne-Yo. Either 'Keep You’ or 'Crazy For You’ is surely destined for the next single; 'Crazy for You’ will probably get the honour due to it being a ballad, and a good Ne-Yo-esque one at that. There are other gems such as 'Close To You’ which is a bit East 17 – Stay Another Day, 'One Shot’ – another Beat Again styled sing-along number and 'Kickstart’ with a great chorus to it. Tracks 9 – 11 smack of fill and don’t stand up to the quality present elsewhere.

With 9 of the 13 tracks being co-written by the boys, there is plenty of proof they do have plenty of talent, and I’m sure will be one of the biggest success stories from X-Factor.

Download JLS Album