Jedward, the marmite of the pop world, have unleashed upon the world their second album Victory. While their first release, Planet Jedward, composed of all covers (of mainly great songs it must be said), this is their first release containing all original material. With their début relying heavily on material used during their infamous X Factor stint, will a whole album of unknown tracks still please fans?
This album may not set the music world alight, it may not even set the pop world alight, but it cannot be denied there are some good tracks. Opening with Lipstick, the duo’s insanely catchy Eurovision entry, you can’t ask for a better opener. While you may loath the Lucan twins it is impossible to say that Lipstick is not a fantastic, pure pop song.
Second track Everyday Superstar sets the tone for the rest of the album, dance-pop with a catchy beat and lyrics. The rest of the album continues in the same fashion; inoffensive generic pop, nothing fantastic but nothing terrible either. Latest single, Wow Oh Wow, is a stand out song on the album but it does fail in the comparison to the fantastic Lipstick. (Did I just call a Jedward song fantastic? Oh no…)
While overly autotuned in places, there is a definite improvement in the quality of vocals from the twins, those singing lessons clearly are going to good use! Jedward will never be an “album band”; their live show will always be what they are known for and where they’ll make their money, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Victory is unlikely to win Jedward any new fans, but it is also unlikely to lose the Grimes any fans either. Any Jedicated fans will love the album; but it is a shame though that the people behind Jedward know that whatever they release will instantly be adored by fans no matter how good or bad it is. Jedward could become a great pop act if the song writers employed for their next album are of even a slightly higher standard.
Overly manufactured? Yes, but so what?! Children and teens will always listen to manufactured pop music; the hatred directed towards these two boys is totally uncalled for, there was a gap in the market and they went for it. This may not be the best release of the year but at least it is better than anything ever produced by Louis Walsh’s last identical brother act, The Carter Twins.